Pre-Pandemic Growth: 2019 Creative Jobs Snapshot for Buncombe County

The 2019 Pre-Pandemic Creative Jobs Assessment offers a vital baseline for understanding the scale and impact of Buncombe County’s creative sector prior to COVID-19. Compiled by the Asheville Area Arts Council, the report presents key data on jobs, earnings, sales, and demographics for creative industries and occupations.

By 2019, Buncombe County’s creative economy had grown significantly:

  • 14,153 creative industry jobs (up 23% since 2015)
  • $492 million in earnings (up 34%)
  • $1.6 billion in sales (up 44%)

Top 5 Creative Industries by Jobs (2019):

  1. Independent Artists, Writers & Performers
  2. Graphic Design Services
  3. Musical Instrument Manufacturing
  4. Agents & Managers for Artists and Public Figures
  5. Art Dealers

Top 5 by Sales:

  1. Independent Artists, Writers & Performers
  2. Agents & Managers for Artists and Public Figures
  3. Jewelry Stores
  4. Motion Picture & Video Production
  5. Graphic Design Services

Top Creative Occupations:

  1. Photographers
  2. Musicians & Singers
  3. Writers & Authors
  4. Fine Artists
  5. Graphic Designers

Workforce Demographics:

  • Gender: 51% Male, 49% Female
  • Race/Ethnicity: 83% White, 7% Black, 4% Latinx, 3% Asian, 2% Multiracial, 1% Indigenous
  • Age: Largest group was ages 35–44 (23%), followed by 25–34 and 55–64 (20% each)

These figures reflect a vibrant and diverse creative economy that was thriving prior to the disruptions of the pandemic. This pre-pandemic snapshot is an essential reference point for measuring both the impact of COVID-19 and the resilience of Buncombe County’s arts and culture sector.

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