Move over finance and manufacturing, because the UK's creative sector has cemented itself as an economic powerhouse, injecting a staggering £126.6 billion into the national economy in 2022 alone while becoming a leading global exporter of music, film, and design.
Key Takeaways
- The UK creative industries contributed £126.6 billion in Gross Value Added (GVA) to the economy in 2022, accounting for 5.6% of total UK GVA
- Creative industries generated £57.1 billion in consumer spending in 2022, representing 6.2% of total household final consumption expenditure
- The sector's GVA grew by 21.6% from 2019 to 2022, outpacing the overall UK economy's 6.0% growth
- The UK creative industries employed 2.38 million people in 2022, 7.1% of the total workforce
- Employment in advertising and marketing reached 315,000 in 2022
- Film, TV, radio and photography employed 244,000 people
- Advertising and marketing GVA grew 34% from 2019-2022 to £25.6bn
- Film, TV, video, photography GVA up 16% to £14.6bn 2019-2022
- Publishing GVA increased 4% to £8.9bn from 2019-2022
- Total creative industries grew 20.7% in GVA 2019-2022 vs 5.6% UK economy
- Employment in creatives up 15.3% 2019-2022 to 2.38m
- Consumer spending on creatives +22.4% to £57.1bn 2019-2022
- Creative industries exports reached £28.6 billion in 2022, 16% of total UK services exports
- Net trade surplus £16.2 billion for creatives in 2022
- US accounts for 39% of creative exports value £11.1bn in 2022
The UK creative industries are a high-growth economic powerhouse, driving significant revenue and employment.
Economic Contribution
- The UK creative industries contributed £126.6 billion in Gross Value Added (GVA) to the economy in 2022, accounting for 5.6% of total UK GVA
- Creative industries generated £57.1 billion in consumer spending in 2022, representing 6.2% of total household final consumption expenditure
- The sector's GVA grew by 21.6% from 2019 to 2022, outpacing the overall UK economy's 6.0% growth
- Advertising and marketing services contributed £25.6 billion GVA in 2022, the largest creative sub-sector
- Film, TV, radio, photography contributed £14.6 billion GVA in 2022
- IT, software and computer services added £36.9 billion GVA, though partially attributed
- Publishing contributed £8.9 billion GVA in 2022
- Music, performing and visual arts added £6.3 billion GVA
- Architecture contributed £4.4 billion GVA
- Design and design support activities £4.5 billion GVA
- Crafts contributed £1.1 billion GVA in 2022
- Creative industries paid £70.3 billion in compensation of employees in 2022
- The sector's gross operating surplus was £33.9 billion in 2022
- Creative industries turnover reached £151.9 billion in 2022
- London accounted for 43% of creative industries GVA in 2022 at £54.5 billion
- South East contributed 11% of creative GVA with £13.9 billion in 2022
- North West's creative GVA was £8.2 billion, 6.5% of total
- Scotland's creative industries GVA stood at £5.6 billion in 2022
- Wales contributed £2.1 billion GVA from creatives
- Northern Ireland's creative GVA was £1.0 billion in 2022
- Creative industries' productivity per head was £49,800 GVA per job in 2022, above UK average
- The sector imported £12.4 billion in goods and services in 2022
- Exports from creative industries totalled £28.6 billion in 2022
- Net trade surplus for creatives was £16.2 billion in 2022
- Creative industries R&D expenditure was £4.7 billion in 2022
- London creative GVA per head was £59,400 in 2022
- Creative sector tax contributions estimated at £40 billion annually pre-2022
- Creative industries supported 1 in 6 UK patents filed in 2022
- The sector's multiplier effect generates £2.50 additional output per £1 GVA in 2022 estimates
- Creative industries accounted for 12% of UK business births in 2022
Economic Contribution Interpretation
Despite what the taxman might think, creativity is not a frivolous expense but a highly productive, export-heavy economic engine, proving that Britain's true national resources are its imagination and storytelling prowess.
Employment and Workforce
- The UK creative industries employed 2.38 million people in 2022, 7.1% of the total workforce
- Employment in advertising and marketing reached 315,000 in 2022
- Film, TV, radio and photography employed 244,000 people
- IT, software and computer services had 1.02 million jobs
- Publishing sector employed 168,000
- Music, performing and visual arts: 141,000 jobs
- Architecture employed 101,000
- Design and support: 87,000 jobs
- Crafts: 21,000 employed
- London hosted 745,000 creative jobs, 31% of total in 2022
- South East: 272,000 creative jobs
- North West: 182,000 jobs
- 55% of creative workers are aged 16-34 in 2022
- 52% of creative workforce are female, up from 49% in 2019
- BAME representation in creatives at 12% in 2022
- 28% of creative jobs are freelance or self-employed
- Average salary in creatives £34,200 vs UK £30,900 in 2022
- 41% of creative workers hold degree or higher, above UK average of 33%
- Scotland creative employment 107,000 in 2022
- Wales: 45,000 creative jobs
- Northern Ireland: 27,000 employed in creatives
- Yorkshire and Humber: 132,000 jobs
- East of England: 155,000 creative roles
- West Midlands: 134,000 jobs
- South West: 170,000 employed
- East Midlands: 90,000 creative jobs
- North East: 51,000 jobs
- 15% growth in creative employment from 2019-2022
- Video games sector employed 47,000 FTEs in 2022
- Music industry supported 216,000 jobs in 2022
- Advertising: 1 in 10 UK jobs linked, 315k direct
Employment and Workforce Interpretation
While the UK's creative industries are a vibrant, youth-driven engine of growth—employing over 2.38 million people, paying above-average wages, and proving that a degree in the arts is far from frivolous—its glittering skyline is still predominantly lit by London, and its chorus doesn't yet fully reflect the diverse voice of the nation it serves.
