Men dominate certain parts of the sector, most notably amongst musicians, photographers and technicians.  61% of the workforce is male; this is higher than the total UK average where the male majority is 54%.

Women are also four times more likely than men in the same occupation to be working part-time and women in this sector tend to be more highly qualified then men with the same job titles.  The actors union Equity has found that in the arena of mechanical media, women Equity members are disadvantaged in terms of most aspects of employment; they work less than men, earn less than men, play younger roles in comparison with men and they leave the area of employment at an earlier age than men.

Across the arts and entertainment sub-sectors, women comprise:

• two thirds of those in craft
• 52% of the Cultural heritage
• 32% in Design
• 48% in Literary arts
• 31% in Music
• 41% in the Performing arts
• in Visual arts there is an even split between male and female workers

Sources: Skills Needs Assessment 2007 and Gap Analysis and Market Testing 2007

95% of the sector workforce is white.  This varies little by sub-sector; the lowest proportion is 93.5% in Advertising.  This figure is only slightly higher than the UK average of 93%. Across the sub-sectors:

• Craft: in England and Wales, 96% of makers are white; in Scotland, 98% of makers are white; and in Northern Ireland, nearly 100% of makers are white
• Cultural Heritage: 95% of the workforce is white.
• Design: 95% of the workforce is white
• Literature: 94% of the workforce is white
• Music: 96% of the workforce is white; 2% Asian or Asian British; and less than 1% Black or Black British
• Performing arts: 95% of the workforce is white; 1% Black or Black British; and less than 1% Asian or Asian British
• Visual arts: 95% of the workforce is white; 2% Asian or Asian British; and 1% Black or Black British

Sources: Skills Needs Assessment 2007 and Gap Analysis and Market Testing 2007

On average, around 13% of those working in the arts are DDA disabled and/or have a work-limiting disability.  Across the sub-sectors, the proportion of the workforce who are DDA disabled and/or have a work-limiting disability varies:

• Visual arts: 14% overall (15% artists and 13% arts retail)
• Performing arts: 12% overall (9% actors/entertainers; 9% dancers/choreographers; 14% arts officers/producers/directors; 14% arts facilities; and 12% other entertainment activities)
• Literary arts: 13% overall (13% authors/writers and 14% artistic and literary creation)

Sources: Skills Needs Assessment 2007 and Gap Analysis and Market Testing 2007