The results for the Cornwall Council creative census are out for 2025 - with headlines showing that Penzance is the Cornish town with the most people working in the creative sector.

Falmouth and Penryn take the top spot for the places with the most requests for additional workspace, followed by Penzance in second place.

Only 4% of respondents cited their full income came from working in the creative industries, although a further 15% stated that creative work was their main source of income, supplemented by other jobs,

81% of people said their main reason for their work was a way to express their creativity, and 61% of respondents said the ability to work flexibly was a factor too.

Each year, Cornwall Council carries out its census to find out how many people are working in creative industries.

Data from the 2024 survey revealed 10,870 people were employed in creative-related occupations across the county, with 60% of respondents being sole traders or freelancers.

The council said the data also showed there were many well-established creative and cultural businesses in Cornwall, with 47% saying they had been trading for 11 years or more.

The results of the creative census are used to inform a range of policies, according to Cornwall Council. The Creative Census gathers evidence to support Cornwall’s Creative Manifesto.

It gathers in-depth intelligence about creative businesses in Cornwall:

What is their contribution to Cornwall’s economy?
Which sub-sectors are they working in?
How can we understand opportunities for growth and the barriers preventing it?

Across the last four years, Cornwall Council have received 1,618 completed surveys, with 438 contributing to the 2025 survey. The ONS Census 2021 indicates a total of 10,870 individuals in creative related occupations in Cornwall and Isles of Scilly.

Find out more about the results of Cornwall's creative census for 2025