About the creative workforce data

Creative workforce segment definitions

The ARC Centre of Excellence for Creative Industries and Innovation (CCI) has identified six creative workforce segments by grouping together several industry categories, as defined in the Australian and New Zealand Standard Industry Classification (ANZSIC) by the Australian Bureau of Statistics. Also considered by CCI as part of the creative workforce are those people employed in specialist creative occupations either working in the industries listed below or employed in other sectors of the economy.

More information regarding CCI’s methodology in defining the creative workforce segments and specialist creative occupations is available on the CCI website.

Advertising and marketing

Advertising services (6940): Consists of units mainly engaged in providing advertising services such as the creation of advertising campaigns and materials; and media planning and buying (i.e. placing advertisements).

Architecture, design and visual arts

Jewellery and silverware manufacturing (2591): Consists of units mainly engaged in manufacturing jewellery or silverware using precious or semi-precious metal and stones, and the cutting of such stones. This class also includes units mainly engaged in manufacturing custom-made or costume jewellery, trophies, badges or medals, or minting coins.

Architectural services (6921): Consists of units mainly engaged in providing architectural services such as planning and designing buildings and structures; or planning and designing the development of land. Units apply knowledge of design, construction procedures, zoning regulations, location and land use, building codes and building materials.

Other specialised design services (6924): Consists of units mainly engaged in providing specialised design services not elsewhere classified.

Professional photographic services (6991): Consists of units mainly engaged in providing still, video or computer photography services, including the video taping of special events such as weddings.

Museum operation (8910): Consists of units mainly engaged in the preservation and exhibition of heritage objects and artefacts and/or visual arts and crafts with aesthetic, historical, cultural, and/or educational value. This class also includes units operating historical places, sites or houses.

Creative artists, musicians, writers and performers (9002): Consists of units of independent (freelance) individuals or groups mainly engaged in the regular creation of original artistic or cultural works who may or may not also produce and perform their works. This class also includes units providing independent technical expertise necessary for these productions, and celebrities mainly engaged in endorsing products or making speeches or public appearances for which they receive a fee.

Film, television and radio

Motion picture and video production (5511): Consists of units mainly engaged in producing motion pictures, videos and television programs or commercials. These productions are recorded and stored on a variety of analogue or digital visual media such as film, video tape or DVD.

Post-production services and other motion picture and video activities (5514): Consists of units mainly engaged in providing post-production services and other motion picture and video activities, including specialised motion picture or video post-production services such as editing, film/tape transfers, titling, subtitling, credits, closed captioning and computer-produced graphics, animation and special effects, as well as developing and processing motion picture film.

Radio broadcasting (5610): Consists of units mainly engaged in broadcasting audio signals, using radio broadcasting studios and facilities, to transmit aerial programming.

Free-to-air television broadcasting (5621): Consists of units mainly engaged in free-to-air television broadcasting of visual content, in the form of electronic images together with sound, through broadcasting studios and facilities. These units may also produce or transmit visual programming to affiliated broadcast television stations, which in turn broadcast the programs on a pre-determined schedule. Transmissions are made available without cost to the viewer.

Cable and other subscription broadcasting (5622): Consists of units mainly engaged in broadcasting television programs on a subscription or fee basis (such as subscription cable or satellite television broadcasting) to viewers.

Software and interactive content

Directory and mailing list publishing (5414): Consists of units mainly engaged in publishing (creating and disseminating) directories, mailing lists and collections or compilations of fact such as mailing addresses and telephone directories.

Software publishing (5420): Consists of units mainly engaged in creating and disseminating ready-made (non-customised) computer software.

Internet publishing and broadcasting (5700): Consists of units mainly engaged in publishing and/or broadcasting content on the internet. Units in this class provide textual, audio and/or video content of general or specific interest on the internet. These units do not provide traditional (non-internet) versions of the content they publish or broadcast.

Internet service providers and web search portals (5910): Consists of units mainly engaged in providing internet access services. Also included are units which provide web search portals used to search the internet.

Data processing and web hosting services (5921): Consists of units mainly engaged in providing electronic data processing or hosting services. These units provide specialised hosting activities such as web hosting, streaming services or application hosting, provide application service provisioning, or provide general timesharing mainframe facilities to customers. These units provide complete processing and specialised reports from data supplied by customers or provide automated data processing and data entry services.

Computer system design and related services (7000): Consists of units mainly engaged in providing expertise in the field of information technologies such as writing, modifying, testing or supporting software to meet the needs of a particular consumer; or planning and designing computer systems that integrate computer hardware, software and communication technologies.

Music and performing arts

Music publishing (5521): Consists of units mainly engaged in acquiring and registering copyrights for musical compositions and promoting and authorising the use of these compositions in recordings, radio, television, motion pictures, live performances, print, or other media. Units in this class represent the interest of the composing unit, or other owners of musical compositions, to produce revenues from the use of such works, usually through licensing agreements. These units may own the copyright or act as administrator of the music copyrights on behalf of copyright owners. Also included in this class are units publishing sheet music (including in bound book form).

Music and other sound recording activities (5522): Consists of units mainly engaged in producing original (sound) master recordings such as tapes and CDs and releasing and distributing these sound recordings to wholesalers, retailers or directly to the public. Also included in this class are units engaged in operating sound recording studios and in the production of pre-recorded radio programs.

Performing arts operation (9001): Consists of units mainly engaged in providing or producing live theatrical or musical presentations or performances. These units are not usually involved in the creation of original artistic or cultural works.

Performing arts venue operation (9003): Consists of units mainly engaged in operating venues for the presentation and rehearsal of performing arts.

Writing, publishing and print media

Newspaper publishing (5411): Consists of units mainly engaged in publishing (creating and disseminating) newspapers. Included in this class are units whose main source of income is the sale of advertising space in their own newspapers.

Magazine and other periodical publishing (5412): Consists of units mainly engaged in publishing (creating and disseminating) magazines, journals and other periodicals. Included in this class are units whose main source of income is the sale of advertising space in their own periodicals.

Book publishing (5413): Consists of units mainly engaged in publishing (creating and disseminating) magazines, journals and other periodicals. Included in this class are units whose main source of income is the sale of advertising space in their own periodicals.

Other publishing, except software, music and internet (5419): Consists of units mainly engaged in other publishing (creating and disseminating) activities (except software, music and internet publishing) such as greeting card, postcard and art print publishing.

Libraries and archives (6010): Consists of units mainly engaged in providing library or archive services. The units maintain collections of documents (e.g. books, journals, newspaper and music) and facilitate the use of such documents (recorded information regardless of its physical form and characteristics). All or parts of these collections may be accessible electronically.