Employment Outlook (from Occupational Outlook Handbook, Bureau of Labor Statistics)

Advertising, marketing, promotions, public relations, and sales managers held about 707,000 jobs in 2000. Sales managers held almost half of the jobs; most were employed in wholesale and retail trade, manufacturing, and service industries. Marketing managers held more than one-fourth of the jobs; services and manufacturing industries employed about two-thirds of marketing managers. Half of advertising and promotions managers worked in services industries including advertising, computer and data processing, and engineering and management services. More than two-thirds of public relations managers were found in services industries such as educational services, management and public relations, and social services.

Employment of advertising, marketing, promotions, public relations, and sales managers is expected to increase faster than the average for all occupations through 2010. Advertising, marketing, promotions, public relations, and sales manager jobs are highly coveted and will be sought by other managers or highly experienced professional and technical personnel, resulting in keen competition. Those who have new media and interactive marketing skills will be particularly sought after.