Introducing ClickZ's Layoff Tracker for Digital Marketing Jobs

The economic chill has begun to hit jobs in the digital media and marketing space.

Note: This is page contains an older version of the layoff tracker. Click here to view the latest job cuts in digital marketing and media.

We all knew this moment was coming, and now it’s official. The economic chill has begun to impact jobs in the digital media and marketing sectors.

The list of companies to cut staff since the global credit crisis began include AdBrite, Zillow, eBay, and Heavy.com.

Odds are Yahoo will soon join the list — probably this week. Multiple news sources including the San Jose Mercury News have reported the company will lay off between 1,000 and 1,500 staff, including in sales. Yahoo is mum on the workforce reduction, but the company may address it during its earnings call tomorrow.

Additionally, the cuts already reported don’t take into account any unannounced hiring slowdowns or outright freezes, which have hit agencies and other digital marketing firms.

To keep tabs on these changes, ClickZ has created a layoff tracker for job cuts in the digital marketing and media sector. And we promise not to bother you with generic tech layoff news from IT companies, VC-funded start-ups, or other Web firms that sell few if any ads.

To be clear: By creating this feature, ClickZ is not pushing the idea that the number of jobs in digital marketing is on the decline. On the contrary, a glance at the ClickZ job board shows firms are actively hiring digital marketing pros. Among them are Adify, GSI Commerce, Lyris, Encyclopedia Britannica, and others. Plus, others are promoting staff, judging by a look at ClickZ’s Execs and Accounts reports.

See ClickZ’s first tally of job losses below. In the future, you can find our ongoing list here. And by all means, send us a tip if you’ve experienced layoffs at your own firm.

2008 Digital Ad and Marketing Industry Layoffs
Company Number of Employees Laid Off Announcement Date of Layoffs What Happened
Heavy.com 20 (total approx. 45 since June) 10/17/2008 Fourteen percent staff reduction was attributed to downturn, but Heavy says it’s “strongly positioned for any dip in the advertising market.” (SAI)
Zillow.com 25 percent (number not specified) 10/17/2008 Memo calls decision “incredibly painful” but necessary to “securely batten down the hatches as we sail into a major economic storm.” (TechCrunch)
AdBrite 40 10/16/2008 Departing figures included two senior execs: VP Marketing Paul Levine and VP Finance Bob Feller. Cuts represented 40 percent of 100-person workforce. (TechCrunch)
eBay 1,000 10/6/2008 On top of the staff cuts, which slashed 10 percent of the workforce, eBay said it would end contracts with hundreds of temps.
TripHub 5 8/27/2008 An e-mail to staff noted, “…while we continued to make good progress, we didn’t turn the corner before exhausting our resources,” the Seattle Post-Intelligencer reported.
Heavy.com 25 6/6/2008 Move to “make the company more efficient and profitable” came as Heavy spun off video ad unit.
Yahoo 1,000 1/29/2008 “Streamlining” by new CEO Jerry Yang came amid investor questions about the company’s financial performance and its rebuff of Microsoft’s buy-out offer.
Approximate Number of Industry Layoffs to Date: 2,090

Subscribe to get your daily business insights

Whitepapers

US Mobile Streaming Behavior
Whitepaper | Mobile

US Mobile Streaming Behavior

5y

US Mobile Streaming Behavior

Streaming has become a staple of US media-viewing habits. Streaming video, however, still comes with a variety of pesky frustrations that viewers are ...

View resource
Winning the Data Game: Digital Analytics Tactics for Media Groups
Whitepaper | Analyzing Customer Data

Winning the Data Game: Digital Analytics Tactics for Media Groups

5y

Winning the Data Game: Digital Analytics Tactics f...

Data is the lifeblood of so many companies today. You need more of it, all of which at higher quality, and all the meanwhile being compliant with data...

View resource
Learning to win the talent war: how digital marketing can develop its people
Whitepaper | Digital Marketing

Learning to win the talent war: how digital marketing can develop its peopl...

2y

Learning to win the talent war: how digital market...

This report documents the findings of a Fireside chat held by ClickZ in the first quarter of 2022. It provides expert insight on how companies can ret...

View resource
Engagement To Empowerment - Winning in Today's Experience Economy
Report | Digital Transformation

Engagement To Empowerment - Winning in Today's Experience Economy

1m

Engagement To Empowerment - Winning in Today's Exp...

Customers decide fast, influenced by only 2.5 touchpoints – globally! Make sure your brand shines in those critical moments. Read More...

View resource