Washington - The U.S. video game industry's annual growth rate from 2003 to 2006 exceeded 17%, outpacing the U.S. economy as a whole's growth of 4% during the same period, according to a study released Tuesday by the Entertainment Software Association (ESA).

The game industry's value added to U.S. Gross Domestic Product in 2006 was $3.8 billion.

"Computer and video game companies play an ever increasing role in our nation's growing economy," said Michael Gallagher, CEO of the ESA.

"These companies and their colleagues across the nation are making entertainment software one of the fastest growing industries in the United States."

The industry directly and indirectly employs more than 80,000 people in 31 states, who earned an average salary of $92,300 in 2006.

California represents the largest share, with 40% of U.S. game industry employment; the state's game industry grew by 12.3% last year, and added $1.7 billion to the state's economy.

Washington state ranks second nationally, employing over 9,200 game industry workers; meanwhile, Virginia's game industry grew 552% in 2006, or more than 172 times as fast as the commonwealth's overall growth.

The ESA said its members collectively accounted for more than 90% of the $7.4 billion in entertainment software sales in the U.S. in 2006, and billions more in export sales of entertainment software.

Related Links:
http://www.theesa.com/archives/2007/11/us_video_game_i.php