Report update: The size and composition of the Creative Industries in Wales in 2019

Clwstwr researchers have updated the report, The size and composition of the Creative Industries in Wales, to include the latest available data - giving insights for the period immediately before the COVID-19 pandemic.

When interpreted, this 2019 data shows a clear positive development of the creative industries in Wales and Cardiff.

As the report details the size and composition of the sector before the disruption caused by the pandemic, it will serve as baseline that will allow researchers to give accurate and detailed assessments of the impact of COVID-19 on creative enterprises in Wales (this study will take place in the summer of 2022).

Released today, version 1.2 of The size and composition of the Creative Industries in Wales report looks at 2018 and 2019 in more detail.

Secondly, it provides an additional focus on the Cardiff Capital Region given that the municipalities surrounding Cardiff have significant creative industries activity.

Commenting on this, Clwstwr Director Professor Justin Lewis, said: "The report shows that the strong growth in the Welsh creative sectors we found in our first report (which looked at the period up until 2017) increased its pace in 2018 and 2019.

"Cardiff’s role as a catalyst for growth in Wales is becoming increasingly clear – by 2019 about 1 in 7 company jobs in Cardiff were in the creative industries – a significant increase from 2017, when the ratio was 1 in 10. In the Welsh capital we saw strong growth rates in 2018 and 2019 in most creative sectors, including design, music, film and TV.

"In our next report we will look at the impact that Covid 19 had on the Welsh creative sectors. What this report shows is that, before the pandemic, the creative industries were well established as a key growth area and a major part of the Welsh economy – particularly in the Cardiff Capital Region."

You can download the full report here: 

This research report was authored by: