YouTube’s creator economy added $55B to U.S. GDP in 2024, but who’s really earning?

YouTube’s U.S. economic impact surged in 2024, contributing $55 billion to GDP and supporting nearly half a million jobs, according to a new Oxford Economics report commissioned by the platform.

The findings show a significant year-over-year jump: in 2022, YouTube’s ecosystem was credited with $35 billion in GDP impact and 390,000 jobs. That’s a $20 billion increase in just two years, alongside 100,000 additional full-time equivalent roles created or supported. But as the figures scale, questions remain around how that value is distributed among creators.

YouTube defines its “creative ecosystem” broadly, including not just video creators but also the growing network of editors, marketers, publicists, and platform service providers (such as Patreon and Linktree) who support the creator economy. This expansive definition helps explain the magnitude of the numbers—but it also obscures some realities.

The core driver of this growth is the YouTube Partner Program, which enables qualifying creators to earn 55% of ad revenue generated by their videos. YouTube reports having paid out $70 billion to creators in the three years leading up to January 2024. However, that headline figure becomes more nuanced on closer inspection.

While major stars like MrBeast can pull in tens of millions annually, the vast majority of creators earn far less. Internal estimates suggest only around 4.3% of YouTubers make over $100,000 a year, while nearly half earn under $15,000. Given that over 3 million creators have signed up for the Partner Program, only a fraction earn enough for full-time income, raising concerns about sustainability and long-term career viability for most.

The report highlights YouTube’s algorithm-driven discovery engine as a crucial factor in helping creators find audiences and monetize, especially in a media landscape increasingly fragmented by short-form and mobile-first platforms. While TikTok and Shorts continue to experiment with monetization models, YouTube remains one of the few platforms offering creators a reliable share of ad revenue.

Still, economic growth alone doesn’t resolve structural barriers for creators. Many face challenges accessing basic financial tools, such as business credit or loans, due to the perceived instability of creator income—even when revenue is consistent. This has spurred political response: U.S. Representatives Yvette Clarke (D-NY) and Beth Van Duyne (R-TX) recently launched the bipartisan Congressional Creators Caucus, aimed at supporting the emerging creator class.

While the Oxford Economics report presents a largely positive picture of YouTube’s economic role, it leaves out key context about income distribution. The reality is that YouTube’s economic engine may be running on the creative output of millions, but most of the financial gains continue to concentrate among a relatively small group.