The first quarter of 2010 will see the job market for direct marketers loosen. Nearly half (46%) of them plan to add staff, compared with 30% last quarter. Just over one quarter anticipate hiring freezes, down from 45% in fourth-quarter 2009, according to the latest employment trends survey from Bernhart Associates Executive Search LLC.
Most of the hiring will be done by suppliers, followed by agencies, 37% of which foresee adding headcount during the quarter. Marketers plan the fewest number of new hires, the survey found.
The percentage of companies planning layoffs during the first quarter dropped slightly, to 7%. Not one agency or supplier responding to the survey expected further layoffs.
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