The UK automotive sector is facing the most severe skills shortage of any industry in the country, with more than nine in ten employers struggling to recruit the specialist talent they need, according to new research.

Data from ManpowerGroup’s 2026 Talent Shortage Survey shows that 92 per cent of UK automotive employers report difficulty filling roles, making it the hardest-hit sector for recruitment in the country. The figure sits almost 20 percentage points above the national average, where 73 per cent of employers say they are unable to find suitable candidates.

The findings highlight growing strain within the automotive industry as the sector undergoes one of the most significant technological transformations in its history. Electrification, advanced vehicle software, and new manufacturing technologies are reshaping the types of skills companies require, but the supply of qualified workers is struggling to keep pace with demand.

Engineering skills remain the most difficult capability for employers to source, with 46 per cent of automotive businesses reporting a shortage in this area. Manufacturing and production roles follow closely behind, with 25 per cent of employers saying they are struggling to recruit workers with the required technical experience.

The shortage is particularly acute in regions traditionally associated with automotive manufacturing. The West Midlands, widely regarded as the historic centre of the UK automotive industry, is experiencing especially intense competition for engineering and technical talent. Manufacturers, suppliers and emerging electric vehicle companies across the region are increasingly competing for the same limited pool of skilled specialists.

The recruitment pressures come at a time when the sector is also grappling with declining production levels. UK vehicle manufacturing fell to its lowest level in more than seven decades in 2025, with output dropping to levels not seen since 1952. The combination of falling production and rising technological complexity is placing further pressure on companies already struggling to adapt to structural changes in the global automotive market.

Industry leaders warn that the shortage of skilled workers could slow the UK’s transition toward electrified and software-driven vehicles if urgent steps are not taken to expand the talent pipeline.

Michael Stull, managing director of ManpowerGroup UK, said the findings reveal a growing mismatch between the capabilities employers need and the skills currently available in the labour market.

“Automotive businesses are telling us they simply cannot get the skills they need,” he said. “Engineering talent in particular is in critically short supply. As the sector accelerates towards electrification and more technology-driven roles, the demand for new capabilities is growing much faster than the available talent.”

He added that solving the shortage will require long-term investment in workforce development rather than short-term recruitment strategies.

“Employers will only overcome these pressures by investing in upskilling programmes and working closely with schools, colleges and training providers to widen access to future-focused skills,” Stull said.

The shift toward electric vehicles and connected car technologies is creating new categories of roles across the industry, including software engineering, battery technology, data analysis and advanced manufacturing engineering. Many of these skills have historically been associated more closely with the technology sector than with traditional automotive manufacturing.

As a result, carmakers and suppliers are increasingly competing with technology companies for the same engineers and digital specialists.

Analysts say the growing skills gap underscores the importance of expanding technical education pathways and modern apprenticeships to ensure the UK automotive industry can remain competitive in the global transition to electric mobility.

Without a significant expansion of the talent pipeline, the sector risks facing prolonged recruitment challenges that could constrain investment, innovation and production capacity in the years ahead.

Amy Ingham

Amy is a newly qualified journalist specialising in business journalism at Business Matters with responsibility for news content for what is now the UK’s largest print and online source of current business news.

AUSTIN, Texas — Elon Musk declared March 16, 2026, that his artificial intelligence startup xAI will reach parity with leading competitors OpenAI, Google and Anthropic by the end of the year, even as the company undergoes a significant internal restructuring and co-founder departures.

In a series of posts on X — the platform he owns — Musk acknowledged structural flaws in xAI’s early setup, stating the firm “had not been structured correctly” and is now being “redesigned from the ground up.” Despite recent turbulence, including founder exits, Musk expressed confidence in xAI’s trajectory, predicting it will not only match but eventually surpass rivals in capabilities.

The bold claim comes amid rapid developments across Musk’s portfolio. xAI, founded in 2023 to counter what Musk calls “woke” AI biases, has rolled out successive Grok models, with Grok 3 generating buzz for its performance in reasoning and multimodal tasks. Recent controversies, however, have shadowed the platform: reports of Grok generating inappropriate content led to investigations, prompting a protest installation at SXSW 2026 — an “anti-Elon Musk vending machine” dispensing mock “Epstein Files” in reference to ongoing scrutiny.

