Despite the dust settling after the iconic 2023 Hollywood strikes, the writing landscape paints a grim picture for aspiring and established scribes alike.

On Friday, the Writers Guild of America (WGA) unveiled shocking statistics showing a staggering decline in television writing jobs for the 2023-2024 season. In this post-Peak TV environment, it’s the top-tier writers who have taken the hardest hit.

A total of 1,319 TV writing positions vanished this season compared to last—representing a 42% overall drop. Notably, the most significant losses occurred at the upper echelons, where 642 high-level roles—including co-executive producers and showrunners—disappeared, marking a substantial 40% decrease. Lower-tier writers faced their own struggles, with 378 positions cut, translating to a 46% decline among staff writers and story editors. Mid-level positions were not spared either, suffering a 42% reduction with 299 fewer jobs.

Last season, only 1,819 writers found work, a drop not even seen during the COVID-19 peak when 2,722 writers were employed.

According to the WGA, the twin culprits behind this job downturn are cord-cutting and corporate greed.

The WGA's report states, "As the industry transitions—with a decline in cable programming and an erratic streaming market driven by investors demanding faster profits—the job market has shrunk. The studios’ refusal to negotiate a fair deal in 2023 exacerbated this loss, shortening the TV season even further."

The writers’ strike, lasting from May to September 2023, paralleled another from SAG-AFTRA, which saw actors join the picket lines from July to November. The fallout? A reported 37% fewer episodic series aired this season. The WGA shared these sobering statistics in an email to its members, which was later reported by The Hollywood Reporter.

"Entering this profession has always been tough, but the current contraction has made it particularly daunting," the WGA expressed in its message. The organization pointed fingers at corporate decisions that prioritize profit over creativity, alongside political maneuvers that threaten economic stability.

While reliable data for the ongoing 2024-25 season remains months away, the WGA is hopeful that its new contract with studios will somewhat reverse the job losses.

However, it’s not merely about numbers; the WGA aims to secure quality positions as well. A WGA spokesperson remarked, "Our negotiations were about preventing downsizing and ensuring that whatever projects emerge offer sustainable, quality jobs."

And don’t think the film industry offers refuge! Though the count of WGA-covered films has remained steady, the number of screenwriters has plummeted by 15%, with earnings decreasing by 6%. Hollywood's landscape is changing, and the future for writers looks increasingly uncertain.