New statistics released by Eurostat for the year 2022 indicate a remarkable 14.5% increase in cultural employment in Luxembourg, making it one of the European Union countries with the most substantial growth in this sector. The country’s cultural workforce grew markedly compared to 2021, aligning with a broader EU trend that saw cultural employment rise by 4.5% overall.
The recent data paints a vivid turnaround picture for Luxembourg, which had experienced a 15.1% decline in cultural employment in the period from 2019-2020. Luxembourg is now only second to Cyprus, which recorded an astounding 21.5% growth, in the league of EU nations experiencing the most significant employment spikes in culture-related occupations.
The robust increase in Luxembourg’s cultural employment marks a pivotal moment for the nation’s arts, entertainment, and culture sectors. Whether it is museums, theatres, or music festivals, the country has kickstarted its efforts to becoming a cultural hub within the European Union.
For policymakers and stakeholders in Luxembourg, the latest figures will likely serve as a validation of the strategies implemented to revive and sustain the cultural industry, particularly after the setbacks caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
According to the report, the cultural sector in the European Union employed 7.7 million people in 2022, making up 3.8% of the total employment across the Union. This was a 4.5% increase from the 7.4 million jobs in 2021.
While 19 EU member states saw an increase in cultural employment, eight experienced a decline.
The data also highlighted a positive development concerning gender equality. In 2022, the cultural sector recorded the smallest ever gender employment gap with a mere 1.6 percentage points difference between men and women.
Although specific data for Luxembourg’s gender employment gap in the cultural sector was not provided, the country was cited as having one of the higher differences in favour of women, at 13.3 percentage points.
As Luxembourg revels in its remarkable upswing in cultural employment, the focus will undoubtedly shift to how this growth can be sustained and what it means for the broader economy and societal well-being. With the cultural sector now firmly on the up, the future appears brighter than ever for the Grand Duchy’s vibrant cultural landscape.
