Despite being among Britain's fast growing sectors, young people leaving education this summer will still find it tough to break into the creative and cultural industries.
Whether they are looking for a job in advertising, design, theatre, dance, music, visual arts, creative writing, jewellery and craft, or museums and galleries, thousands of young people will have to rely on personal contacts or periods of unpaid work experience to get their first job.
For graduates and school leavers hoping to start their creative careers this year, the industry remains one of the most impenetrable; on average there are only 6,500 new jobs each year, 93% of the workforce is white and over one in two employees are educated to degree level. Over 50% of graduates working in museums and galleries, for example, have a Masters Degree or Phd.
With rising levels of youth unemployment, Creative & Cultural Skills is urging a review of the careers information, advice and guidance that is provided for young people as they make key decisions about their future. It is also urging more employers to take responsibility for ensuring that young people get the right information about their sector, and that entry routes into the industries are accessible to all.
Creative & Cultural Skills has already identified skills gaps in the sector that young people could be filling by, for example, working backstage in a theatre where a need for 30,000 people is predicted by 2017. Research also shows the creative and cultural sector is growing, with an anticipated 151,000 additional jobs by 2017.
Tom Bewick, Creative & Cultural Skills, said:
"One in six young people are now out of work, and this figure is set to rise. Paradoxically, the creative and cultural sector is also missing out on new talent because it remains difficult to get a break and 93% of the workforce is white. Employers should act now to make their sectors more accessible to young people, and to provide better advice and guidance on how to get in and get on. This is vital to ensure that the industry has the future workforce it needs and also to avoid the previous mistakes we've made with initiatives to tackle youth unemployment. Taking on a Creative Apprentice or putting information online via Creative Choices would be a good start."
Creative & Cultural Skills has recently launched two initiatives to help:
- Creative Apprenticeships - designed to provide a fair and accessible route into the sector for all young people, the apprenticeships give young people the opportunity to learn valuable skills 'on the job' and gain a qualification. It has been designed to break the 'no experience no job' cycle in the industry. Employers are urged to pledge to take on a Creative Apprentice by contacting
- Creative Choices° - this online tool kit provides all the tools, knowledge and networks that young people need to get into the creative industries. The website includes job profiles, an online CV and career development workshop, and a blog packed with advice from industry experts. Creative Choices° can be found at www.creative-choices.co.uk. Employers are encouraged to write and submit content about how to get a job in their industry by emailing
Notes:
Creative & Cultural Skills is the sector skills council for the creative and cultural industries. Our remit covers the areas of: advertising, crafts, cultural heritage, design, music, and performing, literary and visual arts. For more information visit www.ccskills.org.uk .
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