As in many walks of life, good help is hard to find when it comes to the quick lube industry.

In 2021, National Oil and Lube News began asking shop leaders about the biggest challenges facing their operations. Extended service intervals, market saturation, and the cost of goods have routinely been cited by operators as big pain points, but one challenge in particular has stood above the rest year in and year out: hiring and the availability of labor.

Over the past four years, hiring has been the No. 1 challenge chosen from a list of options presented to quick lube operators. (Hiring/availability of labor was added as an answer option in 2023 after operators used the write-in option to “overwhelmingly” report that finding qualified staff members was the biggest challenge they faced in 2022. Hiring/labor was also the most common write-in response for 2021.)

In 2026, hiring and labor still ranks No. 1 among operators, although the number of operators lamenting extended service intervals is growing. The following is a list of the top challenges facing the operations of quick lube leaders in 2026:

Notes

• Respondents selecting “other” were asked to write in their biggest challenge. Responses that were provided included consolidation, advanced electronics, and the elimination/potential elimination of emissions testing programs.
• The 2026 NOLN Operator Survey was conducted prior to events in the Middle East that have since directly impacted the oil industry.

Past years' top challenges: At a glance

2025

2024

2023

2022

2021