Artists in the Workforce NEA study
Artists in the Workforce is the latest offering from the NEA Office of Research and Analysis, which has conducted authoritative and comprehensive research on artist workforce patterns and other subjects for more than 30 years. Among some of the findings:
*Opportunities for artistic employment are greater in metropolitan areas. More than one-fifth of all U.S. artists live in Los Angeles, New York, Chicago, Washington, and Boston. Half of all artists live in 30 metropolitan areas.
Unique regional concentrations emerge. New Mexico has the highest share of fine artists, Vermont has the highest proportion of writers, and Tennessee, the highest proportion of musicians.
*Los Angeles-Long Beach has the most artists overall, around 140,000, followed by New York City, around 133,000. Nashville, Tenn., has the greatest concentration of musicians, Las Vegas the highest rate of "dancers and choreographers" and Orlando, Fla., home to Walt Disney World, leads in "entertainers and performers".
*The Pacific region of the United States, which includes California and four other states, has the highest number of artists per capita, 95 per 10,000. The East South Central, which includes Alabama, Kentucky and three other states, has the fewest, 47 per 10,000.
*Artists generally earn less than workers with similar education levels. The median income from all sources in 2005 was $34,800 for artists, higher than the $30,100 median for the total labor force, and lower than the $43,200 for all professionals.
*Computers have apparently led to a decline in visual artists and a big jump in those who identify themselves as "designers," which includes Web designers. The number of art directors, fine artists and animators fell from around 280,000 in 1990 to around 220,000 in 2005. Designers, nearly 40 percent of all artists, increased from around 600,000 to around 780,000.
*Artists are more educated. Artists are twice as likely to have a college degree as other U.S. workers.
The share of degree-holding artists rose between 1990 and 2005.
Among artist occupations with the highest educational attainment levels are architects, writers, and producers.
*Opportunities for artistic employment are greater in metropolitan areas. More than one-fifth of all U.S. artists live in Los Angeles, New York, Chicago, Washington, and Boston. Half of all artists live in 30 metropolitan areas.
Unique regional concentrations emerge. New Mexico has the highest share of fine artists, Vermont has the highest proportion of writers, and Tennessee, the highest proportion of musicians.
*Los Angeles-Long Beach has the most artists overall, around 140,000, followed by New York City, around 133,000. Nashville, Tenn., has the greatest concentration of musicians, Las Vegas the highest rate of "dancers and choreographers" and Orlando, Fla., home to Walt Disney World, leads in "entertainers and performers".
*The Pacific region of the United States, which includes California and four other states, has the highest number of artists per capita, 95 per 10,000. The East South Central, which includes Alabama, Kentucky and three other states, has the fewest, 47 per 10,000.
*Artists generally earn less than workers with similar education levels. The median income from all sources in 2005 was $34,800 for artists, higher than the $30,100 median for the total labor force, and lower than the $43,200 for all professionals.
*Computers have apparently led to a decline in visual artists and a big jump in those who identify themselves as "designers," which includes Web designers. The number of art directors, fine artists and animators fell from around 280,000 in 1990 to around 220,000 in 2005. Designers, nearly 40 percent of all artists, increased from around 600,000 to around 780,000.
*Artists are more educated. Artists are twice as likely to have a college degree as other U.S. workers.
The share of degree-holding artists rose between 1990 and 2005.
Among artist occupations with the highest educational attainment levels are architects, writers, and producers.
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