Source: Chris Scott, MEATINGPLACE, 1/13/15

Four major U.S. poultry industry associations are reporting a significant uptick in what the industry has contributed to the nation’s fiscal health over the last two years.

An updated economic impact study shows that the industry added 477,000 jobs since 2012 and the total economic activity increased by $204 billion in the same period, according to the U.S. Poultry & Egg Association (USPOULTRY), National Chicken Council (NCC) National Turkey Federation and United Egg Producers.

The report also notes that industry wages increased by 37 percent to more than $100 billion since 2012 and added $32.9 billion in government revenue versus $23.4 billion two years earlier. The study focuses on the impact of chicken, turkey and eggs on the U.S. economy.

USPOULTRY and NCC also broke out figures for broiler chickens and turkeys, noting that the chicken industry alone increased in terms of direct jobs created to 280,800 from 259,000 in the last two years. More details are available on an interactive website that offers state-by-state breakouts of the industry’s impact on local economies.

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