Outdoor Recreation Economy Dashboard

The outdoor recreation economy generates $1.3 trillion in annual economic output and supports 5.2 million American jobs. Outdoor recreation contributes $697 billion to U.S. GDP, nearly double the mining and extraction industry. This dashboard compares recreation and extraction employment, wages, and economic impact across all 50 states using Bureau of Economic Analysis, Bureau of Labor Statistics, and National Park Service data.

Explore state-by-state comparisons, growth trends, economic multipliers, and the outdoor activities driving local economies. Data sourced from BEA Outdoor Recreation Satellite Account, BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, NPS visitor spending surveys, and ONRR federal mineral revenue reports.

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Bureau of Economic Analysis, 2024

The Outdoor Recreation Economy

A $1.3 trillion industry that employs 5.2 million Americans and outpaces mining, agriculture, and auto manufacturing combined.

$0.0T

Gross output?

$0B

Value added to GDP?

0.0M

Jobs supported?

0.0%

Share of U.S. GDP?

How outdoor recreation compares

Value added to GDP, billions (2024)?

Outdoor Recreation?$697B
Mining, Oil & Gas?$384B
Agriculture & Forestry?$224B
Auto Manufacturing?$199B

$324B

Total compensation paid?

+97%

Growth since 2012?

-1.6%

Mining jobs by 2034?