Facts & Figures

Michigan’s preeminence in manufacturing and dominance in industrial research and development make it the ideal platform for export-based industries, while its strategic location offers easy access to the Asian, European and North and South American markets

Job Creation

Trade supported 1.1 million jobs in Michigan in 2008, or 21.0% of total jobs, up from 10.3% in 1992.¹
More than one-quarter (27.8%) of all manufacturing workers in Michigan depended on exports for their jobs.²
In 2008, 150,600 people in Michigan were employed by U.S. affiliates of companies that are at least 50% foreign-owned.³

Exports and Growth

Michigan exported $32.7 billion in merchandise to 205 foreign markets in 2009. Michigan’s largest market in 2009 was Canada ($15.9 billion), followed by Mexico ($5.2 billion), China ($1.3 billion), Germany ($1.3 billion), Japan ($1.2 billion).⁴
In 2008, 11,796 companies exported goods from Michigan. Of these, 90% were small- and medium-sized enterprises with fewer than 500 employees.⁵
Agricultural exports are important to Michigan’s economy, totaling $1.7 billion and supporting about 19,691 jobs in 2008.⁶
Since 2007, the U.S. Export-Import Bank has financed over $2.1 billion in exports from 119 companies in 70 communities in Michigan.⁷

Education and Research

In 2008-2009, 9,043 Michigan students studied abroad, a 3.6% increase over the previous academic year.⁸
During 2009-2010, 24,214 international students were enrolled in Michigan colleges and universities, up 2.5% from the previous year, and contributed $657.6 million to the Michigan economy.⁹

Global Engagement

Since 1961, 6,260 Peace Corps volunteers from Michigan have served in dozens of countries overseas.¹⁰
Support from U.S. government grants and contracts to private voluntary organizations engaged in foreign assistance and development in Michigan totaled over $5 million in 2008.¹¹

Download the Fact Sheet

http://businessroundtable.org/uploads/studies-reports/downloads/Trade_and_American_Jobs.pdf
http://ita.doc.gov/td/industry/otea/state_reports/
Anderson, Thomas and William J. Zeile. “U.S. Affiliates of Foreign Companies Operations in 2008”. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Department of Commerce. http://www.bea.gov/scb/pdf/2010/11%20November/1110_us_ops.pdf
http://ita.doc.gov/td/industry/otea/state_reports/
http://www.ita.doc.gov/td/industry/otea/state_reports/index.html
http://www.fas.usda.gov/info/factsheets/WTO/states.html
https://webappsprod01.exim.gov/apps/usmap/usmap.nsf
Institute of International Education. “Open Doors 2010 Report on International Educational Exchange Institute of International Education”. STUDY ABROAD BY U.S. STATE, 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/