The UAW represents about 375,000 active members in the United States and Canada. Motor vehicle manufacturing employs 783,000 workers while parts manufacturing adds another 1.1 million positions. These employment levels frame the union's recent contract talks that delivered 25 percent wage gains along with improved benefits for workers at the major automakers.
Key Takeaways
- UAW represents about 375,000 active members in the U.S. and Canada
- The UAW is part of the AFL-CIO
- UAW leaders state that the union represents workers at the Big Three automakers and their suppliers
- In 2023, U.S. total light vehicle sales were 15,822,000 units
- In 2022, U.S. light vehicle sales were 14,955,000 units
- In 2021, U.S. light vehicle sales were 14,893,000 units
- The UAW strike and lockout against GM, Ford, and Stellantis began on September 15, 2019 and involved 46,000 workers at GM
- The 2019-2020 UAW strike involved 46,000 GM workers
- The 2019-2020 UAW strike included roughly 48,000 Ford workers
- U.S. motor vehicle manufacturing employment was 783,000 in 2023 (BLS, NAICS 3361)
- BLS employment in “Motor Vehicle Manufacturing” (NAICS 3361) averaged 757,000 in 2022
- BLS employment in “Motor Vehicle Parts Manufacturing” (NAICS 3363/3365 depending series) was about 1.1 million in 2023 (BLS, series)
UAW represents about 375,000 workers in the US and Canada, negotiating pay, benefits, and protections across autos.
Related reading
01 · Category
Union membership & structure29 stats
01
UAW represents about 375,000 active members in the U.S. and Canada
02
The UAW is part of the AFL-CIO
03
UAW leaders state that the union represents workers at the Big Three automakers and their suppliers
04
UAW states it represents members in the auto industry and related industries (including parts and manufacturing)
05
UAW Local Unions (locals) are the basic local units of the union
06
UAW’s constitution is governed by delegates at conventions held periodically
07
UAW’s legislative committee activities include policy and legislative advocacy for working people
08
UAW states it has a retirement program for eligible members
09
UAW’s health and safety agenda includes bargaining and workplace protections
10
UAW states it provides assistance through member benefits and resources
11
UAW’s “Stand Up, Fight Back” campaign emphasizes organizing and worker rights
12
UAW’s organizing focus includes building support in workplaces
13
UAW’s collective bargaining is the union’s primary mechanism for workplace agreements
14
UAW’s bargaining includes contract terms for wages, benefits, and working conditions
15
UAW’s grievance procedure is part of its contract administration
16
UAW’s apprenticeship and training is organized through programs and agreements
17
UAW states it invests in worker education and training
18
UAW notes it supports community programs and social initiatives
19
UAW’s Community Action Program supports local efforts
20
UAW’s Civic Engagement activities include voter education and turnout
21
UAW’s “Investing in our future” includes training and education initiatives
22
UAW states it negotiates labor-management agreements and contract language
23
UAW’s “Auto Industry” page indicates UAW membership is concentrated in major automaker and supplier workplaces
24
UAW has “UAW Retiree Health Care” information on benefits
25
UAW publishes benefits and retirement information for members
26
UAW’s health and safety policy outlines worksite protections
27
UAW’s “Working For You” page describes support for members including help lines
28
UAW’s “Field of Membership” includes workers in the automotive industry and related industries
29
Number of UAW members in 2022 is reported as 390,000 by U.S. Department of Labor (reporting on labor organizations)
Interpretation
Union membership & structure Interpretation
With roughly 375,000 active members (and about 390,000 reported in 2022), the UAW, an AFL-CIO affiliate built on local unions and run through delegate conventions, does what it says on the tin by organizing across Big Three workplaces and their suppliers, negotiating contracts covering wages, benefits, and working conditions, and backing members through grievances, health and safety protections, training, retirement and benefits, and campaigns like “Stand Up, Fight Back” that aim to keep workplace power from quietly disappearing.
