Jobs report: Manufacturing down 94,000 jobs year-over-year

The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported January 9 that the U.S. manufacturing sector lost an estimated 8,000 jobs in the last year of 2025. Manufacturers in the U.S. now report 94,000 fewer workers than in December 2024. The overall economy was mostly flat, with the unemployment rate steady at 4.4%, as U.S. employers in food services, health care and social assistance added to their ranks.

Employment was down slightly in manufacturing-adjacent industries as well: mining and logging companies dropped 2,000 jobs, transportation and warehousing employment fell by 6,000 and construction shed 11,000 jobs, according to preliminary figures.

In manufacturing, the lion’s share of jobs lost in December were in the smaller subcategory of nondurable goods production, which employs an estimated 4.8 million people to the durable goods sector’s 7.9 million.

Nondurable goods production lost a total of 5,000 jobs, including almost 5,000 by itself in the plastics and rubber manufacturing subsector, 3,100 in chemicals manufacturing: Those losses were partially offset by gains of roughly 1,400 jobs in beverage, tobacco and leather products and 1,200 more in printing and support activities. The sizeable food manufacturing segment lost an estimated 200 jobs.

The larger durable goods section lost a total of 3,000 jobs itself, with machinery manufacturing losing 2,800, the most in that segment. Those losses, as well as broadly-felt but small losses elsewhere were partially offset in turn by 1,800 new jobs in miscellaneous manufacturing and 1,200 new jobs in transportation equipment.

Hourly earnings in manufacturing increased by about two cents an hour in December to $29.49 an hour, $1.18 more than December 2024 wages. Wages in durable-goods production rose by three cents an hour to $31.46, and average wages in nondurable goods actually fell by four cents last month: On a year-over-year basis, durable-goods wages are up by $1.63 and nondurable wages are up $0.51. By comparison, the average hourly wage for all private industries rose about 3 cents an hour to $31.76, an increase of $1.09 per hour relative to December 2024.

Average hours worked weekly are up relative to last year, mostly due to changes in nondurable goods: The average manufacturing workweek rose by 0.3 hours, the durable-goods workweek rose 0.2 hours, and nondurable goods employees worked an average of 0.6 hours more in December 2025 compared to this time last year.

What people are saying

“As we enter the new year, our economy continues gaining momentum and is well-positioned for even more growth as the President doubles down on his efforts to revitalize critical industries,” said Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer, in a statement. “GDP is booming, and all net job growth has continued to take place in the private sector among American-born workers. The Department of Labor will continue our efforts to execute President Trump’s mission to put American Workers First in 2026.”