ReportESAC – Entertainment Software Association of Canada
Essential Facts 2014: Canada
1 Jan 201416 pages~9 min full read
Canada’s video game sector directly employs 16,500 people, representing 27,000 full-time equivalent jobs.
See it on page 3The industry contributed $2.3 billion to Canada’s GDP and generated $1.6 billion in direct spending, marking a 12.5% increase since 2011.
See it on page 3Employment in the sector grew by 5% between 2011 and 2013, with 40% of firms projecting a 25% staff expansion within two years.
See it on page 3Independent developers comprise 53% of the 329 identified Canadian game companies.
See it on page 3The average annual salary for industry employees is $72,500, and the median age of the workforce is 31.
See it on page 5The 2014 overview of Canada’s video‑game sector presents a comprehensive picture of an industry that ranks among the world’s largest by per‑capita employment and is a cornerstone of the nation’s digital economy. Drawing on custom research commissioned by the Entertainment Software Association of Canada (ESAC)—including NPD surveys of 3,359 adults and 526 teens in 2014, a 2012 survey of 2,969 adults, 527 teens and 687 children, and quantitative data from 90 Canadian companies—the analysis covers national trends, regional breakdowns, workforce characteristics, public perception and consumer behaviour.
Employment figures reveal 16,500 individuals directly working in game development, equivalent to 27,000 full‑time jobs, with a 5 % increase in staff between 2011 and 2013 and two‑fifths of firms forecasting a 25 % expansion within two years. The sector generated $2.3 billion in GDP contribution and $1.6 billion in direct spending, a 12.5 % rise from 2011. More than half of Canadian companies identify as independent developers, and 53 % of the 329 firms operate as such. Salaries average $72,500 annually, with a median employee age of 31,
