WGA West Member Earnings Dipped To $1.55 Billion Last Year; Lowest Total Since 2017

deadline.com:

WGA West members got fewer jobs and less pay last year than they did in 2020, according to the guild’s 2022 Annual Report, which found that 5,951 writers reported employment in all work areas in 2021 – a 6.1% decline – while total writer earnings reported for dues purposes declined 7.7% to $1.55 billion.

That’s the fewest jobs since 2016, and the lowest earnings since 2017. “The impact of the Covid-19 pandemic continued into 2021, with writers’ reported earnings and employment reflecting disruption to the entertainment industry,” the report says. “In all fields, writers reported declines in both employment and earnings.”The report’s employment data for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2022 found that screenwriter earnings declined 13.3% in 2021 to $408.8 million, although the report notes that this figure is likely to increase with late reporting.

Screenwriter employment declined by 6.8% to 1,994 writers reporting screen earnings.Earnings by television and digital platform writers reported to the guild for 2021 declined 5.5% to $1.13 billion.

Total employment in this area was down 5.1% from 2020, with 4,934 writers reporting income from television and digital platforms, though the guild said that this figure is also likely to increase with late reporting.Reported earnings among 134 writers employed in news, promotion, informational and interactive programming declined of 21.6%, with earnings of $11 million down 5.2% from 2020.Residuals, however, are still booming, hitting an all-time record take of $493.6 million last year – up 5.4% from 2020’s an all-time high of $493.6 million.