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GRAPHIC: US agricultural exports support 1.25 million jobs

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GRAPHIC: US agricultural exports support 1.25 million jobs
A central Illinois farmer harvests his crop shortly before sundown on Sept. 24, 2015. U.S. agricultural exports reached a record level in 2014, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. photo by Darrell Hoemann, Investigate Midwest

In 2022, U.S. agricultural exports supported approximately 1.25 million full-time civilian jobs, totaling more than $197 billion.

These jobs are measured in full-time equivalents (FTEs), meaning the conversion of hours worked as if they were full-time positions. This translates to roughly 6,338 jobs for every $1 billion in agricultural exports.

These figures are based on the latest estimates from the Economic Research Service’s Agricultural Trade Multipliers (ATM), which provide annual assessments of the employment and economic output impacts of farm and food product trade on the U.S. economy.

hierarchy visualization

Soybean exports generated more than 231,000 jobs in 2022, which include positions in various sectors, including farming, manufacturing, and transportation. Additionally, producing inputs and services essential to soybean exports created further employment opportunities beyond the farm, amplifying the industry’s economic impact.

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