Assessing the Magnitude of Creative Employment: A Comprehensive Mapping and Estimation of Existing Methodologies

Abstract

The present study surveys and maps the existing methodological approaches for measuring creative employment. Based on a unique matched employer-employee data-set which encompasses over three million Portuguese workers, we found that the magnitude of the creative class varies considerably between approaches, ranging from 2.5%, using the conventional industry-based taxonomy and 30.8%, using Florida's occupational proposal. The disparities are justified on the basis of the departure definition of what creative employment is and operationalization issues regarding which industries and occupations should be included. Interestingly, when we focus on core creative employment, the figures conveyed by the distinct approaches are strikingly similar (around 6%), suggesting that, at least where core creative employment is concerned, the distinct approaches converge. The diversity of approaches and measurements are not necessarily a bad thing in itself, but has to be adequately acknowledged in order to accomplish adequate public-policy guidance.