Oscar Wilde may have told the world that one can “never be overdressed or overeducated,” but according to a recent study from New York based-talent firm 24 Seven, the only thing fashion industry employees are over lately, is it.
For all you lads and lassies pining or clawing your way into Vogue’s inner circle, give pause and heed the following.
Everyone knows the fashion industry is notoriously difficult to break into, and once you’ve broken through that ceiling, moved to New York and wormed your way in as an intern, long hours and little (or no) pay might leave you feeling more than a little disgruntled. But it isn’t just interns who aren’t whistling while they work. 24 Seven conducted a survey of over 1,300 fashion employees and more than half are increasingly unhappy with their jobs.
The percentage of workers who said they were satisfied with their jobs fell to 48 percent in this year’s study, sinking below the 50 percent mark and down from 51 percent in last year’s survey and a robust 60 percent in 2011. Those indicating they are “highly satisfied” fell to 14 percent from 16 percent a year ago.
86 percent said they were “open to a move next year,” a glaring jump from 2012’s 70 percent.
Still despite increasing unrest, the average fashion industry salary has actually increased over the past year. From WWD:
Among the more than 1,300 workers surveyed, average compensation rose 6 percent last year, to $68,000, and nearly one-third of employees — 32 percent — saw their salaries rise at least 10 percent.
So why the fire and venom? Perhaps it has to do with the fact that only 64 percent of those surveyed said they had a “good work-life balance,” which is down 5 percent from 2012. Fashion industry employees are consistently plugged in because so much of the industry is social and media based.
There’s no shut down switch and in order to succeed anyone who’s made it will tell you it is imperative to LOVE what you do. Even Chanel herself said, “I don’t do fashion, I AM fashion,” but then again Coco wasn’t being asked to Tweet round the Parisian clock.
Upside for freelancers– they may not have health care (yet) but they’re happier.
