Photography Contributes $10.2B to US Economy: Govt Report
Ever wonder how much the arts and photography contribute towards the United States economy? Wonder no more. According to a newly-published government report, the arts contribute over $763 billion to the economy, and photography represents over $10 billion of that total.
“The arts contribute $763.6 billion to the U.S. economy, more than agriculture, transportation, or warehousing,” the NEA reports. “The arts employ 4.9 million workers across the country with earnings of more than $370 billion. Furthermore, the arts exported $20 billion more than imported, providing a positive trade balance.”
In fact, the arts were found to add four times as much to the US economy than agriculture.
And of the $763.6 billion generated by the arts, “photography and photo-finishing services” accounted for $10.2 billion, with a 2.9% annual growth between 2012 and 2015. By comparison, the motion picture industry contributed $99.3 billion.
“The data confirm that the arts play a meaningful role in our daily lives, including through the jobs we have, the products we purchase, and the experiences we share,” says NEA Chairman Jane Chu.
Image credits: Illustrations by the National Endowment for the Arts
