Direct Marketing Hiring Plans Remain Strong Finds Bernhart Associate’s Latest Survey
Thursday, 19 January 2006
The employment picture looks bright for direct marketers this winter with nearly three out of four direct marketing companies planning to add to staff, according to the latest job survey by Bernhart Associates Executive Search.
“The numbers are holding steady at multi-year highs,” said Jerry Bernhart, President, Bernhart Associates Executive Search, LLC. “It appears 2006 is shaping up to be another good year for direct marketing job opportunities. I’m certainly seeing it on the recruitment side where business this month is off to a very strong start, just like it was last year at this time.”
Among companies responding to the survey, 70 percent said they plan to add to staff during the first quarter while 6 percent are planning staff cutbacks.
Both figures are nearly identical compared with where they stood at the beginning of 2005. The percentage of companies reporting a hiring freeze fell to 7 percent, a record low.
The Bernhart Associates Quarterly Direct Marketing Employment Survey is now in its fifth year and is published in DMA’s annual Statistical Fact Book.
“The new hire figure is down 10 percent from last quarter, but the survey is not seasonably adjusted so that doesn’t surprise me,” said Bernhart. “The year-to-year comparisons are what we look at most, and since 2002 we have started each year with a higher level of new staffing, although this year we seem to have plateaued.”
Sales positions were listed as the jobs that will be in highest demand this quarter followed by account management and analysts.
A total of 134 direct marketing companies responded to the survey, which was emailed to survey participants the first week of January