After a drop and prolonged drought in employment, the latest numbers indicate that key aftermarket employment is now above pre-pandemic levels.

According to DesRosiers Automotive Consultants, employment at both automotive service providers (ASP) and the auto parts suppliers who serve them has climbed out of the doldrums.

As of December 2023, employment at the ASP level was up 4.8%–reaching a workforce total of 121,000—while automotive parts and accessories stores saw employment increased a strong 4.9% above pre-pandemic levels.

DAC says that the numbers should not be surprising in light of the recovering kilometers-driven data.

Interestingly though, the aftermarket was home to the two bright spots in the automotive employment landscape as employment at manufacturers and car dealers both lagged behind 2019 levels.

Motor vehicle manufacturing employment was a standout, remaining 11.0% behind 2019, while automobile dealers, the largest employer in absolute numbers, still has a small step left to return to 2019 levels, being off by 2.5%.

Employment in the broader automotive sector as a whole continued to increase throughout 2023 and by December, with 604,000 recorded employees, levels nearly returned to the pre-pandemic baseline. Compared to December 2019, employment in December 2023 fell just 0.7% behind.

“The overall employment picture in the automotive space was a positive one by the end of last year,” commented Andrew King, Managing Partner at DAC.

“With the manufacturing side of the industry in the midst of a transformation, it fell to the retail aftermarket to lead the way in terms of employment.”