Marketing jobs down in December but up year on year

National job opportunities in marketing dropped by 9 Index points in December on the previous month, reversing a surge in demand in the second half of the year and giving a Marketing Job Index reading of 126

However year on year demand for marketing and PR personnel is up 26 % compared to December 2009 when the Index was launched.This is more than four times the rise experienced by the economy as a whole, according to Reed.

But salaries for new marketing & PR jobs have slipped back as competition for new roles remains very high. While the National Salary Index is down to 99, the Reed Marketing & PR Salary Index is a little lower, at 97.

Marketing Week will carry its annual salary survey, in association with Ball & Hoolahan, in the issue cover-dated 13 January.

Across the economy as a whole the Reed Job Index reads 104. The cuts in the public sector workforce are reflected with Reed Public Sector Job Index down to a new low of 42.

The Reed Job Index tracks the number of new job opportunities and the salaries on offer compared to the previous month and against a baseline of 100 set in December last year

Martin Warnes, managing director of reed.co.uk, says: “Jobs growth in marketing and PR has accelerated over the last few months at four times the rate for the economy as a whole, giving grounds for optimism in 2011.

“Although salaries have stayed below last year’s levels, the most recent data shows this may be starting to change. There’s no doubt that competition for marketing and PR jobs is very high, which continues to depress salaries.

He adds that skills shortages are beginning to reappear in niche areas and if private sector economic growth continues this will accelerate and begin to drive salaries up.