The Financial Post reports in its Thursday edition that manufacturing jobs in the United States are falling at their fastest rate since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. A Financial Times dispatch to the Post reports that S&P Global's U.S. Flash Purchasing Managers' Index shows employment in the manufacturing sector likely fell in June at its fastest rate since May, 2020. The index's metric on employment fell from 51.6 in May to 47 in June, with figures over 50 marking an expansion and under 50 marking a contraction. S&P Global's Chris Williamson said the survey "signals that current output levels are consistent with the economy struggling to grow much faster than a 1-per-cent annualized rate in the second quarter." He noted that while manufacturing output in the U.S. was growing, the expansion was driven in part by fears over future supply disruptions and price rises associated with the Iran war. "Factory job cuts are running at the highest since 2009 if the pandemic is excluded, reflecting concerns over the sustainability of the recent upturn in demand alongside worries over the escalating cost of raw materials," said Mr. Williamson, noting responses from executives suggested they were struggling.