The U.S. ISM Manufacturing Employment Index improved in May 2026, pointing to a slower pace of job contraction in the factory sector. The indicator rose to 48.6 in May from 46.4 in April 2026, according to data updated on 1 June 2026.
Although the index remains below the 50-point threshold that separates expansion from contraction, the move higher suggests that job losses in manufacturing are easing. The gain from April to May may be interpreted by analysts as an early sign that conditions in the industrial labor market are stabilizing after a weaker patch.
