Leading sectors:
Agriculture and forestry
Agriculture and forestry were two of the most important sectors of the US economy. Agricultural products serve as raw materials for a large number of other industries, including food production, wood production, biofuels and ethanol. The United States is also a net exporter of agricultural goods, making the sector crucial to the country’s GDP. The US has the fourth largest forest estate in the world, and woodworking is a very popular activity.
Computer and space
Over the past 80 years, the United States has been an integral part of the processes of telecommunications and technology development. Steve Jobs, CEO of Apple, was born in San Francisco and from the US territory has forever revolutionized the world of technology In addition to this, space technology also plays an important role, from the years of the Cold War to today. This industry has generated thousands of products and services, ranging from lightweight materials used in running shoes, to respiratory monitors. From the first tentative steps of the 1969 moon landing to today’s reusable spacecraft, the space program has produced a number of secondary uses of aerospace technology. Communications satellites transmit computer data, telephone calls and radio and television broadcasts. Weather satellites provide the data needed to provide timely warnings of severe storms.
Automotive
The automotive industry in the United States dates back to the 1890s and, thanks to the size of the domestic market and the use of mass production, rapidly evolved into the largest in the world. The United States was the first country in the world to have a mass market for the production and sale of vehicles and is a pioneer of the automotive industry and the mass market production process. With an open investment policy, a large consumer market, a highly skilled workforce, available infrastructure and local and state government incentives, the United States is the first market for the automotive industry of the 21st century.
Textile
At the working level, the textile supply chain of the United States is composed of: yarns and fabric manufacturers, suppliers in the cotton, wool and artificial fiber sectors, dyers, printers and finishers, the chemical machinery and textile industries, and American customers in the clothing industry. The American textile industry’s supply chain goes from textile fibers to clothing and other sewn-on products. It employed 529,600 workers in 2020, is an important component of the United States economy, and is located in every region of the country. In addition, this industry is an important factor in high-tech innovation.
Pharmaceutical
The American pharmaceutical industry is a highly globalized one. Alone, it holds nearly half of the global pharmaceutical market, with drug sales in the country making up 48% of the global pharmaceutical market as of 2019. The US pharmaceutical industry has taken responsibility for developing and producing some of the most innovative and best-selling drugs in the world. Several companies in the United States are currently producing drugs and vaccines against COVID-19 with the collaboration of the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Oil & Gas
Oil in the United States became a major industry shortly after the discovery of oil in the Oil Creek area of Titusville, Pennsylvania, in 1859. The industry includes the exploration, production, processing, transportation and marketing of natural gas and petroleum products. In 2018, the United States became the world’s largest producer of crude oil, producing 15% of global crude oil, surpassing Russia and Saudi Arabia. According to the American Petroleum Institute, the oil and natural gas industry supports nine million jobs and makes up seven percent of the nation’s gross domestic product. As of 2021, the oil and natural gas industries support 10.3 million jobs and make up 8% of US GDP.
Telecommunications
The Internet was developed in the United States, and the country hosts many of the world’s largest hubs. Internet connections in the United States are largely provided by the private sector and are available in a variety of forms, using a variety of technologies, at a wide range of speeds and costs. In 2019, the United States ranked third in the world for the number of Internet users (behind China and India), with 312.32 million users.
Renewable energy
According to preliminary data from the US Energy Information Administration, renewable energy accounted for about 12.6% of total primary energy consumption and about 19.8% of the domestically produced electricity in the United States in 2020. Since 2019, wind power has been the largest producer of renewable electricity in the country, followed by hydroelectric power. Solar power provides a growing share of electricity in the country, as well as geothermal power: the United States has the largest complex in the world.
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