Manufacturing employers hired an estimated 332,000 people during August 2026, up from a revised 293,000 in July, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics September 29 JOLTS release. The manufacturing hires rate rose from 2.3% to 2.6%. These figures are seasonally adjusted and the August estimates are preliminary. Manufacturing job openings fell from 576,000 in July to 522,000 on the last business day of August. The openings rate fell from 4.4% to 4.0%. Durable goods manufacturing accounted for 380,000 August openings and nondurable goods manufacturing for 142,000. Construction openings declined from 299,000 to 251,000, with an August openings rate of 2.9%. Construction hires fell from 358,000 in July to 308,000 in August; the hires rate declined from 4.3% to 3.7%. Openings measure unfilled positions on the last business day of the month. Hires measure additions to payroll throughout the month. Their difference does not show that specific openings turned into hires, and neither measure is net job growth. These industry totals cover occupations across manufacturing and construction. They do not identify demand for CNC machinists, electricians or other individual trades, distinguish apprentices from journey-level workers, or report wage offers and licensing requirements. Local opportunities still require employer- and location-specific checks.