Musk defended xAI’s direction, emphasizing its focus on truth-seeking and maximum curiosity. In interviews and posts, he highlighted Grok’s integration with X for real-time data access, positioning it as a competitive edge over closed systems.

The announcement coincides with broader activity. On March 16, Musk engaged in wide-ranging commentary on X, critiquing the Oscars as “unwatchable” and a “circle jerk” of “perverts,” praising innovative work from Kimi.ai on attention residuals in transformers, and predicting SpaceX will “far exceed everyone combined” in a few years despite Google’s DeepMind lead in AI for now. He also noted Starlink’s availability in Cuba (though sales are restricted) and dismissed concerns over population alarmist Paul Ehrlich, calling him a “misanthropic piece of shit” and “genocide propagandist.”

Tesla developments remain central to Musk’s narrative. In a recent Abundance Summit interview, Musk shared that Optimus Gen 3 production could start this summer, with the humanoid robot advancing toward practical tasks like folding laundry — addressing earlier failures in dexterity. He reiterated ambitions for robotaxi rollout in 2026, potentially transforming Tesla into a high-margin autonomy leader and boosting stock appeal.

SpaceX continues dominating headlines with Starlink expansion and ambitious plans. Reports from early March indicate SpaceX is preparing a confidential IPO filing, eyeing a mid-2026 public listing at a staggering $1.75 trillion valuation — potentially the largest ever. Starlink, now covering most of the Americas (with exceptions like Suriname and Nicaragua), drives the bulk of revenue. Musk has shifted rhetoric from a 2026 Mars landing to building a “self-growing city” on the moon, reflecting pragmatic pivots in timelines.

Neuralink, Musk’s brain-computer interface venture, pushes toward scale. Musk announced in January that high-volume production of implants would begin in 2026, alongside near-full automation of surgical procedures. The company has implanted devices in over 20 patients, with thousands more projected as trials expand for paralysis, speech restoration and cognitive enhancement.

Musk’s prolific X activity — including 63 posts on March 14 — underscores his hands-on role across ventures. Recent threads touched on technical topics like C++ dominance in robotics, the “bitter lesson” in AI scaling (crediting Larry Page’s early insights), and cultural critiques.

Challenges persist. xAI faces talent flux as co-founders depart amid the rebuild, while Grok controversies fuel backlash. Tesla navigates regulatory scrutiny on Full Self-Driving recalls, and SpaceX contends with launch schedules and competition. Musk’s political commentary — from migrant policy to awards shows — draws criticism but amplifies his influence.

Analysts view 2026 as pivotal. A SpaceX IPO could make Musk the world’s first trillionaire, while Tesla’s robotaxi and Optimus progress hinge on execution. xAI’s parity goal tests whether Musk can disrupt AI incumbents as he did EVs and spaceflight.

Musk remains undeterred, framing his efforts as essential for humanity’s future — from multi-planetary life to AI safety. As he posted recently, progress often defies psychological limits. Whether 2026 delivers on these promises will define his legacy amid accelerating innovation and scrutiny.

National Storage Affiliates Trust (NYSE: NSA) stock soared in pre-market trading on March 16, 2026, after the self-storage real estate investment trust announced it would be acquired by industry giant Public Storage (NYSE: PSA) in an all-stock transaction valued at approximately $10.5 billion enterprise value.

The deal, unveiled early Monday, sends NSA shares rocketing more than 28% in early trading, with the stock reaching around $39.72 as of mid-morning EDT on the New York Stock Exchange — a sharp jump from Friday’s closing price of $30.94. Pre-market volume spiked as investors reacted to the news, which values NSA common shares at an implied $41.68 per share based on the exchange ratio of 0.14 PSA shares for each NSA share.

Under the terms, Public Storage will acquire NSA and wholly own 488 of its properties while forming a joint venture for the remaining 313 properties. NSA operating partnership unitholders will hold approximately 80% of the JV, estimated at $3.3 billion in value. The transaction is expected to close in the third quarter of 2026, subject to regulatory approvals, shareholder votes and other customary conditions. Public Storage has secured $4.0 billion in committed financing to support the deal.

