The chemical industry is one of the largest manufacturing industries in the United States and is also one of the largest export sectors in U.S. manufacturing.
Industry Overview
The chemical industry is one of the largest manufacturing sectors in the United States and serves both a large domestic market and an expanding global market. It is also one of the largest export sectors in U.S. manufacturing. In 2019, the U.S. exported more than $208 billion in chemicals. As a leader in chemical production, more than 15% of the world’s chemicals come from the United States. The sector includes more than 13,000 firms and produces more than 70,000 products. In 2019, the U.S. chemical industry directly employed more than 544,000 workers, while indirect employment created by suppliers exceeded 1.8 million. Total foreign direct investment (FDI) in the sector was $774.5 billion in 2019. Majority foreign-owned firms contributed nearly $50 billion to U.S. exports in 2018 and spent $22 billion on R&D. These R&D expenditures and the strong enforcement of intellectual property rights make up a significant share of patents granted in the U.S. Strong product identification and quality, access to low-cost natural gas, a highly educated workforce, worldwide research centers, intellectual property protection, and a solid regulatory system make the United States a competitive home for chemical companies around the world.Link
These include organic and inorganic chemicals, plastic resins, paints, and pigments. Plastic resins in particular experienced significant growth, replacing traditional materials in automotive, construction, and packaging end-use markets. As of 2017, there were 2,420 establishments in this sector. Foreign direct investment totaled $144.9 billion in 2019 and supported 104,300 jobs. In 2018, the share of total employment attributable to FDI was 42%. The most recent employment data from 2020 estimate that 240,400 workers were employed in this industry.
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These include adhesives and sealants, water treatment chemicals, plastic additives, catalysts, and coatings. These chemicals are performance-oriented and generally include services related to product sales. As of 2017, there were 1,756 establishments in this industry. In 2019, total FDI in the paint, coatings, and adhesives industries was $8.5 billion. In 2018, approximately 20% of jobs in this industry, or 13,000 jobs, were supported by FDI. The latest employment data from 2020 estimate that 60,600 people were working in the paint, coatings, and adhesives industry.
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This industry group mainly includes businesses engaged in the following: producing nitrogenous or phosphatic fertilizer materials; producing fertilizers from wastewater or animal manure; converting nitrogenous or phosphatic materials into mixed fertilizers; processing materials obtained elsewhere into fertilizer; and formulating and preparing pesticides and other agricultural chemicals. As of 2017, there were 975 establishments in this industry, and the latest employment data from 2020 estimate that 38,100 workers were employed in the industry. The FDI position in 2019 was $13.5 billion, and in 2018 the share of employment resulting from FDI was approximately 21%.
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This category includes diagnostic tests, prescription drugs, vaccines, vitamins, and over-the-counter medicines for human and veterinary applications. This subsector also includes biotechnology products. Strategic investments by companies in facilities and research and development are especially important in this subsector. In 2019, total foreign direct investment in the sector was $511.3 billion. In 2019, approximately 300,000 employees worked in the pharmaceutical and medicine manufacturing sector, and the average annual wage was $76,490. Directly and indirectly, the sector provides 4.7 million jobs across the United States. In 2018, more than 215,000 of these jobs were supported directly by foreign direct investment. The most common occupations in this sector are production occupations, with 90,160 employees earning an average annual wage of $45,320. Of these workers, 26,590 work specifically as packaging and filling machine operators and tenders, with an average annual wage of $35,130. The second most common occupations are life, physical, and social science occupations. There are 44,790 employees in these jobs, with an average annual wage of $82,280.
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These include soaps, detergents, and cleaners, as well as personal care products and cosmetics. Although consumer products are a long-established segment of the industry, innovation and product development are important because of shifts in lifestyle. Foreign direct investment totaled $56.8 billion in 2019, and in 2018 it supported about 36% of all jobs in the industry, or 40,500 jobs. As of 2017, there were 2,248 establishments in this industry. The latest employment data from 2020 estimate that 109,600 workers were employed in this industry.
Additional Information
Discover the effects of foreign direct investment in the U.S. chemicals industry on jobs, exports, and innovation.
Investor Guide
A resource that summarizes at a high level everything from taxes and immigration to workforce and infrastructure.
SelectUSA Statistics
SelectUSA has created several dashboards to help analyze key FDI data from various sources.
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