Wisconsin manufacturers are increasingly participating in international trade and engaging with foreign investors and employers, according to the Wisconsin Manufacturing Trade and Foreign Investment Report commissioned by Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce (WMC) in partnership with the Midwest Manufacturing Association.
The industry employed nearly half a million people and supported a large network of trade, foreign investment and high-value industries.
In 2024, Wisconsin’s manufacturing industry contributed $73.7 billion to its GDP, making it the largest sector of the statewide economy. Wisconsin manufacturers sold $209 billion in manufactured goods and generated an estimated $42.8 billion in earnings for manufacturing workers.
The state’s manufacturing exports totaled an estimated $24 billion, and the report reveals that 5% of Wisconsin’s total employment was directly or indirectly supported by exports.
Agriculture and construction machinery accounted for $1.76 billion in exports. Computer equipment was a close second, generating $1.74 billion, while navigational and control instruments contributed $1.63 billion.
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