AGA: US gaming ‘more diverse’ than national and hospitality industries

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New research from the American Gaming Association has stated that the US gaming industry is “more diverse than national and hospitality industry benchmarks”.

The AGA study, which analysed EEOC data, also revealed that the industry “boasts a diverse executive pipeline, while identifying opportunities on gender representation”.

In total, 26 AGA member organisations – including gaming industry companies from the manufacturer, commercial and tribal operator segments – took part in the study. 

Completing an EEO-01 form, participants provided gender, race/ethnicity and job classification data for their workforces, submitting this data to a third-party accounting firm that calculated the various diversity metrics and safeguarded confidentiality. The data submitted was also reviewed for consistency across participants.

“Consumers, policymakers and investors are raising their expectations for all businesses on how they contribute to society beyond the bottom line,” commented Bill Miller, President and CEO of the AGA.

“Encompassing data from across commercial, tribal and manufacturing gaming verticals, the survey both highlights our industry’s leadership on diversity while presenting areas for continued progress.”

Results from the AGA study include:

  • 61 per cent of gaming industry employees are minorities (52 per cent of the broader hospitality industry and 42 per cent of the total US workforce).
  • 23 per cent of gaming employees are Hispanic and 19 per cent are Black (both higher than the national workforce and in line with the hospitality industry).
  • 60 per cent of operator employees are minorities, up nearly 20 per cent from 2011 (higher than the hospitality sector and national workforces overall). 
  • 45 per cent of gaming manufacturer employees are minorities (38 per cent in the broader electronic manufacturing workforce).

The study also revealed that gaming’s leadership is more diverse than national averages at the first/mid-level manager and professional levels. 45 per cent of first/mid-level managers are minorities, while 43 per cent of professionals are minorities (both 10 to 12 points above national and hospitality benchmarks).

However, gender diversity is an area of improvement for the industry, as gaming’s workforce is 48 per cent female, but this drops off at more senior-level roles.

Miller added: “As today’s report shows, our industry has made impactful strides toward becoming more diverse, but there is more work to do.

“The AGA will use this research to engage our membership on how we can collectively advance DEI in gaming in the months and years to come.”