CEA report cites 72,000 new manufacturing jobs in 2026

A new report from the Council of Economic Advisors (CEA) states that the United States added 72,000 manufacturing jobs in 2026, attributing the increase to a rise in the production of durable goods such as metal and transportation equipment. The White House agency, which provides economic analysis to President Donald Trump, identifies this growth as a reversal of a prior trend where 200,000 manufacturing jobs disappeared during the final two years of the Biden administration.

The CEA report links the current uptick to re-shoring initiatives and tariff policies. It specifically highlights the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBB) as a foundational measure that encourages domestic expansion over overseas relocation. A key provision of the bill allows manufacturers to claim an immediate 100% tax deduction on expenses for new factory construction and the purchase of machinery and equipment.

Jergens, a manufacturing company based in Ohio, is cited as an example of a firm expanding into Illinois under these provisions. Jack Schron, the company's CEO, stated that since the passage of the OBBB, employees have voluntarily worked additional hours. Schron noted that 83% of his workforce is picking up overtime following the establishment of a provision that removes taxes on overtime work. He described the situation as beneficial for employees, the company, and the broader economy.

Another case study involves Ketchie Inc., a company in North Carolina that expanded its workforce by 25%. The report indicates that Ketchie waited to purchase new machinery until the OBBB passed, then utilized the 100% expensing provision to make the acquisition.

Wage data in the report shows that manufacturing pay has increased by 7.9% since January 2025. The CEA states that adjusted for inflation, this equates to an average annual gain of nearly $2,500 for blue-collar manufacturing workers since President Trump took office. The report also notes that 100,000 construction jobs have been added during this period.

In the semiconductor sector, Micron is building memory chip plants in Idaho, Virginia, and New York, representing a $250 billion investment in the United States. Apple is also investing $600 billion in American semiconductor production. The CEA report further lists major pharmaceutical companies such as GSK and Gilead, along with automaker Stellantis, as investing billions of dollars in the country.

Overall, the report attributes $11 trillion in investments to reshoring and tariff policies during Trump's second term. These figures are presented against a backdrop of upcoming midterm elections, where economic concerns remain prominent. A Fox News Poll found that 61% of voters consider gas prices a major problem, up from 48% two years ago. Additionally, 52% cite healthcare costs as a major issue, while 62% view grocery prices as a hardship. Nearly two-thirds of Americans surveyed said the economy is worse under the current administration than before.