The screen sector is like no other. There are a lot of upsides that come with working in film and TV, but it’s no secret that it’s also one of the toughest industries to balance with family life. Long hours, unpredictable schedules, and last-minute changes don’t exactly fit standard childcare options (and there’s only so much you can rely on friends and family to fill the gaps).
Without solutions designed specifically for the realities of the film industry (e.g. flexible, on-set childcare, like WonderWorks), we’re losing our best talent way before retirement age. These stats show why investing in retaining parents isn’t just a nice-to-have, it’s essential for the future of film and TV.
85% of film professionals know someone who has left the industry due to a lack of childcare.
(Source: Production Guild)
This isn’t a rare occurrence, it’s the norm. Talented professionals walk away, and with them goes invaluable knowledge. This industry faces a looming shortage unless we start supporting families properly.
The average age of first-time mothers in the UK is 30 years old, and the average age of first-time fathers in the UK is 33 years old.
(Source: Office of National Statistics)
Losing workers at this stage means losing fresh ideas, energy and experience. It’s like we’re training new talent only to watch them leave early.
79% of parents and carers in the film and TV industry reported their career felt a negative impact from their parenting and caring responsibilities.
(Source: Raising Films)
When your personal responsibilities weigh down your professional life, morale takes a hit. People start thinking about leaving, which creates a domino effect across the industry.
76% of parents and carers have turned down work due to a lack of appropriate support.
(Source: PiPA)
This creates a vicious cycle: no childcare means turning down work, which means less income, which means less ability to pay for childcare. Breaking this cycle requires investment and industry-wide support.
The UK is the third most expensive place for childcare in the world.
(Source: BBC)
When childcare costs exceed a parent’s income, working in film becomes unsustainable, especially for freelancers. Whether through on-set childcare, subsidies, or policy change, we need studios and government leaders to drive change.
68% of parents in the film and TV industry find accessing flexible childcare difficult, and the cost is also a significant issue.
(Source: Raising Films)
Film and TV work isn’t your typical 9-to-5. But most childcare options are built around the typical 9-to-5. This simply doesn’t work for families in film.
56% of screen industry workers who are parents or carers say that the impact of their caring or parenting responsibilities on their working life has driven them to consider leaving the industry.
(Source: Bectu)
That’s a staggering number of people pushed to choose between their careers and their families. But with proper support, parents and guardians can stay and thrive.
75% of parents and carers in the film and TV industry said that they felt disadvantaged to colleagues who do not have parenting or caring responsibilities.
(Source: Bectu)
This disadvantage creates a clear inequality that breeds frustration and resentment. It’s not just unfair to individuals, it hurts team morale and risks damaging the industry’s reputation as a place that values and retains diverse talent.
42% of parents and carers in the film and TV industry don't see a future in the sector at all.
(Source: Filming in England)
A harsh reality. So many people are forced to consider new careers because they can’t make the industry work alongside family life.
41% of women with children plan to leave the industry within the next five years.
(Source: Filming in England)
With no maternity pay for freelancers and limited childcare options, motherhood becomes a career dead-end. Women are forced to leave the career they love.
Only 14% of women working in film have children.
(Source: Pregnant Then Screwed)
Without accessible childcare, this number will only shrink. That means fewer women’s stories, perspectives, and leadership in the industry.
82% of film and TV professionals stated that the impact of parenting on their role in the screen industries has been somewhat or strongly negative.
(Source: Raising Films)
The film industry isn’t set up to support families, and as a result, many parents find their careers come to a standstill.
554,300 parents and caregivers of under-fives want to work additional hours if given access to suitable childcare.
(Source: The Centre for Early Childhood)
Here’s the good news: people want to work. They want to grow their careers and contribute. They’re willing to put in those long hours. They just need childcare that’s suitable for the film and TV industry.
63% of working parents have experienced at least one characteristic of burnout–exhaustion, mental distance from their job, or decline in performance at work.
(Source: Deloitte)
Parents in film face huge pressure. Burnout isn’t just bad for them; it affects their whole family and the quality of their work. Supportive childcare can help.
Investing in early childhood education would help 59% of parents who have left or are leaving their job due to personal mental health and wellbeing-related issues.
(Source: Deloitte)
Childcare support is mental health support. When parents have reliable childcare, their stress and anxiety decrease significantly, which means fewer people leaving the industry because they’re overwhelmed or burned out.
63% of parents and carers in the film and TV industry work freelance or are self-employed, and financial uncertainty is a major concern.
(Source: Raising Films)
Freelance work means unpredictable schedules and incomes. Without flexible, affordable childcare, committing to longer-term projects becomes near impossible.
50% of working parents who are concerned about their children’s mental health say this impacts on their work performance.
(Source: Deloitte)
Working long hours, parents naturally worry about the impact their absence has on their child’s mental health. On-set childcare allows families to spend some time together during breaks. This can provide peace of mind and allow parents to focus better and do their best work.
Better childcare support for working parents and caregivers would generate £11.8 billion in additional profits for businesses.
(Source: The Centre for Early Childhood)
When people are happier and less stressed, productivity soars. Investing in childcare is a smart business move that benefits productions, teams, and budgets.
Investing in more childcare in England would create an estimated 130,000 additional jobs in early years education and care.
(Source: Save the Children)
Expanding childcare in the screen sector doesn’t just support working parents, it also creates thousands of new jobs in early years education. It’s a win-win: more support for families in film, more employment opportunities across the country, and a stronger economy overall.
Investing in early childhood education in the UK could generate £45.5 billion per year for the national economy.
(Source: The Centre for Early Childhood)
When parents can access affordable childcare, more of them return to work, and have more disposable income to spend. That kind of boost benefits everyone, especially creative industries like ours that are often on the receiving end of public funding cuts.
Without proper strategies, the film and TV industry is losing some of the brightest and most experienced talent. Careers are being cut short, creativity is walking out the door, and the industry’s long-term sustainability is at risk. But it doesn’t have to be this way.
We, at WonderWorks, provide on-set and near-set childcare designed specifically for the unpredictable nature of film and TV, making it possible for crew, cast and creatives to stay in the industry and raise a family. Right now, we’re conducting research with King’s College London and ReelTime Media that explores how childcare, flexible working and job sharing can create a fairer working environment for families in film. And we’ll be publishing our findings in the near future–stay tuned!
Whether you’re a production looking to retain top talent, or a parent trying to make it work, learn more about how we’re keeping families in film.