U.S. manufacturing employment, January 1970–December 2014 (millions of jobs)
| Date | Manufacturing employment (millions of jobs) |
|---|---|
| 1970-01-01 | 18.424 |
| 1970-02-01 | 18.361 |
| 1970-03-01 | 18.36 |
| 1970-04-01 | 18.207 |
| 1970-05-01 | 18.029 |
| 1970-06-01 | 17.93 |
| 1970-07-01 | 17.877 |
| 1970-08-01 | 17.779 |
| 1970-09-01 | 17.692 |
| 1970-10-01 | 17.173 |
| 1970-11-01 | 17.024 |
| 1970-12-01 | 17.309 |
| 1971-01-01 | 17.28 |
| 1971-02-01 | 17.216 |
| 1971-03-01 | 17.154 |
| 1971-04-01 | 17.149 |
| 1971-05-01 | 17.225 |
| 1971-06-01 | 17.139 |
| 1971-07-01 | 17.126 |
| 1971-08-01 | 17.115 |
| 1971-09-01 | 17.154 |
| 1971-10-01 | 17.126 |
| 1971-11-01 | 17.166 |
| 1971-12-01 | 17.202 |
| 1972-01-01 | 17.283 |
| 1972-02-01 | 17.361 |
| 1972-03-01 | 17.447 |
| 1972-04-01 | 17.508 |
| 1972-05-01 | 17.602 |
| 1972-06-01 | 17.641 |
| 1972-07-01 | 17.556 |
| 1972-08-01 | 17.741 |
| 1972-09-01 | 17.774 |
| 1972-10-01 | 17.893 |
| 1972-11-01 | 18.005 |
| 1972-12-01 | 18.158 |
| 1973-01-01 | 18.276 |
| 1973-02-01 | 18.41 |
| 1973-03-01 | 18.493 |
| 1973-04-01 | 18.53 |
| 1973-05-01 | 18.564 |
| 1973-06-01 | 18.606 |
| 1973-07-01 | 18.598 |
| 1973-08-01 | 18.629 |
| 1973-09-01 | 18.609 |
| 1973-10-01 | 18.702 |
| 1973-11-01 | 18.773 |
| 1973-12-01 | 18.82 |
| 1974-01-01 | 18.788 |
| 1974-02-01 | 18.727 |
| 1974-03-01 | 18.7 |
| 1974-04-01 | 18.702 |
| 1974-05-01 | 18.688 |
| 1974-06-01 | 18.69 |
| 1974-07-01 | 18.656 |
| 1974-08-01 | 18.57 |
| 1974-09-01 | 18.492 |
| 1974-10-01 | 18.364 |
| 1974-11-01 | 18.077 |
| 1974-12-01 | 17.693 |
| 1975-01-01 | 17.344 |
| 1975-02-01 | 17.004 |
| 1975-03-01 | 16.853 |
| 1975-04-01 | 16.759 |
| 1975-05-01 | 16.746 |
| 1975-06-01 | 16.69 |
| 1975-07-01 | 16.678 |
| 1975-08-01 | 16.824 |
| 1975-09-01 | 16.904 |
| 1975-10-01 | 16.984 |
| 1975-11-01 | 17.025 |
| 1975-12-01 | 17.14 |
| 1976-01-01 | 17.287 |
| 1976-02-01 | 17.384 |
| 1976-03-01 | 17.47 |
| 1976-04-01 | 17.541 |
| 1976-05-01 | 17.513 |
| 1976-06-01 | 17.521 |
| 1976-07-01 | 17.524 |
| 1976-08-01 | 17.596 |
| 1976-09-01 | 17.665 |
| 1976-10-01 | 17.548 |
| 1976-11-01 | 17.682 |
| 1976-12-01 | 17.719 |
| 1977-01-01 | 17.803 |
| 1977-02-01 | 17.843 |
