Alabama: Facts and Figures

Alabama's international engagement fuels job growth and increases exports. Alabama companies exported $20.9 billion in goods last year, which helped support more than 530,000 jobs in the state. The majority of companies that export from Alabama are small-and medium-sized businesses.

Job Creation

  • In Alabama, 530,100 jobs were supported by international trade in 2019, representing 19.4% of all jobs in the state.1,2
  • In 2020, 4,105 companies exported goods from Alabama of which 80% were small- and medium-sized enterprises. In 2018, 120,100 people were employed by affiliates of companies at least 50% foreign-owned.3,4

Exports and Growth

  • Alabama exported $20.9 billion in goods to foreign markets in 2021, a 22% increase compared to 2020 driven by continued economic recovery from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the global economy.5
    • Germany ($3.7 billion)
    • Canada ($3.4 billion)
    • China ($3.1 billion)
    • Mexico ($2.5 billion)
    • South Korea ($922 million)
  • Agricultural exports are important to Alabama's' economy, totaling $1.4 billion in 2020, according to the USDA.6
  • Since 2014, the U.S. Export-Import Bank has financed $402 million in exports from 52 companies in Alabama.7
  • Since 1971, the Overseas Private Investment Corporation - which has been modernized into the Development Finance Corporation (DFC) - has invested $197 million in Alabama companies for overseas investment.8
  • Since 1992, the U.S. Trade and Development Agency has helped facilitate $237 million in exports from Alabama companies.9

Education and Research

  • In 2018-2019, 3,920 Alabama students studied abroad.10
  • During 2020, 9,376 international students were enrolled in Alabama colleges and universities and contributed $326 million to the Alabama economy.10

Global Engagement

  • Since 1961, 1,253 Peace Corps volunteers from Alabama have served in dozens of countries overseas.11