Q4 2025 Insights
The workforce in the Media, Arts, & Entertainment industries presents a paradox of higher-than-average earnings against pervasive job market instability and deep worker anxiety. According to data from the US Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), median annual wages for media and communication occupations, arts and design occupations, and entertainment and sports occupations are all notably higher than the median for all US occupations. However, the BLS also projects that employment growth in media, communication, arts, and design occupations will be slower than the average for all occupations over the next decade. The industry's employment growth is primarily driven by the need to replace workers who leave the field, rather than significant expansion. This indicates that while the pay can be good for those who secure roles, the overall number of available jobs is not increasing substantially, pointing to an intensely competitive environment.
Worker sentiments across socials over the last forty-five days reveal a profound sense of crisis and disillusionment, particularly in the film, television, and animation sectors. Workers frequently describe the industry as "dying" or being in a state of continuous "downfall," driven by the bursting of the "streaming bubble". During the streaming wars, production expanded rapidly, creating a temporary boom in jobs, but investors have since pulled back, leading to sharp budget cuts, fewer productions, and mass layoffs. This has resulted in a market where there are significantly more qualified professionals than available jobs, making the process of finding work extremely difficult, even for experienced veterans. The sentiment is that the glamour of the industry is a myth, masking a culture of overwork, exploitation, and abuse, where long hours are normalized and pay is not commensurate with the grueling schedule, effectively amounting to the equivalent of two full-time jobs.
August 2025
It all begins with an idea.
Employees within media, arts & entertainment are deeply conflicted. There is a strong sense of pride and satisfaction in the creative and meaningful nature of the work, especially when original and unassisted by AI. However, this is consistently challenged by the chaotic and demanding reality of the job. Professionals on social media frequently discuss burnout and the emotional toll of an always-on work culture. A common theme is the “feast/famine” nature of the work, where professionals either have unreasonable hours on a project for a single organization or are in between gigs, which makes it difficult to maintain stability. While the passion for the work remains strong, many question its long-term sustainability due to the personal sacrifices required. Others are questioning loyalty to single companies and whether their work is simply being studied by LLMs, ultimately leading to their replacement. Hedging risks through the gig economy appears to be what many are doing to avoid the peril of committing to a single company only to be laid off. Tools such as Veo3 by Gemini and other generative AI tools that create media content almost instantaneously are threatening media professionals’ place in their industry, as well as artists and entertainers, alike.
The media and entertainment sector is in a period of intense restructuring and competition. While official job reports show little change in employment numbers over the last 30 days, there have been signs of trouble. Large media companies in the US announced plans to cut hundreds of jobs as part of a restructuring plan. The industry is also facing stiff competition from social media platforms, which are becoming dominant forces in both content and advertising. This is driving a shift away from traditional media roles towards digital and social media-focused positions.