More than just a sunny playground for boaters, Florida's marine industry is a colossal economic engine that generated a staggering $28.5 billion in total economic output in 2022, supporting thousands of jobs and businesses across the state.
Key Takeaways
- In 2022, the Florida marine industry generated $28.5 billion in total economic output, supporting a wide range of activities from manufacturing to retail.
- The marine industry in Florida contributed $18.2 billion to the state's GDP in 2022, representing 2.1% of total state GDP.
- Florida's boating industry supported 128,000 jobs in 2022, with economic impacts rippling through supply chains.
- Florida's marine industry employed 128,000 full-time equivalent jobs in 2022.
- Boatbuilding employed 12,500 workers in Florida in 2022.
- Marine manufacturing supported 25,000 direct jobs in 2022.
- Florida produced 45,000 new boats in 2022.
- Boatbuilding facilities in Florida numbered 450 in 2022.
- Average boat length produced in Florida was 24.5 feet in 2022.
- Florida had 1,033,456 registered recreational boats in 2022.
- Boating participation in Florida reached 4.2 million adults in 2022.
- New powerboat registrations: 52,000 units in Florida 2022.
- Florida ports handled 110 million tons of cargo in 2022.
- PortMiami cruise passengers: 7.3 million in 2022.
- Jacksonville port container throughput: 1.4 million TEUs in 2022.
Florida's marine industry is a massive economic engine supporting many jobs and businesses.
Commercial and Infrastructure
- Florida ports handled 110 million tons of cargo in 2022.
- PortMiami cruise passengers: 7.3 million in 2022.
- Jacksonville port container throughput: 1.4 million TEUs in 2022.
- Tampa Bay deep-water channels dredged to 47 feet in 2022.
- Everglades terminal capacity: 2.4 million TEUs annually.
- Commercial fishing landings value: $215 million in Florida 2022.
- Port Canaveral cargo volume: 15 million tons in 2022.
- Intracoastal Waterway usage by barges: 1.2 million tons 2022.
- Marina slips available: 85,000 statewide in 2022.
- Dry stack storage: 32,000 boat spaces in Florida 2022.
- Ferry services carried 4.5 million passengers in 2022.
- Offshore wind lease areas: 2.4 GW potential off Florida.
- Fuel docks numbered 450 serving commercial vessels 2022.
- Breakwater investments: $120 million in key ports 2022.
- LNG bunkering facilities: 5 operational in major ports 2022.
- Shrimp landings: 8.2 million pounds valued at $45 million 2022.
- Stone crab harvest: 5.9 million pounds in 2022 season.
- Haul-out capacity for commercial ships: 250 dry docks 2022.
- AIS vessel traffic: 150,000 transits in Florida straits 2022.
- Lock and dam operations on Okeechobee: 12,000 passages 2022.
- Passenger-only ferries: 22 services with 2.8 million riders 2022.
Commercial and Infrastructure Interpretation
Florida’s marine industry, from its bustling ports dredged deeper for trade to its teeming fisheries and quiet intracoastal passages, paints a vivid picture of an economy equally powered by colossal cargo ships and stone crab claws.
Economic Impact
- In 2022, the Florida marine industry generated $28.5 billion in total economic output, supporting a wide range of activities from manufacturing to retail.
- The marine industry in Florida contributed $18.2 billion to the state's GDP in 2022, representing 2.1% of total state GDP.
- Florida's boating industry supported 128,000 jobs in 2022, with economic impacts rippling through supply chains.
- Retail sales of new powerboats in Florida reached $4.7 billion in 2022.
- The industry paid $6.8 billion in wages and salaries to Florida workers in 2022.
- Marine engine manufacturing added $2.3 billion to Florida's economy in 2022.
- Boatbuilding and repair contributed $5.1 billion in economic output in Florida for 2022.
- The recreational boating sector generated $12.4 billion in consumer spending in Florida in 2022.
- Federal, state, and local taxes from the marine industry totaled $2.9 billion in Florida in 2022.
