US Manufacturing Sector NAICS 31-33

Apr 20, 2026 - SBA Enhancing Support for US Manufacturers

• The US Small Business Administration has announced it’s enhancing its International Trade Loan (ITL) Program to improve access to capital for US manufacturing companies, particularly small and mid-sized firms. By increasing the federal loan guarantee to 90%, the program reduces lender risk, encouraging more financing for manufacturing investments. Manufacturers can use the funding to upgrade equipment, modernize facilities, expand capacity, hire workers, and reshore production. Moreover, the SBA is expanding ITL eligibility to include small businesses across the food supply chain, including those in the agriculture, production, and logistics industries. For domestic manufacturers, benefits include: easier access to long-term, affordable financing, support for domestic production and supply chain resilience, and greater ability to invest in technology and capacity expansion. Combined with tax incentives and the Trump administration’s deregulation efforts, the program reinforces a broader commitment to rebuilding US industrial capacity.
• The US Labor Department is investing $81 million in workforce training grants aimed at helping formerly incarcerated individuals gain skills and employment in high-demand industries, including advanced manufacturing, Manufacturing Dive reports. The funding will support the Restart initiative, which will finance up to 20 nationwide training projects that include pre-apprenticeships, registered apprenticeships, work-based learning, credential programs, and digital literacy training. For the US manufacturing sector, the program is designed to help address the ongoing labor shortage by expanding the available talent pool. Training will target areas such as advanced manufacturing, AI infrastructure, shipbuilding, nuclear energy, transportation, and domestic mineral production. The initiative also prioritizes partnerships with apprenticeship sponsors and workforce organizations to improve job placement and long-term employment outcomes. By preparing participants for skilled trades and manufacturing roles, the program aims to strengthen workforce pipelines, support production capacity, and help manufacturers recruit workers for critical positions.

• A report by the Foundation for American Innovation and the National Association of Manufacturers finds permitting delays cost US manufacturers more than $7.9 billion per year. Survey data shows that 50.8% of manufacturers are discouraged from investing in new or expanded capacity due to permitting challenges, while 65.6% say they would increase investment if timelines were faster and more predictable. The delays primarily affect facility expansions and equipment upgrades, meaning everyday manufacturing improvements, not just large-scale projects, are being slowed or halted. The report notes that the US permitting process can take up to 80% longer than in peer countries, reducing competitiveness. For the broader manufacturing sector, these bottlenecks limit capacity expansion, job creation, and modernization efforts, ultimately constraining production growth. Industry leaders are calling for reforms to streamline regulations and reduce duplicative reviews, emphasizing that clearer and faster permitting would unlock investment and accelerate project development.
• Producer prices for all US manufacturing industries rose 2.8% in February compared to a year ago, after inching up 0.8% in the previous February-versus-February annual comparison, according to the latest US Bureau of Labor Statistics data. Employment by manufacturing companies shrank 0.8% year over year in February, while average sector wages rose 3.9% over the same period to another new high of $29.74 per hour, BLS data show. While wages at manufacturing companies have risen sharply in recent years, employment by the sector has declined by more than 200,000 roles since 2023, with fewer Americans working in the sector than at any point since the pandemic ended.