TIGA 2014/15 UK Video Games Industry Salary Survey: Staff Turnover and Attrition Both Fall Whilst Salary Growth on Par With National Average

LONDON, April 20, 2015 /PRNewswire/ --

TIGA, the network for games developers and digital publishers, and the trade association representing the UK video games industry has announced the key findings of the 2014/15 Games Software Developers' Salary survey, carried out in association with Aon Hewitt.

The study, now in its sixth year, surveyed more than a quarter of all UK game development staff, evaluating salaries for 2,671 creative or specialist roles and 562 support roles.

Graduates' salaries increase the fastest  

The survey shows that whilst the UK games industry median base salary increase was 3 per cent (compared to 3.4 per cent in 2013), roughly on par with the national average of 3.1 per cent, graduate salaries increased by 4.3 per cent (compared to 4.0 per cent in 2013).

One would expect graduate salaries to rise fastest, as they are generally the lowest. Yet this continued year-on-year above-average increase indicates fierce competition amongst studios for the most talented graduates.

A less volatile employment market  

In 2014 average voluntary employee turnover fell to 11 per cent (compared to 14.5 per cent in 2013), whilst attrition - where staff leave to join a competing employer - also dropped to 6.5 per cent (from 11.2 per cent in 2013.)

A 3.4 per cent drop in turnover and 4.7 per cent drop in attrition are significant decreases and indicate a less volatile employment market.

Programmers still premium 

In 2014 technical development and programming roles saw the largest median base salary increase of 3.7 per cent (compared to 4.2 per cent in 2013) with increases across all other job functions ranging from 2.7 per cent to a high of 3.0 per cent.

The 4.2 per cent salary increase for programmers in 2013 was also the biggest rise across all job functions, showing strong and persistent demand for these roles.

8/10 developers are UK born and bred 

This year the survey also recorded information on respondents' nationality (or country of citizenship), with the findings showing that 80.7 per cent were UK nationals. 15.2 per cent of staff were from non-UK European nations, and 2.6 per cent of staff were from Asia Pacific countries.

It was also interesting to note that across London and South East England, staff recruited from the Asia-Pacific region into technical development or programming roles, received an average of 25 per cent more than British staff recruited from the UK. This would appear to back up and exemplify TIGA's argument that UK technology and game development businesses do not typically hire from overseas to save money. Instead, firms are looking outside the EU and the EEA to find rare and specialist staff who are capable of doing a specialist and highly skilled job.

Dr Richard Wilson, CEO, TIGA, stated:

"This is encouraging news for the UK video games industry. Salaries are continuing to increase and keeping pace with the rest of the economy whilst both staff turnover and attrition rates have fallen.

"2014 was a momentous year for our sector with the approval of Games Tax Relief, following the launch of a new generation of consoles in 2013. It appears that the UK video games industry is set for a period of strong, sustainable growth."

 Steve Munday, senior reward consultant at Aon Hewitt added:

"With six years of data now embedded into Aon Hewitt's databases and a larger sample size than ever before, the Games Software Developers' Salary Survey provides an established, comprehensive and trustworthy source of critical market data. Our 2014/15 survey again provides a detailed picture of this sector, and it will be fascinating to see how trends develop as we see what could well be another golden age for the videogame business in the UK." 

Notes to editors 

Survey methodology 

This is the sixth Aon Hewitt & TIGA Games Software Developers' Salary survey.

This year there are 10 organisations participating in the survey, providing data for 2,671 incumbents (1,298 in 2013); a significant increase. In addition, we also have 562 incumbents matched to business support functions (348 in 2013), across all 10 organisations. All data is effective as of 1st October 2014. Much effort and emphasis has been placed on ensuring the quality of the data in the 2014/15 survey. Position matching meetings were held in September 2014, when required, to discuss the matching approach and to ensure understanding of the data collection materials. In order to be able to report on as many positions as possible and to provide equal value to all participants from the survey findings, Aon Hewitt emphasised that all efforts should be made to provide as many positions as possible.

About Aon Hewitt
Aon Hewitt empowers organisations and individuals to secure a better future through innovative talent, retirement and health solutions. We advise, design and execute a wide range of solutions that enable clients to cultivate talent to drive organisational and personal performance and growth, navigate risk while providing new levels of financial security, and redefine health solutions for greater choice, affordability and wellness.  Aon Hewitt is the global leader in human resource solutions, with over 30,000 professionals in 90 countries serving more than 20,000 clients worldwide.  For more information on Aon Hewitt, please visit http://www.aonhewitt.com.

About TIGA 

TIGA is 90% funded by independent UK businesses. 80% of our board members are developers and/or from UK owned businesses, and 50% of our board are UK business owners themselves. Since 2010, TIGA has won 16 business awards. 

TIGA focuses on three sets of activities:

• Political representation
• Media representation
• Business services

This enhances the competitiveness of our members by providing benefits that make a material difference to their businesses, including a reduction in costs and improved commercial opportunities. It also means our members' voices are heard in the corridors of power and positively represented in national, broadcast and UK video game trade media.

Get in touch: 

Tel: +44(0)845-468-2330

• Email: info@tiga.org  
• Web: http://www.tiga.org 
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/TIGAMovement
• Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/TIGAMovement 
• LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/tiga   

For further information, you can also contact:   

• Dr Richard Wilson, TIGA CEO on: +44(0)7875-939-643, or email: richard.wilson@tiga.org
• Drew Field, TIGA Communications Director on: +44(0)7720-643-344, or email drew.field@tiga.org