Wisconsin is a world leader in industrial machinery and high-tech manufacturing, which helped the state export $28 billion worth of goods in 2023. Over 8,800 companies in the state export overseas, supporting more than 691,000 Wisconsin jobs.

Job Creation

  • In Wisconsin, 691,400 jobs were supported by international trade in 2019, representing 18.4% of all jobs in the state.1,2
  • In 2020, 8,885 companies exported goods from Wisconsin of which 86% were small- and medium-sized enterprises. In 2018, 130,200 people were employed by affiliates of companies at least 50% foreign-owned.3,4

Exports and Growth

  • Wisconsin exported $28.0 billion in goods to foreign markets in 2023, a 2% increase compared to 2022. Wisconsin’s largest markets were:5
    • Canada ($8.5 billion)
    • Mexico ($4.3 billion)
    • China ($1.5 billion)
    • Germany ($959 million)
    • United Kingdom ($899 million)
  • Agricultural exports are important to Wisconsin's' economy, totaling $4.7 billion in 2020, according to the USDA.6
  • Since 2014, the U.S. Export-Import Bank has financed $2 billion in exports from 159 companies in Wisconsin.7
  • Since 1992, the U.S. Trade and Development Agency has helped facilitate $460 million in exports from Wisconsin companies.9

Education and Research

  • During 2020, 13,650 international students were enrolled in Wisconsin colleges and universities and contributed $486 million to the Wisconsin economy.10

Global Engagement

  • Since 1961, 6,422 Peace Corps volunteers from Wisconsin have served in dozens of countries overseas.11