- Marine accessories sales contributed $1.8 billion to Florida's economy in 2022.
- Florida's marine industry supported 1,200 manufacturing establishments in 2022.
- The sector's multiplier effect created an additional $10.2 billion in indirect and induced spending in 2022.
- In 2021, marine industry output grew by 15% year-over-year to $26.7 billion.
- Boating fuels and oil sales generated $450 million in economic activity in Florida in 2022.
- The industry attracted $3.1 billion in business sales from out-of-state visitors in 2022.
- Marine transportation services added $4.2 billion to Florida's GDP in 2022.
- Florida's yacht sector contributed $7.5 billion in economic output in 2022.
- Total marine-related exports from Florida reached $1.9 billion in 2022.
- The sector's economic impact grew by 12% from 2021 to 2022.
- Marine insurance premiums in Florida totaled $1.2 billion in 2022.
- Boat dealer sales supported $3.4 billion in local economies in 2022.
- The industry generated $850 million in property taxes for Florida counties in 2022.
- Florida's marine sector had a total economic multiplier of 2.8 in 2022.
- Spending on boat maintenance and repairs reached $2.6 billion in 2022.
- The marine industry supported 5,200 small businesses in Florida in 2022.
- Total value added by marine manufacturing was $9.1 billion in 2022.
- Boating tourism contributed $15.3 billion to visitor spending in 2022.
- Marine finance and leasing generated $1.5 billion in revenue in 2022.
- The sector paid $450 million in sales taxes in Florida in 2022.
- Economic output from marinas and dockage was $3.7 billion in 2022.
Economic Impact Interpretation
Florida's marine industry is clearly no small fish, proving that boating is not just a leisure activity but a titanic economic engine that floats everything from wallets to whole communities.
Employment Statistics
- Florida's marine industry employed 128,000 full-time equivalent jobs in 2022.
- Boatbuilding employed 12,500 workers in Florida in 2022.
- Marine manufacturing supported 25,000 direct jobs in 2022.
- Dealers and retailers employed 45,000 people in the marine sector in 2022.
- Marinas and related services had 18,000 jobs in Florida in 2022.
- The industry created 8,200 jobs in boat repair and maintenance in 2022.
- Marine engine production employed 4,100 workers in 2022.
- Accessories manufacturing supported 3,500 jobs in Florida in 2022.
- Transportation and shipping added 22,000 marine-related jobs in 2022.
- Florida's yacht crew and support staff totaled 9,000 in 2022.
- The sector had an employment multiplier of 2.2 jobs per direct job in 2022.
- 15% of Florida's manufacturing jobs were in marine industries in 2022.
- Boat dealers employed 1.2 workers per establishment on average in 2022.
- Growth in marine employment was 4.5% from 2021 to 2022.
- Women held 28% of marine industry jobs in Florida in 2022.
- Seasonal employment peaked at 35,000 jobs during summer 2022.
- High-skill occupations like naval architects numbered 1,800 in 2022.
- Entry-level deckhand jobs totaled 12,000 in Florida marinas in 2022.
- Marine sales representatives employed 6,500 across the state in 2022.
- Fiberglass laminators and boat builders: 7,200 jobs in 2022.
- Marina managers and dockmasters: 4,500 positions in 2022.
- Welders in shipbuilding: 2,900 employed in Florida 2022.
- Average annual wage in marine manufacturing was $58,400 in 2022.
- Unemployment rate in marine sector was 2.8% below state average in 2022.
- 32,000 indirect and induced jobs from marine activities in 2022.
- Charter boat captains and crew: 5,600 jobs in 2022.
- Electrical and electronic installers on boats: 3,100 jobs 2022.
Employment Statistics Interpretation
While it may be fueled by sunshine and saltwater, Florida's marine industry is a serious economic engine, buoying over 128,000 livelihoods from skilled naval architects to weekend deckhands, proving the state is far more than just a pretty coastline.
Manufacturing and Production
- Florida produced 45,000 new boats in 2022.
