UK game industry employment ‘at five-year high’

The UK game development industry is on the rise again and employment has returned to 2008 levels, according to Tiga.

The industry trade body claimed the number of jobs in the sector had risen seven per cent in 2013, a five-year high.

According to the survey, the number of creative staff at studios between 2012 and 2013 rose by more than 600 to 9,896. The number of jobs directly supported by development houses meanwhile grew from 16,864 to 18,093.

Combined direct and indirect tax revenues generated by the industry increase by £29m to £419, and annual investment in studios rose from £427m to £458m.

In total, the game development sector is said to now contribute more than £1bn to the UK’s Gross Domestic Product.

“The sector’s return to growth has been driven by three factors,” said Tiga CEO Richard Wilson.

“Firstly, the explosion of mobile and tablet devices have created a significant market for games: jobs are being created in response to this demand. Secondly, the closure of big console focused studios has been followed by a surge of small start-up companies. Thirdly, the advent of Games Tax Relief, which TIGA was instrumental in achieving, is already stimulating growth. Games tax relief effectively reduces the cost of games development and it incentivises investment and job creation in the games industry.”