Interesting facts from
Artists in the Workforce
1990-2005
National Endowment for the Arts
www.arts.gov

Compared to other U.S. workers, American artists tend to be better educated and more entrepreneurial.

Artists are twice as likely to have earned a college degree as other
members of the U.S. labor force, though they receive relatively less financial compensation for their educational level.

Between 1970 and 1990 the number of artists doubled in the United
States—reflecting the great expansion of theaters, galleries, orchestras, and presenting venues as well as the steady growth of both university programs and the entertainment industry.

The size of the artistic community gives the group enormous aggregate income—approximately $70 billion annually.

Designers are the single largest group of artists, followed by performing artists such as actors, dancers, musicians, and announcers.

Writers were among the fastest growing artist occupations from 1990 to 2005—growing at twice the rate of the total labor force.

Interesting Facts from
Americans for the Arts

The creative industries are a formidable industry in the U.S. with 2.98 million people working for 612, 095 arts-centric businesses (2.2 percent and 4.3 percent, respectively, of U.S. employment and businesses).

'For the purposes of this study, the Creative Industries are composed of arts-centric businesses that range from nonprofit museums, symphonies, and theaters to for-profit film, architecture, and advertising companies'.

- Americans for the Arts - Creative Industries Research Services - 2008 www.americansforthearts.org