A deep analysis of one of the most well-known cities inSkyrimshows that, while many do work in and out of the walls, there is a surprisingly high rate of unemployment within Whiterun. Despitehow beautifulThe Elder Scrolls 5is, it’s not all pretty landscapes and exciting adventuring. There is an element of darkness to the game, often at the expense of some poor NPC, and this particular survey done by one fan highlights problems related to those without a job.
Seeking work is not much of a problem for the player. As the Dragonborn, they make their living through completing quests or stealing from others. However, there is amod forSkyrimthat allows fans to work a 9-5and while it’s not exactly glamorous, it does allow for something slightly different in a world that’s awash with dragon attacks and magical beings. In which case, the player getting a job is something that requires pretty much no effort, but the game’s most famous city does seem to have its share of characters that may be work-shy.
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As reported by PCGamesN, YouTuber Any Austin decided to conduct aSkyrimsurvey, with the goal being to see just how many residents actually have a job. The 30-minute video has them scouring Whiterun and speaking to all NPCs within the city limits, as well as those just outside it. The research proves a lot tricker than it may seem. Those who are in guard uniforms or working behind the bar at an inn are pretty obvious, but there are a number of folks who wander the location seemingly with no aim, with conversations not really being clear whether they work or not.
In the end, Any Austin calculated thatSkyrim’s city of Whiterunhas an unemployment rate of 9.4%, showing that, out of 87 residents, nine of them are without a job. The PCGamesN report goes on to say that the US and the UK have unemployment rates of 3.7% and 3.6%, respectively. This means the 2011 epic RPG, or at least this specific place, has a bigger problem when it comes to joblessness than some actual countries.
AlthoughSkyrimis one of the most immersive open-world gamesaround, it doesn’t really have much in common with the reality many seek to escape in gaming. However, it’s interesting that someone has gone to the trouble of ascertaining whether there are some deeper societal problems on par with the real world, and it would be interesting to know whether any of the other settlements in the game have similar issues.
The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrimis available now for PC, PS3, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox 360, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
