The National Association of Manufacturers reported in its Workforce in Focus newsletter earlier in October that manufacturing jobs have exceeded 13 million for the first time since November 2008.
“Manufacturing employment rose by 17,000 in September, the fastest monthly gain since October 2022 and an extension of the gain of 11,000 seen in August,” according to the report.
Manufacturers have continued to need more workers, as well. The report says that 616,000 manufacturing jobs were open in August, up from 544,000 in July.
“Overall, these data continue to reflect a labor market that remains solid despite some cooling over the past year, with manufacturing job openings remaining above pre-pandemic levels,” the report says. “Over the past six months, manufacturing job openings have averaged 620,000.”
The employment numbers for October are expected to be released on Friday, November 3, by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The last report on October 6 showed that the unemployment rate was unchanged at 3.8 % in September, with manufacturing jobs continuing to show strength.