The volume of UK-produced films and TV shows released in the UK declined by 13% between 2022 and 2025, with an 8% decline in films, according to a report from UK training body ScreenSkills.
The report, titled Sizing Up the Future: Forecasting the Screen Workforce, was commissioned in conjunction with Channel 4’s 4Skills and conducted by Ampere Analysis, drawing on data from 13,765 film and TV titles.
Unscripted TV commissioning, which surged during and after the pandemic, declined by 4% in the period, while scripted commissioning dropped by 15%, with possible knock-on impact from the 2023 Hollywood strikes.
SVoD commissions were down 25% across this period, while commissions from the pay-TV broadcasters and the BBC were both down by 13%.
Channel 4, however, expanded its scripted slate by 42%.
The UK screen workforce comprised between 244,500 and 252,000 individuals in 2025. Unscripted TV and large-scale film and TV projects were the biggest drivers of employment, with roles on large-scale films rising 15% between 2023 and 2025, employing around 50,000 individuals in total.
Production management, technical, craft and editorial represent more than 60% of the workforce. Development was the fastest shrinking workforce in 2025.
Out of work
The production workforce was operating at about 50-55% of the overall capacity in 2024-25, compared to 60-65% in 2023, suggesting available talent is underemployed or working significantly reduced hours compared to peak industry activity. This risks the loss of experienced talent from the industry and limited opportunities to train an emerging workforce.
The most rapid fall was seen in the VFX and post-production workforce, from 45% capacity in 2023 to 30% in 2025.
The report forecasted the UK will need a 3% increase in active productions across 2025-2028 to maintain the same level of production roles as 2025. Its modelling suggested UK production could increase by 12% within the next two years with positive market conditions, such as a favourable BBC Charter remit, surging US inward investment, and growth in independent film production benefiting from the Independent Film Tax Credit. If market conditions are not favourable, the report estimated a 5.5% fall.
Artificial intelligence
AI could impact 80% of production roles by 2028, in some form, said the report. Animation, post-production and VFX look set to be the worst impacted, with jobs in this sector the most at risk. Writing, development, music, production management and pre-production planning could be moderately impacted, with AI providing an opportunity to speed up processes. Editorial, stunts, special effects and technical roles are predicted to be the least impacted.
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