Nearly $15 billion spent on outdoor recreation in Nevada

Outdoor recreation in Nevada supports nearly 150,000 jobs as Americans spend nearly $15 billion a year on such activities, according to the Outdoor Industry Association based in Colorado.

The exact figures for the Silver State supplied by the association are 147,600 jobs and $14.9 billion over 12 months.

That generates $4.8 billion in wages and $1 billion in state and local tax revenues.

"Outdoor recreation is a growing American industry that produces significant economic benefits," said Will Manzer, chairman of the OIA board of directors.

State-by-state figures released by the association expand on a report it published in June that found Americans spend $646 billion each year on outdoor recreation, supporting 6.1 million jobs and generating nearly $80 billion in tax revenue.

The association reported nearly 140 million Americans participate in outdoor activities each year, and such recreation outpaces other sectors of the economy.

For example, Manzer said, Americans spend almost twice as much on outdoor recreation as on pharmaceuticals, and outdoor activities account for twice as many jobs as there are in the oil and gas industry.