Companies set to invest in digital talents

AQUENT   RECRUITMENT   DIGITAL MARKETING

Hong Kong - The marketing sector has indicated an increase in confidence with close to 60% of companies surveyed plan to increase permanent headcount over the next six months, according to recruitment company, Aquent.

Salaries is also predicted to rise over the next six months with 54% of companies surveyed to increase salaries up from 30% in the last six months.

Duncan Cunningham (pictured), regional director, Greater China for Aquent, said companies are still keeping a close eye on marketing spend and are increasingly focusing on cost effective and measurable communication channels such as digital marketing, public relations and media.

"The advertising agency sector has been the most affected sector in the region and is still to see a recovery to its more traditional services which have been supplemented with increased growth and development in the digital environment."

Compared to digital marketing, PR and media, he said outlook for the advertising sector was relatively flat in the last six months but it's expected to increase headcount by 47% over the next six months.

Cunningham pointed out there is growth planned in branding and design, which points to an evolution in value of brands across the region as more international brands enter and regional brands work to expand overseas.

The survey titled Greater China Aquent Market Eye 2010, features a snapshot of hiring intentions and salary predictions for the marketing and design industries across Hong Kong, Beijing, Shanghai and Taiwan.

It aims to to serve as a projective 'pulse check' of the marketing sector that was conducted following the aftermath of the global financial crisis in December 2009 and March 2010.

Despite a more optimistic forecast, Cunningham warned that the long term outlook for the creative and marketing businesses across the Chinese markets was still mixed.

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