US manufacturing adds 16,000 jobs as Labor Day celebrates American workers

US manufacturing added 16,000 jobs in August, providing a timely boost for the sector as Americans mark Labor Day and celebrate the contribution of the country’s workforce.

The latest figures from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) show manufacturing employment continuing its upward trend, with the sector adding 16,000 jobs last month.

Manufacturing employment is now up by 58,000 jobs since reaching a recent low in December 2025, according to the BLS. Machinery manufacturing and fabricated metal product manufacturing each added 6,000 jobs in August. The increase came as the wider US economy added 162,000 jobs during the month, while the unemployment rate remained unchanged at 4.1%.

The BLS figures broadly echo the latest S&P Global US Manufacturing PMI survey, which found that manufacturers increased staffing at their fastest rate so far in 2026. The PMI employment increase came as manufacturers faced growing pressure on production capacity. Backlogs of work increased for a sixth consecutive month, while shortages of materials and higher order volumes prompted companies to increase staffing. The employment picture therefore stands in contrast to some of the other challenges facing US manufacturers.

The figures provide a positive backdrop to Labor Day, which is being observed across the US today, September 7. The federal holiday has its roots in the late-19th-century American labor movement and was officially recognised by Congress in 1894.

Manufacturing remains central to the country’s efforts to expand domestic production, with investment in areas including semiconductors, defense, pharmaceuticals and data centre infrastructure driving demand for factory capacity and skilled workers. Average hourly earnings for private-sector production and nonsupervisory employees also rose in August, reaching $32.53, up 0.3% over the month. For manufacturing workers, the average working week increased slightly to 40.5 hours, with overtime unchanged at 3.1 hours.

Taken alongside the latest PMI figures, the BLS data suggests that while US manufacturers are navigating a challenging operating environment, they are still investing in their workforces, arguably one of their most important assets. For a Labor Day focused on the people behind American industry, that is a particularly fitting message for an industry that remains critical to the US economy and one where employment has been moving in the right direction through 2026.