52 percent of the country's filmmakers are unemployed: 51 percent of those who work with TV drama, 57 percent of those who work with TV productions without a script, and 53 percent of those in advertising.
It is still a small recovery since February 2024, when a whole 68 percent were still unemployed.
But it can change quickly. The number of people who are now planning to leave the film and TV industry in the UK has increased. From 24 percent in September 2023, to 37 percent in February 2024, and currently 38 percent. This can affect the diversity in the industry in the long run, as around 40 percent of those who plan to leave are non-white, compared to 37 percent white. Older people and those with children or other caregiving responsibilities are also severely affected by the strikes.
The news is based on a survey conducted by the trade union Bectu, which states that only six percent of the 2,300 respondents have experienced a full recovery since the strike, which was initiated by the trade unions Writers Guild of America and Sag-Aftra in 2023.
