Press release No. 223 of 11 May 2021
WIESBADEN – In 2019, approximately 1.3 million people in Germany were cultural workers. Based on the microcensus, the Federal Statistical Office (Destatis) also reports that they accounted for 3.1% of all persons in employment. During the corona crisis, the cultural sector has been especially affected by the restrictions imposed due to the coronavirus pandemic. However, the effects of these restrictions can be shown at a later time only. A total of 444,250 people, that is one third (34%) of all persons in cultural occupations, were solo self-employed (i.e. self-employed without having any employees) in the pre-crisis year 2019. These also include freelancers. The proportion of solo self-employed people in cultural occupations was almost seven times as high as the relevant share in the entire population in employment, where 5% were solo self-employed.