The acquisition creates significant synergies, with Public Storage projecting $110 million to $130 million in annual cost savings at full realization. Executives anticipate the transaction to be accretive to PSA’s funds from operations (FFO) per share by $0.35 to $0.50 once synergies are achieved.

“This combination brings together two leading players in the self-storage sector, enhancing scale, operational efficiency and geographic diversification,” a joint statement from the companies read. “For NSA shareholders, the deal provides a premium valuation and exposure to Public Storage’s proven management and balance sheet strength.”

The announcement marks a pivotal moment for NSA, which has navigated a challenging environment in recent years amid fluctuating demand for self-storage space, rising interest rates and sector-wide pressure on occupancy and rental rates. The REIT, which owns and operates more than 800 facilities across the United States, has focused on portfolio optimization, including selective acquisitions and dispositions to improve same-store performance.

NSA’s latest quarterly results, released Feb. 25, 2026, showed mixed signals. For the fourth quarter of 2025, the company reported Core FFO of $0.57 per share, in line with consensus estimates. Full-year 2025 Core FFO came in at $2.23 per share, down from prior periods, while net income totaled $116.3 million. Guidance for 2026 called for Core FFO between $2.13 and $2.25 per share — slightly below some analyst expectations — and projected modest same-store revenue growth of about 90 basis points, reflecting ongoing stabilization in the sector.

Analysts had been cautiously optimistic post-earnings. Barclays raised its price target to $38 from $33 in early March, citing improved fundamentals and potential for upside in a recovering market. Other firms, including Evercore ISI and Wells Fargo, adjusted targets modestly, with consensus leaning toward a “Hold” or “Reduce” rating and an average one-year target around $32-$36 before the deal news.

The acquisition premium has shifted the narrative dramatically. Prior to the announcement, NSA traded near the lower end of its 52-week range (27.43 to 39.73), reflecting broader REIT sector headwinds from elevated borrowing costs and slower growth in self-storage demand compared to the post-pandemic boom.

NSA maintains a consistent dividend policy, supporting income-oriented investors. On Feb. 12, 2026, the board declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.57 per common share (annualized $2.28), payable March 31, 2026, to shareholders of record as of March 13, 2026. The payout yields approximately 6.7% at recent prices but carries a high payout ratio, drawing scrutiny from some analysts concerned about sustainability amid leverage levels.

The deal also includes provisions for NSA’s preferred shares (Series A and B), which carry 6.000% cumulative dividends. Public Storage’s entry into the transaction underscores confidence in the long-term fundamentals of self-storage, a sector seen as recession-resistant due to its essential nature for personal and business storage needs.

Investor reaction has been swift. Law firm Halper Sadeh LLC announced it is investigating whether NSA shareholders are receiving fair value in the merger, a common step in such transactions to review fiduciary duties and potential alternatives. Market watchers expect additional scrutiny as the deal progresses through regulatory review.

For Public Storage, the largest self-storage operator in the U.S., the acquisition bolsters its portfolio and market position. PSA shares dipped modestly in early trading, reflecting typical acquirer dilution concerns, but analysts view the strategic fit positively for long-term growth.

As trading continues Monday, NSA’s dramatic move highlights the transformative impact of M&A in the REIT space. The self-storage industry, once a high-growth darling, has faced normalization after years of outsized gains. This blockbuster combination could signal renewed consolidation and optimism for sector recovery.

With closing targeted for Q3 2026, attention now turns to shareholder approvals, antitrust considerations and integration plans. For NSA investors, the surge provides immediate value realization, capping a period of volatility with a premium exit.

Meta is reportedly preparing for a major round of layoffs that could affect as much as 20 per cent of its global workforce, as the technology giant seeks to offset the soaring cost of artificial intelligence investment while reshaping its operations around AI-driven productivity.

According to sources familiar with the discussions, senior executives at the company have begun signalling to leadership teams that job cuts are likely, although the scale and timing of the reductions have not yet been finalised. If the reductions were to reach the 20 per cent level currently under discussion, it would represent the largest workforce reduction since the company’s sweeping restructuring in 2022 and 2023.

