Semiconductor Industry Most Concerned with Tariffs, Trade Policy

For nearly 50 years, research has shown that having a bachelor’s degree or higher led to better employment prospects, from higher pay to greater job security. Now, with the stability of white-collar work in question as U.S. companies embrace artificial intelligence, federal data suggests that’s beginning to change.

DOL’s newest guidance aimed at easing administrative burdens for employers launching registered apprentice programs may not go far enough to achieve the administration’s lofty job creation goals.

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.

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

Hybrid manufacturing blends traditional machining with advanced methods like 3D printing to create agile, flexible defense factories that can scale faster, cut costs, and adapt to changing mission needs.