Direct marketers expect more layoffs, hiring freezes and cutbacks in hiring until at least spring, according to the first 2009 Employment Outlook Report based on a recent study by the Direct Marketing Association and Bernhart Associates Executive Search LLC.
Among those responding, 21% said they will be adding to staff during the first quarter of 2009, down from 31% last quarter. The percentage of companies planning to reduce staff rose from 17% last quarter to 20% this quarter, and 48% report they currently have a hiring freeze, up from 34% last quarter. When asked when they plan to lift their hiring freezes, nearly two-thirds said they don’t know.
A total of 264 companies participated in the employment study, which was e-mailed in mid-January to a combined list of DMA members and past participants of the Bernhart employment survey.
