The majority of PR companies do not plan to cut staffing, a new survey claims.

The survey, from PR search and selection firm VMA, shows that almost three-quarters of respondents will not cut headcount, while almost 25% of communications directors plan to increase employee numbers.

The survey also shows that 10% of PR agencies plan to make redundancies.

Julia Meighan, chief executive at VMA, says: “During the last recession, the knee-jerk reaction of many organisations was to cut their PR and communications spend or team as the function was considered a ‘nice to have’ rather than a business necessity. 

“In fact, VMA Search’s recent ‘State of the Market’ survey of Directors of Communications and PR Agency Directors and MDs in association with ComRes, indicates that businesses do recognise the importance of PR and Communications and, as a result, are not expecting to downsize in 2009.  An impressive 72% of respondents claimed they had no plans to cut headcount and a further 23% are actually planning to grow their communications teams.”