A recent survey by Values Value and InGame Job reveals significant employment shifts in the European games industry. The Big Games Industry Employment Survey, conducted annually, provides valuable insights into industry trends.
Layoffs and Job Security
Around 21% of European games professionals experienced layoffs in the past year, with 15% finding new jobs and 6.2% remaining unemployed. Notably, 10% transitioned to non-games industries. The survey highlights HR, recruitment, QA and art roles as most vulnerable to layoffs.
Salary Insights
Median salaries increased overall, but discrepancies exist between EU and non-EU nations. For instance, middle-level jobs in game development, design and programming show varying salary ranges.
Industry Trends
Remote work remains prevalent, with 57% of EU companies and 75% of non-EU companies adopting remote work. AI adoption increased significantly, with 54% of developers using AI in their daily work. Burnout, unprofessional management and poor work-life balance top job dissatisfaction reasons.
Gender Pay Gap and Diversity
The survey underscores the persistent gender pay gap, emphasizing the need for industry-wide change. The respondent pool consisted of 58% men, 24% women and 19% other/preferred not to answer.
Survey Details
Conducted across 50 European countries from March to June 2024, the survey gathered insights from 1,832 respondents. The seniority distribution comprised 9% junior, 29% middle, 30% senior and 28% lead.