Big Games Industry Employment Survey 2024: Salaries, Compensation Trends and State of the Games Sector in Europe

The European games industry faces significant instability, with 15% of the workforce experiencing layoffs and 10% leaving the sector entirely, disproportionately impacting junior professionals.

AI adoption has surged by 17% year-over-year, with 54% of industry professionals now integrating these tools into their daily workflows.

Systemic workplace issues persist, as 32% of respondents reported gender-based bias and 26% cited ageism, contributing to a gender pay gap rooted in a lack of female leadership and technical representation.

Professional development is stagnating, with 55% of workers receiving no formal training in the past year, forcing 65% of those seeking career advancement to self-fund their education.

While 44% of job switchers achieved career gains, 24% were forced to accept lower pay or reduced seniority to maintain employment in the current market.

Employee retention is currently driven by hybrid work models and long-term stability perks like profit-sharing, which outperform standard compensation in maintaining workforce commitment.