US ad employment jumped by 1,700 jobs in September, biggest gain since spring

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics. Seasonally adjusted. Expanded jobs data: AdAge.com/adjobs. Credit: Infographic by Ad Age. Photo: iStock Employment in advertising, public relations and related services jumped by 1,700 jobs in September, the ad market’s best performance since the spring, according to the monthly employment report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Overall U.S. employment grew by a stronger-than-expected 254,000 jobs, a positive sign about the health of the labor force and the ability of consumers to keep spending. The unemployment rate dropped a tick to 4.1% in September, putting the jobless rate back to where it was at the start of summer. Below, Ad Age Datacenter breaks down the report—by the numbers. Advertising, PR and related services S. employment in the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) classification of advertising, PR and related services increased to 523,300 jobs in September based on seasonally adjusted figures. The ad market gained 1,700 jobs in September following a drop of 1,000 jobs in August. BLS revised the August figure from a decline of 1,200 jobs reported a month ago. The ad market has ebbed and flowed this year, with gains in four months (January, April, July and September) and losses in five months (February, March, May, June and August). But ad employment as of September was in solid shape, coming in just 500 jobs below the all-time high of 523,800 jobs in April. r the past six months, the average monthly increase for the ad market was 600 jobs. 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 46%—of those jobs. Ad agencies U.S. ad agency employment totaled 238,400 jobs in August on a non-seasonally adjusted basis, falling by 800 jobs from the all-time high of 239,200 jobs reached in July. The August decrease followed a gain of 900 ad agency jobs in July. BLS upwardly revised the July figure from a preliminary gain of 500 jobs reported a month ago. Ad agency employment has fluctuated this year, falling in January, March, May and August and rising in February, April, June and July. BLS reports ad agency employment on a one-month lag, so September figures aren’t yet available. But the solid September increase in advertising, PR and related services employment suggests that ad agency staffing rose last month. U.S. ad agency employment August 2024 vs. previous month: -800August 2024 vs. year earlier: +5,100 Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics. Not seasonally adjusted. Expanded jobs data: AdAge.com/adjobs. Ad Age Agency Report 2024 Revenue and analysis for agency companies Click here Media U.S. employment in the broad BLS classification of media streaming distribution services, social networks and other media networks and content providers fell to 218,400 jobs in August on a non-seasonally adjusted basis, down by 600 jobs from July. Employment in that sector is at its lowest point since 2016. Employment in the classification of web search portals and all other information services totaled 149,000 jobs in August on a non-seasonally adjusted basis, up by 700 jobs for the month. Staffing is far below the all-time high of 162,100 jobs reached in late 2022. Unemployment rate The U.S. unemployment rate, based on a separate survey of households, eased to 4.1% in September from 4.2% in August and 4.3% in July. The jobless rate is now back to its June level. The jobless rate had stayed within a range of 3.4% to 4.1% every month from November 2021 through June 2024, a stretch of unusually low unemployment not seen since the 1960s. The unemployment rate held within a range of 3.4% to 4.1% from November 1965 through January 1970. Top marketers, brands and agency ventures Ad Age Datacenter’s definitive rankings of the biggest U.S. and global advertisers and agency companies Click here U.S. unemployment rate September 2024: 4.1% Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics. Seasonally adjusted. Become an All Access subscriber Get access to exclusive resources including Leading National Advertisers, World’s Largest Advertisers, Agency Report, Agency Review Tracker and TV Pricing Report. Click here U.S. employment The nation in September added 254,000 jobs based on seasonally adjusted figures, far above economists’ predictions. BLS said 159,000 jobs were added in August, upwardly revised from the 142,000 jobs reported a month ago. BLS said the economy gained 144,000 jobs in July, upwardly revised from the 89,000 jobs reported a month ago. BLS monthly revisions result from additional reports received from businesses and government agencies since the last published estimates and from the recalculation of seasonal factors. Over the past six months, the average monthly increase was 167,000 jobs. Growth over the past three months averaged 186,000 jobs, up from 147,000 jobs in the previous three months. September’s increase marked 45 consecutive months of job gains, an uninterrupted winning streak that began in January 2021, which also was the month that President Biden took office. Ad Age All Access subscribers can download a spreadsheet showing advertising employment back to 2000 at AdAge.com/adjobs. Month-to-month change in U.S. nonfarm payrolls September 2024 vs. previous month: +254,000 Month/year Jobs increase (decrease) Jan. 2023 482,000 Feb. 2023 287,000 March 2023 146,000 April 2023 278,000 May 2023 303,000 June 2023 240,000 July 2023 184,000 Aug. 2023 210,000 Sep. 2023 246,000 Oct. 2023 165,000 Nov. 2023 182,000 Dec. 2023 290,000 Jan. 2024 256,000 Feb. 2024 236,000 March 2024 310,000 April 2024 108,000 May 2024 216,000 June 2024 118,000 July 2024 144,000 Aug. 2024 159,000 Sep. 2024 254,000 Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics. Seasonally adjusted. Sign up for Ad Age All Access for ongoing data and insights on all of the most-advertised brands from Ad Age Datacenter.

US ad employment jumped by 1,700 jobs in September, biggest gain since spring

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