Occupation intelligence

public relations manager

Key facts

Shape public perception and build strong reputations as a Public Relations Manager. This role is central to how organizations communicate with the world, ensuring a positive image and fostering trust with stakeholders.

Summary

As a Public Relations Manager, you're the voice and guardian of an organization's image. Your days involve crafting compelling narratives, managing media relations, and orchestrating events to promote a desired perception among the public and key stakeholders. You'll be responsible for ensuring consistent and positive messaging across all communication channels, responding to public inquiries, and proactively addressing potential reputational challenges.

Key responsibilities
  • • Developing and implementing public relations strategies aligned with organizational goals.
  • • Managing media relations, including writing press releases, organizing press conferences, and responding to media inquiries.
  • • Creating and distributing content across various platforms, such as social media, websites, and internal communications.
42%
Resilience Score · 2026 (Higher is better)
Master's or equivalent level 48% AI exposure
Start Career DNA assessment
Labour market

Where this occupation is in demand

Reported labour shortages and surpluses, by year. Published for occupation groups, not for individual job titles.

Shortage reportedSurplus reportedReported in another yearNot covered by this source

Deeper colour: reported the same way in more consecutive years.

Figures cover Administrative and commercial managers — 69 jobs including this one.

2 of 9 in shortage202520 of 25 growing613kopenings to 2035

In shortage: Czechia, Italy.

Longest-running shortage: Italy, 3 years.

Select a place on the map to see its figures.

About this source

Source: ELA/EURES labour shortages and surpluses. Readings are published at occupation-group level, and cover Europe. Editions differ in annex layout and country coverage, so a change between years does not always mean the labour market changed. Countries in grey were not reported, which is not the same as being in balance.

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Quick fit check

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NexFuture™

Future Outlook for public relations manager

The outlook for public relations manager reflects a balanced mix of automation exposure and durable, human-led work.

How are these scores calculated?

The Resilience Score (0–100) estimates how structurally protected this occupation is from automation and AI disruption, based on task-level analysis. Higher scores mean more human-judgment-intensive tasks. AI Exposure shows the estimated percentage of task hours that current AI capabilities could affect. These are model-derived structural indicators, not predictions about individual job security.

Play the future

How could public relations manager change as AI adoption grows?

This role is likely to change gradually, with AI supporting selected tasks rather than replacing the whole occupation.

Significant task-level transformation is estimated in 13 years (around 2039) under the selected Expected Pace scenario.
~40%
Resilience
Automation Risk
EXP~50%
Human advantage
MOAT~45%

Illustrative scenario based on task automatability — not a forecast. Values are rounded the further ahead you look.

2026
2033
2044
AI Adoption Speed:

How AI may change this role

Deterministic, model-based interpretation of current role signals — not a guarantee of replacement.

Human-owned 42% Human-owned
What still depends on people
  • protect client interests
  • liaise with local authorities
  • build community relations
The Human Edge To stay ahead in this role, focus on corporate social responsibility and communication principles. These human-centric skills are the hardest for AI to replicate in the next 20 years.
Assist 17% Assist
Where AI may become a co-pilot
  • analyse external factors of companies
  • prepare presentation material
  • give interviews to media
Automate 48% Automate
Tasks most exposed to automation
  • draft press releases
Detailed Analysis

Vital Signs & AI Vectors

AI Exposure Vectors

0-100%
Generative AI 17%

Exposure to content generation, creative augmentation, and large language model tools

Cognitive Software 10%

Exposure to workflow automation, decision-support software, and process digitisation

AI / Machine Learning 8%

Exposure to AI-assisted analysis, pattern recognition, and predictive modelling tasks

Robotic & Physical Automation 0%

Exposure to physical automation, robotics, and sensor-driven task displacement

Technical Details
Methodology: NexFuture v3.0 Sources: O*NET® 30.3, ESCO v1.2.1 Updated: Aug 2026

NexFuture v3.0 estimates automation exposure natively from ESCO essential-skill groups, weighted by skill mass and calibrated against expert anchors. Scores are probabilistic estimates, not guarantees. See the NexFuture Methodology White Paper for full details.

Measures automation exposure. It does not measure pay, demand, or how many jobs exist near you.

Day in the life

What people in this role usually do

Marketing & Sales

Day in the life

A typical day as a public relations manager

09
09:00 · Morning
conduct public presentations
Speak in public and interact with those present. Prepare notices, plans, charts, and other information to support the presentation.
10
10:30 · Mid-morning
establish relationship with the media
Adopt a professional attitude to respond effectively to the demands of the media.
12
12:00 · Midday
advise on public image
Advise a client such as a politician, artist or another individual dealing with the public on how to present themselves in a way which would gain most favour from the general public or a target audience.
14
14:00 · Afternoon
advise on public relations
Advise business or public organisations on public relations management and strategies in order to ensure efficient communication with target audiences, and proper conveying of information.
15
15:30 · Late afternoon
analyse external factors of companies
Perform research and analysis of the external factor pertaining to companies such as consumers, position in the market, competitors, and political situation.
17
17:00 · Wrap-up
build community relations
Establish affectionate and long-lasting relationships with local communities, e.g. by organising special programms for kindergarden, schools and for dissabled and older people, raising awareness and receiving community appreciation in return.

