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Auto-Industry Employment Hits Highest Figure Since Summer 2008

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See a few extra employees at your local car dealership? That’s because employment in the auto industry has reached a nearly 5 1/2-year high. Automakers and auto-parts suppliers employed 846,400 Americans in January 2014, according to seasonally adjusted preliminary data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. That’s up nearly 47,000 from January 2013. Car dealers employed another 1.16 million Americans, up 42,000 from a year ago. Both figures are the highest since August 2008.

American-Made Index: Which Automakers Affect the Most U.S. Workers?

Still, there might just be more dealers setting up shop — or reopening — in your local auto mall. The National Auto Dealers Association says 17,540 franchised dealers (e.g., Joe’s Chevrolet) existed in 2012, its latest year on record. That’s down from 20,770 dealers in 2008, but the figures don’t include independent dealers (e.g., Joe’s Used Cars).

Our friends at the Detroit News have more. Click here for the full story.

Assistant Managing Editor-News
Kelsey Mays

Former Assistant Managing Editor-News Kelsey Mays likes quality, reliability, safety and practicality. But he also likes a fair price.

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