Full Breakdown
Trump’s Reshoring Policies Drive a Surge in U.S. Blue-Collar Jobs
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event: Manufacturing Expansion Under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act
A Council of Economic Advisors (CEA) report says about 72,000 manufacturing jobs were added in 2026, crediting the Trump administration’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBB). The act provides a 100 % tax deduction for new factory construction and equipment, prompting firms like Ohio’s Jergens and North Carolina’s Ketchie Inc. to grow their workforces.
Background: Reversing a Prior Decline
The CEA analysis contrasts the current gains with a loss of roughly 200,000 manufacturing jobs during the final two years of the preceding administration, which it characterizes as a period of offshoring that hollowed out the blue-collar labor pool.
Data & Statistics
- Manufacturing jobs rose 72,000 in 2026; construction added roughly 100,000 jobs since Trump took office.
- Overtime uptake reached 83 % at Jergens, and average manufacturing pay grew 7.9 % since January 2025—about $2,500 more per year after inflation.
- Private investment includes Micron’s $250 billion chip plants, Apple’s $600 billion semiconductor program, and a total of $11 trillion in reshoring-related spending during Trump’s second term.
Official Assessment & Responses
The CEA frames the OBBB as groundwork for U.S. firms to expand domestically rather than offshore. It cites the tax-deduction provision as a key driver of the reported workforce growth and wage gains, and notes that reshoring incentives combined with tariff measures aim to sustain the manufacturing rebound.
Political Context and Outlook
The report notes that the job gains occur amid rising consumer-price concerns before the midterm elections, with a Fox News poll showing majorities flagging gas, healthcare and grocery costs as serious problems. While the administration attributes the surge to its policies, the poll suggests lingering public anxiety about the overall economy.