As tariffs continue to shake and shift the global electronics industry, ‘Made in US’ sees a surge in production. However, stagnant jobs and supply chain uncertainty continue to remain a concern.
Electronics production in the United States (US) has reportedly shown momentum over the past ten months. According to recent data from SC-IQ Semiconductor Intelligence, the three-month average change compared to a year earlier rose from just 0.4% in October 2024 to 6.2% in August 2025.
This growth has been primarily driven by both the US’s domestic and foreign companies, which have relocated production there. The shift follows a series of tariffs, both imposed and threatened by the Trump administration, aimed at reshoring manufacturing.
However, the move has not led to an increase in employment. Figures from the US Bureau of Labour Statistics reveal that jobs in electronics manufacturing fell from 1.04 million in January 2024 to 1.001 million in August 2025. Over the past decade, employment has remained confined within a narrow band of 1.001 million to 1.062 million jobs.
Elsewhere, growth trends have varied. Japan’s 3/12 change has stayed positive since November 2024 but slowed through 2025, reaching 1.1% in August. In contrast, the European Union’s 27 member nations saw continued contraction, with July 2025 recording a 1.8% decline. The United Kingdom’s output turned positive in July and rose further to 1.8% in August.
At the same time, across Asia, output has been volatile but largely positive. China’s electronics production grew consistently, maintaining a 3/12 change of 10–13% since January 2024 and reaching 10.7% in September 2025. South Korea’s growth eased to 7.4% in July 2025 from 17% in May. Malaysia and Vietnam moderated from 8–10% in March–May to 5–6% between June and August.
India’s growth swung widely, peaking at 15% in April before falling to zero in July and recovering to 1.9% in August.
Meanwhile, US smartphone imports slumped in April 2025 after tariff threats, though no actual duties were imposed. By September, shipments from China surged 121% to 2.26 million units, up from 1.02 million in August, as Apple launched the iPhone 17. The average unit price nearly doubled, from $702 to $1387.
The report concluded, “Trump administration’s tariff policy may have contributed to increased US electronics production, but it has not led to new jobs in the industry. The current tariffs and potential tariffs continue to cause uncertainty in the U.S. and global electronics industry.”
