The beer industry contributes $11.5 billion annually to Pennsylvania’s economy and supports 77,197 people, according to a study jointly commissioned by the Beer Institute and the National Beer Wholesalers Association (NBWA).
Wages and benefits for those employed by the industry, which is comprised of brewers and importers, independent beer distributors and licensed retailers, total $3.7 billion each year. The state’s beer industry also generates $1.8 billion annually in business, personal, and consumption taxes.
Nationwide, the beer industry supports more than 2 million jobs, pays $9.5 billion in wages and benefits, produces more than $58.6 billion in tax revenue and generates more than $328 billion in economic activity.
There are 3,000 independent beer distribution companies, employing 141,600 people. This is an increase of more than 19 percent over 10 years.
“Independent beer distributors are Main Street businesses whose economic contributions are felt in every community and congressional district across the country as they work with brewers large and small to grow brands and safely deliver America’s favorite alcohol beverage to more than 640,000 licensed retailers nationwide,” Craig Purser, NBWA president and CEO, said
Approximately 58 percent of brewing jobs, 69,928 positions, are attributed to large and mid-sized brewers and beer importers, according to Jim McGreevy, Beer Institute president and CEO, said.