ReportESAC – Entertainment Software Association of Canada
Faits Essentiels 2011 sur le Secteur Canadien des Jeux Vidéo et Informatiques
1 Jan 201119 pages~20 min full read
Canada’s video game industry generated C$1.7 billion in direct economic impact in 2011, ranking third globally in revenue and first in jobs per capita.
See it on page 4The sector employed approximately 16,000 workers across 350 firms, with an 11% growth rate over the previous two years and a projected 17% increase for the following two.
See it on page 4Quebec serves as the industry hub with 8,236 employees and C$733 million in spending, while Ontario exhibits the fastest growth trajectory at 20–21%.
See it on page 9Large enterprises (151+ staff) dominate the labor market, accounting for 59% of total industry employment.
See it on page 6Console development remains the primary focus, employing 68% of the workforce, while mobile, social, and casual platforms represent 12% of resources.
See it on page 7Nearly half of Canadians (48%) identify as gamers, with a median age of 33 and a demographic split of 62% male and 38% female.
See it on page 13The study evaluates the Canadian entertainment‑software industry in 2011, outlining its structure, economic contribution, and consumer profile to illustrate why the sector ranks third worldwide in revenue and first in jobs per capita. Quantitative data show roughly 16 000 workers employed by about 350 firms, generating an estimated direct impact of C$1.7 billion and delivering an 11 % growth rate over the previous two years, with a projected 17 % increase in the next two. Traditional console development still dominates, employing 68 % of the workforce, while mobile, social and casual games together account for just under 12 % of resources, reflecting a rapid diversification of platforms.
Regional analysis reveals Quebec as the sector’s hub, housing 8 236 employees, 70 % of large firms and C$733 million in spend, and posting a 13 % annual growth rate. Ontario follows with 2 600 employees, 96 firms and a higher growth trajectory (20 % historic, 21 % forecast) driven by numerous micro‑ and small‑size companies. British Columbia’s 3 882 employees and C$393 million in spend show modest growth, while Saskatchewan is omitted due to lack of survey responses. Company‑size distribution indicates that 59 % of employees work for large enterprises (151+ staff), with the remainder spread across medium, small and micro firms.
Consumer insights, derived from an NPD Group survey of 2 579 adults, 398 teens and 547 children (margin of error ± 1.6 %), indicate that 48 % of Canadians identify as gamers, with a median age of 33 and a gender split of 62 % male to 38 % female. Thirty percent play daily,
