In a new Adweek report by Paul Hiebert and Audrey Kemp, the talent gap between holding companies and independent agencies is getting harder to ignore. A recent reader survey shows a clear morale divide—and it’s not just about perks or titles. It’s about how people feel when they show up to work.
Among the 380+ agency employees surveyed, just 32% of holdco staffers described morale as positive. For indie agency folks, the mood was “generally upbeat.” And while that alone might not sound seismic, the downstream effects are.
One of the more telling stats: nearly half of holding company employees are looking to leave—not just their job, but the industry altogether. At indie agencies, only about a third are considering that kind of shift.
“Job security is freaking people out,” said one holdco employee, speaking anonymously. The shadow of layoffs, consolidation, and the proposed IPG-Omnicom merger isn’t helping.
The data points to a few recurring issues inside holding companies:
Low job security (more feel insecure than secure)
Leadership disconnect (layers on layers, but little clarity)
General burnout (unsurprisingly, on the rise)But maybe the more interesting story is what’s working on the indie side. According to Forrester’s Jay Pattisall, independent shops tend to spend more on their employees and retain talent longer. Smaller teams, less red tape, and the ability to operate outside Wall Street pressure all contribute to stronger workplace cultures.
“There’s a humanness to the way everything is approached,” said one former holdco staffer who made the leap to an indie. “You’re not a cog in a machine.”
Of course, indie shops aren’t perfect. About a third of respondents still reported job stress, and nearly 1 in 5 said they felt unclear on their path forward. But the difference is real—and increasingly visible.
For indies, it’s both a moment of validation and a reminder: the things that make you better places to work require active care. Clarity. Communication. Respect that’s more than just a tagline.
And for everyone else? It might be time to re-center the conversation around people—not just pipelines.
Full story via Adweek: Nearly Half of Holdco Agency Staffers Want Out, Survey Finds
- About the Author
- Latest Posts
