The Meat Institute released an economic study finding that the meat and poultry processing industry contributes $57.3 billion to the U.S. economy and provides nearly 584,000 jobs.
The entire meat and poultry industry – including livestock production, animal feed, equipment manufacturing and transportation – contributes $347.7 billion in value to the nation, supporting more than 3.2 million jobs.
“The meat and poultry industry is a critical and growing part of the U.S. economy, and one that has outsized importance to rural economies,” said Julie Anna Potts, president and CEO of the Meat Institute. “Our member companies are often the biggest employers in their rural communities, and their impact goes beyond jobs. In addition to the taxes they pay, they invest in their communities with generous donations of food and make financial and other irreplaceable contributions to local infrastructure like housing, community spaces, schools, and childcare.”
The Meat Institute commissioned Decision Innovation Solutions to conduct the economic contribution study. The complete analysis is available on the Meat Institute’s website, and the study data – searchable by state and congressional district – is also available online.
Direct contributions to the national economy in 2025
The study identified the following direct contributions from the meat and poultry processing industry to the national economy in 2025: $57.3 billion in value; nearly 584,000 jobs; $40.6 billion in labor income; $311.0 billion in total sales (output); and $12.5 billion in local, state and federal taxes.
Total economic contribution
After accounting for indirect and induced effects, the total economic contribution of the U.S. meat and poultry processing industry grows considerably: $347.7 billion in value; more than 3.2 million jobs; $205.3 billion in labor income; $911.7 billion in total sales (output); and $77.0 billion in local, state and federal taxes.
Those indirect and induced effects reflect the industry’s significant economic activity in sectors such as livestock and poultry production, animal feed manufacturing, grain and oilseed production, truck and rail transportation and equipment manufacturing.
State and congressional district contributions
The report also estimates the economic contributions of the meat and poultry processing industry for each state and federal congressional district. While the industry drives some economic activity in every state and nearly every district, its impact is most pronounced in certain regions.
Top states include Texas, Nebraska, Iowa, Georgia, North Carolina, Kansas, California and Arkansas. Top congressional districts include Nebraska-3, Iowa-4, Texas-13, Kansas-1, Minnesota-1 and Arkansas-3.
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