YouTube Creators Added £2.2bn to UK Economy in 2024, Report Finds
YouTube content creators generated £2.2 billion for the UK economy last year and supported 45,000 jobs, according to a new report by Oxford Economics.
The findings were released alongside the launch of an all-party parliamentary group (APPG) aimed at representing UK creators and influencers, who campaigners say have long been overlooked by policymakers.
Feryal Clark, Labour MP for Enfield North and co-chair of the group, hailed creators as “trailblazers of a new creative revolution” whose contributions have been “undervalued in Westminster for too long.”
British fitness influencer Lilly Sabri, who has amassed nearly 6.5 million followers on YouTube, welcomed both the report and the formation of the APPG. “For years, people have questioned whether being a content creator is a real job or if you can build a sustainable career from it,” she told the BBC. “This shows the impact creators are having on the economy and the opportunities they generate.”
The group will provide a platform for creators to highlight challenges they face, such as limited access to training and funding, difficulties finding studio space, and barriers to securing film permits.
“This cross-party forum will break down the barriers that stifle talent, champion creators as pioneers of our time, and ensure Britain leads the world as the home of creativity and innovation,” Ms. Clark said.
Sabri shared her own experience of growing a business from her online platform. “I started on YouTube eight years ago, launched my first business three years ago, and my second soon after,” she said. “Even though my physiotherapy degree plays a big role in my work, none of this would have been possible without YouTube.”
The move signals the growing influence of creators in the political sphere. Earlier this summer, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer hosted 90 influencers at a reception at 10 Downing Street. In the US, the White House has also begun including digital creators alongside traditional journalists in press briefings.
While the new parliamentary group has no legislative power, its creation reflects a recognition of the UK’s creator economy, which continues to expand as streaming platforms and social media shape modern careers.
