Every tenth employee in the Lake Constance region works in the creative industries

The authors of the study suggest strengthening cooperation between the creative industries and universities in order to exploit the potential of this economic sector.

458,000 people (as of 2015) work in the creative economy in the Lake Constance region. This corresponds to 9.6 percent of the total workforce. The share of the creative economy in the overall economy in Zurich is well above average at 16.8% of all employees - a total of 142,000 people. The region of Eastern Switzerland is also above average with 10.9%, or 72,000 people. These are the findings of the first creative industries report for the Lake Constance region. It was compiled jointly by the Zurich University of the Arts (ZHdK) and the University of Applied Sciences Konstanz Technik, Wirtschaft und Gestaltung (HTWG) with the Statistical Office of the Canton of Zurich as a practice partner and sponsored by the International Lake Constance University (IBH).

For the creative economy report, both those employed in creative businesses, such as an advertising agency, as well as those employed in creative professions outside of the creative sector, such as a graphic designer in the financial sector, were recorded. Zurich and Eastern Switzerland are followed by Vorarlberg with 8.3% and the German administrative districts of Tübingen, Freiburg and Swabia with a creative economy employment share of 7.8% to 7.2%.

The most important submarket of the creative industries in the Lake Constance region is the software industry with a 41% share of employees, ahead of the advertising industry (24%), book and press publishers (14%) and the design industry (14%). In Zurich and the Eastern Switzerland region, the software industry is clearly overrepresented with 46% of employees. It is the strongest creative sector here, ahead of the design industry and the advertising market.

The authors of the study show that the industry complex has hardly been considered an economic factor in its own right to date. "The creative industries are undoubtedly an important driver of innovation for the entire Lake Constance region," says Markus Rhomberg, Head of the Lake Constance International University of Applied Sciences. "Investments in the creative industries strengthen the dynamics of economic development."

"The report shows how interwoven the creative industries are with other sectors in the Lake Constance region," emphasizes Frank Speier, Chairman of the Economy Commission of the International Lake Constance Conference. He believes that a "regular dialog between the economy, those responsible for education in the region and the creative industries is necessary so that politicians can shape the framework conditions for this booming sector even better". The creative industries report is also a start for this important exchange.

Prof. Christoph Weckerle, Head of the Department of Cultural Analysis and Mediation at the Zurich University of the Arts, believes that highly qualified employees and founders are particularly important for the success of the creative industry in the region: "We recommend coordinating the efforts of companies and universities from the entire Lake Constance region with regard to innovative initiatives and formats." This is "central to attracting talent in this area in order to further increase the visibility and attractiveness of the region internationally".