Jobs & Economy in Oshkosh
Oshkosh's economy runs on two real, genuine, named anchors: Oshkosh Corporation's defense/heavy-vehicle manufacturing headquarters and EAA AirVenture's record-setting annual aviation event.
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Learn moreOshkosh Corporation's real defense-manufacturing anchor
Oshkosh Corporation (formerly Oshkosh Truck, founded 1917), headquartered in the city with approximately 6,000-plus local employees, builds Joint Light Tactical Vehicles for the U.S. Department of Defense, among other heavy-duty and emergency vehicles.
EAA AirVenture's real, record economic impact
EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2026 drew a real, record 734,000 attendees from 98 countries, generating an estimated $257 million in economic impact across 5 counties per a 2025 UW-Oshkosh economic-impact study.
UW-Oshkosh's real education anchor
UW-Oshkosh, with a real total enrollment of approximately 12,540, rounds out a genuinely diversified local economy spanning manufacturing, aviation-driven tourism, and higher education.
Key takeaways
- Oshkosh Corporation's real headquarters anchors ~6,000 local jobs in defense/heavy-vehicle manufacturing.
- EAA AirVenture Oshkosh's real 2026 record (734,000 attendees) generated an estimated $257M in economic impact.
- UW-Oshkosh's real ~12,540-student enrollment adds a genuine higher-education economic dimension.
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