Information, Culture and Recreation Industry

October 2010

· The industry employed about 71,600 people in 2008

· Average annual employment growth rate in the industry between 2009 and 2013 is expected to be 2.6%

Profile

The information and culture industry includes businesses engaged in

· broadcasting(including traditional radio and television broadcasting and broadcasting over the Internet)

· film, television and digital media production and sound recording

· the performing arts

· telecommunications

· providing Internet services and web search portals

· data processing and information services

The recreation industry includes businesses and organizations that operate facilities or provide services to meet the cultural, entertainment and recreational interests of their patrons.

Occupations include librarians, cinematographers, reporters, museum curators and professional athletes.

Performance and outlook

Although the industry’s share of economic activity in Alberta has increased since 1999, its share of total employment has decreased.

The information and communications segment of the industry has done better than average. This is due in part to a large number of technology business start-ups in Calgary, the Alberta government’s measures to increase the number of new companies in emerging advanced technology sectors, Alberta’s position as a world leader in geomatics engineering (gathering, processing and delivering geographic information), development of the Alberta SuperNet, and the fact that Alberta has the second highest level of Internet use in the country.

The information and communications sector is threatened by a shortage of and competition for workers and low-cost labour in other countries. Rapid and dramatic changes in the industry are likely as technological convergence—the blending of telecommunications, information technology, media and entertainment, and consumer electronics—continues. Convergence offers opportunities to grow and diversify at relatively low cost.

Opportunities in the culture segment include continued demand from the international film industry. The long-term challenges for the culture segment include its small size, reliance on public funding and increased competition worldwide.

Below average demand is expected for managers, librarians, archivists, conservators, curators, announcers, creative and performing artists, creative designers, craftspersons, writers, public relations professionals, photographers, coaches and referees, tour and recreational guides and casino operators.

About 9,600 jobs will be created in the industry by 2013.

For more information see Alberta Career and Industry Outlook or Alberta Industry Profiles.

Occupations in the industry

For a list of occupations and related occupations in this industry, see OCCinfo Search by Industry: Information, Culture and Recreation page.