U.S. jobs associated with agricultural exports vary with the types of goods exported

The number of U.S. jobs associated with agricultural exports has generally been growing along with U.S. agricultural exports and is influenced by the composition of exports between bulk (raw, unprocessed) and nonbulk (processed, high-value) agricultural products. In calendar year 2012, the $141.3 billion of total U.S. agricultural exports generated an estimated 929,000 full-time civilian jobs. Since the early 2000s, job growth associated with U.S. agricultural exports has been driven entirely by expanding sales of nonbulk products. Nonbulk exports have a larger proportional effect on jobs than bulk exports because they generate more economic activity and jobs in the nonfarm economy in areas such as manufacturing, trade, and transportation. In 2012, nonbulk exports of $90.6 billion led to an additional $140.1 billion of business activity supporting an estimated 654,584 jobs, while bulk exports valued at $50.7 billion produced an additional $39.4 billion of business activity supporting an estimated 274,584 jobs. Estimates of economic activity and jobs associated with agricultural exports are model-based, using a detailed input-output data set on the U.S. economy. Find this chart and additional data and documentation in the ERS Agricultural Trade Multiplier data product.

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