Virginia Manufacturing Facts

Manufacturers in Virginia account for 8.30% of the total output in the state, employing 5.98% of the workforce. Total output from manufacturing was $49.50 billion in 2021. In addition, there were an average of 239,000 manufacturing employees in Virginia in December 2021, with an average annual compensation of $79,114.61 in 2021.

Manufacturing Output and Firms

Total Manufacturing Output ($billions, 2021)
$49.50
(Percent share of total gross state product)
8.30%
Manufacturing Firms in Virginia (2019)
4,511

Employment and Compensation

Manufacturing Employment (December 2021)
239,000
(Percent share of nonfarm employment)
5.98%
Average Annual Compensation (Manufacturing, 2021)
$79,114.61
(Nonfarm Businesses, 2021)
$66,077.67

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

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Virginia Export Facts

Manufacturers help to drive the Virginia economy, with $14.31 billion in manufactured goods exports in 2021.

Manufacturing Exports

Manufactured Goods Exports ($billions, 2021)
$14.31
Top 5 Export Markets (total percentage 2021)
47.06%
Canada
21.61%
China
11.07%
Mexico
5.94%
Germany
4.97%
United Kingdom
3.47%

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.