Survey Shows Three Out of Five Advertising and Marketing Executives Plan to Increase Hiring: Nearly Half Say Their Firms Have Enhanced Recruiting Efforts

MENLO PARK, Calif., July 31 /PRNewswire/ -- Demand for advertising andmarketing talent is expected to remain strong in the coming year, driven inpart by the need for professionals with online expertise. Sixty-one percentof advertising and marketing executives polled said their firms plan toincrease staffing levels in the next 12 months, up one point from the 2006forecast. The survey was developed by The Creative Group, a specialized staffingservice providing marketing, advertising, creative and web professionals ona project basis. It was conducted by an independent research firm andincludes 250 responses -- 125 from advertising executives with the nation's2,000 largest advertising agencies and 125 from senior marketing executiveswith the nation's 2,000 largest companies. "Our research suggests a continuing healthy demand for creativeprofessionals, which is good news for job seekers," said Dave Willmer,executive director of The Creative Group. "The picture is less rosy forhiring managers, however, since finding and keeping the best talent willlikely remain a challenge in the year ahead." Advertising and marketing executives were asked, "Do you expect yourfirm to increase or decrease advertising/marketing staffing levels in thenext 12 months?" Their responses: 2007 2006 2005 2004 Increase 61% 60% 68% 57% Decrease 6% 4% 5% 6% No change 32% 33% 26% 36% Don't know 1% 3% 1% 1% 100% 100% 100% 100% Advertising and marketing executives also were asked, "Have your firm'srecruiting efforts increased or decreased compared to one year ago?" Theirresponses: Increased greatly 15% Increased somewhat 33% Stayed the same 40% Decreased somewhat 8% Decreased greatly 2% Don't know 2% 100% Those whose firms have increased their recruiting efforts were asked,"Which of the following recruiting tactics are you using more frequentlythan you did a year ago?" The top responses were placing want ads online(73 percent); networking (69 percent); and enlisting the help of staffingor recruiting firms (44 percent). (Multiple responses were permitted.) Willmer added, "Professionals with experience creating and overseeingonline marketing campaigns and materials are especially difficult to find.Firms are using multiple recruiting methods to fill positions such ase-marketing strategist, web designer and online art director." The Creative Group has offices in major markets across the UnitedStates and in Canada, and offers online job search services athttp://www.creativegroup.com.