AS MANY as 10 per cent of mid-level positions at advertising agencies are vacant at any one time, the first study of its kind has revealed.
Of the agencies surveyed, 80 per cent say they struggle with chronic talent shortages, particularly in account management and creative and digital roles. The shortage is most prevalent in junior (one to four years) and mid-level (four to seven years) positions.
Ninety-two per cent of agencies said that up to 10 per cent of positions remained vacant at any one time as they were unable to find suitably experienced staff.
The survey of about 20 per cent of the industry was conducted by the Communications Council in recent weeks and helps to explain why the ad industry is widely known for ruthless poaching.
Some staff hand in their notices and walk into more senior roles with competitors that offer up to $30,000 a year more, despite being underqualified for the jobs.

The chief executive of the council, Daniel Leesong, said the survey results were worrying, particularly the revelation that agencies were appointing people with less than ideal experience to fill gaps.
He said 41 per cent of agencies hired talent from abroad.
''Agencies need to do more to retain staff to gain experience but there is no silver bullet,'' he said.
The chief executive of advertising agency network JWT, John Gutteridge, said the shortages had long been an industry-wide problem.