North Carolina Manufacturing Facts

Manufacturers in North Carolina account for 17.09% of the total output in the state, employing 10.36% of the workforce. Total output from manufacturing was $102.34 billion in 2021. In addition, there were an average of 474,000 manufacturing employees in North Carolina in December 2021, with an average annual compensation of $79,519.52 in 2021.

Manufacturing Output and Firms

Total Manufacturing Output ($billions, 2021)
$102.34
(Percent share of total gross state product)
17.09%
Manufacturing Firms in North Carolina (2019)
7,639

Employment and Compensation

Manufacturing Employment (December 2021)
474,000
(Percent share of nonfarm employment)
10.36%
Average Annual Compensation (Manufacturing, 2021)
$79,519.52
(Nonfarm Businesses, 2021)
$57,084.95

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

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North Carolina Export Facts

Manufacturers help to drive the North Carolina economy, with $31.62 billion in manufactured goods exports in 2021.

Manufacturing Exports

Manufactured Goods Exports ($billions, 2021)
$31.62
Top 5 Export Markets (total percentage 2021)
53.64%
Canada
20.29%
Mexico
14.08%
China
11.81%
France
4.30%
Singapore
3.17%

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

Figure 4

Additional Trade Facts

  • The 20 U.S. FTA partners purchased 49.38% ($690.92 billion) of U.S. manufactured goods exports in 2021 – 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.