The new world of work : investigating what attracts to join the gaming sector

Abstract

The growth that the Maltese gaming sector has experienced over the past few years has brought several thousand employees to work in the industry. This research study explores the factors that made individuals join the gaming industry, and what influences employee retention in the industry. A review of the literature provides insight about a number of topics closely related to employee attraction and retention, which include job satisfaction, work-life balance, career identity, as well as other relevant matters. An analysis of Krumboltz’s Social Learning Theory is provided as the primary theoretical framework behind the present inquiry. In this qualitative study, eight one-to-one in-depth interviews were conducted with employees in managerial positions within the gaming sector, which mostly consisted of human resources managers. The interviewees were asked about the reasons that motivated them to join, and remain, in the gaming industry. A particular focus was maintained on the aspects that influenced employee development and job satisfaction. The findings revealed how there are several factors that influence employees’ career decisions in the sector. Among these, the abundance of job opportunities and the high salaries played an important role, as did family friendly work conditions and a laid-back work environment, all factors which are in stark contrast to traditional Maltese companies. New employees in the sector face a number of challenges to adapt to the faster pace of the industry and the gaming terminology. The stance of gaming companies on training is another positive aspect which was emphasised by several of the interviewees, who seemed to consider training and personal development to be of great importance to their career satisfaction. All the interviewed individuals showed a desire to remain working in the industry and to take on more advanced positions.