'Getting in and Getting On: Class, participation and job quality in the UK's Creative Industries' is a report created after the DCMS Select Committee inquiry into the impact of Covid-19 found that the pandemic poses 'the biggest threat to the UK's cultural infrastructure, institutions and workforce in a generation'. This policy review was started to consider how we can rebuild Creative Industries in a way that benefits more people and places across the UK.
Posted: 10/03/2022
A recent DCMS Select Committee inquiry into the impact of Covid-19 suggests that the
pandemic poses the biggest threat to the UKs cultural infrastructure, institutions and
workforce in a generation. Safeguarding the sustainability of the sector and restoring its
position as one of the UK economys greatest success stories is a critical priority. But while
current focus is on offering much needed aid to the sector and unlocking its potential to
support the wider recovery, it is important too to consider how we can rebuild Creative
Industries and creative occupations for the better in a way that benefits more people
and places across the UK.
Prior to the pandemic, there were growing concerns that the opportunities created in this
vibrant part of the economy were out of reach for many. This paper represents the first
phase of the PECs Policy Review Series on Class in the Creative Industries.
Echoing wider research, the paper finds widespread and persistent class imbalances. Those from
privileged backgrounds are more than twice as likely to land a job in a creative occupation.
They dominate key creative roles in the sector, shaping what goes on stage, page and
screen. They are also more likely to experience greater autonomy and control over their
work, to have supervisory responsibility and to progress into managerial positions. The paper also find that class interacts with other factors such as gender, ethnicity, disability
and skill levels to create double disadvantage. The intersection of class and skills has
a particularly pronounced impact on the likelihood of landing a creative job, where those
from a privileged background who are qualified to degree-level or above are 5.5 times as
likely to secure a creative role than those of working-class background who are only skilled
to GCSE-level.
This report may be of interest to those working in a creative industry or with an organisation that is also considering changes due to the pandemic.
To read the report click here.
