The impact of the recent strikes in the entertainment industry is evident in the latest jobs report from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. While the overall jobs report for the country was strong, with the U.S. adding 336,000 jobs and the unemployment rate remaining steady, the film and TV sector experienced significant job losses.
According to the BLS report, the film and TV sector lost an additional 7,000 jobs in September, following a loss of 17,000 jobs in August. The report highlights that employment in this sector has declined by 45,000 jobs since May, largely due to the impact of the labor disputes associated with the strikes.
The strikes in question include the recently resolved Writers Guild of America (WGA) strike, which began on May 2, and the ongoing SAG-AFTRA strike, which commenced on July 14. The labor disputes led to a substantial slowdown in the entertainment industry, with many productions coming to a halt.
Comparatively, other sectors saw different trends in employment during the same period. The publishing sector added over 6,000 jobs in the last month, while the telecommunications sector remained relatively stable.
REELated:
The positive news is that with the conclusion of the WGA strike, productions are gradually resuming work. Late-night broadcast shows have returned to the air this month.
It is expected that once the SAG-AFTRA strike is resolved, productions will swiftly resume. However, the suspension of talks between the actors’ union and the AMPTP casts a shadow of doubt over production resuming in 2023.
For Reel 360 News’ full strike coverage, click here.
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