Community Life
Arts, Entertainment and Recreation Employment


Arts, Entertainment and Recreation Employment

What does this measure?

The share of jobs in the Arts, Entertainment and Recreation sector, shown as a percentage of all jobs in a geographical area.

Why is this important?

Arts and culture bring distinction and visitors to a region, and employment in the sector provides a measure of the sector's relative financial strength and contribution to the larger regional economy.

How is our county doing?

In 2020, 2.3% of jobs in Essex County were in the Arts, Entertainment and Recreation sector, representing about 6,800 people. This was a higher share of jobs than in Massachusetts and the U.S. (both at 1.9%). Since 2000, employment in this sector increased by 0.5 percentage points in Essex County, equal to the state (0.5 points) and slightly higher than the national (0.4 points) levels during the same period.

How do we compare to similar counties?

In 2020, Westchester County had a higher share of jobs in the Arts, Entertainment and Recreation sector at 2.9%. Lake County, IL (2.0%) and Middlesex County, MA (1.6%) both had smaller shares than in Essex County. Since 2000, Lake County, IL has seen a similar increase as Essex in this sector's employment.

Notes about the data

County employment estimates are reported by place of work, not place of residence.

Arts, Entertainment and Recreation Employment
200020012002200320042005200620072008200920102011201220132014201520162017201820192020
Essex County, MA1.8%1.8%1.8%1.8%1.9%1.9%1.9%2.0%2.1%2.2%2.3%2.3%2.6%2.6%2.5%2.3%2.3%2.3%2.3%2.3%2.3%
Middlesex County, MA1.0%1.1%1.1%1.2%1.2%1.2%1.2%1.2%1.2%1.2%1.2%1.2%1.2%1.2%1.3%1.3%1.3%1.4%1.5%1.6%1.6%
Lake County, IL1.7%1.9%1.6%1.7%1.7%1.7%1.6%1.5%1.8%2.1%2.5%2.6%2.3%2.3%2.2%1.9%2.2%2.3%2.4%2.4%2.0%
Westchester County, NY2.0%2.3%2.3%2.2%2.1%2.0%2.0%2.4%2.5%2.5%2.4%2.4%2.4%2.5%2.7%2.7%2.8%2.7%2.9%2.8%2.9%
Massachusetts1.4%1.4%1.5%1.5%1.6%1.6%1.6%1.7%1.7%1.7%1.8%1.7%1.8%1.8%1.8%1.8%1.9%1.9%1.9%2.0%1.9%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau




Number of Arts, Entertainment and Recreation Jobs
200020012002200320042005200620072008200920102011201220132014201520162017201820192020
Essex County, MA5,0865,1114,9104,9995,1085,0745,2135,5805,7675,8155,9586,0727,0867,0496,8986,4956,7656,7216,7966,8446,784
Middlesex County, MA8,7719,2559,1659,2489,5859,45710,07510,06610,1269,4769,3889,3839,98910,07610,67311,60711,65412,20113,33914,64114,827
Lake County, IL5,3275,8955,1895,4245,4065,4375,3595,0376,1086,7517,7647,8747,3547,6027,2046,2597,1037,3417,6187,6736,403
Westchester County, NY8,0418,9818,7198,4028,1937,7557,9249,4099,8589,3488,6709,0169,1859,40710,18510,39411,05610,45611,26611,05511,173
Massachusetts43,14445,36344,89445,06446,41147,50948,76150,76352,26851,22751,32351,58954,53454,05154,98056,46460,23562,02064,57066,15065,753

Source: U.S. Census Bureau




INDICATORS TREND | ESSEX COUNTY