Direct Marketing Employment--Direct Marketing, Mail Order, E-commerce News

Direct Marketing, Mail Order, and E-commerce News from the National Mail Order Association

Direct Marketing Employment Plans Hold Steady

Direct marketing job seekers have reason to be hopeful this new year, according to the latest employment survey by Bernhart Associates Executive Search, LLC.

"The new hiring indicator is holding up well," said Jerry Bernhart, President of the Owatonna, MN-based search firm which has been tracking direct marketing hiring activity in the U.S. for the past six years. "We're seeing practically no change from the fourth quarter, which also was a good quarter for hiring."

According to the survey, 66% of respondents said they plan to add to staff during the first quarter of 2007, down 1 percentage point from the fourth quarter of 2006. The number of companies planning staff reductions remained at 10% while the percentage with hiring freezes dropped to 13% compared with 15% last quarter.

"On the recruitment side we're off to a very strong start so far this year," said Bernhart. "Direct marketing employers are competing for the best talent, with recruitment and retention efforts a top priority as they enter 2007."

Bernhart said demand is particularly strong for ecommerce-related positions.
"Those with a good grasp of the online channel should find plenty of opportunity."

Bernhart also said employers plan to hire more technical positions than they have in the past couple of years, driven by continued business growth.

114 companies responded to the survey which was emailed the week of January 8th.

Previous survey results can be found in the Direct Marketing Association's Statistical Fact Book .

Companies interested in being added to the quarterly survey should send an email to survey@bernhart.com with "Opt-in" in the subject line.

About Bernhart Associates:

Bernhart Associates Executive Search, LLC, ( http://www.bernhart.com ) .is a leading and nationally recognized direct marketing search firm, owned and managed by Jerry Bernhart. The Bernhart Associates Direct Marketing Employment Survey, conducted quarterly, has become the most widely followed and quoted employment report in the direct marketing industry and is published annually in the Direct Marketing Association's Statistical Fact Book , the most comprehensive publication of facts and trends in the direct marketing industry. Bernhart is a frequent speaker at DMA conferences and has written dozens of articles for leading direct marketing publications. He is a Charter Board Member of Data University and is also owner of the internet job posting site www.directmarketingcareers.com.