Employment of advertising sales agents is projected to decline 3 percent from 2014 to 2024.
Media companies will continue to rely on advertising revenue for profitability, driving growth in the advertising industry as a whole. Employment growth of advertising sales agents will largely follow broader industry trends. For example, newspaper print advertising is expected to decline, but some of this decline will be offset by the sale of digital ads on newspaper websites. Therefore, although employment of advertising sales agents is projected to decline in the newspaper publishers industry, it is not projected to decline as fast as other occupations in that industry.
However, an increasing amount of advertising is expected to be concentrated in digital media, including online video ads, search engine ads, and other digital ads intended for cell phones or tablet-style computers. Digital advertising on the Internet allows companies to directly target potential consumers because websites usually are associated with the types of products that those consumers would like to buy. Digital advertising can be done without an advertising sales agent, possibly dampening growth for this occupation. For example, in some cases it can be done through a software application or search engine program. Therefore, an increase in digital advertising expenditures will not necessarily result in increased demand for advertising sales agents.
Job Prospects
Competition is expected to be strong for jobs as advertising sales agents. Applicants with experience in sales and those with a bachelor's degree should have the best opportunities.
Advertising Sales Agents
Percent change in employment, projected 2014-24
Sales representatives, services
7%
Total, all occupations
7%
Advertising sales agents
-3%
Note: All Occupations includes all occupations in the U.S. Economy. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program