Fact Sheet: German-American Trade, Investment & Jobs

German Investment in the United States at $213 Billion – 570,000 Jobs Supported by German Firms – Germany is 6th largest U.S. Export Market

Foreign investors from Germany – the largest European Economy – have long maintained a strong presence in the United States. German investment is highly sought after by state and local governments across the United States as it stands for efficient technologies, a high net value added and well-paid jobs.

About 3,500 German majority-owned business operations are present in the U.S. As a whole, more than 4,100 companies in the U.S. benefited from German direct investments in 2011. The largest share of German capital came from U.S. affiliates of small and medium-sized companies. Investment by German business in the U.S. market reached nearly $216 billion as of year-end 2011, representing 9% of the $2.5 trillion foreign-headquartered businesses have invested in the U.S. economy. Germany remains the 4th largest investor in the U.S. market. As a comparison, China has invested just $3.8 billion and India $4.9 billion in the U.S. market. German commitment focuses on manufacturing, the finance and insurance sector as well as the information and media branch.

German companies employ almost 570,000 American workers, which is 3rd after British and Japanese investment in the United States. German businesses accounted for approx. 11% of the 5.3 million insourced jobs in the U.S. in 2010. Almost half of the jobs created by German affiliates are in manufacturing. Amongst the investing countries, Germany provides the 2nd largest amount of jobs in this sector. German businesses therefore play an important role concerning the U.S. policy’s aim to strengthen the industrial basis.

Important investment centers of German businesses are California, New York State, Texas, Pennsylvania and Illinois. German companies also employed more than 20,000 people respectively in Ohio, North Carolina, Michigan, New Jersey and Florida. The complete fact sheet, which was updated in cooperation with Germany Trade and Invest (GTAI), can be downloaded here (PDF)