ISM just released their latest non-manufacturing report on business and I used this information to update Solport’s employment charts. For two months in a row, jobs continue to be added in the non-manufacturing industries. The manufacturing sector is still losing jobs, but the rate of loss is smaller than it has been since the sector last gained jobs in June 2002.



If present trends continue, jobs availability will continue to increase in non-manufacturing industries and may start to increase in the manufacturing sector. In my opinion, the most significant foreseeable change to these trends would be the elimination of President Bush’s steel tariffs. If these are removed, it should dramatically increase the potential for job growth in the manufacturing industries (excepting the steel production industry which has been protect from market realities given the tariffs).



The ISM data is yet another indication that the that the job market will continue to improve in 2004.