diff --git a/docs/changelog.txt b/docs/changelog.txt
index 280f8684a..16419e442 100644
--- a/docs/changelog.txt
+++ b/docs/changelog.txt
@@ -52,6 +52,7 @@ changelog.txt uses a syntax similar to RST, with a few special sequences:
 - `gui/create-item`: Added "(chain)" annotation text for armours with the [CHAIN_METAL_TEXT] flag set
 - DFHack log messages now have configurable headers (e.g. timestamp, origin plugin name, etc.) via the ``debugfilter`` command of the `debug` plugin
 - Script execution log messages (e.g. "Loading script: dfhack_extras.init" can now be controlled with the ``debugfilter`` command. To hide the messages, add this line to your ``dfhack.init`` file: ``debugfilter set Warning core script``
+- `manipulator`: Tweak colors to make the cursor easier to locate
 
 ## Documentation
 - Add more examples to the plugin skeleton files so they are more informative for a newbie
diff --git a/plugins/manipulator.cpp b/plugins/manipulator.cpp
index b333afae5..5604b9760 100644
--- a/plugins/manipulator.cpp
+++ b/plugins/manipulator.cpp
@@ -2052,11 +2052,10 @@ void viewscreen_unitlaborsst::render()
         for (int col = 0; col < col_widths[DISP_COLUMN_LABORS]; col++)
         {
             int col_offset = col + first_column;
-            fg = 15;
-            bg = 0;
+            bool is_labor_set = false;
+            fg = COLOR_GREY;
+            bg = COLOR_BLACK;
             uint8_t c = 0xFA;
-            if ((col_offset == sel_column) && (row_offset == sel_row))
-                fg = 9;
             if (columns[col_offset].skill != job_skill::NONE)
             {
                 df::unit_skill *skill = NULL;
@@ -2076,13 +2075,23 @@ void viewscreen_unitlaborsst::render()
             {
                 if (unit->status.labors[columns[col_offset].labor])
                 {
-                    bg = 7;
+                    is_labor_set = true;
+                    fg = COLOR_WHITE;
+                    bg = COLOR_GREY;
                     if (columns[col_offset].skill == job_skill::NONE)
                         c = 0xF9;
                 }
             }
             else
-                bg = 3;
+            {
+                fg = COLOR_WHITE;
+                bg = COLOR_CYAN;
+            }
+            if ((col_offset == sel_column) && (row_offset == sel_row))
+            {
+                fg = is_labor_set ? COLOR_WHITE : COLOR_GREY;
+                bg = is_labor_set ? COLOR_LIGHTBLUE : COLOR_BLUE;
+            }
             Screen::paintTile(Screen::Pen(c, fg, bg), col_offsets[DISP_COLUMN_LABORS] + col, 4 + row);
         }
     }