U.S. Beauty Economic Impact by the Numbers
$495.6B
In total economic output generated
2.6M
Jobs nationwide
$242.4B
GDP contribution
$136.6B
In federal, state, local, and labor income taxes.
Powering Communities, Jobs, and Innovation Nationwide
From manufacturing and innovation to retail and global trade, the personal care products industry supports millions of jobs, strengthens local communities, and fuels economic growth nationwide. The industry is characterized by its entrepreneurial spirit, with small businesses making up the vast majority of firms, and a strong commitment to research and development. Using the most recent available data, this report expands on prior analyses to reflect the full scope of the industry’s economic, workforce, and innovation impact across the U.S.
Manufacturing
Powering Communities & Supply Chains: U.S.-based manufacturing anchors state economies and supports job creation across the country.
• $133.3B in manufacturing-related economic output
• $50.0B added to U.S. GDP
• 298,600 jobs supported
• $83,000 average annual salary for direct manufacturing jobs
Workforce
Diverse, Skilled & Science-Driven: The industry’s workforce reflects the diversity of the communities it serves and relies on strong STEM expertise.
• 2.6M jobs supported across manufacturing, distribution, and services
• 56.2% women in the workforce, exceeding national average
• 25.2% Hispanic or Latino, exceeding national averages
• 13%+ STEM roles supporting science-based innovation
Innovation
Advancing Science and Safety: Sustained R&D investment enables rigorous safety evaluation, innovation, and consumer trust.
• $1.3B+ invested annually in U.S.-based research and development
Small Businesses
A Foundation for Growth: Entrepreneurship and small businesses are central to the industry’s economic footprint and resilience. The data below is from 2022, the latest available.
• 95.5% of firms are small businesses
• 1,146 small business in U.S., growing from 870 in 2004
Consumer Behavior
Consumer spending on personal care products among U.S. households highlights evolving market trends and consumer preferences.
• $41- $49 monthly expenditures by females
• $31- $41 monthly expenditures by males
Cosmetics and Personal Care Products Industry is Essential to the U.S. Economy
The cosmetics and personal care products industry is a key driver of the U.S. economy and one of the major components of U.S. household spending. Consumers continue to invest in beauty products, with the top expenditure groups being cosmetics, fragrances and hair care products. These investments resulted in $210.6 billion in total sales in 2022.
Employment in the U.S. personal care products industry has increased by 35 percent between 2001 and 2022, outpacing total U.S. private employment’s increase of 18 percent. This growth is largely attributable to the personal care services segment of the industry, which increased by 41 percent between 2001 and 2022.
PCPC will continue to advocate for policies that are based on sound science, drive economic growth and ensure consumer choice and accessibility.
We support:
- Consumer choice and accessibility to beauty and personal care products.
- Policies that are based on the best available science and align with global and U.S. regulatory frameworks.
- Policies that encourage industry growth of U.S. operations, increase U.S. jobs, support U.S. economic growth.
Powering Communities, Jobs, and Innovation Nationwide
From manufacturing and innovation to retail and global trade, the personal care products industry supports millions of jobs, strengthens local communities, and fuels economic growth nationwide. The industry is characterized by its entrepreneurial spirit, with small businesses making up the vast majority of firms, and a strong commitment to research and development. Using the most recent available data, this report expands on prior analyses to reflect the full scope of the industry’s economic, workforce, and innovation impact across the U.S.
Trade & Global Engagement: Protecting Competitiveness and Jobs
Personal care products rely on both domestic hubs and international partners to drive trade activity while maintaining a strong U.S. manufacturing and employment base. Given the industry’s deep integration into the global economy, its performance is closely tied to international trade policies.
Why Trade Policy Matters to the Personal Care Products Industry
- Ingredients, packaging, and components often cross borders multiple times
- Tariffs can disrupt supply chains and limit investment in U.S. jobs
Economic Implications for Jobs, Consumers, and Competitiveness
- Trade certainty supports long-term planning and domestic investment
- Open markets help U.S.-made products compete globally
How the U.S.–Mexico–Canada Agreement (USMCA) Supports North American Supply Chains
Strengthening Regional Trade Through Regulatory Cooperation and Certainty
The U.S.–Mexico–Canada Agreement (USMCA) plays a critical role in maintaining efficient, integrated North American supply chains for personal care products.
- Amongst the U.S. trading partners, Canada is the largest buyer of U.S. personal care products at $4.4B.
Essentiality Quick Facts
Contributions by State
California, Texas, Florida, New York and New Jersey are the states that have the largest number of jobs directly and indirectly supported by the industry. Learn about the economic impact of the beauty industry on your state.
U.S. Market Driver
Domestic manufacturing provides most of the products for the U.S. market. U.S. cosmetics and personal care product exports reached nearly $17 billion in 2024, with Canada serving as our most important export market.
