Monster Employment Index Europe Rises to New High in July

LONDON & NEW YORK, Aug 09, 2005 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Monster Worldwide, Inc. (NASDAQ: MNST):

  • European Online Recruitment Activity Continues Six-month Upward Growth Trend into Second Half of 2005
  • Demand for Banking and Finance Professionals Drives Online Recruitment Activity in France, Germany and the UK
  • France Registers Strongest Month-to-month Growth in Online Job Availability in July

Online job recruitment activity and related employment opportunities across five major European countries edged higher in July, according to the latest findings of the Monster Employment Index Europe. Measuring online job demand in France, Germany, the Netherlands, Sweden and the United Kingdom, the Index rose from 108 in June to 109 in July, continuing a six-month growth trend since January. The Monster Employment Index Europe is a monthly research analysis of millions of online job opportunities culled from more than 1,400 Web sites, including Monster(R).

"The July findings of the Monster Employment Index Europe demonstrate strong online job availability and positive hiring trends across four of the five European countries tracked by the Index," said Peter Dolphin, Chief Executive Officer, Monster Worldwide Europe. "Despite the summer holiday period and stubbornly high unemployment rates in France and Germany, the growth in online recruitment activity across Europe is encouraging. It is also another sign that the European economy is improving in the wake of the Euro's drop against the dollar, which has boosted both exports and business confidence."

Monster Employment Index Europe results for the past eight months are as follows:

Jul Jun May Apr Mar Feb Jan Dec 05 05 05 05 05 05 05 05 ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- --- --- 109 108 105 104 103 100 94 94 ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- --- ---

Upward Growth Trend in European Online Job Availability Extends into Second Half of 2005

"Growth in online job availability across the five countries was largely driven by increased demand for banking and finance workers," said Kai Deininger, Head of Marketing Communications, Monster Europe. "Sweden was the only country that saw online job demand decline, which was partly due to a seasonal slowdown as a significant number of companies shut down for the summer season."

Increased online job demand in France, the Netherlands, Germany and the UK drove the overall growth of the Index in July, with France showing the steepest growth, up four points from 106 in June to 110 in July. Sweden was the notable exception, with a steep drop in activity down six points from 104 in June to 98 in July. France and Germany have exhibited the most stable, upward growth trend in online job availability over the past eight months, while Sweden has shown the greatest fluctuations out of the five countries. In fact, despite weak economic growth, Germany and France have consistently seen a stepwise increase in online recruitment activity since the Index's inception.

Monster Employment Index Europe findings from December 2004 through July 2005 are as follows:

JUL JUN MAY APR MAR FEB JAN DEC Country 05 05 05 05 05 05 05 04 ---------------- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- --- --- Germany 110 109 106 103 102 99 96 93 ---------------- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- --- --- France 110 106 106 104 102 100 94 94 ---------------- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- --- --- Sweden 98 104 105 101 103 102 91 97 ---------------- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- --- --- Netherlands 110 107 106 103 103 97 93 97 ---------------- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- --- --- United Kingdom 106 104 103 103 104 102 91 97 ---------------- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- --- ---

Online Job Opportunities Up Across Diverse Range of Occupational Categories

The Monster Employment Index Europe's findings for July showed that online demand for craft and related workers saw the strongest growth out of all occupational categories during the month. Demand for plant and machine operators continued a steep two-month growth trend, while online job availability for professionals also increased, but to a lesser extent. Online job availability for technicians and associate professions showed, on average, the least amount of growth among the five countries.

"Online demand for banking and finance workers contributed the most to the growth of the Index in July, driving overall levels of online job availability higher in Germany, France and the UK," added Deininger. "Recent media coverage suggests that investment banks have significantly stepped up their recruitment efforts in Europe, which helps explain the sharp increase in online demand for financial professionals over the past month."

Another high-growth occupational category in July was production and manufacturing, with online job availability in this sector increasing in three of the five countries: UK, Germany and the Netherlands. Demand for IT professionals remained at a high level in all five countries; however the only increase last month occurred in France. Healthcare and social services exhibited only moderate growth in the Netherlands, while all the other countries showed either no change or a decline in online demand within this sector.

Overall in July, the Monster Employment Index Europe continued to measure a generally upward growth trend in online job availability across the nine ISCO 88 occupational categories tracked by the Index. The two exceptions were the service workers and shop and market sale workers category and the skilled agricultural and fishery workers category, which both saw slight declines.

JULY JUNE MAY APR MAR FEB JAN DEC Occupation 05 05 05 05 05 05 05 04 -------------------------------- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- --- --- Legislators, senior officials and managers 104 104 104 102 103 104 93 94 -------------------------------- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- --- --- Professionals 108 106 106 103 103 100 94 94 -------------------------------- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- --- --- Technicians and associate professionals 107 107 106 104 103 100 94 94 -------------------------------- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- --- --- Clerks 106 105 105 102 104 101 94 94 -------------------------------- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- --- --- Service workers and shop and market sales workers 105 106 105 104 103 100 94 94 -------------------------------- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- --- --- Skilled agricultural and fishery workers 102 104 104 104 102 101 96 92 -------------------------------- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- --- --- Craft and related workers 114 110 107 104 102 98 94 96 -------------------------------- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- --- --- Plant and machine operators and assemblers 111 108 104 103 104 102 93 95 -------------------------------- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- --- --- Elementary occupations 112 111 107 105 101 97 95 95 -------------------------------- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- --- ---

France Registers Strongest Growth in Online Job Demand During July

France saw the steepest growth in online job availability out of the five countries in July. Despite the country's 10.2% unemployment rate, the Index rose four points from 106 in June to 110 in July. Strong increases in online job demand were measured within the banking, finance and insurance sectors, with opportunities for accountants and auditors and educational positions also edging higher. In contrast, demand for workers in the tourism and hospitality sectors declined across all regions, except the South where the tourism industry is strongest. These findings are consistent with recent government statistics that show unemployment fell for the first time in six months in France, adding to signs economic growth in the region may be picking up.

