A May 2015 article in the Birmingham Business Journal has called attention to the growing economic impact international trade has had on Alabama’s economy. According to the Business Roundtable, 558,384 jobs in Alabama were dependent on international trade in 2014. Further research has shown that the number of jobs linked to international trade have increased 7.2 percent faster than the overall job growth rate in the state between 2004 and 2013.
Alabama’s increasing participation in international trade has helped create an ideal business climate that better supports high-paying positions for those with expertise in international markets, business, and relations. Factors that support new career opportunities for savvy professionals in international business and relations include:
- In 2013, Alabama-made products were distributed to clients in 202 countries and territories in the global market
- That same year, $4.3 billion in services and $19.4 billion in goods were exported from Alabama to international markets
- 22% of jobs in Alabama are trade-related
Major players in the international business and relations arena in Alabama include government-backed agencies such as the Alabama International Trade Center, which is an associate office of the United States Department of Commerce, as well as non-profit membership organizations like the North Alabama International Trade Association. Not only do these international trade advocates provide up-to-date news and information, but also offer job assistance services for current and future field professionals.
International Business Salaries in Alabama
In 2014, Global Trade Magazine named Birmingham, Alabama among the nation’s top ten emerging cities for global trade due to the city’s thriving coal mining, banking, manufacturing and telecommunications sectors. As a result, skilled international business professionals that become business managers, consultants and directors for these industries are likely to achieve top dollar in their field.
Ambitious international business jobseekers are often determined to work for the most reputable companies with operations in Alabama, as these employers typically offer above-average compensation packages. In 2014, Governor Robert Bentley acknowledged the following companies for excellence in international trade for Alabama:
- Fagerman Technologies, Inc.
- Archangel Systems, Inc.
- ES Robbins Corporation
- Aladdin Light Lift, Inc.
- Hornsby Steel, Inc.
- Mitternight, Inc.
- McWane, Inc.
- PESA
The United States Department of Labor’s 2014 salary report provides a full analysis of salaries for professional classifications found in Alabama often associated with international trade and commerce:
International Relations Salaries in Alabama
International ambassadors, diplomats, policy analysts, and intelligence officers, among other international relations professionals helped pave the way for to create record-breaking export levels in 2014. These professionals help facilitate global trade by strengthening diplomacy between Alabama and foreign nations.
According to the United States Census Bureau, Alabama’s top five trade partners were Canada, China, Mexico, Germany and the United Kingdom. International relation workers with specialized knowledge about these countries were among those in highest demand within Alabama’s public and private sector.
In 2014, the United States Department of Labor released salary and wage information for selected professionals in Alabama that routinely perform international relations work: