Labor

  • 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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    Getty Images
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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
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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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    Getty Images
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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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    Getty Images
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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
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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
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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
  • A person wearing ear protection, eyeglasses and gloves using a machine to shape heated steel.
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    Getty Images
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    Manufacturing industry gained 3,000 jobs in June

    Adjusted data shows the industry lost 3,000 jobs combined in April and May as manufacturers eased on staffing amid tariffs and interest rate uncertainty.

    By • July 6, 2026
  • A person stands on a stage next to a podium with a blue background that says "Automate."
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    Katie Pyzyk/Manufacturing Dive
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    Cobots become simpler, smarter with AI

    Collaborative robots have taken off in recent years as artificial intelligence makes them useful for a wider variety of applications.

    By • July 1, 2026
  • Attendees arrive at the MD&M East manufacturing conference at the Javits Center in New York City in 2025.
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    Courtesy of IME Connect
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    Manufacturing conferences and trade shows to watch in 2026

    Upcoming industry events will showcase the latest products and cover topics ranging from tariff mitigation and automation to workforce retention strategies.

    By Manufacturing Dive Staff • Updated July 1, 2026
  • Robotic technology and vision systems are tested at a new Amazon fulfillment center on August 10, 2017 in Sacramento, California.
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    Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
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    Where to start with mobile automation

    Formova’s leadership outlined what companies should consider when transitioning their operations to accommodate automated guided vehicles or mobile robots.

    By • July 1, 2026
  • Attendees at Automate 2026 in Chicago walk the South Hall floor filled with vendor booths and robotics demonstrations.
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    Nathan Owens/Manufacturing Dive
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    Humanoid hype, surging investor capital and the state of industrial robots

    Executives discussed the future of robotics, from bipedal prototypes and increased automation demand to growing accessibility for manufacturers of all sizes.

    By • June 30, 2026
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    Courtesy of Lockheed Martin
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    Lockheed Martin signs $35B DOD contract to quadruple interceptor production

    The weapons maker will produce THAAD missile rounds at its facilities in Texas, California, Arkansas and Alabama. The company is also investing over $9 billion to meet munitions demand through 2030.

    By • June 26, 2026
  • A white, egg-shaped robot with silver and white squiggly arms makes a latte.
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    Nathan Owens//Manufacturing Dive/Manufacturing Dive
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    US robotics installations rebounded in 2025, on track for more growth: IFR

    Bolstered by automotive and electronics demand, global deployments remain concentrated in China, Japan and South Korea. The U.S. is seeing growing robotics demand from food production and supply chain services.

    By • June 26, 2026
  • A person wearing protective goggles and their hair in a ponytail working on a machine.
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    Courtesy of IACMI–The Composites Institute
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    IACMI expanding 2 DOD-funded workforce development programs nationwide

    The Manufacturing USA institute aims to establish the ACE and METAL initiatives at 53 universities, colleges and trade schools by 2030, with funding from the agency’s Office of Industrial Base Policy.

    By • June 24, 2026
  • A Lucid Gravity electric SUV parked outdoors with greenery in the background.
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    Courtesy of Lucid Group
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    Lucid Motors laying off 18% of US workforce, COO resigns

    The layoffs follow a 12% reduction of the company’s workforce in February following the launch of the Gravity SUV, its second model. 

    By • June 24, 2026
  • Three people walk past a line of machines in a building.
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    Courtesy of Johnson & Johnson
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    J&J commits $1B to expand contact lens production in Florida

    The investment will add J&J’s manufacturing, packaging and distribution capabilities to meet growing demand for its contact lenses.

    By Nick Paul Taylor • June 16, 2026
  • The JBS logo is displayed
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    Courtesy of JBS
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    JBS to close meat plants in manufacturing reshuffle

    The company plans to lay off at least 2,000 workers as it shutters a Pennsylvania beef processing facility and makes changes at majority-owned Pilgrim’s Pride.

    By Sarah Zimmerman • June 15, 2026
  • A blue and white Lockheed Martin sign on the left of a blue archway that's over a white parking attendant booth.
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    Getty Images
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    Thousands of Dauch, Lockheed Martin workers vote to ratify union contracts

    Nearly 1,000 UAW-represented Dauch workers’ ratified contract ends the two-week strike at the GM supplier’s Michigan plant. About 5,000 IAM-represented Lockheed Martin employees also voted for a new deal on Sunday.

    By • Updated June 15, 2026
  • A person wearing a red shirt and glasses standing behind a podium, with people in red shirts standing in the background.
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    Screenshot: United Auto Workers/YouTube

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    Nearly 1,000 workers to vote on GM, Ford supplier’s proposal to end strike

    Employees represented by UAW Local 2093 will vote Sunday on the proposed contract presented by Dauch Corp., formerly known as American Axle & Manufacturing.

    By • June 11, 2026