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Manufacturing employment dipped slightly in May, losing 8,000 jobs on a seasonally adjusted basis, according to the monthly employment report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Nonfarm payrolls overall added 139,000 jobs last month.

The details: “The unemployment rate held at 4.2% in May and has remained in a narrow range of 4.0% to 4.2% since May 2024.”

• Meanwhile, nonfarm payrolls have averaged a monthly gain of 149,000 over the past 12 months, in line with the reading from May.

In manufacturing: “In manufacturing, the average workweek was little changed at 40.1
hours, and overtime was unchanged at 2.9 hours.”

• Meanwhile, average hourly earnings in manufacturing crept up from $35.11 in April to $35.28 in May on a seasonally adjusted basis.

The long view: Manufacturing employment has declined over the past year to date, yet remains above pre-pandemic levels, with 12,761,000 workers in May. The sector averaged 12,648,000 employees pre-pandemic (2017–2019). 

The NAM says: “In order to support manufacturing growth and job creation in the U.S., manufacturers are calling on Congress to pass the One Big Beautiful Bill Act swiftly and make pro-manufacturing tax policies permanent,” said NAM Managing Vice President of Policy Charles Crain.