Exports and International
- Creative industries exports reached £28.6 billion in 2022, 16% of total UK services exports
- Net trade surplus £16.2 billion for creatives in 2022
- US accounts for 39% of creative exports value £11.1bn in 2022
- EU exports from creatives £8.4 billion in 2022
- Music exports £2.9 billion in 2022
- Video games exports £6.1 billion, 84% of sector revenue
- Audiovisual exports £5.5 billion in 2022
- TV formats and content exports £1.7 billion
- Book publishing exports £4.2 billion
- Fashion exports £25 billion annually
- VFX and animation services exports £1.9 billion to Hollywood
- Advertising creative services exports £3.5 billion
- Architecture services exports £2.1 billion
- Design exports £4.8 billion in 2022
- UK creatives attract £1.2 billion FDI annually
- China imports £1.5 billion UK creative goods yearly
- Games exports to US £2.8 billion
- Music to Australia £250 million
- Film distribution abroad £600 million box office
- 70% of top global games developed in UK exported
- Creative exports grew 12% post-Brexit 2021-2022
Exports and International Interpretation
With Britain selling its imagination to the world—from Hollywood VFX to chart-topping hits and blockbuster games—our cultural output is now a serious economic powerhouse, proving that soft power is, pound for pound, our sharpest export.
Growth and Trends
- Total creative industries grew 20.7% in GVA 2019-2022 vs 5.6% UK economy
- Employment in creatives up 15.3% 2019-2022 to 2.38m
- Consumer spending on creatives +22.4% to £57.1bn 2019-2022
- Turnover increased 25.6% to £151.9bn 2019-2022
- UK games market grew 9.4% to £7.3bn in 2022
- Music streaming revenues up 11.3% to £1.1bn in 2022
- Film box office recovered to £900m in 2022 post-COVID
- TV content production spend +8% to £5.5bn in 2022
- Online ad spend surged 25% to £24bn in 2022
- E-book sales grew 12% to £600m in 2022
- Creative startups 25% of all UK tech startups in 2022
- AI adoption in creatives doubled to 35% firms 2020-2023
- Post-COVID recovery: creatives +40% productivity growth 2021-2022
- London creative GVA growth 25% 2019-2022
- Regions outside London +18% GVA growth 2019-2022
- Female employment growth 20% in creatives 2019-2022
- BAME employment up 25% to 12% share 2019-2022
- Freelance growth 22% to 28% of workforce 2019-2022
- R&D spend +30% to £4.7bn 2019-2022
- Digital creatives sub-sector +28% GVA growth
Growth and Trends Interpretation
While the rest of the UK economy was politely applauding its own modest growth, the creative industries crashed the stage, doubled their money, hired a more diverse cast, embraced AI, and essentially started printing their own cultural currency to the tune of a 20.7% boom.
Sector Breakdown
- Advertising and marketing GVA grew 34% from 2019-2022 to £25.6bn
- Film, TV, video, photography GVA up 16% to £14.6bn 2019-2022
- Publishing GVA increased 4% to £8.9bn from 2019-2022
- Music, performing, visual arts GVA rose 39% to £6.3bn 2019-2022
- Architecture GVA up 17% to £4.4bn 2019-2022
- Design GVA grew 20% to £4.5bn 2019-2022
- Crafts GVA increased 22% to £1.1bn from 2019-2022
- Video games market revenue £7.3 billion in 2022
- UK recorded music revenues £1.25 billion in 2022, up 9.5%
- BFI reports UK film production spend £1.3 billion in 2022
- TV sector export revenues £4.2 billion in 2022
- Book publishing market £6.6 billion consumer spend 2022
- Fashion design turnover £30 billion annually
- Animation sector GVA £1.2 billion, 12,000 jobs
- UK ad market spend £32.7 billion in 2022
- Visual effects VFX turnover £1.4 billion exports
- Performing arts box office £1.5 billion pre-COVID, recovering
- Galleries and museums 70 million visits annually
- Jewellery and crafts export £4.5 billion
Sector Breakdown Interpretation
While British stiff upper lips are busy creating, the nation's creative industries are having a laugh all the way to the bank, proving that from a blockbuster film to a humble handmade pot, culture is not just our crown jewel but a remarkably shrewd economic engine.
Sources & References
- Reference 1GOVgov.ukVisit source
- Reference 2CREATIVEINDUSTRIESCOUNCILcreativeindustriescouncil.org.ukVisit source
- Reference 3NESTAnesta.org.ukVisit source
- Reference 4FRONTIER-ECONOMICSfrontier-economics.comVisit source
- Reference 5UKIEukie.org.ukVisit source
- Reference 6UKMUSICukmusic.orgVisit source
- Reference 7THINKBOXthinkbox.tvVisit source
- Reference 8BFIbfi.org.ukVisit source
- Reference 9PACTpact.co.ukVisit source
- Reference 10PUBLISHERSpublishers.org.ukVisit source
- Reference 11BRITISHFASHIONCOUNCILbritishfashioncouncil.comVisit source
- Reference 12CREATIVESKILLSETcreativeskillset.orgVisit source
- Reference 13IABUKiabuk.comVisit source
- Reference 14UKSCREENALLIANCEukscreenalliance.co.ukVisit source
- Reference 15SOLTUKTICKETSsoltuktickets.comVisit source
- Reference 16ARTSarts.ac.ukVisit source
- Reference 17CRAFTScrafts.org.ukVisit source
- Reference 18WARCwarc.comVisit source
- Reference 19RIBAJribaj.comVisit source
- Reference 20DESIGNCOUNCILdesigncouncil.org.ukVisit source