Creative industries employ some 7 per cent of Mountains workers, according to a study just released by the Blue Mountains Economic Enterprise.
BMEE’s updated creative industries economic profile provides a measure of the contribution that those industries make to the local economy.
It found that 7.22 per cent of residents work in creative industries, either locally or commuting to other areas. The sector makes up 7.44 per cent of local jobs, equating to 1,374 jobs, which is a 4 per cent increase on the 2014 profile conducted by BMEE.
The actual value added to the gross regional product is $166.46m, making it the sixth largest contributor to the economy. From the creative industries there is a flow-on effect, through supply and consumption, with the estimated total impact being $650m.
These statistics confirm the importance of the creative industries to the Blue Mountains economy and reinforce the need for our ongoing work to further develop the creative industries sector.
Globally, innovation leaders are focusing on industries that employ knowledge workers and clean manufacturing, as these are environmentally sustainable and lead to the jobs of the future. Creative industries generally align with this approach and suit a sustainable economic future in our unique city.
With 57 per cent of our working residents leaving the Mountains area each day for work, we need to help local businesses grow and create employment.
A copy of the creative industries profile can be downloaded at https://bmee.org.au/economic-profiles/. If you would like to help your local creative community grow and want to discuss ideas on how best to do that, please contact us on admin@bmee.org.au.
BMEE includes a wide range of workers in its definition of a creative industry. It includes performing arts, publishing, film/video production, museum and gallery operation, graphic, engineering and computer systems design, jewellery manufacture, architecture and arts education.
- Donald Luscombe is chairman of BMEE
