McDonald’s Drives $73 Billion U.S. Economic Impact, Supports 1 Million Jobs

McDonald’s says a study by Oxford Economics found the chain supported more than $73.3 billion in U.S. economic activity and roughly 1 million jobs in 2024. The company and the consulting firm break that national number into a $34.1 billion direct contribution to U.S. gross domestic product and additional indirect effects that flow through suppliers, distributors, and local spending.

The study, which McDonald’s commissioned for the second straight year, counts about 740,000 workers inside the chain’s domestic restaurants among the jobs the system supports. McDonald’s System purchases in the United States exceeded $5.9 billion in ingredients, including 671 million pounds of beef, 130 million pounds of cheese, 2.8 billion pounds of potatoes, and 2.1 billion eggs, the company said in its summary of the analysis.

McDonald’s also highlighted community and workforce investments tied to its restaurant system. The company, its franchisees, and customers raised over $78.2 million for Ronald McDonald House, and McDonald’s said it granted over $26 million in tuition assistance to restaurant employees through its Archways to Opportunity program. Those figures are central to the company’s message about the scale and social footprint of its operations.

Local and state breakouts show wide variation. McDonald’s reported a $4.3 billion contribution to Chicago’s local GDP, support for 30,200 jobs there, and $192 million in tax revenue generated in the city. In Louisville, Kentucky, the company reported a $210 million local impact, $47 million in tax revenue, and support for 3,100 jobs. State-level estimates included an $8.3 billion impact in California and $1.2 billion in Minnesota.

Company messaging framed the study as more than arithmetic. A McDonald’s LinkedIn post said, “Since stepping into my role at McDonald's, I’ve seen firsthand how deeply the brand is committed to building connections and serving as the heartbeat of communities across the country.” The post also summarized the study’s headline: “The McDonald’s System supported more than $73.3 billion of GDP and 1 million jobs nationwide.”

McDonald’s commissioned the analysis after a period of regulatory pressure and debate. The company explicitly linked the timing of the study to scrutiny over wage rules in California and regulatory disputes about whether McDonald’s should be labeled a “joint employer” of franchise workers. The company has in recent years steered communications toward lawmakers and policymakers, and its public materials include links people can use to contact local representatives and view state and local impact figures.

For workers and managers, the numbers underscore how McDonald’s frames its role in local labor markets and supply chains. The bulk of supported jobs are inside franchised restaurants, and the company points to benefits such as tuition assistance and philanthropic giving as part of its workplace narrative. At the same time, the study’s findings are likely to be used in policy debates that affect wages, franchise regulation, and the operational relationships between corporate offices and franchise owners.

Next steps for employees and observers include reviewing the full Oxford Economics report to understand definitions of “supported jobs” and the methodology behind the $73.3 billion figure, and watching how lawmakers and franchise stakeholders respond as the company uses the study in local and state policy discussions.