General aviation in the United States contributed $246.8 billion in economic output and supported a total of 1.28 million jobs in 2018, according to a PricewaterhouseCoopers study.
The industry contributed $128 billion to the gross domestic product and generated $77 billion in
wages, salaries, benefits as well as proprietors’ income.
A total of 273,500 full- and part-time workers were directly employed while the industry supported an additional 1.2 million positions.
Ten states account for 53 percent of total jobs. California has the most jobs directly or indirectly related to the industry, followed by Florida, Texas, Georgia, Ohio, New York, Illinois, Arizona, Kansas, and Pennsylvania.
The study had the support of Conklin & de Decker and JETNET. It was sponsored by the Aircraft Electronics Association, the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, the Experimental Aircraft Association, Helicopter Association International, the General Aviation Manufacturers Association, the National Air Transportation Association and the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA).
“Hundreds of lawmakers at the federal, state and local level have recognized the industry’s vital role in America’s economy and transportation system – a role that will only grow more important as the industry continues to innovate and evolve in the years to come,” NBAA President and CEO Ed Bolen said.