Task order is illustrative. Individual days vary.

Software & Technologies & Knowledge areas
Software & Technologies
Adobe AcrobatAdobe After EffectsAdobe Creative Cloud softwareAdobe DistillerAdobe DreamweaverAdobe IllustratorAdobe InDesignAdobe PageMakerAdobe PhotoshopAirtableApple Final Cut ProApple iDVDApple iMovieBlackbaud eTapestryBlackbaud The Raiser's EdgeCanvaCorel WordPerfect Office SuiteDrupalFacebookFileMaker Pro
Knowledge areas
  • corporate social responsibility

    The handling or managing of business processes in a responsible and ethical manner considering the economic responsibility towards shareholders as equally important as the responsibility towards environmental and social stakeholders.

  • company policies

    The set of rules that govern the activity of a company.

  • ethics of sharing work through social media

    The ethics around the appropriate use of social networks and media channels through which to share your work.

  • European Structural and Investment Funds regulations

    The regulations and secondary legislation and policy documents governing the European Structural and Investment Funds, including the set of common general provisions and the regulations applicable to the different funds. It includes knowledge of the related national legal acts.

Cross-sector skills
  • communication principles
  • diplomatic principles
  • forming of public opinion
Essential skills
developing operational policies and procedures
  • integrate strategic foundation in daily performance

    Reflect on the strategic foundation of companies, meaning their mission, vision, and values in order to integrate this foundation in the performance of the job position.

  • develop communications strategies

    Manage or contribute to the conception and implementation of an organisation's internal and external communications plans and presentation, including its online presence.

advocating for individual or community needs
  • protect client interests

    Protect the interests and needs of a client by taking necessary actions, and researching all possibilities, to ensure that the client obtains their favoured outcome.

  • build community relations

    Establish affectionate and long-lasting relationships with local communities, e.g. by organising special programms for kindergarden, schools and for dissabled and older people, raising awareness and receiving community appreciation in return.

advising and consulting
  • advise on public relations

    Advise business or public organisations on public relations management and strategies in order to ensure efficient communication with target audiences, and proper conveying of information.

  • advise on public image

    Advise a client such as a politician, artist or another individual dealing with the public on how to present themselves in a way which would gain most favour from the general public or a target audience.

developing financial, business or marketing plans
  • develop media strategy

    Create the strategy on the type of content to be delivered to the target groups and which media to be used, taking into account the characteristics of the target audience and the media that will be used for content delivery.

  • develop public relations strategies

    Plan, coordinate and implement all the efforts required in a public relations strategy such as defining the targets, preparing communications, contacting partners, and spreading information among stakeholders.

developing instructive or promotional materials
  • prepare presentation material

    Prepare the documents, slide shows, posters and any other media needed for specific audiences.

collaborating and liaising
  • liaise with local authorities

    Maintain the liaison and exchange of information with regional or local authorities.

planning events and programmes
  • organise press conferences

    Organise interviews for a group of journalists in order to make an announcement or answer questions on a specific subject.

communicating with colleagues and clients
  • use different communication channels

    Make use of various types of communication channels such as verbal, handwritten, digital and telephonic communication with the purpose of constructing and sharing ideas or information.

Career progression

Growth Pathways & Similar Roles

Explore typical career progression paths, adjacent skills, and similar roles to plan your next transition.

Career landscape

Where does public relations manager fit?

This role
public relations manager This role

Similarity scores based on skill overlap from ESCO data.

Common questions

Frequently asked questions

What industries typically hire Public Relations Managers?
Public Relations Managers are needed across a wide range of sectors, including technology, healthcare, finance, non-profits, government, and entertainment. Any organization needing to manage its public image and communicate effectively with stakeholders will likely have a need for this role.
How does this role differ from a marketing manager’s responsibilities?
While both roles involve communication, Public Relations Managers primarily focus on building and maintaining an organization's reputation and managing its public image. Marketing managers, on the other hand, concentrate on promoting products or services and driving sales. Public relations is often about perception and trust, while marketing is about persuasion and conversion.
What skills are most important for success as a Public Relations Manager?
Strong written and verbal communication skills are essential, as is the ability to think strategically and manage crises effectively. Building relationships with media contacts, understanding social media platforms, and possessing excellent organizational skills are also crucial for success.
Public Relations Manager — is there a shortage in Europe?
No. In the 2025 ELA/EURES edition, a surplus was reported in 7 of the 9 European countries that assessed this occupation group: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Denmark and 3 more. 2 countries reported a shortage. These assessments are published per occupation group rather than per job title.
Public Relations Manager — what does it pay in the United States?
$138,520 a year at the median, as of 2025-05. State medians run from $72,290 to $197,600. Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics. This is a United States figure and not a projection for Europe.