Encouraging a move to an exterior location

In the United States, an unexpected sector has emerged as a significant contributor to the economy and employment: the recreation industry. This sector, which encompasses activities like biking, hiking, boating, fishing, skiing, hunting, and camping, employs a substantial number of Americans.

Contrary to the belief that oil and gas extraction would lead the employment charts, more Americans are directly employed by hunting and fishing (483,000) than by oil and gas extraction (180,000). This shift towards recreation-based employment is a testament to the growing importance of outdoor activities in American culture.

The states with the highest share of the recreation economy in gross domestic product (GDP) and employment are typically those with strong tourism, outdoor recreation, and cultural industries. Leading states often include Hawaii, Alaska, and Colorado. However, the exact latest rankings are not detailed in the provided search results.

Hawaii, for instance, boasts a robust recreation economy. It employs over 49,000 people and accounts for 6.9% of the state's economy. Montana follows closely, with the recreation economy generating $3.4 billion and accounting for 5.8% of employees in the state.

The pandemic has further fuelled the popularity of outdoor activities. Hiking, for example, has become one of the nation's most popular outdoor activities, with an estimated 59.6 million hikers in 2022. This surge in participation has led to increased spending on products, gear, vehicles, airfare, fuel, lodging, lessons, guides, lift tickets, and food related to these activities.

The National Park Service (NPS) has been a significant player in this boom. Last year, it recorded 331.9 million recreation visits to its sites. However, the Trump administration's reduction in NPS employees could mean fewer operating hours in national parks, which could directly impact park revenues contributing to the recreation economy.

In 2020, the NPS saw a dip in attendance due to the pandemic, but since then, most parks have experienced a steady increase in visits, with 24 NPS sites setting new visitation records last year. The Trump administration's reduction in NPS employees, which led to the firing of around 1,000 employees and another 700 park employees resigning under the administration's deferred resignation program, has raised concerns about the impact on park maintenance and access.

However, the NPS is currently in the process of rehiring many of the employees who were fired or resigned. Yet, the concerns about the impact on park maintenance and access remain.

The recreation economy contributes to a significant number of jobs, with 7.6 million Americans depending on it for their paychecks. Last week, President Trump signed multiple executive orders aimed at revitalizing coal production. Given the current state of the recreation economy, it remains to be seen how these orders will impact this growing sector.

In 2023, the outdoor recreation economy was estimated to have added 2.3%, or $639.5 billion, to the United States' GDP. As the nation continues to embrace outdoor activities, this contribution is likely to grow, making the recreation economy a vital part of the American economy.