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Marketing Recruitment - November 2009
Marketing News |
06/11/2009
The economic downturn has provided a backdrop for many unexpected events over recent months. Bank collapses, stock market crashes and the humbling of some well-known high street names have all taught people to take nothing for granted. October was no different and saw the recession spring one last unwelcome surprise as official figures revealed that it will drag on for at least another quarter. While many analysts expected gross domestic product (GDP) to return to growth in the three months to September 30th, one notable figure cast doubts on this as long ago as April. In his pre-Budget report, chancellor Alistair Darling predicted that the recession would be over by the end of the year and no sooner. Comments he stood by as recently as September.
Indeed, with several hard months having passed between Mr Darling's original comments and now, it would be easy to forget that at the time he was criticised for being too optimistic. Although last month's GDP figures were undoubtedly disappointing, it is important to remember that the light at the end of the tunnel has not been extinguished. In fact, the latest Ashdown Group Job Index indicates that it is shining brighter than ever. It recorded a monthly increase of 4.88 per cent, with the number of marketing jobs on offer rising by 10.8 per cent.
According to John Lynes, director of the Ashdown Group, this is a clear sign firms are gearing up for recovery.
He said: "The marketing sector has been fairly resilient throughout the year and I believe it is investment in this area that will see the biggest returns for businesses looking to capitalise on any economic improvements.
"With a 10.8 per cent increase in the number of UK jobs advertised, it would appear that many businesses feel the same way."
James Charlton, a spokesperson for the Advertising Association, agrees and believes that an increase in marketing recruitment is a sign the wider economy is about to pick up.
He said: "The value of advertising to a successful business has never been in question, and that's why our industry is amongst the first to show signs of economic recovery."
Mr Charlton urged marketers to keep hiring, pointing out that investing in creative talent is vital to the sector's future. The fact that firms seem ready to recruit after a prolonged period of adversity indicates two things. Firstly that businesses are keenly aware of the need for fresh blood and, perhaps more importantly, that the recession is at last over. After all, who would want to appoint new employees if the work was not there for them to do?
Posted by Jon Aspinell.
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