Creative Economy and Workforce
Image of Leah Abel from Circus Up performing at Creative Sector Day at the State House 2025. Photography by Steph Craig Studios.
The creative sector in Massachusetts delivers $29.7 billion in economic value, accounts for 4.04% of the state’s economy, and creates 130,263 jobs.
Arts, culture, and creativity are not only essential for connected communities and our wellbeing - they are also critical for economic growth and vitality. The creative sector represents a massive workforce whose contributions make Massachusetts a destination for tourism, industry, and economic generation.
MASSCreative advocates for public policies that strengthen Massachusetts’ creative economy and grow our creative workforce. Our areas of policy work include advocating for annual increases to the Mass Cultural Council and Massachusetts Tourism Trust Fund budgets, as well as working to advance the Creative Sector Agenda.
These policy priorities are directly informed by members of the creative sector and are developed through statewide listening series and fieldwide surveys.
SNAPSHOT OF MA ECONOMIC IMPACT DATA
This information was last updated in November 2025.
Download our fact sheet on the economic impact of Massachusetts’ creative sector:
WHERE WE STAND NATIONALLY
The National Endowment for the Arts and U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis reported in April 2025 that arts and culture contribute an estimated $29.7 billion in economic value in Massachusetts and account for 4% of the Commonwealth’s economy.
In 2023, Massachusetts ranked 9th among all states for Arts and Cultural Production Satellite Account (ACPSA) value added.
When compared to other key sectors such as construction and transportation, arts and culture ranked second for value added. In December 2024, Massachusetts was ranked for the second consecutive year as the 3rd most arts vibrant state in the nation.
OUR STRENGTH AS A COMMONWEALTH
130,263 individuals are employed through the creative workforce in Massachusetts. In 2025, the Mass Cultural Council completed their Cultural Asset Inventory and learned that there are 15,063 cultural organizations and programs across Massachusetts and creatives make up about 3% of the state’s workforce.
The Cultural Facilities Fund (CFF) is supporting 1,200 full-time jobs and $109 million in wages and salaries in its current funding round. 38,506 architects, engineers, contractors, and construction workers have been employed on CFF projects through all rounds of funding. 3,344 new permanent jobs are projected as a result of CFF projects over all rounds of funding.
281 cultural organizations reported plans to proceed with $1.3 billion in capital projects over the next three years, including $589 million in renovation projects and $636 million in new construction projects.
LOCAL IMPACT
The Arts and Economic Prosperity 6 (AEP6) study assessed the economic impact of nonprofit arts and culture organizations and event-related spending in Springfield in FY22. They found that the creative economy generated 1,483 jobs in the city, attracted 912,140 event attendees, and contributed $1.7million in local revenue and $2.4 million in state revenue.
People who attended cultural events spent an average of $31.85 per person on event-related purchases such as parking and dining. Those who traveled from another county spent an average of $51.83 per person.
In May 2024, New Bedford Creative released their first-ever creative economy report. In 2022, their creative economy accounted for 7.2% of the city’s workforce, 599 establishments, over $300 million in direct revenue, and 3,370 jobs. They also found that for every dollar invested towards arts, culture, and tourism, they received an additional $3.71 in philanthropic support.
SOURCES:
State-Level Estimates of the Arts’ Economic Value and Employment (2001-2023) - (National Endowment for the Arts, April 2025)
Creative Economy State Profiles - (National Endowment for the Arts, National Assembly of State Arts Agencies, 2022)
SMU DataArts Releases Second Annual Ranking of Most Arts-Vibrant States in the U.S. - (SMU DataArts, December 2024)
Arts and Cultural Production Satellite Account (ACPSA) - (Bureau of Economic Analysis, National Endowment for the Arts, 2023)
2024 Massachusetts Cultural Asset Inventory - (Mass Cultural Council, 2024)
Impact of the Cultural Facilities Fund 2024 - (Mass Cultural Council, January 2025)
Arts and Economic Prosperity 6 - (Americans for the Arts, 2022-2023)
New Bedford Creative Releases First-Ever Comprehensive Creative Economy Report - (New Bedford Creative, May 2024)
