Insight Bite: We added 3,000 jobs. But that's not the story.

How many job are left unfilled?

Insight Bite: July 8, 2026.

The real number we should be watching: 529,000 open manufacturing roles, up 32% over last year. But, as the numbers show…only 3,000 of those seats were filled.

Stop me if you’ve heard this one before, but tariffs, interest rates, energy…nobody wants to commit until the ground stops shifting. But, the ground isn't going to stop shifting.

What can we, as marketers and leaders do? Half a million open roles means the fight for talent can be won with a simplified story. A strong employer brand strategy. The company that can say why work here wins.

Before you go, think about this: If you’re dealing with this, your competitors are too. So when their leadership freezes, their marketing spend might freeze with it. In other words, competitors will go quiet. Let’s be different…let’s be the ones that keep showing up.

Full read here at Manufacturing Dive.

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