The North American Meat Institute (NAMI) conducted a new economic impact analysis, along with John Dunham & Associates, identifying the U.S. meat and poultry industries account for $1.02 trillion in total economic output or 5.6 percent of gross domestic product (GDP).

The meat and poultry industry is responsible for 5.4 million jobs and $257 billion in wages, the report found. An estimated 527,019 people have jobs in production and packing, importing operations, sales, packaging and direct distribution of meat and poultry products. Wholesaling directly employs an estimated 232,418 individuals in all 50 states, and 1.11 million employees’ retail jobs depend on the sale of meat and poultry products to the public. All totaled, the meat and poultry industry (packers, processors, wholesalers and retailers) directly employs 1.9 million people, paying $71.63 billion in wages and benefits.

In addition, approximately two million full-time equivalent jobs are created in firms that supply goods and services to the meat and poultry industry. This includes people working in industries as broad as real estate services, trucking and container manufacturing. An additional 1.57 million people have jobs throughout the economy that depend on the re-spending of wages by meat and poultry, as well as supplier industry employees. These are real people with real jobs ranging from restaurant workers to automobile mechanics, to bakers and refrigerator manufacturers.

At MeatFuelsAmerica.com, visitors can view summaries of the findings presented nationally, on a state by state basis, or on a Congressional district by district basis.

“The companies and the people that produce, process, distribute and sell nutritious meat and poultry products are an essential part of the U.S. economy,” said Meat Institute President and CEO Barry Carpenter. “We are proud that we provide millions of quality jobs in every state and every sector of the U.S. economy and that these jobs ensure people in North America and around the world have access to our high quality, nutritious and affordable products.”

The complete release on the analysis can be found here. NAMI held a press conference this morning to discuss the study. You can listen to or download that audio here: NAMI Press Conference on Meat/Poultry Economic Study