Input Stories

The manufacturing sector added 5,000 jobs in January after 13 consecutive months of declines, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The report, scheduled to be released last Friday, was delayed due to the brief government shutdown.

• Total nonfarm payrolls also grew more than anticipated, adding 130,000 jobs, while the unemployment rate edged down 0.1 percentage point to 4.3%.

By the numbers: The industry’s gains in January follow declines in November and December of 10,000 and 8,000, respectively. They also represent a change from January 2025, when manufacturing lost 20,000 jobs.

• Durable goods jobs rose by 9,000, while nondurable goods dropped by 4,000.
• Despite ticking up in January, manufacturing employment is down by more than 80,000 over the year.

Meanwhile… The BLS issued its annual benchmark revision to its establishment employment survey. As a result, the employment levels from April 2024 to March 2025 were revised downward by 898,000 nonfarm jobs and 98,000 manufacturing jobs.