Light industrial hiring rebound in Q2 led by transportation and wholesale trade

After a softer start to the year, hiring demand across the light industrial sector accelerated in Q2 2026. Transportation and warehousing posted the strongest gain from last quarter, with job openings rising more than 20% from Q1 levels. Wholesale trade also posted a 23.6% YoY increase, while manufacturing recorded its second consecutive quarter of growth. This shows continued momentum and operational expansion across industrial supply chains, potentially signaling stronger demand for talent through the second half of 2026.