The advertising industries in Hong Kong and Singapore continue to remain
upbeat about their prospects for this year; however, concern among
agencies about staff poaching from dotcoms is growing.
According to Morgan & Banks' quarterly job index survey, 60 per cent of
advertising agencies and departments stated they would likely increase
employee numbers in this year's second quarter.
The figure for Singapore was a bit more bullish at 69 per cent.
However, the industry was worried about losing staff to Internet and
ecommerce-related companies.
In Hong Kong, 60 per cent of respondents considered the new age
companies as a threat or a potential threat.
Morgan & Banks regional director Russell Yeomans said this was not
surprising given the dotcom fever sweeping through Asia-Pacific.
"Advertising agencies are suffering because they are now losing key
people to dotcoms," he told MEDIA.
"But as most are now picking up a lot of new dotcom business they are
themselves in the hunt for talent and we see this as continuing into the
third quarter of this year."
