Long Beach-generated trade supports 1.4 million jobs throughout the United States and generates about $14.5 billion in annual trade-related wages.
International Trade is one of the major economic engines for the Southern California region and the Long Beach economy. Long Beach serves as the Gateway to the Pacific and no one is better positioned to take advantage of the growing Pacific Rim trade than our city. Our Port of Long Beach is the second-busiest seaport in the United States.
The Port of Long Beach supports about 316,000 jobs in a five-county area and about 1.4 million jobs throughout the country. Containerized trade at the port has grown nearly five-fold since 1990, and despite the current recession the long term view is that global trade will continue to grow. That’s why the Port of Long Beach plans to invest $4 billion over the next decade to modernize and expand its facilities.
Economic Impacts
The Port of Long Beach’s impact on the local, regional and national economies is substantial. More than $140 billion worth of cargo moves through the Port every year, creating jobs, supporting retail and manufacturing businesses, and generating tax revenues.
The Port measures its economic impacts in five overlapping regions: The City of Long Beach, Los Angeles County, the five-county Southern California region, the state of California and the entire United States.
In Long Beach:
- Port operations support nearly 30,000 jobs, about one out of every eight jobs in the city.
- Nearly $1.9 billion a year is spent in the city for Port industry services (services purchased primarily by foreign and domestic shippers and steamship companies).
- More than $800 million a year is spent on wholesale distribution services in the city for goods imported through the Port.
In L.A. County:
- Port operations support more than 230,000 jobs, about one out of every 24 jobs in the county.
- Nearly $3.3 billion a year is spent in the county for port industry services.
- Foreign consumers purchase about $5.1 billion annually in goods manufactured in the county before being exported through the Port.
- More than $9.3 billion a year is spent on wholesale distribution services in the county for goods imported through the Port.
- Retailers in the county spend about $4.1 billion a year selling household goods and other finished products imported through the Port.
- In the five-county region (Los Angeles, Orange, Ventura, San Bernardino and Riverside Counties):
- The Port supports more than 315,000 jobs, about one of every 29 jobs.
- The $14.3 billion in wages and salaries supported by port activity represents slightly more than four percent of all salaries and wages paid within the region.
- More than $10 billion a year is spent on wholesale distribution services for goods imported though the Port.
- Retailers spend about $7 billion a year selling household goods and other finished products imported through the Port.
In California:
- Port operations support about 371,000 jobs.
- Port operations generate about $4.9 billion a year in state and local tax revenues.
In the United States:
- Port operations support about 1.4 million jobs.
- About $4 billion a year is spent in the U.S. for port industry services.
- Foreign consumers purchase about $18 billion a year worth of American goods exported through the Port.
- More than $32 billion a year is spent on wholesale distribution services in the U.S. for goods imported through the Port.
- Retailers in the country spend more than $25 billion each year selling household goods and other finished products imported through the Port.
(Source: Port of Long Beach)
Green Business Council
The Green Business Council’s vision is to encourage and facilitate environmental, social and economic business practices in Long Beach through education, outreach, networking and advocacy. The GBC will strive to support existing green sector companies in our community to develop an environment that will draw new companies to the Long Beach area and to help raise the level of sustainable businesses.
International Business Association
The International Business Association’s role is to increase the community’s understanding of industry issues, to promote business opportunities for its members and to support student involvement in international trade. Monthly events will provide timely updates on environmental, traffic, security and legislative issues. Our signature events include The State of Trade and Transportation and the World Trade Week luncheons.
Women’s Business Council
The Women’s Business Council mission is to provide a supportive environment for business professionals to network, achieve personal growth and to contribute to the betterment of our community. WBC is proud to support small business by awarding a small business grant each year. The WBC holds monthly luncheons and mixers several times a year. Our signature event is an annual “Experience Speaks” program featuring a panel of accomplished professionals discussing current issues and concerns facing our community in business today.