The marketing and advertising sector may witness a hike in employment this quarter, as a recent survey from The Creative Group found leading industry executives plan to add staff in coming months.

According to the report, a net 19 percent of surveyed marketing executives plan to hire full-time staff within the next three months, reflecting a 10-point increase over the previous quarter. In addition, 87 percent of marketing and advertising officers are confident in their companies' growth projections for the third quarter.

Perhaps most interesting is the surge in demand for print design and production professionals, especially considering the relative fragility of the sector, which has faced rising competition from digital and web-based alternatives.

"As the economy continues to improve, companies are expanding their service offerings and revitalizing their brand identities. This is creating demand for professionals who can not only steer and manage overall brand strategy, but also bring ideas to life via online and traditional advertising," said Donna Farrugia, executive director of The Creative Group.

The study echoes another recent survey by FedEx Office that found more small businesses are planning to rejuvenate their marketing budgets this year.