The Australian automotive workforce remains concentrated in the capital cities of the eastern states (Figure(s) 1a & 1b).¹ From 2018 to 2024, New South Wales (NSW) saw an increase in its proportion of the national workforce to 28.14% (+1.82%). The growth in the workforce was driven by an increase in Sydney’s automotive retail and wholesale sector growing to 67.53% (+8.67%) and its repair and maintenance sector growing to 62.33% (+4.79%).² At the same time, the proportion of the automotive workforce based in regional NSW declined to 33.37% (-6.17%). 

Queensland (QLD), saw an increase in its proportion of the national workforce to 21.99% (+2.42%) from 2018 to 2024. The growth in the workforce was driven by an increase in Brisbane’s retail and wholesale sector, growing to 60.17% (+10.17%), and its manufacturing sector growing to 85.71% (+23.37%). However, the repair and maintenance sector fell to 53.00% (-5.39%). The proportion of the automotive workforce based in regional QLD fell to 38.95% (-4.62%) – going against other trends towards increasingly regional and remote work post-COVID-19. ³

Victoria’s (VIC) proportion of the automotive workforce has continued to fall since 2017 after the end of large-scale passenger car manufacturing, falling to 26.59% (-7.05%) from 2018 to 2024. However, the proportion of the automotive workforce based in Melbourne saw an increase to 86.44% (+9.89%). The growth was driven by the automotive repair and maintenance sector growing to 82.54% (+10.01%) and the retail and wholesale sector growing to 83.33% (+7.01%). Whereas the proportion of the automotive manufacturing workforce in Melbourne increased to 100% (+14.98%). 

Growing regional workforces 

In contrast to other states, Tasmania (TAS) and South Australia (SA) saw an increase in their regional workforces from 2018 to 2024. The proportion of the national automotive workforce in SA remained consistent at 8.00%. With the proportion of the SA automotive workforce based in the regions increasing to 36.78% (+23.61%). This growth was driven by an increase in the size of all automotive sectors in SA. The repair and maintenance sector increased to 38.26% (+17.11%). The retail and wholesale sector increased to 28.24% (+19.98%).⁴ Given that the proportion of the automotive workforce based in SA is consistent, this indicates a movement of the metropolitan workforce to the regions. 

TAS saw its proportion of the national automotive workforce remain consistent at 2.00%. However, the proportion of the state’s workforce based in the regions increased to 64.15% (+9.08%). This increase was driven by the repair and maintenance sector growing to 71.43% (+13.85%) and the retail and wholesale sector growing to 56.00% (+9.12%). Given that the proportion of the automotive workforce based in TAS is consistent, this indicates a movement of the metropolitan workforce to the regions. 

From 2018 to 2024, the size of the national workforce based in regions that are designated as Remote Australia fell to 1.27% (-0.81%).⁵ Whereas, the size of the workforce in regions designated as Very Remote Australia fell to 0% in 2021 (Figure 2).⁶

In regions designated Outer Regional Australia, the proportion of the national automotive workforce fell to 5.91% (-2.73%) from 2018 to 2024. In contrast, areas designated Inner Regional Australia maintained a mostly consistent share of the national workforce at 20.39% (-1.17%).⁷ On the other hand, the size of the workforce based in the capitals grew to 72.43% (+4.95%). Remote regions, on average, face workforce attraction, retention, and recruitment challenges due to the remote nature of these locations and the limited social amenities available.  

The automotive industry’s gender ratio has been relatively stable over the last decade.⁸  However, the ratio of female to male employees has increased in the regions in most states. In NSW and QLD, the number of female employees per 100 male employees increased to 13 (+1) and 29 (+9), respectively, in 2024. Sydney also saw an increase to 19 (+9) (Figure(s) 3a & 3b).

In TAS and SA, the number of female employees per 100 male employees increased to 33 (+4) and 10 (+10), respectively. However, Victoria saw a decrease in the ratio to 17 (-10), while Melbourne saw an increase in the ratio to 18 (+1).  

An increasing number of employees in the regions are working more than 45 hours per week (Figure(s) 4a & 4b).⁹ The proportion of automotive repair and maintenance workers in the regions who worked more than 45 hours per week increased to 20.81% (+5.19%). The proportion of automotive retail and wholesale workers in the regions who worked more than 45 hours a week increased to 29.03% (+9.42%). However, on average, most automotive subdivisions in the capitals saw an increase in the ratio of workers working overtime to those not working overtime (Figure(s) 5a & 5b).

In 2023, a survey by Australian Automotive Aftermarket Association (AAAA) found that 28.09% of automotive repair and maintenance, and retail and wholesale businesses in regions were servicing over 10 vehicles per day, compared to 15.71% of those in the capitals.¹⁰ The survey also found:

• 32.86% of businesses based in Major Cities employed at least five technicians and technician apprentices, compared to 28.09% of those in regional areas, and;
• 26.97% of businesses based in regional areas had three or more vacancies for technicians and technician apprentices, compared to 14.29% of those in Major Cities (Figure 6).¹¹

Illustrating that the automotive industry’s regional repair and maintenance sector workers are working increased hours while their employers service more vehicles with fewer technicians alongside their metropolitan counterparts in the retail and wholesale sector.