Labor

  • A group of people in hard hats work in a large metal processing facility
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    US manufacturing adds 16,000 jobs in August

    The machinery manufacturing sector gained the most workers at 6,100 jobs, while the motor vehicles and parts industry lost 4,500.

    By • Sept. 4, 2026
  • steel products in the warehouse ready to be sent to customers.
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    Hyundai Steel project moves ahead despite local pushback

    Residents and organizers are challenging how Louisiana fast-tracked a $5.8 billion project with limited public input. They raised environmental and legal concerns at a hearing Tuesday.

    By • Sept. 2, 2026
  • Automotive Industrial Manufacturing Facility Working on Vehicle Production with Robotic Arms. Explore the Trendline➔
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    Trendline

    Top 5 stories from Manufacturing Dive

    Check out some of our publication’s top stories so far in 2026.

    By Manufacturing Dive staff
  • A gray building with glass windows and the white Boeing logo on its top front.
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    Sara Samora/Manufacturing Dive
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    Boeing, Deere and US Steel navigate labor union contract negotiations

    The aerospace maker plans to resume contractual talks after Labor Day. Meanwhile, U.S. Steel and Cleveland-Cliffs agreed to extend their steelworker contracts by 30 days.

    By • Sept. 1, 2026
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    Bennett Raglin via Getty Images
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    Industry rejects Bill Gates’ call for robotics and AI tax

    Companies can write-off robots as business expenses under the current tax system, incentivizing machines over humans, the Microsoft co-founder said. Critics say the idea would hamper productivity and competitiveness.

    By • Aug. 27, 2026
  • A row of rockets on launch pads set to lift off at dusk.
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    Screenshot: SpaceX / X

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    SpaceX plans $100B spaceport in Louisiana

    The investment includes a propellant production facility and vehicle processing. The land was previously owned by ExxonMobil, which was sued for allegedly polluting the state’s coastal marshes.

    By • Aug. 27, 2026
  • Three people at a white table wearing shields as they weld metal.
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    Courtesy of New England Institute of Technology
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    Electric Boat, NEIT to establish submarine workforce training center in Rhode Island

    The General Dynamics subsidiary intends to hire 8,000 workers across its U.S. shipyards. EB also created an employee incentive to boost production for its $76.6 billion U.S Navy contracts.

    By • Aug. 26, 2026
  • A yellow-painted robot moves the windshield into position on a Jeep Grand Cherokee at the Detroit Assembly Complex – Jefferson in Michigan.
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    Courtesy of Stellantis
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    Intel report shows gap between robotics expectations and readiness

    Although 70% of manufacturing leaders expect to manage a robot fleet in the next five years, roughly four in 10 have a formal strategy in place for a mixed human-robot workforce.

    By • Aug. 25, 2026
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    Illinois bill streamlines manufacturing career paths for high schoolers

    The legislation aims to ensure students have access to hands-on training for jobs in CNC machining, welding and other fields.

    By • Aug. 20, 2026
  • A group of people in hard hats work in a large metal processing facility
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    How to navigate background screening for the manufacturing workforce

    Manufacturers must balance a need to fill many open roles with finding candidates that can meet safety standards and evolving regulatory requirements. Meanwhile, AI is increasing concerns about hiring fraud.

    By Keesa Schreane • Aug. 17, 2026
  • A red 2024 Lincoln Nautilus SUV driving on a road with a body of water in the background.
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    Courtesy of Ford Motor Co.
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    Ford plans to phase out China-built Lincoln models for the US

    The move aligns with the automaker’s goal to ramp up domestic manufacturing and anticipates it will create thousands of jobs in the country.

    By • Updated Aug. 14, 2026
  • The back of a person with long hair in a gray t-shirt and black jeans, raising a thin sword above their head.
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    Screenshot: Cast in Steel / YouTube

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    Reality show Cast in Steel aims to attract next generation of metal casters

    Six teams from schools across the U.S. cast and forge one of George Washington’s swords in a competition to win $25,000. The series is funded through a Defense Department $16.3 million contract.

    By • Aug. 13, 2026
  • Black and yellow Stanley Black & Decker sign on green grass, and trees and a white building in the background on a sunny day.
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    Courtesy of Stanley Black & Decker.

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    Stanley Black & Decker to invest $1B across US manufacturing, R&D

    The Dewalt and Craftsman tools maker is also making progress on its goal to spend $60 million on its skilled trades training programs.

