Cultural Labour Force Growing, New Publication Reports
OTTAWA, December 5, 1995 More than 670,000 Canadian work in culture-related jobs. In the last decade, the total cultural labour force has grown approximately 32 per cent, compared with 12 per cent growth in the general population and 15 per cent growth in the experienced labour force. This is one of the many facts contained in a new publication that hits the stands today.For the first time, statistics covering culture, identity, sports and parks have been gathered into a single publication in Statistics Canada's Canada's Culture, Heritage and Identity: A Statistical Perspective. Canadian Heritage Minister Michel Dupuy welcomed the publication which contains data and information about all areas of his mandate.
This publication provides an invaluable portrait of the Canadian cultural scene. Not only is culture the very essence of our identity, it generates more than $16 billion in the Canadian economy. It will be a great asset to anyone looking for basic culture statistics, he said.
The publication blends census and survey data with analysis of the cultural scene in Canada. The first section includes information about attendance, employment, ethnic diversity, economic impact, international trade, new technologies, and cultural tourism. The second section provides profiles of culture and heritage industries and institutions such as publishing, performing arts and music, visual arts, film and video, broadcasting, sports and nature.
Culture, identity and heritage issues touch the lives of all Canadians. I would like to congratulate Statistics Canada on this publication, said Minister Dupuy.
Canada's Culture, Heritage and Identity: A Statistical Perspective (87-211) is available from Statistics Canada for $30.00. To order a publication phone 1-800-267-6677 or fax 1-613-951-1584.
For information:
Neil Wilson
Press Secretary
(819)997-7788
For information from Statistics Canada:
Pina La Novara
Culture Statistics Program
(613) 951-157
For backgrounders on this publication, please call: (819) 997-0055.
Backgrounder
Highlights from Canada's Culture, Heritage and Identity: A Statistical Perspective on Employment in the Cultural Sector
Canadians are employed in a wide range of cultural industries in Canada according to data released by Statistics Canada on December 5, 1995. The statistics provide the following picture of Canadian employment in culture:
In the 1991 Census, more than 670,000 Canadians reported culture-related work as their main employment.
Heritage institutions require support from a large work force. In 1992-93, these institutions provided about 10,000 full-time, 8,000 seasonal, and 6,000 other jobs (including part- time). Moreover they were supported by the additional unpaid help of nearly 50,000 volunteers who worked an average of 6.5 hours per month.
According to the 1991 Census of Population, 72,540 people reported a main employment linked to the publishing and printing industries in Canada. 4,125 people reported being actors, with an additional 1,445 reporting being dancers or choreographers.
In the 1991 Census, 11,650 Canadians identified themselves as musicians and singers, another 1,635 were conductors, composers and arrangers, and 1,240 worked in other music-related occupations.
In the 1991 Census, 11,450 Canadians identified themselves as painters, sculptors and related artists. Another 28, 715 worked in advertising and illustrating, and 29,970 were product or interior designers. In addition, 11,815 Canadians identified themselves as architects and 6,965 people said that they worked as professional photographers.
Approximately 4370 people work in the film and video industry. 39, 598 people work in radio, television, cable television and other services. In 1991, nearly 53,000 Canadians worked in jobs related to sports and recreation.
National nature parks provided 1,370 full-time and 2,188 seasonal and other paid jobs in 1992-93. In addition, the parks were supported by 352 volunteers.
BACKGROUNDER
CANADA'S CULTURE, HERITAGE AND IDENTITY: A STATISTICAL PERSPECTIVE
670,000 people work in culture-related jobs. In the last decade, the total cultural labour force has grown approximately 32%, compared with 12% growth in the general population and 15% growth in the experienced labour force.
Percentage of women represented in the cultural labour force: 49%
Percentage of women represented in the general experienced labour force: 45%
Percentage of the cultural labour force that is self-employed: 29%,
compared with only 15% for the total work force.
Average income related to cultural activities: a low of $9,200 for visual artists to $42,200 for culture teachers.
