Nebraska Manufacturing Facts

Manufacturers in Nebraska account for 10.40% of the total output in the state, employing 9.77% of the workforce. Total output from manufacturing was $13.53 billion in 2019. In addition, there were an average of 99,000 manufacturing employees in Nebraska in 2020, with an average annual compensation of $67,214.43 in 2019.

Manufacturing Output and Firms

Total Manufacturing Output ($billions, 2019)
$13.53
(Percent share of total gross state product)
10.40%
Manufacturing Firms in Nebraska (2017)
1,565

Employment and Compensation

Manufacturing Employment (2020)
99,000
(Percent share of nonfarm employment)
9.77%
Average Annual Compensation (Manufacturing, 2019)
$67,214.43
(Nonfarm Businesses, 2019)
$47,152.38

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

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Nebraska Export Facts

Manufacturers help to drive Nebraska’s economy, with $5.69 billion in manufactured goods exports in 2020. That same year, $2.69 billion in exports was with our free trade agreement (FTA) partners. This helps create jobs in the state, and 15.90% of its employment stemmed from exports in 2011. Small businesses comprised 81.00% percent of all exporters in Nebraska.

Manufacturing Exports

Manufactured Goods Exports ($billions, 2020)
$5.69
(Percent share of total goods exports)
81.52%
U.S. Jobs Supported by Goods Exports (2016)
32,059
Employment from Manufacturing Exports (Export share of manufacturing jobs, 2011)
15.90%
Small Business Share of Total Exporters (2015)
81.00%
Manufactured Goods to Free Trade Agreement Partners ($billions, 2020)
$2.69
(Percent of total exports, 2020)
47.28%
Canada
19.95%
Japan
12.87%
Mexico
12.44%
South Korea
7.32%
China
6.06%

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.