Economic Census Highlights Industries That Notably Changed Between 2017 and 2022
The move away from brick-and-mortar retail stores toward online shopping deepened with pandemic-era demand for delivery and other changes in customer behavior altering the nation’s restaurant and hospitality sectors.
Industries supporting consumer convenience and digital transformation experienced some of the biggest spikes between 2017 and 2022.
Large shifts in industry revenue and employment occurred across the economy between 2017 and 2022, according to Economic Census comparative statistics, which provide a snapshot of how U.S. industries have changed over time.
The latest data are presented using 2017 North American Industry Classification System codes and cover a wide range of metrics. They are not adjusted for price changes.
Growth Fueled by Convenience-Driven Services and Digital Demand
Industries supporting consumer convenience and digital transformation experienced some of the biggest spikes between 2017 and 2022. The COVID-19 pandemic boosted online shopping, and the convenience became ingrained.
The Electronic Shopping and Mail-Order Houses industry, for example, grew by $546.7 billion, a 106.0% increase (Figure 1). Employment in this industry, which includes establishments selling merchandise using “nonstore” means like web retailers, grew by more than 1.2 million workers, a 215.3% gain.
Revenue in Business-to-Business Electronic Markets, which for a fee connects buyers and sellers of online goods, also posted a remarkable gain of 380.5% over the five-year period, a $11.8 billion jump in revenue.
The demand for fast and contactless service from workers who deliver groceries, meals, alcohol and other small parcels within a single metro area drove revenue in the Local Messengers and Local Delivery industry. The industry’s revenue soared 314.0% ($17.9 billion), while employment rose 214.8% (approximately 100,000 workers).
These trends further highlight the change in consumer purchases of food and other goods.
Traditional Retail and In-Person Services Declined
Industries relying on in-person interaction with physical products and customers faced steep declines, intensified by the pandemic and shifting consumer habits.
Electronics Stores were among the hardest hit: a $9.0 billion or 12.0% drop in revenue and loss of over 110,000 workers, a 40.8% decrease in its workforce (Figures 2 and 3). Department Stores saw revenue fall by even more — $20.0 billion or 30.1%.
Women’s Clothing Stores shed 133,535 employees (38.7%) and Children’s and Infants’ Clothing Stores dropped 45,254 (58.6%) (Figure 3). This contrasts with the increase already noted with the Electronic Shopping and Mail-Order Houses industry.
The hospitality and food service industries were also affected. Hotels (except Casino Hotels) and Motels lost 188,200 workers (11.7%) as pandemic-related travel restrictions softened lodging demand. Meanwhile, Full-Service Restaurants lost nearly 310,000 workers (5.7%), reflecting an in-person dining decline.
For more information on Economic Census data, visit the Economic Census webpage.
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