Data compiled by AAPEX parent organizations Auto Care Association and MEMA Aftermarket Suppliers show the aftermarket contributes about 3.6% of the total U.S. labor force

LAS VEGAS – October 7, 2026 – “Few Americans are familiar with brands like LKQ Corporation, Dorman Products or Standard Motor Parts,” wrote Auto Care CEO Bill Hanvey and MEMA Aftermarket Suppliers President Emily Poladian in a recent commentary published to Real Clear Markets. “Yet the chances are high that a majority of U.S. households unknowingly rely on their products every day.” 

Indeed, it’s the biggest market people outside the industry have never heard of before. This year’s forecast projects the market will reach $2.65 trillion globally and worth $599.7 billion in the U.S. alone, including both light- and heavy-duty vehicles.

It also makes a significant contribution to U.S. employment numbers. For example, in 2025, the aftermarket provided 4,872,300 jobs. That’s according to data compiled by AAPEX parent organizations, the Auto Care Association and MEMA Aftermarket Suppliers.

Mathematically, that works out to about 3.6% of the total U.S. labor force, which the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) puts at 163 million people, ages 16 and older.

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Independent repair shops provide a large share of these jobs, as the partial list above demonstrates, with technicians and customer-facing staff at the counters, yet repair shops are often the last step in a long supply chain. That supply chain includes suppliers, manufacturers, retailers, and distributors, among others. 

As Bill and Emily noted in their piece, “Many of these jobs are seeing compensation rise, keeping pace with inflation. Auto technicians are a good example. Technicians saw average hourly earnings grow 4.5% to $26.81 per hour last year, in part because of the skilled labor shortage.”

These represent stable jobs because, while the aftermarket grows slowly, it has also historically grown steadily, even in the face of economic uncertainty. Career prospects for skilled labor look promising for the foreseeable future. 

Emily has made one more point worth noting for a large market: “Despite its size and economic influence, the aftermarket is remarkable for its tight-knit and relationship-driven culture.” And that’s one reason why, as Bill added, AAPEX is “an industry homecoming where people collaborate to solve hard business problems.”

There’s a more detailed rundown of high-level aftermarket statistics in this year’s 2026 AAPEX Media Guide (opens in PDF). It’s freely available online – no registration is required.

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AAPEX 2026 will be held from Nov. 3-5, 2026, in Las Vegas, Nevada, at The Venetian Expo & AAPEX Forum. See the exhibitor prospectus for exhibiting details. Complimentary passes are available to the media; email: [email protected].

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