Latest Ofcom data reveals broadcasting industry must do more to attract and retain diverse talent
Ofcom’s latest report on equality, diversity and inclusion in television and radio published this week reveals some gains in workforce diversity since last year’s report, but significant areas of concern remain for an industry that is struggling to retain talent.
The report is based on workforce diversity data collected from eight of the UK’s largest broadcasters, that represent around 90% of UK broadcasters’ employees, including the BBC, Channel 4, ITV, Paramount, Bauer, STV and S4C. Read more here.
Representation of minority ethnic groups has increased to 15% of workers across the broadcasters’ workforces, exceeding representation in the UK working age population (13%).
Representation in senior roles also increased to 9%, yet significant improvement remains necessary to make positions of seniority fully accessible.
However, the report outlines disappointing levels of diversity amongst deaf and disabled people, making up just 9% of all workers and 8% of senior managers, in comparison to 21% of the UK working age population. This is just a 2% increase from Ofcom’s five-year review of Diversity and Equal Opportunities published in September 2021. Levels of representation of those from working class backgrounds also remains low.
Issues of retention amongst diverse talent and the freelance workforce also remain prevalent, with the Film and TV Charity’s Absent Friends report highlighting its effects on the workforce.
From next year Ofcom will expand the breadth of data it collects annually from broadcasters to help it promote equity, diversity and inclusion across the industry.
Head of Bectu Philippa Childs said:
“It’s promising to see improved representation of minority ethnic groups in the UK’s TV and radio workforce, but this latest data makes clear there is still much more work to be done. Although on the rise, the lack of diversity in senior roles remains significant and should sound alarm bells for an industry that is struggling to recruit and retain talent.
“It is extremely disappointing to see such low levels of representation of deaf and disabled people – a 2% increase is simply not good enough. The industry must take decisive, targeted action to markedly improve deaf and disabled representation at all levels.
“Diverse workforces are healthy, robust, sustainable workforces, and only with true diversity across all levels can the broadcasting industry set itself up for a strong future where its people thrive and audiences receive the best content.”