Jobs are coming back.

Fifty-seven percent of marketing and advertising executives planned to add staff in the next 12 months, up from 44% in 2003, according to a survey from The Creative Group, a Menlo Park, CA-based staffing service that specializes in marketing posts. That’s because 88% of execs expected business to increase over the next year.

Most (64%) expected business to “increase somewhat” over the next 12 months. Twenty-four percent reported that business will “increase significantly.” Eight percent expected flat performance, and 1% thought it would “decrease somewhat.” The good news: No respondents thought business will decrease significantly.

A third of respondents (36%) planned to hire first in account management; 13% would hire creative staffers. (All other categories garnered 6% or less response, except for “don’t know,” which pulled 27%.) Six percent of respondents expected to cut staff in the next 12 months (down from 16% in 2003), and 36% expect no change (compared to 37% last year).

“Firms are anxious to promote their goods and services in anticipation of business expansion this year,” said Creative Group executive director Tracey Turner in a statement. “Hiring managers know there’s an excellent pool of talent available right now, and will try to bring highly qualified professionals on board before the market becomes too competitive.”

The survey was conducted by an independent research firm among 125 senior marketing execs at the top 1,000 companies and another 125 execs from 1,000 ad agencies.

Jobs are coming back.

Fifty-seven percent of marketing and advertising executives planned to add staff in the next 12 months, up from 44% in 2003, according to a survey from The Creative Group, a Menlo Park, CA-based staffing service that specializes in marketing posts. That’s because 88% of execs expected business to increase over the next year.

Most (64%) expected business to “increase somewhat” over the next 12 months. Twenty-four percent reported that business will “increase significantly.” Eight percent expected flat performance, and 1% thought it would “decrease somewhat.” The good news: No respondents thought business will decrease significantly.

A third of respondents (36%) planned to hire first in account management; 13% would hire creative staffers. (All other categories garnered 6% or less response, except for “don’t know,” which pulled 27%.) Six percent of respondents expected to cut staff in the next 12 months (down from 16% in 2003), and 36% expect no change (compared to 37% last year).

“Firms are anxious to promote their goods and services in anticipation of business expansion this year,” said Creative Group executive director Tracey Turner in a statement. “Hiring managers know there’s an excellent pool of talent available right now, and will try to bring highly qualified professionals on board before the market becomes too competitive.”

The survey was conducted by an independent research firm among 125 senior marketing execs at the top 1,000 companies and another 125 execs from 1,000 ad agencies.