The contributions of the polyurethanes industry to the U.S. economy are numerous. The polyurethanes industry generates upstream jobs in direct supplier industries and even more in expenditure-induced employment. Nearly five jobs are created for each job in the U.S. polyurethanes industry. This is known as the multiplier effect, where the spending activity generated by an industry is used to support other industries and jobs through purchases of supplies, equipment, services, etc. and wages to employees which are spent on consumer goods and services, housing, etc.