Reflections on a Rough 2025: Entertainment and Media Layoffs Hit Hard Again.
After a brief dip in 2024, layoffs in entertainment and media surged again—**over 17,000 jobs gone** in the first 11 months alone. That's an **18% increase** from last year. Ouch.
It's no secret the industry has been grappling with massive shifts: consolidation, the ongoing migration from cable to streaming, the lingering effects of the 2023 strikes, and now AI looming large. Restructuring was the top reason cited for cuts, with big mergers like Paramount Global and Skydance shaking things up. Disney continued its cost-cutting under Bob Iger, and we're still waiting to see how Warner Bros. Discovery's potential deals play out (Netflix and Paramount are both in the mix—whatever happens, more cuts seem inevitable).
The Entertainment Side
Hollywood took a beating:
- **Paramount** let go of around **2,000 employees** post-merger, plus more executives across CBS, Paramount+, MTV, and BET.
- **Disney** cut just under **200** from ABC News and Disney Entertainment Networks, plus several hundred globally in marketing, publicity, and other areas.
- **NBCUniversal** shed **150** at NBC News (about 7% of the workforce) amid the Comcast spinoff.
- **Warner Bros.** had smaller rounds, under **100**, tied to cable network changes.
On-location production in Los Angeles dropped **13.2%** in Q3, and the city has lost an estimated **41,000 entertainment jobs** over the past five years. It's tough out there for crews and everyone supporting film and TV.
Media and News
News organizations weren't spared, though cuts were down **50%** year-over-year (2,254 total, including 179 in November):
- **Dotdash Meredith/People Inc.** laid off **143**, then another **226** (6% of staff).
- **Washington Post** cut **~100** (4%).
- **CNN** slashed **200** early in the year.
- **PBS** lost **15%** of staff after federal funding cuts.
- **Business Insider** cut **21%**, explicitly tying it to AI opportunities.
Penske Media (Variety, Rolling Stone, Billboard) and Condé Nast also had painful rounds, some complicated by return-to-office mandates.
The AI Factor
Speaking of AI—it's a growing driver. A World Economic Forum survey says **41%** of companies expect workforce reductions because of it over the next five years. We've already seen nearly **55,000 AI-related cuts** globally, including massive rounds at Amazon (**14,000**) and Microsoft (**15,000**). In newsrooms, AI is starting to handle tasks that used to require people, and while it's supposed to "aid" journalists, the writing's on the wall for entry-level roles.
A Couple of Bright Spots
It's not all doom and gloom. The **creator economy** is growing—up **5%** in employment and companies from 2022–2024, even as traditional motion picture jobs fell **27%** in L.A. And microdramas (those addictive vertical short series) have exploded into an **$8 billion+ global market** in just four years, giving work to non-union crews, actors, and writers.
Still, as someone who loves this industry, it's hard not to feel for everyone affected. The job market feels more precarious than ever, and these kinds of years are starting to feel like the new normal. Here's hoping 2026 brings some stability—and maybe a few more green shoots like the creator space.
What do you think—have you felt these shifts in your corner of media or entertainment? Drop a comment if you're reading this. Stay strong out there. 🎬