According to a new report from TIGA, the UK’s video game trade association, employment within game developer studios has risen by almost 25%. Figures show that nearly 21,000 game designers are employed full time within the UK game industry. Their research shows that other jobs not directly involved in game development, such as PR and community management, rose to over 38,000.
Dr. Richard Wilson OBE, CEO of TIGA, said ‘the UK video games development sector is sprinting ahead, with an annualised growth rate of 14.7 per cent. This is the highest rate recorded since our survey began in 2007.’
TIGA’s research shows that in the period from April 2020 to December 2021:
- The number of creative staff in studios surged by almost 25 per cent and at an annualised rate of 14.7 per cent from 16,836 to 20,975 full-time and full-time equivalent staff;
- The number of jobs indirectly supported by studios rose from 30,781 to 38,348;
- Combined direct and indirect tax revenues generated by the sector for the Treasury are estimated to have increased from £907 million to £1,189 million;
- Annual investment by studios rose from £993 million to £1,301 million (i.e. £1.3 billion); and
- The game development sector’s annual contribution to UK Gross Domestic Product increased from £2,200 million (i.e. £2.2 billion) to £2,884 million (i.e. £2.9 billion).
