Employment of producers and directors is projected to grow 11 percent from 2010 to 2020, about as fast as the average for all occupations.
Job growth in the motion picture and video industry is expected to stem from strong demand from the public for more movies and television shows, as well as an increased demand from foreign audiences for U.S.-produced films. In addition, production companies are experimenting with new content delivery methods, such as mobile and online TV, which may lead to more work for producers and directors in the future. However, these delivery methods are still in their early stages, and their potential for success is not yet known.
Employment of self-employed producers and directors is expected to grow 16 percent, faster than that of those in the motion picture industry, as the number of independent films grow.
In broadcasting, some producer and director jobs may be lost as radio stations continue to consolidate; however, this loss will be slowed by the public’s increased desire for local programming in both TV and radio.
Producers and directors who work in small and medium-sized theaters may see slower job growth because many of those theaters have difficulty finding funding as the number of performances decline. Large theaters, which usually have more stable sources of funding, should provide more opportunities.
Producers and directors face intense competition for jobs because there are many more people who want to work in this field than there are jobs available. In film, directors who have experience on movies sets should have the best job prospects. Producers who have good business skills will likely have the best prospects.
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2012-13 Edition