The graphic design industry has seen immense growth over the past decade and is now firmly established as a key area of design. However, despite its importance, the exact size of this industry remains somewhat uncertain.
Research from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) in 2018 estimated that there were 810,000 people employed in the field of arts and design in the United States alone. This figure includes graphic designers, web designers, multimedia artists and animators, among other creative professionals.
A more recent report from 2019 by IBISWorld estimated that there were over 500,000 graphic designers employed in the US alone. This figure is likely to be higher when including freelance and part-time workers who may not be included in formal statistics.
The global size of the graphic design industry is even more difficult to quantify due to vast differences between countries in terms of economic development and access to technology. In developed countries like the US or UK, there are likely millions of people involved in some form of graphic design activity. On a global level, estimates range from 10 million to 50 million people with some form of involvement in this industry.
Conclusion:
The exact size of the global graphic design industry is difficult to measure due to differences between countries and lack of available data. However, it is clear that it is a very significant part of our economy with an estimated 500,000 people employed in the US alone and potentially millions more worldwide.