Special Report

Largest Industry in Each State

Source: Thinkstock
Each of the 50 U.S. states has a unique history, geography, demographic makeup, and political climate. These factors have considerable economic implications and lay the foundation of a state’s industrial composition.

To highlight the unique economic features of each state, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed the largest industry in each state based on total GDP contribution. The dominant industries in each state are as distinct as farming, computer manufacturing, oil extraction, and publishing.

In the vast majority of states, the real estate sector is the largest contributor to GDP. It was excluded from our analysis, as housing is a universal need irrespective of geography and fails to illuminate regional economic differences.

The largest industries in each state vary considerably in size. Vermont’s largest industry, outpatient medical services, generated $1.3 billion in 2016. Meanwhile, Texas’s oil and gas extraction sector generated $137.2 billion in 2016 — more than the entire GDP of Montana, Vermont, and Wyoming combined.

Click here to see the largest industry in each state.
Click here to see our detailed findings and methodology.

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