Motion picture and video exhibition
NAICS Code: 512130
BLS projects Motion picture and video exhibition to grow +1.6% through 2034 - 0.8 points slower than the 2.4% average across 291 U.S. industries, faster-growing than 40% of them. Its trajectory is close to the typical U.S. industry.
Where Motion picture and video exhibition sits among all industries
Projected 2024–2034 growth across 291 U.S. industries (BLS). This industry is marked in rose.
Motion picture and video exhibition has projected growth of 1.6%. Distribution: 21 industries at -15--10%; 23 industries at -10--5%; 41 industries at -5-0%; 128 industries at 0-5%; 51 industries at 5-10%; 14 industries at 10-15%; 4 industries at 15-20%; 3 industries at 20-25%; 6 industries at 25-30%.
Industry Insight
The Motion picture and video exhibition industry is classified under NAICS code 512130 and employed approximately 118,500 workers in 2024 according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections program. By 2034, BLS projects employment will reach 120,300 - a net change of +1,800 jobs over the decade. That works out to a +1.6% projected growth rate, a measured but positive trajectory.
NAICS 512130 sits within a broader sector ecosystem whose health depends on demographic trends, technology adoption curves, and policy decisions on immigration, tax incentives, and labor regulation. The occupation mix inside Motion picture and video exhibition determines how AI displacement risk filters down to individual workers, industries dominated by clerical and routine analytical roles face the steepest exposure, while those anchored in physical skill, patient care, or creative judgment retain stronger resilience.
Use this industry profile alongside our occupation rankings and employer AI risk grades to build a full picture. The BLS publishes detailed wage and employment figures for each sector in its Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics and Employment Projections programs. The BLS Employment Projections methodology blends input-output modeling, productivity forecasts, and occupational staffing patterns, so estimates are directional rather than precise, and industry-level outcomes depend heavily on macroeconomic conditions that evolve between projection cycles.
Peer Industries by Employment
How Motion picture and video exhibition (NAICS 512130) compares to industries of similar size, ordered by 2024 BLS employment.
| Industry | 2024 | Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Oil and gas extraction | 122,500 | -5.5% |
| Motion picture and video exhibition | 118,500 | +1.6% |
| Farm and garden machinery and equipment merchant wholesalers | 116,700 | -0.4% |
| Natural gas distribution | 116,100 | -3.2% |
| Psychiatric and substance abuse hospitals; state | 115,200 | -7.4% |
| Support activities for road transportation | 114,700 | +3.7% |
Peers are selected by similarity in 2024 employment. Figures in thousands. Source: BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many people work in Motion picture and video exhibition?
As of 2024, the Motion picture and video exhibition industry employs approximately 118,500 workers in the United States, according to BLS Employment Projections data.
Is Motion picture and video exhibition growing or declining?
The Motion picture and video exhibition industry is projected to grow by 1.6% from 2024 to 2034, a net change of +1,800 jobs over the decade.
What jobs are in the Motion picture and video exhibition industry?
The Motion picture and video exhibition industry (NAICS 512130) employs workers across a range of occupations. Browse the full occupations directory to see AI exposure scores, wage data, and growth projections for specific roles common in this industry.
How will AI affect the Motion picture and video exhibition industry?
AI impact on the Motion picture and video exhibition industry depends on the specific occupation mix. Industries with more routine data processing and clerical roles tend to have higher AI displacement risk, while those requiring physical labor, complex judgment, or creative work face lower risk. View occupation-level AI exposure scores for detailed analysis.
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Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections 2024–2034 Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections 2024–2034 Employment figures in thousands. Data reflects projected changes over the 2024–2034 decade