TV Writing Jobs Plunge 42% This Season, WGA Reports (Exclusive)

Despite the 2023 Hollywood strikes being behind them, writers continue to feel the strain.

On Friday, the Writers Guild of America unveiled updated employment figures that underscored recent drops in television writing positions throughout different tiers of the industry. Post-Peak TV Those at the pinnacle of their professions suffered the highest losses in terms of quantity.

Out of the total reduction of 1,319 TV writer roles from the 2022-23 period to the 2023-24 period before strikes occurred, 642 positions vanished—representing a drop of 40%—at the co-executive producer level and above (including those moving up towards showrunners). Writers at lower levels such as staff writer, story editor, and executive story editor experienced the second-highest job losses, with their numbers dropping by 378 posts—a decrease of 46%. Positions considered mid-tier, ranging from co-producer to consulting/supervising producer, saw a cutback of 299 jobs, equating to a 42% downturn.

In total, there were 1,819 television writing positions during the previous season, marking a 42 percent decrease compared to the 2022-23 period. The figures for last year are significantly lower than those recorded during the pandemic-hit season of 2019-20, when 2,722 writers were engaged.

The WGA states that cord-cutting and corporate greed are at fault.

"As the industry undergoes transformation — with declines in both cable television subscriptions and programming, along with a significant surge followed by a retreat in streaming content due to Wall Street’s demand for faster profitability from these platforms — the total count of available TV jobs has decreased," according to the most recent jobs report issued by the WGA.

The report indicated that the "extended reluctance of studios to agree upon a reasonable deal in 2023" contributed to shortening the television season for 2023-24.

The WGA writers strike It ran from May through September 2023. The Directors Guild of America struck an agreement with media firms; however, actors joined the picketing as well. the SAG-AFTRA strike It ran from July to November. The seasons of scripted shows were shortened, and several renewals were cancelled. According to the report, about 37 percent fewer WGA-covered episodic series aired during the 2023-24 period.

The report was distributed to WGA members on Friday morning via the WGA West board of directors and the WGA East council. The Hollywood Reporter obtained the email.

"The path to establishing and maintaining writing careers has traditionally been fraught with challenges, yet the recent contraction has exacerbated these difficulties significantly," states the message sent to members. "Our fates are intertwined with those of the corporations dominating this sector, which have reduced their investments in content production due to pressures from financial markets. Adding to this predicament, the present government appears determined to create economic instability and erode democratic principles," adds the statement.

Reliable WGA information for the currently ongoing 2024-25 television season remains months away The guild stated. The WGA's renewed agreement with the studios ought to assist in rebounding employment levels – albeit somewhat.

The focus isn’t solely on creating more job opportunities, although that remains a key objective for the WGA. The aim during the 2023 negotiations was to prevent cutbacks, as well as ensure that “regardless of how many productions these studios undertake, they offer quality employment,” according to a statement from a WGA representative. THR for this story.

Even though movie scripts might seem like an escape during this era after Peak TV, they aren’t necessarily safer for writers. Despite the relatively steady count of films under Writers Guild of America protection in recent years, fewer screenwriters are employed—down by 15%. Additionally, their income has dropped by six percent.

More from The Hollywood Reporter

Employees at Los Angeles's Natural History Museum and La Brea Tar Pits Have Created a Union
During the "Stay in L.A." rally, working professionals from Hollywood unite to advocate for better incentives for Southern California’s hallmark industry.