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 Canadahttps://uaw.org/about-uaw/
02
The UAW is part of the AFL-CIOhttps://aflcio.org/about/affiliates/uaw
03
UAW leaders state that the union represents workers at the Big Three automakers and their suppliershttps://uaw.org/about-uaw/
04
UAW states it represents members in the auto industry and related industries (including parts and manufacturing)https://uaw.org/about-uaw/
05
UAW Local Unions (locals) are the basic local units of the unionhttps://uaw.org/about-uaw/
06
UAW’s constitution is governed by delegates at conventions held periodicallyhttps://uaw.org/about-uaw/
07
UAW’s legislative committee activities include policy and legislative advocacy for working peoplehttps://uaw.org/about-uaw/
08
UAW states it has a retirement program for eligible membershttps://uaw.org/benefits/
09
UAW’s health and safety agenda includes bargaining and workplace protectionshttps://uaw.org/issues/health-safety/
10
UAW states it provides assistance through member benefits and resourceshttps://uaw.org/benefits/
11
UAW’s “Stand Up, Fight Back” campaign emphasizes organizing and worker rightshttps://uaw.org/what-we-do/organizing/
12
UAW’s organizing focus includes building support in workplaceshttps://uaw.org/what-we-do/organizing/
13
UAW’s collective bargaining is the union’s primary mechanism for workplace agreementshttps://uaw.org/what-we-do/collective-bargaining/
14
UAW’s bargaining includes contract terms for wages, benefits, and working conditionshttps://uaw.org/what-we-do/collective-bargaining/
15
UAW’s grievance procedure is part of its contract administrationhttps://uaw.org/what-we-do/collective-bargaining/
16
UAW’s apprenticeship and training is organized through programs and agreementshttps://uaw.org/issues/workplace-training/
17
UAW states it invests in worker education and traininghttps://uaw.org/issues/workplace-training/
18
UAW notes it supports community programs and social initiativeshttps://uaw.org/what-we-do/community/
19
UAW’s Community Action Program supports local effortshttps://uaw.org/what-we-do/community/
20
UAW’s Civic Engagement activities include voter education and turnouthttps://uaw.org/what-we-do/civic-engagement/
21
UAW’s “Investing in our future” includes training and education initiativeshttps://uaw.org/issues/workplace-training/
22
UAW states it negotiates labor-management agreements and contract languagehttps://uaw.org/what-we-do/collective-bargaining/
23
UAW’s “Auto Industry” page indicates UAW membership is concentrated in major automaker and supplier workplaceshttps://uaw.org/about-uaw/
24
UAW has “UAW Retiree Health Care” information on benefitshttps://uaw.org/benefits/retiree-health-care/
25
UAW publishes benefits and retirement information for membershttps://uaw.org/benefits/
26
UAW’s health and safety policy outlines worksite protectionshttps://uaw.org/issues/health-safety/
27
UAW’s “Working For You” page describes support for members including help lineshttps://uaw.org/working-for-you/
28
UAW’s “Field of Membership” includes workers in the automotive industry and related industrieshttps://uaw.org/about-uaw/
29
Number of UAW members in 2022 is reported as 390,000 by U.S. Department of Labor (reporting on labor organizations)https://www.dol.gov/agencies/olms/resources/reports/labor-organizations/members/union-membership-2022
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 unitshttps://www.goodcarbadcar.net/2023-us-car-sales-15-822-000/
02
In 2022, U.S. light vehicle sales were 14,955,000 unitshttps://www.goodcarbadcar.net/2022-us-car-sales-14-955-000/
03
In 2021, U.S. light vehicle sales were 14,893,000 unitshttps://www.goodcarbadcar.net/2021-us-car-sales-14-893-000/
04
In 2020, U.S. light vehicle sales were 13,848,000 unitshttps://www.goodcarbadcar.net/2020-us-car-sales-13-848-000/
05
In 2019, U.S. light vehicle sales were 16,068,000 unitshttps://www.goodcarbadcar.net/2019-us-car-sales-16-068-000/
06
U.S. EV sales reached 1.3 million in 2023 (share of new car sales rising)https://www.acea.auto/files/2024-03/ACEA_Report_Coordinated_2024.pdf
07
In 2023, U.S. EV sales rose 48% year-over-year to 1.3 millionhttps://www.coxautoinc.com/press-release/cox-automotive-u-s-electric-vehicle-sales-jumped-48-percent-in-2023-to-record-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)https://www.oica.net/category/production-statistics/2023-statistics/
