UK employment ‘flat,’ say marketers
The anticipated upturn in the UK marketing jobs sector is yet to fully materialise, a recent think-tank reports.
Thought-leaders responding in the UK Marketing Lounge to the question: “How would you describe the state of the UK marketing jobs market,” were reticent about jobseeker’s current prospects, though conceded revised budgets post-election would signal improvements.
The discussion was started by technology marketing manager, David Bernstein.
Ballot-box hesitation
No question there are a number of small-to-medium sized enterprises (SME’s) considering how the result of the general election will impact their business. Labour’s proposed National Insurance increase has been condemned by Tory leader, David Cameron, who suggested the policy would “destroy almost 60,000 jobs in the UK.” Whilst this claim has, of course, been rebuked by the Chancellor, business owners remain sceptical in the build-up to 6th May and the implications of both party’s proposals to handle the deficit.
“I think we’ll see a release of budgets come September this year, after the election and summer break,” enthused creative director, Jonathan Frewin.
Location, location, location
“[The prevalence of jobs] is largely dependant on where in the UK you are,” opined Michelle Jones, an unemployed marketing manager from west Yorkshire. “Whilst the market in 2010 is [improved from last year], the last three weeks has felt like ‘hibernation’. This slow-down is probably a result of most companies hitting end of financial year budgets, as well as the Easter holidays.”
James Robertson, an online & social media marketer from the Midlands, agreed that where you live plays a part in the number of visible vacancies: “It’s the usual nightmare here in Birmingham: jobs advertised in London outnumber ones in Brum by 100-to-1.”
Senior salary slips
With the jobs market remaining client-led, hiring businesses can attract quality staff at reduced rates. A £50,000 head of marketing role today, for example, may well have attracted an additional £20,000 pre-recession. “In some cases, salaries for senior positions seem to have almost halved,” suggested marketing director, Louise Bowers. “When the market picks up it will be interesting to see how these [salary cuts] impact on job movement and how employers will adjust to this.”
With hiring managers demanding more but paying less, staff attrition rates will undoubtedly increase in an improving market. Will the recent salary thrift cause a new headache for businesses?
The digital dilemma
With businesses looking to increase their online presence, the demand for digital skills has never been higher. This puts experienced offline marketers in a predicament: should they retrain and accept an inevitable pay-cut before realising the value of their new knowledge? Or are they best off forging niches whilst looking for a company willing to support the skills-transfer?
Assistant marketing manager, Victoria Logan-Coulsey, concedes that whilst she remains confident of undertaking a digitally-focussed role, she would “struggle to find a role” in which she could “prove [her] capabilities without extensive demonstrable experience.”
Bypass the money-men
Marketing manager, Anthony Baker, believes business leaders need to exert greater influence: “[The key to a resurgent jobs market] is for forward-thinkers to out-influence the accountants.” Hear, hear! [Ed].
Recruiter resurgence
For those on the frontline there’s no time to think post-election. The good times are already here. Carole Clarke, MD at marketing recruitment specialists, Solutions4Recruitment, motivated that “whilst the market is yet to return to the height of 2007/08, there has been a definite upturn in the marketing & PR jobs sector, with considerably more roles being taken on this year.”
Spring revival?
So, as UK businesses prepare to enter the second third of quarter two, it seems that prognostication extends only as far as 6th May, the date on which many hiring decisions rest. As Messers Brown and Cameron engage their election embattlement, they, more than most, will understand the impact their policies will have on the jobs climate.
In the meantime jobseekers, business owners, hiring managers and finance teams wait in anticipation for a revitalised economy and a return to adequately-responded jobs, fair salary reflections and transferable-talent tolerance.
Simon Lewis | Editor | Only Marketing Jobs
What are your thoughts on the state of the UK marketing jobs climate? Do you agree with these comments or are your experiences different?
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