Ohio: Facts and Figures

Ohio is reaching out across the world to grow its economy, but its heartland location is what makes it such an attractive place to do business. With its world-class rail line and airport infrastructure, Ohio exported over $50 billion worth of goods and services in 2021. As a result, international trade supports more than 1.4 million good-paying Ohio jobs.

Job Creation

  • In Ohio, 1,401,200 jobs were supported by international trade in 2019, representing 19.6% of all jobs in the state.1,2
  • In 2020, 15,534 companies exported goods from Ohio of which 88% were small- and medium-sized enterprises. In 2018, 310,700 people were employed by affiliates of companies at least 50% foreign-owned.3,4

Exports and Growth

  • Ohio exported $50.4 billion in goods to foreign markets in 2021, a 12% increase compared to 2020 driven by continued economic recovery from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the global economy.5
    • Canada ($18.0 billion)
    • Mexico ($6.3 billion)
    • China ($3.8 billion)
    • Brazil ($1.9 billion)
    • Japan ($1.6 billion)
  • Agricultural exports are important to Ohio's' economy, totaling $4.1 billion in 2020, according to the USDA.6
  • Since 2014, the U.S. Export-Import Bank has financed $5 billion in exports from 216 companies in Ohio.7
  • Since 1971, the Overseas Private Investment Corporation - which has been modernized into the Development Finance Corporation (DFC) - has invested $1.4 billion in Ohio companies for overseas investment.8
  • Since 1992, the U.S. Trade and Development Agency has helped facilitate $263 million in exports from Ohio companies.9

Education and Research

  • In 2018-2019, 14,157 Ohio students studied abroad.10
  • During 2020, 35,508 international students were enrolled in Ohio colleges and universities and contributed $1.2 billion to the Ohio economy.10

Global Engagement

  • Since 1961, 7,720 Peace Corps volunteers from Ohio have served in dozens of countries overseas.11