The U.S. Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) recently released economic data from the Outdoor Recreation Satellite Account for the year 2022, showing the largest economic impact in its history and outdoor recreation’s economic impact on the U.S. economy.
These new figures reveal that outdoor recreation generates $1.1 trillion in economic output (2.2% of GDP), 4.98 million jobs and comprises 3.2% of U.S. employees.
From 2021 to 2022 the GDP contribution from outdoor recreation increased by 4.8% and employment increased by 7.4%, according to the report.
Outdoor recreation remains a significant sector of the U.S. economy. A wide range of activities—from hiking, boating, and hunting to golf and tennis—result in outdoor recreation jobs in a wide variety of industries
Powersports and boating remain key drivers of the outdoor recreation industry. The chart here shows how the outdoor industry continues to grow, supporting jobs and local economies in communities across the country, bolstering the national economy, and providing benefits to an increasing number of Americans.
Here are more noteworthy points from the report for 2022:
- RVing was the largest activity for the nation at $35.5 billion in current-dollar value added and was the largest activity in 22 states. The states with the largest contributions were Indiana ($5.9 billion), Texas ($3.6 billion), and California ($3.4 billion).
- Boating/fishing was the second-largest revenue generator in recreation for the nation at $32.4 billion in current-dollar value added and was the largest activity in 24 states and the District of Columbia. The states with the largest contributions were Florida ($4.4 billion), California ($2.4 billion), and Texas ($2.1 billion).
- Motorcycling/ATVing was the third-largest activity for the nation at $11.5 billion in current-dollar value added and was the largest activity in Wisconsin. The states with the largest contributions were Wisconsin ($1.1 billion), California ($1.0 billion), and Texas ($877.4 million).
- Snow activities for the nation was $7.0 billion in current-dollar value added and was the largest activity in three states. The states with the largest contributions were Colorado ($1.4 billion), California ($688.2 million), and Utah ($601.8 million).
“It comes as no surprise that outdoor recreation and the outdoor economy continue to demonstrate outstanding growth,” said Kent Ebersole, president of the Outdoor Industry Association. “This also supports the historic trends in outdoor participation we have seen in recent years.”
The outdoor recreation participant base grew for the eighth consecutive year to a record 168.1 million participants, and new participants are increasingly diverse and looking to businesses to lead on sustainability, equity, and conservation, according to Ebersole.
“This new data demonstrates the strength of the outdoor recreation industry and our collective power to drive sustainable economic growth while protecting and growing access to the benefits of the outdoors for everyone,” Ebersole added. PSR
Michael Aistrup is a Senior Analyst at Power Systems Research
