Study: CPG industry supports 20M U.S. jobs, contributes $2T to GDP
The findings from the study show that the CPG industry supports 20.4 million jobs that generate $1.1 trillion in labor income, and contribute $2 trillion to the nation’s GDP.
The consumer packaged goods (CPG) industry supports one in 10 U.S. jobs, and is the largest manufacturing employer in the United States, according to a new report released by the Grocery Manufacturers Association (GMA), Washington, D.C. The findings from the study, conducted by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLC (PwC), UK, show that the CPG industry supports 20.4 million jobs that generate $1.1 trillion in labor income, and contribute $2 trillion to the nation’s gross domestic product (GDP).
“The CPG industry’s impact on the American economy cannot be understated,” says Geoff Freeman, GMA president and CEO. “Most people don’t consider the jobs and livelihoods they are supporting when they purchase a new tube of toothpaste or stock up on their favorite snacks, but the products we all rely on each day have an enormous impact on our economy.”
The industry’s direct impact totals 2.3 million jobs in 2017, paying labor income of $151 billion and adding $361.3 billion to the nation’s GDP. The average income for employees of the CPG industry is $4,000 more than the national income average ($64,700 vs. $60,700). The industry also directly accounts for 18% of all U.S. manufacturing employment.
Through its indirect, induced and downstream impacts, the industry supports more than 18 million additional jobs in the wider economy that generates $957 billion in labor income and contributes $1.6 trillion in GDP. The additional support is a result of economic activity in related industries, such as agriculture – which produces everything from tomatoes for ketchup to aloe for skincare – or retail to get CPG products into the hands of consumers.
The positive effects of the CPG industry are felt coast to coast. California may have topped the states for the most CPG jobs, but in Nebraska, nearly one-fifth (19%) of all employment is directly and indirectly supported by the CPG industry, the highest of any state. The CPG industry directly provides at least 500 jobs in every congressional district. In 174 districts, the industry directly provides more than 5,000 jobs.
*GMA SmartBrief