Thousands of jobs in Ohio, Pa. supported by trade

Staff report

YOUNGSTOWN

In Ohio, 263,356 jobs were supported by goods exports in 2014.

This is according to a report issued this week by the U.S. Department of Commerce and the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative that shows the impact of exports in the nation.

“From coast to coast, exports have played a critical role in economic growth and creating jobs in America,” Commerce Secretary Penny Pritzker said in a news release.

In the nation, 11.7 million jobs were supported by exports in 2014. About 300,000 small-and-medium-size businesses in the country export goods. The value of goods and services exported in 2014 in the U.S. is listed at $2.3 trillion for a 102 percent increase from 2004. The key manufacturing exports in the nation were: transportation equipment, computer and electronic products, chemicals, machinery and petroleum and coal products.

Ohio had $52.1 billion in goods exported in 2014 for a 64 percent increase since 2004.

The top Ohio manufacturing exports in 2014 were: transportation equipment at $15.7 billion; machinery at $6.9 billion; chemicals at $6.6 billion; primary metal products at $3 billion; and fabricated metal products at $2.8 billion.

Ohio’s top agricultural exports in 2013 were soybeans, other plant products, soybean meal, feeds and fodder and corn.

In Pennsylvania, 191,779 jobs were supported by exported goods in 2014. The value of those exported goods reached $40.2 billion for a 117 percent increase from 2004. The 2014 key manufacturing exports were: chemicals at $6.8 billion; machinery at $4.5 billion; transportation equipment at $3.9 billion; computer and electronic products at $3.8 billion; and primary metal products at $3.4 billion.