US hiring plans continue to improve: US-based employers announced plans to hire 12,325 workers in August, the strongest August total since 2022. This marks a +725% increase from the 1,494 recorded in August 2025. Aerospace and Defense led all industries, with 4,025 announced hires, followed by Technology at 2,520, and Industrial Goods at 1,856. Year-to-date, US hiring plans surged +37% YoY, to 119,825 workers, the strongest January-to-August total since 2023. Technology leads all sectors with 19,751 announcements so far in 2026, followed by Aerospace and Defense, at 16,541, and Automotive, at 14,937. Meanwhile, manufacturing industries now account for 46% of all announced hiring plans this year. Hiring plans are gaining momentum.