Creative and Cultural Industries in Spain: Effects of COVID‑19 on Economy and Cultural Employment

Abstract

The generalized interruption of cultural activities in Spain due to the COVID‑19 pandemic has had a negative impact on the economy of the sector and caused the loss of a large number of jobs. This article analyses, based on available official data, the behaviour of cultural and creative employment in Spain during the year 2020, in comparison with the previous ones. A mixed methodology has been applied based on the study of homologated metrics in the field and on the qualitative documents of the European and multilateral institutions indicated in the bibliography. The main source of documentation is the statistical exploitation of the Active Population Survey for the cultural field of the Ministry of Culture and Sports, based on data from the National Institute of Statistics, although figures obtained in administrative records such as Social Security affiliations are also used. The available metrics on creative and cultural industries (CCI) confirm a notable decline in economic activity and cultural employment in Spain, by occupations, gender, age groups, educational level and autonomous communities, which highlight the political need to revitalize and consider new forms of cultural experience and diffusion of business models that rebalance the economy and the occupation of this strategic sector.