Manufacturing Unemployment Rate Hits 2.9% in February

The jobless report from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) shows a continuing tight labor market in manufacturing, with the unemployment rate in the sector hitting 2.9%.

BLS reported in the first week of March 2025 that 456,000 people were unemployed in the manufacturing sector in February, which compares to 450,000 people in February 2024. However, the unemployment rate in manufacturing was slightly lower in January at 2.9% compared to 3% in the same month in 2024, according to a report from the bureau.

The full report by job sector can be found on the bureau’s website.

Overall, nonfarm payroll employment rose by 151,000 in February, putting the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate at 4.1%, which is a slight increase from 4.0% in January, BLS also reported.

The total seasonally adjusted unemployment rate has remained in a narrow range of 4.0% to 4.2% since May 2024, the report also said.

UFlex to Expand Plastic Bag Plan... Next>

The SPE Flexible Packaging Division has been presenting FlexPackCon since 2000. In 2023, the Montreal location reached maximum capacity of almost 200 attendees. The event blends fundamentals with applied experience to address emerging issues and opportunities in packaging.

Visit Event Page

Held annually in the U.S. since 2012, Digital Print for Packaging began as an opportunity for digital print equipment suppliers to network with converters on the relatively new idea of digital print for packaging. The interest and desire for digital print options continues to grow as converters look to provide new services and satisfy growing demands, and the industry shares a desire to explore more mainstream applications for digital print, and hopefully iterate the ROI of switching to fully digital. Smithers’ Digital Print for Packaging Conference (DPP) is the key place in the industry to have technical discussions around commercializing digital print for the packaging industry. FPA is a media partner for the event, and FPA members enjoy a 10% discount on the registration fee. Contact FPA for the discount code.

Visit Event Page

Packed with first-hand experience, our high-level lineup of expert speakers will share their industry insights, best practices, and lessons learned throughout their e-commerce packaging journeys to provide invaluable market insights that help attendees to evaluate and optimize their own e-commerce packaging strategies. FPA is a media partner for the event, and FPA members enjoy a 10% discount on the registration fee. Contact FPA for the discount code.

Visit Event Page

The Packaging Recycling Summit 2025, presented by Packaging World, brings together brands, materials suppliers, reprocessors, and materials recovery facilities (MRFs) to illuminate all facets of the circular supply chain. Discover the critical role of design and material selection for recyclability, and the importance of collaborating early in the design process. Engage in discussions on current legislation, brand innovations, and how collaborative efforts across the supply chain can build more resilient and sustainable business practices that benefit both the bottom line and the planet. FPA is a media partner for the event, and FPA members enjoy a 50% discount on the registration fee. Contact FPA for the discount code.

Visit Event Page

Join the premier event for the compostable products industry! Whether you're involved in product and material development, zero waste initiatives, collection and hauling, compost operations, or policy development, this is the event for you. Together, we'll work to build a successful system for food scraps diversion that incorporates compostable products and packaging.

Visit Event Page

See All Events