Over the past two decades, the advertising industry in New York City has undergone a significant expansion, with job growth surging by 49.5%. Currently boasting 69,800 positions, up from 46,700 in 2003, this sector has outpaced the overall private sector growth rate of 36.7%. Offering lucrative career paths, with a median annual salary of $91,712, the industry nonetheless faces substantial diversity challenges, as highlighted in a recent report by the Center for an Urban Future.
Eli Dvorkin, editorial and policy director at the Center for an Urban Future, remarked on the disparity: “This research underscores that while employment in New York City’s advertising sector has grown far faster than in other industries, its workforce does not reflect the city’s diversity.”
Titled “Expanding Access to Advertising Careers in NYC,” the report draws from various sources, including the U.S. Census American Community Survey, to examine the demographic composition of the city’s advertising industry and identify racial disparities. It focuses exclusively on residents and workers within the city limits, excluding commuters from outside areas.
#AdvertisingSoWhite
From 2000 to 2022, the percentage of non-White workers in advertising increased by 5.8 percentage points, rising from 27.9% to 33.7%. In contrast, the overall non-White workforce in the city expanded from 51.4% to 64.2% during the same period.
Breaking down the data further, Black individuals constitute only 7.7% of New York City’s advertising workforce, despite comprising 20.7% of the overall city workforce. Similarly, Hispanic workers make up 14.8% of the advertising sector compared to 27.6% citywide, while Asian representation stands at 10.6% in advertising versus 15.4% overall.
BY THE NUMBERS
– 7.7%: Percentage of Black individuals in the advertising industry, compared to 20.7% in the overall city workforce.
– 14.8%: Percentage of Hispanic individuals in the advertising industry, compared to 27.6% in the overall city workforce.
– 10.6%: Percentage of Asian individuals in the advertising industry, compared to 15.4% in the overall city workforce.
The report also highlights wage disparities within the advertising industry. Despite above-average salaries—$91,712 median—the median earnings for Black workers are $72,064, Hispanic workers earn $75,362, and Asian workers earn $94,203, indicating unequal pay practices.
Overall, these findings underscore the potential of the advertising industry to foster a more inclusive and equitable economic landscape in New York City.