New-car dealership employment reaches 1.1 million in 2018’s first half

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Among the 16,794 new-car dealerships in the United States, a new report from the National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA) shows job growth has reached 1.1 million people in the first half of this year.

The NADA Data 2018: Midyear Report reveals that those numbers have risen 0.8 percent compared to the same time last year. This marks an increase that has been continuing for several years, coupled with a rise in total compensation and incomes. In 2017, the average salary was $71,916 per year, a jump of 3.1 percent over the previous report.

“In addition to the direct employment provided by dealerships, more than 1 million other jobs in local communities are dependent on dealerships,” Patrick Manzi, NADA senior economist, said.

Manzi added that dealers jobs offer higher compensation than other retail sectors, contributing to job growth. New-car dealerships themselves are also facing a payroll rise. In 2017, data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics revealed their annual payroll clocked in at $65.3 billion — a 2.2 percent gain over the previous report.