Finding creative workers today is the hardest it has been since 2010, according to a survey of advertising and marketing executives by The Creative Group, a division of Robert Half International Inc. (NYSE: RHI). The survey found that 58% of advertising and marketing executives said finding skilled creative professionals is challenging.

The most difficult-to-fill areas includes brand/product management and customer experience.

The study was based on more than 400 telephone interviews — 200 with marketing executives at firms with 100 or more employees and 200 advertising executives from agencies with 20 or more employees.

In addition, when asked which areas they expect to hire in the first half of 2016, the executives responded:

• Content marketing, 27%
• Creative/art direction: 27%
• Brand/product management: 26%
• Print design/production: 26%
• Interactive media: 25%
• Account services: 23%
• Media services: 22%
• Web design/production: 20%
• Marketing research: 17%
• Digital marketing: 16%
• Public relations: 15%
• Customer experience: 15%
• Copywriting: 15%
• Social media: 15%
• Mobile design/development: 10%

Overall, the survey found that 11% of advertising and marketing executives plan to expand their teams in the first half of 2016 while 76% plan to maintain staff levels and hire primarily to fill vacated roles.