Auto mechanics in short supply due to Japan's low birthrate, tough work environment

Students at Tokyo Automobile University School, a vocational school for auto mechanics, practice inspecting cars in Katsushika Ward, Tokyo, in September last year. (Credit: The Yomiuri Shimbun)

There is an increasingly serious shortage of auto mechanics capable of performing safety inspections in Japan, as a result of the chronically low birthrate and young people's aversion to the harsh work environment.

The Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry announced Tuesday that the ratio of job offers to job-seekers for mechanics was 4.58 to 1 in 2021, far higher than the average of 1.13 to 1 for all occupations. The shortage of mechanics has led to a series of falsified vehicle inspections, prompting the government to take measures to secure human resources in this field.