We’re really pleased to be supporting The Marketing Meetup on the upcoming State of Marketers Report 2026.
Last year’s report, based on insights from over 1,000 marketers, painted a clear picture of a profession under pressure but still full of optimism. As marketing recruiters, we have certainly witnessed the axe falling on many marketing departments over the past year or so, although fortunately the past few months have seen a discernible uptick in hiring activity.
Marketers described their roles as “positively challenging” – a phrase that neatly captures the reality of modern marketing. The work is engaging and rewarding, but also fast-paced, demanding, and often overwhelming. The report found that alongside the positives, feelings of uncertainty, stress and pressure were never far behind. Please find the full The State of Marketers Report 2025 here – The State of Marketers Report 2025 | The Marketing Meetup
One of the most important takeaways for employers was the scale of workload pressure. The research found that “too much to do, not enough time” was a near-constant reality for many marketers. This isn’t just a resourcing issue – it has a direct impact on output. With marketers operating in constant task mode, creativity and strategic thinking are often the first things to suffer.
Alongside this, the report highlighted a number of structural challenges that will feel very familiar to many businesses. Slow sign-off processes, unclear or changing briefs and poor internal alignment were all identified as major barriers to effectiveness. These are not small issues. They create friction, delay campaigns and ultimately limit the impact marketing teams can have.
There were also some really interesting insights around team structure. The report found that mid-sized teams (typically around 6 to 10 people) tend to hit the sweet spot in terms of both satisfaction and effectiveness. Smaller teams often struggle with resource and isolation, while larger organisations can become slowed down by bureaucracy and communication challenges.
Despite the day-to-day pressures, one of the most encouraging findings was the level of optimism about the future of marketing. While many marketers weren’t entirely satisfied in their current roles, they remained positive about where the profession is heading.
Another key theme was the growing impact of AI. The report found a clear divide, with those embracing AI tools reporting higher levels of confidence, satisfaction and optimism. For others, AI was a source of uncertainty or even anxiety, highlighting the importance of support and education as the industry continues to evolve.
We’re excited to be involved in this year’s report and to see how these trends have developed over the past 12 months.
We’ll be sharing a full summary of the 2026 findings once the report is released. In the meantime if you have any marketing recruitment queries or are looking for support, please don’t hesitate to contact us.
