It is easy to take cars for granted. They are all around us, and we have become dependent on them without even noticing. Most of our cities were originally built at a time before the motor car became an essential part of modern living, but we have been steadily adapting them to make them more carfriendly, usually to the detriment of other forms of transport. But, despite the fact that we have become slaves to traffic, we rarely think about the enormous industry that has built up around the car trade . . . or the job opportunities that this trade has created.

A career in the motor industry has been romanticised by no less than The Beatles, whose heroine from the Sergeant Pepper classic "She's Leaving Home" finds independence through a job in the motor trade. But, despite this early intervention on behalf of the working woman, when most people think about jobs in motors, they think about men, and specifically salespeople and mechanics. Which is a slightly misconstrued notion . . .

after all, when most people walk into car showrooms, the first person to greet them is as often as not a woman.

"The majority of jobs in the motor industry are in aftersales, " said Peter Barry, managing director of Brompton Recruitment, which specialises in the motor trade.

"This includes any aspect of after-sales care, from the person to answers the phone, to receptionists, advisers, technicians, parts people, up to after-sales managers and directors of after-sales. This is the biggest growth area in the car business, and conversely, it is also the area that has the greatest shortfall of suitable candidates . . . there is a lack of young people getting into the motor trade, especially in the areas of mechanics, parts and technicians."

Much of the reason for this growth in the after-sales segment of the motor trade is because the manufacturers are pushing the segment very strongly. If a person wants to be a dealer for a given marque, they will now have to invest very heavily in both their showrooms and their after sales. But, in addition to this, because of the changes to what was known in the trade as "block exemption" (where dealers in certain marques were excluded from selling or servicing other brands or in other demarcated "zones"), dealerships can now service any make of car . . . which has made the whole service industry very competitive, and which is increasing the drive towards ever more professional service areas.

Still, whatever the reasons, the reality is that, despite the fact that the industry offers good jobs with opportunities for advancement, after-sales is finding it difficult to recruit new people.

"Sales is seen as the flashier end of the business, " said Pamela Owens, senior consultant for the motor trade at Brompton Recruitment.

"Everyone wants to get in and sell BMWs. And I have never seen a kid who has told me that he would just love to be a parts manager - so people are just not coming to certain ends of the trade, and we are not finding enough young people looking for apprenticeships."

This is despite the fact that the motor trade has become much more professional; and due to its successes since Irish people found some money in their pockets, it can now pay more. Skilled technicians can be earning in the region of 40,000. And while that may not be up at the same level as, say, a senior fund accountant (although, for those who believe that a sector like motors cannot compete with the financial sector, it can be significantly more than a junior fund administrator earns), it is still a decent remuneration package for those whose first love is cars.

"The motor trade is often a calling, " said Peter Barry.

"People have a passion for cars . . . so it is like the old cliche "find a job that you love, and you never work another day in your life". But, while people are interested in cars, it is often the case that the trade does not do enough to attract them to a job in the industry."

One of the reasons for this is that many people do not understand the sheer scope of opportunities available through the trade. Obviously, there are after sales and service, but what about account managers? Customer facing? Front of House? Administration?

Valeting? As well as a host of professional jobs, in areas such as finance, HR and IT?

And, of course, a career in selling cars.

"There are certain skills that are required to be a sales executive, " said Pamela Owens. "Even without basic car sales experience, dealerships will be looking for people with a retail background, or with superior customer facing skills . . . people who can close sales. It is no longer a trade for wheelerdealers, especially given the millions that have been invested in showrooms. And even the smaller, used car dealerships, which are still the domain of Arthur Daly, are developing and modernising."