Michigan clockmaker Howard Miller closed after a century in business, laying off nearly 200 workers as it relied on overseas parts hit by tariffs
The US has added manufacturing jobs in 2026, but the sector still employs fewer workers than when the current tariff policy took effect in January 2025
Job losses in battleground states are fueling political shifts ahead of the November 3 midterm elections
Nelson Vandermeer spent decades voting Republican, but he saw the writing on the wall before his job disappeared. Last year, the 62-year-old product designer lost his position at Howard Miller, a century-old Michigan clockmaker that shut its factory, sold off its brand and inventory, and laid off nearly 200 workers after struggling with tariff-driven costs on imported parts. His story is not isolated: while the US has added manufacturing jobs so far in 2026, the sector still employs fewer people overall than it did in January 2025, when the current administration’s tariff policy took hold — both figures reflecting actual, recorded employment data rather than forecasts.
Tariff Pledge Meets Factory Floor Reality
The core promise behind the tariffs was a manufacturing renaissance: higher import taxes were meant to push production back onto US soil. Supporters argue tariffs protect domestic industry from unfair foreign competition over the long run. Critics counter that many manufacturers depend on imported components, so higher duties raise their costs and squeeze margins faster than any reshoring benefit can offset — a dynamic workers like Vandermeer experienced directly when Howard Miller’s century-old operation folded.
What This Means for Your Wallet
For households, this plays out in two ways: potential job losses in import-dependent industries, and higher retail prices if companies pass tariff costs onto consumers instead of absorbing them. A factory closure does not just affect the laid-off workers — it ripples through local suppliers, shops and tax bases in towns like Zeeland, Michigan.
Why It Works This Way
Tariffs raise the cost of imported inputs, and businesses facing thinner margins often respond by cutting costs elsewhere, including jobs, or by raising prices for consumers. Whether reshoring eventually offsets these losses depends on how quickly domestic supply chains can scale up to replace cheaper imports. If you work in or near manufacturing, it is worth checking whether your employer sources key components internationally, since that exposure often predicts how tariff policy will hit a company first. Disclaimer: This analysis is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial or investment advice.
What to Watch Next
Watch upcoming monthly jobs reports for manufacturing employment trends and how voter sentiment in battleground states plays out in the November 3 midterms. Full reporting via The Economic Times (AP).
