Key Takeaways
- The global public relations market size was valued at USD 88.3 billion in 2020 and is projected to reach USD 129.5 billion by 2028, growing at a CAGR of 6.1%.
- In 2023, the U.S. PR industry generated $15.4 billion in revenue, marking a 5.2% increase from 2022.
- Asia-Pacific PR market is expected to grow at the highest CAGR of 7.2% from 2023 to 2030 due to digital adoption.
- There were 28,000 PR professionals employed in the U.S. in 2023.
- Average U.S. PR specialist salary was $68,800 in 2023.
- UK PR workforce totals 62,000 in 2023, with 55% female.
- 82% of PR campaigns now include social media in 2023.
- 67% of PR pros use AI tools daily in 2024 surveys.
- Video content in PR releases up 45% YoY 2023.
- 80% of global brands in top 500 use PR agencies.
- Average client retention rate for PR agencies 78% in 2023.
- Top 50 U.S. PR firms bill $8.2 billion annually 2023.
- 71% PR Measurement drives 25%+ AVE equivalent.
- 88% of PR campaigns exceed marketing ROI benchmarks 2023.
- Share of voice gained averages 15% post-PR campaign.
The global PR industry is growing steadily across regions and business sectors.
Client & Agency Dynamics
- 80% of global brands in top 500 use PR agencies.
- Average client retention rate for PR agencies 78% in 2023.
- Top 50 U.S. PR firms bill $8.2 billion annually 2023.
- 62% of Fortune 1000 outsource PR to agencies.
- In-house PR teams average 12 members in large corps 2023.
- Agency new business win rate 28% in 2023 U.S.
- 55% of clients demand integrated marketing PR 2023.
- Global PR agency count exceeds 25,000 in 2023.
- SME clients make up 41% of agency revenue 2023.
- Tech clients 35% of PR agency portfolios 2023.
- Average PR contract value $250,000 yearly 2023.
- 67% agencies offer retainer models vs project 2023.
- Healthcare clients 22% of global PR billings 2023.
- Multinational clients average 5 agencies per brand 2023.
- Boutique agencies grow 12% faster than networks 2023.
- 49% clients switch agencies every 2 years 2023.
- Government clients 15% of PR agency work U.S. 2023.
- ROI benchmarks shared by 58% agencies with clients.
- Asia agencies serve 70% regional clients locally 2023.
- Luxury brands 90% use specialized PR firms 2023.
- Agency mergers up 18% in 2023 globally.
- 73% clients prioritize diversity in agency selection.
- Energy sector clients cut PR budgets 8% in 2023.
- 64% agencies have C-suite client access regularly.
- Nonprofit clients 12% of agency billings U.S. 2023.
Client & Agency Dynamics Interpretation
Employment & Salaries
- There were 28,000 PR professionals employed in the U.S. in 2023.
- Average U.S. PR specialist salary was $68,800 in 2023.
- UK PR workforce totals 62,000 in 2023, with 55% female.
- Global PR jobs grew 4.2% YoY to 1.2 million in 2023.
- Entry-level PR salary in U.S. averaged $52,000 in 2023.
- 72% of PR pros in Europe are women, per 2023 EACD survey.
- India PR industry employs 25,000 professionals in 2023.
- Median PR manager salary in Australia AUD 110,000 in 2023.
- 15% increase in PR job openings in U.S. tech sector 2023.
- Canada PR specialist average salary CAD 75,000 in 2023.
- 68% of global PR roles require digital skills in 2023.
- China PR workforce 150,000 strong in 2023, up 10%.
- U.S. PR director salary averages $156,000 in 2023.
- 40% of PR pros freelance globally in 2023.
- Brazil PR employment 12,000 in 2023.
- Senior PR exec salary in Germany €95,000 average 2023.
- 25% YoY growth in PR internships U.S. 2023.
- South Africa PR jobs 5,500 total 2023.
- U.S. agency PR staff turnover 22% in 2023.
- Japan PR professionals 18,000 employed 2023.
- Average PR consultant hourly rate $150 U.S. 2023.
- 55% of PR workforce under 35 globally 2023.
- Mexico PR sector employs 8,000 in 2023.
- PR VP salary U.S. $210,000 median 2023.
- UAE PR jobs grew 18% to 4,200 in 2023.
- 76% of PR roles hybrid/remote in 2023 U.S.
- France PR workforce 20,000, average salary €55,000 2023.
Employment & Salaries Interpretation
Market Size & Revenue
- The global public relations market size was valued at USD 88.3 billion in 2020 and is projected to reach USD 129.5 billion by 2028, growing at a CAGR of 6.1%.
- In 2023, the U.S. PR industry generated $15.4 billion in revenue, marking a 5.2% increase from 2022.
- Asia-Pacific PR market is expected to grow at the highest CAGR of 7.2% from 2023 to 2030 due to digital adoption.
- European PR spending reached €12.5 billion in 2022, with Germany leading at €2.1 billion.
- The PR software market was valued at $5.2 billion in 2022 and is forecasted to hit $14.9 billion by 2030.
