Pentasia chief marketing and growth officer Brooke Petersen highlights the rise of hybrid working and an overall slowdown in wage growth in part two of the iGB Pentasia Salary Survey 2023.
Read Pentasia managing director Alastair Cleland’s introduction to the overarching trends outlined in this year’s iGB Pentasia Salary Survey here.
Rising, but slower, wage growth
Constrained budgets
Tech talent doesn’t hang about
The hybrid advantage
Delays causing uncertainty
Training: The key to sustained success
Rising, but slower, wage growth
2022’s record salary increases, with some igaming professionals commanding pay rises of 30%, now appear to be a thing of the past.
There has been modest growth of approximately 4%. However, this is likely to be commensurate with inflation so wages have largely remained stagnant.
Constrained budgets
Market conditions, resulting in layoffs earlier in the year, have also contributed towards tighter budgets and increased scrutiny over spending across all practices.
But the talent needed by the industry isn’t available without investment. Forward-thinking companies align compensation with strategic goals and recognise that attracting and retaining top-tier talent is essential for long-term success.
Tech talent doesn’t hang about
Although technical teams saw heavy layoffs across all industries in January and a fresh wave of redundancies in October, it’s still a candidate’s market in igaming.
High demand for tech skills in an industry driven by technology and regulation makes securing and retaining top talent business-critical.
The hybrid advantage
The hybrid work trend has become the norm across the global igaming market, with flexibility highly valued. Companies insisting on a traditional in-office, five-day work week often find it challenging to recruit and retain staff.
Embracing a more flexible approach to work has proven to be a significant factor in engaging employees in this competitive industry.
Delays causing uncertainty
Last year, legislation spurred demand for legal and compliance talent. The prolonged delay of the UK Gambling Act review however, has left many companies uncertain about their investments.
This uncertainty not only impacts the allocation of resources. It also leaves a disillusioned workforce with limited direction and opportunities for growth.
Training: The key to sustained success
More than 60% of respondents to The Conexus Group Skills & Employment Survey felt that the biggest challenge of motivating their workforce was providing them with opportunities for professional growth, specifically around training and ongoing education.
Employees have fed back that consistent and relevant training is key to them being successful in their roles. Within the igaming market the training attracting the most interest is around risk and compliance, including responsible gambling, AML and countering the finance of terrorism, anti- bribery, anti-fraud and payment handling.
This has been confirmed by iGaming Academy, which has seen a sharp and continued increase in demand for these courses across all major jurisdictions.
Brooke Petersen is chief marketing and growth officer for Pentasia’s parent company The Conexus Group
