Entertainment Industry Job Outlook

Rising incomes, leisure time, and awareness of the health benefits of physical fitness will increase the demand for arts, entertainment, and recreation services. Opportunities should be available for young, seasonal, part-time, and lesser skilled workers, but there will continue to be intense competition for jobs as performing artists and professional athletes.

Wage and salary jobs in arts, entertainment, and recreation are projected to grow about 15 percent over the 2008-18 period, compared with 11 percent for all industries combined. Rising incomes, leisure time, and awareness of the health benefits of physical fitness will increase the demand for arts, entertainment, and recreation services.

Employment in fitness centers and similar establishments will grow based on several factors. Aging baby boomers are concerned with staying healthy, physically fit, and independent, and they have become the largest demographic group of health club members. The reduction of physical education programs in schools, combined with parents' growing concern about childhood obesity, has rapidly increased child health club membership. Membership among young adults has also grown steadily, driven by concern about physical fitness and funded by rising incomes. The proliferation of group exercise classes and the focus on overall wellness in health clubs should also increase the demand for workers in this industry.

Moderate employment growth is expected in the gaming industry, spurred by the recent growth in the number of casinos on American Indian reservations and the introduction of slot machines at racetracks. Many States have relaxed gambling regulations so that they can increase State revenues from gaming establishment taxes.

Employment in museums, historical sites, and similar institutions is expected to grow as these institutions increasingly create exhibits and provide services that appeal to the public. Bolstered by healthy public support and increasing funding in recent years, many museums have recently or are currently expanding their facilities.

Because of competition from competing forms of entertainment, employment in the performing arts is not expected to grow significantly.

Employment opportunities should be available in a wide range of settings, including golf courses, parks and outdoor recreational facilities, and amusement parks. The arts, entertainment, and recreation industry has relied heavily on workers under 25 years old to fill seasonal and lesser skilled positions. About 25 percent of all jobs in this industry are held by workers under age 25, compared to 13 percent in all industries combined. Opportunities should be available for young, seasonal, part-time, and lesser skilled workers. In addition, the industry is expected to hire a growing number of workers in other age groups. Because of the appeal of jobs as performing artists and professional athletes, the supply of workers in these occupations will expand, ensuring continued intense competition.

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Career Guide to Industries, 2010-11 Edition