Statistics on employment, business numbers, and economic output (GVA) for the creative industries sector within the North East.
Introduction
The creative industries are a dynamic and growing part of the North East economy, contributing to innovation, entrepreneurship, employment, and economic output across all seven local authority areas. The sector encompasses a diverse range of activities. These include computer programming and consultancy; film and television production; publishing; advertising; architecture; design; cultural education; and creative arts. Together, these industries combine creativity, technology, and specialist expertise to generate economic value and support the region's wider growth ambitions.
This evidence base provides an up-to-date overview of the latest key data about the creative industries in the North East. There is information about total employment, although this is only available for the wider region. For the MSA area, the number of workers in registered businesses provides an indicator of the size of the sector from an employment point of view. There are also sector business counts and economic output (GVA) estimates for this geography.
Employment in the broad North East region
Sub-national DCMS estimates of total employment in creative industries are only available for the 12 UK ITL1 areas. The North East ITL1 region is one of nine in England and includes the North East MSA area and Tees Valley.
The estimates are based on individual responses to the ONS Labour Force Survey and include information about self-employed workers which is absent from business survey results and Companies House data.
The headline estimates are presented here as three-year annual average estimates. This is to smooth out year on year volatility resulting from the use of surveys with fairly small sample sizes.
55,700
filled jobs in creative industries
North East ITL1 area, 2023-25 annual average. 43% in IT related services, music, performance, arts: 13%, film, TV, radio, photography: 12%.
17,400
filled self employed jobs in creative industries
North East 2023-25 annual ave., 3% lower than in 2018-20. Filled employee jobs: 38,300, 19% higher than in 2018-20.
+11%
five year % change in creative industries filled jobs
North East 2018-20 to 2023-25 growth of 5,700, including an increase of 5,500 in IT related filled jobs
4.6%
creative industries share of all filled jobs
North East 2023-25 annual ave., lower than UK equivalent (7.1%) and UK excl. London (5.9%), third lowest of the 12 UK ITL1 areas.
Filled jobs in creative subsectors, North East region
Source: 2013-15 and 2023-25 data, DCMS analysis of responses by households to the Annual Population Survey (APS). Sector: Based on DCMS definition of creative industries and subsectors Geography: North East ITL1 region, which includes the North East MSA area and Tees Valley.
Source: 2011-13 to 2023-25 data, DCMS analysis of responses by households to the Annual Population Survey (APS). Sector: Based on DCMS definition of creative industries Geography: North East ITL1 region, which includes the North East MSA area and Tees Valley.
Source: 2013-15 to 2023-25 data, DCMS analysis of responses by households to the Annual Population Survey (APS). Timeseries indexed to 2013-15 totals. Sector: Based on DCMS definition of creative industries and subsectors Geography: North East ITL1 region, including the North East MSA area and Tees Valley, UK.
Source: 2023-25 data, DCMS analysis of responses by households to the Annual Population Survey (APS). Sector: Based on DCMS definition of creative industries and subsectors Geography: UK ITL1 areas, including the North East ITL1 region, made up of the North East MSA area and Tees Valley.
The only regular published estimates of employment in creative industries below the broad ITL1 regional level are based on information supplied by companies in response to the ONS Business Register Employment Survey (BRES).
This means that, for smaller geographical areas, estimates of employment include only workers in VAT and/or PAYE registered enterprises and exclude many self-employed workers.
As with the broad regional employment data, this section presents estimates as three-year annual averages to smooth out year on year volatility.
24,700
employment in registered businesses in the creative industries
North East MSA area, 2022-24 annual average 56% in IT related services, music, performance, arts: 10%.
8,700
of this employment in Newcastle-based businesses
Highest LA area total, 2022-24. other LA areas with > 3,000 North Tyneside, County Durham and Gateshead.
+19%
five year % change in employment in creative industries businesses
North East MSA area, growth of 4,000 2017-19 to 2022-24. GB +10%, excl. London: +5%
2.9%
creative industries share of employment in registered businesses
2022-24 annual average North Tyneside 4.9%, highest LA area %, GB: 4.7%, excl. London 3.4%.
