In today’s rapidly changing automotive landscape, one truth remains clear: your people are your greatest competitive edge. That’s the core message behind the latest episode of NADA’s Dealer Driven podcast. NADA Academy instructor Matt Vollmer and NADA Industry Relations Manager Joe Fleming join hosts Camron Wilson and Michael Hayes to unpack the findings from the NADA Dealership Workforce Study—the industry’s most comprehensive look at compensation, benefits and workforce trends.
Based on more than 245,000 payroll records, delivers the hard data dealerships need to compete — not on guesses, but on facts. As Vollmer puts it, “The study takes the emotion out of decision-making. It shows what dealerships are really paying — and what employees really value.”
This conversation reveals how dealerships can attract and retain top talent — not just for jobs, but for lifelong careers in the automotive industry.
Today’s workforce looks nothing like it did 10 years ago. For employees ages 18 to 40, schedule flexibility, benefits and company culture now outrank paycheck size as key determinants of their happiness in a workplace. The study’s biggest revelation? Culture and onboarding are key. Dealerships that invest in inclusive, empowering environments are seeing incredible performance gains — particularly among women entering the field. From the first day of onboarding to leadership development, setting the right tone can mean the difference between high turnover and a thriving, loyal team.
As Fleming explains, “This isn’t just about pay scales. It’s about understanding how to serve your people — and your customers — better than ever.”
Discover the Data
Find out how your dealership stacks up and gain access to insights that help you recruit, retain and rise above the competition with the NADA Dealership Workforce Study.
NADA is making it easier than ever for members to filter the data to access insights from the study through a new interactive digital dashboard that lets users explore trends by region, brand and dealership size — turning nationwide research into local, actionable strategy.
The study costs $599 per dealership and is only available to NADA members. However, NADA members who supply records to the study get free access to this data-rich platform. Be sure to submit your records for the 2026 DWS next year.
Learn about more features of the study and examples of real-world application in this episode of Dealer Driven.
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