A spokesperson for Meta Platforms declined to confirm the plans, describing reports of potential layoffs as “speculative reporting about theoretical approaches”. However, people close to the company say internal conversations about streamlining teams have intensified in recent weeks.

Meta employed nearly 79,000 people globally as of the end of last year. A reduction of 20 per cent would potentially affect more than 15,000 roles.

The potential cuts follow a period of heavy spending on artificial intelligence infrastructure and talent as chief executive Mark Zuckerberg pushes to position the company as a leader in generative AI and so-called “superintelligence”.

Meta has already committed to investing hundreds of billions of dollars into new AI data centres and computing capacity over the next several years. The company has signalled that it plans to spend as much as $600 billion building new data centre infrastructure by 2028 as it scales its AI capabilities.

At the same time, Meta has been offering enormous compensation packages to attract top AI researchers to its new superintelligence research group. Some packages are reportedly worth hundreds of millions of dollars over four years in an effort to compete with rivals in the rapidly escalating global race for AI talent.

The company has also expanded through acquisitions to strengthen its position in the AI sector. Earlier this week Meta confirmed the acquisition of Moltbook, a social networking platform designed specifically for AI agents, while reports suggest the company is spending at least $2 billion to acquire Chinese AI startup Manus.

However, Meta’s AI development push has not been without setbacks. Its latest large language models have faced criticism from developers and researchers, particularly following concerns that benchmark results for earlier versions of the company’s Llama models overstated performance.

Meta ultimately abandoned plans to release the largest version of its Llama 4 model, known internally as Behemoth, after the system failed to meet expectations during testing.

The company’s next flagship AI system, currently being developed under the codename Avocado, is intended to restore Meta’s standing in the increasingly competitive generative AI market, though insiders say progress has been slower than hoped.

Behind the restructuring discussions lies a broader shift in how major technology companies believe AI will transform their workforce.

Zuckerberg has repeatedly suggested that improvements in AI tools will allow companies to achieve the same output with far fewer employees. Earlier this year he said that projects which previously required large teams could now be delivered by a single highly skilled engineer supported by advanced AI systems.

This shift toward “AI-assisted workers” is increasingly reshaping hiring strategies across the technology industry.

Large US technology companies have already begun cutting jobs while simultaneously ramping up spending on AI infrastructure and automation tools. Amazon confirmed earlier this year that it would cut about 16,000 corporate jobs, while payments firm Block recently announced plans to eliminate nearly half its workforce, citing productivity gains from AI.

Workforce experts say the trend reflects a wider recalibration across the tech sector following the rapid hiring surge during the pandemic.

Thea Fineren, chief people officer at IT services company Advania, said the restructuring being considered at Meta reflects a broader shift across the corporate world as AI begins to automate large portions of routine work.

She said companies that expanded aggressively during the pandemic are now reassessing workforce structures in light of rapidly advancing automation technologies.

“Even the world’s most advanced companies are not immune to the accelerating impact of automation and overhiring in the AI era,” she said. “Organisations scaled rapidly during the pandemic and are now confronting the realities of that growth alongside major technological change.”

Fineren said HR leaders must increasingly plan for continuous workforce transformation rather than reacting after technological disruption has already occurred.

Businesses should identify roles most vulnerable to automation while investing in reskilling programmes and new career pathways, she said, adding that companies must maintain a human-centred approach even as AI becomes more deeply embedded in operations.

As artificial intelligence systems take over transactional and repetitive tasks, she argued, employees will increasingly focus on higher-value work that requires judgement, creativity and human interaction.

“It’s not humans versus machines,” she said. “It’s about giving people the best opportunity to add value in areas where human capability still matters most.”

For Meta, however, the coming months could mark another pivotal chapter in its attempt to transform itself from a social media company into one of the world’s leading AI platforms, even if that transformation comes with significant job losses along the way.

Amy Ingham

Amy is a newly qualified journalist specialising in business journalism at Business Matters with responsibility for news content for what is now the UK’s largest print and online source of current business news.

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