Ode to the Outdoors
How Coloradans Observe Memorial Day
Memorial Day weekend in the U.S. is a time to honor our fallen heroes and reconnect with family, friends and the community. And since we live in a state known for its breathtaking scenery and steady sunshine, we’re known for taking our celebrations outside. From our national parks to mountain lakes to our campgrounds, the freedom to explore and relax in these spaces is a testament to the service of the brave soldiers who made it possible.
What are your plans? I personally will be participating in Colorado’s wacky official summer heritage sport of pack burro racing. (The legislature made it official in 2012 over rock climbing and sitting in traffic on I70.) It’s just one of the many ways Coloradans will be out recreating in our great outdoors this weekend.
And to make your barbecues, boat rides, hikes, burro races, and more on Monday even more engaging, here are some facts about Colorado’s outdoor recreation economy to perk up your conversations.
You: I’m glad you asked! Colorado ranks 9th in the number of jobs in the Outdoor Recreation Industry!
Stranger on the trail: Okay, all I asked was where is the trailhead.
Outdoor Recreation in Colorado (by the numbers)
- 4.98 million people work in Outdoor Recreation Jobs nationwide.
- That’s 3.2% of total jobs in the U.S.
- Hawaii ranks first in Outdoor Recreation Jobs.
- 6.8% of workers are employed in the Outdoor Recreation Industry.
- Colorado’s Outdoor Recreation Industry employed 129,773 people in 2022.
- That’s 4.3% of total employment.
- It puts Colorado 9th among states in the amount of people employed by the Outdoor Recreation Industry.
The map below shows the top 10 states with the highest portion of total jobs in the Outdoor Recreation Industry.
The outdoor recreation economy contributed 2.2%, or $564 billion, to the gross domestic product (GDP) of the United States in 2022. On a state level, the share of GDP coming from the outdoor recreation industry varied from a high of 5.6% in Hawaii to 1.4 % in Connecticut. Colorado is above average with 2.8% of its GDP coming from the Outdoor Recreation Industry. $13.86 billion in State GDP is generated by the Outdoor Recreation Industry. In 2022, there was $6.9 billion paid in wages and salaries to outdoor recreation workers in Colorado.
The outdoor recreation industry employs 129,773 jobs in Colorado.
The Bureau of Economic Analysis categorizes the Outdoor Recreation Industry into three categories: conventional activities (bicycle, boating, hiking, skiing, hunting), other activities (gardening, golf, outdoor concerts), and supporting activities (travel, tourism, construction). RVing is the nation’s largest conventional activity in Outdoor Recreation. In Colorado, however, “snow activities” is the largest.
In the entire county, GPD related to snow activities is $7 billion. Colorado generates $1.44 billion of it. So 20.5% of the nation’s snow activities occur in Colorado. The table below shows the top 10 states and the economic activity that comes from snow activity. Colorado has more than twice the snow economic activity than its ski-destination rival and western neighbor Utah. (My Utah snowboarder friends are like, “That’s what you get for not allowing boarders at Deer Valley!”)
It’s clear Colorado’s great outdoors are more than a useful outlet after a stressful week at work, or a great way to spend a long weekend. The natural wonders and mountain environment of our state are major players in the economy. Preserving their health and resources is essential not only to our way of life, but to our economic prosperity.
So take a moment to honor a veteran, enjoy Colorado’s outdoor recreation, and drop an economic stat into conversation this Memorial Day!
