The Outdoor Recreation Industry is already a major force in the American economy, and it’s just getting bigger. According to the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) and the USDA Office of Rural Development, the outdoor recreation economy represents 2.2% of America’s GDP, generating more than 6.1 million jobs and over $646 billion in annual revenue, and it’s growing faster than the economy as a whole.
Want to know more about this industry’s real potential? These resources are a great place to start.
The outdoor recreation industry is about much more than economic growth. Because when people feel welcome and comfortable outdoors, they live healthier and happier lives. Communities get stronger. And we all deepen our connections to this beautiful world, our home.
This is a pivotal moment for this essential industry. Here are a few resources that offer context for what's happening, and what's at stake.
The Center has partnered with the Outdoor Recreation Roundtable to track the outdoor industry's path to recovery.
USDA’s Forest Service (FS), Rural Development (RD), and the National Institute for Food and Agriculture (NIFA) have developed this resource guide for rural communities to identify resources that develop the recreation economy.
This 2017 report by the Outdoor Industry Association captures the scope and scale of the pre-COVID outdoor industry.
In addition to the courses and programs offered through the Outdoor Recreation Economy Initiative, Oregon State offers a number of for-credit courses and degree programs designed to equip you for a satisfying career in the outdoor industry.
Looking to get started in the outdoor economy? Here are a few useful job boards to get you on your way.
Let us know if you'd like to talk, or sign up for our newsletter and be the first to know about new programs and the latest news from the outdoor economy.
The Center for the Outdoor Recreation Economy is dedicated to advancing research and curriculum development, technical skills training and leadership programming for the U.S. outdoor industry.
We'd love to hear from you. Contact us at outdooreconomy@oregonstate.edu.