Percent of Workers in Creative Occupations, King County, 2000

Data Discussion

The Indicator Defined

Percentage of work force that is employed in creative occupations. As the economy shifts towards technology, research and development, the internet and related fields, more knowledge workers are needed to fill these jobs. Such workers have been dubbed the “creative class”. Social scientists conjecture that places with cultural, social, and technological amenities, such as the Seattle metropolitan area, attract creative class workers and that, in turn, these workers promote a tolerant culture where people can "be themselves".

Data Interpretation/Evaluation

The creative class includes people in occupations that require creativity, knowledge and working with ideas.  Such occupations include architects, engineers, artists, musicians, librarians, social and physical scientists, and many more.  

The Economic Research Service (ERS) at the U.S. Department of Agriculture has found a strong relationship between the presence of a creative class and positive regional development and growth.  People in the creative class are drawn to areas with a high quality of life, and in turn provide a unique combination of knowledge and ideas that further promotes development.  Attracting and retaining these workers is a potential development strategy.

In King County in 2000, 36% were employed in the creative class compared to 25% nationwide.

The creative class includes people in occupations that require creativity, knowledge and working with ideas.  Such occupations include architects, engineers, artists, musicians, librarians, social and physical scientists, and many more.  

The Economic Research Service (ERS) at the U.S. Department of Agriculture has found a strong relationship between the presence of a creative class and positive regional development and growth.  People in the creative class are drawn to areas with a high quality of life, and in turn provide a unique combination of knowledge and ideas that further promotes development.  Attracting and retaining these workers is a potential development strategy.

In King County in 2000, 36% were employed in the creative class compared to 25% nationwide.

 

Data Source and Limitations

Data compiled by Sustainable Seattle from work of the Northwest Area Foundation. 

Please see the ERS website (http://www.ers.usda.gov/Data/CreativeClassCodes/) for more information on creative class codes and ERS methodology, and see (http://www.ers.usda.gov/Data/CreativeClassCodes/methods.htm) for a more comprehensive list of creative class occupations.

 

Source: 2000. US Department of Agriculture, Economic Research Service, Creative Class Codes, (http://www.ers.usda.gov/Data/CreativeClassCodes/)

 

 

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