U.S. jewelry industry statistics.

The U.S. Census Bureau counted 19,897 employer establishments in the Jewelry Stores industry in 2023. This industry covers retailers of new jewelry, sterling and plated silverware, and new watches and clocks.

In 2023, 10,925 of 19,897 U.S. jewelry-store establishments had fewer than five employees. The share is calculated from the Census Bureau’s establishment counts, and shows how much of the retail landscape is made up of very small businesses.

Jewelry Stores reported $5.478648 billion in annual payroll in 2023. This is payroll reported for the retail industry classification, not a measure of all jewelry manufacturing or online sales.

The U.S. Geological Survey estimated domestic gold-mine production at 160 metric tons in 2025, valued at $17 billion. Gold is one of the materials that continues to shape jewelry supply, design, and pricing.

For the first nine months of 2025, jewelry represented an estimated 40% of global gold consumption, excluding exchange-traded funds and similar investments. It remained the largest stated use in the USGS summary.

The USGS estimated 90 metric tons of new and old gold scrap were recycled in 2025, equal to about 60% of reported U.S. gold consumption. Recycling is a meaningful part of the material picture alongside newly mined metal.

The U.S. Geological Survey estimated worldwide gold-mine production at 3,300 metric tons in 2025. The figure provides broad supply context, rather than a measure of jewelry demand or retail sales.