According to a recent release from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment increased by 223,000 in December. This increase was also accompanied by a 3.5% decrease in unemployment.
When looking at the manufacturing industry specifically, the Bureau found that employment stayed fairly consistent, noting that a 16,000 loss in nondurable goods was offset by a 24,000 gain in durable goods. The report also notes that in 2022, the manufacturing sector added about 32,000 jobs a month, compared to 30,000 in 2021.
In a recent quote, U.S. Secretary of Labor Marty Walsh said, “Since December 2021, the economy has added 4.5 million jobs, for a total of more than 10.7 million jobs since the President took office and the most jobs added in any two-year period on record. With significant gains in health care, leisure and hospitality, and construction jobs, we rounded out 2022 with more of the steady, stable growth that helped our workforce recover from the COVID pandemic and has empowered workers to take on new opportunities.”