Welcome to Data Drop, a newsletter that uses numbers to explore the latest happenings in marketing.

In today's edition, we examine results from a recent ADWEEK Reader Survey showing agency employees are worried ongoing industry consolidation will have a negative effect on their job. Many noted all the mergers and acquisitions will likely not be good for clients, either.

Meanwhile, the number of U.S. ad agency employees appear stuck at around 220,000. That's down from a high of 228,000 jobs in April 2023.

Sincerely,

Paul Hiebert, Deputy Editor of Data & Insights

Leading Figures

Ad Agency Employees Wary of Industry Consolidation

As advertising agencies continue to merge, restructure, and acquire each other, industry employees are nervous about the future.

Results from a recent ADWEEK Reader Survey show 29% of people who work in the field feel ongoing consolidation will have a negative effect on their job. A smaller amount—21%—indicate more M&A activity will have a positive outcome.

Worries about ongoing consolidation, however, don't stop there.

Additional survey results reveal more than twice as many agency employees believe the trend will do more to hurt brand clients (44%) than help them (21%).

Read the full article

Facts & Feelings

U.S. Ad Agency Jobs Have Stopped Growing

Government data suggests there's good reason to be concerned, career-wise.

The number of U.S. jobs at advertising agencies declined during the pandemic before rising to a high of 228,000 in April 2023. Since then, however, employment has decreased and remains flat at around 220,000 positions—a 3.5% decline.

By contrast, employment in the professional and business services category, which includes ad agencies, dropped 1% during the same period.

Performance Ad of the Week

The Ryze of Mushroom Coffee

Perhaps it's the stated health benefits. Maybe it's simply the curiosity that comes from encountering the word "mushroom coffee" for the first time.

Whatever the reasons, a commercial for mushroom coffee brand Ryze generated 1,643% more viewer engagement—measured in online searches and website traffic—than all other ads in the CPG food and beverage category last week, according to TV ad performance company EDO.

The 30-second spot, which debuted in mid-May, appeared 36 times on linear cable and broadcast television between May 19-25.

Watch the full ad

One Number

5.2%

The share of advertising impressions on cable and broadcast delivered via 60-second slots YTD 2025, according to television ad measurement and analytics company iSpot.tv. That’s down from 5.8% during the same period last year.

Statistics Around the Web

How Coach handbags became a Gen Z status symbol. (Bloomberg)
Cannes Lions introduces three dedicated safe zones staffed by trained professionals. (ADWEEK)
Buying 100% made-in-America products is hard. These people are trying. (Wall Street Journal)