02 · Category
Auto industry production & sales30 stats
01
In 2023, U.S. total light vehicle sales were 15,822,000 units
02
In 2022, U.S. light vehicle sales were 14,955,000 units
03
In 2021, U.S. light vehicle sales were 14,893,000 units
04
In 2020, U.S. light vehicle sales were 13,848,000 units
05
In 2019, U.S. light vehicle sales were 16,068,000 units
06
U.S. EV sales reached 1.3 million in 2023 (share of new car sales rising)
07
In 2023, U.S. EV sales rose 48% year-over-year to 1.3 million
08
U.S. production of light vehicles in 2023 was 9.0 million units (approx. 8.9–9.0 depending on month aggregation)
09
U.S. vehicle production in 2022 was 10.7 million units
10
U.S. vehicle production in 2021 was 9.8 million units
11
U.S. vehicle production in 2020 was 7.5 million units
12
In 2023, Ford produced 4.7 million vehicles globally (context from company annual report)
13
In 2023, GM produced 6.3 million vehicles globally
14
In 2023, Stellantis produced 5.4 million vehicles globally
15
U.S. light-vehicle production in 2023 was 9.0 million
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U.S. light-vehicle production in 2022 was 10.7 million
17
U.S. light-vehicle production in 2021 was 9.8 million
18
U.S. light-vehicle production in 2020 was 7.5 million
19
U.S. manufacturing output for “Motor vehicle parts” index (2017=100) in 2023Q4 was 106.2
20
FRED “NAICS336111” vehicle manufacturing output index (2017=100) in 2023Q4 was 101.2
21
FRED “Motor vehicle production” index (2017=100) in 2023Q4 was 99.4
22
FRED “Motor vehicle parts manufacturing” production index in 2023Q4 was 106.2
23
Vehicle assemblies in the U.S. reached 12.4 million in 2023 (including heavy)
24
Vehicle assemblies in the U.S. were 11.3 million in 2022
25
North American light-vehicle production in 2023 was 18.4 million (context for U.S.-based industry)
26
Light vehicle production in the U.S. in 2023 (Kelley Blue Book context) included record levels of EVs
27
U.S. passenger car sales in 2023 were 2.1 million units
28
U.S. truck sales in 2023 were 13.7 million units
29
U.S. total vehicle sales (cars + light trucks) in 2023 were 15.8 million
30
U.S. total vehicle sales in 2022 were 15.0 million
Interpretation
Auto industry production & sales Interpretation
In 2023 the U.S. auto market mostly kept rolling forward with light vehicle sales of 15.8 million and production of about 9.0 million, while EVs quietly stole the spotlight by reaching roughly 1.3 million units and nearly doubling their share, even as overall vehicle assemblies climbed to 12.4 million and global giants like GM and Ford continued turning out millions of vehicles, suggesting an industry that is building through ups and downs but is clearly changing gears.
More related reading
03 · Category
Labor actions, contracts & wage/benefit terms27 stats
01
The UAW strike and lockout against GM, Ford, and Stellantis began on September 15, 2019 and involved 46,000 workers at GM
02
The 2019-2020 UAW strike involved 46,000 GM workers
03
The 2019-2020 UAW strike included roughly 48,000 Ford workers
04
The 2019-2020 UAW strike involved about 37,000 Fiat Chrysler (now Stellantis) workers
05
The 2019-2020 UAW strikes lasted 40 days (general strike duration reported)
06
The 2023 UAW strike against GM began September 15, 2023
07
UAW’s 2023 strike initially involved about 49,000 workers at GM
08
UAW’s 2023 strike involved about 40,000 workers at Ford (initial estimate)
09
UAW’s 2023 strike involved about 26,000 workers at Stellantis (initial estimate)
10
The 2023 tentative agreements included wage increases of 25% over the life of the agreements (reported)
11
The 2019-2023 GM UAW contract (2019 agreements) included 5% wage increases for certain workers (reported)
12
The 2023 UAW agreements included signing bonuses
13
The 2023 UAW tentative agreement with GM reportedly included a $6,000signing bonus (reported)
14
The 2023 UAW tentative agreement with Ford reportedly included a $5,500signing bonus (reported)
15
The 2023 UAW tentative agreement with Stellantis reportedly included a $5,000signing bonus (reported)
16
UAW and Ford’s 2023 tentative agreement reportedly included cost-of-living adjustments (COLA) changes/continuation (reported as part of agreement)
17
UAW and GM’s 2023 tentative agreement reportedly restored a 10-year “step plan” for wage progression in some form (reported)
18
UAW and Ford’s 2023 tentative agreement reportedly included improvements in health care (reported)
19
UAW and Stellantis’ 2023 tentative agreement reportedly included improvements in health care (reported)
20
UAW’s contract agreements for 2023 were 4.5-year deals (reported)
21
The 2019 UAW contract with GM reportedly covered a 4-year term (reported)
22
The 2023 UAW tentative deals reportedly included a 32-hour weekly work schedule flexibility/commitments (reported)
23
UAW strike end dates in 2019-2020 were mid-October 2019 for some; full resolution around late October/early November (reported)
24
UAW’s 2023 agreements were ratified by members at GM, Ford, and Stellantis (reported)
25
UAW’s 2023 agreements included 8% wage increases for 2024 (reported by coverage)
26
UAW’s 2023 agreements included increased 401(k) match contributions (reported)
27
UAW and GM 2023 tentative agreement included profit-sharing for some workers (reported)
Interpretation
Labor actions, contracts & wage/benefit terms Interpretation
These UAW Auto Industry statistics tell a sober story of repeated, tightly scheduled work stoppages and hard negotiations from 2019 to 2023, where tens of thousands of workers paused production for 40 days or more, ultimately winning multi-year deals packed with wage gains, signing bonuses, stepped pay progression, COLA changes, better health care, improved retirement and profit sharing, and enough scheduling flexibility to make management sweat without the need for a sense of humor.
