Randstad Kicks Off Partnership for Video Game Jobs

Randstad US is breaking into video games as a talent acquisition vertical. The company announced a partnership with Gamesmith, a digital community of more than 12,000 industry professionals that has relationships with “thousands” of video game studios.

The partnership will leverage Randstad’s national hiring infrastructure and offer a network of technology professionals who may not have previously considered work in the $118 billion business.

“The gaming industry is one of the fastest-growing industries in the world and it needs a pipeline of talent to help fuel this growth,” said Josh Vesely, Randstad’s enterprise and integrated talent solutions leader. “To capitalize on this moment and close a worsening skills gap, the industry needs to expand its talent base and consider new, alternative methods of hiring.”

Riding the Wave

The partnership comes as video games surge in demand. At the height of the pandemic, 55% of American consumers turned to video games for entertainment, boosting global sales by 20% and creating almost 20,000 jobs, Randstad said. The unemployment rate for professionals with gaming development and design skills is near zero.

Employment in the industry has been steadily growing over the last decade. About 124,000 people worked in gaming in 2010, according to Statista. By 2020, the number of employees was 241,000.

Gamesmith Founder Alex Churchill said the partnership with Randstad will provide “new opportunities for the community’s members. “Traditional hiring practices have changed during Covid-19 and partnering with Randstad allows our community to benefit from their experience,” he said.

The industry is gearing up for product and technology changes this year, according to media reports. Augmented and virtual reality, console upgrades, incorporating more diversity into game narratives, and new mobile games are among the areas expected to add momentum, said the consulting firm Linchpin. Some analysts also expect Gaming as a Service to gain traction, as well.

Authors

Mark Feffer

Mark Feffer is executive editor of RecruitingDaily and the HCM Technology Report. He’s written for TechTarget, HR Magazine, SHRM, Dice Insights, TLNT.com and TalentCulture, as well as Dow Jones, Bloomberg and Staffing Industry Analysts. He likes schnauzers, sailing and Kentucky-distilled beverages.