17178: Adland Job Market Gains Feel Shifty.

 

Advertising Age published the monthly employment report for US advertising, public relations, and related services—and here’s the topline summary:

 

Employment in advertising, public relations and related services increased by 900 jobs in August, scoring its fourth consecutive monthly gain.

 

Advertising, PR and related services

 

U.S. employment in the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) classification of advertising, PR and related services increased to 495,900 jobs in August based on seasonally adjusted figures, a gain of 900 jobs.

 

BLS downwardly revised July’s figure to an increase of 2,200 jobs from a preliminary gain of 2,800 jobs reported a month ago.

 

BLS revised June’s figure to an increase of 1,000 jobs from a gain of 800 jobs reported a month ago and a loss of 700 jobs reported two months ago.

 

Ad employment rose each month from May through August following job cuts every month from last December through April.

 

Advertising, PR and related services employment in August was slightly below its level one year earlier (496,100 jobs in August 2024).

 

U.S. ad employment is down from the current economic business cycle’s peak of 502,900 jobs in January 2023.

 

The all-time high for ad employment of 503,700 jobs occurred in October 2000, when internet startups poured money from venture capital and initial public offerings into advertising amid the dot-com bubble.

 

This BLS jobs bucket includes ad agencies, PR agencies and related services such as media buying, media reps, outdoor advertising, direct mail and other services related to advertising. Ad agencies account for the biggest portion—about 45%—of those jobs.

 

As noted last month, President Donald J. Trump declared BLS data is BS. So, it’s hard to determine the truthiness of a fourth consecutive monthly gain.

 

Where exactly are these new jobs?

 

Probably in media departments vs creative departments—along with AI departments featuring fresh staffers whose actual responsibilities are, well, artificial. And related services probably include influencers, creators, and assorted crafty characters.

 

It all feels like a Cannes case study.