TIGA reports that 29% of UK game studios are still grappling with skill shortages

Following significant declines, the UK's gaming industry sees a reduction in skill shortages, though studios still face hurdles such as insufficiently skilled applicants and evolving skill demands. This information comes from TIGA's collaboration with the University of Portsmouth in a published report on Skills, Training, and Education in the industry.

Of the studios surveyed, 29% report ongoing skill shortages, with 79% pointing to inadequate qualifications among applicants as a major issue.

The role of programming is particularly tough to recruit for, affecting more than half of studios, while only 14% have trouble finding art and design talent.

Consequences of these shortages include increased duties for current employees (62%) and a growing need for outsourcing (40%).

To mitigate shortages, 68% of firms are promoting internally, 57% outsource, and 51% increase staff training, with each employee averaging 13.5 training days annually.

Experience counts heavily, with 82% of new hires being seasoned professionals, graduates making up 17%, and apprentices just 1%.

While 89% of teams claim full proficiency in their roles, 31% reported lacking leadership and management capabilities, and 25% noted communication weaknesses.

TIGA recommends the government focus on:

• Enhancing school curriculums, investing in higher education, and aligning vocational training with industry demands
• Increasing incentives for smaller studios to provide training
• Encouraging flexible apprenticeship programs and improving support for training and internships
• Maintaining an effective immigration system to attract skilled global talent

Richard Wilson, CEO of TIGA, stated, "The sector benefits from a skilled, adaptable workforce." He noted that while the wider industry slowdown has helped ease skill shortages, challenges remain, particularly in programming.

Wilson emphasized the importance of training, internal promotions, and workforce strategy adjustments, stating that it is crucial to boost the talent pipeline to support the UK's game development growth.

The survey conducted in late 2025 included 34 gaming companies, employing 3,064 developers, which is 11% of the industry's workforce. At the survey time, the industry employed nearly 27,350 full-time roles across 2,110 companies, with over 80% of workers holding a degree or higher qualifications.