If you’re looking for a job, SEO is currently in high demand. That’s right; search marketers are having manpower issues both in agencies and in-house. In an interview with Webpronews at the SES conference, SEO-PR‘s Greg Jarboe spoke with us about this growing trend. This tremendous lack of people is causing a big problem for search marketing companies. They have to either conduct a significant amount of training to their own employees, or steal already qualified employees from other companies.

At this point, colleges and universities are not yet offering search programs. Jarboe believes they are missing out. When colleges and universities do realize the need for search programs, it will be too late. One suggestion Jarboe offers, and what some companies are already doing, is to hire students straight out of college and train them. The SEMPO Institute and SEO Days in London is a couple of examples of training opportunities that result in jobs.

According to Jarboe, the people shortage that search marketers are experiencing is also resulting in a control issue between agencies and in-house. Previously, agencies have had the majority of power pertaining to search, but now in-house personnel are trying to bring search more under their control. As a result of this shift, agencies now have an incredible amount of pressure on them. According to Jarboe, search is becoming so mainstream that in-house people have to stay on top of the game.

The other big issue search marketers are facing is the fact that search is not a constant subject. It is developing and at an incredibly fast pace. The speed at which companies keep up with these developments depends on how serious and effective they want to be. It is very important to understand the seriousness of learning. According to Jarboe, the teaching that was learned last year is already being called obsolete knowledge. Search requires a lifetime of learning. It’s not easy to stay on top, but it is crucial for companies to be successful.