| 1977-03-01 | 17.941 |
| 1977-04-01 | 18.024 |
| 1977-05-01 | 18.107 |
| 1977-06-01 | 18.192 |
| 1977-07-01 | 18.259 |
| 1977-08-01 | 18.276 |
| 1977-09-01 | 18.334 |
| 1977-10-01 | 18.356 |
| 1977-11-01 | 18.419 |
| 1977-12-01 | 18.531 |
| 1978-01-01 | 18.593 |
| 1978-02-01 | 18.639 |
| 1978-03-01 | 18.699 |
| 1978-04-01 | 18.772 |
| 1978-05-01 | 18.848 |
| 1978-06-01 | 18.919 |
| 1978-07-01 | 18.951 |
| 1978-08-01 | 19.006 |
| 1978-09-01 | 19.068 |
| 1978-10-01 | 19.142 |
| 1978-11-01 | 19.257 |
| 1978-12-01 | 19.334 |
| 1979-01-01 | 19.388 |
| 1979-02-01 | 19.409 |
| 1979-03-01 | 19.453 |
| 1979-04-01 | 19.45 |
| 1979-05-01 | 19.509 |
| 1979-06-01 | 19.553 |
| 1979-07-01 | 19.531 |
| 1979-08-01 | 19.406 |
| 1979-09-01 | 19.442 |
| 1979-10-01 | 19.39 |
| 1979-11-01 | 19.299 |
| 1979-12-01 | 19.301 |
| 1980-01-01 | 19.282 |
| 1980-02-01 | 19.219 |
| 1980-03-01 | 19.217 |
| 1980-04-01 | 18.973 |
| 1980-05-01 | 18.726 |
| 1980-06-01 | 18.49 |
| 1980-07-01 | 18.276 |
| 1980-08-01 | 18.414 |
| 1980-09-01 | 18.445 |
| 1980-10-01 | 18.506 |
| 1980-11-01 | 18.601 |
| 1980-12-01 | 18.64 |
| 1981-01-01 | 18.639 |
| 1981-02-01 | 18.613 |
| 1981-03-01 | 18.647 |
| 1981-04-01 | 18.711 |
| 1981-05-01 | 18.766 |
| 1981-06-01 | 18.789 |
| 1981-07-01 | 18.785 |
| 1981-08-01 | 18.748 |
| 1981-09-01 | 18.712 |
| 1981-10-01 | 18.566 |
| 1981-11-01 | 18.409 |
| 1981-12-01 | 18.223 |
| 1982-01-01 | 18.047 |
| 1982-02-01 | 17.981 |
| 1982-03-01 | 17.857 |
| 1982-04-01 | 17.683 |
| 1982-05-01 | 17.588 |
| 1982-06-01 | 17.43 |
| 1982-07-01 | 17.278 |
| 1982-08-01 | 17.16 |
| 1982-09-01 | 17.074 |
| 1982-10-01 | 16.853 |
| 1982-11-01 | 16.722 |
| 1982-12-01 | 16.69 |
| 1983-01-01 | 16.705 |
| 1983-02-01 | 16.706 |
| 1983-03-01 | 16.711 |
| 1983-04-01 | 16.794 |
| 1983-05-01 | 16.885 |
| 1983-06-01 | 16.96 |
| 1983-07-01 | 17.059 |
| 1983-08-01 | 17.118 |
| 1983-09-01 | 17.255 |
| 1983-10-01 | 17.367 |
| 1983-11-01 | 17.479 |
| 1983-12-01 | 17.551 |
| 1984-01-01 | 17.63 |
| 1984-02-01 | 17.728 |
| 1984-03-01 | 17.806 |
| 1984-04-01 | 17.872 |
| 1984-05-01 | 17.916 |
| 1984-06-01 | 17.967 |
| 1984-07-01 | 18.013 |
| 1984-08-01 | 18.034 |
| 1984-09-01 | 18.019 |
