By Forrest McConnell, III / NADA chairman May 2014

Selling cars is not the only thing franchised new-car dealers contribute to the nation's economy. Next to stocking their showrooms and lots with vehicle inventory, auto dealers create many jobs in their communities. Between the need for quality sales consultants and expert service technicians, America's new-car dealers employ 1 million people nationwide.

Rising auto sales are having a positive impact on the economy, and dealers across the country are hiring. More than 1 million people were employed at U.S. new-car dealerships last year. It marked the first time reaching this milestone since falling during the recession in 2009.

New-car dealers employed 1,008,800 people in 2013, up 3.4 percent from the previous year, says NADA Data 2014, an annual report on dealership sales and financial trends.

New-car dealers employed an average of 57 people with an average payroll of $3 million last year, up 3 percent. Total payroll for all new-car dealerships in the U.S. was $53.7 billion last year.

Franchised new-car dealerships are an economic engine on Main Street, U.S.A, and these good paying jobs cannot be outsourced or sent overseas.

McConnell is president of McConnell Honda/Acura in Montgomery, Ala.