International Companies Bet Big On America: A New Wave Of US Jobs

President Donald Trump’s “America First” agenda, blending tax incentives, fast-tracked permits and tariff threats on imports, has spurred a global rethink of supply chains. The logic is straightforward. Why should we ship goods from overseas when you can build them here?

Beyond policy, there’s a surge of optimism. CEOs see a U.S. economy ripe for growth. Strategic sectors like artificial intelligence (AI), semiconductors, and manufacturing are buzzing, and the U.S. offers stability amid global uncertainty. For Gulf nations, these investments double as diplomacy, cementing ties with Washington.

The number of companies and countries investing in the U.S. as part of President Donald Trump’s push to reshore manufacturing continues to grow. In recent months, a parade of international heavyweights including Japan’s SoftBank, Taiwan’s Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC), oil-rich Gulf states, and others has met with U.S. leaders, pledging billions, potentially trillions, to bolster the American economy. As of March 2025, commitments span AI labs, chip factories, steel mills, and real estate ventures, signaling a transformative wave of foreign direct investment (FDI).

A New American Era

This investment wave could redefine how America works. It’s a shot at rebuilding industries, boosting paychecks, and spreading prosperity beyond coastal elites. The Rust Belt might hum again, the Sun Belt could shine brighter, and workers might cash in—if the plans hold. Follow-through is the wildcard, but for now, the world’s betting big on the U.S.

The Deals Driving the Boom

Late in 2024, President-elect Trump met SoftBank’s Masayoshi Son at Mar-a-Lago. Son emerged promising $100 billion over four years, targeting AI and infrastructure, with a goal of 100,000 jobs. Around the same time, TSMC, one of the world’s leading chip makers, announced a $100 billion expansion of its U.S. operations, building on its $65 billion Arizona investment from prior years. This brings TSMC’s total U.S. commitment to $165 billion, aimed at five new factories and thousands of jobs.

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) upped the ante, pledging $1.4 trillion over a decade after talks with Trump, focusing on AI infrastructure, semiconductors, and manufacturing. Saudi Arabia followed suit, with its Public Investment Fund reportedly allocating $600 billion toward U.S. projects. Japan’s Nippon Steel offered $14 billion, South Korea’s Hyundai pledged $20 billion.

This includes a $5 billion Louisiana steel plant. The UAE-based DAMAC Properties, an Emirati property development company, based in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (DAMAC) committed $20 billion for data centers across eight states. Together, these form a global coalition betting on America’s future.

What’s Being Built

SoftBank’s funds eye AI breakthroughs, potentially in data centers and tech hubs like California or Texas. TSMC’s Arizona plants will churn out chips for smartphones, cars, and AI systems, with production already underway at its first facility. Nippon Steel aims to revive steel towns in states like Pennsylvania or Ohio, while Hyundai explores auto and steel manufacturing in the South. DAMAC’s real estate push, targeting data centers from Arizona to Ohio, could spark construction booms in the Midwest and Sun Belt.

Jobs: The Big Payoff

This flood of investment could reshape the U.S. job market. Imagine engineers coding AI in Silicon Valley, welders shaping steel in the Rust Belt, and crews erecting towers in Texas. Estimates vary, but direct job creation might range from 250,000 to 500,000 over the next few years, based on company pledges and historical FDI multipliers. TSMC alone claims “thousands” of high-paying roles per factory, while SoftBank’s 100,000-job target suggests a broader impact. Indirect jobs such as truck drivers, diner cooks, and teachers could double or triple that figure, per economic models like those from the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis.

Tech jobs might offer salaries exceeding $100,000 annually, with manufacturing and trades ranging from $40,000 to $80,000—solid middle-class wages. The Rust Belt, battered by decades of decline, could see a renaissance in Ohio or Michigan. The Sun Belt, including Arizona and North Carolina, might explode with tech and construction growth. Wages for skilled workers could rise, though labor shortages loom as a bottleneck.

The U.S. labor force, roughly 164 million strong as of early 2025, could grow by up to 1%—not a seismic shift, but a meaningful lift for struggling regions. Still, the Congressional Budget Office projects only modest labor force expansion absent immigration reform, so training will be key.

What Jobs Are Coming

SoftBank’s $100 billion pledge targets AI and infrastructure, creating high paying roles such as software engineers, data scientists, and AI researchers. DAMAC’s $20 billion in data centers will need systems architects, network technicians, and cybersecurity experts. TSMC’s chip plants will hire process engineers and semiconductor technicians to design and produce chips for phones, cars, and AI systems. Nippon Steel’s $14 billion aims to revive steel production, employing welders, machinists, and factory operators. Hyundai’s $20 billion push into auto and steel plants will demand assembly line workers, quality control inspectors, and industrial mechanics.

Building these facilities such as chip fabs in Arizona, steel mills in Pennsylvania, and data centers in Ohio will require construction workers, electricians, plumbers, and heavy equipment operators. The ripple effect could extend to logistics, with truck drivers and warehouse staff moving materials. Beyond direct hires, expect a multiplier effect. The U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis suggests 2–3 indirect jobs per direct one—think diner cooks, retail clerks, and teachers in growing towns.

Could the Stock Market Swoon Derail This?

The recent stock market plunge could rattle confidence. Its impact depends on depth and duration. A deeper crash, like 15–20% correction or bear market, could spook CEOs, especially if it signals recession. Hyundai’s $20 billion or Nippon Steel’s $14 billion, tied to cyclical industries like autos and steel, might scale back if consumer spending tanks. However, Trump’s tariff threats and tax breaks could offset this.

This gold rush isn’t flawless. it’s reasonable that not every promise will materialize. For example, in 2016, SoftBank pledged $50 billion and 50,000 jobs during Trump’s first transition, but the outcomes were murky. WeWork’s epically collapsed and other flops soured the SoftBank’s Vision Fund’s record. TSMC’s $100 billion is touted as “new,” yet overlaps with prior capital plans, raising questions about incremental impact.

The Bottom Line

If half these investments come to fruition, Americans could see an increase in new jobs. Many of them will be high paying, such as tech professionals and skilled trade persons. A stock market hiccup won’t likely spike the momentum unless it’s a meltdown. We need to keep in mind, Trump is known for his hype. The number of jobs and investments may or may not fulfill the lofty promises.

Unfortunately, AI and automation can threaten some long-term job gains. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce notes persistent skilled labor gaps, and there could be a lag as workers will need to reskill and upskill to participate in the new opportunities.