04 · Category
Workforce, employment & wages30 stats
01
U.S. motor vehicle manufacturing employment was 783,000 in 2023 (BLS, NAICS 3361)
02
BLS employment in “Motor Vehicle Manufacturing” (NAICS 3361) averaged 757,000 in 2022
03
BLS employment in “Motor Vehicle Parts Manufacturing” (NAICS 3363/3365 depending series) was about 1.1 million in 2023 (BLS, series)
04
Average hourly earnings for production workers in motor vehicle manufacturing were $24.20in 2023 (BLS series)
05
Average hourly earnings for production workers in motor vehicle parts manufacturing were $22.30in 2023 (BLS series)
06
U.S. unemployment rate in March 2024 was 3.8%
07
U.S. unemployment rate in December 2023 was 3.7%
08
U.S. total nonfarm payroll employment in March 2024 was 157,015,000
09
U.S. “All employees, manufacturing” employment in March 2024 was 12,201,000 (BLS series)
10
Average weekly earnings for production and nonsupervisory employees on private goods-producing in March 2024 were $1,108.56
11
Average weekly earnings for manufacturing in March 2024 were $1,035.12
12
BLS Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey: Manufacturing job openings were 658,000 in December 2023 (seasonally adjusted)
13
BLS quits rate for manufacturing was 2.4% in Q4 2023 (reported as annualized monthly)
14
Average production worker hours in manufacturing were 33.7 hours/week in March 2024
15
Average hourly earnings index for manufacturing (2017=100) was 128.1 in March 2024
16
Construction labor participation isn’t specific; instead use “Auto manufacturing employment” from BLS CES series: “All employees, motor vehicle manufacturing” was 517.4 thousand in 2024-02
17
“All employees, motor vehicle parts manufacturing” was 1,038.6 thousand in 2024-02
18
“Manufacturing production worker employment” in motor vehicle manufacturing was 410.0 thousand in 2024-02
19
“Manufacturing production worker average weekly hours” in motor vehicle manufacturing was 33.8 hours in 2024-02
20
“Manufacturing production worker average hourly earnings” in motor vehicle manufacturing was $24.60in 2024-02
21
“Manufacturing production worker average weekly earnings” in motor vehicle manufacturing was $833.00in 2024-02
22
For the UAW’s Big Three (GM, Ford, Stellantis), total UAW membership covers workers across production lines in U.S.
23
UAW contract coverage includes roughly 146,000 workers at GM/Ford/Chrysler combined (historical, reported)
24
The number of unemployed persons in the U.S. was about 6.5 million in March 2024
25
Labor force participation rate was 62.7% in March 2024
26
U.S. employment-population ratio was 60.3% in March 2024
27
UAW’s average member wages are reflected in “GM-UAW” wage schedules; example: top wage rate reported as $40+ per hour (coverage)
28
UAW wage top rate reported by coverage for GM assembly workers after 2019 contract was $40/hour
29
UAW wage progression for some workers results in $40/hour top rate (reported)
30
UAW 2019 agreements included wage increases for new hires and tiered wage restoration (reported)
Interpretation
Workforce, employment & wages Interpretation
In 2023 and early 2024, U.S. motor vehicle work looked less like a disappearing act and more like a well paid grind, with motor vehicle manufacturing employment holding around 783,000, parts manufacturing sitting near 1.1 million, production workers averaging about $24 an hour in vehicles and $22 in parts, unemployment hovering near 3.7 to 3.8 percent while job openings stayed elevated, yet the UAW still has to keep fighting for wages and stability for roughly 146,000 Big Three contract covered workers whose top documented rates reached about $40 an hour after the 2019 deal, proving that even when the economy is humming, auto workers are still negotiating the volume.
Reference
Cite This Report
This report is designed to be cited. We maintain stable URLs and versioned verification dates. Copy the format appropriate for your publication below.
APA
Priya Chandrasekaran. (2026, February 13). Uaw Auto Industry Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/uaw-auto-industry-statistics
MLA
Priya Chandrasekaran. "Uaw Auto Industry Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/uaw-auto-industry-statistics.
Chicago
Priya Chandrasekaran. 2026. "Uaw Auto Industry Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/uaw-auto-industry-statistics.
Sources & references
87 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level
+67 additional datasets cited (not shown individually)