A new report commissioned by the Institute of the Motor Industry in the UK has highlighted one of the main challenges faced by the motor industry. According to the latest research 84% of parents said they would choose university over an apprenticeship for their children, even though 61% admitted that they believe work experience is what employers look for in potential job applicants. Many of the teenagers surveyed also said they would prefer to avoid university debts and jump straight into work.

The IMI's research also found 50% of young people surveyed hadn't received any form of careers advice. For those who had, 36% of 15 year olds said the quality of the information was average at best. 67% of teenagers were put off going to university because they wanted to start earning money and didn't feel a degree would help them find a job. But only 1 in 5 said they would choose an apprenticeship after leaving school.

While these are UK finding it would appear that Ireland is in a similar situation with dealers, bodyshops and independent garages all reporting difficulty in recruiting young applicants.

Steve Nash, Chief Executive Officer at the IMI, said, "The number of young people receiving quality careers advice is worryingly low, so it's important parents and teachers are given more information on the opportunities available to teenagers when it comes to making those big decisions about their next step. The motor industry has been surrounded by misconceptions for many years, but exciting developments in groundbreaking new technologies means that automotive is emphatically a high-technology sector and can offer a very broad range of exciting and rewarding careers.”