Manufacturing Gained 5,000 Jobs in January
Automotive, aerospace manufacturers lead the way.
Photo courtesy Nissan
WASHINGTON—Manufacturers added 5,000 jobs in January, according to the latest data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).
That’s a huge improvement compared to the revised data from the same period last year, which showed a loss of 20,000 jobs, according to the Federal Reserve Economic Data. BLS initially published 5,000 job cuts.
The BLS revises its data based on additional reports from businesses and government agencies since the last published estimates. It also conducts its annual benchmarking process, which reassesses sample-based employment estimates against full-population counts for March of the prior year, according to the agency’s website.
The transportation equipment sector—which accounts for the manufacturing of motor vehicle bodies, trailers and parts, as well as aerospace products and ship and boat building—added the bulk of the gains in January 2026 with about 4,800 jobs.
The nonmetallic mineral product, machinery, paper, and the electrical equipment, appliance and component sectors each tallied more 1,000 additional employees.
“Could this be a turning point for manufacturing jobs?” Scott Paul, president of the Alliance for American Manufacturing, said in a statement. “After 13 consecutive months of factory job losses, the slight bump up in January is a welcome sign.”
On the job-loss side, the apparel and chemical sectors accounted for the most cuts, with roughly 1,800 each. These were followed by the petroleum and coal sector with 1,400 job losses.
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Meanwhile, manufacturing unemployment fell to about 541,000 in January, down nearly 11 percent year over year.
BLS’ job openings and labor turnover survey data, released on Feb. 5, show separations in the manufacturing industry fell about 1.3 percent, year over year, to approximately 311,000. Separations included 184,000 quits and 111,000 layoffs and discharges.
Other recent manufacturing data suggest the industry may be making an about-face in 2026, Paul said. The manufacturing industry expanded in January, reaching its highest level since February 2022, according to the Institute for Supply Management’s latest Purchasing Managers’ Index.Looking for a reprint of this article?
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