Beer stats: The economic impact of the beer industry, national and by state

Labor Day has come and gone, which means it’s time to get off the couch and get back to greasing that economic engine. And there are few better at turning those gears (I don’t know how engines work) than those in the beer industry. An economic study jointly commissioned by the National Beer Wholesalers Association (NBWA) and the Beer Institute proves the point.

This Beer Serves America report is based on government and industry data, examining direct, indirect and induced spending, labor and tax collection.

Here are some random tidbits from that report:

$350 billion

Overall, the beer industry contributes more than $350 billion in economic output which is equal to nearly 1.9 percent of the U.S. Gross Domestic Product.

64,745 employed

Brewers and beer importers directly employ 64,745 Americans. About 58 percent of brewing jobs are linked to large and mid-sized brewers and beer importers.

491,800 jobs

Suppliers to the brewing industry — enterprises that manufacture bottles and cans, cardboard case boxes, brewing equipment or marketing displays, for example — generate almost $115.27 billion in economic activity and are responsible for more than 491,800 jobs alone.

$63 billion

More than $63 billion in tax revenue is generated by the production and sale of beer and other malt beverages. On average 41 percent of what consumers paid at retail for beer went to a tax of some kind, including local sales taxes, consumption taxes, business taxes and the federal excise tax on beer.

Find your own state’s stats

The report is also neatly broken down by state in this handy interactive map, if you are curious about beer’s economic impact in the state you reside.