United States Manufacturing Payrolls
Aug 2026 · Monthly
Manufacturing payrolls rose to 12,638 thousand persons in August 2026, from 12,622 thousand in July. The increase marks the third consecutive monthly gain. Payrolls remain well below the all-time high of 19,553 thousand reached in June 1979, but above the series low of 9,077 thousand from January 1939. The August level is also above the year-ago reading of 12,615 thousand, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis.
source: Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Manufacturing payrolls in the United States rose to 12,638 thousand persons in August 2026, from 12,622 thousand in July. The reading remains well below the all-time high of 19,553 thousand set in June 1979 and above the series low of 9,077 thousand recorded in January 1939.
| Actual | Previous | Highest | Lowest | Dates | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12,638 | 12,622 | 19,553Jun 1979 | 9,077Jan 1939 | 1939 – 2026 | Monthly |
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About this series
Manufacturing Payrolls in United States averaged 14,266 from 1939 until 2026, reaching an all-time high of 19,553 in Jun 1979 and a record low of 9,077 in Jan 1939. The series is reported monthly with history from 1939.
Manufacturing Payrolls measures the number of persons employed in the manufacturing sector in the United States. The indicator is expressed in thousands of persons and is reported monthly. The series begins in January 1939 and covers the full span of available observations.
Source & methodology
We use primary economic sources for every country. See our methodology page for how we source and verify this data.
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