Factory Job Openings Climb to Highest Since 2023
Manufacturing workers may find more hiring demand and stronger leverage in pay talks as openings rise to 584,000.
Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Employment
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Manufacturing job openings rose to 584,000 in September 2026, up from 530,000 in August, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics data. Durable goods manufacturing openings climbed to 403,000 from 375,000 over the same period.
Why it matters
Rising factory vacancies signal that employers are seeking more workers, which can support wage growth and job security for manufacturing households across the country. The increase follows a sustained climb that began in November 2025 and has pushed openings to their highest level since December 2023.
Manufacturing job openings climbed 54,000 month over month to 584,000 in September, the highest level since December 2023. Durable goods openings reached 403,000, the second-highest reading since that same December 2023 peak.
The players
Bureau of Labor Statistics
The federal agency that publishes monthly job openings data, which households and employers use to gauge hiring conditions and wage trends.
Donald Trump
The current President of the United States, whose administration took office in January 2025 and announced higher tariffs on many imported goods.
The details
Job openings are unfilled positions that employers are actively trying to fill, so a rise signals that factories want to hire more workers than they had in prior months. Higher openings typically give workers more bargaining power during pay negotiations and make job switching easier for those in manufacturing roles. The durable goods subsector, which covers products like machinery, vehicles, and appliances, accounts for a large share of the total increase.
Timeline
- April 2022: Manufacturing job openings peaked during the Biden administration before declining.
- December 2023: Manufacturing openings reached a prior high point.
- April 2025: Openings stopped falling, coinciding with the announcement of higher tariffs on many imported goods.
- November 2025: Openings began a continuous period of increases.
- September 2026: Manufacturing openings rose to 584,000, the highest since December 2023.
Money Landscape
Manufacturing openings fell for most of the period after their April 2022 peak before stabilizing in April 2025. The sustained rise since November 2025 now places vacancies at their highest point since December 2023, shifting the sector's hiring picture back toward stronger demand.
Workers in manufacturing and durable goods may find more openings to compare when considering job changes or pay discussions with current employers. Households in these industries can use the stronger hiring climate as a reason to review their own pay and benefits.
The takeaway
Stronger factory hiring can improve job prospects and bargaining power for manufacturing workers, so tracking monthly Bureau of Labor Statistics job openings releases is a useful habit for planning career and pay decisions. Anyone weighing major financial moves tied to employment changes should discuss them with a qualified financial professional.
Further reading
For broader context on how hiring demand is changing across industries, explore our Employment coverage.
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