New cycling sector report says Europe needs 105,000 more bike mechanics within the next 6 years
Posted on in Business News , Cycles News
Europe will need around 105,000 additional bike mechanics by 2032, according to new industry analysis which says the sector is already 45,000 mechanics short of meeting current demand.
The NextGen Mechanics report, published by European Cycling Industries (ECI), is the first estimate based on employment data from cycle retailers and finds Europe currently employs around 175,000 mechanics but will need close to 250,000 in 6 years time.
The report sets out 27 recommendations covering workforce development, recruitment, vocational education and training, the economics of cycle maintenance and structures for industry action.
The report highlights the wider impact of the shortage, with Shimano's State of the Nation 2026 survey finding that 212 million people across Europe face barriers to maintaining their bikes, with 121 million cycling less and 7.6 million having stopped altogether.
It also says modern mechanics are increasingly required to work with firmware, battery systems and digital drivetrains, while research from OOMT, the Dutch training and development fund for the motor vehicle and two-wheeler sector, found 24% of mechanics left the industry in the Netherlands in 2024.
The report warns that limited access to professional workshops is also contributing to an informal repair market, including repairs to illegally modified e-bikes that established workshops may decline to service.
Its recommendations include supporting and developing the existing workforce, growing the workforce, building a European vocational education and training framework, improving the economics of cycle maintenance and consumer value, and creating structures for continued action.
Specific priorities include a pan-European assessment of skills gaps, a standardised and replicable European training framework for bicycle mechanics and pilot programmes with cities and industry partners.
Cytech contributed to the report and is represented within its Vocational Education and Training Expert Group, co-chaired by Cytech and Innovam, drawing on its experience in mechanic training and accreditation.
Ties Van Dijk, Advocacy & Strategy at Shimano, said: “We know from talking with bike shops that the workshop matters more to their business every year, and they cannot find the people to staff it. We convened NextGen Mechanics to understand the problem properly and are pleased to collaborate with ECI ongoing trying to solve it, because no single company can fix this alone.”
Jonathan Harrison
Jonathan Harrison, Director of the ACT and co-chair of the report's Vocational Education and Training Expert Group, said: “The growing complexity of modern bicycles means that the role of the cycle mechanic is increasingly skilled and specialised, making investment in training and career development essential. Accredited training such as Cytech can play an important role in giving mechanics the skills and recognised standards needed to meet the changing demands of the industry.”
Mario Nava, Director-General for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion at the European Commission, told the European Cycling Industries Summit in Brussels: “Bicycle mechanics is something that can’t be replaced by AI; bike mechanics are a job of the future, and we will need many more for the future, as many more people will cycle.”
The NextGen Mechanics initiative will now transition into a permanent working group under ECI, following contributions from industry, cities, training providers, NGOs and mechanics.
Click here to view the report in full.
Members of the ACT get exclusive access to Cytech accreditation. To learn more, visit the Cytech website.