22% of the UK games industry workforce has been affected by job losses over the last three years, new data shows

One in five workers in the UK games industry has experienced a job loss in the past three years, according to a new workforce census published by trade body UKIE. The data paints a bleak picture of an industry in prolonged structural decline, with writers and artists hit hardest, and almost half of all respondents saying they have considered leaving the sector entirely.

The details:

• UKIE's census (via GamesIndustry.biz), conducted by Professor Mark Taylor and based on responses from 1,610 UK games professionals collected between November 2025 and January 2026, found that 22% had experienced job loss through redundancy, studio closure, or the end of a fixed-term contract in the preceding three years.
• Writers were the hardest-hit discipline at 44%, followed by artists at 31%. Non-binary and female respondents were more likely to report job losses than men.
• 44% of respondents said they had considered leaving the games industry as a result of the layoff environment. Those who remained out of work for longer than a year were increasingly likely to exit the sector permanently.
• Half of those who lost jobs found new employment within three months, suggesting the talent pool remains active, but the longer-term exodus of experienced workers is a growing concern.
• Only 38% of respondents said they would recommend the UK games industry as a place to work, a striking figure given that a majority said they remained proud of the sector.