Economic Contributions of the Meat and Poultry Industry for 2025

America’s meat and poultry processing industry is an important driver of economic activity throughout the nation. Through sales to and purchases from a wide variety of industries, livestock and poultry processors contribute greatly to both their local economies as well as the national economy.

The Meat Institute commissioned Decision Innovation Solutions to conduct an economic contribution study.

The complete analysis including methodology and definitions is here.

KEY FINDINGS

Meat and Poultry Industry Direct Contributions to the National Economy in 2025
  • $57.3 billion in value added 
  • Nearly 584,000 jobs
  • $40.6 billion in labor income
  • $311.0 billion in total sales (output)
  • $12.5 billion in local, state, and federal taxes
Meat and Poultry Industry Total Economic Contributions to the National Economy in 2025
  • $347.7 billion in value added
  • More than 3.2 million jobs
  • $205.3 billion in labor income
  • $911.7 billion in total sales (output)
  • $77.0 billion in local, state, and federal taxes

(This analysis accounts for indirect and induced effects: The meat and poultry processing industry generates significant economic activity in other industries including livestock and poultry production, animal feed manufacturing, grain and oilseed production, truck and rail transportation, equipment manufacturing, and more.)

State and Federal Congressional District Economic Contributions

While the meat and poultry processing industry drives some economic activity in every state and nearly every district, these are the: 

Top States

  • Texas
  • Nebraska
  • Iowa
  • Georgia
  • North Carolina
  • Kansas
  • California
  • Arkansas

Top Districts

  • Nebraska-3
  • Iowa-4
  • Texas-13
  • Kansas-1
  • Minnesota-1
  • Arkansas-3

LEARN MORE ABOUT THE MEAT AND POULTRY INDUSTRY’S ECONOMIC CONTRIBUTIONS TO EACH STATE AND CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT ↓

 
 
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