U.S. manufacturing payrolls declined by 9,000 jobs in October 2025, deepening the sector’s recent downturn and underscoring ongoing pressure on factory employment. The October figure marks a sharper contraction compared with September 2025, when manufacturing payrolls fell by 6,000.
The back-to-back monthly losses highlight a softening trend in industrial labor demand, as the sector moves further into negative territory. The latest data, updated on 16 December 2025, suggest manufacturers are continuing to trim headcount, pointing to rising caution across the industry and potential headwinds for broader labor-market momentum heading into the end of the year.
