Survey: Game industry workers happier, laid off less often in 2011

The game industry was slightly more stable last year, as developers experienced fewer layoffs, and reported feeling more satisfied with their work, according to Game Developer magazine's 11th annual Game Developer Salary Survey. In the magazine's survey results, revealed exclusively today on Gamasutra, around 13 percent of respondents working in the game industry said they were laid off in 2011, down from 14 percent in 2010 and 2009. And somewhat more people who were laid off last year said they found a new job elsewhere in the 'mainstream' games industry during the same year (58 percent, up from 52 percent in 2010). Survey participants said they made slightly more money, too, as the average salary across the entire "mainstream" games industry in the U.S. increased to $81,192 last year, compared to $80,817 in 2010. 66 percent of survey respondents said they made more money in 2011 than they did in 2010, compared to 56 percent from 2010 to 2009. Having a little more money and stability made developers feel more optimistic about their careers as well as the industry as a whole. In the "self-reportage" area of the survey, where developers can voice their thoughts about working in games, 65 percent of respondents said they felt "Satisfied" or "Extremely satisfied" with their potential career path in the game industry (up from 61 percent in 2010). More information on the survey is available in the April 2012 issue of Game Developer magazine, and worldwide paper-based subscriptions to Game Developer magazine are currently available at the official magazine website. The Game Developer Digital version of the issue is available for iPad now, and will be available to purchase online later this week.