HOUSTON--A new study shows just how much the Houston economy has benefited from the rental boom in the apartment industry, which has emerged as one of the strongest sectors coming out of the recent recession.

According to economic data that is part of new research commissioned by the National Multifamily Housing Council (NMHC) and the National Apartment Association (NAA), in 2013, apartment construction, operations and resident spending contributed $22.6 billion and supported more than 218,600 jobs in the metro area.

“Thanks to the unparalleled job growth in the recent years and a bustling economy, Houston's apartment industry continues to experience tremendous growth and the numbers in the NAA/NMHC study show just that,” Jackie Rhone, president of the Houston Apartment Association, told GlobeSt.com. “We have added approximately 20,000 apartment units in 2014, and another 3,000 just this year, with additional 100 communities currently under construction.”

The study looked at dollars and jobs from apartment construction, operations and resident spending nationally, by state and in 40 specific metro areas, including Houston. The data is based on research by economist Stephen S. Fuller of George Mason University's Center for Regional Analysis. 

The study showed that in the Houston metro area:

• The local economic contribution from the apartment industry totaled $22.6 billion, supporting more than 218,600 jobs.
• The economic contribution of local apartment construction totaled $2.7 billion.
• The economic contribution of local apartment operations totaled $3.7 billion.
• Apartment construction and operations supported $2.1 billion in personal earnings for local workers.
• Renter spending in the Houston metro area contributed $16.2 billion to the local economy.
• The total economic contribution of the apartment industry and its residents in Texas totaled $76.2 billion and supported more than 722,600 jobs. 

 “The great news about the apartment industry is that the dollars and jobs don't end with construction,” says Rhone. “The ongoing operations and resident spending make each apartment community an economic engine, supporting local jobs and making a positive economic impact in our area.”