Factory jobs down 305K from 2023 post-pandemic peak
For Immediate Release: July 2, 2026
Washington, D.C. — U.S. factories gained 3,000 jobs in June, according to data released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics on Thursday, following the loss of 2,000 jobs in May and 1,000 in April.
Alliance for American Manufacturing President Scott Paul said:
“Manufacturing jobs are still treading water amid waves of uncertainty. Will interest rates be hiked? What tariffs will get locked into place, and when? Will there be energy cost shocks as a result of continued hostilities with Iran? All of this weighs on hiring decisions. I believe additional strategic tariffs based on industrial overcapacity are still warranted, but the sooner manufacturing knows the playing field, the better.”
U.S. factories are down 305K from the post-pandemic peak of 12,903 in January 2023, when 23K manufacturing jobs were added to the economy in one month.
As manufacturers and workers grapple with uncertainties, AAM urges the Trump administration to close United States-Mexico-Canada trade deal loopholes or exit the agreement entirely.
