New Report Details Rise of Creative Class Impact on Economy, Workforce

Meta recently commissioned a report titled The Rise of the Creator Economy, written independently by Richard Florida, author of The Rise of the Creative Class and founder of the Creative Class Group. The report offers a comprehensive view of the world of individual creators, which Florida defines as those “who use digital technology to make and publish unique creative content audiences can access and respond to.” Additionally, this report illustrates the rise of the ‘creator economy,’ and how a rapidly growing movement of digital artists and content producers are redefining entertainment, reshaping the economy and establishing vital access to supplemental income for millions. 

Key Highlights: 

• Up to 60 million Americans now make up the “Creative Class,” according to estimates: Representative of more than 40 percent of the national workforce and up from 15 percent in 1980, these are scientists, techies, artists, designers, entertainers and professional knowledge workers in fields like management, healthcare and law.
• The creator economy is forecasted by some exploratory studies to reach more than $100 billion: According to data and studies reviewed by the report, creators number between 30 and 85 million Americans, and an estimated 300 million people globally, with as many as 17 million creators earning money by selling their digital content as of 2017
• There is an immense opportunity to forge a “Creator Middle Class,” which supports the idea that more creators who choose to can make a decent living, and if championed and protected well, can create a stronger, more sustainable creator economy to thrive in the decades to come.    

More and more people today are earning a living by creating engaging content. However, in order for the Creator Middle Class to successfully forge this new path of entrepreneurship and realize the full potential of its economic impact, it’s important that support is provided by elected officials, policies that encourage creators and don’t stifle innovation and organizations like chambers of commerce.

It’s important for chambers and their leaders to understand the scope of the creator economy, its broader economic impact and what’s driving individual creators to provide support to their direct membership base that make up the creator middle class. Chambers can find free online resources that can help their members successfully utilize Meta tools to continue to create across our family of applications. Read more about our efforts to support creators in our Meta for Creators blog.

You can read the full report here.