The UK games industry is facing a notable downturn in job vacancies, with just 1,324 positions currently listed, according to the latest Games Jobs Live report. This decline, marking an 11% decrease from the previous month, reflects the ongoing uncertainty and its impact on the recruitment landscape within the games sector.

Notably, this figure represents an all-time low since Games Jobs Live commenced its monthly analysis three years ago, and it's significantly lower than the 2,425 job openings observed in October 2022, signifying a substantial year-on-year drop of 45%.

Various roles within the industry have been affected, with the most sought-after positions being coders (449 jobs), artists (271), designers (160), production staff (148), and testers (60). Nearly every discipline has witnessed a decrease in available jobs, with a few exceptions in finance, legal, and writing, which have experienced growth.

Of particular concern is the dwindling demand for entry-level roles, as out of the 1,324 positions advertised, only 33 were designated for junior candidates. This trend suggests a challenging environment for newcomers in the industry.

Despite recent layoffs in prominent UK studios such as Creative Assembly, Team 17, and Epic-owned Mediatonic, Games Jobs Live believes it may still be "too early" for the surplus of senior talent in the market to secure new positions elsewhere.

The report also reveals the preferences of companies regarding remote work. Of the available roles, 61% require some form of onsite presence, while 39% are fully remote. Interestingly, there has been a 2% increase in remote-friendly roles compared to the previous month. This shift may be attributed to the reduced number of positions available at AAA studios.

The decline in job vacancies in the UK games industry highlights the challenges and uncertainties the sector is currently facing. It's a situation that industry professionals and newcomers should closely monitor as it evolves.

Source: by James Batchelor, Editor-in-chief at GamesIndustry.biz