U.S. Department of Energy - Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy

Vehicle Technologies Program

Fact #570: May 11, 2009
Automotive Manufacturing Employment Declining

The number of people employed by automotive manufacturing has been decreasing since 2000. Although nearly three times as many people are employed by motor vehicle parts manufacturing as motor vehicle manufacturing, parts manufacturing has experienced a sharper decline in employment since 2000.

Automotive Manufacturing Employment, 1990-2008
Graph showing the number of people employed in automotive manufacturing from 1990 to 2008. Automotive parts manufacturing has experienced a steeper decline in employment from 2000 as compared to the decline in motor vehicle employment. For more detailed information, see the table below.

Supporting Information

Automotive Manufacturing Employment, 1990-2008 (Thousands of Employees)
Year Motor Vehicles Motor Vehicle Parts
1990 271.4 653.0
1991 258.4 638.9
1992 259.9 661.2
1993 263.7 677.8
1994 281.5 735.6
1995 294.7 786.9
1996 285.3 799.9
1997 286.8 808.9
1998 283.6 818.2
1999 291.3 837.1
2000 291.4 839.5
2001 278.7 774.7
2002 265.4 733.6
2003 264.6 707.8
2004 255.9 692.1
2005 247.6 678.1
2006 236.5 654.7
2007 220.0 607.9
2008 190.7 544.4

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics database.

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