Gamelab is waking up Barcelona in a fresh, energetic way. Between screens, controllers, and a curious crowd, the video game industry has found a prime stage in Catalonia to expand. Three days of action, more than 250 companies seeking talent, and clear opportunities on the horizon. Catalonia has become a magnet for teams devoted to building video games. The COO of Gamelab, Caroline Gaonari, reminded observers that the industry is still growing rapidly and leaves a visible mark on society, even though it often feels like it is aimed at the younger audience.
The video game and e-sports sectors continue their steady rise in 2023. Data from the Spanish Video Game Association (AEVI) and the Spanish White Paper on Video Game Development 2022 illustrates a promising trajectory. Employment figures, turnover in the economy, and the growing player base are driving the shift forward.
Industry reports show that about 40% of workers in the video game ecosystem and e-sports are under 30, underscoring how younger generations are increasingly tying their careers to the gaming world. Meanwhile, 53% fall between 30 and 45 years old. A large share of the workforce under 45 sits in a sector marked by growth potential. In Spain, women’s participation in the industry exceeds the European average and reaches 24.3% of total employment by gender. The sector also welcomes people from diverse educational backgrounds, with companies increasingly adding roles such as psychologists, physiotherapists, lawyers, communications and marketing specialists, and nutritionists. All of this integrates into the evolving digital entertainment landscape.
Work
Infojobs reports that around 9,000 professionals are employed in Spain’s game sector, with employment rising about 10% year over year and projections suggesting a total of 13,000 by 2025. This year has seen roughly 1,400 job openings tied to the field, reinforcing the sector’s outlook. Between April 2022 and May 2023, digital job offers linked to the video game industry grew by 31%.
The growth narrative remains robust. The video game industry is expected to deliver substantial revenue gains, with forecasts pointing to a multi-billion-dollar market by the mid-2020s. In national company terms, consolidation is evident: more than 65% of firms are between five and ten years old, 23% are older than ten, and just 12% started in the last two years. On the revenue side, about 54% report annual turnover under 200,000 euros, 14% between two and ten million, and only 4% above ten million. This measured scale may prove critical as the sector matures.
five venues
Gamelab this year unfolds across five venues that reflect Catalonia’s diverse cultural and economic landscape. The Mediatic building hosts congresses and three core strands of knowledge: strategy, market insight, and professionalization. HE Design Center, a short distance away, anchors the business agenda in collaboration with industry employers. DeviCAT highlights opportunities for Catalan firms and promotes international product marketing. The Catalan Music Palace opens its doors to institutional celebrations with representatives from the country’s society, culture, economy, and politics. Finally, the event embraces creative and diverse projects across two special sessions at Pier 01 – Tech Barcelona and at the IO Interactive studio offices.
According to the latest Catalan Audiovisual Council (CAC) report for 2022, the video game industry in Catalonia accounted for nearly 50% of total government turnover, reaching 2.5 billion euros. This positions Catalonia as the leading engine of Spain’s gaming ecosystem, while Spain itself ranks 13th globally in video game revenues.