Stable employment opportunities

Employment opportunities for motorcycle engineers are influenced by the the number of motorcycles registered in New Zealand, petrol prices, and the increased usage of motorcycles as a form of leisure vehicle.

Steady increase in motorcycles numbers in New Zealand

Demand for motorcycle engineers is likely to remain stable due to steady growth in the number of motorcycles registered in New Zealand. In 2005, there were 37,717 licensed motorcycles compared with 34,873 in 2004, a 7.5% increase. This increase mirrors the growth in the number of registered vehicles in New Zealand. Motorcycles need to be regularly serviced and any increase in the number of motorcycles impacts on job numbers.

Flucatuating petrol prices

Between June 1999 and June 2006 petrol prices grew by 106%. Fluctuating petrol prices over the last four years have increased the number of motorcycles on the road, as some people see motorcycles and scooters as more economical to run than cars.

Motorcycle business cyclical

According to census figures, there is a growing trend for people to use motorcycles as leisure vehicles rather than just for transport. This means more motorcycles are used and sold during the summer months, and service centres are busier at this time of year, which can create a need for casual staff.

A number of motorcycle businesses based in rural areas service quad bikes and farm bikes. These businesses are influenced by farm incomes, which are in turn influenced by export earnings for meat, wool and dairy. This means the workload of motorcycle engineers can fluctuate depending on whether farmers can afford to trade in old bikes or repair existing bikes.

Strong knowledge of franchise bikes needed

The majority of motorcycle workshops are attached to a motorcycle shop, and these shops are often franchise dealers for different motorcycle brands. This means motorcycle engineers build up knowledge about their shop's franchise bikes and have a general knowledge of other bikes. Motorcycle engineers in rural regions tend to work more on farm machinery and farm bikes than those working in cities.

Ongoing knowledge of computer systems required

Fuel injection systems have become more common on motorcycles, and it is expected that eventually these systems will be found on all motorcycles models. Motorcycle engineers need to be able to operate specialised computer equipment, which is used to diagnose faults and tune fuel injection systems.

Turnover

Turnover among motorcycle engineers is moderate to low. Turnover is partly influenced by a shortage of qualified engineers, which means experienced workers often remain in their jobs for longer due to higher levels of pay. This can also make it hard for unqualified people to gain apprenticeships.

Turnover is higher among junior motorcycle engineers who frequently change employers to advance their careers or to travel. A common trend is for people to do apprenticeships in rural areas and then move to city centers once they are qualified for higher wages and the lifestyle.

(Written 11/04/2007)


Sources:

• Statistics New Zealand. Economic Indicators: price index developments. 'How Petrol Prices have tracked since the 1980s'. April 2007. (www.stats.govt.nz).


• Statistics New Zealand. 'Total Motor Vehicle Numbers. June 2005'. 2006 New Zealand Census.