The demand is real, but so is the gap. In 2025 there were 55,000 unfilled long-term vacancies in UK manufacturing, costing the economy £6bn in lost output every year Make UK – Industrial Strategy Skills Commission Report 2025. That tells you the roles exist. The problem is finding the right people to do them.
Skills sit at the top of the worry list. Manufacturers name skills shortages (75%), recruitment (36%) and talent retention (32%) as their biggest barriers to growth Barclays Corporate – Skills shortage in UK Manufacturing. When a sector this important can't hire and hold onto talent, every new product line, including speciality coatings, competes for the same short supply of technical people.
Speciality coatings, from anti-corrosion and thermal barriers to low-carbon and functional finishes, need people who blend chemistry, process control and quality assurance. Think coating technicians, formulation and process engineers, and quality specialists who can prove a finish performs to spec. Sustainability know-how matters too, and it's already scarce: 76% of engineering employers struggle to recruit for key roles, with technical and specialist sustainability skills topping the list Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET).
The work is changing shape as well as growing. Six in ten (59%) manufacturers cite automation and half (50%) cite wider digitalisation as trends reshaping jobs and skills, and 74% expect demand for cognitive and meta-cognitive skills to increase by 2030 Make UK – 2030 Skills: Closing the Gap. Coatings roles now sit alongside automated lines and digital quality systems, so problem-solving counts as much as hands-on craft.
This demand fits a wider national picture. Occupations in digital, adult social care, construction and engineering show the greatest additional employment demand between 2025 and 2030 GOV.UK - Assessment of priority skills to 2030 (Skills England). Engineering-led manufacturing, coatings included, is squarely in that growth zone.
Start with a clear picture of the person, not just the job title. Speciality coatings roles reward a mix of process discipline, chemistry and quality thinking, so write briefs around the skills you actually need rather than a long wish list. That widens your pool and speeds up decisions.
Build a route in and a route up. Some 40% of manufacturers are looking to upskill their existing workforce, specifically for redeployment as a result of automation and digitalisation, a figure that rises for firms with more than 1,000 employees Make UK Executive Survey 2026. So pair external hiring with internal development: bring in the specialists you can't grow quickly, and train up the people you already trust.
Then move fast. In a market with 55,000 unfilled long-term vacancies Make UK – Industrial Strategy Skills Commission Report 2025, the best technical people rarely stay available for long. A slow process loses them. Clear role definitions, quick feedback and a short interview loop protect the shortlist you worked hard to build.
This is where we help. We search 15 million candidates to surface people with the coating, process and quality skills your line needs, so you spend your time on the right shortlist rather than the search. We manage recruitment end to end: matching, contacting and helping you book interviews, then supporting you to a hire. Our recruitment agent manages recruitment end to end for 8% on a successful hire, with no monthly fee and no upfront cost. Ready to fill your next coatings role? Tell Reed.ai who you're looking for and get a ranked shortlist to review.
