In April of 2026, we canvassed for survey responses across the cinema exhibition industry, seeking to hear from professionals, freelancers, volunteers, and anyone who helps audiences access cinema in public spaces. This report provides an overview of the survey results, offering a snapshot of who is working in film exhibition, their experience in the workplace, and their skills and career development needs.
In 2022, the Independent Cinema Office (ICO) published the most comprehensive workforce survey of the UK cinema exhibition sector ever undertaken. Four years on, the sector continues to navigate a period of profound change.
This 2026 edition received responses from 620 individuals, providing an updated picture of the workforce.
Key findings:
- The ethnic profile of the sector is largely unchanged since 2022: 89% of respondents identified as white – the same figure as four years ago – compared to 79% of the wider UK working-age population.
- The proportion of respondents aged 50 or over has increased from 31% in 2022 to 42% in 2026, while those aged under 30 have fallen from 25% to 18%.
- One in four survey respondents (24%) identify as lesbian, gay, or bisexual (LGB) or self-describe in another way, far exceeding national averages.
- 34% of respondents identified as having a health condition, impairment or learning difference, compared to 24% of the wider working-age population.
- 57% of respondents come from high socio-economic backgrounds (SEB), compared to 37% of the general population and approximately 60% across the wider creative sector. This pattern is unchanged from 2022 and demands a structural response.
- 31% of respondents identified as volunteers, compared to 15% in 2022.
- 80% of respondents work beyond their contracted hours, with more than half (51%) doing so “always” or “frequently”. While 98% receive some form of “compensation”, it is rarely financial. 40% of overtime is entirely unpaid, and the most frequent over-workers are the least likely to be paid for it.
- Men report having a “great deal” of input into decision-making at their organisation at a higher rate (51%) than women (41%), a disparity particularly visible in middle-management roles.
- Only 28% of the total workforce feels fairly paid. Women are notably more dissatisfied, with 43% feeling unfairly compensated compared to 36% of men.
- In 2026, 72% of respondents reported having received training in the four years prior to the survey, a substantial increase from 2022, when half of all respondents had never received professional training.
- 79% of respondents report at least one barrier to accessing training, with the lack of time and employer funding cited by around two-thirds of those affected. Geographic inequity is also stark – 58% of those working in Wales and the North cite a lack of nearby provision, compared to just 13% in London.
- 71% report at least one barrier to progression, most commonly a shortage of roles at the right level (58%) and unclear progression routes (57%).
- Only 43% of managers feel they actually have enough time in their week to manage and support their teams effectively.
We’re incredibly grateful to everyone who took the time to complete the survey. We hope to honour your investment of time by advocating for change that improves everyone’s ability to work in and enjoy the cinema.
If you’d like to discuss these results further, please contact us via info@independentcinemaoffice.org.uk