Study: Direct marketers face lengthening jobless outlook

Owatonna, Minn.—The job outlook for unemployed direct marketers has sharply deteriorated since last summer, with the median length of unemployment hitting 12 months, compared with 6.5 months reported one year ago, according to a new study by direct marketing executive search company Bernhart Associates Executive Search.

According to Bernhart’s latest “Unemployment Search Survey,” older direct marketers are facing longer search times than their younger colleagues. Among job seekers ages 50 to 59, half have been looking for a new job for more than a year, while those in the 30–39 age range had been searching for less than one year. Those older than 60 are averaging a wait of at least 18 months, according to the company.

The online survey, e-mailed in August, produced 448 responses.