September 29, 2026
Creative work in the US is shrinking: 200,000 jobs vanished in four years
Over four years, US creative industries lost more than 200,000 jobs, Joseph Politano calculated on Sep 27, 2026. Around 50,000 jobs disappeared over the past year. Film and television lost nearly a third of their employment over the same period.
Film and television relied on ticket sales and cable-network revenue. In 2025, ticket sales were 25% below their 2019 peak, while cable-network revenue fell 18%; streaming did not make up the difference.
AI is not the only factor. The author of the analysis does not separate GenAI-related layoffs from Hollywood consolidation, offshoring, and audiences shifting to social media. Still, in the second quarter of 2026, 32% of workers in US creative industries used GenAI for work, compared with 45% of all American workers.
In summer 2026, US film and television employment was near a 30-year low.
