TV Writing Jobs Fell by 42 Percent in 2023-24 Season, WGA Says (Exclusive)

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Even with the 2023 strikes in Hollywood’s rearview mirror, writers are still feeling the pinch.

Last Friday, the Writers Guild of America disclosed fresh employment data showing a drop in TV writing positions at different ranks since the Peak TV era. The most significant reductions in numbers have been observed among the highest-ranking professionals in the field post-Peak TV.

1,319 less TV writer jobs were available for the 2023-24 season compared to the previous year, before strikes began. Out of these, a decrease of 40% or 642 positions was observed at senior levels such as co-executive producer and above, including showrunners. Lower-level writers like staff writer, story editor, and executive story editor were next in line, experiencing a drop of 46%, or 378 fewer jobs compared to the previous season. Mid-level positions like co-producer through consulting/supervising producer also saw a decrease of 42% or 299 jobs for the upcoming season.

In total, last season saw a decrease of about 42% in television writing jobs compared to the 2022-23 season, amounting to 1,819 positions. Remarkably, these figures are lower than those from the COVID season of 2019-20, which had a workforce of 2,722 writers.

Cord-cutters and corporate greed are to blame, the WGA says.

The WGA’s latest report states that as the television industry undergoes change – with fewer cable TV subscriptions and programming, and a surge followed by a decrease in demand for streaming series due to Wall Street’s pressure for quicker profits from streaming platforms – the number of TV jobs has decreased.

As a devoted fan, I can’t help but point out that the extended reluctance on the part of studios to reach a fair agreement in 2023 was another factor contributing to the premature conclusion of the 2023-24 TV season.

In the year 2023, I found myself right smack in the middle of an unprecedented writers’ strike by the Writers Guild of America, which lasted from May to September. The Directors Guild of America managed to secure a deal with media companies, but the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) joined the fray, leading to a strike that carried on from July to November. This labor action resulted in seasons of our favorite scripted shows being cut short and some pickups being scrapped altogether. The report revealed that around 37% fewer WGA-covered episodic series graced our screens during the 2023-24 season.

On Friday morning, the WGA West board of directors and WGA East council emailed the report to WGA members. The Hollywood Reporter received a copy of the email.

It’s been tough to break into and keep a writing career going, but the recent economic downturn has made it even harder,” the message to members states. “We’re all at the mercy of the corporations that run this industry, who are cutting back on content production due to pressures from Wall Street. To make matters worse, the current government appears determined to create economic turmoil and threaten our democratic values.

Information from WGA regarding the ongoing 2024-25 TV season, set to continue for several more months, remains scarce. However, the recently signed WGA contract with studios is expected to aid in job recovery – though not fully.

While creating more job opportunities is indeed part of their current focus, the WGA’s 2023 negotiations were not only aimed at preventing downsizing but also at ensuring that any projects the companies undertake result in quality jobs. This was emphasized by a WGA spokesperson during an interview with THR for this article.

In case writers might perceive movies as a secure refuge amidst the post-Peak TV era, they’re not. While the quantity of WGA-covered films has remained relatively consistent over recent years, the number of screenwriters actively working has decreased by 15%. Additionally, screenwriter income has dropped by approximately 6%.

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2025-04-11 21:25