States with the Highest Concentration of FDI Jobs

These six states exceed the national average in terms of FDI jobs as a share of total private-sector employment, according to the latest Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) data:

For comparison, international companies employ 5.8 percent of America’s total private sector.

#1

Kentucky has the highest concentration of foreign direct investment (FDI) jobs, with 8.5 percent of Kentuckians in the private sector being employed by international companies. More than 680 international employers have operations in Kentucky. Of those, companies from Japan support the most FDI jobs, followed by Germany and Canada respectively.

Toyota Motor North America in Georgetown, Kentucky, is home to Toyota’s largest manufacturing center in the world and employs over 8,000 workers.

#2

South Carolina has the second highest concentration of foreign direct investment (FDI) jobs, with 8.3 percent of all private-sector jobs supported by international companies. More than 770 international employers have operations in South Carolina. Of those, companies from Germany, France and Japan support the most FDI jobs in the state, respectively.

#3

New Jersey has the third highest concentration of FDI jobs, with 8.1 percent of all its private-sector jobs supported by international companies. Currently, 1,142 global employers have operations in New Jersey, with France, the United Kingdom and Canada driving the most investment.

Newark-based Panasonic is creating new innovations in teaching and student workforce success in the field of STEM. In 2018, there were 269,000 STEM jobs in New Jersey that needed to be filled, which is why Panasonic felt the importance of exposing students to a wide variety of careers in the STEM field and providing a meaningful knowledge base for students to consider STEM-based careers. In the past year, Panasonic has hosted nearly 3,000 students working in the STEM labs on experiments, and an additional 10,000 New Jersey Public School students have participated through virtual lab sessions.

#4

New Hampshire, with 7.7 percent of all its private-sector jobs supported by international companies, ranks as the fourth highest concentration. Nearly 475 international employers have operations in New Hampshire.

BAE Systems is opening a new 200,000 square-foot facility in Manchester, New Hampshire, housing up to 800 employees working on innovative defense-related programs. This brings BAE’s total workforce in New Hampshire to 6,000 employees.

#5

North Carolina and Indiana tie for fifth with 7.5 percent of their private-sector jobs being supported by international companies. Currently, 1,050 international employers have operations in North Carolina and 838 in Indiana.

Bridgestone Americas, Inc. announced an expansion of its Wislon, North Carolina facility, which is home to the single largest industrial employer in the county. Lehigh Hanson, Inc. has begun construction on its $600 million cement production facility in Mitchell, Indiana, bringing 50 new jobs and over 1,000 construction positions to Lawrence County.