Persistent skills shortages in the UK games industry are placing renewed focus on the role of colleges and universities in delivering industry-ready graduates, according to TIGA’s latest Skills, Training and Education in the Games Industry 2026 report.
While shortages have eased during the recent industry downturn, with the proportion of studios reporting gaps falling from 70% to 29%, challenges remain, particularly in specialist areas. Programming roles continue to be the most difficult to fill, cited by 57% of affected studios, far ahead of art and design roles (both 14%).
For higher education and STEM procurement leaders, the findings underline the importance of investing in relevant tools, technologies and industry partnerships that align closely with real-world production environments. A lack of applicants with the required skills, experience or qualifications was identified as the primary cause of shortages by 79% of studios.
The report also highlights the operational impact of these gaps. Nearly two-thirds (62%) of studios said shortages have increased workloads for existing teams, while 40% have turned to outsourcing, reinforcing the need for a stronger, more job-ready talent pipeline.
Despite a steady flow of graduates, the industry remains heavily reliant on experienced hires, who account for 82% of recruitment, compared to just 17% for graduates and 1% for apprentices. This imbalance points to a disconnect between education outputs and employer needs, an area where procurement decisions around curriculum support, software platforms and lab infrastructure can play a critical role.
Encouragingly, developers are calling for closer collaboration with academia. Key priorities include embedding industry-led projects, improving familiarity with current tools and workflows, and strengthening both technical and soft skills such as teamwork and communication.
The findings also suggest a growing need to support leadership and management capabilities, with 31% of studios identifying gaps in these areas, alongside communication and business skills.
For procurement leaders across further and higher education, the message is that equipping students with up-to-date technologies and practical experience is hugely valuable to the UK economy. Strategic investment in industry-aligned resources and partnerships will be essential to ensure graduates are prepared for increasingly complex and evolving roles in the digital economy.
