JOBS in Scotland's creative industries have gone on growing despite the tough economic climate.
The number of people who are employed in film, television, radio, computer games and other work classed as creative in Scotland has risen by 4% to 12,500 over the last four years.
A new report found that in the UK more than 4000 jobs have been added to the creative industries in the same period, up from 188,150 in 2009 to 192,200, a 2% rise.
The study, by Creative Skillset, the skills council for the creative industries, revealed the share of creative UK jobs in Scotland had risen – up from 4% of the total to 7%.
It found 13% of all film production in the UK is in Scotland, with more than two-thirds of it in London. A fifth of the UK's computer-game production employment is in Scotland.
There has recently been increased focus on the need for a major film studio to be built in Scotland, with Culture Secretary Fiona Hyslop setting up a "film studio delivery group" to look into the idea.
Supporters including leading Scottish Hollywood producer Iain Smith believe a studio would greatly increase the nation's share of movie business.
The majority of the TV workforce in the UK is based in London, followed by Wales, the north-west of England and Scotland, at 6%.
A total of 832 companies participated in the research.
Women now represent 36% of the creative industries workforce, an increase of almost 16,000, and the percentage is higher in Scotland, at 40%.
In film production in Scotland, more than a third of those employed are women.
The increase is across all creative media industries and arrests a decline seen between 2006 and 2009. The proportion of freelancers working in the industry has remained constant at 24%.
Dinah Caine, chief executive of Creative Skillset, said: "This census forms part of a wider remit of research enabling us to better understand the needs of the industry and address key skills gaps that exist.
"It is hugely positive that employment levels within the creative industries have grown despite the challenging economic climate.
"We welcome the increased representation of women within the workforce. However, clearly more needs to be done to encourage a greater diversity in our workforce."
Professor Mike Campbell, the chair of Creative Skillset's research committee, said: "The census provides insight into the changing composition of the industries' employment patterns and geography over time.
"It enables companies to benchmark their own workforce against that of the industries as a whole and to target skills investments to specific needs."
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