Talent

Top US Metro Regions for Employment by Foreign-Owned Companies [SLIDESHOW]

July 14, 2014

In 2011, FDI employed 18.5% of U.S. manufacturing workers and FOEs employed 1.4 million U.S. workers in the nation’s technology- and skill-intensive advanced industries.

Adrienne Selko

Foreign-owned U.S. affiliates directly employ 5.6 million workers, according to recent research by Brookings.

While the number and share of U.S. workers employed in foreign owned enterprises (FOEs) increased steadily through the 1990s before peaking in 2000 and then stagnating, FDI supports 5.5% of private employment in the average large metro area.

Fully 74% of all jobs in FOEs are concentrated in the country’s 100 largest metro areas by population, compared to 68% of total private employment.

Jobs in FOEs are relatively concentrated in manufacturing and advanced industries; however they have become more services-oriented over time.

In 2011, FDI employed 18.5% of U.S. manufacturing workers and FOEs employed 1.4 million U.S. workers in the nation’s technology- and skill-intensive advanced industries. However, the share of jobs in FOEs in services has increased over time as manufacturing’s share of jobs in FOEs fell.

The average large metro area contains FDI from 33 different countries and 77 different city-regions worldwide; Despite this diversity, in 2011 companies based in the 10 top countries and city-regions accounted for 75% and 46% of all jobs in FOEs, respectively. In total, companies from 445 different city-regions spread across 115 different countries have direct investments in the United States.

About the Author

Adrienne Selko | Senior Editor

Focus: Workforce, Talent

Follow Me on Twitter: @ASelkoIW

Bio: Adrienne Selko has written about many topics over the 17 years she has been with the publication and currently focuses on workforce development strategies. Previously Adrienne was in corporate communications at a medical manufacturing company as well as a large regional bank. She is the author of Do I Have to Wear Garlic Around My Neck? which made the Cleveland Plain Dealer's best sellers list. She is also a senior editor at Material Handling & Logistics and EHS Today.

Editorial mission statement: Manufacturing is the enviable position of creating products, processes and policies that solve the world’s problems. When the industry stepped up to manufacture what was necessary to combat the pandemic, it revealed its true nature. My goal is to showcase the sector’s ability to address a broad range of workforce issues including technology, training, diversity & inclusion, with a goal of enticing future generations to join this amazing sector.

Why I find manufacturing interesting: On my first day working for a company that made medical equipment such as MRIs, I toured the plant floor. On every wall was a photo of a person, mostly children. I asked my supervisor why this was the case and he said that the work we do at this company has saved these people’s lives. “We never forget how important our work is and everyone’s contribution to that.” From that moment on I was hooked on manufacturing.

I have talked with many people in this field who have transformed their own career development to assist others. For example, companies are hiring those with disabilities, those previously incarcerated and other talent pools that have been underutilized. I have talked with leaders who have brought out the best in their workforce, as well as employees doing their best work while doing good for the world.