Workforce

Harnessing human capital to drive creativity and innovation.

In the U.S. alone, the video game industry has more than tripled in size in the last decade, growing from $15.2 billion in 2012 to $57.2 billion in 2023. Today, the industry creates and supports more than 350,000 jobs across the United States, with incomes averaging $168,600—more than double the national average salary.

Video game production relies on high-tech workers whose productivity and ingenuity make the industry competitive. ESA member companies invest in educating and training the workforce of the future.

Beyond video game developers and creators, the industry now supports a robust ecosystem of influencers who have built careers off of playing video games and sharing their experiences with their online fans and followers.

Building a robust talent pipeline to succeed globally. 

A key characteristic of the video game industry is that it is an entrepreneurial industry, open to new business innovations and business entrants. As a result, the video game industry of today has influence in every state, with college programs, esports teams and/or company locations in all 50 U.S. states, District of Columbia and Puerto Rico.Over 400 colleges and universities across the country now offer programs in video game-related topics, preparing students for high-paying STEM careers.

While we continue to invest in developing the STEAM talent pipeline here in the U.S., there remains a shortage of U.S.-born workers with the necessary, specialized skills to fill the tens of thousands of technology-based jobs that are currently available across the country.

The video game industry supports immigration policies that include provisions for increasing the number of highly skilled applicants from around the world, highly educated students and esports athletes

Latest News