As America celebrates Labor Day, the Beer Institute and National Beer Wholesalers Association are reminding people that the beer industry generates more than $88 billion for the U.S. economy.

In Ohio, the beer industry contributes directly $3.8 billion to the state economy, according to Beer Serves America, a joint project of the Beer Institute and wholesalers group.

More than 41,000 Americans work for the industry, earning nearly $4.2 billion a year in wages. Meanwhile, more than 98,000 men and women are employed by America’s independent beer distributors, earning $7.4 billion each year in pay and benefits.

“Labor Day is a great opportunity to recognize the tens of thousands of Americans employed by brewers and importers whose hard work makes such a positive impact on both their local, and the national economy,” Beer Institute President Joe McClain said in a prepared statement. “The beer industry is an engine of the economy – creating jobs from farmers to factory hands, bartenders to brewery workers. Putting that beer into a glass for the beer drinkers puts a lot of Americans to work.”

The U.S. beer industry includes more than 2,100 brewing related establishments and importers; more than 3,300 distributor establishments; and more than 547,000 licensed retailer outlets.