How employment is projected to transform in media during the AI era

The latest round of U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics is expected next week (July 3), with more recent statistics indicating the upcoming numbers are unlikely to cause much positivity in the space, as the wider marketing industry goes through a period of unparalleled disruption. 

BLS numbers for May 2025 indicate the total number of jobs in the advertising, PR, and related services numbered 488,600, representing a monthly decrease of 2,100 roles compared to the previous month and (more alarmingly) a 9.9% decrease compared to 12 months beforehand.

For some, this marked drop, which represents 54,000 job losses in the last year, represents the necessary pain brought on by the disruption wrought by generative, or agentic, AI, with such optimists likely to point to BLS projects which forecast that employment in the sector will grow by 8% from 2023 to 2033, outpacing the 4% average across all occupations. Still, that’s not to say all, and to keep the champagne and rosé flowing, Cannes-style. 

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