The media and marketing recruitment markets in the UK continue to struggle with both vacancies and applications down in the first three months of 2024 (Q1 2024), according to research from the Association of Professional Staffing Companies (APSCo) and Veritone Hire (formerly Broadbean).

The data showed that applications and vacancies within both sectors have declined significantly in the first quarter of 2024, as employers battle against a challenging economic climate.

Vacancies within the media and marketing sectors have followed a downward trend over the past 12 months, which has continued into 2024, the research noted.

New permanent roles decreased by 49% for media and 23% for marketing in Q1 this year over the prior quarter, suggesting that firms are yet to regain confidence in the economy, despite wider conditions improving.

As with job numbers, applications have fallen dramatically, with drops of 53% noted in media and 70% in marketing since the turn of the year. The figures recorded in March show the lowest number of applications recorded over the previous 12 months across both industries.

Ann Swain, Global CEO of APSCo, said, “It has been a roller coaster year for the marketing and media markets, with peaks and troughs of activity throughout the last 12 months. However, despite a strong start to 2024, vacancies and applications across both markets have dropped in the past month, which employers, recruiters and jobseekers alike will be hoping is only a temporary blip, and not a forewarning of a potential downturn in what is already a skills-short field.”