Michigan Manufacturing Facts

Manufacturers in Michigan account for 19.38% of the total output in the state, employing 14.20% of the workforce. Total output from manufacturing was $102.35 billion in 2018. In addition, there were an average of 631,000 manufacturing employees in Michigan in 2019, with an average annual compensation of $81,205.59 in 2018.

Manufacturing Output and Firms

Total Manufacturing Output ($billions, 2018)
$102.35
(Percent share of total gross state product)
19.38%
Manufacturing Firms in Michigan (2017)
11,265

Employment and Compensation

Manufacturing Employment (2019)
631,000
(Percent share of nonfarm employment)
14.20%
Average Annual Compensation (Manufacturing, 2018)
$81,205.59
(Nonfarm Businesses, 2018)
$49,798.94

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

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Michigan Export Facts

Manufacturers help to drive Michigan’s economy, with $52.67 billion in manufactured goods exports in 2019. That same year, $34.97 billion in exports was with our free trade agreement (FTA) partners. This helps create jobs in the state, and 30.70% of its employment stemmed from exports in 2011. Small businesses comprised 89.00% percent of all exporters in Michigan.

Manufacturing Exports

Manufactured Goods Exports ($billions, 2019)
$52.67
(Percent share of total goods exports)
95.23%
Growth in Manufactured Goods Exports (2010–2019)
25.98%
U.S. Jobs Supported by Goods Exports (2016)
257,471
Employment from Manufacturing Exports (Export share of manufacturing jobs, 2011)
30.70%
Small Business Share of Total Exporters (2015)
89.00%
Manufactured Goods to Free Trade Agreement Partners ($billions, 2019)
$34.97
(Percent of total exports, 2019)
66.39%
Total Manufactured Goods Exports to Canada and Mexico (USMCA, 2019)
$31.78
Top Five Export Markets (Percent of total manufactured goods exports, 2019)
60.34%
Canada
39.25%
Mexico
21.09%
China
6.08%
Germany
3.81%
Japan
2.66%

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

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Additional Trade Facts

  • The 20 U.S. FTA partners purchased 48.3% ($659.49 billion) of U.S. manufactured goods exports in 2019 – 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.