MARKETING AND ADVERTISING EXECUTIVES PROJECT SIGNIFICANT INCREASE IN THIRD-QUARTER HIRING; Survey From The Creative Group Shows Web Design/Production Skills in Strongest Demand

MENLO PARK, Calif., June 8, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Marketing and advertising executives anticipate a significant uptick in hiring activity in the third quarter of 2011, according to The Creative Group Hiring Index for Marketing and Advertising Professionals. Twenty-two percent of executives interviewed said they plan to add full-time staff in the next three months, and 3 percent expect reductions in personnel. The resulting net 19 percent of executives anticipating hiring is up 10 points from the second-quarter forecast.

The national study was developed by The Creative Group, a specialized staffing service providing interactive, design and marketing professionals on a project and full-time basis, and conducted by an independent research firm. It is based on more than 500 telephone interviews -- approximately 375 with marketing executives randomly selected from companies with 100 or more employees and 125 with advertising executives randomly selected from agencies with 20 or more employees.

Key Findings

• The net 19 percent of executives planning to hire is up 10 points from last quarter.
• Eighty-seven percent of marketing and advertising executives are confident in their companies' growth prospects for the third quarter, a three-point increase from the second-quarter projection.
• Web design/production, brand/product management and print design/production are the specialties in greatest demand, according to survey respondents.
• Forty-two percent of executives said it's challenging to find skilled professionals today, up three points from the previous quarter.

"As the economy continues to improve, companies are expanding their service offerings and revitalizing their brand identities," said Donna Farrugia, executive director of The Creative Group. "This is creating demand for professionals who can not only steer and manage overall brand strategy, but also bring ideas to life via online and traditional advertising."

Perspectives on Business Growth

Marketing and advertising executives' confidence in their ability to attract new business increased slightly from last quarter: Eighty-seven percent of those interviewed said they were somewhat or very confident in their firms' prospects for growth in the third quarter, up three points from the second-quarter survey.

Marketing and Advertising Specialties in Demand

When executives were asked in which areas they plan to add staff, web design/production ranked first, with 16 percent of the response, followed by brand/product management and print design/production (tied at 14 percent). Forty-two percent of executives surveyed said it's challenging for their firms to find skilled professionals, up three points from the previous quarter.

Marketing and advertising executives were asked, "In which of the following areas do you expect to hire in the third quarter of 2011?" Their responses:

Note: Multiple responses permitted. Top responses shown.

About The Creative Group Hiring Index for Marketing and Advertising Professionals

The Creative Group Hiring Index for Marketing and Advertising Professionals is based on more than 500 telephone interviews -- approximately 375 with marketing executives randomly selected from companies with 100 or more employees and 125 with advertising executives randomly selected from agencies with 20 or more employees within the United States.

The interviews were conducted by an independent research firm. Information from the study is featured in The Robert Half Professional Employment Report, launched last year and the first study of its kind to monitor the hiring environment for professional-level positions exclusively. Based on more than 4,000 telephone interviews with executives throughout the United States, it provides insight on employment trends to help businesses and job seekers prepare for the upcoming quarter. To see how hiring within the creative profession has changed since last quarter and how it compares to other sectors, please visit www.roberthalf.us/per.

About The Creative Group

The Creative Group (TCG) specializes in placing a range of highly skilled interactive, design, marketing, advertising and public relations professionals with a variety of firms on a project and full-time basis. More information, including online job-hunting services, candidate portfolios and

TCG's award-winning career magazine, can be found at creativegroup.com.

SOURCE The Creative Group