Employment in creative industries businesses, by subsector
Source: 2017-19 and 2022-24 data, from responses by VAT/PAYE registered businesses to the Business Register Employment Survey (BRES). Sector: Based on DCMS definition of creative industries and subsectors Geography: North East MSA area.
Source: 2017-19 and 2022-24 data, from responses by VAT/PAYE registered businesses to the Business Register Employment Survey (BRES). Sector: Based on DCMS definition of creative industries Geography: North East local authority (LA) areas
Source: 2015-17 to 2022-24 data, from responses by VAT/PAYE registered businesses to the Business Register Employment Survey (BRES). Sector: Based on DCMS definition of creative industries and subsectors Geography: North East MSA area
Source: 2022-24 data from responses by VAT/PAYE registered businesses to the Business Register Employment Survey (BRES). Sector: Based on DCMS definition of creative industries and subsectors Geography: North East MSA area, LA areas within it, national comparisons
Counts of the number of VAT/PAYE registered businesses are based on analysis of the ONS's business register (IDPR). This analysis is undertaken annually in the spring.
The business count gives the total number of enterprises, which ONS define as "organisational units producing goods or services, which have a certain degree of autonomy in decision-making."
Each enterprise is assigned a single sector classification so that the total for all industries gives an area's registered business count.
3,600
creative industries businesses in the North East MSA area
PAYE/VAT registered enterprises, 2026. 41% in IT related services, music, performance, visual arts: 16%, advertising and marketing: 11%, film, TV, radio, photography: 11%.
910
Newcastle-based businesses, the highest LA area total
Northumberland 650, County Durham 635, N. Tyneside 505, Gateshead 425 Sunderland 295, S. Tyneside 190.
+1.1%
five year change in North East creative industries business count
2021 to 2026 change, PAYE/VAT registered enterprises, compared to: UK -3.1%, excl. London, -3.1%.
6.4%
creative industries share of North East businesses
Registered enterprises, 2026. UK 10.0%, excl. London 8.2%. Highest %: Newcastle 10.0%, second: North Tyneside 9.1%.
Source: 2021 and 2026 data, based on March snapshots of information in the ONS Inter Departmental Business Register (IDBR). Only VAT/PAYE registered enterprises are included. An enterprise is the smallest combination of legal units which has a certain degree of autonomy within an Enterprise Group. Sector: Based on DCMS definition of creative industries and subsectors Geography: North East MSA area
Source: 2026 data, based on a March snapshot of information in the ONS Inter Departmental Business Register (IDBR). Only VAT/PAYE registered enterprises are included. An enterprise is the smallest combination of legal units which has a certain degree of autonomy within an Enterprise Group. Sector: Based on DCMS definition of creative industries Geography: Local Authority (LA) areas within the North East MSA area
Source: 2010 to 2026 data, based on March snapshots of information in the ONS Inter Departmental Business Register (IDBR). Only VAT/PAYE registered enterprises are included. An enterprise is the smallest combination of legal units which has a certain degree of autonomy within an Enterprise Group. There was a change in methodology in 2015. Consistent totals are only available from after that date. Sector: Based on DCMS definition of creative industries Geography: North East MSA area
Source: 2016 to 2026 data, based on March snapshots of information in the ONS Inter Departmental Business Register (IDBR). Only VAT/PAYE registered enterprises are included. An enterprise is the smallest combination of legal units which has a certain degree of autonomy within an Enterprise Group. Totals are indexed with 2016 values set to 100. Sector: Based on DCMS definition of creative industries Geography: North East MSA area, national comparisons
Source: 2026 data, based on a March snapshot of information in the ONS Inter Departmental Business Register (IDBR). Only VAT/PAYE registered enterprises are included in the total and denominator. An enterprise is the smallest combination of legal units which has a certain degree of autonomy within an Enterprise Group. Sector: Based on DCMS definition of creative industries and subsectors Geography: North East MSA area, local Authority (LA) areas within it, national comparisons
A sector's gross value added (GVA) in area is the contribution it makes to the gross domestic product (GDP) of that area. GDP measures the value of goods and services produced in an area.
For GVA data below the ITL1 broad regions, a proxy for the creative sector provides indicative estimates. This proxy uses six industry sections, as set out at the end of the "defining the sector" part of tis page.
