2026 Industry Report

The State of the Automotive Workforce

The automotive retail workforce is at a critical inflection point. HR4's insights reveals patterns that most dealers can't see, because they lack the data infrastructure to track them. This report shares insights that are transforming how top performing dealerships approach hiring, onboarding, and retention.

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The 2026 Automotive Workforce, In Data

Insights from 800+ dealerships and 500,000+ hiring records. Read about benchmarks on hiring, onboarding, turnover, and retention — plus the strategies top performers use to win.

Turnover Starts Earlier Than You Think

Did you know 27.6% of exits happen in the first 90 days and the average time-to-hire is 13.9 days? The key insight: hiring slightly slower often leads to stronger retention.

The 90-Day Window Drives Profit

By year one, 58% of turnover has already occurred and sales turnover reaches 126% annually. A 10–15 point reduction can save $400K–$600K per dealership.