Commerce official outlines Washington’s creative economy growth, strategy and workforce plans

Shannon Roach Halberstadt, creative economy industry sector lead for the Washington State Department of Commerce, told the Senate Business, Financial Services, Gaming & Trade Committee on March 13 that Washington’s creative economy employs more than 91,000 people and accounts for roughly $70.2 billion in economic value.

Halberstadt said the creative economy “means jobs and it means businesses right here in Washington state,” and described the sector as including architecture, culinary arts, cultural institutions, creative technology, design and advertising, fashion, film and television, music, performing and visual arts, and publishing. She cited United Nations estimates that put the global creative economy at about $2.3 trillion and nearly 50 million jobs worldwide.

The department presented key data showing Washington’s creative industries generate 5.1% of state employment and 7.6% of compensation, with…