A recent report from the American Gaming Association revealed that gaming is significantly more diverse than US workers as a group.
The trade association claims that 61% of gaming employees are minorities, compared with 52% in the hospitality sector and 42% among the US workforce.
The hospitality sector is overrepresented by Asians, with 14% of employees. This group has a higher representation than the national average, at around twice the rate. This group, which is made up of 14% employees of Asian descent, has a higher representation in hospitality than the average national figure.
Bill Miller, AGA’s President and CEO said that consumers, policymakers, and investors have higher expectations of businesses in terms of their contribution to society. The survey, which includes data across the commercial, tribal, and manufacturing gaming sectors, highlights both our industry’s progress on diversity as well as areas that need to be improved.
Improvement of the situation
This racial diversification among operators is an improvement over the previous decade. The percentage of non-white operators in 2011 was close to 20 percent, compared to 60 percent today. Black employees also have increased their percentage of operator staff, which is now 19%, up from 12%.
The gaming industry has a much more diverse work force than other electronic manufacturers. 45% of the employees are minorities in this sector, compared to 38% in the entire sector.
The AGA reports that these positions are only available at entry level. However, it also highlights in the report how the leadership pipeline of the industry is much more diverse than national standards for mid-level managers and professionals. The lobbying group highlights that 45% of managers are minorities and 43% are professionals, which are both “10 to 12 points higher than national benchmarks and hospitality benchmarks”.
Needs more work
The AGA acknowledges, however, that there is still more to do in terms of gender equality. The study found that while 48% of the US workforce is female in the gaming industry, the percentage drops to 40% for senior roles.
The AGA report states that “There are no easy solutions when it comes workforce diversity, and each industry has its own unique challenges in relation to recruitment, training and retention of employees.”
The gaming industry is particularly important in terms of workforce diversity. Gaming is a sector in constant evolution that offers cutting edge entertainment. It requires workers who can provide experiences that are appealing to consumers of all types and that outdo other entertainment choices.
The AGA is looking forward to sharing these findings with its members, and working together in order to build more inclusive and diverse workplaces as well as to better serve the communities we work within.
