Media dominated by young childless graduates
20 February 2004
The majority of people working in television, radio and interactive media in the UK are graduates, most are aged under 35 and few have dependents. Skillset's Workforce Survey, published today, has found that 66% of the audio visual workforce are qualified to degree level compared to 16% of the UK workforce as a whole; 62% are aged under 35 with just 8% aged over 50. 82% are based in England, nearly half (47%) in London; and only one in five has any dependents.
Overall representation of women (39%), minority ethnic groups (6%) and disabled people (3%) remains low with only 28% of the workforce as a whole reporting entry to the industry via an advertisement. The majority secured their first job through less formal channels: a friend, relative or by direct contact with an employer.
Skillset's Workforce Survey questioned nearly 2000 employees and freelancers working in the audio visual industries over spring and summer 2003 and found that despite a highly qualified workforce, almost two thirds reported training needs. 9 out of 10 who sought training reported barriers to receiving it including availability of information and cost of courses. 27% of freelancers cited possible loss of earnings compared with 8% of employees.
Clive Jones, Chief Executive of ITV News Group and Skillset Chair, said:
"The results confirm that we have at our disposal one of the most qualified workforces in the UK. But ours is a business characterised by constant change. Those working in the media industries need to be continually developing their skills to keep up with those changes and keep us, as an industry, ahead of the game. The survey also highlights that the majority got their first step on the career ladder through nepotism and contacts. This has to change. Access to the industry for people from all walks of life must be improved or we risk alienating our diverse audiences. A better structure of career progression, for which skills and talent development is a key factor, will also help with retention levels which are flagged as a concern in the results."
Workforce survey forms were distributed, via employers, amongst a targeted, representative sample of freelancers and employees. The results provide the most comprehensive profile ever produced of the skills base within the media and will shape the future training and development strategy of the audio visual industries.
61% of respondents had entered the industry after 1994 and this was the case for 70% of women. However, women are less represented in older segments of the workforce with 33% of women aged over 35 compared to 43% of men. Women make up less than half of the workforce in every sector except broadcast television where exactly half of the workforce is female. Representation is lowest in computer games (16%) and post production (30%). Women also earn less than men. 38% earned less than £20,000 compared with 23% of men. 5% earned more than £50,000 compared with 13% of men.
The highest percentage (81%) of graduates in any one sector can be found in the three interactive media sectors - web design, CD Rom production and computer games. 24% of the workforce as a whole has a post graduate qualification and of the majority of the workforce educated to degree level, one quarter holds a media studies degree.
63% of employees and 67% of freelancers reported training needs at the time of the survey and some major clusters of skills emerged as areas in which training was needed, including:
Editing, studio operations and other post production skills;
Producing, production and directing;
Web design and on-line skills;
Management and business skills.
Just over a quarter (27%) of respondents reported ever receiving structured careers advice and guidance. A considerably higher proportion of people working in broadcast radio had received advice than in any other sector (40%). Nearly half (44%) of minority ethnic group respondents had received some careers advice during their career, compared with just over a quarter (27%) of white respondents.
-ENDS-
SKILLSET PRESS OFFICE:
Eve Ragout
020 7520 5752
07968 010 325
eve@skillset.org
Notes to Editor
The majority of people working in television, radio and interactive media in the UK are graduates, most are aged under 35 and few have dependents. Skillset's Workforce Survey, published today, has found that 66% of the audio visual workforce are qualified to degree level compared to 16% of the UK workforce as a whole; 62% are aged under 35 with just 8% aged over 50. 82% are based in England, nearly half (47%) in London; and only one in five has any dependents.
Overall representation of women (39%), minority ethnic groups (6%) and disabled people (3%) remains low with only 28% of the workforce as a whole reporting entry to the industry via an advertisement. The majority secured their first job through less formal channels: a friend, relative or by direct contact with an employer.
Skillset's Workforce Survey questioned nearly 2000 employees and freelancers working in the audio visual industries over spring and summer 2003 and found that despite a highly qualified workforce, almost two thirds reported training needs. 9 out of 10 who sought training reported barriers to receiving it including availability of information and cost of courses. 27% of freelancers cited possible loss of earnings compared with 8% of employees.
Clive Jones, Chief Executive of ITV News Group and Skillset Chair, said:
"The results confirm that we have at our disposal one of the most qualified workforces in the UK. But ours is a business characterised by constant change. Those working in the media industries need to be continually developing their skills to keep up with those changes and keep us, as an industry, ahead of the game. The survey also highlights that the majority got their first step on the career ladder through nepotism and contacts. This has to change. Access to the industry for people from all walks of life must be improved or we risk alienating our diverse audiences. A better structure of career progression, for which skills and talent development is a key factor, will also help with retention levels which are flagged as a concern in the results."
Workforce survey forms were distributed, via employers, amongst a targeted, representative sample of freelancers and employees. The results provide the most comprehensive profile ever produced of the skills base within the media and will shape the future training and development strategy of the audio visual industries.
61% of respondents had entered the industry after 1994 and this was the case for 70% of women. However, women are less represented in older segments of the workforce with 33% of women aged over 35 compared to 43% of men. Women make up less than half of the workforce in every sector except broadcast television where exactly half of the workforce is female. Representation is lowest in computer games (16%) and post production (30%). Women also earn less than men. 38% earned less than £20,000 compared with 23% of men. 5% earned more than £50,000 compared with 13% of men.
The highest percentage (81%) of graduates in any one sector can be found in the three interactive media sectors - web design, CD Rom production and computer games. 24% of the workforce as a whole has a post graduate qualification and of the majority of the workforce educated to degree level, one quarter holds a media studies degree.
63% of employees and 67% of freelancers reported training needs at the time of the survey and some major clusters of skills emerged as areas in which training was needed, including:
Just over a quarter (27%) of respondents reported ever receiving structured careers advice and guidance. A considerably higher proportion of people working in broadcast radio had received advice than in any other sector (40%). Nearly half (44%) of minority ethnic group respondents had received some careers advice during their career, compared with just over a quarter (27%) of white respondents.
SKILLSET PRESS OFFICE:
Eve Ragout
020 7520 5752
07968 010 325
eve@skillset.org
Notes to Editor
- Skillset is the Sector Skills Council for the Audio Visual Industries. Audio visual industries in this context means broadcast, film, video, interactive media and photo imaging. Sector Skills Councils (SSCs) are independent, UK wide organisations developed by groups of influential employers in industry or business sectors of economic or strategic significance. SSCs are employer-led and actively involve trade unions, professional bodies and other stakeholders in the sector.
