Manufacturing Job Openings Climb to 584,000
Openings in the sector rose in September to their highest level since December 2023, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics data.
Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Employment
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Manufacturing job openings rose to 584,000 in September from 530,000 in August. Durable goods manufacturing openings also increased, to 403,000 from 375,000 the previous month.
Why it matters
The increase follows a period of decline after openings peaked in April 2022, and the turn coincided with the announcement of higher tariffs on many imported goods in April 2025. Openings have risen continuously since November 2025.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported 584,000 manufacturing job openings in September, up from 530,000 in August. Durable goods openings reached 403,000, below the July peak of 423,000, and the source does not explain what drove the monthly change.
The players
Bureau of Labor Statistics
The Bureau of Labor Statistics is the principal federal agency responsible for measuring labor market activity, working conditions, and price changes in the U.S. economy.
The details
Manufacturing job openings reached their highest level since December 2023, and durable goods openings are the second-highest since that date. Openings had fallen for most of the Biden administration after peaking in April 2022, then stopped falling in April 2025 and have risen since November 2025.
Timeline
April 2022: Manufacturing job openings peaked during the Biden administration.
December 2023: Manufacturing openings reached a prior high.
April 2025: Openings stopped falling, coinciding with higher tariffs on many imported goods.
November 2025: Openings began rising continuously.
September 2026: Manufacturing openings rose to 584,000.
Macro View
The September rise reverses the decline in manufacturing openings that followed their April 2022 peak during the Biden administration. The turn in April 2025, coinciding with higher tariffs on many imported goods, marks a departure from that earlier downward trend.
Rising manufacturing openings mean more available factory and durable goods positions for job seekers in the sector. Workers weighing a move into manufacturing may find more postings, though the extraction does not address wages or hiring timelines.
The takeaway
Job seekers in manufacturing may see more openings than they did a year earlier, since vacancies have risen steadily since November 2025. Monitoring the monthly Bureau of Labor Statistics releases will show whether that trend holds.
Further reading
For broader context on hiring trends, see Employment coverage across the United States.
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