SAG: Slow Job Market for Minorities
By Simi Horwitz
Friday, September 26 1997
Friday, September 26 1997
Published on AllBusiness.com
Employment rates for the Screen Actors Guild's minority, senior and female members have not improved much over the last five years, according to new SAG employment figures issued last week.
The study examined employment trends among male and female actors of Asian-Pacific, Latino, African-American and Native American descent. Employment rates among Caucasian actors were also included.
The total number of SAG jobs increased l6% last year to 56,308, up from 48,473 in l995. However, the percentage of those new jobs obtained by ethnic SAG members remained at l9%, the same percentage achieved in both l995 and l994.
Strikingly, the study found that among male ethnic minorities, African-Americans did the best, their rate of employment increasing 1%, while rates of employment among Native Americans decreased over the same time frame. In l995, Native American male actors had l73 jobs; in l996 the job number plummeted to l65, not enough to register a single percentage point.
Among women ethnic minorities the rates of employment are commensurate. African-American women increased their rate of employment 2% since l995; Native American women experienced a decrease.
Latino males received 4% of all roles (l,450 jobs) in l996, same as l995. Latino women also received 4% of all roles, a l% increase from l995.
Men's Jobs Still Dominate
Here's the gender split: Men received 65% and women received 35% of all SAG jobs in l996. This is basically the same gender split recorded every year since l992. In the category of supporting roles, the gender discrepency between l992 and l996 have also remained basically constant, with men receiving 67% and women receiving 33% of all supporting roles.
As for the age gap, nearly two out of every three SAG jobs in l996 went to performers under the age of 40. Like so many others in the l996 employment report, the statistic of SAG performers over age 40 receiving 34% of available roles hasn't changed much since l992.
Of the l8,479 jobs that went to SAG members over 40 in l996, only 27% went to women, the same level recorded in l995.
(In an upcoming issue we'll discuss the cultural and political significance of these findings with Screen Actors Guild President Richard Masur and other interested players. We'll also look at plans in the works to increase the employment rate of ethnic minorities, women, and senior citizens in the film
The study examined employment trends among male and female actors of Asian-Pacific, Latino, African-American and Native American descent. Employment rates among Caucasian actors were also included.
The total number of SAG jobs increased l6% last year to 56,308, up from 48,473 in l995. However, the percentage of those new jobs obtained by ethnic SAG members remained at l9%, the same percentage achieved in both l995 and l994.
Strikingly, the study found that among male ethnic minorities, African-Americans did the best, their rate of employment increasing 1%, while rates of employment among Native Americans decreased over the same time frame. In l995, Native American male actors had l73 jobs; in l996 the job number plummeted to l65, not enough to register a single percentage point.
Among women ethnic minorities the rates of employment are commensurate. African-American women increased their rate of employment 2% since l995; Native American women experienced a decrease.
Latino males received 4% of all roles (l,450 jobs) in l996, same as l995. Latino women also received 4% of all roles, a l% increase from l995.
Men's Jobs Still Dominate
Here's the gender split: Men received 65% and women received 35% of all SAG jobs in l996. This is basically the same gender split recorded every year since l992. In the category of supporting roles, the gender discrepency between l992 and l996 have also remained basically constant, with men receiving 67% and women receiving 33% of all supporting roles.
As for the age gap, nearly two out of every three SAG jobs in l996 went to performers under the age of 40. Like so many others in the l996 employment report, the statistic of SAG performers over age 40 receiving 34% of available roles hasn't changed much since l992.
Of the l8,479 jobs that went to SAG members over 40 in l996, only 27% went to women, the same level recorded in l995.
(In an upcoming issue we'll discuss the cultural and political significance of these findings with Screen Actors Guild President Richard Masur and other interested players. We'll also look at plans in the works to increase the employment rate of ethnic minorities, women, and senior citizens in the film
