OTTAWA – Led by Ontario, culture activities accounted for 3.0% of Canada's total gross domestic product (GDP) and 3.5% of jobs in 2014, according to new data from Statistics Canada.
Figures released Thursday showed that culture GDP in Canada rose 2.8% in 2014, following a 4.3% gain in 2013. Among the provinces and territories, culture's share of GDP ranged from 1.3% in Saskatchewan to 3.8% in Ontario. Culture GDP increased in all jurisdictions in 2014, except the Northwest Territories (-2.4%), New Brunswick (-1.6%) and Prince Edward Island (-0.6%).
Audio-visual and interactive media (+4.7%) contributed more than half of the overall growth in culture GDP in Canada in 2014, with sound recording (+7.9%) posting the largest percentage gain. The only decrease was in written and published works (-1.0%).
Culture jobs in Canada decreased 0.8% in 2014, after increasing 1.1% in 2013. Ontario (-0.6%), British Columbia (-1.7%) and Manitoba (-4.7%) contributed the most to the decline in culture jobs in Canada.
Audio-visual and interactive media (-2.4%), written and published works (-1.9%), and live performance (-3.1%) all contributed to the decline in culture jobs in 2014, which was partially offset by increases in visual and applied arts (+1.0%), governance, funding and professional support (+1.3%), and sound recording (+0.6%).
