U.S. cannabis sales grew to over $30.1 billion in 2024 — a 4.5% year-over-year increase — according to the third annual Vangst Jobs Report produced in partnership with Whitney Economics.
Cannabis employment fell slightly in 2024; the industry supports an estimated 425,002 full-time roles after dropping 15,443 positions in 2024, a 3.4% decrease from the previous year, according to the report. The biggest job growth occurred in emerging markets, including New York, Mississippi, and Ohio, and the report forecasts the cannabis industry to grow by another 13.1% in 2025, reaching $34 billion.
Karson Humiston, Vangst Founder and CEO, said the changes reflect a shift toward “operational discipline” in the industry.
“This recalibration reflects a maturing industry focused on sustainability and efficiency. Despite a slight decline in jobs, cannabis remains one of the nation’s leading employment sectors — with over 425,000 full-time roles and revenue projected to grow more than 13% in 2025, the industry is still a powerful economic engine.” — Humiston, in a press release
Beau Whitney, the Chief Economist at Whitney Economics, said cannabis companies “are adopting more disciplined hiring models and staying resilient through challenging conditions.
“With $30.1 billion in retail sales and major job growth in new markets like New York and Ohio, the long-term outlook for cannabis remains incredibly strong,” Whitney said in a statement.
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