Added value and employment
The business system that operates in the Film&TV sectors produces wealth for a value of over 6 billion euros. The estimated value for 2018 reflects a 2.0% growth compared to last year: a slightly higher variation than that of the entire Italian economy which is associated with an even more marked trend expressed in terms of employment (+2,6%.) The positive balance of 1,287 employees (between hires and departures) brings the number of employees in the sector beyond the threshold of 50,000 (precisely 50,148).
The recovery of the sector is mainly led by companies involved in Post-production (Ateco 5912) and Distribution (Ateco 5913.) This re-balancing process is now stable and can be read as a consequence of the technological transformations underway (the evolution of digital on-demand platforms) and of the change in consumers tastes (TV series and entertainment rather than cinema). Specifically, Post-production activities recorded an increase in added value of +3.7%, which is associated with an even stronger employment trend (+9.1%.) Distribution activities (both theatrical and television) proceed along the same line, although with a slightly lower percentage variation (+2.9% added value and +6.1% employees).
The slight recovery recorded by the audiovisual sector in 2018, with growth rates above the national economic average, represent a first step towards the complete recovery of the sector’s position as stated in previous years. However, between 2011 and 2018, a disadvantage for cinema and television companies is yet evident, both in terms of added value (-0.3% against +7.0% relating to the entire Italian economy), and in relation to the employee count (-3.2% against +2.0%). The activities that have suffered the most are production (-8.9% of added value and -9.5% of occupancy) and exhibition (respectively, -2.3% and -4.1%.)
Breakdown of added value and employment in the audiovisual industry core by productive areas
Year 2018 (absolute value and percentage variations)
ADDED VALUE
| Ateco | Ateco Classification | Million euros | % variation | |
| 2017-‘18 | 2011-‘18 | |||
| 5911 | Theatrical film, video & TV production | 1.735,3 | 1,9 | -8,9 |
| 5912 | Theatrical film, video & TV post-production | 304,1 | 3,7 | 4,6 |
| 5913 | Theatrical film, video & TV distribution | 162,4 | 2,9 | -1,4 |
| 5914 | Exhibition | 644,9 | -0,2 | -2,3 |
| 6020 | TV programming & broadcasting | 3.250,5 | 2,2 | 5,0 |
| TOTAL AUDIOVISUAL CORE | 6.097,2 | 2,0 | -0,3 | |
| TOTAL ECONOMY | 1.584.462,2 | 1,7 | 7,0 |
EMPLOYMENT
| Ateco | Ateco Classification | Employee count | % variation | |
| 2017-‘18 | 2011-‘18 | |||
| 5911 | Theatrical film, video & TV production | 14.754 | 3,4 | -9,5 |
| 5912 | Theatrical film, video & TV post-production | 2.614 | 9,1 | 6,7 |
| 5913 | Theatrical film, video & TV distribution | 1.355 | 6,1 | -2,5 |
| 5914 | Exhibition | 5.986 | 3,3 | -4,1 |
| 6020 | TV programming & broadcasting | 25.439 | 1,2 | 0,1 |
| TOTAL AUDIOVISUAL CORE | 50.148 | 2,6 | -3,2 | |
| TOTAL ECONOMY | 25.342.300 | 0,8 | 2,0 |
Source: Fondazione Symbola
Better performances in a context that must however be considered complex were recorded by Post-production activities (+4.6% of wealth produced and +6.7% of employment,) in line with the technological changes already discussed. TV programming activities also managed to keep a positive trend, mainly in relation to the added value (+5.0%) while faintly in terms of employment (+0.1%.)