Latest news : Marketing sector recovers

The marketing and design industry is showing signs of recovery at last, with a particular focus on digital agencies, according to a new report.

Almost two-thirds (60%) of digital agencies surveyed said they had employed extra staff in 2010, with a further 80% expecting to take on more workers later in the year, says the European Market Eye report by recruitment consultancy Aquent.

Existing staff are also set to benefit this year, with 32% of all marketing and design companies expecting to give a pay rise over the next six months, compared with just 16% in the first half of the year.

Jobs prospects for graduates looking to move abroad are also improving, with extra jobs being created in France and the Netherlands, according to the survey.

Two-thirds of French design companies expect to recruit more staff this year, with 73% of digital agencies looking to expand their numbers.

‘The UK marketing and design sector was hit hard by the global downturn and after 18 months of little hiring across the industry, we’re certainly now seeing signs if recovery,’ said Peter Geary, UK Regional Director for Aquent.

‘It is especially interesting to see the boom in recruitment for the digital sector as web 2.0 becomes an increasingly important tool for businesses looking for new ways to engage with their customers,’ he added.