Outdoor Business Industry

Nationwide – The U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis released 2023 statistics measuring the outdoor recreation economy for the nation, all 50 states, and the District of Columbia. The new U.S. data show that outdoor recreation generates $1.2 trillion in gross economic output, 2.3% of gross domestic product, 5 million jobs equally 3.1% of U.S. employment.

Nevada - Nevada offers endless outdoor recreation experiences to match every passion! With almost 52 million acres of Nevada dedicated to public lands, outdoor recreation access is practically endless. It’s clear from the latest data that outdoor recreation is a major economic driver for our state, creating local jobs and contributing to the quality of life for everyone who lives and works here. In 2023, Nevada’s outdoor recreation industry accounted for $8.1 billion in value-added (GDP) annually, ranking our state 10th in the nation. The Silver State is also one of the fastest growing outdoor recreation economies in the country, ranking 4th, with a 12.8% increase from 2022-2023. For jobs, Nevada ranked 7th in annual compensation growth, contributing 58,425 direct jobs and is ranked #1 in the lower 48 states with an annual job growth of 5.8% from 2022-2023! Clearly Nevada is a spectacular place to work where you play.

Nevada is rich with culture surrounding the great outdoors; especially in our small, rural communities. To add value to rural places and building economic vitality through outdoor recreation, Outdoor Recreation Roundtable (ORR) has created an elaborate Economic Development Toolkit empowering small communities to find their OREC niche and expand their horizons. 

The Nevada Division of Outdoor Recreation will offer our Team expertise to assist communities large or small with an OREC strategic planning process, funding opportunities, and how to execute their plan once complete. This process will be based on NDOR’s bandwidth and time constraints.

NDOR works closely with the Governor’s Office of Economic Development (GOED), The Nevada Outdoor Business Coalition and the Department of Tourism to bring outdoor recreation users and businesses the most up to date statistics for living, working, and playing the Nevada Way. Please stay tuned for more amazing collaborative efforts between NDOR and our great partners.

Outdoor Recreation Businesses in Nevada

Through the Outdoor Recreation Impact Survey, we are working to provide a list of all outdoor recreation businesses in Nevada. While we work on this, there is a map showcasing the number of outdoor recreation businesses by region.