2026 FDI Report

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• File Size 5.37 MB
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• Create Date April 28, 2026
• Last Updated April 30, 2026

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As California consolidates its position as the fourth largest economy in the world in 2026, foreign investment continues to expand its footprint across the state. This year, 19,717 foreign-owned enterprises (FOEs) accounted for 847,245 jobs — an increase of 33,143 jobs from the prior year — paying an estimated $96.2 billion in wages to Californians. As trade and investment feature more and more in both domestic and global conversation, the enduring value of international investment to California’s economy has never been more evident. California remains North America’s largest trade nexus, its largest manufacturing hub, and the most significant center for innovation in the world. The continued expansion of foreign-owned enterprise employment across the state reflects its sustained leadership in these fields, and the growing number of jobs supported by FOEs underscores how deeply international capital is woven into California’s economic fabric.

The annual ‘Foreign Direct Investment in California’ report serves as the premier source of insight into foreign direct investment (FDI) coming into the state from around the globe. The World Trade Center Los Angeles (WTCLA) and the Institute of Applied Economics (IAE) — both entities within the Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation (LAEDC) — have once again partnered with Loyola Marymount University’s (LMU) College of Business Administration (CBA) to examine the distribution of investment throughout the state. This year, LMU CBA’s special report on ‘California’s Economic Growth Performance: Fast, Stable, and Broad-Based’ employs a Long-Term vs. Short-Term Growth Matrix to assess California’s GDP growth performance relative to other U.S. states, the nation’s industry sectors, and California’s own manufacturing sub-industries. The analysis draws on Bureau of Economic Analysis data spanning 1997 to 2024, revealing that California’s growth is not only strong but structurally grounded across multiple industries. Complementing the report’s overarching FDI source rankings, LMU CBA’s analysis helps investors, governments, and businesses make more informed decisions about establishing and expanding their presence across California. This collaboration holds special significance in 2026, as LMU’s College of Business Administration celebrates its centennial — one hundred years of preparing principled leaders and generating research that serves the economic needs of Los Angeles and beyond.