Car production in the UK is up 28.6% in June compared with June 2009, according to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders.

This was up 55% over the year-to-date. Commercial vehicle output also rose by 24.9% compared to June 2009, and is 49.6% up in the first six months of the year.

Richard Spragg, vice president at technical recruiter Talascend, told Recruiter that although the US is seen as a barometer for the UK, confidence is improving but starting from a very low level.

“Most of our automotive recruitment business is in the US, which we view as a barometer for the UK. Confidence has been improving in the US as here, but similarly starting from a very low level so it’s not yet time to rejoice,” he says.

“In the UK demand is depressed all round and we suspect such staff will be lost to engineering forever. In both countries we unfortunately won’t see the same levels of employment in the automotive sector again.

“Recruiters will have to adapt and one option is to extend into staffing for green R&D and production which will hopefully still receive more funding (but which requires the kinds of specialist skill which is still thin on the ground).”

Spragg adds that a fragile recovery dictates that more contract work will be undertaken: “For technical staff this may be preferable to switching out of their profession, especially those who are more experienced.”