YouTube‘s creative ecosystem generated a staggering $55 billion in economic impact and supported over 490,000 full-time jobs in the United States last year, according to a new report by Oxford Economics released on Tuesday.
The term creative ecosystem goes far beyond YouTubers themselves. It includes editors, publicists, assistants, and workers at creator-focused companies like Patreon, Linktree, and Spotter. The latest figures represent a massive leap from 2022, when YouTube contributed $35 billion to the GDP and supported 390,000 jobs, marking a $20 billion and 100,000 job increase in just two years.
Even amid declining venture capital interest in the space, YouTube remains the most reliable platform for creators to earn steady income. Through the YouTube Partner Program, creators receive 55% of ad revenue, making it one of the most lucrative platforms for digital content creators. This stands in contrast to platforms like TikTok and YouTube Shorts, which still struggle with consistent monetization models for short-form content.
As the creator economy becomes a more prominent economic force, some U.S. institutions still lag in recognizing it. Creators often face challenges securing business credit or loans despite having stable incomes.
In response, lawmakers Yvette Clark (D-NY) and Beth Van Duyne (R-TX) recently formed the bipartisan Congressional Creators Caucus to advocate for policy that supports this rapidly evolving industry.
