Twenty-two percent of UK games industry workers have experienced job loss in the past three years, according to the third edition of UKIE's industry census. The survey, designed and authored by Professor Mark Taylor, collected responses from 1,610 UK games professionals between November 2025 and January 2026.
The UK Games Industry Workforce Demographics Survey covers redundancies, studio closures, and the end of fixed-term contracts. Half of respondents who left a job, including those who transitioned to new roles, secured new employment within three months. However, those who have been searching for over a year are the most likely to plan leaving the industry entirely.
Certain groups were disproportionately affected. Non-binary respondents (29%) and female respondents (23%) were more likely to have lost a job than men (20%). Writers and artists bore the brunt of cuts, with 44% and 31% reporting job losses respectively. The report identified a direct correlation between job loss and declining mental health, noting that job loss is often linked to increased mental health conditions.
Women comprise 33% of the UK games workforce, significantly below the 49% figure in the broader UK workforce but similar to other European games industries. Five percent of respondents identified as non-binary or another gender, while six percent identified as trans. The workforce is predominantly White at 88%, with ethnic minorities holding only six percent of senior leadership roles in organisations with more than 24 employees.
The survey noted that respondent numbers dropped from 3,603 in the 2021 edition to 1,610 this time. UKIE described the results as "best understood as a snapshot rather than an exhaustive audit" and cautioned that the findings should be read on their own terms rather than compared directly with earlier editions, given changes in both the industry and respondent base.
The census arrives during a period of sustained turbulence for the global games industry. Microsoft's recent restructuring cut 3,200 Xbox employees and saw four studios depart, while layoffs have rippled through studios including 11 Bit Studios and Ubisoft Barcelona. The UKIE data suggests these high-profile cuts are part of a broader pattern affecting a significant portion of the domestic workforce over an extended period.
