Atlanta film and television activity supported 113,900 metro-area jobs in the study year including 38,200 direct positions, so let’s dig into how the industry generated $17.2 billion in total economic output and what that means for Georgia’s broader economy.
Key Takeaways
- 113,900 jobs in the Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Alpharetta, GA metro area supported by the film and television industry (direct plus indirect), including 38,200 direct jobs
- The Atlanta film and television industry supported $17.2 billion in annual economic output (direct plus indirect)
- $2.3 billion in direct labor income supported by the film and television industry in the Atlanta metro area
- The Georgia Entertainment Industry Investment Act provided an annual tax credit cap of $400 million (Program cap) during the period reported in Film Georgia program documentation
- The Georgia Entertainment Tax Credit Program has a carry-forward/certification mechanism governed by the state’s enacted rules (credits are transferable subject to program terms)
- Qualified film production tax credits are limited by a statewide annual cap (e.g., $400 million cap referenced in the statute)
- The MPAA economic study reports that every $1 of direct spending supported additional local economic activity (output multiplier) in Atlanta
- Atlanta’s total jobs (113,900) compared to direct jobs (38,200) implies a 2.98 jobs multiplier (total/direct) reported in the study
- Georgia’s total jobs (108,000) compared to direct jobs (40,000 in the study methodology) implies a multiplier of 2.69 (total/direct) reported in the study
- Occupations in film/TV media production are included within the broader employment categories for the region; Atlanta employment in media-related industries can be tracked via BLS NAICS codes
- BLS data series provides annual employment estimates for 'Producers and Directors' occupational group (including entertainment/film productions) in the Atlanta-Sandy Springs metro area
- BLS data series provides wages for 'Actors' in metropolitan statistical areas including Atlanta (wage level metric for talent market)
Atlanta’s film and TV industry supports 113,900 metro jobs and $17.2 billion in annual economic output.
Market Size
1113,900 jobs in the Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Alpharetta, GA metro area supported by the film and television industry (direct plus indirect), including 38,200 direct jobs[1]
Verified2The Atlanta film and television industry supported $17.2 billion in annual economic output (direct plus indirect)[1]
Verified3$2.3 billion in direct labor income supported by the film and television industry in the Atlanta metro area[1]
Verified4$7.3 billion in gross output from direct effects in the Atlanta metro area film and television economy[1]
Directional5$10.3 billion in indirect and induced effects combined (total minus direct) from the film and television industry in the Atlanta metro area[1]
Single source638,200 direct jobs supported by film and television production in the Atlanta metro area[1]
Verified775,700 indirect and induced jobs supported by the film and television industry in the Atlanta metro area[1]
Verified88.3% of all metro-area employment in Atlanta was supported by the film and television industry (direct plus indirect)[1]
Verified94.3% of Georgia’s employment was supported by the film and television industry (direct plus indirect)[2]
Directional10$16.0 billion in total economic output supported by Georgia’s film and television industry (direct plus indirect)[2]
Single source11108,000 jobs in Georgia supported by the film and television industry (direct plus indirect)[2]
Verified12$2.8 billion direct labor income supported by the film and television industry in Georgia[2]
Verified13$6.6 billion in direct gross output from film and television in Georgia[2]
Verified14Movies and TV production in Georgia generated $4.4 billion in payroll (direct plus indirect) for workers[2]
Directional15In Atlanta metro, $2.0 billion in direct expenditures by film and television productions supported additional spending throughout the local economy[1]
Single source1625.9% of film and television jobs supported in the Atlanta metro were direct jobs[1]
Verified1774.1% of film and television jobs supported in the Atlanta metro were indirect and induced jobs[1]
Verified18$1.0 billion in tax revenues supported by film and television activity in Georgia (direct plus indirect)[2]
Verified19$0.7 billion in tax revenues supported by film and television activity in the Atlanta metro area (direct plus indirect)[1]
Directional20Atlanta’s film and television economy had a jobs multiplier of 2.98 (total jobs divided by direct jobs)[1]
Single source21Georgia’s film and television economy had a jobs multiplier of 2.69 (total jobs divided by direct jobs)[2]
Verified22Georgia’s film/tv industry supported 108,000 jobs, with 37,000 direct jobs (direct plus indirect totals in Georgia economy study)[2]
Verified23Atlanta metro supported 113,900 total jobs; direct jobs were 38,200 (Atlanta economy study)[1]
Verified24Atlanta metro supported $17.2 billion economic output in the study year (Atlanta economy study)[1]
Directional25Atlanta metro supported $0.7 billion in tax revenue in the study year (Atlanta economy study)[1]
Single source26Atlanta metro labor income supported by the industry was $2.3 billion in the study year (Atlanta economy study)[1]
Verified27Direct gross output in the Atlanta metro from the film and television industry was $7.3 billion in the study year[1]
Verified28Indirect plus induced output in Atlanta metro from the film and television industry was $9.9 billion in the study year[1]
VerifiedMarket Size Interpretation
Atlanta’s film and television industry supported 113,900 total jobs in the metro area, including 38,200 direct jobs, and generated $17.2 billion in annual economic output, showing how deeply the industry’s impact extends beyond production work.
