Adam Robinson's NADA Show 2026 Talk Reveals How AI-Driven Job Displacement Could Solve the Industry's Workforce Crisis
At NADA Show 2026 in Las Vegas, Adam Robinson, co-founder and CEO of Hireology, hosted a compelling presentation that reframed the automotive industry’s persistent staffing challenges as a once-in-a-generation recruitment opportunity.
The Perfect Storm: AI and Employment Instability
Robinson opened his NADA Show presentation with striking labor market data from the St. Louis Federal Reserve, revealing that while overall U.S. unemployment remains historically low, a troubling trend is emerging. Entry-level workers (ages 18-24) are experiencing unemployment increases at the steepest rate outside of a recession—ever.
Even more dramatic: college-educated workers are facing unprecedented job displacement. Robinson cited major corporate layoffs, including Amazon cutting 32,000 corporate positions in just three months, UPS eliminating 50,000 jobs, and Verizon pushing white-collar workers into retail roles or offering severance packages.
The culprit? Artificial intelligence is rapidly replacing knowledge workers in marketing, HR, accounting, finance, and consulting—precisely the careers that were once considered “safe” paths for college graduates.
A Wall Street Journal Moment That Changes Everything
Perhaps the most powerful moment in Robinson’s talk came from a Wall Street Journal article he quoted. The story featured Chris Reed, a 33-year-old tech sales professional from New Braunfels, Texas, who spent 10 months searching for work in his field. Despite his qualifications and experience, Reed couldn’t land a single position. His solution? He took a job selling Toyotas to support his three children.
“Reed thought working in a dealership selling vehicles was a last resort,” Robinson acknowledged. “But my interpretation is we have a generational opportunity to make the case for employment in this business”.
The Industry's Hidden Strengths
Robinson made a bold case that automotive retail is “the greatest undersold economic opportunity in the United States”. His reasoning:
- Job Security: When was the last time a financially healthy dealership had layoffs? “If you show up on time every day, do your job, and you’re good at it, you’re employed for life,” Robinson noted.
- Income Potential: Within a couple of years, high school graduates selling vehicles or writing service can earn well above the U.S. median income—often into six figures.
- Upward Mobility: The industry offers paths to equity ownership and even having your name on the sign someday.
The Opportunity Costs Are Staggering
The urgency of the situation became clear when Robinson shared workforce data:
- Average dealership turnover: 34% (over 70% in sales)
- Technician turnover: 35%
- 54% of automotive jobs remain open for over 30 days
- The industry needs 90,000 new technicians annually for the next five years
Robinson quantified the daily revenue loss: every unfilled technician position costs approximately $15,000 per week, while unfilled sales positions cost around $5,000 weekly.
The Paradigm Shift: Jobs as Products
Robinson urged dealers to think differently: “Jobs are products, and as dealers, we are really good at digitally retailing products and services. We have to digitally retail job opportunities better in this business”.
The data supports this approach. In 2025, 40% of applicants to dealerships came from outside the industry—the highest percentage in Hireology’s 16-year history. These displaced workers are actively seeking stability and opportunity, employer branding is paramount.
Critically, applicant priorities have shifted. While career path was the top concern two years ago, employment stability has now become the primary factor for job seekers.
The Call to Action
Robinson closed with an urgent message: “This AI displacement will impact the country negatively from an employment standpoint and will hit the most capable entry-level workers first. For the next three to five years, starting right now, is the opportunity to make the case for this business because people are looking for an industry like ours where they can do well and they don’t have to worry about downsizing—because we don’t do that here”.
Key Takeaways
- The timing is perfect: AI-driven displacement is creating a pool of talented, motivated workers seeking stable employment
- Automotive retail’s stability is a competitive advantage: In an era of mass layoffs, job security matters more than ever
- Better marketing is essential: Dealers must digitally retail job opportunities as effectively as they retail vehicles
- Investment in training pays off: With revenue losses of up to $15,000 per week per unfilled tech position, growing your own talent makes financial sense
- Think generationally: This is a 3-5 year window to fundamentally reshape the industry’s workforce
The great displacement Robinson described isn’t just a crisis—it’s automotive retail’s chance to finally solve its chronic staffing challenges by becoming the destination for America’s displaced but talented workforce.
