Graduates ‘losing jobs to laid-off devs’

Game dev graduates are finding it even harder to find work as studio redundancies flood the labour market with experienced developers, in industry executive has said.

Speaking in Develop’s latest feature on games recruitment, Felix Roekin said the hundreds of UK game developers made redundant in the last year have made it even harder for inexperienced talent to shine through.

“I think new candidates coming out of school face increasing pressure from experienced candidates who might have been laid off in the recent months or years,” Roekin said.

Independent data has estimated that, since 2008, the UK dev workforce has fallen by about 900 developers – representing a 9 per cent contraction.

Key triple-A studios, such as Realtime Worlds and Bizarre Creations, have closed down in recent months.

“It’s difficult for those new candidates because they don’t necessarily have the skill set that their experienced counterparts do.”

Roekin, the general manager of middleware outfit Trinigy, did however believe there were other opportunities for aspiring game developers.

“Some of those experienced developers are now starting up studios of their own, which provides a great new market for the right candidates.”

Roeken has hit on a key point that may be of great encouragement to those intimidated by today’s job market.

As microstudios become midistudios and social and digital gaming continues to rise, there is a wealth of new avenues opening.

Develop’s full feature on games industry recruitment includes elaboration from industry professionals across the entire talent pipeline. Go here to read more.