ABSTRACT
As background, the COVID pandemic affected the competitiveness and sustainability of cultural and creative industries around the world. In particular, social sustainability must be promoted in a formal framework, namely, an organizational ergonomics framework. However, there are not enough results and findings in the literature in this regard. This article shows a critical review of the literature related to the problem mentioned, intending to determine the opportunities, challenges, and controvertible aspects that could support development of the cultural and creative industries. As result, the main challenges are (1) the lack of reference frameworks and informality, (2) comparative understaffing, and (3) the strengthening of the value and supply chains. The opportunities are (1) cultural and creative industries as a new key element of strategic development for regional competitiveness, (2) cohesion and social belonging, and (3) the diversity of cultural and creative expressions. Finally, regarding the application of organizational ergonomics in the cultural and creative Industries to promote social sustainability, the theoretical and practical implications, managerial implications, and future research lines are discussed. In addition, the limitations of the research are explained, clarifying that the results generated are not conclusive, but rather that they establish a starting point for research, development, and innovation (R + D + i) in support of the orange economy.