THE AUTOPEOPLE REPORT | April 2026
THE AUTOPEOPLE REPORT
April 2026
Dealership Hiring Challenges & Pay Trends in 2026
The broader labor market may be cooling, but automotive retail continues to operate by its own rules. For dealership owners and operators, this creates a unique hiring environment, one where competition for proven leadership remains fierce, and compensation continues to be the defining factor in securing top-tier talent.
Understanding these dynamics is essential for dealerships that want to outperform.
Hiring experienced automotive leaders has never been simple but today’s dealership environment makes it even more challenging. Competition for top performers is intense, qualified candidates are limited, and many markets have already tapped into the same pool of local talent repeatedly.
For dealership owners and decision-makers, the instinct is often to focus hiring efforts within their immediate market. It feels easier, less risky, and more familiar.
Why Dealerships Should Recruit Automotive Leaders Beyond Their Local Market
Hiring experienced automotive leaders has never been simple but today’s dealership environment makes it even more challenging. Competition for top performers is intense, qualified candidates are limited, and many markets have already tapped into the same pool of local talent repeatedly. For dealership owners and decision-makers, the instinct is often to focus hiring efforts within their immediate market. It feels easier, less risky, and more familiar.
Read More
Why Dealerships Should Recruit Automotive Leaders Beyond Their Local Market
One of the most common—and costly—leadership mistakes we see is micromanagement. Most dealers understand the importance of hiring talented managers. But too often, once those managers are in place, ownership remains deeply involved in day-to-day decisions. The result? Weakened leadership, frustrated high performers, and stalled growth. Read More
Building Strong Department Leaders: The Engine Behind Sustainable Dealership Growth
Sustainable growth rarely comes from a single superstar salesperson or a hot quarter. It comes from strong department leaders who build structure, develop people, and create repeatable results. Dealerships that consistently outperform their markets share a common trait: they invest in high-caliber managers and give them the authority to lead. Those that struggle often cycle through talent, relying on individual contributors rather than building leadership depth. Read More
Building Strong Department Leaders: The Engine Behind Sustainable Dealership Growth
Sustainable growth rarely comes from a single superstar salesperson or a hot quarter. It comes from strong department leaders who build structure, develop people, and create repeatable results. Dealerships that consistently outperform their markets share a common trait: they invest in high-caliber managers and give them the authority to lead. Those that struggle often cycle through talent, relying on individual contributors rather than building leadership depth. Read More
At Autopeople, we’re recognized as the leading automotive recruitment firm, serving the entire United States and specializing in the recruitment of key automotive talent.
In order to help organizations in the Automotive industry stay competitive and up-to-date, Autopeople created this guide to help employers in evaluating their pay rates while making some adjustments to improve both retention and hiring initiatives. It’s critical to offer competitive salaries, and we’ve compiled the most extensive market data in the auto market in this exclusive report. It is available now for instant download.
Complete the form and download now.
At Autopeople, we’re recognized as the leading automotive recruitment firm, serving the entire United States and specializing in the recruitment of key automotive talent.
In order to help organizations in the Automotive industry stay competitive and up-to-date, Autopeople created this guide to help employers in evaluating their pay rates while making some adjustments to improve both retention and hiring initiatives. It’s critical to offer competitive salaries, and we’ve compiled the most extensive market data in the auto market in this exclusive report. It is available now for instant download.
Complete the form and download now.
Please view our website at www.autopeople.com, call 1-800-659-9501 or email me, David Adragna, at [email protected] to discuss what Autopeople
can do for you.