| 1984-10-01 | 18.024 |
| 1984-11-01 | 18.016 |
| 1984-12-01 | 18.023 |
| 1985-01-01 | 18.009 |
| 1985-02-01 | 17.966 |
| 1985-03-01 | 17.939 |
| 1985-04-01 | 17.886 |
| 1985-05-01 | 17.855 |
| 1985-06-01 | 17.819 |
| 1985-07-01 | 17.776 |
| 1985-08-01 | 17.756 |
| 1985-09-01 | 17.718 |
| 1985-10-01 | 17.708 |
| 1985-11-01 | 17.697 |
| 1985-12-01 | 17.693 |
| 1986-01-01 | 17.686 |
| 1986-02-01 | 17.663 |
| 1986-03-01 | 17.624 |
| 1986-04-01 | 17.616 |
| 1986-05-01 | 17.593 |
| 1986-06-01 | 17.53 |
| 1986-07-01 | 17.497 |
| 1986-08-01 | 17.489 |
| 1986-09-01 | 17.498 |
| 1986-10-01 | 17.477 |
| 1986-11-01 | 17.472 |
| 1986-12-01 | 17.478 |
| 1987-01-01 | 17.465 |
| 1987-02-01 | 17.499 |
| 1987-03-01 | 17.507 |
| 1987-04-01 | 17.525 |
| 1987-05-01 | 17.542 |
| 1987-06-01 | 17.537 |
| 1987-07-01 | 17.593 |
| 1987-08-01 | 17.63 |
| 1987-09-01 | 17.691 |
| 1987-10-01 | 17.729 |
| 1987-11-01 | 17.775 |
| 1987-12-01 | 17.809 |
| 1988-01-01 | 17.79 |
| 1988-02-01 | 17.823 |
| 1988-03-01 | 17.844 |
| 1988-04-01 | 17.874 |
| 1988-05-01 | 17.892 |
| 1988-06-01 | 17.916 |
| 1988-07-01 | 17.926 |
| 1988-08-01 | 17.891 |
| 1988-09-01 | 17.914 |
| 1988-10-01 | 17.966 |
| 1988-11-01 | 18.003 |
| 1988-12-01 | 18.025 |
| 1989-01-01 | 18.057 |
| 1989-02-01 | 18.055 |
| 1989-03-01 | 18.06 |
| 1989-04-01 | 18.055 |
| 1989-05-01 | 18.04 |
| 1989-06-01 | 18.013 |
| 1989-07-01 | 17.98 |
| 1989-08-01 | 17.964 |
| 1989-09-01 | 17.922 |
| 1989-10-01 | 17.895 |
| 1989-11-01 | 17.886 |
| 1989-12-01 | 17.881 |
| 1990-01-01 | 17.797 |
| 1990-02-01 | 17.893 |
| 1990-03-01 | 17.868 |
| 1990-04-01 | 17.845 |
| 1990-05-01 | 17.797 |
| 1990-06-01 | 17.776 |
| 1990-07-01 | 17.704 |
| 1990-08-01 | 17.649 |
| 1990-09-01 | 17.609 |
| 1990-10-01 | 17.577 |
| 1990-11-01 | 17.428 |
| 1990-12-01 | 17.395 |
| 1991-01-01 | 17.33 |
| 1991-02-01 | 17.211 |
| 1991-03-01 | 17.14 |
| 1991-04-01 | 17.093 |
| 1991-05-01 | 17.07 |
| 1991-06-01 | 17.044 |
| 1991-07-01 | 17.015 |
| 1991-08-01 | 17.025 |
| 1991-09-01 | 17.01 |
| 1991-10-01 | 16.999 |
| 1991-11-01 | 16.961 |
| 1991-12-01 | 16.916 |
| 1992-01-01 | 16.839 |
| 1992-02-01 | 16.829 |
| 1992-03-01 | 16.805 |
| 1992-04-01 | 16.831 |
