Measuring the Digital Economy in the U.S. and Kansas

This research report, led by Harvard Business School Professor Emeritus John Deighton, examines the expanding impact of the digital economy on the U.S. economy, highlighting key statistics and trends. The 2025 edition of IAB’s quadrennial study indicates that the digital economy is responsible for driving $4.9 trillion in economic value, accounting for 18% of the U.S. GDP, and supporting approximately 28.4 million jobs. The report emphasizes that recent job growth is significantly attributed to independent creators, e-commerce entrepreneurs, platform workers, and large integrated tech companies. Moreover, it presents detailed data on the digital economy's influence across Kansas, showing a growth in internet-dependent jobs from 200,000 in 2020 to an estimated 1.5 million in 2024. The document further breaks down internet-dependent job distribution across various Kansas congressional districts, illustrating how the digital economy permeates local labor markets.