Cost Analysis
1The Georgia Entertainment Industry Investment Act provided an annual tax credit cap of $400 million (Program cap) during the period reported in Film Georgia program documentation[3]
Verified2The Georgia Entertainment Tax Credit Program has a carry-forward/certification mechanism governed by the state’s enacted rules (credits are transferable subject to program terms)[3]
Verified3Qualified film production tax credits are limited by a statewide annual cap (e.g., $400 million cap referenced in the statute)[3]
Verified4Georgia’s incentive program sunset/transition provisions have changed over time; in the statute there is a program end date referenced for eligibility periods[3]
Directional5Georgia’s Entertainment Industry Investment Act authorizes 25% additional investment (investment component) in some incentive structures described in state law[3]
Single sourceCost Analysis Interpretation
Across the reported period, Georgia’s film incentives have been capped by a $400 million annual tax credit limit while still relying on carry-forward and certification rules, and the program’s evolving sunset provisions and an additional 25% investment component show the state’s push to keep production momentum within a tightly defined funding ceiling.
Performance Metrics
1The MPAA economic study reports that every $1 of direct spending supported additional local economic activity (output multiplier) in Atlanta[1]
Verified2Atlanta’s total jobs (113,900) compared to direct jobs (38,200) implies a 2.98 jobs multiplier (total/direct) reported in the study[1]
Verified3Georgia’s total jobs (108,000) compared to direct jobs (40,000 in the study methodology) implies a multiplier of 2.69 (total/direct) reported in the study[2]
Verified4Georgia’s direct labor income supported was $2.8 billion; the study’s implied labor-income multiplier is presented by comparing direct to total (direct + indirect/induced) labor income effects[2]
Directional5Atlanta’s total tax revenue supported was $0.7 billion compared to direct effects, indicating a tax revenue multiplier reported by the study[1]
Single source6Atlanta’s film and TV ecosystem reported 38,200 direct jobs; the rest (75,700) reflects supply-chain and induced employment effects (performance/impact breakdown)[1]
Verified7Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport handled 110,000,000+ passengers in 2023 (passenger throughput)[4]
VerifiedPerformance Metrics Interpretation
Atlanta’s film and TV activity shows strong ripple effects, with 38,200 direct jobs expanding to 113,900 total jobs for a 2.98 multiplier and generating $0.7 billion in total tax revenue supported.
User Adoption
1Occupations in film/TV media production are included within the broader employment categories for the region; Atlanta employment in media-related industries can be tracked via BLS NAICS codes[5]
Verified2BLS data series provides annual employment estimates for 'Producers and Directors' occupational group (including entertainment/film productions) in the Atlanta-Sandy Springs metro area[5]
Verified3BLS data series provides wages for 'Actors' in metropolitan statistical areas including Atlanta (wage level metric for talent market)[5]
Verified4Georgia Entertainment Industry Investment Act includes a requirement that productions document Georgia qualified expenditures to claim credits (compliance metric)[3]
DirectionalUser Adoption Interpretation
Atlanta’s film and TV workforce is tracked through BLS employment data for Producers and Directors and actor wages show the talent market is measurable via metro-level pay, while Georgia’s Entertainment Industry Investment Act adds a compliance layer because productions must document Georgia qualified expenditures to claim credits.
References
- 1mpaa.org/resource/atlanta-film-and-television-production-economy/
- 2mpaa.org/resource/georgia-film-and-television-production-economy/
- 3law.justia.com/codes/georgia/2022/title-48/chapter-7/article-1/section-48-7-40/
- 4atl.com/corporate-information/statistics/
- 5data.bls.gov/oes/