New statistics from BettingJobs show that while the number of female placements and roles is increasing in the UAE and Latin America, the number of remote positions is down by a quarter. By Beth Turner
BettingJobs research has found there has been a 25% drop in remote placements from clients compared to last year, with more clients now looking to employ staff on-site or in hybrid working arrangements.
These statistics, part of a wider report by the games industry recruitment firm, point to a shift towards hybrid and on-site working within the industry, and also show a significant increase in hiring in Latin America and the United Arab Emirates, as well as an increase in female hiring within the industry.
Remote Work
In the post-COVID-19 job market, remote work has become a key talking point among employees and employers. Remote work was a necessity during the pandemic, but even after people were allowed to return to the office, it has energized the job market by showing them that most of the things they can do in the office can be done from home.
Remote working has pros and cons for both sides. For staff, it means no commute, a better work-life balance (though this is debatable) and more opportunities to exercise independence. It also opens the door to people who have difficulties getting into certain workplaces, such as those with disabilities or who live in remote areas.
But fully remote work can be an isolating experience, with negative effects on both productivity and mental health.
For employers, remote work means they can cast a global net for talent and distribute work hours depending on staff location. But it also means giving staff greater confidence that they will complete their assigned tasks with the same speed and efficiency as they could in an office environment – something that can’t always be guaranteed.
Women in Games
Meanwhile, BettingJobs data shows that the number of women in IT and technology roles has doubled compared to the same period last year. The number of women in compliance roles has also tripled year-over-year, and the total number of women hired by BettingJobs has increased 15% year-over-year. BettingJobs also reports that the number of women in leadership roles in the industry is on the rise.
With more women in leadership roles and groups like ASCEND, Saroca, and Global Gaming Women now present at industry conferences, there is a lot of conversation among companies about getting women into leadership roles in particular, so these statistics are encouraging, especially in a field like IT that has been male-dominated.
Latin America The Latin American market has grown exponentially in the last year, with examples including iGaming regulations in Peru and sports betting regulations in Brazil, meaning BettingJobs is placing significantly more gaming jobs in Latin America than it did last year.
United Arab Emirates
BettingJobs has also seen a notable increase in placements in the UAE, with a significant increase over the previous year. A number of factors can contribute to this, one of which is the continued development of the country’s first casino resort, Wynn Al Marjan Island in Ras Al Khaimah, which was announced in summer 2022 and launched in September 2023 by the UAE’s gaming regulator, the General Commercial Gaming Regulatory Authority (GCGRA).
Regulation of lottery gambling may also have been a factor, with the UAE lottery operating license being granted to Games LLC earlier this month and the regulations being finalized.
Either way, the growing interest in employment in the UAE indicates that a legalized gaming industry in the UAE will likely be lucrative, and companies are expanding their presence as the legalized industry develops.
C-level
Overall, BettingJobs found that the gaming industry saw 3.5 times more C-level executives fill roles compared to the previous year. This can be attributed to a number of factors, including the gaming industry’s current drive to diversify backgrounds, which has prompted companies to hire talent from outside the industry or even their own companies to bring new perspectives and skill sets to the market.
A recent example of an outsider hire is Mike Ybarra, who became CEO of PrizePicks in August. Succeeding former CEO Adam Wexler, who became chairman of the board, Ybarra comes to the role as a former president of Blizzard, the gaming company behind games such as “The Witcher” and “World of Warcraft.” He also spent nearly 20 years as a corporate vice president at Microsoft.
So bringing in new talent to generate new ideas at the C-level is a way to keep your business fresh and innovative. While some argue that internal talent should be promoted to these roles, given the depth of knowledge involved, an integrated approach to designing your company’s leadership team may be a good compromise.