News – Arts economy grows

More people than ever are now working in the arts and cultural sector within the UK, and at the same time, unemployment within the pool of cultural labour has dropped from a high of 9.5% to just 2.5%, according to a major new research study by the University of Warwick’s Institute for Employment Research.
The research report, entitled ‘Artists in Figures’, (previewed in ArtsProfessional issue 52, June 16) draws on data from two major government surveys: the Labour Force Survey and the New Earnings Survey. It shows that the number of people employed in cultural occupations has risen from 610,000 in 1993 to 760,000 in just seven years. However, it acknowledges that whilst the sector is “vibrant and economically active”, many of those who have chosen careers in cultural employment have sacrificed greater potential earnings and job security in order to follow this path. ‘Artists in Figures: a statistical portrait of cultural occupations’ can be downloaded at
w: http://www.artscouncil.org.uk