The games industry employs fewer women than any other creative sector

The UK games industry is lagging behind other creative sectors when it comes to female employment rates.

Creative Skillset’s Employment Census 2015 has revealed that 19 per cent of employees in the games industry are female – this lags behind every other creative sector in the country. That does at least represent an improvement over 2009, when that figure stood at 14 per cent.

By contrast, terrestrial TV boasts a 50 per cent female employment rate, while the overall TV sector stands at 44.8 per cent. Radio is 46 per cent and film 42.7 per cent.

Across all creative industries the female employment rate stands at 39.3 per cent.

Furthermore, just four per cent are from black, Asian and minority ethnic groups, although this is broadly in line with film. The UK average for BAME employment across all industries of 10 per cent.

"Industry growth brings opportunities for everyone, and it is pleasing to see the proportion of women in the games industry continuing to grow to 19 per cent,” Women in Games founder David Smith said.

The Women in Games not for profit organisation seeks to double the number of women in the games industry by 2025. It is encouraging for the long term that employers are able to find more diverse talent to bring increasing success to the future games industry in the UK."

Games are now the fourth largest creative sector employer in the country behind TV, film and radio, with a workforce of 10,300 people.