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Significant Decline in Hollywood Writing Jobs Following Writers’ Strike
Following the conclusion of the Hollywood writers’ strike in 2023, a concerning report from the Writers Guild of America (WGA) has surfaced, indicating a dramatic decrease in available writing positions as the industry grapples with the consequences of the changing media landscape.
The WGA’s data reveals a staggering 42% decline in TV writing jobs for the 2023-24 season, equating to a loss of 1,319 positions, bringing the total down to 1,819. This downturn is notable across various levels of employment: co-executive producers and higher-level positions saw a 40% drop, losing 642 jobs, while lower-level roles—such as staff writers and story editors—experienced a 46% decline, totaling 378 fewer jobs. Mid-level positions, which include co-producers and consulting producers, also faced a significant decline of 42%, translating to a reduction of 299 roles.
For the current season, the breakdown of available jobs shows that there are 446 lower-level positions, 421 mid-level jobs, and 952 upper-level roles—underscoring a worrying trend for aspiring and established writers alike.
The WGA attributes the job losses to several factors, including the ongoing trend of cord-cutting from cable TV, a “massive run-up and then pullback in streaming series” driven by Wall Street’s demand for immediate profitability, and studios’ prolonged hesitance to engage in fair negotiations during the writers’ strike.
The WGA strike extended from May to September 2023, during which time the Directors Guild of America successfully reached an agreement with media companies. However, disparate interests led to SAG-AFTRA, representing actors, to join writers on the picket lines, igniting another strike that lasted from July through November 2023. This unprecedented dual-strike scenario resulted in shortened seasons for some scripted shows and the cancellation of previously planned productions. According to the WGA, approximately 37% fewer episodic series covered by the guild were broadcast in the 2023-24 season.
In addition to the impacts of the strikes, Los Angeles has faced other challenges, such as devastating wildfires, which have caused disruptions in TV and film productions, prompting some to relocate operations outside the United States for tax incentives. Uncertainty has also been compounded by reciprocal tariffs enacted during the Trump administration.
In an email to its members, the WGA acknowledged the growing difficulties within the writing profession, stating, “Writing careers have always been difficult to access and sustain, but the contraction has made it especially challenging. We are all subject to the decisions of the companies that control this industry, who have pulled back spending on content based on the demands of Wall Street. Compounding that, the current administration seems intent on causing economic chaos and undermining our democracy.”
Despite stronger-than-expected job growth in March, as indicated by a Bureau of Labor Statistics report showing an increase of 228,000 nonfarm payroll positions in that month (up from a revised figure of 117,000 for February), the unemployment rate edged up to 4.2%, surpassing forecasts. In the motion picture and sound recording industries, there was a decline of 1,200 jobs, resulting in a total of 409,000 positions within that sector. Moreover, broadcasting and content production shed 800 jobs, bringing the total to 331,200, while publishing experienced a loss of 1,500 jobs, amounting to 920,000 total positions.
The Hollywood Reporter first reported on this pressing issue.
Source
www.thewrap.com