BOMA: Commercial Buildings Generate $610B of Economic Activity

Operation and maintenance of office, retail and industrial buildings across 79 U.S. markets generate $609.9 billion in annual economic output and support 3.9 million jobs, the Building Owners and Managers Association International (BOMA) said Wednesday. For every $1 spent on building operations, $2.22 in total economic output is generated through direct, indirect and induced economic activity, according to BOMA’s 2026 Market Study: The Economic Impact of U.S. Commercial Real Estate.

“Commercial buildings are economic engines, supporting businesses, jobs and communities across the country,” said Kjersten Jaeb, chair and chief elected officer of BOMA International. “Every building relies on an extensive network of professionals, service providers and businesses to keep it running safely and efficiently, from building managers, contractors and suppliers to maintenance and repair companies, utilities, insurers and security providers. Technology is also transforming how we manage energy, water, security, access and overall building performance. This study shows just how significant that entire ecosystem is to the U.S. economy.”

In addition to measuring the economic impact of operating and maintaining commercial buildings, the study examines construction trends across the office, retail and industrial sectors. With data centers counted as private office construction in federal statistics, the data center sector accounted for nearly 46% of $90 billion-plus in private office construction last year, up from less than 5% a decade earlier.