08.05.2026: UK Music has welcomed new Creative Industries Skills Audit research commissioned by the Creative Industries Council (CIC) and DCMS. The research is supported by members of the CIC Education Working Group (including UK Music) and Skills England, and is led by WorkAdvance and the Creative Industries Policy & Evidence Centre (PEC).
The research is a first of its kind study that examines the skills challenges and priorities of creative employers across 11 different sub-sectors, namely: Music; Advertising & Marketing; Architecture; Crafts; Design & Designer Fashion; Screen Industries; IT, Software, an Computer Services; Computer Games; Museums, Galleries, and Libraries; Publishing, and; Performing and Visual Arts.
The aim of the research is to provide comparable data across all creative industries as well as offering a more detailed examination of the issues within each sub-sector. Such studies are vital for the creative industries to continue to develop as one of the eight priority sectors on the UK Government’s Industrial Strategy.
In 2024 the creative industries employed around 7% of the UK workforce – over 2.4million workers. This growth trend is set to continue and skills play a vital role in the creative industries future success.
Specific music sub-sector findings are:
– Employers in the sector have specialist requirements and struggle to recruit for key creative roles: sound engineers, theatre technicians, facilities. Skills shortages are broad, including technical production skills, digital literacy, business skills and management.
– 51% of music employers report a lack of funding for training (compared to 36% in the wider creative industries), yet three quarters were still able to provide training for employees over the last year.
– General IT skills were identified as being in short supply during recruitment, at 38% compared to the wider creative industries’ 16%. Notably, specialist IT skills were far less of an issue at 7% compared to the wider industry’s 18%.
Download the full report from PEC website below:
Homepage – Creative Industries Policy and Evidence Centre
UK Music Director of Education & Skills Dr Oliver Morris said: “It is hugely rewarding and encouraging to see this report launched and we look forward to addressing the findings in a strategic way. Being able to quantify and present what many across the creative industries have experienced anecdotally with robust and comparable data is going to make a huge difference and will enable all to truly focus our minds and resources towards the most pressing need.
“It also shows the collegiate and collaborative spirit of those from across all creative industries sub-sectors that we came together, highlighted the need, found the means, and delivered what will be a truly impactful report. I know of many organisations and individuals who are keen to get into this data and explore the influence it can have on skills plans at local, regional, and national levels.
“I want to thank all those involved and an especial thanks must go to the researchers who put in a huge amount of time and channelled their expertise to create such fascinating and detailed research as well as the respondents who gave up their time most generously to help the creative industries as a whole improve our knowledge around skills and help us to shape the future of the creative industries.”
The Rt Hon Ian Murray MP, Minister for Creative Industries, Media and Arts, said: “The Creative Industries Skills Audit gives us the clearest picture yet of the skills our creative businesses need to grow and the training the workforce needs to get there. At a time of industry shifts and rapid technological change, that evidence has never been more important.
“Britain’s creative industries are world-leading – it’s our music, film and breadth of creative talent that really puts us on the map. This Government is determined to keep it that way and we know that it all starts with a highly skilled workforce.”
Baroness Shriti Vadera and Sir Peter Bazalgette, industry co-Chairs of the Creative Industries Council said: “This is a trailblazing report: vital evidence from our 11 creative sub-sectors of the current and future skills needs of our innovative, digitally-driven sector. The Skills Audits are an essential platform for us to come together, and work with a Government that seeks to redraw the skills map. If the findings are acted upon the creative industries will deliver significantly greater
cultural value and economic growth.”