ECI Report: Europe Needs 105,000 New Bike Mechanics by 2032

Europe's bicycle industry will need to recruit about 105,000 new mechanics by 2032, according to the NextGen Mechanics report from ECI. The projection points to a shortage of specialists able to service e-bikes.

The report estimates Europe currently has around 175,000 bicycle mechanics. By 2032, about 247,000 will be needed, roughly 40% more than today.

E-bikes require electrical diagnostics, firmware checks and motor and battery servicing that mechanical bicycles do not, according to the report. Those tasks go beyond traditional repair skills.

ECI proposed a pan-European common entry-level qualification covering mechanical repair, electrical diagnostics and safety training, with manufacturer-specific training added on top.

Background

According to Electrek, the NextGen Mechanics report estimates Europe currently has around 175,000 bicycle mechanics. Separately, a Shimano survey found about 212 million Europeans faced difficulties maintaining and repairing bicycles due to high costs, long waiting times and a lack of nearby repair shops. Of those, about 121 million were estimated to have reduced their bicycle use. In that survey, 72.5% of respondents cited low wages or low occupational status as a cause of the labour shortage, 55% pointed to a lack of formal qualification and training systems, and half cited the complexity of modern bicycles.