'Sustained worklessness' is putting huge pressure on the film and TV workforce, with almost three-quarters considering leaving the industry in the past year, the Film & TV Charity has warned.
In its second Money Matters survey of more than 2,000 industry workers, the FTVC found that 74% are weighing up whether to exit TV for financial reasons.
Some 43% have already taken firm steps to leave, up from 32% in the first report, published in January 2024.
Meanwhile, the proportion who find it ‘very difficult’ to manage financially has increased from 20% to 26%.
More than a fifth (22%) are exerpiencing 'sustained worklessness': they were not in work at the time of the survey, had worked for fewer than three months last year and typically experienced a gap of seven months between jobs.
Nearly half (46%) of freelancers found it difficult to manage financially compared to 27% of permanent employees.
Just over a third (36%) said they had less than £1,000 in savings, which is slightly below the 42% declaring this previously.
“If the industry continues on its current path and doesn’t address the financial pressures faced by too many of its workers, we risk losing not just individuals but the collective expertise and creative excellence that power the UK’s screen industries,” warned FTVC chief executive Marcus Ryder.
“These sectors drive growth, innovation and cultural influence, yet the talent behind them is being choked off by financial insecurity.”
Ryder urged the industry to take “meaningful, coordinated action” across policy, education, and employment practices, and developing bespoke hybrid pension products and tax relief for freelancers.
