It hasn’t been easy for anyone in the last few years, and the recession has led to redundancies, salary freezes and cutbacks in training in the PR industry. According the to CIPR’s State of the Profession report 2012/13, it has been the public sector which has been hardest hit.

Do you agree or disagree with each of the following statements? Proportion who agree:

Source: State of the Profession report 2012/13, CIPR

The report 26 per cent of PROs in the public sector are worried about being made redundant, compared to just 5 per cent who work for an agency. Half of PROs in the public sector say they are experiencing frozen benefits, salaries and training compared with 18 per cent of those working in agencies.

To help prevent further cuts in the public sector and elsewhere, Kim Roberts, policy and public relations officer at the CIPR says that PR must shout about its value: “We must continue to work hard to ensure that at a strategic level, those making decisions are aware of just how important public relations is, not only from a communications point of view, but also in terms of the economic value it adds.”

My organisation is recruiting for new staff to work in this area. Proportion who agree:

Source: State of the Profession report 2012/13, CIPR

It’s not all doom and gloom, there are new jobs around. PROs say their company is more likely to recruit staff to work in PR than in other marketing sectors. And almost half of those working for a consultancy (42 per cent) say that they are recruiting new staff.

My organisation has a recruitment freeze in this area, but will not be making any redundancies. Proportion who agree:

Source: State of the Profession report 2012/13, CIPR

The recession has also strengthened the industry in some ways and encouraged it to evolve. Kim Roberts says: “The financial crisis has undoubtedly forced the public relations industry to adapt, and in doing so public relations professionals are increasingly being asked to work closely with other departments and take on new areas of responsibility. The close ties between PR, marketing, advertising and others have certainly helped our profession to exhibit some resilience to changes in the economic climate. “

Methodology
 

For CIPR’s State of the Profession report 2012/13, ComRes surveyed 1,273 CIPR members online between 21 November 2012 and 9 January 2013.