The outdoor recreation economy generated $1.3 trillion in gross economic output in 2024, demonstrating its staying power as an important contributor to the US economy.
The numbers, released Thursday by the Bureau of Economic Analysis, showed outdoor recreation generated 5.2 million jobs in 2024, and contributed 2.4% to the nation’s gross domestic product, according to the BEA. In real, or inflation-adjusted terms, outdoor recreation’s gross output grew 2% from 2023 ...