Content area
Full Text
In a good sign for the economic outlook in OC and the region, total employment at local market research firms has increased over the past 12 months.
Eight of the 10 companies on this week's Business Journal's list of the largest market research firms added employees. The other two firms attributed their employment declines to operational changes rather than an actual loss of business.
All told, the 10 market research firms account for 253 local research-oriented employees, up 51, or 25%, from that group's total a year ago. That number also represents a 46% gain, or an 80-person increase, over the 12 firms listed last year.
Activity by market research firms generally is considered a leading economic indicator, because companies often retain research firms when thinking about expanding operations or product lines.
The research firms are growing at a slightly better clip here than they are companywide. The nine firms that provided firmwide employment...