- Boatbuilding facilities in Florida numbered 450 in 2022.
- Average boat length produced in Florida was 24.5 feet in 2022.
- Fiberglass hull production reached 38,000 units in Florida 2022.
- Marine engine assembly output was 120,000 units in 2022.
- Aluminum boat production: 12,500 boats manufactured in 2022.
- Yacht and superyacht builds: 180 vessels over 78 feet in 2022.
- Trailer production for boats: 95,000 units from Florida plants 2022.
- Outboard motor manufacturing output: 85,000 motors in 2022.
- Inboard and sterndrive engines: 35,000 produced in Florida 2022.
- Pontoon boat production surged to 22,000 units in 2022.
- Custom boat builds: 1,200 bespoke vessels delivered in 2022.
- Marine propeller manufacturing: 250,000 units from Florida in 2022.
- Jet boat production: 8,500 units assembled in 2022.
- Capacity utilization in Florida boat plants was 92% in 2022.
- New factory investments totaled $450 million in marine manufacturing 2022.
- Export of manufactured boats: 15% of production in 2022.
- Average production cost per boat: $45,000 in Florida 2022.
- Robotic welding integration in 65% of boat factories in 2022.
- Carbon fiber hulls: 450 high-end boats produced in 2022.
- Electrical systems integration for 98% of new boats in 2022.
- Production of personal watercraft: 18,000 units in Florida 2022.
- Deck hardware manufacturing: 1.2 million components in 2022.
- Paint and gelcoat application lines produced finishes for 40,000 hulls 2022.
- Rigging and upholstery output for 35,000 boats in 2022.
- Shipyard refits and repairs: 2,500 major projects in 2022.
- Prototype development for electric boats: 120 models tested 2022.
Manufacturing and Production Interpretation
Florida's marine industry is floating the state's economy so robustly that with 450 facilities humming at a 92% clip to build everything from 24.5-foot runabouts to 180 superyachts, it's clear they're not just making boats—they're manufacturing a liquid asset.
Recreational Boating
- Florida had 1,033,456 registered recreational boats in 2022.
- Boating participation in Florida reached 4.2 million adults in 2022.
- New powerboat registrations: 52,000 units in Florida 2022.
- Average days boated per owner: 28 days annually in 2022.
- Pontoon boats comprised 32% of Florida registrations in 2022.
- 68% of Floridians live within 30 minutes of boating waters.
- Youth boating participation: 850,000 under 18 in 2022.
- Boat ownership rate: 22% of Florida households in 2022.
- Fishing from boats: 2.1 million anglers in Florida 2022.
- Wake surfing participation grew 25% to 450,000 in 2022.
- Paddle sports combined with boating: 1.8 million participants 2022.
- Jet ski/PWC registrations: 145,000 in Florida 2022.
- Sailboat registrations: 78,000 vessels in 2022.
- Average boat value: $62,500 for registered vessels 2022.
- 45% of boats used for family outings in 2022 surveys.
- Night boating incidents: 12% of total accidents in 2022.
- Boater education courses completed: 120,000 in 2022.
- Multi-species boating trips: 3.5 million annually in 2022.
- Houseboat registrations: 4,200 in Florida waters 2022.
- Crossover to boating from other sports: 28% in 2022.
- Weekend warriors: 65% boat 1-2 times per month in 2022.
- Luxury day cruising boats popular with 55+ age group 2022.
- Eco-friendly boating interest: 42% of owners in 2022.
- Boat club memberships: 75,000 members in Florida 2022.
- Digital navigation app usage: 78% of boaters in 2022.
- Annual boating expenditures per owner: $4,200 in 2022.
Recreational Boating Interpretation
With over a million registered boats, Florida’s waterways are a paradoxical blend of leisurely pontoon parades, surging wakes, serious fishing expeditions, and a surprisingly large fleet of responsible weekend sailors who collectively spend billions to navigate between sun-soaked family fun and the occasional moonlit mishap.
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