    By • Aug. 13, 2026
  • U.S. Steel's Clairton Works facility in Pennsylvania.
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    Spencer Platt via Getty Images
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    Federal investigators say US Steel explosion ‘should never have happened’

    The U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board identified issues that led to worker deaths and injuries at the steelmaker’s Clairton Works facility last year.

    By • Aug. 12, 2026
  • A dark cherry red SUV on a factory assembly line, with a worker wearing a bright yellow shirt and protective eyewear behind the wheel.
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    Courtesy of Mahan Multimedia / Toyota Motor Corp.
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    Manufacturing jobs continue upwards, adding 5,000 jobs in July

    The transportation equipment sector gained the most workers at nearly 12,000. Meanwhile, the food industry lost over 6,000 employees.

    By • Aug. 7, 2026
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    zorazhuang via Getty Images
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    Steris to invest $600M in North Carolina manufacturing hub

    The Dublin-based company plans to relocate some existing U.S. operations to the new 600,000-square-foot campus in the coming years.

    By • Aug. 6, 2026
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    Qnity, University of Delaware team up for semiconductor R&D, workforce

    UD Engineering has a capstone program that allows companies to recruit students. Qnity’s corporate partnership will focus on semiconductor materials research.

    By • July 31, 2026
  • Productivity Improvement of Welding Assembly Lines in Manufacturing Industry. Manufacturing Process Engineers having discussion on welding jig design data to improve and reduce defect loss of work piece in welding process.
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    Q&A

    MIT wants technologists to be the nurse practitioners for manufacturing

    John Liu, principal research scientist at the institute, spoke about the TechAMP program and what feedback has been like from its first cohort in the aerospace and defense sectors.

    By • July 29, 2026
  • A person in a wheelchair and wearing a blue hardhat and yellow vest, operating a machine in a factory.
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    How manufacturers can recruit and retain workers with disabilities

    The manufacturing industry has an opportunity to set an example for other industries by tapping into a non-traditional talent pool and using skills-based hiring.

    By • July 27, 2026
  • The interior of a manufacturing facility with yellow planes being put together.
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    Screenshot/JobsOhio

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    Electra to build $850M manufacturing plant in Ohio

    The hybrid-electric aircraft maker, along with RTX, GKN Aerospace, Beehive Industries and Doncasters, announced manufacturing investments during the Farnborough International Airshow in England.

    By • July 24, 2026
  • A long gray building with columns of windows placed in the center and facing a road during daytime.
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    Courtesy of Advanced Manufacturing Innovation Center–St. Louis
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    How a St. Louis-based hub aims to fill the manufacturing workforce gap

    The Advanced Manufacturing Innovation Center–St. Louis is opening a facility in Q1 of 2027 and will be modeled after a U.K.-based training center that Boeing co-founded.

    By • July 23, 2026
  • A close-up view of a modern glass and metal checkered facade building with a logo that reads, "Google Cloud."
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    Alamy
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    Q&A

    AI-assisted training: How Google Cloud is addressing workforce challenges

    Companies can leverage AI to enhance onboarding and inspections through audio, video and image validation, said Praveen Rao, Google Cloud’s global head of manufacturing.

    By • July 22, 2026
  • An area with gray cement and buildings spanning across land, with a ship floating on blue water in front of it.
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    Courtesy of Saronic Technologies
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    Saronic Technologies picks Texas for $3.2B autonomous shipyard

    The manufacturing hub will be built at the Port of Brownsville, which is located in one of the largest foreign trade zones in the U.S.

    By • July 20, 2026
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    Alex Wong via Getty Images
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    More than 30 companies commit $10B to Pennsylvania defense industry

    The money will go toward shipbuilding, munitions and technologies such as artificial intelligence and robotics, Sen. Dave McCormick, R-Penn., said at the state’s Defense and Innovation Summit.

    By • July 17, 2026
  • A massive, L-shaped LED screen displaying an immersive 3D liquid waterfall animation inside an exhibition site.
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    Cheng Chia Huang via Getty Images
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    Lite-On Technology to establish $919M manufacturing campus in Texas

    The Taiwan-based electronics manufacturer is also establishing its North American headquarters in the Dallas-Fort Worth area as it aims to cash in on AI and data center demand. 

    By • July 15, 2026
  • 2026 Toyota Tacoma SR5, in motion
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    Courtesy of Toyota
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    Toyota plans Tacoma truck production in Texas with $3.6B expansion

    The automaker won’t yet say what portion of U.S.-bound Tacomas will shift from Mexico after the buildout, but the company plans to double its San Antonio factory footprint by 2030.

    By Bengt Halvorson • July 8, 2026