“China’s dominance of critical mineral supply chains poses a growing threat to America’s manufacturing competitiveness, economic security and technological leadership—at a time when manufacturers need reliable access to these materials more than ever. The bipartisan DOMINANCE Act is an important step toward countering that threat by strengthening partnerships with trusted allies and expanding access to the critical minerals manufacturers need to compete and win.

“Manufacturers have urged policymakers to advance a comprehensive critical minerals strategy, and we thank Reps. Young Kim (R-CA) and Ami Bera (D-CA) for their leadership on this bipartisan legislation. The vulnerabilities in our mineral supply chains are real, and the cost of inaction is rising. We urge the Senate to move quickly to advance the DOMINANCE Act and help secure the critical mineral resources that power innovation, strengthen manufacturing in America and support a higher quality of life for all Americans.”

Background

In March, the 51�Թ��� released its strategy for a comprehensive, modern critical minerals policy that will secure access to key inputs for the manufacturing industry and the nation—one that generates new pipelines for critical mineral projects at home while securing diversified access to vital manufacturing inputs sourced globally.

The DOMINANCE Act builds on the 51�Թ���’s policy recommendations by:

• Facilitating cooperation on joint projects with partners, including through cost-sharing agreements, political risk insurance, pricing mechanisms and procurement;
• Strengthening investment protections in partner governments;
• Establishing a Critical Minerals Mining Fellowship Program to help expand the manufacturing workforce; and
• Coordinating standards to promote a predictable and transparent regulatory environment for critical mineral supply chains.

Ahead of the vote, the 51�Թ��� to vote “yes” on the DOMINANCE Act.

-51�Թ���-

The 51�Թ��� is the largest manufacturing association in the United States, representing small and large manufacturers in every industrial sector and in all 50 states. Manufacturing employs nearly 13 million men and women, contributes $2.96 trillion to the U.S. economy annually and accounts for nearly 52% of private-sector research and development. The 51�Թ��� is the powerful voice of the manufacturing community and the leading advocate for a policy agenda that helps manufacturers compete in the global economy and create jobs across the United States. For more information about the 51�Թ��� or to follow us on Twitter and Facebook, please visit .

The post Manufacturers: Bipartisan DOMINANCE Act Will Counter China’s Grip on Critical Minerals appeared first on 51�Թ���.

The employment-population ratio edged up 0.1 percentage point from April to 59.2% in May but is down 0.5 percentage points from a year ago. Meanwhile, employed persons who are part-time workers for economic reasons fell by 137,000 from April to 4.8 million in May and are up from 4.6 million in May 2025. Native-born employment is up 294,000 from April but down 396,000 over the year. Meanwhile, foreign-born employment is down 176,000 in May and 107,000 over the year. At the same time, the native-born unemployment rate is up 0.1 percentage point over the year to 4.2% in May, while the foreign-born unemployment rate is down 0.2 percentage points to 3.5%.

Average hourly earnings for all private nonfarm employees rose 0.3%, or 12 cents, reaching $37.53. Over the past year, earnings have grown 3.4%. The average workweek for all employees stayed the same at 34.3 hours and was unchanged at 40.4 hours for manufacturing employees.

The post Nonfarm Payrolls Rose 172,000 in May; Unemployment Held Steady at 4.3% appeared first on 51�Թ���.

The growth in production and new orders was driven by companies purchasing safety stock in anticipation of price increases and supply disruption. Furthermore, the conflict in the Middle East has led to further increases in input and output costs, with both rising at the fastest pace since 2022. 

Additionally, supply disruptions persist as lead times deteriorated at their worst rate since August 2022. Meanwhile, stock of finished goods rose for the second consecutive month and at the quickest pace since November. Despite lowered optimism, firms anticipate higher sales and production going forward and have increased hiring plans.

The post S&P Global U.S. Manufacturing PMI Rose to 55.1 in May on Faster Production appeared first on 51�Թ���.

The number of hires in the overall economy declined 419,000 to 5.1 million in April and 275,000 below the previous year. The hires rate for the overall economy moved down 0.3 percentage points in April to 3.2%. Meanwhile, the hires rate for manufacturing edged down to 2.3% from 2.4% in March and 2.5% in April 2025. The hires rate for durable goods was unchanged at 2.1%, while the hires rate for nondurable goods fell 0.6 percentage points to 2.4%.

In the larger economy, total separations, which include quits, layoffs, discharges and other separations, decreased 399,000 from March to 5.0 million and 292,000 from the previous year. The total separations rate declined 0.3 percentage points to 3.1% for the overall economy but stayed the same for manufacturing at 2.2%, though down from 2.5% the year prior. Within that rate, layoffs and discharges edged up 5,000 in April for manufacturing, while quits ticked down by 1,000. The quit and layoff rates continued to remain lower for manufacturing than the total nonfarm sector.

The post Manufacturing Job Openings Climbed to 474,000 in April, Driven by Durable Goods appeared first on 51�Թ���.

In April, the largest monthly increase occurred in nondefense aircraft and parts, which surged 165.9% after declining 23.0% in March. The largest decline occurred in electromedical, measuring and control instruments, which fell 5.1% after rising 8.9% the prior month. The largest over-the-year changes occurred in industrial machinery (up 34.9%) and photographic equipment (down 13.3%).

Factory shipments rose 1.0% in April, after increasing 1.5% in March. Shipments grew 5.2% over the year. Shipments excluding transportation stepped up 1.0% in April, following a 1.7% uptick the previous month. Shipments for durable goods moved up 0.6% in April, following a 0.8% rise in March, and are up 7.7% year to date. Meanwhile, nondurable goods shipments increased 1.4%, after advancing 2.3% the prior month, and are up 2.7% year to date.

