Fuel Efficiency Is Powering Job Growth In The U.S. Automotive Sector
by Roland Hwang, via NRDC’s Switchboard A review of the latest government jobs data reveals an indisputable fact: the U.S. auto industry is making a remarkable recovery. While not the only reason as our new report demonstrates, there is also little doubt that higher fuel efficiency is playing a critical role in the auto industry’s revitalization. Since June 2009, when the auto industry hit bottom, the U.S. auto industry has grown by 236,600 jobs. Manufacturing of motor vehicles and parts has grown by 165,100 jobs, or 26.4 percent, easily outpacing the recovery of the economy as a whole (see Chart 1 below). Recovery is so strong in three largest auto states, Michigan, Ohio, and Indiana, that auto jobs directly accounts for an astounding 38 percent of the total jobs added in those states, or 66,300 jobs, since the auto industry hit bottom in June 2009 (see Chart 2 below). Vehicle sales are up greatly year-over-year (see chart 3 below), and it is sales of fuel efficient vehicles that a...