Facts & Figures

Idaho’s computer and electronics manufacturing exports generated nearly $3 billion dollars in 2010. Strong ties to Asian economies are driving export growth in Idaho, as exports to South Korea increased by 70% between 2009 and 2010.

Job Creation

Trade supported 186,400 jobs in Idaho in 2008, or 19.9% of total jobs, up from 11.1% in 1992.¹
Almost one-quarter (22.6%) of all manufacturing workers in Idaho depended on exports for their jobs.²
In 2008, 17,500 people in Idaho were employed by U.S. affiliates of companies that are at least 50% foreign-owned.³

Exports and Growth

Idaho exported $5.2 billion in merchandise to 187 foreign markets in 2010. Idaho’s largest market in 2010 was Canada ($1.2 million), followed by Singapore ($797 million), Taiwan ($628 million), South Korea ($502 million), and China ($445 million).⁴
In 2008, 1,219 companies exported goods from Idaho. Of these, 88% were small- and medium-sized enterprises with fewer than 500 employees.
Agricultural exports are important to Idaho’s economy, totaling $1.7 billion and supporting about 19,691 jobs in 2008.⁵
Since 2007, the U.S. Export-Import Bank has financed $70.12 million in exports from 33 companies in 19 communities in Idaho.⁶

Education and Research

In 2008–2009, 484 Idaho students studied abroad.⁷
During 2009–2010, 2,015 international students were enrolled in Idaho colleges and universities and contributed $38.8 million to the Idaho economy.⁸

Global Engagement

Since 1961, 1,156 Peace Corps volunteers from Idaho have served in dozens of countries overseas.⁹
Support from U.S. government grants and contracts to private voluntary organizations engaged in foreign assistance and development in Idaho totaled $1,078,374 in 2008.¹⁰

http://businessroundtable.org/uploads/studies-reports/downloads/Trade_and_American_Jobs.pdf
http://www.trade.gov/mas/ian/statereports/
http://www.bea.gov/scb/pdf/2010/11%20November/1110_us_ops.pdf
http://www.trade.gov/mas/ian/statereports/
http://www.fas.usda.gov/info/factsheets/WTO/states.html
https://webappsprod01.exim.gov/apps/usmap/usmap.nsf
http://www.iie.org/en/Research-and-Publications/Open-Doors/Data/Fact-Sheets-by-US-State
http://www.nafsa.org/publicpolicy/default.aspx?id=23158
http://multimedia.peacecorps.gov/multimedia/pdf/stats/homestates.pdf
http://www.pvo.net/usaid