Manufacturers spent about $32B training workers: MI survey

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

Why rapid manufacturing growth is increasing demand for faster workplace learning as employees adapt to complex industrial technology.

In a recent New York Times editorial, the paper’s board sharply criticizes President Trump’s approach to U.S. military policy, alliances, and defense spending. The editorial argues that his strategy has weakened long-standing security commitments, eroded confidence in traditional alliances, and shifted focus away from collective defense toward unilateral actions and transactional relationships. It contends that key aspects of global security, including support for Ukraine and cohesion within NATO, have been undermined by inconsistent policy choices and an overreliance on high-profile military gestures rather than sustained strategic leadership.

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.