A recent Impact Report commissioned by YouTube and conducted by Oxford Economics reveals that YouTube’s creator economy added $45 billion to the U.S. gross domestic product in 2024. The platform supported over 400,000 full-time equivalent jobs spanning creators, editors, marketers, and other roles linked to video production.

Central to this economic contribution is YouTube’s Partner Program, launched in 2007, which has distributed more than $70 billion to creators and rights holders worldwide. The program has enabled many independent creators to establish long-term careers, with 79% of surveyed U.S.-based creators affirming that YouTube provides meaningful opportunities for business growth.

Caleb Simpson, a creator known for apartment tours, credits YouTube with giving him the structure to pursue full-time content creation and scale his operation.

The report also highlights YouTube’s educational impact. Approximately 78% of viewers acknowledged the platform’s role in skill acquisition, with 59% of Gen Z respondents citing it as their top resource for learning and career development.

Furthermore, around 70% of creators surveyed agreed that YouTube fosters economic opportunities regardless of background or location, aligning with the company’s commitment to expanding accessibility within the creator economy.

While the report examined 19 countries, the U.S. remains YouTube’s largest market. The company pledged to continue enhancing tools and policies to support sustainable creator businesses.

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