Among the more than 300 direct marketers surveyed this spring by Owatonna, MN-based Bernhart Associates Executive Search, 60% expected to add to staff during the third quarter. That’s up from 49% of those surveyed a year ago. What’s more, those respondents planning to hire said that most of the added positions will be newly created spots rather than replacements.
Meanwhile, the pace of staff reductions is on par with last spring’s survey, with 11% planning to reduce staff. About one-quarter of respondents said they have hiring freezes in effect, and most of them were unsure as to when they’ll lift those freezes.