In 1995, the total number of Americans employed in the motion picture industry was 283,700 (135,200 in P&S); in 1997, total employment was 323,000 (159,600 P&S); in 2000, total employment was 351,600 (182,100 P&S) and; in 2004, total employment was 367,900 (198,300 P&S). Hence, in 1997, according to the MPAA 2004 report, total U.S. motion picture employment of 323,000 represents a huge discrepancy from the MPAA's earlier claim that, in 1996, the industry employed over 450,000 workers in California alone.
The data from 1995 to 2004 shows a steady increase in American film industry employment, with numbers rising from 283,700 to 351,600 and then to 367,900. However, this contradicts the MPAA's earlier claim that the industry employed over 450,000 workers in California by 1996.