ISM's Employment Index registered 54.7% in September 2012, which is 3.1 percentage points higher than the 51.6% reported in August 2012. This is the 36th consecutive month of growth in the Employment Index. An Employment Index above 50.5%, over time, is generally consistent with an increase in the Bureau of Labor Statistics data on manufacturing employment.
Of the 18 manufacturing industries, 11 reported growth in employment in September 2012 in the following order: Textile Mills; Printing & Related Support Activities; Wood Products; Food, Beverage & Tobacco Products; Paper Products; Petroleum & Coal Products; Primary Metals; Furniture & Related Products; Fabricated Metal Products; Miscellaneous Manufacturing and Machinery.
The six industries reporting a decrease in employment in September 2012 listed in order are: Plastics & Rubber Products; Electrical Equipment, Appliances & Components; Non metallic Mineral Products; Transportation Equipment; Computer & Electronic Products and Apparel, Leather & Allied Products.
| Employment | % Higher | % Same | % Lower | Net | Index |
| Sep '12 | 23 | 59 | 18 | 5 | 54.7 |
| Aug '12 | 19 | 65 | 16 | 3 | 51.6 |
| Jul '12 | 20 | 65 | 15 | 5 | 52 |
| Jun '12 | 29 | 57 | 14 | 15 | 56.6 |
Source - Institute for Supply Management
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