The creative class thesis--that towns need to attract engineers, architects, artists, and people in other creative occupations to compete in today's economy--may be particularly relevant to rural communities, which tend to lose much of their talent when young adults leave. The ERS creative class codes indicate a county's share of population employed in occupations that require "thinking creatively." Variables used to construct the ERS creative class measure include number and percent employed in creative class occupations and a metro/nonmetro indicator for all counties, 1990 and 2000. A break-out of employment in the arts is included.

Data Set
Number and percent employed in creative class occupations for all counties, 1990 and 2000. A break-out of employment in the arts is included.		10/17/2007

Last updated: Thursday, July 05, 2012

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