The country is still feeling the effects of the long 2020 lockdowns. Mental health is recovering, the NHS is somewhat recovering, and various industries are dealing with staff shortages.
Among them are various vehicle-heavy industries. We’re taking a look at the various jobs that are aligned with vehicles that need more feet on the peddle.
Taxi drivers
The country went through a massive taxi shortage as we went into lockdown and demand plummeted. When things started up again, shops opened, restaurants opened, clubs eventually opened, and the few taxi drivers that had stuck it out for the lockdown did what they could.
The demand is well and truly back, but the supply is lacking. Some are even asking for taxi drivers back as a means of safety. When the clubs are closing and the last night bus was gone 2 hours ago, the last train 5 hours ago, getting a taxi home is your only option.
Being a taxi driver means flexible hours, which you can mould around a home life, be that kids, another job, or simply putting your feet up for semi-retirement.
If that sounds good to you, look into getting yourself a taxi vehicle. Northern Ireland based taxi drivers can look here at insuring a taxi in Ireland as not all policies from England providers will cover you there.
Delivery drivers
Lockdown also had a bad effect on the hospitality industry. A lot of restaurants had to close, not being able to seat patrons. And that really was the only issue. Making the food was fine, which is why we saw takeouts stay open and delivery drivers come in high demand.
Soon a lot of restaurants adapted. Every cuisine was offering collection at the window or delivery to your door, and the demand for delivery drivers went up.
Sure, there are also cyclists, but no one is going to begrudge you a car in the snow to get their Happy Meal.
Plus, it’s not only food that needs delivered. Online shopping habits only went up as lockdown progressed. We had spare money and nothing else to do. But there was no means of getting our items without a delivery driver.
If the idea of sitting behind a desk nauseates you, consider the courier lifestyle. Many employers offer flexible hours so you can work when you want.
Mechanic
It might not have got as much press as lorries and taxis, but there is an overall shortage of qualified mechanics to think about too.
The problem seems to be teaching old dogs new tricks. Halford boss Graham Stapleton has said publicly that he is concerned about the lack of mechanics on the market who can deal with the new wave of electric vehicles. At the moment there are only 35,000 technicians that understand the 400,000 battery-operated cars on the UK roads in 2021. That’s an increase of 76.3% since 2020, and with electric cars becoming mainstream, that number is only going to go up.
This could be otherwise seen as an opportunity. Stapleton may as well have just sent a job description to The Independent.
