Culture labour market and consumption
In total there are 78 000 and 107 000 persons respectively employed in the culture sector in Denmark and Sweden. Of those persons, 54 000 or 29 percent work in the Öresund region. In relation to total employment in Denmark and Sweden, the culture sector corresponds to 2.9 and 2.5 percent, respectively. Of the 1.75 million persons employed in the Öresund region, 3.1 percent work within the culture sector. In the Capital Region of Denmark and Stockholm County, the proportion reaches 4 to 5 percent.
The culture sector in its entirety here includes all areas that are seen as relevant to culture. Eurostat’s calculations for the EU25 show that the proportion of persons working in the culture sector is 2.5 percent; the figure for Denmark is 3.1 percent while the figure for Sweden is 3.3 percent (2). According to the Danish Ministry of Culture, Denmark had 64 000 persons working in the culture sector in 2003.
- Culture labour market 1 Jan. 2007 (1 000)
Source: The Öresund Committee. Individual calculations from Statistics Denmark and Statistics Sweden.
- Culture labour market in Öresund region 1 Jan. 2007 (1 000)
Source: Statistics Denmark and Statistics Sweden Calculations by The Öresund Committee
Tourism is not included in the figures for the culture sector, but in the Öresund region there are about 15 000 hotel employees and 45 000 restaurant employees. In addition, many work in transport industries that are relevant for tourism.
Within the culture sector, only a small percentage work with core cultural activities (3). The number of employees in core cultural activities is difficult to estimate, but it is about 23 000 in the Öresund region (see fact box). This can be compared to 31 percent of all who work with core cultural activities in Denmark and Sweden work in the Öresund region.
The concentration in the Öresund region is considerable concerning the release of books and periodicals as well as film and video productions. Here the Öresund region has 40-50 percent of all employees in Denmark and Sweden.
Cultural consumption
Cultural consumption consists of the costs of inhabitants for consumption, and government subsidies. In Sweden, nearly one third of all costs to produce and consume culture are handled by central government, counties/regions and municipalities. In 2007, the Danish and Swedish public sector set 1.5 and 1.1 percent of GDP respectively on activities within culture, sports, leisure and religion (4). Otherwise, costs for inhabitants’ private consumption of culture in Denmark and Sweden are about one fourth higher than in EU countries in general (5).
Private consumption is based on inhabitants’ costs to participate in cultural and leisure activities as well as to obtain and consume culture and the media.
Every year households in the Öresund region invest EUR 3.7 billion on cultural activities. This corresponds to EUR 2 200 per household, which in turn corresponds to 7 percent of total household consumption. Costs for consumption are generally highest on the Danish side of Öresund, but the percentage of consumption that is invested in culture is basically the same on both sides of the sound. An entire 84 percent of household consumption for culture goes to obtaining and consuming culture and the media, while only 9 and 7 percent of culture consumption goes to active respectively passive participation (such as playing football and going to the cinema). However, on the Swedish side the distribution of culture consumption lies more towards active participation in culture, leisure and sports activities.
Please note that the figures for consumption must be interpreted with caution, since they are based on relatively few observations. They are partly based on random samples and partly on overall information about different structures of households. In addition, costs for activities are also affected by
government subsidies, which differ in the two countries.
While couples with children invest EUR 3 100 per year on culture, the same figure for single persons is only EUR 1 700 regardless of whether they have children or not. Single-parent households invest comparatively more money on magazines and periodicals, while couples usually engage in active participation, regardless of whether they have children or not.
- Culture consumption in Öresund region 2004–2006
Source: Statistics Denmark and Statistics Sweden Calculations by The Öresund Committee
