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In May, we found 71 jobs in PR

From agencies including Teneo, Freuds and FleishmanHillard

AI blamed, but budget pressures likely behind hiring reductions

A year-on-year comparison of role levels in public relations job listings at the top 50 agencies reveals a surprising shift.

Mid-weight roles have dropped from 53 to 32, and senior roles from 19 to 10 – a 58% decline. Meanwhile, junior-level positions have remained stable at 29 in both years.

The headline decline in recruitment reflects a broader trend in the economy and industry since the last election. It has been compounded by stop-go growth and national insurance increases.

That junior-level recruitment isn’t impacted is counter to the narrative that AI is hollowing out junior jobs. If that were the case, we’d expect junior hiring to fall more sharply.

Instead, the data points to economic pressures, flatter team structures and a preference for tech-fluent early-career professionals over more senior hires.

AI isn’t yet replacing junior roles at scale.

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