Public Relations Careers Outlook
According to the U.S. Department of Labor, there were approximately 188,000 public relations specialists in 2004. Almost two-thirds of salaried public relations specialists worked in services industries, such as management and public relations firms, educational institutions, membership organizations, health care organizations, social service agencies, and advertising agencies. Others worked for manufacturing firms, financial institutions, and government agencies.
Employment in public relations is expected to grow faster than the average through 2014. Competition for jobs will be tough, though, as the number of qualified applicants is expected to be much larger than the number of available positions. College graduates interested in public relations should narrow their interests to specific areas where public relations practitioners are needed. This will allow them to use specific skills and experience to distinguish themselves from the competition. Those with internship experience also will have the advantage when seeking permanent positions.
Competition among both foreign and domestic companies is fierce, forcing businesses to invest more money on promotion and public relations. A recent trend in public relations is damage control; for example the tobacco industry is fighting negative publicity with a focus on philanthropic efforts, the airline industry is spending significant budget dollars on encouraging people to fly after the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, and the auto and tire industries are trying to reassure customers that their products are safe after a number of fatal accidents were attributed to faulty tires.
Careers in Public Relations:
- Advertising Account Executives
- Art Directors
- Demographers
- Fund-Raisers
- Grant Coordinators and Writers
- Marketing Research Analysts
- Media Planners and Buyers
- Public Opinion Researchers
- Public Relations Specialists
- Reporters
- Sports Publicists
Related Career Fields:
Related Career Clusters:
- Business, Management, and Administration Career Cluster
- Government and Public Administration Career Cluster
- Marketing, Sales, and Service Career Cluster