Bernhart Survey: Recession Easing Its Grip on Direct Marketing Employment

The hiring freeze figure was even higher for agencies, with 44% reporting that they're holding the line on hiring.

Bernhart said responses to the hiring freeze question underscores the prevailing mood of uncertainty. "We always ask when they plan to lift their hiring freezes, and the vast majority said they expected those freezes to remain in place through the rest of 2009," said Bernhart.