From 2009 to 2019, employment in this sector – which includes the performing arts, spectator sports, gambling, entertainment, recreation, museums, parks, and historic sites in this report – increased 42 percent, faster than the 30 percent rate for the whole Employment in the private sector.
In 2019, more than 90,000 people were employed in the arts, entertainment and leisure in 6,250 institutions, according to the report. These jobs had an average salary of $ 79,300 and total wages of $ 7.4 billion. In addition to companies with employees, there are a large number of self-employed, including artists and musicians, according to the report.
In February 2020, just before the pandemic shutdown in New York City, nearly 87,000 people were employed in the arts, entertainment and recreation sectors, the report said. Many large institutions announced closings on March 12th. A national home stay ordinance came into effect on March 22nd. By April, employment in this sector was 34,100.
Budgets in arts and leisure facilities have been “decimated,” the report says, and some organizations and institutions have struggled even after they reopened. They said lower revenue due to capacity constraints, as well as decreased ticket sales, have limited income and require budget cuts.
Many performing arts venues are still closed. Most Broadway theaters don’t expect to reopen until June at the earliest, the report said. The Metropolitan Opera and the New York City Ballet announced that they will not reopen until September.