U.S. BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS
Spotlight on Statistics
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DECEMBER 2017
Industry On Tap: Breweries
Erin Delaney and Matt Haines
Breweries, breweries everywhere, and so much beer to drink! It seems as though nearly every town in America has a
brewery these days, suggesting that the industry must be expanding rapidly. But, is it? From 2006 to 2016, breweries
accounted for more than half of the employment growth within the beverage manufacturing industry. As breweries—
establishments engaged primarily in brewing beer, ale, lager, malt liquors, and nonalcoholic beer—are beginning to
take up a larger share of the beverage manufacturing industry, soft drink and ice manufacturing's share has been
declining. This Spotlight on Statistics examines historical employment trends for breweries and the other component
industries that make up the beverage manufacturing industry. It also looks at wages, the number of establishments,
prices, and injury rates for the brewing industry and compares them with similar measures for distilleries, wineries,
and the soft drink and ice manufacturing industry.
U.S. BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS
Spotlight on Statistics
Page 2
Nearly 59,000 people worked in breweries across the United States in 2016
U.S. employment in the brewery industry exceeded 30,000 for the first time in 2013. It had remained basically flat
from 2001 to 2008, before reaching its lowest point in 2010, at 24,864 employees, following the 2007–09 recession.
Employment in breweries increased from 2010 to 2016, with the industry adding 33,716 jobs, a 135-percent increase.
The largest 12-month employment increases occurred in 2015 and 2016, with growth rates in both years of about 21
percent. By 2016, employment had reached 58,580 jobs.
U.S. BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS
Spotlight on Statistics
Page 3
California and Colorado lead the nation in the number of jobs in breweries
In 2006, there were only 20 states that had employment data for the brewery industry that met BLS publication
standards. Among those 20 state