New Jersey Manufacturing Facts

Manufacturers in New Jersey account for 8.57% of the total output in the state, employing 6.28% of the workforce. Total output from manufacturing was $54.40 billion in 2019. In addition, there were an average of 244,000 manufacturing employees in New Jersey in 2020, with an average annual compensation of $97,281.47 in 2019.

Manufacturing Output and Firms

Total Manufacturing Output ($billions, 2019)
$54.40
(Percent share of total gross state product)
8.57%
Manufacturing Firms in New Jersey (2017)
6,988

Employment and Compensation

Manufacturing Employment (2020)
244,000
(Percent share of nonfarm employment)
6.28%
Average Annual Compensation (Manufacturing, 2019)
$97,281.47
(Nonfarm Businesses, 2019)
$58,244.88

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

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New Jersey Export Facts

Manufacturers help to drive New Jersey’s economy, with $32.91 billion in manufactured goods exports in 2020. That same year, $13.24 billion in exports was with our free trade agreement (FTA) partners. This helps create jobs in the state, and 20.20% of its employment stemmed from exports in 2011. Small businesses comprised 92.00% percent of all exporters in New Jersey.

Manufacturing Exports

Manufactured Goods Exports ($billions, 2020)
$32.91
(Percent share of total goods exports)
86.55%
U.S. Jobs Supported by Goods Exports (2016)
123,265
Employment from Manufacturing Exports (Export share of manufacturing jobs, 2011)
20.20%
Small Business Share of Total Exporters (2015)
92.00%
Manufactured Goods to Free Trade Agreement Partners ($billions, 2020)
$13.24
(Percent of total exports, 2020)
40.22%
Canada
20.65%
Japan
4.42%
United Kingdom
5.75%
Mexico
8.30%
Germany
4.51%

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.