08/03/2009 Sydney, Australia - Global marketing, design and digital staffing leader, Aquent, has just released the Aquent Market Eye – a report designed to supplement The Aquent Orange Book to provide the industry with updated insights relating to staff salaries, hiring trends and predictions across both permanent and freelance/contract staff in Australia and New Zealand.

“Faced with declining revenues as a result of the unprecedented decline in world economic activity, employers in the marketing, design and digital space have felt the repercussions of a sector thrown into turmoil”, says Simon Lusty, Aquent Regional Director for Australia and New Zealand.

“After publishing our in-depth survey and industry monitor towards the end of 2008, it was critical for us to reconnect with all our clients to gain a better understanding of the current state of play”, Lusty continued.

Overall the Aquent Market Eye has a clear theme. While permanent staff levels went on a rapid decline during early 2009, permanent hiring intentions are now on the rise.

“A glimmer of optimism flowed through our research”, Lusty revealed. “Whilst media, advertising and PR agencies had been forced to cull large numbers, having been hit hardest by the depressed conditions, the next six months look much more promising in terms of permanent hiring intentions. It is extremely encouraging to see so many employers turning this around”.

55% of digital agencies surveyed overall will continue to hire permanent staff in the second half of 2009, while 48% of market research agencies and 42% of PR agencies surveyed also predict an increase in permanent headcount.

80% of Brisbane and Perth-based digital agencies surveyed anticipate bringing new permanent staff on board, while Melbourne-based design agencies are also feeling particularly optimistic with nearly 60% predicting an increase in permanent staff.

“Our initial feeling that employers would increase their use of freelancers as a coping mechanism during times of uncertainty, or even just maintain freelance usage was reinforced through our research for the Aquent Market Eye,” Lusty adds. “The report indicates that 50% of digital agencies will hire more contractors, as will 42% of design agencies and 38% of advertising agencies.”

Surveying for the Aquent Market Eye was carried out via face-to-face and telephone interviews. A total of 588 completed survey responses were gathered across Auckland, Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth and Sydney.

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About Aquent
Aquent (aquent.com) is the only global staffing company dedicated to marketing and design. With 73 offices in 18 countries, they have an unmatched network of professionals that enables them to deliver the right solution for any client need and provide exceptional career opportunities for their talent. Today Aquent has over 11,000 professionals working at over 3,000 companies. Over the course of its history, Aquent has made over half a million matches of professionals to our clients on an individual, team or through an onsite or offsite managed service basis. The company’s Asia-Pacific headquarters are in Sydney.