New Research Reveals Upcoming Work & Travel Market Trends
WYSE Work Abroad released two projects at WETM in Vienna, available to members-only: the WYSE Work Abroad Market Barometer, and the newest section to the International Standards Manual for Work Exchange Programmes, “Developing an Effective Media Plan.”
WYSE Work Abroad’s Market Barometer focuses on the inbound US market from both the sender and receiver perspective, which will serve as the first in a series of surveys analysing these issues.
Additional surveys, covering other major markets, will follow, and will assist WYSE Work Abroad members in making smart business decisions through valuable market intelligence.
Key Findings
• For work & travel programmes, US sponsors report that the the total number of job cancellations rose by 4% in spring/summer 2008, and winter 2008 by 7.7%. For 2009, respondents expect this trend to continue, with spring/summer participant numbers set to fall by 12%, and the number of placements by 4%.
• Three quarters of work experience organisations had experienced some impact from the economic crisis.
• Weaker economies in the sending countries, and a lack of placements in the US were most frequently mentioned as impacting the work exchange business.
• Members are reacting to the economic situation mainly by cost cutting, developing new programmes, and increasing marketing.
WYSE Work Abroad’s newest section of its standards manual, “Developing an Effective Media Plan“, was released to members-only at WETM in Vienna.
This new section aims to provide members with cost-effective solutions to position themselves more proactively and strategically toward the media, and includes:
• Tips on drafting key organisational messaging
• Techniques on maintaining good relations with the media
• Phone and television interview tips
• Template press releases
• Checklists for media strategies in crisis and non-crisis situations
Many thanks to David Niven of David Niven Associates for providing content on this section.
“Developing an Effective Media Plan“ will be accompanied by an additional section on crisis management, to be released by WYSE Work Abroad in late May.
