In April, the employment situation in advertising, public relations, and related services remained stagnant, with an additional 900 positions being eliminated.
This marks the fifth consecutive month of workforce contraction. In April, the broader U.S. economy added 177,000 jobs, surpassing expectations and indicating resilience in the face of persistent economic uncertainty.
Public Relations, Advertising, and Related Services
In April (seasonally adjusted), the advertising sector experienced a decline of 491,300 jobs, which is 8,300 below the level observed a year ago, as reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Since December 2024, the industry has experienced an average monthly job loss of 1,400.
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The decrease is consistent with the fourth consecutive month of declining consumer sentiment in April.
For the time being, advertising agencies remain stable
In March, the number of positions held by ad agencies, which account for approximately 45% of the ad sector’s employment, was 219,700 (non-seasonally adjusted). Although April’s data is not yet accessible, the general decline implies that agencies may soon replicate the market’s general decline.
Struggles in the media sector persist
In March, the employment in the streaming and social media sector decreased by 3,200 positions to 218,200 jobs, the lowest level since 2016. In contrast, the web portals and information services category experienced a modest increase of 700 positions, bringing the total to 153,700. Nevertheless, this figure is significantly lower than the sector’s peak of 162,100 employment, which was achieved in late 2022.
The United States continues to experience steady job growth
In April, the national unemployment rate remained at 4.2%. the private sector added 167,000 jobs and the government contributed 10,000, resulting in the 52nd consecutive month of job gains in April.
April’s conflicting signals underscore the industry’s necessity to adjust in the face of persistent consumer and macroeconomic volatility, as advertising employment continues to decline. Ad agencies and media companies continue to encounter obstacles, despite the fact that job growth in the United States remains robust.
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