Actors enjoy record employment

Despite growing concerns about runaway production, the Screen Actors Guild on Monday reported that the number of jobs for its members in radio and television jumped from 49,662 in 1999 to 53,134 in 2000, an increase of 7 percent. Its Casting Data Report also noted that African Americans received 14.8 percent of all roles cast, up from 14.1 percent the year before. Other minorities, including Hispanics, Asians and Native Americans also saw their jobs increase to record levels, the guild said. Nevertheless, SAG President William Daniels observed in a statement, “We are delighted to see gains for all ethnicities on the large and small screen, but there’s no question there’s still plenty of room for growth in diversity in the television and film world.”