Rhode Island Manufacturing Facts

Manufacturers in Rhode Island account for 8.70% of the total output in the state, employing 8.13% of the workforce. Total output from manufacturing was $5.31 billion in 2018. In addition, there were an average of 40,000 manufacturing employees in Rhode Island in 2018, with an average annual compensation of $72,189.02 in 2017.

Manufacturing Output and Firms

Total Manufacturing Output ($billions, 2018)
$5.31
(Percent share of total gross state product)
8.70%
Manufacturing Firms in Rhode Island (2016)
1,336

Employment and Compensation

Manufacturing Employment (2018)
40,000
(Percent share of nonfarm employment)
8.13%
Average Annual Compensation (Manufacturing, 2017)
$72,189.02
(Nonfarm Businesses, 2017)
$48,321.58

Sources: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis and the U.S. Census Bureau

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Rhode Island Export Facts

Manufacturers help to drive Rhode Island’s economy, with $1.76 billion in manufactured goods exports in 2018. That same year, $0.92 billion in exports was with our free trade agreement (FTA) partners. This helps create jobs in the state, and 16.90% of its employment stemmed from exports in 2011. Small businesses comprised 88.00% percent of all exporters in Rhode Island.

Manufacturing Exports

Manufactured Goods Exports ($billions, 2018)
$1.76
(Percent share of total goods exports)
73.16%
Growth in Manufactured Goods Exports (2010–2018)
28.80%
U.S. Jobs Supported by Goods Exports (2016)
8,163
Employment from Manufacturing Exports (Export share of manufacturing jobs, 2011)
16.90%
Small Business Share of Total Exporters (2015)
88.00%
Manufactured Goods to Free Trade Agreement Partners ($billions, 2018)
$0.92
(Percent of total exports, 2018)
52.68%
Total Manufactured Goods Exports to Canada and Mexico (NAFTA, 2018)
$0.48
Top Five Export Markets (Percent of total manufactured goods exports, 2018)
27.57%
Canada
17.01%
Dominican Republic
13.62%
Mexico
10.56%
China
7.20%
Singapore
3.74%

Sources: International Trade Administration, U.S. Census Bureau

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Additional Trade Facts

  • The 20 U.S. FTA partners purchased nearly 49 percent ($679.46 billion) of U.S. manufactured goods exports in 2018 – even though these countries represent only six percent of the world’s population and 10 percent of GDP.
  • FTA countries: Australia, Bahrain, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Israel, Jordan, Mexico, Morocco, Nicaragua, Oman, Panama, Peru, Singapore and South Korea.