Optimism among TV, film and radio workers has hit a four-year low, with two-thirds of freelancers struggling to find work in the past year, according to a Creative Access report.
Less than half of respondents to the Thrive: An Industry in Flux report, which spans the creative sector, said they had made progress in their career this year.
Some 87% had not received a promotion, 83% had not had a pay rise, and 73% had received no training in the past year.
Among TV, film and radio freelancers, around 64% said they had found work hard to come by, compared to 46% of those working elsewhere in the creative sector in areas such as music, theatre and dance, and PR, marketing and advertising.
This is slightly up from last year, when 61% of TV, film and radio freelancers had found less work.
However, 27% of TV, film and radio freelancers said their volume of work had increased, up from 13% last year, with only 9% saying it had stayed the same.
Overall, 31% said they were optimistic about their career prospects – down from 66% in 2022.
Film, TV and radio workers were the least optimistic at 30%.
Creative Access said the report shows that it is "harder than ever” to progress a creative career.
The social enterprises's chief executive Mel Rodrigues said the findings are a reminder of the “critical mass of skilled and experienced talent” that could leave the industry unless more opportunities arise.
“The creative industries are experiencing a period of profound and sustained upheaval,” she said. “With optimism fading and career progression stalling, it’s vital that we now double down on our support for under-represented talent.
AI
The report, which is based on responses from 200 individuals and 100 employers, also took the pulse of how the industry is getting to grips with AI.
Since last year, when 3% of creative organisations used it, deployment of the tech has rocketed, with 53% of firms using it.
Yet 82% of individuals had serious concern about the implications of its use in the creative sector, and only 18% had received training in how to use it.
One in five organisations are currently using AI for talent acquisition, job ads, recruitment and HR.
With seven out of 10 in 2024’s report saying they planned to use AI in hiring, Creative Access warned of the risks it poses to diversity, given the recognised biases in AI tools.
Inclusion
In TV, film and radio, 72% said they worked in a supportive and inclusive culture, up from 61% last year.
But for the first time since the report’s launch in 2022, the overall number of employers using inclusive recruitment practices has not risen.
In a continuing trend, less than half - 47% - of employers said their workforce was becoming increasingly representative.
Among film, TV and radio organisations, 56% said they were more representative, up from 53% last year but down from 2022’s 74%.
Diversity, equity and inclusion efforts remain overwhelmingly focused on entry-level positions and 62% of employers had a DE&I lead or team, down from 70% last year and 74% in 2023.
