Based on hiring trends in the last few weeks of 2024, as well as projections from clients for hiring in 2025, the outlook is positive. Higher investment in marketing spend turning into a need for more research “doers” are a few of the positive trends outlined within our Research & Insights Hiring Forecast.
Our Research & Insights Hiring Forecast for 2025:
- Stronger investment in marketing budgets
- Companies having more backing to explore new trends for 2025 and beyond, post-election.
- This leads to the influx of hiring more research “doer” levels as well as operations and support staff
- More Jobs!
- Already at the end of 2024, we are seeing an influx of open positions.
- Mainly research “doer” level positions as well as operations roles in support of new projects.
- Stability for salaries
- Post-covid hiring booms caused a sever jump in compensation at the base level.
- We are forecasting more stability within current base compensation, versus continuous increases (with a few exceptions).
- Hiring boom in certain industries
- We are hopeful for a technology industry comeback, continuing to build out user experience research staff.
- CPG will have a natural boom, given certain market trends and conditions.
- We are optimistic for more pharmaceutical investment in 2025, but this can go a few ways.
- Stronger focus on DEI initiatives
- Although we might just be speaking this one into fruition, candidates are continuing to strive for a place where they feel comfortable.
- We have been seeing an uptick in tangible DEI initiatives with our clients.
- A transition back to a more balanced marketplace
- Candidates will get some leverage back after the 2024 blackhole.
- As more jobs open and candidates get slotted in, the candidate pool will be slightly less deep, forcing companies to be less picky.
- A heavier lean into AI (and you thought that wasn’t possible!)
- And you thought that wasn’t possible!
- AI based research companies are popping up and will continue to grow, merge, and be competitive.
- We predict AI based research positions popping up as well, starting within research agencies and moving into the brand side.
Our Research & Insights Hiring Forecast for 2025 is an accumulation of thoughts and evidence from consistently connecting with candidates in the marketplace as well as our partners from brands, research companies and consulting firms.
Take a look at our 2024 Salary Trends Blog as well.
2025 will be a strong year for the Research & Insights Industry. If you’re interested in exploring this further, thinking about hiring or making a move, reach out to Lindsey Bartlett. We’d love to get introduced!