| 1992-05-01 | 16.835 |
| 1992-06-01 | 16.826 |
| 1992-07-01 | 16.819 |
| 1992-08-01 | 16.783 |
| 1992-09-01 | 16.761 |
| 1992-10-01 | 16.751 |
| 1992-11-01 | 16.758 |
| 1992-12-01 | 16.769 |
| 1993-01-01 | 16.791 |
| 1993-02-01 | 16.805 |
| 1993-03-01 | 16.795 |
| 1993-04-01 | 16.772 |
| 1993-05-01 | 16.766 |
| 1993-06-01 | 16.742 |
| 1993-07-01 | 16.739 |
| 1993-08-01 | 16.741 |
| 1993-09-01 | 16.769 |
| 1993-10-01 | 16.778 |
| 1993-11-01 | 16.8 |
| 1993-12-01 | 16.815 |
| 1994-01-01 | 16.855 |
| 1994-02-01 | 16.862 |
| 1994-03-01 | 16.897 |
| 1994-04-01 | 16.933 |
| 1994-05-01 | 16.962 |
| 1994-06-01 | 17.01 |
| 1994-07-01 | 17.026 |
| 1994-08-01 | 17.081 |
| 1994-09-01 | 17.115 |
| 1994-10-01 | 17.144 |
| 1994-11-01 | 17.186 |
| 1994-12-01 | 17.217 |
| 1995-01-01 | 17.262 |
| 1995-02-01 | 17.265 |
| 1995-03-01 | 17.263 |
| 1995-04-01 | 17.278 |
| 1995-05-01 | 17.259 |
| 1995-06-01 | 17.247 |
| 1995-07-01 | 17.218 |
| 1995-08-01 | 17.24 |
| 1995-09-01 | 17.247 |
| 1995-10-01 | 17.216 |
| 1995-11-01 | 17.209 |
| 1995-12-01 | 17.231 |
| 1996-01-01 | 17.208 |
| 1996-02-01 | 17.229 |
| 1996-03-01 | 17.193 |
| 1996-04-01 | 17.204 |
| 1996-05-01 | 17.222 |
| 1996-06-01 | 17.226 |
| 1996-07-01 | 17.223 |
| 1996-08-01 | 17.255 |
| 1996-09-01 | 17.252 |
| 1996-10-01 | 17.268 |
| 1996-11-01 | 17.277 |
| 1996-12-01 | 17.284 |
| 1997-01-01 | 17.297 |
| 1997-02-01 | 17.316 |
| 1997-03-01 | 17.34 |
| 1997-04-01 | 17.349 |
| 1997-05-01 | 17.362 |
| 1997-06-01 | 17.387 |
| 1997-07-01 | 17.389 |
| 1997-08-01 | 17.452 |
| 1997-09-01 | 17.465 |
| 1997-10-01 | 17.513 |
| 1997-11-01 | 17.556 |
| 1997-12-01 | 17.588 |
| 1998-01-01 | 17.619 |
| 1998-02-01 | 17.627 |
| 1998-03-01 | 17.637 |
| 1998-04-01 | 17.637 |
| 1998-05-01 | 17.624 |
| 1998-06-01 | 17.608 |
| 1998-07-01 | 17.422 |
| 1998-08-01 | 17.563 |
| 1998-09-01 | 17.557 |
| 1998-10-01 | 17.512 |
| 1998-11-01 | 17.465 |
| 1998-12-01 | 17.449 |
| 1999-01-01 | 17.427 |
| 1999-02-01 | 17.395 |
| 1999-03-01 | 17.368 |
| 1999-04-01 | 17.344 |
| 1999-05-01 | 17.333 |
| 1999-06-01 | 17.295 |
| 1999-07-01 | 17.308 |
| 1999-08-01 | 17.287 |
| 1999-09-01 | 17.281 |
| 1999-10-01 | 17.272 |
| 1999-11-01 | 17.282 |
| 1999-12-01 | 17.28 |
