SAN DIEGO — A new report released Wednesday shows just how much of an economic impact the military has on the San Diego economy.
The annual Military Economic Impact Report was put together by the San Diego Military Advisory Council and the Rady School of Management at UC San Diego.
"We have more jobs, we have more people who are directly employed by the Department of Defense, active duty people, Department of Defense civilians largely, we also have more people who are employed by the contractors," said Prof. Michael Meyer of UC San Diego. He and his team put the report together.
According to Prof. Meyer, the military makes up about a quarter of the San Diego economy.
- The report found that about 370,000 local jobs are tied to the defense budget.
- Compared to 2023, the military contributed 12 percent more to the local economy.
- More than 111,000 active-duty service men and women call San Diego home, alongside thousands of military reservists and civilians employed in defense jobs.
"Whenever the Department of Defense or a contractor pays an employee, that employee lives here in San Diego. That employee pays rent or buys a home. That employee goes out to restaurants, takes their kids to the dentist. All of that brings additional economic activity to the region," said Prof. Meyer.
"So even people who have no connection with the Navy or with a defense contractor still receive a benefit because all of the people who do, are spending money in the local economy," he added.
To read the report, click here.