New Report Reveals Digital Trade Contributes More Than 1.4 Million Jobs And $440 Billion In Exports To American Economy

BECKERMAN: “Digital trade is the present and future of the American economy.”

Washington, DC – Internet Association (IA) today released a new report entitled, “A Look At American Digital Exports.” The report uses government data to detail the jobs and exports impact of information and communication technology (ICT) services on the U.S. economy, and provides the first ever state-by-state estimates for digital trade’s contribution to exports and jobs.

“Digital trade is the present and future of the American economy,” said IA President and CEO Michael Beckerman. “America boasts a $172.6 billion digital trade surplus and every sector of our economy, including main street businesses, benefits from digital trade. Every state reaps the rewards of our digital trade leadership.”

The report uses government data to estimate the export volume and supported jobs from digital trade services and digital trade-enabled services in America. Key findings from the report include:

• $440 Billion In Exports: Digital trade and digital trade-enabled businesses contribute more than $440 billion in exports annually.
• 1.4 Million Jobs: Digital trade and digital trade-enabled businesses add more than 1.4 million jobs to the economy annually.
• Benefits In Every State: Digital trade creates jobs and grows the economy in all 50 states. The five biggest states for digital trade are California, Texas, New York, Florida, and Washington.
• Benefits In Every Sector: The majority (60 percent) of jobs created by digital trade are not in the internet industry. Instead they’re in industries like agriculture, manufacturing, and retail.

“Digital trade is how small mom-and-pop shops across America are able to become global exporters with the click of a button,” said IA Chief Economist Christopher Hooton. “The internet connects businesses in all sectors with new customers and better marketing data. It’s no surprise that digital trade has such a significant impact on our economy.”

To read the full report, click here.

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