Are manufacturing jobs coming back to US after Trump get into office?
As of early 2026, data suggests that manufacturing jobs have not yet returned to the U.S. in the numbers promised. While the administration points to recent indicators of expansion, employment in the sector has largely continued a downward trend since President Trump took office for his second term in January 2025.
Key Data on Manufacturing Jobs (2025–2026)
- Overall Job Losses: The manufacturing sector lost approximately 68,000 to 72,000 jobs in 2025, reaching its lowest employment levels since early 2022.
- Post-Tariff Decline: Following the April 2025 "Liberation Day" tariff announcements, the sector saw consecutive monthly declines in headcount for the remainder of the year.
- Mixed Indicators for 2026: In January 2026, the Institute for Supply Management (ISM) reported the first expansion in overall manufacturing activity in a year. However, the employment sub-index remained in contraction territory, indicating that while production is up, hiring has not yet followed.
