We’ve lost about 200,000 creative jobs since the rise of AI. The urbanist who coined ‘the creative class’ said AI is coming for the ‘grind-out jobs’

Since the advent of AI, approximately 200,000 creative jobs have been lost, according to a report by Fortune. The creator of the term "creative class," Richard Florida, has expressed concern over these losses. In a recent analysis of Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) data, Florida noted that three creative sectors, including film and sound recording, broadcasting and streaming, and newspaper, magazine, and book publishing, lost around 189,000 jobs between August 2022 and August 2026.

Film and sound recording alone saw a 27% decline, or 120,000 jobs, during the same period. Broadcasting and content providers, such as streaming services, lost about 29,000 jobs, while publishers lost approximately 40,000 jobs between 2022 and 2025. This trend has been particularly pronounced in film and television production, where employment peaked at 289,100 in October 2022 before falling by over a third.

The broader film and sound recording sector has also seen its lowest levels since 1995, aside from the pandemic, with 322,300 jobs nationwide as of June. Despite these losses, Florida remains optimistic about the future of the creative class, attributing the damage primarily to AI's impact. He suggests that AI is automating manual and cognitive work, while enhancing the value of social skills, a key aspect of the creative class.

He argues that this shift could make cities like New York and San Francisco even more important, as they become hubs for both the creative and service classes. Florida also notes that remote work is contributing to the rise of these cities as "global superstar hubs." However, he acknowledges that not all neighborhood establishments are thriving, such as movie theaters and bowling alleys, which have declined significantly since 2001.

These venues are becoming too expensive to operate and visit, leading to a decline in community interaction and a rise in unhappiness among residents. Florida believes that AI both enhances and eliminates job opportunities, and while some roles may change, the creative class is likely to adapt and flourish in the face of this technological advancement.