The craft industry is part of the creative and cultural industries, represented by the Creative and Cultural Skills Sector Skills Council, which also includes: cultural heritage; design; literature; music; performing arts; and visual arts. The creative and cultural industries currently employ 678,480, people, of which 24% are based in London. There are 74,640 businesses in the creative and cultural industries, of which 87% employ less than 10 people.
The craft industry comprises individual designer makers and small businesses from a diverse range of disciplines spanning the contemporary, traditional and heritage spectrum. Designer‐made traditional and contemporary craft covers a wide range of individual disciplines including:
- basket‐making
- bookbinding
- candle‐making
- ceramics
- fashion accessories
- furniture
- glass
- jewellery
- leather working
- lettering and calligraphy
- metal working
- mosaic
- musical instrument making
- recycled textiles
- stone carving
- taxidermy
- textiles
- toys and automata
- wood turning and sculpture
- heritage and traditional crafts
- paper crafts
Key facts:
- There are 88,250 people working in the craft industry, of which:
- 37% work in graphic crafts
- 15% textiles
- 13% jewellery
- 8% heritage and rural crafts
- 8% potter and ceramics
- 7% stone
- 5% iron and metals
- 5% wood
- 2% glass
- Less than 1% taxidermist
- There are 13,060 businesses, of which 98% employ less than 50 people.
- Craft contributes £2.9 billion to the UK economy.
- 37% of the craft workforce is self‐employed, 21% work part‐time.
- Women in the industry are generally more highly qualified than men (43% have an above level 4 qualification as their highest qualification compared with 27% of men).
- Women are likely to earn less money than men (67% of women in craft earn less than £20,000 per year, compared to 50% of men).
- The industry is made up of a large number of makers operating in the same, small and localised market places.
- 33% of those working in craft have at least a level 4 qualification.
Jobs in the industry include: blacksmith, engraver, gemmologist, glassmaker, hair makeup and wigs, heritage and historical skills, illustrator, joiner and cabinet maker, leatherworker, musical instrument maker, potter, sculptor, stone mason, toymaker, and woodworker.
National and regional data
Northern Ireland – There are 11,640 people working in the Northern Ireland creative and cultural sector. Craft in Northern Ireland contributes £39.9 million to the UK economy. 2% of the UK craft workforce is located in Northern Ireland. 99% of the craft workforce is white and 72% of the workforce is male. 30% of the craft workforce in Northern Ireland is self‐employed.
Scotland – There are 45,420 people working in the Scottish creative and cultural sector. 6% of the UK craft workforce is located in Scotland. Craft in Scotland contributes £131 million to the UK economy. 99% of the craft workforce is white and 63% of the workforce is male. 36% of the craft workforce in Scotland is self‐employed.
Wales – There are 24,060 people working in the Welsh creative and cultural sector. 4% of the UK craft workforce is located in Wales. Craft in Wales contributes £73 million to the UK economy. 99% of the workforce is white and 68% of the workforce is male. 36% of the Welsh craft workforce is self‐employed.
[N.B. The data for the following regions are for the creative and cultural sector as a whole.]
East Midlands – There are 44,380 people in the sector workforce in the region, representing 7% of the UK sector workforce. There are 3,950 creative businesses in the region, of which 92% employ less than 50 people. 35% of the workforce is self-employed. 63% of the workforce is male. 95% of the sector workforce is white and 54% are under 40 years.
East of England – There are 63,700 people in the sector workforce in the region, representing 9% of the UK sector workforce. There are 6,710 creative businesses in the region, of which 93% employ less than 50 people. 37% of the workforce is self-employed. 66% of the workforce is male. 95% of the sector workforce is white and 46% are under 40 years.
London – There are 164,690 people in the sector workforce in London, representing 24% of the UK sector workforce. There are 21,600 creative businesses, of which 93% employ less than 50 people. 51% of the workforce is self-employed. 58% of the workforce is male. 84% of the sector workforce is white and 56% are under 40 years.
North East – There are 19,680 people in the sector workforce in the region, representing 3% of the UK sector workforce. There are 1,330 creative businesses in the region, of which 90% employ less than 50 people. 38% of the workforce is self-employed. 63% of the workforce is male. 96% of the sector workforce is white and 53% are under 40 years.
North West – There are 59,580 people in the sector workforce in the region, representing 9% of the UK sector workforce. There are 5,660 creative businesses in the region, of which 91% employ less than 50 people. 34% of the workforce is self-employed; the majority of who are in arts and music. 62% of the workforce is male. 95% of the sector workforce is white and 55% are under 40 years.
South East – There are 98,170 people in the sector workforce in the region, representing 14% of the UK sector workforce. There are 12,300 creative businesses in the region, of which 93% employ less than 50 people. 43% of the workforce is self-employed. 59% of the workforce is male. 97% of the sector workforce is white and 47% are under 40 years.
South West – There are 60,690 people in the sector workforce in the region, representing 9% of the UK sector workforce. There are approximately 5,000 creative businesses in the region, of which 93% employ less than 50 people. 47% of the workforce is self-employed in arts, design and music. 59% of the workforce is male. 98% of the sector workforce is white and 46% are under 40 years.
West Midlands – There are 40,300 people in the sector workforce in the region, representing 6% of the UK sector workforce. There are approximately 5,000 creative businesses in the region, of which 91% employ less than 50 people. 31% of the workforce is self-employed, which is the lowest regional figure. 58% of the workforce is male. 91% of the sector workforce is white and 49% are under 40 years.
Yorkshire and the Humber – There are 45,900 people in the sector workforce in the region, representing 7% of the UK sector workforce. There are fewer than 4,000 creative businesses in the region, of which 90% employ less than 50 people. 40% of the workforce is self-employed. 60% of the workforce is male. 97% of the sector workforce is white and 53% are under 40 years.