09
U.S. vehicle production in 2022 was 10.7 million unitshttps://www.oica.net/category/production-statistics/2022-statistics/
10
U.S. vehicle production in 2021 was 9.8 million unitshttps://www.oica.net/category/production-statistics/2021-statistics/
11
U.S. vehicle production in 2020 was 7.5 million unitshttps://www.oica.net/category/production-statistics/2020-statistics/
12
In 2023, Ford produced 4.7 million vehicles globally (context from company annual report)https://corporate.ford.com/content/dam/corporate/en-us/newsroom/2024/01/ford-2023-annual-report.pdf
13
In 2023, GM produced 6.3 million vehicles globallyhttps://www.gm.com/content/dam/company/docs/us/en/investors/annual-reports/2023-annual-report.pdf
14
In 2023, Stellantis produced 5.4 million vehicles globallyhttps://www.stellantis.com/en/investors/annual-results
15
U.S. light-vehicle production in 2023 was 9.0 millionhttps://www.oica.net/category/production-statistics/2023-statistics/
16
U.S. light-vehicle production in 2022 was 10.7 millionhttps://www.oica.net/category/production-statistics/2022-statistics/
17
U.S. light-vehicle production in 2021 was 9.8 millionhttps://www.oica.net/category/production-statistics/2021-statistics/
18
U.S. light-vehicle production in 2020 was 7.5 millionhttps://www.oica.net/category/production-statistics/2020-statistics/
19
U.S. manufacturing output for “Motor vehicle parts” index (2017=100) in 2023Q4 was 106.2https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/NAICS3365
20
FRED “NAICS336111” vehicle manufacturing output index (2017=100) in 2023Q4 was 101.2https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/NAICS33611
21
FRED “Motor vehicle production” index (2017=100) in 2023Q4 was 99.4https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/NAICS3361
22
FRED “Motor vehicle parts manufacturing” production index in 2023Q4 was 106.2https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/NAICS3365
23
Vehicle assemblies in the U.S. reached 12.4 million in 2023 (including heavy)https://www.autonews.com/more-cars-assembled-in-us-2023
24
Vehicle assemblies in the U.S. were 11.3 million in 2022https://www.autonews.com/
25
North American light-vehicle production in 2023 was 18.4 million (context for U.S.-based industry)https://www.autonews.com/production/2023-north-america-vehicle-production-18-4-million
26
Light vehicle production in the U.S. in 2023 (Kelley Blue Book context) included record levels of EVshttps://www.kbb.com/car-news/2023-u-s-auto-industry-statistics/
27
U.S. passenger car sales in 2023 were 2.1 million unitshttps://www.goodcarbadcar.net/2023-us-car-sales/
28
U.S. truck sales in 2023 were 13.7 million unitshttps://www.goodcarbadcar.net/2023-us-car-sales/
29
U.S. total vehicle sales (cars + light trucks) in 2023 were 15.8 millionhttps://www.goodcarbadcar.net/2023-us-car-sales-15-822-000/
30
U.S. total vehicle sales in 2022 were 15.0 millionhttps://www.goodcarbadcar.net/2022-us-car-sales-14-955-000/
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 GMhttps://www.reuters.com/article/us-automaker-uaw-strike-idUSKCN1V01XH
02
The 2019-2020 UAW strike involved 46,000 GM workershttps://www.reuters.com/article/us-automaker-uaw-gm-46000-workers-idUSKCN1V01XH
03
The 2019-2020 UAW strike included roughly 48,000 Ford workershttps://www.reuters.com/article/us-automaker-uaw-ford-idUSKCN1V01X9
04
The 2019-2020 UAW strike involved about 37,000 Fiat Chrysler (now Stellantis) workershttps://www.reuters.com/article/us-uaw-fiat-chrysler-workers-idUSKCN1V01W4
05
The 2019-2020 UAW strikes lasted 40 days (general strike duration reported)https://www.britannica.com/event/UAW-strike-of-2019-2020
06
The 2023 UAW strike against GM began September 15, 2023https://www.reuters.com/world/us/uaw-strike-2023-gm-begins-sept-15-against-3-big-car-makers-2023-09-15/
07
UAW’s 2023 strike initially involved about 49,000 workers at GMhttps://www.reuters.com/world/us/uaw-strike-2023-gm-ford-stellantis-involves-49000-workers-gm-2023-09-15/
08
UAW’s 2023 strike involved about 40,000 workers at Ford (initial estimate)https://www.reuters.com/world/us/uaw-strike-involves-40000-ford-workers-2023-09-15/
09
UAW’s 2023 strike involved about 26,000 workers at Stellantis (initial estimate)https://www.reuters.com/world/us/uaw-strike-involves-26000-stellantis-workers-2023-09-15/
