WGA West: Under 5,100 writers worked in 2025, down 27% from 2022 peak

Just 5,072 WGA West writers reported earnings in 2025, down from nearly 7,000 in 2022 — a 27% drop, per the guild's annual financial report released to members in July 2026 and detailed by Deadline. The figure fell 10.2% from 2024 alone. The guild attributes the contraction to studios and platforms pulling back on scripted programming after years of overspending. Preliminary figures, current as of March 2026, may change.