Unfilled orders for all manufacturing industries rose 1.7% in April, after ticking up 0.2% in March. Unfilled orders over the year jumped 11.5%. Inventories increased 0.3% month-over-month and 1.7% year-over-year. The inventories-to-shipments ratio edged down from 1.51 in March to 1.50 in April. The unfilled orders-to-shipments ratio for durable goods moved up from 6.88 in March to 6.95 in April.

The post Factory Orders Increased 4.8% in April, Led by 8.0% Jump in Durable Goods appeared first on 51�Թ���.

Taiwan, the Netherlands, the U.S. and India had the highest PMI readings in May. On the other hand, Russia, Brazil and Mexico were some of the larger nations to register declines in activity. The acceleration growth in manufacturing production occurred across consumer, intermediate and investment goods.

Meanwhile, input and output price pressures continued to surge as the rate of growth for selling prices remained near a 45-month high. At the same time, business optimism dipped to a seven-month low amid rising cost pressures and supply chain disruptions. Geopolitical uncertainty continued to weigh on sentiment as input costs rose to the highest level in almost four years.

The post J.P. Morgan Global Manufacturing PMI Held at 52.6 as Output Hit Five-Year High appeared first on 51�Թ���.

The growth in production and new orders was driven by companies purchasing safety stock in anticipation of price increases and supply disruption. Furthermore, the conflict in the Middle East has led to further increases in input and output costs, with both rising at the fastest pace since 2022.

Additionally, supply disruptions persist as lead times deteriorated at their worst rate since August 2022. Meanwhile, stock of finished goods rose for the second consecutive month and at the quickest pace since November. Despite lowered optimism, firms anticipate higher sales and production going forward and have increased hiring plans.

The post Global U.S. Manufacturing Production Rises at Fastest Pace in Four Years appeared first on 51�Թ���.

Manufacturing employment stepped up by 7,000 in May after staying the same in April. On the other hand, the collective job gains in March and April of 13,000 were revised upward by 2,000 jobs to an increase of 15,000 jobs. Manufacturing employment is down 46,000 over the year. Durable goods manufacturing employment rose by 17,000 in May, while nondurable goods employment fell by 10,000. The most significant gain in manufacturing in May occurred in fabricated metal product manufacturing, which added 6,700 jobs over the month. Meanwhile, the most significant loss occurred in plastics and rubber products manufacturing, which shed 6,100 jobs over the month.

The employment-population ratio edged up 0.1 percentage point from April to 59.2% in May but is down 0.5 percentage points from a year ago. Meanwhile, employed persons who are part-time workers for economic reasons fell by 137,000 from April to 4.8 million in May and are up from 4.6 million in May 2025. Native-born employment is up 294,000 from April but down 396,000 over the year. Meanwhile, foreign-born employment is down 176,000 in May and 107,000 over the year. At the same time, the native-born unemployment rate is up 0.1 percentage point over the year to 4.2% in May, while the foreign-born unemployment rate is down 0.2 percentage points to 3.5%.

Average hourly earnings for all private nonfarm employees rose 0.3%, or 12 cents, reaching $37.53. Over the past year, earnings have grown 3.4%. The average workweek for all employees stayed the same at 34.3 hours and was unchanged at 40.4 hours for manufacturing employees.

The post Nonfarm Payrolls Rise while Unemployment Holds Steady appeared first on 51�Թ���.

In April, the largest monthly increase occurred in nondefense aircraft and parts, which surged 165.9% after declining 23.0% in March. The largest decline occurred in electromedical, measuring and control instruments, which fell 5.1% after rising 8.9% the prior month. The largest over-the-year changes occurred in industrial machinery (up 34.9%) and photographic equipment (down 13.3%).

Factory shipments rose 1.0% in April, after increasing 1.5% in March. Shipments grew 5.2% over the year. Shipments excluding transportation stepped up 1.0% in April, following a 1.7% uptick the previous month. Shipments for durable goods moved up 0.6% in April, following a 0.8% rise in March, and are up 7.7% year to date. Meanwhile, nondurable goods shipments increased 1.4%, after advancing 2.3% the prior month, and are up 2.7% year to date.

Unfilled orders for all manufacturing industries rose 1.7% in April, after ticking up 0.2% in March. Unfilled orders over the year jumped 11.5%. Inventories increased 0.3% month-over-month and 1.7% year-over-year. The inventories-to-shipments ratio edged down from 1.51 in March to 1.50 in April. The unfilled orders-to-shipments ratio for durable goods moved up from 6.88 in March to 6.95 in April.

The post Factory Orders Continue to Increase, Led by a Jump in Durable Goods appeared first on 51�Թ���.

Taiwan, the Netherlands, the U.S. and India had the highest PMI readings in May. On the other hand, Russia, Brazil and Mexico were some of the larger nations to register declines in activity. The acceleration growth in manufacturing production occurred across consumer, intermediate and investment goods.

Meanwhile, input and output price pressures continued to surge as the rate of growth for selling prices remained near a 45-month high. At the same time, business optimism dipped to a seven-month low amid rising cost pressures and supply chain disruptions. Geopolitical uncertainty continued to weigh on sentiment as input costs rose to the highest level in almost four years.

The post Global Manufacturing PMI Holds as Output Hits a Near Five-Year High appeared first on 51�Թ���.