Discrimination against working-class people should be illegal, according to a report on employment in the cultural sector.

More than 50% of respondents told the mainly Greater Manchester-based Class Ceiling survey they had experienced harassment or bias due to their social background.

It follows calls for better opportunities for working-class creatives, including from award-winning scriptwriter James Graham and performer Jason Manford.

Former chief prosecutor Nazir Afzal, who is chair of the Lowry arts venue in Salford and helped lead the report, said class was a “core inclusion issue” and barriers to the arts were “crushing creativity”.

He joined calls from the TUC union and the Co-op firm for socioeconomic background to become the 10th protected characteristic under the 2010 Equalities Act.

More than half of the British public consider themselves to be working-class, according to YouGov data.

The Class Ceiling review, which surveyed people mainly based in or from Greater Manchester, said: “Britain’s creative industries shape how the country sees itself.”

It claimed access to such industries “remain[ed] unequal”, adding: “Entry routes still depend on who you know. Early roles still pay too little to live on.

“Progression still favours those who can absorb risk. Many people leave before their careers begin.”

The survey received 300 responses from working-class creatives, ranging from Bafta and Emmy award winners to teenage artists, as part of a project supported by the University of Manchester, Greater Manchester Combined Authority and the Co-op.

Several musicians spoke about being offered “exposure” instead of payment, with one saying: “It’s not something that pays the bills.”

The report found only 44% of respondents earned enough to make a living, with many taking second jobs.

Some also reported being described as “thick” because of their accent and said their predicted grades had been lowered because of where they lived.

One respondent said a fellow arts school student shouted “poor” in their face, adding: “I was laughed at for my accent, I was judged for not wearing designer clothing, I was mocked for not going to a private school.

“It is almost comical how cliched the experience truly was. My fellow students thought ‘the North’ was amusing.”

Another person said they were “made fun of for qualifying for free school meals, wearing hand-me-downs and not having a phone”.

The report said some respondents indicated there was a bias against working-class content being commissioned, with one TV professional saying: “A lot of the commissioners are white, middle-aged and middle-class.”

Another TV worker said many colleagues “simply don’t understand working-class culture”.

“It’s not a meritocracy; it’s a mirror-tocracy,” the worker said, adding: “The commissions go to people who are similar to those in charge. They want to see what they think reflects them.”

Among those surveyed was a Bolton headteacher who said arts subjects had been “systematically devalued” by the curriculum, which had contributed to some students hating school and committing truancy.

He said “lots of kids really value creative subjects”, adding: “If these kids were encouraged to do more creative subjects, it would be better for the country.”

Afzal said the review “spreads power beyond London” after many respondents said they had to move to the capital to develop an arts career.

“We are not going to break down barriers that are crushing creativity until we build an arts sector that treats class as a core inclusion issue,” he said.

As a result of the survey, the Manchester-based Co-op firm is spearheading support for 200 new arts and creative apprenticeships in the area.