Europe’s Creative Industries suffer destruction of 400,000 jobs - Joint Press Release

New study confirms a €20 billion value destruction and 200,000 jobs destroyed in the core sectors of the top five markets of the creative sector in Europe (France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the UK)

Even before the new Commission is sworn in, alarming new figures show the challenge it will face in safeguarding creative jobs in Europe.

A study released today on “The Economic Contribution of the Creative Industries to EU GDP and Employment” captures the evolution of creative industries between 2008 and 2011 in terms of employment and GDP contribution at EU level and in its five main markets. This study confirms:

·        The importance of the creative sector for Europe representing 6.8 % of European GDP (approximately €860 billion) and 6.5% of European employment (approximately 14 million);

·        A negative evolution with a destruction of 400,000 jobs;

·        And a €20 billion value destruction and 200,000 jobs destroyed in the core sectors of the top five markets that represent over 70 % of the creative sector in Europe (France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the UK).

This study highlights the stark deterioration of creative industries in Europe compared to the overall economy and the service economy, against the Commission’s assumption that the growth of cultural and creative industries should remain comparable to the service economic sector:

·        If the creative sector had performed as well as the service sector, it would have created within the same period of time 1 million jobs and generated €47 billion of added value.

The study was presented by independent Paris-based economics firm TERA Consultants at a briefing in Brussels on 8 October 2014, chaired by Mary Honeyball MEP, member of Legal affairs committee. It is an update of a first report released in 2010 and backed by BASCAP. TERA methodology is similar to the widely publicised joint study by the Office For Harmonization in the Internal Market and the European Patent Office in September 2013.

The findings of this study are a call to action for the incoming Juncker Commission that has pledged to generate jobs, growth and competitiveness in Europe.

“As Europe moves out of economic and financial crisis and looks towards regaining its competitive edge, we must do all within our power to keep these creative jobs that are the life blood of our economy and our culture. It is imperative that we give our creative industry the means to flourish and grow, for the benefit of our competitiveness and of our society as a whole,” said Mary Honeyball MEP.

Dominick Luquer, General Secretary of the International Federation of Actors (FIA) and Johannes Studinger, Head of UNI MEI Global union said:

“The International Federation of Actors (FIA) and UNI MEI Global Union are concerned by the destruction of jobs in the creative sector. Even though the creative sector adapted to the digital revolution and is undertaking an unprecedented change in its business models, large-scale commercial digital piracy still accounts for a significant share of the destruction of jobs and value added in the core creative sectors. The intellectual property legal framework is under a lot of stress at the moment, as are industry standards and policy regulations to promote investment in local content, including in the digital environment.

We urge the incoming Commission to come forward with forward-looking policies that will help Europe’s creative sectors to flourish and innovate, building on their strong track record of converting talent into jobs, exports and growth. We call on the new Commission and the Parliament to think carefully about the future of "Creative Europe" - not to speak of the livelihoods of creators, of all workers in the creative industries and ultimately of all those that cherish a diverse, culturally rich and inspiring European Union.”

- Download the full Press release

About TERA Consultants

“The Economic Contribution of the Creative Industries to EU GDP and Employment” study was conducted by TERA Consultants, an independent Paris-based consultancy providing services in the field of ICT and combining the expertise of economists and engineers.

You can access the study and its executive summary at: http://www.teraconsultants.fr/en/issues/The-Economic-Contribution-of-the-Creative-Industries-to-EU-in-GDP-and-Employment