Introduction
Unlike for-profit carriers, USPS has a universal service obligation requiring the agency to provide affordable deliveries to every U.S. address. Since it does not rely on taxpayer support, USPS covers the cost of this obligation with revenue from more profitable parts of the system. Rural communities benefit enormously from this universal service and the vast infrastructure USPS has developed over its 250-year history.
Jobs and economic revenue
In the 15 states with the largest share of their population in rural areas, roughly 75,238 people work directly for the Postal Service. These middle-class jobs support families and local economies in every community. The total mailing industry employs more than 761,000 people and generates nearly $146 billion in revenue per year in these 15 rural states. These broader industry figures include mail production and distribution, as well as jobs related to goods and services advertised and delivered through the mail.
