Airbnb touts economic impact for middle class to local legislators

Ahead of its participation in the U.S. Conference of Mayors' Summer Meeting in Florida, Airbnb emphasized once more its big sell to local governments in a new report: positive economic impact for the middle class.

According to Airbnb, 60% of U.S. hosts say it has helped them afford to stay in their homes, 51% say they rely on Airbnb income to make ends meet, and 44% of U.S. hosts earn $75,000 a year or less.

Between the lines: Airbnb faces a lot of criticism for contributing to housing crises in cities like San Francisco, and for increasing housing prices, so the home-sharing company is constantly touting such data as a counterpoint, especially to local legislators.

More from this year's report (2016 data):

• Airbnb supported 730,000 jobs worldwide, including 130,000 in the U.S.
• $61 billion in estimated economic output from Airbnb worldwide, including $14 billion in U.S. cities.
• Airbnb has tax agreements with 310 jurisdictions globally, including more than 250 in the U.S. $300 million in hotel and tourist taxes remitted, including more than $270 million in the U.S.
• 57% of U.S. hosts are in cities with tax agreements.