The word: Agency hiring will slow as 2016 ends

As we head into the second half of 2016, it appears your agency may not be in a hiring mood.

Just 13 percent of advertising and marketing executives say they plan to expand or add new positions during the second half of the year, according to a survey from The Creative Group, down from 21 percent at the same time last year.

On the other end, 3 percent say they plan to reduce or eliminate positions, compared to 1 percent a year ago.

The good news is, most agencies are not instituting hiring freezes. Fifty-nine percent plan to maintain and fill vacated positions, though that’s down from 65 percent last year and 76 percent during the first half of 2016.

According to the survey, for those who are hiring, media positions won’t be in particularly high demand.

When asked in which areas they expect to hire during the second half of the year (with multiple responses allowed), 15 percent of respondents said media positions.

The four areas are in most demand, with each getting 18 percent of the response: content marketing, brand/product management, digital marketing and web design/production.

Somewhat surprisingly, interactive media and mobile design/development positions are in the least demand, with just 10 percent planning to add talent in those areas.

Tags: agencies, employment, hiring, hiring at agencies, jobs, media careers, new jobs