Pittsburgh Job Growth in Film Industry

Anyone looking for a Pittsburgh job should consider the city's motion picture and television industry.

The Three Rivers Workforce Investment Board recently released a study highlighting the strength and impact of the motion picture and television industry in Pennsylvania.

The study found the state's film production tax credit, which goes to films that spend 60 percent of production costs in Pennsylvania, helps to create high paying jobs and support current job gains.

"This study shows the strength of the motion picture and television industry in Pennsylvania and its ability to create high paying jobs, even in difficult times," TRWIB CEO Stefani Pashman said. "This data reinforces the need to retain the film production tax credit, a tax incentive that has given our state a distinct competitive advantage.

"In 2008 alone, the motion picture and television industry employed over 15,000 workers with wages that average $85,500 in Philadelphia and $67,200 in Pittsburgh," she continued. "At a time when jobs are being lost, we cannot afford to let go of this tax credit and damage a growing industry cluster. Without the film industry tax credit, Pennsylvania will lose high paying jobs, and the opportunity to bring high profile projects to Pennsylvania."

The study further found:

• The motion picture and television industry in Pennsylvania currently ranks sixth in the nation with 2.5 percent of the national motion picture and video employment.
• According to the latest data available, there were 799 motion picture and television industry establishments in the state in 2007. These establishments created 9,785 jobs and generated $613 million in payroll.
• Motion picture and television industry wages have grown annually by 2.1 percent as compared to 1.5 percent in the private sector. The average annual wage in the industry is relatively high at $66,676 and in the motion picture and video production sector alone, there was a 17 percent increase in employment and a 38 percent increase in wages.
• The production sector reported a marked increase in the number of workers between 2001 and 2008 growing by 44 percent and adding 1,482 workers making it the sector with the largest workforce.
• There were about 15,180 workers who held a motion picture and television industry job for at least one quarter or more during 2008 in Pennsylvania.
• When not working in the motion picture and television industry, workers were employed in a variety of other industries. A large number of workers are recorded as being employed by Temporary Help Services and Payroll Services. For example, Entertainment Partners, a major film industry payroll service, reports that they paid over $25 million in wages to Pennsylvania residents in FY 06. This amount jumped to over $75 million in FY 08. These employees are not counted in the employment and wage data for motion picture and television production but as payroll service employment.
• The motion picture and television industry in Pennsylvania is concentrated in Pittsburgh and Philadelphia. These two regions accounted for 64 percent of the industry jobs. Both metro regions experienced jobs gains: Pittsburgh gained 576 jobs or 40 percent of the industry-wide growth and Philadelphia added 193 jobs, or 6 percent since 2001. Average annual wages in these two regions were higher than in other regions: $85,500 in Philadelphia and $67,200 in Pittsburgh.
• According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the growth forecast for motion picture and television industry occupations is strong. These include multimedia artists, animators and audio and video equipment technicians.
• Pennsylvania has at least 70 post secondary institutions including community colleges, public and private colleges and universities and certificate programs that offer courses in motion picture and video production and related subjects such as technical theater.
• Pennsylvania has a growing Career and Technical Education initiative at the high school level “Arts, A/V Technology and Communications” that includes printing and graphic communications as well as film/video/cinema production. Approximately 74 schools offer approved instructional programs.