Arkansas is one of the top 10 states for economic output and jobs in the firearms and ammunition industry based on a new study.

The National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) has released its “2022 Firearm and Ammunition Industry Economic Impact Report,” which highlights the economic impact that the industry has on states’ economies and the national economy. The report spotlights the number of jobs the firearms and ammunition industry supports – at the direct level, as well as the supplier and induced levels – and the impact, in dollars, that the industry has.

Arkansas was ranked among the top 10 states for economic output for the firearms and ammunition industry in 2021 according to the NSSF report. Arkansas was ranked #4 for total economic output per capita, in addition to being ranked #10 for total economic output in dollars. The state had the second highest growth in economic output for the firearms and ammunition industry in the nation for 2021.

The total economic impact of the firearms and ammunition industry in Arkansas, for 2021, was $2,526,709,300. There was a direct economic output of $1.3 billion in Arkansas due to the firearms and ammunition industry, as well as an output of $588.7 million from suppliers and a $600.4 million induced output.

Arkansas also had the fourth highest number of total jobs per capita for the firearms and ammunition industry and had the fifth highest growth in industry jobs for 2021. Based on the NSSF report, there were 10,426 firearms and ammunition industry jobs in Arkansas, paying an average annual salary of $49,263 and providing $524 million in wages, in 2021.

In Arkansas, the firearms and ammunition industry contributed 4,945 direct jobs paying $217.9 million in wages. Suppliers to the firearms and ammunition industry in Arkansas contributed 2,424 jobs, paying $155.8 million, to the state’s economy. In addition, the industry contributed 3,057 induced jobs to the state’s economy.

The firearms and ammunition industry has a significant impact on the national economy and on Arkansas’ economy.

The U.S. firearms and ammunition industry is steadily growing and has created more than 375,000 new jobs since 2008 throughout the country, according to the report. Since 2008, the firearms industry in the United States has created 169,523 direct jobs, paying more than $7.9 billion in wages, along with 85,188 supplier jobs and 121,108 induced jobs.

Overall, the firearms and ammunition industry has a $70.5 billion economic impact on the U.S. economy, contributing 375,819 total jobs (169,523 direct jobs, 85,188 supplier jobs, and 121,108 induced jobs).

Recently, there have been multiple economic development projects in Arkansas in the firearms and ammunition industry. In 2022, Fiocchi USA announced that the company selected Little Rock, Arkansas as the location for its new primer manufacturing facility – a $41.5 million investment that will create 120 new jobs. Fiocchi established its manufacturing presence in Arkansas in 2020 with a $15 million investment that created 85 new jobs.

Other firearms and ammunition industry projects have had a major impact on Arkansas’ economy. Vista Outdoor acquired the Remington Ammunition facility in Lonoke in October 2020 and has added hundreds of jobs at the facility since the acquisition. Sig Sauer, Inc. relocated a manufacturing facility to Jacksonville, Arkansas in 2018. This project was a $22 million investment and created 77 new jobs.