Hollywood's Job Crisis: A Look at the Numbers

The entertainment and media world faced a tough year in 2025. Job cuts were widespread, affecting film, TV, streaming, and news sectors. The numbers were staggering, with around 17, 000 jobs lost, marking an 18% increase from the previous year. News divisions weren't spared either. By November 2025, about 2, 254 jobs were cut across various platforms. This was a decrease from the 4, 537 jobs lost in 2024, but still significant. The main reasons cited for these layoffs were restructuring and industry consolidation. Major mergers and acquisitions took place, like the FCC's approval of the Paramount Global and Skydance Media merger. Warner Bros. Discovery also started talks for a potential buyout. Despite these changes, job losses continued unabated. Even Disney, which had managed to stay independent, let go of hundreds of employees. Artificial Intelligence (AI) is playing a big role in these job cuts. The World Economic Forum predicts that 41% of companies globally will reduce their workforce over the next five years due to increased reliance on AI. Amazon, for instance, laid off 14, 000 employees in October. In Hollywood, AI has already cost tens of thousands of jobs, with analysts estimating that up to 200, 000 jobs could be lost or not created due to AI.While AI might create some new jobs, the overall impact is negative. In 2025 alone, 71, 000 layoffs were attributed to AI. Paramount was one of the hardest hit, with 2, 000 job cuts. Comcast's Versant cable also saw significant layoffs, shedding 150 employees, which was 7% of its workforce. Disney laid off less than 800 employees across its various divisions. The film industry in Los Angeles continued to shrink. By the end of 2024, Hollywood had lost 100, 000 jobs, a 30% decline. Productions were moving to other states, Canada, Mexico, and overseas. By April 2025, Los Angeles ranked sixth in the number of film and TV productions. The media industry also faced challenges. News and print media either laid off workers, canceled expansion plans, or shut down completely. Publishers like Dotdash Meredith and People Inc. saw significant job cuts. Major news outlets like The Washington Post, CNN, PBS, CBS News, and Business Insider also reduced their workforce. The future looks uncertain for the media industry. The job cuts in 2025 were severe, and there's no clear end in sight. The industry will likely continue to face tough times in the coming years.