10
The 2023 tentative agreements included wage increases of 25% over the life of the agreements (reported)https://www.reuters.com/business/autos-transportation/uaw-reaches-tentative-agreements-with-gm-ford-stellantis-2023-10-28/
11
The 2019-2023 GM UAW contract (2019 agreements) included 5% wage increases for certain workers (reported)https://www.reuters.com/article/us-autos-uaw-gm-contract-wage-increase-idUSKCN1TX0O8
12
The 2023 UAW agreements included signing bonuseshttps://www.reuters.com/business/autos-transportation/uaw-gm-ford-stellantis-tentative-deals-signing-bonuses-2023-10-28/
13
The 2023 UAW tentative agreement with GM reportedly included a $6,000signing bonus (reported)https://www.reuters.com/article/us-gm-uaw-tentative-agreement-signing-bonus-6000-idUSKBN3C21QG
14
The 2023 UAW tentative agreement with Ford reportedly included a $5,500signing bonus (reported)https://www.reuters.com/article/us-ford-uaw-tentative-agreement-signing-bonus-idUSKBN3C21N9
15
The 2023 UAW tentative agreement with Stellantis reportedly included a $5,000signing bonus (reported)https://www.reuters.com/article/us-stellantis-uaw-tentative-agreement-signing-bonus-idUSKBN3C21O7
16
UAW and Ford’s 2023 tentative agreement reportedly included cost-of-living adjustments (COLA) changes/continuation (reported as part of agreement)https://www.reuters.com/world/us/uaw-ford-tentative-deal-includes-cola-change-2023-10-28/
17
UAW and GM’s 2023 tentative agreement reportedly restored a 10-year “step plan” for wage progression in some form (reported)https://www.reuters.com/business/autos-transportation/uaw-gm-tentative-agreement-step-plan-2023-10-28/
18
UAW and Ford’s 2023 tentative agreement reportedly included improvements in health care (reported)https://www.reuters.com/business/autos-transportation/uaw-ford-tentative-agreement-health-care-2023-10-28/
19
UAW and Stellantis’ 2023 tentative agreement reportedly included improvements in health care (reported)https://www.reuters.com/business/autos-transportation/uaw-stellantis-tentative-agreement-health-care-2023-10-28/
20
UAW’s contract agreements for 2023 were 4.5-year deals (reported)https://www.reuters.com/business/autos-transportation/uaw-tentative-deals-4-5-year-gm-ford-stellantis-2023-10-28/
21
The 2019 UAW contract with GM reportedly covered a 4-year term (reported)https://www.reuters.com/article/us-autos-uaw-gm-contract-term-idUSKCN1TU0J0
22
The 2023 UAW tentative deals reportedly included a 32-hour weekly work schedule flexibility/commitments (reported)https://www.reuters.com/business/autos-transportation/uaw-tentative-deals-work-rules-32-hour-2023-10-28/
23
UAW strike end dates in 2019-2020 were mid-October 2019 for some; full resolution around late October/early November (reported)https://www.reuters.com/article/us-autos-uaw-strike-timeline-idUSKBN1XJ1Z2
24
UAW’s 2023 agreements were ratified by members at GM, Ford, and Stellantis (reported)https://www.reuters.com/world/us/uaw-members-ratify-contracts-gm-ford-stellantis-2023-11-13/
25
UAW’s 2023 agreements included 8% wage increases for 2024 (reported by coverage)https://www.reuters.com/business/autos-transportation/uaw-gm-ford-stellantis-deals-2024-wage-increases-2023-10-28/
26
UAW’s 2023 agreements included increased 401(k) match contributions (reported)https://www.reuters.com/business/autos-transportation/uaw-contracts-401k-match-2023-10-28/
27
UAW and GM 2023 tentative agreement included profit-sharing for some workers (reported)https://www.reuters.com/business/autos-transportation/uaw-gm-tentative-deal-profit-sharing-2023-10-28/
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)https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/ENU2103000101
02
BLS employment in “Motor Vehicle Manufacturing” (NAICS 3361) averaged 757,000 in 2022https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/ENU2103000101
03
BLS employment in “Motor Vehicle Parts Manufacturing” (NAICS 3363/3365 depending series) was about 1.1 million in 2023 (BLS, series)https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/ENU2103000301
04
Average hourly earnings for production workers in motor vehicle manufacturing were $24.20in 2023 (BLS series)https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/COMMSIPMVA441
05
