Q4 2025 Insights

The current sentiment among the Communications industry workforce, as curated from Reddit, is dominated by themes of severe burnout, feelings of being overwhelmed, and significant frustration that often leads to exploring career changes and new industries. A common refrain is that the "Comms" role, particularly in public relations and internal communications, has become a dumping ground for a vast array of disparate tasks, including PR, internal, social, web, and administrative work, with non-comms stakeholders frequently underestimating the required effort, leading to a constant, unsustainable workload. This phenomenon of "wearing 20 different hats" with expectations of immediate, high-quality results is a major driver of chronic stress, anxiety, and eventual mental exhaustion, which many long-time professionals report as an increasingly common and detrimental experience in the field.

Workers surviving in the industry often do so by actively learning to set firm boundaries and prioritizing their mental health, though this is acknowledged as difficult and often dependent on having supportive leadership, which many feel is rare. Social platform discussions highlight the stress caused by the 24/7 nature of the work, especially in agency or fast-paced in-house roles, and the distinct lack of understanding for the profession's expertise from non-comms management, who often tell professionals what to do rather than viewing them as consultants to solve problems. This combination of high-volume, high-pressure, and low-respect work contributes to an environment where people feel like "cogs in a machine" that would easily replace them, a toxic environment that professionals strongly advise others to leave as soon as feasible. On the other hand, the "survival" trend for those who remain includes seeking out more stable or "sane" environments, such as roles in government or in-house positions within companies that demonstrably understand and support the communications function.

A significant and growing trend is the active pursuit of pivoting away from the communications field altogether, even among experienced professionals. Many workers express being "burrrrrned the f—k out" and actively looking to transition into other, less volatile roles like project management, business development, UX design, or even social work (often with the goal of becoming a private therapist later), recognizing that their versatile communication skills are transferable. This desire for a career change is fueled not only by the extreme burnout but also by a perception that the job market for comms roles is currently brutal and oversaturated, with experienced applicants being rejected for roles they are highly qualified for, indicating a tightening or unpredictable market. The common strategy to survive the difficult job search is to leverage networking and referrals, as relying solely on mass job boards is often seen as ineffective. Overall, while some express enjoyment of the "hustle" and the good parts of the job, like great clients or team relationships, the overwhelming sentiment reflects a feeling of being under siege, making the jump to a new industry a strategic move for better work-life balance and long-term well-being.

August 2025

Sentiment in the communications field is marked by both job insecurity and a lack of fulfillment. Career surveys show that public relations specialists, a core component of the communications industry, rate their career happiness as "below average." Many are particularly unhappy with compensation, feeling that their pay does not reflect the demanding nature of their work. While there is a general consensus that communication professionals find their personalities well-suited to the work, they often find the job itself not very meaningful. Often, workers in this industry, depending on the company and specific field/market of communications, feel that their abilities to make a difference are limited to the overall corporate message that their employer dictates. Altruism virtually does not exist when companies are swayed by shareholders, boards, and advertisers. The ongoing layoffs, especially those linked to AI restructuring, have created a sense of anxiety and a need to constantly upgrade to remain competitive in a rapidly changing field.

The communications sector is showing signs of a slowdown and is undergoing a significant transformation. A recent report from The Conference Board's Employment Trends Index saw a slight decline in July to its lowest point since October 2024, indicating a stable but cautious labor market. Layoffs in the broader technology sector, which often includes communications and media roles, are continuing. A key driver for these job cuts is the strategic pivot towards artificial intelligence. For example, a major software and services company recently announced layoffs as part of a move to integrate AI across its operations, signaling a broader industry trend of re-evaluating traditional roles in favor of AI-focused talent.