The TV workforce is young with over half the workforce in terrestrial TV and two thirds of the workforce in cable and satellite and independent production under 35 years. There are far more people wanting to enter the industry than there are jobs in it which can lead to young people being prepared to work long hours for low pay

Whilst employment of ethnic minorities in broadcast TV has risen from 6.5% in 2000 to 9% in 2004, overall the industry employs a low proportion of people from ethnic minorities relative to the general population in its main geographic centres.  The audio visual industries as a whole employs 7% people from ethnic minority groups, compared to 8% across the whole UK workforce.  This is also the case for 35% of the population of working age in inner London, which is where more than half the industry is based.  There is a particularly low representation of people from ethnic minorities in the cable and satellite (5%) and independent production industries (5%). 

There are major differences in the representation of women by occupational group. 50% of the broadcast TV work force is female compared to 57% in cable and satellite and 43% in independent production. 

People with disabilities are generally under-represented in the total TV industry workforce.

Source: Skillset 2005a