A profound economic impact
Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory, or Fermilab, is America’s premier particle physics and particle accelerator laboratory. The portfolio of science researched at the laboratory is expansive and focuses on answering some of the most challenging questions in physics.
Fermilab is operated by Fermi Research Alliance for the Department of Energy. The laboratory executes a complex mission of exploring the smallest building blocks of matter and making impactful discoveries in the world of high-energy physics. As a national laboratory, Fermilab generates a substantial economic impact. A recently completed in-depth economic impact assessment of fiscal year 2022 operations reported that laboratory had $1.6 billion in total economic output and supported 7,242 jobs within the United States economy.
Total economic output summary
$1.6 BILLION
Fermilab’s fiscal year 2022 total economic output across all operations
7,242 jobs
created or sustained
$628 million
generated support for household income
$973 million
generated to support state domestic product
$778 million
total operating expenses for fiscal year 2022
Academia and research
2.5K students and postdocs
participated in education programs which include internships, events and collaborations with universities. This number includes interns, undergraduate students, and graduate-level students and postdocs.
522
published physics papers with at least one Fermilab author
3 of the top-cited 10
high-energy physics published papers have a Fermilab author
Procurement in fiscal year 2022
$286 million
in total new procurement awards
$93 million
Illinois businesses estimate
$11 million
South Dakota businesses estimate
$71 million
total procurement dollars spent with small businesses
Job creation
Measurement of economic job impact
1,985 employees
working at the Batavia, Illinois and Lead, South Dakota Fermilab sites
7,242 total jobs
created or sustained, of which 1,584 from the LBNF/DUNE-US project
1.56 multiplier effect
for every 100 additional Fermilab jobs, 156 jobs are created in Illinois
Projections on the economic output of flagship projects
LBNF/DUNE-US
(fiscal year 2022 – fiscal year 2030)*
$4.3 billion
in estimated total economic output
$478 million
in estimated average annual economic output
$170 million
in estimated average contribution to household income
$217 million
in estimated average contribution to gross state product
PIP-II
(fiscal year 2022 – fiscal year 2028)*
$1.26 billion
in estimated total economic output
$180 million
in estimated average annual economic output
$46 million
in estimated average contribution to household income
$71 million
in estimated average contribution to gross state product
* Projection based on research, construction of the project, and procurement of goods and resources which would be needed for maintenance and operations. Years represent all years of expected operation.
The impact created by visitor spend
Fermilab visitors have an indirect economic impact on the local economies, largely through spending on travel, hotel, lodging and dining. Visitors include laboratory users and affiliates, higher-education students (interns, graduate students and postdocs), business visitors and subcontractors.
In fiscal year 2022 Fermilab had 5,716 visitors. These include over 5,000 visitors to Fermilab’s Batavia site in Illinois and about 600 to Lead, South Dakota.
Fermilab’s 5,716 visitors include
- 1,800+ visiting scientists, engineers and computer professionals
- 500 business visitors
- 2,500 students and postdocs
The Batavia site
- Visitors stayed an average of 5 nights and 6 days in the area
- averaged 170 visitors per week
Nearly $17 million dollars generated in total economic output based on visitors to Fermilab in Batavia, Illinois.
Community engagement
Fermilab is committed to engaging with its local communities and providing educational support for students and professional development opportunities for educational professionals. Fermilab is home to the Lederman Science Center, the premier education science center in Chicago’s western suburbs.
35K
K-12 students field trip visitors
5K
drop-in visitors to the Lederman Science Center
300
participants in the Saturday Morning Physics education program, onsite at Fermilab
550
Illinois science teachers attended professional development training
540
teachers attended physics education courses through the QuarkNet collaboration
This assessment aims to provide policymakers, stakeholders and the public with an understanding of Fermilab’s significant role in driving regional and national economic growth.