Nebraska: Facts and Figures

Nebraska is rapidly increasing its exports to markets in Asia, with destinations including Japan, South Korea, and China. Overall, Nebraska's international trade supports more than 255,000 Nebraska jobs, with 1,850 companies exporting $8.0 billion worth of goods from the state.

Job Creation

  • In Nebraska, 255,600 jobs were supported by international trade in 2019, representing 19.0% of all jobs in the state.1,2
  • In 2020, 1,850 companies exported goods from Nebraska of which 81% were small- and medium-sized enterprises. In 2018, 36,500 people were employed by affiliates of companies at least 50% foreign-owned.3,4

Exports and Growth

  • Nebraska exported $8.0 billion in goods to foreign markets in 2021, a 14% increase compared to 2020 driven by continued economic recovery from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the global economy.5
    • Mexico ($1.8 billion)
    • Canada ($1.6 billion)
    • Japan ($788 million)
    • China ($696 million)
    • South Korea ($641 million)
  • Agricultural exports are important to Nebraska's' economy, totaling $7.1 billion in 2020, according to the USDA.6
  • Since 2014, the U.S. Export-Import Bank has financed $408 million in exports from 30 companies in Nebraska.7
  • Since 1971, the Overseas Private Investment Corporation - which has been modernized into the Development Finance Corporation (DFC) - has invested $1.2 billion in Nebraska companies for overseas investment.8
  • Since 1992, the U.S. Trade and Development Agency has helped facilitate $50 million in exports from Nebraska companies.9

Education and Research

  • In 2018-2019, 1,926 Nebraska students studied abroad.10
  • During 2020, 5,320 international students were enrolled in Nebraska colleges and universities and contributed $166 million to the Nebraska economy.10

Global Engagement

  • Since 1961, 1,478 Peace Corps volunteers from Nebraska have served in dozens of countries overseas.11