N.C. Department of Cultural Resources Secretary Linda A. Carlisle unveiled the findings of new research which shows that the Creative Industry in North Carolina accounts for nearly 300,000 jobs, just over 5 1/2 percent of the state's workforce, and contributes $41.4 billion to North Carolina's economy.
- Overall, North Carolina's creative economy is 5.86 percent of the state's gross domestic product.
- The Creative Industry accounts for more than $10 billion dollars in employee compensation annually.
- Nearly 5 percent of the state's total wages and benefits comes from the Creative Industry.
"Our creative industry is robust, and this important study underscores its role in North Carolina's future," said Carlisle. "Creativity in the workforce stimulates new products and services, and helps make North Carolina the most competitive it can be in the global economy."
The report states that the products and services of more than 100 creative industries related to Arts, Libraries and History contribute significantly to North Carolina's vitality, and goes on to say:
- The presence of creative professionals in a given county is the single most important factor associated with the amount that visitors will spend.
- Counties with higher proportions of workers in arts-related occupations are more likely to retain current residents and attract new ones.
- The creative workforce provides a competitive edge to North Carolina products and services.
- Creative workers are found not only in cultural industries but also contribute to the success of other businesses.
- The over $1 billion historic preservation industry relies on essential occupations such as artisans, skilled trades people, researchers, archaeologists, architects, and designers.
- Photographers, musicians, writers, actors, dancers, publishers, and producers are some of the occupations included in the arts industry alone; in 2006 they infused more than $3.9 billion into North Carolina's economy.
- Librarians, archivists, educators, service professionals, and administrators facilitate the development of the creative economy.
- The people and companies who produce creative products and use creativity in their work include micro-enterprises, freelancers, and entrepreneurs, so the reported jobs are vastly underestimated.
- The creative industry is a network of nearly 50,000 inter-related employers and over 100 national industry classification codes. Unlike newer industries, creative industries for the most part have been sustaining communities for generations. The creation, production, dissemination, inputs and support activities are broad and diverse.
Creative workers are also key to cultural tourism in North Carolina. Their presence is the single most important factor associated with the amount visitors will spend in an area. In North Carolina, previous studies show that cultural travelers spend nearly twice as much person, per day, as general travelers.