The amount the average Canadian household spends on culture and recreation: $1,600
Percentage of Canadians who attended a popular music performance in 1992: 24%
Rock and pop concerts were the most popular, attracting 18% of men and 15% of women.
Jazz and blues performances ranked second (6%)
Third were performances of country and western music (5%).
Percentage of Canadians age 15 to 19 who listen to music: 97%
Aged 60 and over: 59%
Percentage of Canadian households that have at least one colour television: 98%
Percentage that have a videocassette recorder: 79%
Percentage of Canadian households that subscribed to cable television in 1994: 75% in 1984: 60%
Cultural tourism is a $30 billion industry annually, employing over 600,000 Canadians in more than 60,000 tourism-related industries. Tourism holds the promise of linking culture, heritage and identity together with economic development and job creation.
The amount the average Canadian household spends on sports and recreation: $386.00
The number of Canadians employed in sports and recreation-related industries: 53,000
The amount Canadians spend on wildlife-related activities: $5.6 billion
Percentage of world's remaining wilderness located in Canada: 20%
Total attendance at heritage institutions average about two visits per Canadian in 1992-93. Almost half these visits were to museums.
The amount in 1992, the average Canadian household spent on admissions to museums and exhibitions: $22.
Backgrounder
Highlights from Canada's Culture, Heritage and Identity:
A Statistical Perspective onAttendance/Consumption
Canadians participate in a wide range of cultural activities available in Canada according to data released by Statistics Canada on December 5, 1995. The statistics provide the following picture of Canadian attendance or consumption of cultural products:
Film
Attendance per capita shows that Canadians went to the movies an average of nearly 3 times in 1993-94. 79% of Canadian households reported owning a VCR in 1994, and Canadians watched about one hour per week of taped material (including taped TV shows).
Performing Arts
In 1992, nearly 1 in 4 Canadians went to a popular music concert and nearly 1 in 3 attended a professional dance, opera, music or theatre performance. Overall, the average Canadian household spent $51 on live staged performances in 1992.
Music
In 1992, almost 97% of Canadians aged 15 to 19 listened to recorded music, compared with only 59% for people 60 and over.
Canadian households reported spending nearly $1 billion in 1992 on sound recordings, an average of $101 per household.
Museums
Total attendance at heritage institutions averaged about two visits per Canadian in 1992- 93. Almost half these visits were to museums, which recorded attendance of 24.9 million, including 5.4 million art gallery visits. In 1992, the average Canadian household spent $22 on admissions to museums and exhibitions.
Books
In spite of competition from television, new media and other leisure activities, book publishing continues to be a relatively strong and important cultural industry in Canada. In 1992, almost half of Canadian households purchased books or pamphlets, with average household spending for the total population of $68.
74% of households reported buying newspapers and 66%, magazines and periodicals in 1992. Canadian households spent an average of about $100 per year on newspapers and $66 per year on magazines and periodicals.
Art
In 1992, 9% of households reported buying original works of art. In addition, Canadians spent $8 on artist's materials and $122 on photographic goods and services.
In 1994, domestic exports of Canadian art were $41 million; re-exports of art not originating in Canada amounted to $34 million.
Radio/Television
In 1994, over 98% of households reported having at least one radio and at least one television set. In fact 49% of households have more than one TV. 79% of homes had videocassette recorders (VCRs).
Canadians watched an average of 22.7 hours per week of television in 1994. Almost two- thirds of average weekly television viewing was of conventional Canadian stations and another 17% was of American conventional stations. Pay TV and specialty channels accounted for almost 11% of viewing and over 5% can be attributed to VCR playback.
Canadians listened to radio an average of 21.2 hours per week in 1994.
Parks
In 1992 46% of Canadians 15 and over reported that they had visited a nature park or conservation area in the previous year.
Sports
In 1992, 31% of Canadians over 15 had attended a professional sporting event in the previous year. In addition, 45% of Canadians participated regularly in sports such as volleyball, bowling and skiing.
For more information from Statistics Canada:
Pina La Novara
Culture Statistics Program
(613) 951-1573
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