Well, what a year it’s been for Auxato! We could say it’s been a rollercoaster and at times, it has, but it’s also been a year of exciting change, new additions to our team and lots to look forward to in 2024!

2023 at Auxato

Where do we start? At the beginning… as we all headed out of the pandemic, the start of 2023 – a new year – promised great things, and it didn’t disappoint but we can’t deny that this year hasn’t had its ups and downs.

It’s been a tumultuous year with external forces affecting the marketing, PR and communications job market. The energy and cost of living crisis, rising inflation and resulting increase in interest rates meant that even those who were part of the Great Resignation a year ago were being pushed to go back to work to make ends meet. 

But it hasn’t been just people suffering; businesses have been under a lot of pressure, too, with rising costs on loans, the pressure of paying back government loans as well as their tax obligations, and the drive (or demand!) for environmentally-friendly, sustainable and ethical business practices from consumers. Just from the conversations we’ve had with many of our candidates and clients, huge adjustments and cutbacks have been made just to survive. 

Changes in the job market

Probably one of the biggest changes has been the drive towards home working continuing after lockdowns. Indeed, 85% of adults working from home would like a hybrid working approach in the future.The demand for a hybrid work environment is still strong and in many cases, the small and medium-sized businesses have been able to adapt to this better than many corporate’s. 

Probably one of the biggest issues we, and other agencies, have had to deal with is the ongoing lack of jobs available. We have a very strong list of excellent candidates waiting for the right role… and they’re still waiting, which is frustrating for everyone. 

With the number of vacancies dropping below one million for the first time in two years, competition for jobs across all sectors has increased. Whilst this has opened up the talent pool for hirers, it’s made it far harder for job seekers. This pressure isn’t likely to ease in early 2024 either.

The digital advance

There is no stopping digitalisation but don’t worry, we’re not saying that’s a bad thing; far from it. Yes, it’s brought about massive change and added a new dimension to recruitment but it’s also brought about exciting and positive changes in the industry. Agencies are adopting digital recruitment platforms that streamline the hiring process. There’s also more demand for candidates with the right digital skills and we predict that in 2024, these are the technology/digital skills to hone in on:

• Artificial Intelligence (AI)
• Content marketing
• SEO
• Cloud computing
• Data analysis
• Digital marketing
• Project management and performance marketing
• User experience (UX)
• Brand management
• Email/social media/video marketing
• Multichannel marketing

So, if you’re looking to brush up your skills over the Christmas/New Year period for the marketing, PR and communications job market, focus on these eleven areas. 

Our predictions for 2024 in marketing, PR and communications recruitment

We believe that 2024 is going to continue the trend of change and development, particularly in these areas. 

1.    The remote working/hybrid environment – the demand for flexible working and hybrid work environments is going to continue to grow. We believe that even the big corporate’s will start to adjust and offer their staff the option to work from home two or three days a week. It might be the only way they can retain their top talent. 

2.    Technology and digitalisation – it is a rapidly growing sector of recruitment and it’s only going to get more competitive. We are watching the digital space with interest as we think recruitment could be the subject of big technology and digital changes in 2024.

3.     AI’s impact – without doubt, AI is a leading game-changer in the recruitment industry. Not only are we seeing CVs written by AI platforms, AI-driven ‘live’ responses may well make an entrance and the technology will certainly start to streamline, and possibly shorten, the hiring process. However, it must be said that AI can’t replace the human touch.  

5.     Diversity and equality – something that has been on the radar for some time will continue to be an important factor with candidates. Employees now expect the companies they work for to ensure they provide a diverse and fair workplace, particularly if they want to attract the best talent.

6. A widening skills gap – largely driven by technology and digitalisation, the skills gap is likely to widen in 2024. This isn’t helped by a shortage of jobs and the ones available demanding a higher level of skills. Our advice to businesses is to invest in your staff and to our candidates, invest in yourself.

At Auxato, a leading recruitment and executive search firm in the UK, we focus on the marketing, communications and PR sectors, sourcing the best talent and the most suitable roles for all.

Are you looking for a new job in 2024? Check out our latest jobs page today. If you’ve got a space to fill or are creating a new role within your workplace, we need you! We have excellent, skilled candidates looking for a variety of marketing, PR and communication roles and they’re ready to hit the ground running in January. Get in touch with us and let’s work together to find you the best talent.