The ISM Manufacturing Employment index is a sub-index of the Manufacturing PMI that tracks hiring trends specifically within the industrial sector. It serves as a leading indicator for the manufacturing component of the monthly employment report. Although manufacturing represents a smaller portion of total employment than services, it is highly sensitive to economic cycles. Traders watch this figure to gauge the strength of industrial production and overall economic momentum.
The index is based on survey responses from purchasing executives in the manufacturing industry regarding their firm's employment levels. The diffusion index is calculated by adding the percentage of positive responses to half the percentage of 'no change' responses.
| Date | Actual | Forecast | Surprise |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 1, 2026 | 51.20 | 52.50 | -1.30 |
| Aug 3, 2026 | 52.80 | 49.80 | +3.00 |
| Jul 1, 2026 | 49.70 | 49.00 | +0.70 |
| Jun 1, 2026 | 48.60 | 46.60 | +2.00 |
| May 1, 2026 | 46.40 | 49.00 | -2.60 |
| Apr 1, 2026 | 48.70 | 48.60 | +0.10 |
| Mar 2, 2026 | 48.80 | 48.00 | +0.80 |
| Feb 2, 2026 | 48.10 | 44.80 | +3.30 |
| Jan 5, 2026 | 44.90 | 44.10 | +0.80 |
| Dec 1, 2025 | 44.00 | 47.00 | -3.00 |
| Nov 3, 2025 | 46.00 | 45.40 | +0.60 |
| Oct 1, 2025 | 45.30 | 44.00 | +1.30 |
| Sep 2, 2025 | 43.80 | 43.20 | +0.60 |
| Aug 1, 2025 | 43.40 | 45.30 | -1.90 |
| Jul 1, 2025 | 45.00 | 47.00 | -2.00 |
| Jun 2, 2025 | 46.80 | 47.00 | -0.20 |
| May 1, 2025 | 46.50 | 44.10 | +2.40 |
| Apr 1, 2025 | 44.70 | 47.50 | -2.80 |
| Mar 3, 2025 | 47.60 | 50.60 | -3.00 |
| Feb 3, 2025 | 50.30 | 47.00 | +3.30 |
| Jan 3, 2025 | 45.30 | 48.00 | -2.70 |
| Dec 2, 2024 | 48.10 | 47.00 | +1.10 |
| Nov 1, 2024 | 44.40 | 45.00 | -0.60 |
| Oct 1, 2024 | 43.90 | 47.00 | -3.10 |
| Sep 3, 2024 | 46.00 | 43.60 | +2.40 |
| Aug 1, 2024 | 43.40 | 49.00 | -5.60 |
| Jul 1, 2024 | 49.30 | 50.00 | -0.70 |
| Jun 3, 2024 | 51.10 | 48.50 | +2.60 |
| May 1, 2024 | 48.60 | 48.20 | +0.40 |
| Apr 1, 2024 | 47.40 | 46.00 | +1.40 |
| Mar 1, 2024 | 45.90 | 47.50 | -1.60 |
| Feb 1, 2024 | 47.10 | 48.20 | -1.10 |
| Jan 3, 2024 | 48.10 | 46.10 | +2.00 |
| Dec 1, 2023 | 45.80 | 46.60 | -0.80 |
| Nov 1, 2023 | 46.80 | 50.30 | -3.50 |
| Oct 2, 2023 | 51.20 | 48.30 | +2.90 |
| Sep 1, 2023 | 48.50 | 44.20 | +4.30 |
| Aug 1, 2023 | 44.40 | 48.00 | -3.60 |
| Jul 3, 2023 | 48.10 | 50.50 | -2.40 |
| Jun 1, 2023 | 51.40 | 49.80 | +1.60 |
| May 1, 2023 | 50.20 | 45.00 | +5.20 |
| Apr 3, 2023 | 46.90 | 50.00 | -3.10 |
| Mar 1, 2023 | 49.10 | 50.50 | -1.40 |
| Feb 1, 2023 | 50.60 | 49.00 | +1.60 |
| Jan 4, 2023 | 51.40 | 48.30 | +3.10 |
| Dec 1, 2022 | 48.40 | 49.10 | -0.70 |
| Nov 1, 2022 | 50.00 | 48.20 | +1.80 |
| Oct 3, 2022 | 48.70 | 53.00 | -4.30 |
| Sep 1, 2022 | 54.20 | 49.00 | +5.20 |
| Aug 1, 2022 | 49.90 | 47.40 | +2.50 |
