WhatTheyThink (01/18/12)

Employers are ushering in the new year with an impressive spike in hiring plans, according to Bernhart Associates’ Quarterly Digital and Direct Marketing Employment Report for the first quarter of 2012. Approximately 52% of companies responding to the survey said they plan to add to staff in the first quarter of 2012, up sharply from 40% last quarter. The percentage of companies planning layoffs in the first quarter dropped to 6%, compared with 8% last quarter.

When asked what positions will be in greatest demand during the current quarter, employers listed analytic-related jobs on top by a large margin, followed by marketing, sales, creative, and account services. “We’re seeing more multiple openings per company, and social media-related jobs are appearing for the first time on the top 10 list of positions that will be in most demand,” says Jerry Bernhart, leading direct marketing recruiter and principal of Bernhart Associates Executive Search LLC, which conducts the widely tracked quarterly employment survey.