Impact Reports

New Mexico Council of Outfitters & Guides February, 2025 Impact Report
New Mexico State Parks Economic Impact and Contribution Analysis
Outdoor Recreation on Federal Public Lands & Waters: A Valuable American Asset
2024 Ski New Mexico Economic Impact Report

Outdoor recreation contributes $3.6 billion and 31,454 jobs to New Mexico’s economy

To help understand the scope and value of New Mexico’s outdoor economy, we’re highlighting the most recent data (2024) from the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA), published through its Outdoor Recreation Satellite Account (ORSA). These figures measure how outdoor recreation contributes to state GDP, employment, and wages.

Outdoor recreation contributed $3.6 billion in added value to New Mexico’s GDP, accounting for 2.5% of the the state’s total GDP.

The BEA report indicates that in 2024 the industry has experienced steady growth in employment, with over 2,272 new jobs created. The report also highlights that recreational flying, hunting/shooting/trapping, and climbing/hiking/tent camping were the fastest-growing activities. The highest economic contributors to the state’s outdoor recreation sector are RVing, boating and fishing, as well as snow activities. 

Other highlights from the 2024 data on the outdoor recreation economy in New Mexico:  

• Recreational flying, hunting/shooting/trapping, and climbing/hiking/tent camping were the fastest-growing activities, increasing 12%, 5.3%, and 2.4% year-over-year
• Since 2012, outdoor recreation’s contribution to New Mexico’s GDP has grown at a compound annual growth rate of 5.3%
• Since 2012, the number of outdoor recreation jobs in New Mexico has increased by 10.5%

At a national level, the 2024 figures show that outdoor recreation generated $1.3 trillion in economic output (2.4% of total GDP) and supported 5.2 million jobs (3.2% of total U.S. employment). This means the outdoor recreation economy contributes more to the U.S. economy than farming, mining, and utilities. 

BEA news release: https://www.bea.gov/news/2026/outdoor-recreation-economic-statistics-us-and-states-2024  

Full report: https://www.bea.gov/sites/default/files/2026-03/ores0326.pdf 
 
Outdoor Recreation Roundtable news release: https://recreationroundtable.org/news/outdoor-recreation-industry-remains-an-economic-powerhouse-as-dept-of-commerce-reports-record-impact-on-u-s-economy/