Connecticut Manufacturing Facts

Manufacturers in Connecticut account for 11.23% of the total output in the state, employing 9.49% of the workforce. Total output from manufacturing was $30.78 billion in 2018. In addition, there were an average of 160,000 manufacturing employees in Connecticut in 2018, with an average annual compensation of $96,279.43 in 2017.

Manufacturing Output and Firms

Total Manufacturing Output ($billions, 2018)
$30.78
(Percent share of total gross state product)
11.23%
Manufacturing Firms in Connecticut (2016)
3,876

Employment and Compensation

Manufacturing Employment (2018)
160,000
(Percent share of nonfarm employment)
9.49%
Average Annual Compensation (Manufacturing, 2017)
$96,279.43
(Nonfarm Businesses, 2017)
$57,616.85

Sources: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis and the U.S. Census Bureau

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Connecticut Export Facts

Manufacturers help to drive Connecticut’s economy, with $16.08 billion in manufactured goods exports in 2018. That same year, $4.11 billion in exports was with our free trade agreement (FTA) partners. This helps create jobs in the state, and 27.40% of its employment stemmed from exports in 2011. Small businesses comprised 89.00% percent of all exporters in Connecticut.

Manufacturing Exports

Manufactured Goods Exports ($billions, 2018)
$16.08
(Percent share of total goods exports)
92.39%
Growth in Manufactured Goods Exports (2010–2018)
14.59%
U.S. Jobs Supported by Goods Exports (2016)
64,106
Employment from Manufacturing Exports (Export share of manufacturing jobs, 2011)
27.40%
Small Business Share of Total Exporters (2015)
89.00%
Manufactured Goods to Free Trade Agreement Partners ($billions, 2018)
$4.11
(Percent of total exports, 2018)
23.64%
Total Manufactured Goods Exports to Canada and Mexico (NAFTA, 2018)
$2.73
Top Five Export Markets (Percent of total manufactured goods exports, 2018)
16.99%
France
19.56%
Germany
13.78%
Canada
11.32%
United Kingdom
8.67%
Mexico
5.67%

Sources: International Trade Administration, U.S. Census Bureau

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Additional Trade Facts

  • The 20 U.S. FTA partners purchased nearly 49 percent ($679.46 billion) of U.S. manufactured goods exports in 2018 – even though these countries represent only six percent of the world’s population and 10 percent of GDP.
  • FTA countries: Australia, Bahrain, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Israel, Jordan, Mexico, Morocco, Nicaragua, Oman, Panama, Peru, Singapore and South Korea.