- Have any questions?
- 02 9247 6000
- media@commsroom.co
- Have any questions?
- 02 9247 6000
- media@commsroom.co
Menu
Media agencies are witnessing a promising trend as talent churn shows a notable decline, with industry vacancies down to 7.2% in 2023 compared to the previous year’s 8.5%. This data, extracted from the Media Federation of Australia’s (MFA) annual industry census, indicates a steady approach towards normative vacancy levels, standing at 6% after hitting a high of 12.1% in 2021.
Over the period from October 2022 to September 2023, the survey, which involved MFA member agencies, showcased a 2% year-on-year increase in overall employment within the media industry, totalling 4,778 individuals by September 2023.
With the drop in staff turnover, rates of “regrettable loss” decreased to 26% from 32.6% in 2022, while the departure rate from the industry fell to 12.1% from 17.3%. The MFA aims to further reduce this figure to 11% by 2025. The most sought-after roles include implementation, client service, and performance-related positions.
Linda Wong, MFA’s director of people, highlighted the industry’s robust health and adaptability to evolving client needs, with a notable increase in analytics and creative services roles. MFA CEO Sophie Madden added: “Showing sustained industry growth and positive movement across so many important metrics, the MFA Census provides proof that agency and industry initiatives are having the desired effect of instilling pride in our people, tackling vacancy rates, and reducing industry churn.”
“Notably, the growing number of ‘boomerang’ recruits–individuals returning to the industry–reflects a promising trend. I believe we’re on the right path for more positive change ahead,” said Sophie Madden, CEO of Media Federation of Australia
Geographically, Sydney leads with 63.7% of vacancies, followed by Melbourne at 26.6%, and Brisbane at 6.7%, aligning with the overall distribution of the media industry’s presence across these cities.
While agency employee tenure has seen a slight improvement, with an average tenure of 2.8 years, the gender distribution in management roles remains a concern, with only 47% held by women despite 65% of talent identifying as female. Additionally, the gender pay gap persists, with average full-time female salaries trailing those of males by 3%. In terms of diversity, 52% of media agency talent identify as culturally Australian, while language diversity is evident, with almost 30% speaking a language other than English at home.
