Chinese direct investment in the U.S. rose to a record last year, driving the total number of jobs linked to it to the highest ever, according to a report by the National Committee on U.S.-China Relations and Rhodium Group.

Investors from China put more than $15 billion into 171 transactions in the U.S. in 2015, and more than $30 billion of deals and projects are already pending for this year, according to the study. The report cited data compiled by Rhodium's China Investment Monitor, which has tracked mainland Chinese-owned firms' direct investment in the U.S. since 2000. They helped add 13,000 full-time jobs for Americans last year, bringing the total number over the past 15 years to more than 90,000, according to the report.

The dataset includes investments by establishments in the U.S. that have at least 10 percent mainland Chinese ownership or control, and excludes those by households and individuals. It covers greenfield projects, or construction of new facilities as factories, warehouses or offices; acquisitions of existing U.S. assets and stakes in companies of 10 percent or higher; and major expansions of existing facilities.