In the past five years, international companies created nearly 400,000 manufacturing jobs while the U.S. overall sadly lost 223,000. Global connections are key to America’s competitiveness in this sector, helping to diversify America’s economy and make it more resilient to downturns. Nationwide, 35.9 percent of FDI-supported jobs are in the manufacturing sector, with 25 states exceeding this average.
The top ten states leading America’s foreign direct investment (FDI) manufacturing workforce are:
- Michigan boasts the highest amount of manufacturing jobs as a percentage of total FDI jobs at 63.9 percent. Hyundai Motor invested $50 million in the state to establish a testing and investigation laboratory in Ann Arbor, Michigan, creating more than 150 new jobs in the area.
- Kentucky ranks second in the nation, with 62.5 percent of all FDI jobs created falling in the manufacturing sector. In Georgetown, Kentucky, Toyota is investing $461 million into a manufacturing factory there, creating 1,400 new jobs in the area.
- Arkansas’s FDI manufacturing employment makes up 61.4 percent of all jobs created by international companies in the state. In Arkansas, L’Oréal USA invested $12 million into its Little Rock, Arkansas, manufacturing plant, creating 45 new jobs.
- Wisconsin comes in fourth with 57.7 percent of all the state’s FDI jobs being in the manufacturing sector. For instance, Nestlé invested $70 million into its Burlington factory, creating more than 100 new positions in the state.
- South Dakota trails Wisconsin closely and holds the fifth-highest amount of manufacturing jobs as a percentage of total FDI jobs at 57.5 percent. For example, Smithfield Foods invested $45 Million into expanding its Sioux Falls facility, creating 70 jobs in the region.
- Alabama ranks sixth, with 56.8 percent of all FDI jobs created falling in the manufacturing sector. Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama invested $300 million in the state to produce clean mobility vehicles, adding 200 new manufacturing jobs to the region.
- Indiana is seventh in the country with 56.1 percent of all jobs provided by international companies being in the manufacturing sector. Toyota Motor North America is investing $803 million into its Princeton, Indiana, assembly plant. The project is expected to create approximately 1,400 new jobs by the end of 2023.
- Iowa ranks eighth, with 54.6 percent of all FDI jobs created in the manufacturing sector. BAE Systems has grown its manufacturing presence in Iowa by building a $139 million facility in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, creating 60 new jobs in the area.
- Nebraska’s FDI manufacturing employment makes up 54.5 percent of all jobs created by international companies in the state. Schneider Electric invested $46 million to modernize manufacturing and increase production in its Lincoln, Nebraska, plant.
- South Carolina ranks tenth on our list, with more than half, 52.7 percent, of the state’s FDI jobs in the manufacturing sector. Volvo is expanding its electric vehicle manufacturing at its Ridgeville, South Carolina, facility with a $118 million investment.