Arts industry hit hardest by pandemic regulations

Information shared by workforce management solutions app Deputy has shown Coronavirus’ dramatic impact on employment in the performing arts.

Prior to pandemic, Deputy’s data shows that, Australia-wide, the arts industry was rostering approximately 150,000 shifts a month. This immediately dropped to 81,793 in March 2020 and the numbers have not recovered to pre-pandemic levels since.

Commenting on the impact on shift workers, Ashik Ahmed, Chief Executive and co-founder of Deputy, stated “we are beginning to see government take an active role in supporting payments for the arts industry, which has been one of the hardest industries hit by the pandemic over the past two years.

“This has been due to the closing of venues, in-person events and lack of funding from ticket cancellations. Sadly, (this) funding might be arriving a little too late for many local artists, performers and event organisers who have been struggling.

“Data from the Deputy app shows us that the industry has not been performing at pre-pandemic numbers of shifts since COVID-19 initially hit in March 2020.”

Ahmed noted that “the arts sector is similar to the retail or hospitality sector in the sense that the industry provides a service that is of high demand by society, but many do not recognise the workers behind the scene.

“It is crucial for the government to step in and proactively support the arts because it is a crucial part of our culture and the vibrancy of Sydney. As we rebuild and learn to live with Covid-19, I hope we see continued government support and restrictions ease at venues, giving the industry the opportunity to simply work again.”

Deputy’s findings follow a newly released report from the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) that advised that 10 million jobs in creative industries worldwide were lost in 2020 as a result of the COVID pandemic.

Deputy is an app for employee rostering, shift planning, staff timesheets and overall workforce management solutions, used by a variety of businesses in the arts and entertainment industry to help them manage their workforce as efficiently as possible.