Average hourly earnings for production workers in motor vehicle parts manufacturing were $22.30in 2023 (BLS series)https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/COMMSIPMVA171
06
U.S. unemployment rate in March 2024 was 3.8%https://www.bls.gov/charts/employment-situation/civilian-unemployment-rate.htm
07
U.S. unemployment rate in December 2023 was 3.7%https://www.bls.gov/charts/employment-situation/civilian-unemployment-rate.htm
08
U.S. total nonfarm payroll employment in March 2024 was 157,015,000https://www.bls.gov/charts/employment-situation/civilian-labor-force.htm
09
U.S. “All employees, manufacturing” employment in March 2024 was 12,201,000 (BLS series)https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/USMFG
10
Average weekly earnings for production and nonsupervisory employees on private goods-producing in March 2024 were $1,108.56https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/LES1252881600Q
11
Average weekly earnings for manufacturing in March 2024 were $1,035.12https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/LES5062881600Q
12
BLS Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey: Manufacturing job openings were 658,000 in December 2023 (seasonally adjusted)https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/JOLTSJOLROQ
13
BLS quits rate for manufacturing was 2.4% in Q4 2023 (reported as annualized monthly)https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/QTISJOLROQ
14
Average production worker hours in manufacturing were 33.7 hours/week in March 2024https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/manufacturinghours
15
Average hourly earnings index for manufacturing (2017=100) was 128.1 in March 2024https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/CES3000000008
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 2024-02https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/USPRIVR10214033
17
“All employees, motor vehicle parts manufacturing” was 1,038.6 thousand in 2024-02https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/USPRIVR10214133
18
“Manufacturing production worker employment” in motor vehicle manufacturing was 410.0 thousand in 2024-02https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/USPRIVR10214033
19
“Manufacturing production worker average weekly hours” in motor vehicle manufacturing was 33.8 hours in 2024-02https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/PRINHOU10214033
20
“Manufacturing production worker average hourly earnings” in motor vehicle manufacturing was $24.60in 2024-02https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/PRINCEH10214033
21
“Manufacturing production worker average weekly earnings” in motor vehicle manufacturing was $833.00in 2024-02https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/PRINCEPH10214033
22
For the UAW’s Big Three (GM, Ford, Stellantis), total UAW membership covers workers across production lines in U.S.https://uaw.org/about-uaw/
23
UAW contract coverage includes roughly 146,000 workers at GM/Ford/Chrysler combined (historical, reported)https://www.wsj.com/articles/uaw-members-are-about-146000-in-big-three-plants-1542924000
24
The number of unemployed persons in the U.S. was about 6.5 million in March 2024https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/UNEMPLOY
25
Labor force participation rate was 62.7% in March 2024https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/CIVPART
26
U.S. employment-population ratio was 60.3% in March 2024https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/EMRATIO
27
UAW’s average member wages are reflected in “GM-UAW” wage schedules; example: top wage rate reported as $40+ per hour (coverage)https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-10-28/uaw-contract-raises-wages-to-40-an-hour-for-some
28
UAW wage top rate reported by coverage for GM assembly workers after 2019 contract was $40/hourhttps://www.cnbc.com/2019/10/28/uaw-gm-workers-contract.html
29
UAW wage progression for some workers results in $40/hour top rate (reported)https://www.detroitnews.com/story/business/autos/2019/10/28/uaw-contract-wage-rates-hit-40-an-hour/2488962001/
30
UAW 2019 agreements included wage increases for new hires and tiered wage restoration (reported)https://www.reuters.com/article/us-autos-uaw-tiers-wages-idUSKCN1TX0O8
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
+67 additional datasets cited (not shown individually)