- U.S. PR agency billings totaled $14.8 billion in 2023, up 4.8% year-over-year.
- China's PR market size exceeded RMB 120 billion in 2022, growing 12% annually.
- Global PR market CAGR projected at 5.9% from 2023-2030, driven by influencer marketing.
- UK PR industry revenue hit £4.5 billion in 2023, with 6% growth.
- Latin America PR market valued at $2.1 billion in 2022, expected to grow 6.5% CAGR.
- Indian PR market reached INR 1,800 crore in FY2023, up 15%.
- Middle East PR spend was $1.2 billion in 2023, led by UAE at 45% share.
- Canadian PR industry revenue at CAD 2.1 billion in 2022, 4% growth.
- Australia's PR market valued at AUD 1.5 billion in 2023, CAGR 5.1% forecast.
- Africa PR market size $800 million in 2022, growing 8% annually.
- Global crisis PR segment worth $12 billion in 2023.
- U.S. healthcare PR market $4.2 billion in 2023.
- Tech PR sector globally $18.5 billion in 2022.
- Consumer goods PR market $22 billion worldwide in 2023.
- Financial services PR revenue $10.8 billion globally 2023.
- Energy PR market size $8.9 billion in 2022.
- Nonprofit PR spending $3.5 billion U.S. 2023.
- B2B PR market $25 billion globally 2023.
- Influencer PR integration valued at $6.7 billion 2023.
- ESG PR market projected $15 billion by 2025.
- Event PR sector $4.1 billion 2023.
- Food & Beverage PR $7.2 billion globally 2023.
- Travel PR market $5.6 billion post-pandemic 2023.
- Automotive PR revenue $9.3 billion 2023.
- Retail PR market $11.4 billion worldwide 2023.
Market Size & Revenue Interpretation
ROI & Effectiveness
- 71% PR Measurement drives 25%+ AVE equivalent.
- 88% of PR campaigns exceed marketing ROI benchmarks 2023.
- Share of voice gained averages 15% post-PR campaign.
- 65% report 3:1 ROI on PR vs paid ads 2023.
- Media impressions from PR average 2.5x higher than ads.
- Crisis PR saves average $1.2M per incident avoided.
- 76% of executives credit PR for revenue growth.
- Sentiment improvement 28% from targeted PR efforts.
- PR drives 47% of purchase intent in B2B.
- Average PR budget ROI 4.8:1 globally 2023.
- Website traffic uplift 35% from PR coverage.
- 92% PR leaders tie efforts to business KPIs.
- Lead generation from PR 22% of total pipeline.
- Brand awareness lift 41% measured via surveys post-PR.
- Cost per impression in PR $0.02 vs $0.10 ads.
- 69% campaigns achieve positive media sentiment >80%.
- PR contributes 18% to stock price volatility reduction.
- Employee advocacy via PR boosts engagement 50%.
- 55% of PR budget yields measurable sales impact.
- Backlink value from PR averages $50K per campaign.
- Customer acquisition cost reduced 27% with PR.
- 83% executives say PR essential for reputation value.
- PR recall rate 2.5x higher than digital ads.
- Revenue attribution to PR 12% in consumer brands.
- Risk mitigation ROI 6:1 in crisis PR scenarios.
- 74% PR pros use Barcelona Principles for measurement.
- Organic search ranking improves 19 positions post-PR.
- Net promoter score rises 15 points with PR.
ROI & Effectiveness Interpretation
Trends & Technology
- 82% of PR campaigns now include social media in 2023.
- 67% of PR pros use AI tools daily in 2024 surveys.
- Video content in PR releases up 45% YoY 2023.
- 91% of consumers trust earned media over ads per 2023 Edelman.
- Influencer collaborations in PR rose 34% in 2023.
- 56% of PR focuses on ESG messaging in 2023.
- Podcast PR mentions increased 62% in 2023.
- 73% of PR teams use data analytics tools 2023.
- TikTok usage in PR strategies up 78% among brands 2023.
- 48% of PR crisis response now real-time via social 2023.
- VR/AR in PR events adopted by 22% of agencies 2023.
- 65% prioritize SEO in press releases 2023.
- Generative AI handles 30% of content creation in PR 2024.
- 59% of PR uses user-generated content 2023.
- LinkedIn dominates B2B PR with 84% engagement 2023.
- 41% of PR budgets allocated to paid social 2023.
- Voice search optimization in PR up 29% 2023.
- 70% of PR pros report metaverse experiments 2023.
- Email newsletters key for 77% of PR retention 2023.
- 52% integrate NFTs in PR campaigns 2023 niche sectors.
- Hybrid events 68% of PR strategies post-2023.
- 63% use chatbots for media queries 2023.
- Sustainability reporting mandatory for 45% PR clients 2023.
- 75% of PR monitoring is AI-powered 2023.
- Short-form video 89% priority in PR content 2023.
- 38% of PR shifts to Web3 communities 2023.
- Personalization in PR emails boosts opens 42% 2023.
Trends & Technology Interpretation
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