EMPLOYMENT

When making comparisons between the various sources of employment data for this sector it is important to take into consideration the differing scope and reference periods of the respective surveys.


Census of Population and Housing

The 2006 Census of Population and Housing collected employment data relating to the job in which a person worked the most hours during the week before the Census.

According to the Census, there were 8,900 people whose main job was in the motion picture exhibition industry in August 2006. The Census also found that there were 7,364 people whose main job was in the motion picture and video production industry, 898 people in post-production services and other motion picture and video activities and 871 people in motion picture and video distribution. Table 16.11 shows the top eight cultural occupations per industry. There are many other occupations involved in the film and video industry and these are grouped under other cultural occupations and other occupations.

16.11 PERSONS EMPLOYED IN FILM AND VIDEO INDUSTRIES(a)(b), By occupation - August 2006
		Number	%
Motion picture and video production
	Media producer	1 424	19.3
	Director	557	7.6
	Film and video editor	539	7.3
	Video producer	374	5.1
	Production assistant	341	4.6
	Camera operator	338	4.6
	Other cultural occupations	1 808	24.6
	Total cultural occupations	5 381	73.1
	Other occupations	1 983	26.9
	Total occupations	7 364	100.0
Post-production services and other motion picture and video activities
	Film and video editor	136	15.1
	Illustrator	91	10.1
	Media producer	36	4.0
	Graphic designer	24	2.7
	Performing arts technicians	23	2.6
	Sound technician	17	1.9
	Other cultural occupations	188	20.9
	Total cultural occupations	515	57.3
	Other occupations	383	42.7
	Total occupations	898	100.0
Motion picture and video distribution
	Media producer	22	2.5
	Graphic designer	11	1.3
	Director	12	1.4
	Visual merchandiser	10	1.1
	Production assistant	5	-
	Librarian	7	0.8
	Other cultural occupations	47	5.4
	Total cultural occupations	114	13.1
	Other occupations	757	86.9
	Total occupations	871	100.0
Motion picture exhibition
	Motion picture projectionist	869	9.8
	Cinema or theatre manager	868	9.8
	Director	59	0.7
	Actor	38	0.4
	Light technician	40	0.4
	Sound technician	35	0.4
	Other cultural occupations	349	3.9
	Total cultural occupations	2 258	25.4
	Other occupations	6 642	74.6
	Total occupations	8 900	100.0
- nil or rounded to zero (including null cells)
(a) Cells in this table have been randomly adjusted to avoid the release of confidential data.
(b) In their main job in the week before Census Night.
Source: ABS data available on request, Census of Population and Housing, 2006.

Over half of those employed in the film and video industries (54%) worked in non-cultural occupations. The percentage of persons employed in cultural occupations varied considerably amongst the film and video industries - from 2% in the video rental and hire industry to 66% in the motion picture and video production industry.

Work Survey

The 2007 survey of Work in Selected Culture and Leisure Activities reported that 117,700 people had a work involvement in either film production or cinema and video distribution in the 12-months to April 2007. Nearly two-thirds of those involved in cinema and video distribution (64%) were paid for their work, as were just over one-third (35%) of those involved in film production. Unlike the Census of Population and Housing, this survey collects more than just 'main job' activity. See Chapter 5 for more details on the differences between the data collections.


Service Industry Surveys

According to the 2006-07 ABS survey of Television, Film and Video Production and Post-Production Services, there were 10,873 people employed by film and video production services businesses at the end of June 2007. For the same period, there were 2,971 people employed by post-production services businesses, and the commercial free-to-air and subscription television broadcasters collectively employed 10,032 people.

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