The used car market is a good barometer of the strength of the UK's automobile sector and it appears it is likely to remain strong in 2014 which is great for automotive job seekers with Unity Recruitment.

Average used car values have hit all-time highs in 2013 and British Car Auctions (BCA) has predicted this will once again be the case next year.

With the availability of used cars of the standard required by retailers set to remain relatively limited, dealers will be in a position to charge high prices for their vehicles.

Simon Henstock, UK operations director at BCA, explained the organisation has seen a healthy rise in dealer part-exchanges this year, which backs up the idea that retail sales have been strong. He pointed to fleet and lease stock as one area that is limited at the moment.

"While new car volumes have recovered well in 2013, it will be some time before we see those volumes reach the used car sector. As the chart shows, the availability of three-to-five-year-old cars will continue to be depressed at least until 2015, when compared to the volumes available before the recession took hold," he stated.

All of this suggests values will continue to remain at or above record highs, as a lack of supply pushes prices up.

Such a trend could be good news for car showrooms all around the UK and those who wish to apply for automotive jobs that allow them to showcase their sales abilities.

The latest figures from the BCA's Pulse Report indicates used car values in 2013 witnessed a substantial year-on-year growth in comparison with the results from 2012, with a boom of about 15 per cent recorded.

Professional buyers are said to be focused on investing in older, higher mileage cars for resale.

Mr Henstock went on to explain that a year ago many experts felt the upward trend in used car values could not be maintained, but the results in 2013 suggest there is no sign of a fall coming any time soon.