More than half (52%) of the UK’s film and TV workforce are still out of work, a year since the actors’ strike in the US and the subsequent halt in UK film and TV production, according to the Bectu trade union.
Bectu, which represents creative industry workers, surveyed more than 2,300 film and TV workers from across the UK.
A February 2024 survey by Bectu found that 68% were not working, so the latest survey does indicate a slow and small recovery as work in some areas picks up. But Bectu said very few are benefitting.
The union said more people than ever are considering leaving the sector altogether. 38% of respondents said they planned to leave the film and TV industry in the next five years, up from 24% in September 2023 and 37% in February 2024.
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This figure is even higher in unscripted TV, with more than half (53%) of those working in the sector saying they plan to leave the industry.
The proportion of those out of work is high across all sectors, including film (52%), TV drama (51%), unscripted TV (57%) and commercials (53%).
Just 6% say they have seen a full recovery in their employment since the US industrial action was called. In February, this figure was 4%.
BAME respondents are more likely to report being out of work currently than their white counterparts (51% white, 62% Black/Black British, 67% Asian/Asian British and 56% other BAME workers are currently out of work).
Philippa Childs, Head of Bectu, said: “There has been a lot of discussion about the state of the industry over the past year – about strikes in the US, a downturn in ad revenue, and reduced commissioning. Clearly, little has materially improved for the workforce and these discussions must be laser-focused on how we can collectively make things better for workers, who are critical to the sector’s success but continue to bear the brunt of industry changes.”
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