The results of the 2007 survey of Japanese direct investment in ten Midwest States (1), conducted by the Consulate General of Japan at Chicago, are as follows:

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(1) Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wisconsin. Beginning in 2005, the study includes six new states (Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, and South Dakota), which were added to the Consulate's jurisdiction in January of that year.

Business Facilities and Employment

Note: Japanese business facilities include those which are ultimately 10% or more owned by a Japanese company or national.

Key results for the 10-state area are as follows:

1) Business Facility Number
In 2007, 1,165 Japanese business facilities were located in the 10-state area.  The 1.8% decline was mainly due to some small firms with 10 or fewer employees, which were consolidated or became U.S.-owned. Illinois ranked first with 55% of the business facilities, followed by Indiana with 19%.

2) Total Employment
Total employment increased by 2.4% to 102,930 positions.  Indiana ranked first with 43% of the total employment, followed by Illinois with 36%.

3) Actual Manufacturing Employment
The 326 actual manufacturers account for nearly 30% of the total business facilities.  They provide 57,420 high skill, high paying jobs, or more than one-half of the total employment.

4) Share By Sector
Manufacturing continues to be the leading sector with 68% of the business facilities and 92% of the total employment. In manufacturing, motor vehicles and parts sector accounts for 15% of the business facilities and 52% of the total employment.

Business Facility Number By Sector Share
Total Employment By Sector Share

5) Japanese Companies Embrace the Midwest’s Strengths
The Midwest remains strongly competitive in attracting Japanese direct investment.  The overall region is particularly attractive to Japanese direct investment due to its central location, transportation network, quality workforce, and favorable business environment.  In return, Japanese business facilities provide jobs in both urban and rural areas, source components from U.S. companies, facilitate technology transfer, and furnish new revenue sources to help boost both state and local economies.