Look no further than The Creative Group 2019 Salary Guide. From the latest employment trends and in-demand skills to a list of hot jobs and their salaries, this definitive resource offers expert advice on how to get ahead in the marketing and design fields.

Here are some highlights of what you’ll find in the 2019 guide:

Low unemployment rates force companies to rethink hiring practices

Demand for top professionals continues to outstrip supply. Indeed, 89 per cent of Canadian creative and marketing executives surveyed by The Creative Group said it is challenging to find skilled creative professionals today.

Hiring managers have had to speed up their recruitment process or risk losing their first-choice candidates to other offers. Many firms are also willing to relax some job requirements and instead provide the necessary training to people once hired. All of this is good news for job seekers in the creative and marketing fields. Even if you don’t check all the boxes in terms of education or experience, you may still have a good shot at a position if your fundamental skills and interpersonal abilities catch an employer’s eye.

In addition, companies are increasingly turning to talented freelancers to fill skills gaps on short-term projects and are eager to convert them to full-time staff at the earliest opportunity.

Hot jobs require digital expertise

To be in the running for the hottest design jobs going into 2019 you’ll need a high level of digital savvy. Companies want people who can help them use the latest tech tools to extend their marketing reach, personalize consumer experiences and gain market share.

The following is a short list of roles that creative managers in Canada are seeking to fill, followed by their salary midpoint (or median national salary):

• Content strategist — $69,000
• Visual designer — $71,500
• Front-end web developer — $76,000
• UI designer — $70,000
• Mobile/responsive designer — $80,000
• UX designer — $78,750

To rise above the competition, make sure your design resume and digital portfolio show off the breadth and depth of your skill set. Employers especially want to hire hybrid designers: specialists who are equally adept at digital design and development.

How competitive is that compensation package?

Certainly, starting salary is a crucial deciding factor for you, but it’s also important to evaluate the benefits, perks and incentives you are offered. In the back of the 2019 Salary Guide, you can find a nice rundown of what some other companies are providing. You’ll learn, for example, that 62 per cent of surveyed human resources managers say their company offers flexible work schedules, while 44 per cent give out annual or biannual bonuses. This information, along with the salary ranges in the guide, can help you determine whether to accept an offer as is, negotiate additional perks or hold out for a job with better benefits.

Making the most of today’s hiring environment

If you’re a tech-savvy creative with in-demand skills, you’re in the driver’s seat when it comes to finding a job. Our 2019 Salary Guide is an indispensable resource whether you’re applying for a new job or asking for a raise.

This article is provided by The Creative Group, a division of Robert Half. The Creative Group (TCG) specializes in connecting interactive, design, marketing, advertising and public relations talent with the best companies on a project, contract-to-hire and full-time basis. For more information, including job hunting services and candidate portfolios visit roberthalf.ca/creativegroup and roberthalf.ca/blog.