From 2013 to 2023, the number of self-employed people in the media and entertainment sector in Canada showed fluctuations. Peak employment occurred in 2019 with 24.64 thousand units, prior to a notable downturn in 2020 due to the pandemic, reaching 18.97 thousand units. Although there was recovery in 2021 and a substantial increase in 2022, the sector saw a slight dip again in 2023, standing at 21.85 thousand units. The average annual change in employment over the past five years (2019-2023) demonstrated a negative CAGR of -2.21%.

Forecasts from 2024 to 2028 project a modest stabilization with minimal growth. The sector is expected to slowly increase from 21.88 to 21.97 thousand units, corresponding to a very low forecast 5-year CAGR of 0.08% and overall growth rate of 0.41%.

Future trends to watch for include:

Impact of digital transformation on employment demand.
Potential effects of policy changes supporting gig and self-employed workers.
Resilience and flexibility in response to economic shifts and new market dynamics.