SOARING demand for cars and components should mean good new for Worcestershire manufacturers and their workers according to a survey by an industry recruitment specialist.

Consilium Group of Stourport on Severn reports that more than half of employers are planning to take on new staff – and up their pay.

A bumper year in the automotive sector in the Midlands, which ships vehicles and components to more than 100 countries and accounts for 11 per cent of UK exports, has put confidence at an all-time high. But it means employers are going to have to compete for the best staff in order to maintain orders from overseas.

The figures are revealed in the latest annual automotive salary review by Consilium Group, which shows that out of 28 UK firms participating in the survey, 57 per cent expected to increase their headcount in 2015 while 52 per cent expected to announce salary increases or bonuses. Only 14 per cent expect to cut their workforce.

Last year alone the automotive industry built 1.5 million cars, the highest output since 2007, and there is an unprecedented demand for British cars and workmanship from countries like China and India.

Russell Tuck, director and co-founder at Consilium Group, said: “The dramatic increase in vehicle production volumes over the past four years, coupled with relentless new vehicle development has created a major increase in demand for the right specialist workers here in the Midlands. This year’s review has highlighted that employers are now competing for talent from a limited pool of automotive-based skill-sets and industry-specific experience. Candidates will often find themselves with multiple job offers, meaning the region’s employers not only need to compete for talent in the first place but also focus on the wider issue of staff retention. "