The automotive industry is undergoing rapid transformation, driven by cutting-edge technological advancements and a shifting automotive landscape. However, it’s not just the technology that’s evolving – the roles that support this vital sector are also at a crossroads. While many positions remain essential today, some are at risk of disappearing entirely.
New data from Nationwide Vehicle Contracts has uncovered the driving jobs facing complete shortages in the next 25 years. By conducting an in-depth study using search volume analysis, it has been revealed that in the next 12 years, the UK could face a shortfall of delivery drivers as the industry battles to prioritise investment and training.
Delivery driver jobs are at risk of a shortage in the next 12 years
According to the UK Office for National Statistics (ONS), there are currently 246,000 delivery drivers employed across the UK. However, an estimated 30,000 additional drivers are needed to meet growing demand in the sector.
Projections based on average monthly Google search trends suggest that delivery driver roles could experience a full shortage by 2037, as people explore different job options. With over 13,500 delivery driver vacancies in April 2025, this has surged by 792.6% compared to last year. Among the top companies hiring are Yodel, Tesco and Royal Mail, indicating that the most popular jobs relate to food delivery, online e-commerce deliveries, and supermarket shopping.
To address the growing shortfall and potential decline, the industry must prioritise investment in training and development programmes to make the profession more appealing.
Methodology
Nationwide Vehicle Contracts used Keywordtool.io to identify the auto industry jobs which require a driving license had the highest average monthly search volume in the past 12 months, and what the average trend was over the last 12 months of search. They then used Google Trends and Glimpse to identify what job trends looked like over the past 5 years with search volume, and extrapolated the date that searches for these jobs would become extinct, to reveal the industries most at risk of shortages.
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