| 2000-01-01 | 17.284 |
| 2000-02-01 | 17.285 |
| 2000-03-01 | 17.302 |
| 2000-04-01 | 17.298 |
| 2000-05-01 | 17.279 |
| 2000-06-01 | 17.296 |
| 2000-07-01 | 17.322 |
| 2000-08-01 | 17.287 |
| 2000-09-01 | 17.23 |
| 2000-10-01 | 17.217 |
| 2000-11-01 | 17.202 |
| 2000-12-01 | 17.181 |
| 2001-01-01 | 17.104 |
| 2001-02-01 | 17.028 |
| 2001-03-01 | 16.938 |
| 2001-04-01 | 16.802 |
| 2001-05-01 | 16.661 |
| 2001-06-01 | 16.515 |
| 2001-07-01 | 16.382 |
| 2001-08-01 | 16.232 |
| 2001-09-01 | 16.117 |
| 2001-10-01 | 15.972 |
| 2001-11-01 | 15.825 |
| 2001-12-01 | 15.711 |
| 2002-01-01 | 15.587 |
| 2002-02-01 | 15.515 |
| 2002-03-01 | 15.443 |
| 2002-04-01 | 15.392 |
| 2002-05-01 | 15.337 |
| 2002-06-01 | 15.298 |
| 2002-07-01 | 15.256 |
| 2002-08-01 | 15.171 |
| 2002-09-01 | 15.119 |
| 2002-10-01 | 15.06 |
| 2002-11-01 | 14.992 |
| 2002-12-01 | 14.912 |
| 2003-01-01 | 14.866 |
| 2003-02-01 | 14.781 |
| 2003-03-01 | 14.721 |
| 2003-04-01 | 14.609 |
| 2003-05-01 | 14.557 |
| 2003-06-01 | 14.493 |
| 2003-07-01 | 14.402 |
| 2003-08-01 | 14.376 |
| 2003-09-01 | 14.347 |
| 2003-10-01 | 14.334 |
| 2003-11-01 | 14.316 |
| 2003-12-01 | 14.3 |
| 2004-01-01 | 14.29 |
| 2004-02-01 | 14.279 |
| 2004-03-01 | 14.287 |
| 2004-04-01 | 14.315 |
| 2004-05-01 | 14.342 |
| 2004-06-01 | 14.332 |
| 2004-07-01 | 14.33 |
| 2004-08-01 | 14.345 |
| 2004-09-01 | 14.331 |
| 2004-10-01 | 14.332 |
| 2004-11-01 | 14.307 |
| 2004-12-01 | 14.287 |
| 2005-01-01 | 14.257 |
| 2005-02-01 | 14.273 |
| 2005-03-01 | 14.269 |
| 2005-04-01 | 14.25 |
| 2005-05-01 | 14.256 |
| 2005-06-01 | 14.227 |
| 2005-07-01 | 14.226 |
| 2005-08-01 | 14.203 |
| 2005-09-01 | 14.175 |
| 2005-10-01 | 14.192 |
| 2005-11-01 | 14.187 |
| 2005-12-01 | 14.193 |
| 2006-01-01 | 14.21 |
| 2006-02-01 | 14.209 |
| 2006-03-01 | 14.214 |
| 2006-04-01 | 14.226 |
| 2006-05-01 | 14.203 |
| 2006-06-01 | 14.213 |
| 2006-07-01 | 14.188 |
| 2006-08-01 | 14.159 |
| 2006-09-01 | 14.125 |
| 2006-10-01 | 14.075 |
| 2006-11-01 | 14.041 |
| 2006-12-01 | 14.015 |
| 2007-01-01 | 14.008 |
| 2007-02-01 | 13.997 |
| 2007-03-01 | 13.97 |
| 2007-04-01 | 13.945 |
| 2007-05-01 | 13.929 |
| 2007-06-01 | 13.911 |
| 2007-07-01 | 13.889 |
