• May 8, 2003

Demand for advertising and marketing professionals will accelerate in the coming months, according to a new survey. Forty-four percent of advertising and marketing professionals polled said their firms will be increasing staff levels within the next 12 months. Among those adding to their head count, 47% said they are hiring during the current quarter and 28% said they expect to add staff in the third quarter of 2003. Business development is the specialty in greatest demand. The survey was developed by The Creative Group, a specialized staffing service providing marketing, advertising, creative and web professionals on a project basis. It was conducted by an independent research firm and includes 250 responses -- 125 from advertising executives with the nation's 1,000 largest advertising agencies and 125 from senior marketing executives with the nation's 1,000 largest companies.