Date: 01-17-2008
Direct marketers expect more hiring freezes and increased layoffs this quarter, reports a quarterly employment survey by Bernhart Associates Executive Search, LLC. About 58% of direct marketers plan to add staff during the first quarter, a decrease of 2% from last year's fourth-quarter survey. With respect to layoffs, 12% of direct marketing employers plan to reduce payroll, an increase of 3% from last quarter. ''This weakness comes as no surprise given the recent news of layoffs and the current overall economic climate,'' said Jerry Bernhart, president of Bernhart Associates. Nearly 19% of the employers find it ''very difficult'' to attract qualified talent. ''The pendulum is beginning to shift from a candidate-driven job market to more of an employer-driven market,'' added Bernhart.
