Pay growth in the Creative Industries has hit its lowest point since the pre-Covid era. For businesses looking to attract top talent, investing in career progression, development, manageable workloads and working culture matters more than ever.
Redundancies, flat pay and limited progression have created a workforce that is present but not necessarily committed. People are restless from being asked to do more with less, and the result is a workforce looking for any opportunity to take control again - even if it remains risky in the current market.
Despite a clear need for an upskilled workforce and talent being eager to progress, there’s little being done to prepare teams to perform with the new tools and systems being deployed.
Businesses have moved fast on AI, but the speed of implementation has outpaced the depth of preparation. Despite improving sentiment among the workforce and a shift in how creative work is produced, the lack of investment in upskilling means that tangible productivity gains are yet to materialise.
Budget pressures, AI automation and global outsourcing are hindering junior talent from entering the industry - and the pipeline that has long fed senior expertise is thinning as a result. As viable entry points reduce, there’s a structural gap forming. Not enough new talent is coming through to replace the senior talent moving on.
Progress on diversity, equity and inclusion has stalled - and in some areas, gone into reverse. As DEI budgets are scaled back and support structures dissolved, the gains made in building inclusive workplaces are increasingly at risk. We will continue to shine a light on where the industry stands, and through our partnerships and data, we offer practical support for those working to close the gap.