| 2007-08-01 | 13.828 |
| 2007-09-01 | 13.79 |
| 2007-10-01 | 13.764 |
| 2007-11-01 | 13.757 |
| 2007-12-01 | 13.746 |
| 2008-01-01 | 13.725 |
| 2008-02-01 | 13.696 |
| 2008-03-01 | 13.659 |
| 2008-04-01 | 13.599 |
| 2008-05-01 | 13.564 |
| 2008-06-01 | 13.504 |
| 2008-07-01 | 13.43 |
| 2008-08-01 | 13.358 |
| 2008-09-01 | 13.275 |
| 2008-10-01 | 13.147 |
| 2008-11-01 | 13.034 |
| 2008-12-01 | 12.85 |
| 2009-01-01 | 12.561 |
| 2009-02-01 | 12.38 |
| 2009-03-01 | 12.208 |
| 2009-04-01 | 12.03 |
| 2009-05-01 | 11.862 |
| 2009-06-01 | 11.726 |
| 2009-07-01 | 11.668 |
| 2009-08-01 | 11.626 |
| 2009-09-01 | 11.591 |
| 2009-10-01 | 11.538 |
| 2009-11-01 | 11.509 |
| 2009-12-01 | 11.475 |
| 2010-01-01 | 11.46 |
| 2010-02-01 | 11.453 |
| 2010-03-01 | 11.453 |
| 2010-04-01 | 11.489 |
| 2010-05-01 | 11.525 |
| 2010-06-01 | 11.545 |
| 2010-07-01 | 11.561 |
| 2010-08-01 | 11.553 |
| 2010-09-01 | 11.563 |
| 2010-10-01 | 11.562 |
| 2010-11-01 | 11.585 |
| 2010-12-01 | 11.595 |
| 2011-01-01 | 11.618 |
| 2011-02-01 | 11.653 |
| 2011-03-01 | 11.67 |
| 2011-04-01 | 11.7 |
| 2011-05-01 | 11.712 |
| 2011-06-01 | 11.724 |
| 2011-07-01 | 11.742 |
| 2011-08-01 | 11.766 |
| 2011-09-01 | 11.771 |
| 2011-10-01 | 11.776 |
| 2011-11-01 | 11.774 |
| 2011-12-01 | 11.799 |
| 2012-01-01 | 11.834 |
| 2012-02-01 | 11.857 |
| 2012-03-01 | 11.899 |
| 2012-04-01 | 11.916 |
| 2012-05-01 | 11.93 |
| 2012-06-01 | 11.941 |
| 2012-07-01 | 11.965 |
| 2012-08-01 | 11.961 |
| 2012-09-01 | 11.948 |
| 2012-10-01 | 11.951 |
| 2012-11-01 | 11.947 |
| 2012-12-01 | 11.961 |
| 2013-01-01 | 11.98 |
| 2013-02-01 | 12.002 |
| 2013-03-01 | 12.006 |
| 2013-04-01 | 12.006 |
| 2013-05-01 | 12.007 |
| 2013-06-01 | 12.005 |
| 2013-07-01 | 11.983 |
| 2013-08-01 | 12.011 |
| 2013-09-01 | 12.022 |
| 2013-10-01 | 12.04 |
| 2013-11-01 | 12.072 |
| 2013-12-01 | 12.086 |
| 2014-01-01 | 12.102 |
| 2014-02-01 | 12.122 |
| 2014-03-01 | 12.131 |
| 2014-04-01 | 12.142 |
| 2014-05-01 | 12.154 |
| 2014-06-01 | 12.177 |
| 2014-07-01 | 12.191 |
| 2014-08-01 | 12.205 |
| 2014-09-01 | 12.214 |
| 2014-10-01 | 12.237 |
| 2014-11-01 | 12.282 |
| 2014-12-01 | 12.301 |
Source: EPI analysis of Bureau of Labor Statistics (2015a)