Overview of Hollywood Jobs Are Disappearing
This episode of The Journal (The Wall Street Journal & Spotify Studios) examines a sudden, severe downturn in Hollywood’s “creative middle class” — the behind-the-scenes workers (sound mixers, grips, assistant directors, animators, production managers, writers, etc.) who make film and TV production possible. Reporter Ben Fritz profiles workers, shows how the 2023 writers and actors strikes intersected with a broader industry reset, and explains why many production jobs have vanished and may not return to previous levels.
Key takeaways
- Hollywood production activity in Los Angeles has fallen sharply since 2022; a data firm found a >40% drop in major U.S. studio productions starting shooting between 2022–2025.
- Los Angeles County employment in motion picture industry: ~142,000 (end of 2022) → ~100,000 (end of 2024). About 42,000 jobs lost in two years.
- Production days in L.A. are at their lowest level since at least 1995 (pre-data baseline).
- Causes: streaming bubble bursting (investors pushed studios to prioritize profits), the 2023 writers/actors strikes (which halted production), and studios using the pause to permanently scale back output and cut costs.
- Growth areas (YouTube, TikTok) create far fewer, lower-paid, non-union jobs — not an easy or equivalent alternative for unionized middle-class Hollywood workers.
- Local economic and human impacts are severe: many workers face reduced incomes, housing strain, and loss of professional identity.
Who the episode profiles
- Thomas Curley (production sound mixer): Oscar winner for Whiplash, worked on Yellowstone and CSI: Vegas. Bought a home in 2023 for $650,000, has barely worked since April 2024, mortgage in forbearance, facing potential move out of L.A. if no long-term gig arrives. Emotional toll from not being able to create and contribute professionally is emphasized.
- Dozens of other interviews (animators, writers, production managers) corroborate the narrative of dramatic drop-off in work and extended unemployment.
Causes explained
Industry economics and the streaming reset
- Late 2010s–early 2020s: massive growth in streaming led to an explosion of TV production.
- By 2022 the U.S. streaming market saturated; companies (e.g., Netflix) lost subscribers and investors shifted focus from growth to profitability.
- Studios decided to cut costs by producing less content.
The 2023 strikes as a turning point
- Writers and actors struck in 2023 over pay, benefits, and AI protections.
- The pause provided studios an opportunity to “reset” production volumes rather than simply restart prior levels once the strikes ended.
- After strikes concluded, production resumed at a lower baseline.
Structural shifts
- Production migration overseas (UK, Canada, Eastern Europe) reduces L.A.-based jobs.
- User-generated content (YouTube, TikTok) is growing audience attention-wise but typically employs fewer people per project and pays less; most of these roles are non-union.
Evidence & data highlighted
-
40% drop in major studio productions starting shooting (2022 → 2025) — cited from an industry data firm.
- Los Angeles County motion picture employment fell from 142,000 (end-2022) to 100,000 (end-2024) — Bureau of Labor Statistics.
- L.A. shooting days at the lowest level since at least 1995.
Impacts
- Loss of middle-class union jobs: lower household incomes, increased financial stress (mortgage forbearance, depleted savings).
- Potential long-term shrinkage of Hollywood: fewer productions, fewer people employed, and an industry that may not return to prior scale.
- Local economy harms (comparable analogy to Detroit’s auto-industry collapse) — empty sound stages, less on-lot activity, fewer support-service gigs.
Notable quotes
- “It happened very suddenly… It’s a dramatic drop-off.” — Ben Fritz on work availability.
- “If this had gone for 10 years, I would have been set.” — Thomas on the canceled CSI: Vegas opportunity.
- “They restarted at a much lower level than they'd been at before.” — Ben on post-strike production levels.
- “I put everything into this… I’m sad that I don’t get to create like I used to.” — Thomas on the emotional toll.
What this means and practical suggestions
- The industry may permanently employ fewer people; premium content will continue, but at lower overall volume.
- For affected workers (suggestions inferred from the reporting):
- Prioritize emergency savings and financial planning.
- Diversify skills (e.g., post-production, remote/streaming-specialized roles, adjacent industries).
- Explore work in other production hubs (Canada, UK) or related creative/tech sectors.
- Network and pursue longer-term series work when available; unions remain a key source of middle-class wages — consider engagement with union resources.
- For communities and policymakers (inferred implications): consider workforce retraining programs and local economic support for sectors hit by production declines.
Why it matters
This is not just an industry story about fewer TV shows — it’s a labor and local-economy story. Tens of thousands of skilled, often unionized workers who powered L.A.’s creative middle class have lost steady work, threatening livelihoods and reshaping Hollywood’s future scale and footprint.
Credits: The episode is a co-production of Spotify and The Wall Street Journal; reporting by Ben Fritz with additional reporting by Laura Foreman.