Monster Employment Index Up 12% Year-Over-Year, Continuing 7-Month Trend of Positive Annual Growth

NEW YORK, Sep 02, 2010 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- The U.S. Monster Employment Index recorded its seventh consecutive month of positive year-over-year growth rate at 12 percent. The annual growth rate eased from July possibly due to moderation in underlying job market drivers. The Index dropped two points (1 percent) in August as online job demand eased contrary to seasonal patterns traditionally witnessed at this time of the year.

The Monster Employment Index is a monthly gauge of U.S. online job demand based on a real-time review of millions of employer job opportunities culled from a large representative selection of corporate career Web sites and job boards, including Monster.com(R).

During August, online job availability rose in 6 of the Index's 20 industry sectors and in 5 of the 23 occupational categories monitored. Index results for the past 13 months are as follows:

"While the Monster Employment Index experienced a marginal contraction in August, several industries, occupations and all 28 metro markets including Cleveland and Detroit continue to record positive annual growth trends," said Jesse Harriott, senior vice president and chief knowledge officer at Monster Worldwide. "The fact that the rate of annual growth has eased from July suggests that employers' continued cautious outlook is informing their short term hiring activity."

Utilities and Mining Register Large Increases On Monthly and Annual Basis; Manufacturing, and Transportation And Warehousing Slowdown Year-Over-Year

Online recruitment activity rose in six of the 20 industries between July and August. Compared to year-ago levels, 17 industries are showing positive growth trends, although at decelerated rates from July.

Among the industries, health care and social assistance maintained steady recruitment levels, in-line with seasonal patterns and was one of the few sectors to see annual growth rate accelerate from 16 percent in July to 19 percent in August.

Meanwhile, mining, quarrying, oil and gas extraction continued to record strong online demand for jobs in August and remained a top trending sector with the highest annual growth rate in the Index (56 percent). Similar recruitment trends were witnessed in the utilities industry, which saw its annual growth rate edge up from 23 percent in July to 26 percent in August mostly due to increased demand for specialized workers related to infrastructure replacement/upgrades.

In contrast, manufacturing; and transportation and warehousing registered some slowdown in annual growth rates between July and August. Arts, entertainment, and recreation registered the most notable reduction in demand among industries in the Index, with annual growth dropping from +14 percent in July to -7 percent in August, again pointing to an undercurrent of economic uncertainty affecting hiring decisions in a traditionally strong period of recruitment activity. Meanwhile, accommodation and food services edged up 3 points on the month to reflect a weaker than average seasonal rise.

Protective Service; and Legal Occupations Register Largest Gains in August; Healthcare and Community and Social Service Occupations Continue To Grow Year-Over-Year

Overall online demand for workers rose in five and remained flat in four of the 23 occupational categories in August while twenty of the 23 categories are exhibiting positive annual growth rates.

Among occupations, protective services, legal and installation/maintenance recorded the largest monthly increases in online job availability on a monthly basis. Year-over-year sector demand trends remained strongest for healthcare support (up 20 percent), with abundant opportunities for assorted assistant and technician positions. Healthcare practitioners; and community and social services also noted improvement in long-term growth rates in the Index.

In contrast, food preparation and serving; farming/ fishing; and military-specific occupations recorded monthly and yearly declines.

Online Job Availability Declines in Eight U.S. Census Bureau Regions in August; New York Records Highest Annual Growth amongst States

During August, demand contracted in eight of the nine U.S. Census Bureau regions. West South Central was the only region to note a marginal gain, but the gain fell short of seasonal expectations. South Atlantic noted the mildest deceleration in annual growth rate from July to August. Middle Atlantic continued to lead all regions in year-over-year.

Among the 50 states and the District, 5 registered increased online job opportunities in August, while 5 were unchanged from July levels. New York was again the top state by measure of annual growth in the Index. Annual growth rate turned negative for Louisiana, Montana, Mississippi, District of Columbia, and West Virginia.

Twenty Two of 28 Major U.S. Metro Markets Monitored By The Index Rise in August

During August, online recruitment activity rose in 22 of the 28 major metropolitan markets, monitored by the Index. Kansas City recorded the largest monthly growth, gaining six points (7 percent) in August. Transportation and material moving remained the markets fastest growing occupational category, with demand levels doubling what they were a year ago. Healthcare support; and business and financial operations also noted strong gains in demand in the month and annually.

Dallas registered a 4-point (4 percent) gain on the month, exceeding seasonal expectations. Portland gained 3 points on the month, short of its usual seasonal uptick for this time of year. Annual growth for the metro market in the Index slipped from 41 percent in July to 24 percent in August. Demand slipped notably for management; and life, physical, and social sciences. Nonetheless, annual growth remained positive for a majority of the occupational groups in the Portland market.

To obtain a full copy of the Monster Employment Index report for August 2010, and to access current individual data charts for each of the 28 metro markets tracked, please visit http://about-monster.com/employment-index. Data for the month of September 2010 will be released on October 7, 2010.

About the Monster Employment Index

Launched in April 2004 with data collected since October 2003, the Monster Employment Index is a broad and comprehensive monthly analysis of U.S. online job demand conducted by Monster Worldwide, Inc. Based on a real-time review of millions of employer job opportunities culled from a large, representative selection of corporate career sites and job boards, including Monster, the Monster Employment Index presents a snapshot of employer online recruitment activity nationwide. All of the data and findings in the Monster Employment Index have been validated for their accuracy through independent, third party auditing conducted periodically by Research America, Inc. The audit validates the accuracy of the online job recruitment activity measured within a margin of error of +/- 1.05%.

About Monster Worldwide

Monster Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE: MWW), parent company of Monster(R), the premier global online employment solution for more than a decade, strives to bring people together to advance their lives. With a local presence in key markets in North America, Europe, and Asia, Monster works for everyone by connecting employers with quality job seekers at all levels and by providing personalized career advice to consumers globally. Through online media sites and services, Monster delivers vast, highly targeted audiences to advertisers. Monster Worldwide is a member of the S&P 500 Index. To learn more about Monster's industry-leading products and services, visit http:www.monster.com. More information about Monster Worldwide is available at http://about-monster.com.

Special Note: Safe Harbor Statement Under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: Except for historical information contained herein, the statements made in this release constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Such forward-looking statements involve certain risks and uncertainties, including statements regarding Monster Worldwide, Inc.'s strategic direction, prospects and future results. Certain factors, including factors outside of Monster Worldwide's control, may cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in the forward- looking statements, including economic and other conditions in the markets in which Monster Worldwide operates, risks associated with acquisitions, competition, seasonality and the other risks discussed in Monster Worldwide's Form 10-K and other filings made with the Securities and Exchange Commission, which discussions are incorporated in this release by reference.

SOURCE: Monster Worldwide, Inc.

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