Vangst, a staffing agency for the cannabis industry, unveiled its 2025 Cannabis Jobs Report, produced in collaboration with Whitney Economics, a cannabis and hemp economic research and consulting firm.
While cannabis employment dipped slightly in 2024, the industry posted $30.1 billion in legal retail sales -- a 4.5% increase year-over-year. The job decline of 3.4% (15,443 roles) reflects a broader shift toward operational discipline amid regulatory challenges and market recalibration.
Key findings from the 2025 Vangst Jobs Report include:
- The U.S. cannabis industry currently supports 425,002 full-time equivalent (FTE) jobs -- down 3.4% from 2023 -- even as national cannabis sales grew to $30.1 billion.
- Emerging and growing markets like New York (+209%), Mississippi (+103%), and Ohio (+34%) led the country in job creation, fueled by new license issuances and increased legal access.
- Mature markets such as Illinois (-25%), Arizona (-52%), and Colorado (-9%) experienced job losses due to oversupply, high taxes, and reduced consumer participation.
- Flexible staffing and temp-to-hire models surged, especially in cultivation and processing roles, allowing companies to remain agile amid margin pressure.
- Federal reform remains stalled, but states are driving momentum: Most of the 2025 growth is expected from markets like NY, FL, NJ, MD, and OH.
- 2025 industry revenue is forecast to grow another 13.1%, reaching $34 billion, with employment expected to rebound in growth-friendly states.
"The cannabis industry has shifted from a phase of hypergrowth to one of operational discipline," said Karson Humiston, Founder & CEO of Vangst. "This recalibration reflects a maturing industry focused on sustainability and efficiency. Despite a slight decline in jobs, cannabis remains one of the nation's leading employment sectors — with over 425,000 full-time roles and revenue projected to grow more than 13% in 2025, the industry is still a powerful economic engine."
Though federal reform stalled in 2024 and 2025 policy shifts remain unlikely, states like Ohio and New York are driving new waves of job creation thanks to expanding license counts and increased legal participation. Flexible staffing, temp-to-hire models, and cross-trained teams are now key features of the industry's evolving workforce strategy.
"The cannabis industry is maturing, shifting from rapid expansion to smart, strategic growth." said Beau Whitney, Chief Economist at Whitney Economics. "Even amid short-term employment declines, companies are adopting more disciplined hiring models and staying resilient through challenging conditions. With $30.1 billion in retail sales and major job growth in new markets like New York and Ohio, the long-term outlook for cannabis remains incredibly strong."
