A new report from Professionals Australia points out that despite common skills across the industry, there is a huge pay gap between people working for games companies and those working for traditional and emerging tech companies.
An analysis of more than 1,000 responses from union and non-union Professionals Australia found that the median base salary of games industry workers is “43% lower than workers at large emerging tech companies” such as Google and Atlassian. Games industry workers enjoyed a 5.7% salary increase, in line with other workers in the tech industry, but proportionally they are still lower paid than workers at traditional and emerging tech companies.
The games industry has also seen its employment base become unstable in recent months, with job cuts becoming more commonplace. Survey work for Professionals Australia's report was conducted in April and May 2023, but in the report unions were keen to highlight the significant impact that job cuts have had in the games industry over the past few months.
“People who work in games do so because they love games. We want to make games and we've worked hard to get into the industry,” said Games Workers Australia co-chair Mitch McCausland. “But this year, mass layoffs have sent shock waves through the industry. The mantra is 'survive until 2025'.”
Recently, as a result of the tough economic times, major Australian gaming companies such as Samurai Punk, Mighty Kingdom and League of Geeks have begun large-scale layoffs or closed down completely.
Women are at a huge disadvantage in tech
The Professionals Australia survey also found that women are disadvantaged in the gaming and technology industries, where they are still paid around 14% less than men in comparable positions. Additionally, women are twice as likely to experience bullying or harassment in the workplace, and are under-represented in the technology industry, particularly at senior management levels.
read: IGDA announces that 10,500 game developers will lose their jobs due to layoffs in 2023
“The perception of the technology and IT sector is that of innovation, dynamism, growth and high
The salaries are high. But the reality for technical and IT workers in the field varies depending on where they work.
“Job has nothing to do with gender,” Professionals Australia interim CEO Paul Inglis said.
According to Professionals Australia, the data collected in its latest remuneration report highlights the need to continue to drive better standards across the tech industry, and also highlights the power of collective bargaining as part of unions, which can be used to improve pay conditions and ensure company culture is supportive for all.
“[The Game Workers Australia] We have over 200 games workers in our Discord channel, sharing advice, supporting each other through hardships, and working together for rewarding, stable careers. We've been able to win real advances in contracts and wages because we've come together as a workforce,” McCausland said. “Right now, people working in games are in survival mode, but we're in survival mode together, and that's what makes the difference.”
Going forward, there is hope for change, but change is only possible through awareness. It is important to understand the gaps in the modern technology space, what can be improved, and how companies can thrive with a stronger, supportive culture.
Professionals Australia's full remuneration report can be found on the union's website.
