Working Not Working, the leading platform for curated creative talent, today released its first-ever “Adland Careers Now and in the Future” survey, which reveals the current sentiment of creatives working in advertising and their outlook on the future. Creatives also shared what they’ve witnessed firsthand in the advertising industry over the past two years, from changes ranging from diminishing opportunities for true creativity, unrealistic client expectations, and burnout.

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“Money isn’t going to keep creatives feeling creative. They’re finally putting their sanity, happiness, and well-being first,” said Justin Gignac, CEO and Co-Founder of Working Not Working. “Agencies, in particular, are going to have to understand this and work really hard to rethink and restructure how they operate, by improving hours, mental health offerings, and investments in more creative and inclusive environments. If they don’t, there are plenty of other options for creatives, be it freelancing or finding work through marketplaces, that will be way more appealing to them.”

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Jobs Report for July, advertising and PR-related services increased by only 1,200 jobs, far below the 4,800 jobs added in June. This points to a larger trend of how the pace of hiring in the advertising industry has slowed down, as more creatives are likely taking time off, switching careers, or pursuing freelance work.

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KEY FINDINGS

Working Not Working’s “Adland Careers Now and in the Future” survey dives into the overall sentiment of creatives over the course of the pandemic.

• 61% of creatives say they have felt less creative in their work over the course of the pandemic.
• 42% of creatives say they feel burnout every so often, while 27% say they consistently and currently feel it. Only 10% of respondents answered that they don’t experience burnout at all.
• Of those creatives that feel burnout, over 50% place the blame on the number of hours worked and lack of motivation in their work.
• Almost 60% of creatives say they feel fairly compensated for their work, while over 50% of creatives are still considering switching career paths.

The “Adland Careers Now and in the Future” survey data was derived from over 800 creatives from the Working Not Working community across the globe who have worked within the advertising industry in the last two years.

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