According to the results of the past two years Skillset Industry Censuses, within sectors covered by the survey employment levels have remained relatively stable with a 3% increase overall since 2003.  It is estimated that around 160,000 people are working in the media industries covered by the Skillset Industry Censuses at the time of the survey (on 30 June 2004).  About 25% of the workforce employed on Census day were working as freelancers, but it is estimated that up to half the actual available labour pool is freelance (including those available to the workforce not working on Census Day).  The number of freelancers available to the workforce but not employed on census day is around 50,000.

Interactive media (electronic games, offline multimedia and web and internet) is the largest industry employing around 53,200 people (these figures exclude in-house interactive media specialists employed outside the media sector, for example in banks or government departments).  Although this industry experienced an initial rapid growth, it is now stabilising.

Broadcast TV is the second largest industry employing around 23,700 people, which is a slight decrease from 25,000 in 2003.  However, this decrease does not take account of employment cuts from the BBC and ITV which took place late in 2004.  Around 22,200 are working in broadcast radio.  Between 20-25% of people working in television and radio are freelancers (including terrestrial, cable and satellite but excludes independent television production).

Between 40-60% of people working in independent production, animation, special effects, commercials and corporate production are freelance.

Employment in commercials has continued to decline, while corporate production has remained stable between 2003-2004 for the first time in several years.  Both of these industries employ around 3,000 people.

In cinema exhibition (16,500) and film distribution (500), the whole workforce is in permanent employment (those with a contract of 365 days).

Source: Skillset website 2005 and Skillset 2005b