Sharp decline in U.S. manufacturing jobs linked to Trump-era tariffs
The number of manufacturing jobs in the United States dropped sharply by 68,000 due to tariffs introduced during Donald Trump’s presidency. In December, the U.S. economy added only 50,000 new jobs, and for the entire year of 2025, job growth reached just 584,000, marking the weakest annual increase outside of a recession since 2003.
These figures indicate a slowdown in the U.S. labor market, possibly resulting from the previous administration’s trade policies that affected manufacturing competitiveness. The decline in employment within this key sector raises concerns about the future trajectory of economic growth.
In the coming months, government and businesses are expected to seek new ways to stabilize the labor market, and ongoing analysis will help develop more effective strategies to support manufacturing and employment.
