SHANGHAI: Next year's Beijing Olympics has improved employment expectations in the media, public relations and advertising sectors in Shanghai and beyond, a survey has shown.

Some two-thirds of the decision-makers in these fields in Shanghai, Hong Kong, Singapore and Japan interviewed by Hudson, an international recruitment and human resources services provider, said they would increase their hiring because of the Games. In the third quarter of last year, only 46 percent said they would.

These sectors saw the greatest increase in employment expectations of all the industries covered.

Angie Eagan, general manager of Hudson Shanghai, told China Daily that the closer Olympics Games is, the higher the expectations.

"Much of this growth is driven by the demand for Olympics-related marketing and publicity projects, which are now moving into the implementation phase," she said.

Kellie Grimsley, managing consultant in advertising and communications at the company, said that with the Games approaching, sponsors, both international and local, are looking to get the most out of their sponsorship dollars.

The growth in these sectors is mainly in China. But as many companies in these fields are headquartered in Japan and Singapore, the recruitment push has moved beyond national borders.

New media, such as digital and interactive advertising, which have been expanding rapidly, have the strongest demand for experienced candidates.

"Brands are now looking to leverage their marketing campaigns through multiple channels, such as online, digital and mobile platforms," Grimsley said.

"But there is still a shortage of qualified talent who can understand the new marketing platforms."

Zhu Qingyang, secretary general of the Shanghai Human Resources Consulting Association, said the Olympics is not the only major event reflecting the city's economic strength and creating job opportunities.

"The World Expo Shanghai 2010 is also bringing more and more job opportunities too."

(China Daily 07/27/2007 page5)