Alabama Manufacturing Facts

Manufacturers in Alabama account for 16.83% of the total output in the state, employing 12.99% of the workforce. Total output from manufacturing was $38.40 billion in 2019. In addition, there were an average of 266,000 manufacturing employees in Alabama in 2020, with an average annual compensation of $70,218.61 in 2019.

Manufacturing Output and Firms

Total Manufacturing Output ($billions, 2019)
$38.40
(Percent share of total gross state product)
16.83%
Manufacturing Firms in Alabama (2017)
3,708

Employment and Compensation

Manufacturing Employment (2020)
266,000
(Percent share of nonfarm employment)
12.99%
Average Annual Compensation (Manufacturing, 2019)
$70,218.61
(Nonfarm Businesses, 2019)
$43,147.48

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

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3


Alabama Export Facts

Manufacturers help to drive Alabama’s economy, with $15.40 billion in manufactured goods exports in 2020. That same year, $6.33 billion in exports was with our free trade agreement (FTA) partners. This helps create jobs in the state, and 25.30% of its employment stemmed from exports in 2011. Small businesses comprised 81.00% percent of all exporters in Alabama.

Manufacturing Exports

Manufactured Goods Exports ($billions, 2020)
$15.40
(Percent share of total goods exports)
89.90%
U.S. Jobs Supported by Goods Exports (2016)
91,978
Employment from Manufacturing Exports (Export share of manufacturing jobs, 2011)
25.30%
Small Business Share of Total Exporters (2015)
81.00%
Manufactured Goods to Free Trade Agreement Partners ($billions, 2020)
$6.33
(Percent of total exports, 2020)
41.09%
Canada
18.64%
China
18.45%
Germany
14.25%
Mexico
11.48%
South Korea
3.95%

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

Figure 4

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.