August 2026
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IP and the U.S. economy webpage

The latest edition of the IP and the U.S. economy report highlights the economic contributions of industries that predominantly rely on IP protection, including patents, trademark, and copyright. The report found that, in 2024, 128 IP-intensive industries in sectors such as manufacturing; wholesale and retail trade; and professional, technical, management, and administrative services accounted for $11.4 trillion in U.S. gross domestic product (GDP), or 44% of private sector GDP. 

These industries also provided direct employment to 49.6 million workers, or 33% of private sector U.S. employment. In addition, they provided indirect employment—that is, jobs created in other industries that depend at least partially on final sales in IP-intensive industries—that accounted for an additional 11% of U.S. private sector employment.

The report found a substantial wage premium for workers in IP-intensive industries, with average weekly earnings 53% higher than those received by workers in other industries. Overall, the wage premium for workers in the IP-intensive industries rose by 13% over the past decade.