GAMERS could be the next keystone of the workforce, according to new research that says that they’re more likely to get jobs in the UK.
Research commissioned by YouTube has shown that over half of UK recruiters would be more likely to hire somebody who regularly plays video games, like Fortnite or Mario.
Games like Fortnite are very popular among younger people
According to the research, 63% of UK recruiters would be impressed by someone who uses a hobby like gaming to demonstrate their skills in the workplace.
A further 56% said they would be more likely to hire someone who’s a regular gamer, provided they can talk about the skills they’ve developed through gaming.
The research also shows a sharp increase in young people listing gaming as a hobby on their CV, with 71% of recruiters saying they’ve seen gaming listed on a CV in the past five years.
Young gamers report that gaming helps them prepare for their first job, with half saying that engaging with other gamers on platforms like YouTube helped them be more confident in communicating.
It might be a bit tough to get them on board, however, as the research shows that 53% of Gen Z respondents don’t see themselves in a traditional 9-5 job.
Gaming has become one of the biggest forms of entertainment over the last thirty years, earning more money across the world than movies and TV shows.
It’s typically thought that gaming can help develop motor and problem solving skills when started at a young age, and can be useful for adults keeping their minds sharp.
Parents should be careful of what their children are playing, though, as a number of popular games include content not suitable for young people.
A recent example of this is Roblox, which is played by hundreds of millions of people, most of whom are thought to be young.
The platform accidentally removed the age restrictions from a number of controversial games earlier this year, to the distress of many.
Thankfully there are companies consistently putting out child-friendly games too, such as Nintendo, which routinely releases games suitable for a younger audience.
The Nintendo Switch has been a huge platform for Nintendo, selling over a hundred million units in the last 5 years, and is filled with child-friendly games from the company.
Written by Oliver Brandt on behalf of GLHF.