GVA estimates are published as current price estimates and real estimates. Year on year changes in the latter exclude the effects of inflation but this is not the case for changes in current price values.
£1.4 bn
value of the North East GVA from creative industries in 2024
six representative industry divisions. As a share of creative industries GVA: 2.0% of the UK excl. London total, 86% of the broad region's total.
£0.9 bn
value of computer programming and consultancy GVA (2024)
67% of NE creative industries GVA. Advertising, market research: 12%; creative, arts, entertainment: 7%; publishing: 6%; movies, TV: 5%
+28%
five year change in North East creative industries real GVA
2019 to 2024 excluding inflation effects, UK +21%, outside London: +15%, North East all industries: +7%
2.6%
creative industries share of North East GVA
2024 real GVA estimates. UK: 5.9%, excl. London: 3.6%, North East % up from 2.1% in 2019, 1.8% in 2014.
Source: 2024 data, part of the ONS regional accounts. Current price measures are used. Sector: Six industry sections that approximate the DCMS definition of creative industries. Geography: North East MSA area.
Source: 2004 to 2024 data, part of the ONS regional accounts. Current price and "real" GVA measures are used. The latter excludes the impact of inflation from changes over time. Sector: Six industry sections that approximate the DCMS definition of creative industries. Geography: North East MSA area.
Source: 2004 to 2024 data, part of the ONS regional accounts. "Real" GVA measures are used. These exclude the impact of inflation from changes over time.The measures are indexed to show trends over time from the index year (2004). Sector: Six industry sections that approximate the DCMS definition of creative industries. Geography: North East MSA area, UK, UK excluding London.
Source: 2004 to 2024 data, part of the ONS regional accounts. "Real" GVA measures are used. These exclude the impact of inflation from changes over time.The measures are transformed to a percentage of the total GVA for all sectors. Sector: Six industry sections that approximate the DCMS definition of creative industries Geography: North East MSA area, UK excluding London
This map is based on information from the 2024 ONS Business Register Employment Survey (BRES), the official government source of employee statistics by industry.
The map shows estimated employment totals in creative industries PAYE/VAT registered businesses.
The geography used is the North East's 253 middle layer super outrput areas (MSOAs). These areas are designed to be approximately equal in population size and to be consistent over time in a way that council wards are not.
Employment in this dataset includes employees and working proprietors. The published employment totals are rounded to the nearest five.
Each business is classified in a single industrial sector. The source of broader, overlapping, classifications (Data City) does not yet have useable local employment estimates.
Defining the sector
The North East Local Growth Plan, published in March 2025, identifies creative industries and content as a sector where the North East has unique economic assets and opportunities. The UK's Modern Industrial Strategy, published in June 2025, includes creative industries as one of the nation's eight growth-driving sectors (the 'IS8' sectors).
The DCMS sectors economic estimates are derived using a defined set of industry sections, groups and classes. Most of the statistics highlighted on this page use the same definitions that DCMS have for creative industries. These are set out below, with industry sections, groups and classes listed, respectively, with their two, three and four digit UK SIC codes.
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Advertising and marketing
Public relations and communication activities (7021) Advertising (731)
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Film, TV, radio and photography
Motion picture, video and TV programme activities (591)
Programming and broadcasting activities (60)
Photographic activities (742)
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IT, software and computer services
Software publishing (582)
Computer programming activities (6201)
Computer consultancy activities (6202)
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Museums, Galleries and Libraries
Library and archive activities (9101)
Museum activities (9102)
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Music, performing and visual arts
Sound recording and music publishing activities (592)
Cultural education (8552)
Creative, arts and entertainment (90)
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Design
Specialised design activities (741)
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Architecture
Architectural activities (7111)
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Publishing
Publishing of books, periodicals and other publishing activities (581)
Translation and interpretation activities (743)
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Crafts
Manufacture of jewellery and related articles (3212)
GVA estimates for areas smaller than ITL1 regions are not available for all of the sections and classes used to fully define the creative industries. The following set of six industry sections is used as a proxy.
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Motion picture, video and TV programme production (59)
