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Welcome to the BFI Research and Statistics Unit’s Employment Data Explorer (alpha release). Here you will find two reports containing analyses and visualisations of UK film industry workforce information, drawn from data collected and published by the Office for National Statistics.

Data comes from two sources:

Both sources rely on SIC codes – the UK Standard Industrial Classification of Economic Activities – to extract information about the film industry workforce. The five-digit SIC codes used in our reports are given below, along with details of what each SIC code includes and excludes.

The five-digit SIC code breakdown is the most granular available to us and provides a best estimate of activity in the film and video sectors. However, some of the activity captured by the SIC codes used in our reports may be considered ‘out of scope’ for a UK film industry analysis. Activity includes, for example, work related to the production of advertising and brand film. While the output of this work differs from that of feature film or high-end TV production, say, the underlying activities and employee skillsets are broadly similar and transferable, and form part of the same creative ecosystem.

Film and video production:

This subclass includes:

  • production of motion pictures

This subclass excludes:

  • film duplicating (except reproduction of motion picture film for theatrical distribution) from master copies
  • post-production activities
  • sound recording and recording of books on tape
  • film processing other than for the motion picture industry
  • activities of personal theatrical or artistic agents or agencies
  • activities of own account actors, cartoonists, directors, stage designers and technical specialists

This subclass includes:

  • production of videos

This subclass excludes:

  • audio and video tape, CD or DVD reproduction from master copies
  • wholesale of recorded video tapes, CDs, DVDs
  • wholesale of blank video tapes, CDs
  • retail trade of video tapes, CDs, DVDs
  • renting of video tapes, DVDs to the general public
  • post-production activities
  • sound recording and recording of books on tape
  • activities of personal theatrical or artistic agents or agencies
  • activities of own account actors, cartoonists, directors, stage designers and technical specialists

This class includes post-production activities such as editing, film/tape transfers, titling, subtitling, credits, closed captioning, computer-produced graphics, animation and special effects, developing and processing motion picture film, as well as activities of motion picture film laboratories and activities of special laboratories for animated films.

This class also includes:

  • the activities of stock footage film libraries, etc.

This class excludes:

  • film duplicating (except reproduction of motion picture film for theatrical distribution) as well as audio and video tape, CD or DVD reproduction from master copies
  • wholesale of recorded video tapes, CDs, DVDs
  • wholesale of blank video tapes, CDs
  • retail trade of video tapes, CDs, DVDs
  • film processing other than for the motion picture industry
  • renting of video tapes, DVDs to the general public
  • activities of own account actors, cartoonists, directors, stage designers and technical specialists

Film and video distribution:

This subclass includes:

  • distributing film to motion picture theatres, television networks and stations, and exhibitors

This subclass also includes:

  • acquiring film distribution rights

This subclass excludes:

  • film duplicating from master copies

This subclass includes:

  • distributing video tapes, DVDs and similar productions to motion picture theatres, television networks and stations, and exhibitors

This subclass also includes:

  • acquiring video tape and DVD distribution rights

This subclass excludes:

  • audio and video tape, CD or DVD reproduction from master copies
  • wholesale of recorded video tapes and DVDs
  • retail sale of recorded video tapes and DVDs

Film exhibition:

This class includes:

  • activities of motion picture or video tape projection in cinemas, in the open air or in other projection facilities
  • activities of cine-clubs