Jobs in the global gaming industry have remained virtually stagnant, growing by just 0.6% over the past four years. In contrast, North America saw an 11.5% decline in jobs during the same period, highlighting a stark regional disparity.
| 📒 | - Global Gaming Jobs See Marginal 0.6% Growth Over Four Years, Holding at 754,000 - North American Hiring Plummets 11.5% as Regional Job Redistribution Intensifies - North American Competition Hits 11-to-1 Amid Surge in Job Seekers; 11,580 Layoffs Projected for 2026 |
According to statistics from ASGC (Always Supporting the Gaming Community), a community managed by Amir Satvat, Business Development Director at Tencent, the number of global gaming industry employees grew slightly by 0.6%, from approximately 750,000 in 2022 to about 754,000 as of 2026. While roughly 48,000 jobs were lost during this period, 52,500 new hires were made, keeping the total headcount stable.
Satvat analyzed that the industry has not collapsed but rather undergone a redistribution. He explained that while jobs in North America and other Western regions have declined, hiring demand has shifted toward Europe and Asia. By region, North America was hit hardest, losing 19.2% of its workforce, followed by South America (11%), Europe (6.7%), and Asia (2%). Within the U.S., a shift was observed where hiring in traditional hubs in the West and South declined, while jobs migrated toward the Northeast (New York and Boston).
The extreme difficulty of the current job market is also backed by data. From 2017 to 2022, the global gaming industry absorbed 30,000 to 50,000 new workers annually, creating a total of 150,000 to 250,000 new jobs. However, from 2022 to 2026, net new job growth slowed to an average of just 1,100 per year, totaling only 4,500. Meanwhile, the number of job seekers—including graduates and career changers—reached 288,000, resulting in a global competition ratio of 5-to-1. In North America, where the job market has shrunk, 127,000 applicants are competing for 12,000 positions, a ratio of 11-to-1.
"The pie hasn't shrunk, but there are far more people at the table than the size of the pie can accommodate," Satvat said, elaborating on the causes of the hiring crisis.
The industry's trend of restructuring is expected to continue for the time being. ASGC has revised its 2026 annual layoff projection upward by 8.4% to 11,580. As of the 6th, confirmed layoffs have already reached 4,674—a figure that, in just the first quarter, threatens to surpass the annual totals of 2022 (8,500) and 2025 (9,197).
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