California Green Industry Grossed $25 Billion

According to a report by the California Landscape Contractors Association, the California green industry grossed $25 billion and created nearly 258,000 jobs in 2007, the last year for which data was available. Titled the ''Economic Contributions of the Green Industry to the California Economy, 2007,'' the report summarizes a 2011 study conducted by three economists: Dr. Marco A. Palma of Texas A&M University, Dr. Alan W. Hodges of the University of Florida, and Dr. Charles R. Hall of Texas A&M University.

The 157,395 green industry establishments in California had $17.2 billion in direct output (sales) and $25 billion in total output. They employed 169,942 individuals and had a total employment impact of 257,650 jobs, the report states.

The green industry is substantially bigger in California than it is in any other state. Compared to the green industry in the country as a whole, the California industry was 14.2 percent of the output, 13.2 percent of its employment contribution, and 14.7 percent of its value added impact in 2007. The green industry was .83 percent of California's total overall economic activity that same year.