Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities in Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand
The 2025 edition of the Impact and Outcomes reports highlight the wide-ranging economic, social and cultural impacts of the Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities across Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand. These reports demonstrate how our disciplines deliver direct economic benefit and are essential for building national capabilities. They profile innovative and impactful research and showcase the exciting career paths of our graduates.
The Impact and Outcomes reports are enduring resources for educators, stakeholders and advocacy groups to demonstrate how the Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities underpin the different ways individuals and communities connect to one another, as well as how they contribute to building national capabilities and more skilled workforces.
Australia
In 2025, the World Economic Forum reported that analytical thinking, creative thinking, empathy and active listening and curiosity and lifelong learning are among the top ten in demand skills by employers. These skills attest to the strong interpersonal capacities, communication skills and emotional intelligence which are central to the Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities.
Arts-related industries comprise 2.5% Gross Domestic Product (GDP) to the Australian economy. This is comparable in size to Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing, and the Accommodation and Food Services Industry.
Almost 31% of First Nations students commencing study in 2024 were enrolled in Society and Culture, making our disciplines the biggest cohort of First Nations students across Australia and well placed to help the government achieve the recommendations and goals of the Universities Accord.
In 2024, almost 90% of Humanities, Culture and Social Sciences graduates were in full-time employment within three years of graduating. Employers rated the employability and adaptive skills of our graduates the highest across all study areas with positive ratings over 90%.
Aotearoa New Zealand
The interim Impact and Outcome Aotearoa New Zealand report breaks down how the Arts and Creative sector contributed 4% of the nation’s total GDP, employed close to 118, 000 people and accounted for one-quarter of all Professionals employed in Aotearoa.
Graduates from our disciplines go into diverse and exciting career pathways including landscape architects, media producers, teachers, policy analysts, marketing professionals and intelligence officers. Our disciplines enhance the earning potential of graduates by at least $416,000 on top of a school leaver’s salary.
The Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities go beyond generating economic value and deliver immense cultural and social benefits. Around 80% of New Zealanders report feeling good when they engage with creative activities and 63% of the population believe the Arts supports their wellbeing and helps them define who they are.
Stay tuned for the release of the Impacts and Outcomes Aotearoa New Zealand report soon!
Read previous Impact and Outcomes reports
2024 Impact and Outcomes Australia report
2024 Impact and Outcomes Australia factsheet
