Creative businesses in the UK requiring migrant workforce with specialized skills
The Creative Industries Policy and Evidence Centre (PEC) recently published a report titled "The Migrant and Skills Needs of Creative Businesses in the United Kingdom," which sheds light on the skills gaps and the employment of EU workers in the UK's creative industries. The report, published on July 29, 2019, is part of a series of research reports by the PEC under the International, Trade, and Immigration category.
According to the report, skills issues were most prevalent among larger establishments, businesses in the Creative ICT & Games and Design & Crafts sub-sectors, and businesses based in Yorkshire and the Humber, the North West, and the North East of England. In addition, 22% of employers in the creative industries reported employing at least one non-UK worker, with this being most common among larger establishments, Architecture, Design & Crafts, and Creative ICT & Games businesses, and businesses based in London.
The report also revealed that 42% of employers in the creative industries stated that they had jobs affected by skills issues in January 2018. Furthermore, 10% of employers in the creative industries had employed a freelance worker from the EU in the previous 12 months.
The UK's departure from the EU has impacted the way British firms trade and work with European partners in the creative industries. The report provides evidence that could be useful for those considering the immigration system post-Brexit for the creative sector.
The survey for the report was based on 700 telephone interviews and was commissioned by the Creative Industries Council (CIC) from December 2017 to January 2018. The report was authored by Salvatore Di Novo, a Research Associate at Newcastle University, and Giorgio Fazio, Research Director of Creative PEC and Chair of Macroeconomics at Newcastle University Business School.
Recent reports and analyses suggest that the creative industries face significant skills shortages across multiple areas, including soft and people skills, technical and practical skills, and IT-specific skills. These areas of skill shortage indicate that the creative industries require a diverse range of skills to meet their operational needs.
Worldwide exports of creative goods exceeded 500 billion USD in 2015, with a 150% increase since 2007, underscoring the importance of addressing these skills gaps. This research report has been peer-reviewed prior to publication.
- The report, published by the Creative Industries Policy and Evidence Centre (PEC), titled "The Migrant and Skills Needs of Creative Businesses in the United Kingdom," reveals evidence that could be vital for the post-Brexit immigration system in the creative sector.
- The survey for the report was conducted through 700 telephone interviews, commissioned by the Creative Industries Council (CIC) from December 2017 to January 2018.
- According to the report, skills gaps were most predominant among larger establishments, businesses in the Creative ICT & Games and Design & Crafts sub-sectors, and businesses based in Yorkshire and the Humber, the North West, and the North East of England.
- In the creative industries, 22% of employers reported employing at least one non-UK worker, with this being most common among larger establishments, Architecture, Design & Crafts, and Creative ICT & Games businesses, and businesses based in London.
- The report provides a creative and education-and-self-development focus on the skills shortages faced by the creative industries, including soft and people skills, technical and practical skills, and IT-specific skills.
- The worldwide exports of creative goods exceeded 500 billion USD in 2015, and have seen a 150% increase since 2007, highlighting the importance of addressing these skills gaps to strengthen the creative economy and related industries.
