NEW YORK Maybe there's hope for ad folks after all. In a survey of advertising and marketing executives by The Creative Group, 34 percent of respondents said they expect to increase their staffing levels during the next 12 months.

Conducted during the third quarter of this year, the survey found just 10 percent expecting to decrease their head count during the next 12 months, with most of the rest saying they expect to hold it steady.

As you might guess, when respondents who plan to increase staffing were asked to specify areas in which they'd be hiring, "Web design or production" topped the standings, cited by 52 percent. But "creative or art direction" was right behind, at 50 percent, putting it a shade ahead of "interactive" and "account services" (both at 48 percent).

Fewer of those expecting to add staff said they'd be looking for people in "brand/product management" (35 percent), "marketing research" (32 percent), "copywriting" (26 percent), "print design/production" (25 percent), "public relations" (23 percent) or "media services" (10 percent).

See also: "Rays of Hope Pierce Ad Market Gloom"