Study: PA Port supports 24K jobs

Published 12:53 pm Saturday, May 4, 2019

 

An economic impact study shows the Port of Port Arthur supports more than 24,000 jobs and more than $14.5 billion in total economic value. In addition, the port provides more than $205 million in direct, indirect and induced state and local taxes, the report shows.

The study was conducted by economist John Martin and Associates.

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According to the survey, the port handled 39.2 million tons of cargo in 2018, per the Army Corps of Engineers.

The study says the port is the 17th largest port in the United States, which is an improvement from the 20th rank it held a year ago.

By the numbers:

Of the $14.5 billion of total economic value

  • $5.4 billion in direct business revenue
  • $1.5 billion of indirect re-spending of direct income and local consumption purchases
  • $7.6 billion of output supported with related port users

Of the 24,445 jobs generated

  • 7,543 direct
  • 12,149 induced
  • 12,296 indirect

Direct workforce is the people hired to work at the port, while indirect workforce is the businesses that supply the port with construction materials, plumbing, maintenance and more.

Induced workforce is the people who work where the direct workforce and indirect workforce spend their money such as movie theaters and grocery stores.

“The numbers are certainly impressive though not surprising,” Port Director and CEO Larry Kelley said in an issued statement. “It speaks to the efforts of the public port and the numerous private terminals long our waterway. A number of public/private partnerships at our port help to strengthen our economic base and increase local employment. [The study is] good evidence that the port continues to be an economic engine for Port Arthur, the state and the nation.”

The port recently began expanding Berth 5 by 600 feet and will expand Berth 6, which will add an additional 1,000 feet of dock space after Berth 5 is completed in 2020.