Employment data shows promising news about New Jersey arts in the recession
There's some interesting numbers that indicate that the creative sector might be doing better in the recession than other sectors.
Data from the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development show that total wages were higher among independent artists, writers and performers (and their employees) and workers in performing arts companies in 2009 than they were in 2006. Total wages for workers in museums and similar institutions is nearly what it was in 2006.
If the creative sector was suffering as much as other sectors in the recession, we would expect to see total wages go down. That's what we see in construction (20% drop), manufacturing (16% drop) and finance and insurance (8% drop).
In fact, the average number of employees in the performing arts has grown by 233, or 12%, between 2006 and 2009. The average number of people working as or for independent artists, writers and performers went down almost 16%, from 1,490 to 1,258.
These shafts of light don't show the whole picture of the creative sector. But because independent artists, performing arts companies and museums are key parts of the creative sector, they are important indicators for the creative economy. (We probably won't get today's picture until 2012, when the US Census Bureau releases detailed information through the County Business Patterns database.)
The numbers indicate that there might be a growing demand for the arts and the work of artists from New Jersey. Businesses usually pay their employees more only if they are generating more income, or if they are confident that business conditions are getting better. The fact that there are fewer independent artists, writers and performers collectively making more money indicates that at least some of those who stayed in the business were doing better in 2009 than they were in 2006.
There needs to be more research to know why these fields are doing well -- or why there are more people working in the performing arts, but fewer working as or for independent artists, writers and performers. For example, is the rise in total wages among independents mostly because New Jersey artists are doing better, or because more successful artists have moved into New Jersey over the past few years?
Here is what the numbers show, in 2009 dollars:
Performing arts organizations:
*Total wages in second quarter of 2006: $14.7 million
*Total wages in second quarter of 2009: $16.4 million
Change in total wages: 11.6%
Independent artists, writers and performers:
*Total wages in fourth quarter of 2006: $19.4 million
*Total wages in fourth quarter of 2009: $20.8 million
Change in total wages: 7.2%
Museums, historical sites and similar institutions:
*Total wages in fourth quarter of 2006: $13.4 million
*Total wages in fourth quarter of 2009: $13.1 million
Change in total wages: -2.2%
If you'd like to check out more numbers, please see the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development's report on New Jersey Employment and Wages Covered by Unemployment. To compare 2006 and 2009 wages, multiply the 2006 numbers by 1.06 to make them equal to 2009 dollars.
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