NEC Director Kevin Haslett: “It’s really astonishing what record-setting numbers we’re starting to see… The factory boom that President Trump has talked so much about is visible everywhere. We’ve got about 70,000 people who have jobs now building factories.” pic.twitter.com/7XoFrcw510
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) May 8, 2026
Investment in capital goods increased by 3.3 percent for the month, which is not an annualized figure. Hassett cited this trend as evidence that the growth in factory construction is accelerating. In April, construction added 9,000 jobs, with nonresidential specialty trade contractors experiencing some of the strongest gains in the sector.
Haslett emphasized that the acceleration in factory construction and industrial investment is likely to result in additional hiring downstream.
Look, we still have a ways to go regarding the affordability issues, but I suspect once there is an Iran deal and the Strait of Hormuz fully reopens, within a couple of months the energy supply chain will be restored, and gas prices will start dropping again, which will make everything less expensive. Meantime, anyone who wants a job should be able to find one.
