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Brookings Data Now: 5.6 Million Americans Employed by Foreign Owned Establishments

In this edition of Brookings Data Now: Foreign Direct Investments (FDIs) employ 5 percent of Americans; the Middle East is losing fresh water; student debt increases; the U.S. has most digital start-ups; Washington, D.C. ranks in economic performance during the recession.

5.6 million

U.S. workers employed in majority foreign-owned establishments.

Of this number, 219,500 U.S. workers are employed by foreign direct investments in motor vehicle and parts manufacturing with the top three metro destinations being Detroit, Knoxville, and Indianapolis.

80%

The percentage by which the Jordan River could potentially shrink by 2100.

Between 2003 and 2009, the Tigris Euphrates Basin lost 117 million acre-feet of stored freshwater.

25%

Roughly the percentage of the increase in student debt since 1989 that is attributable to Americans obtaining more education.

The average debt levels of borrowers with a graduate went from just under $10,000 to over $40,000.

100

The number out of the 115 highest value private digital start-ups in the US.

Out of this hundred, 51 start-ups are in California.

15

The Washington, D.C. metro area’s ranking out of the nation’s hundred largest metro areas in terms of economic performance during the recession.

The D.C. area ranked 75th out of 100 metro areas in terms of its economic performance during the recovery.

Elina Saxena contributed to this post.