DCMS Sectors Economic Estimates
Source: gov.uk (2025-11-27)

This series brings together all documents relating to DCMS Sectors Economic Estimates.

In releases before 7 Feb 2023, figures for the digital sector and telecoms were included in the DCMS sector total. In releases between 7 February 2023 and 30 March 2024, figures for the digital sector and telecoms are presented separately as these policy areas became a Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) responsibility from 7 February 2023.

From April 2024 onwards, Economic Estimates for the digital sector are published by DSIT.

See the Digital Sector Economic Estimates Series (https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/digital-sector-economic-estimates-series)

Portfolio

These bulletins contain statistics on the contribution of DCMS sectors to the UK economy, measured by:

Content

These statistics cover the contributions of the following DCMS sectors to the UK economy:
- civil society
- creative industries
- cultural sector
- gambling
- sport
- tourism
For further information about DCMS sector definitions, see DCMS Sector Economic Estimates Methodology (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/dcms-sectors-economic-estimates-methodology).

Methodology

The methodologies used in the economic estimates series vary depending on the release. For the exact methodology in each release, see the relevant technical notes.

The DCMS sector/sub-sector definitions are similar but not identical across the series.

Accredited official statistics

Annual GVA, regional GVA, business demographics and employment were independently reviewed (https://osr.statisticsauthority.gov.uk/correspondence/national-statistics-confirmation-dcms-sectors-economic-estimates/) by the Office for Statistics Regulation in 2018/19. They comply with the standards of trustworthiness, quality and value in the Code of Practice for Statistics and should be labelled accredited official statistics. Accredited official statistics are called National Statistics in the Statistics and Registration Service Act 2007.

This accreditation is an ongoing responsibility and we have, and will, continue to develop the economic estimates series in line with principles outlined in the Code of Practice for Statistics.

Since the independent review, we have improved the communication of our statistics, their limitations and the wider evidence landscape, including by incorporating additional information alongside each release such as alternative data sources, quality assurance procedures, and quantification of sector overlaps. We have sought and responded to a broad range of stakeholders via two consultation exercises and subsequent analytical work which has, for example, meant we increased the frequency and coverage of the employment publications and introduced an experimental measure of productivity in DCMS sectors, which we hope to regularise.

Some users will be aware that we also reviewed the DCMS sector definitions and assessed the potential for a unified methodology. We reviewed a variety of analytical methods to construct definitions, looking for a method that would be generalisable across all sectors, had coherence and comparability over time and was replicable by others. Based on this work, we do not believe it is optimal or appropriate to construct definitions for all sectors using an identical approach. We have made the Office for Statistics Regulation aware of our approach, and will instead continue to focus on ensuring our definitions are as good as they can be for each sector and always welcome user feedback on this.

Consultation and user feedback

See consultations and responses. (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/dcms-economic-estimates-consultation-responses)

We always welcome user feedback. Please email us on xxx@xxx.xx (mailto:xxx@xxx.xx) or phone us on xx-xxxx-xxxx.

Related statistics

Economic estimates also release ad-hoc estimates (https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/dcms-economic-estimates-ad-hoc-statistical-releases) that have not been included in our standard publications. The department also produces a number of other DCMS statistics (https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-culture-media-and-sport/about/statistics).