Defense Production Act to be Part of Re-Industrialization Strategy

GE Aerospace plans to invest another $1 billion in its U.S. manufacturing sites and supplier base during to help accelerate engine deliveries and ramp production of parts that safely extend time between maintenance shop visits, and strengthen defense production to keep pace with military demand.

Funding will support two new AI training tracks for current and future workers, train 40,000 manufacturing workers and expand the best-in-class FAME USA Network.

The transportation equipment and fabricated metal products sectors gained the most jobs last month, while the chemical sector lost the most.

A recent Middle Market Growth Conversations podcast features Bryan Wright, national manufacturing sector leader at Forvis Mazars, sharing insights from a new survey that shows strong optimism among manufacturing executives for growth in 2026 despite ongoing pressures like supplier cost increases and tariffs. Wright discusses how manufacturers are prioritizing strategies they can control, such as pricing, customer and product expansion, operational efficiency, and targeted technology investments like modern ERP systems. He also highlights the growing role of AI and automation, how talent challenges are being approached, and why resilient M&A activity, especially add-on deals, could strengthen in the year ahead.