Despite predictions of increased sales by agency leaders, there has been only a small increase in the percentage of agencies that are predicting an increase in headcount for 2024. When we surveyed leaders last year, 62% were forecasting an increase in headcount and as we head into 2024, 63% are anticipating headcount growth.

Whilst a predicted increase in headcount growth is positive, the majority of agency leaders (almost three-quarters) are predicting that this growth will be at the lower end of this scale, forecasting growth of between 1-25% only.

The number of agencies predicting headcount growth of more than 50% remained flat YOY at 9%. There was, however, an increase in the number of agencies predicting a decrease in headcount, moving from 1% to 3%.