Online Job Demand in the Netherlands Rises in July

Despite the slow growth of the Dutch economy since 2002 and the generally troubling outlook, many economists have expressed optimism about the country's job creation as online job demand in the Netherlands saw a healthy rise in July. Rising three points from 107 in June to 110 in July, the Netherlands saw continued growth in online recruitment activity across much of the country and extended a six-month growth trend in online job availability. Demand for professional positions continued to grow in July, with a particularly sharp rise in online job opportunities for banking and finance workers. Agricultural workers and craft and related workers also saw online job demand spike higher during the month.

UK Online Job Demand Rises in July

Online job recruitment in the UK rose in July, continuing a general upward growth trend over the first half of 2005. The Index increased two points from 104 in June to 106 in July - its highest level since the Index's inception in December 2004. The rise in July suggests that online hiring activity has continued to grow steadily across much of the country, despite economists' fears of an economic slowdown. Some of the growth over the past month can likely be attributed to seasonality, due to the summer pick-up and an influx of graduate positions in the run-up to September. Online job availability for plant and machine operators, craft and related trade workers and service workers and shop and market sales workers rose by varying degrees in July. In contrast, demand for legislators and managers declined slightly, with managerial positions in accounting and audit, sales and marketing and the construction sectors seeing the steepest declines in online demand.

Online Recruitment Activity Edges Higher in Germany in July

Online job demand continued an eight-month growth trend in Germany, despite an 11.6% unemployment rate. The increase in online recruitment activity since the start of the year is consistent with government statistics that show unemployment has now fallen for four straight months in Germany. It also in line with a recent confidence index issued by the German Institute for Economic Research (IFO), showing an improved business sentiment in July that exceeded expectations and indicates a more positive outlook for a recovery in Europe's largest economy. The Index for Germany rose from 109 in June to 110 in July, spurred by a significant rise in online demand for banking and finance professionals; legislators and senior officials; and managers. Demand also rose steeply for craft and related workers, consultants, production and manufacturing professionals, and construction and renovation workers. In contrast, online job availability for managers in the hospitality/tourism industry declined, as did demand for service workers and shop and market sales workers. The restaurant and food services category also showed fewer online job opportunities for workers.

Online Job Demand in Sweden Drops Dramatically in July

Online job recruitment activity across Sweden sank in July to its lowest level since January. The Index for Sweden dropped six points from 104 in June to 98 in July - a steep decline largely attributable to the fact that most Swedish businesses tend to shut down for the summer holiday season. The decline was consistent across all regions with the sharpest drop occurring in Mellersta Norrland, Smaland med Oarna and Vastsverige. Overall demand for education and healthcare workers registered the sharpest decline in online job demand during the month. while online demand for professionals, registered the largest decline over the past eight months.

About the Monster Employment Index Europe

Launched in June 2005 with data collected since December 2004, the Monster Employment Index Europe is compiled by Monster Worldwide, parent company of leading global online careers and recruitment resource, Monster(R). The Index was established to provide European labor market watchers with a valuable monthly snapshot of online recruitment activity based on the researching of millions of employer postings across more than 1,400 Web sites. In addition to providing an analysis of European online job demand, the Index offers a sub-index by occupation, including data on nine occupational categories in five countries: France, Germany, the Netherlands, Sweden, and the United Kingdom. The Index is independently audited by ARC Research, a U.S.-based market research company, to ensure the accuracy of the data within a margin of error of +/- 1.05%. The Monster Employment Index debuted in the U.S. in April 2004.

Additional information on the Monster Employment Index Europe is available online at http://eIndex.monsterworldwide.com. Visitors can subscribe to receive the European Index report, as well as any or all of the five country-specific Index reports on a monthly basis via email. Monster Employment Index Europe data for August will be released on September 13, 2005.

More information about Monster in France, Germany, the Netherlands, Sweden, and the United Kingdom can be found, respectively, at:

About Monster Worldwide

Founded in 1967, Monster Worldwide, Inc. is the parent company of Monster(R), the leading global online careers and recruitment resource. The company also owns TMP Worldwide, one of the world's largest Recruitment Advertising agency networks. Headquartered in New York with approximately 4,500 employees in 26 countries, Monster Worldwide (NASDAQ: MNST) is a member of the S&P 500 Index. More information about Monster Worldwide is available at www.monsterworldwide.com.

Monster(R) is a leading global online careers and recruitment resource. Monster was founded in 1994 and is headquartered in Maynard, Massachusetts, USA. Monster has 25 local language and content sites in 23 countries worldwide. Monster is known for connecting quality job seekers at all levels with leading employers across all industries and offers employers innovative technology and superior services that give them more control over the recruiting process. More information is available at www.monster.com or by calling 1-800-MONSTER. To learn more about Monster's industry-leading employer products and services, please visit http://recruiter.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

Monster
Europe:
Kai Deininger, +49 172 679 1900
kai.deininger@monster.com
or
United States:
David Rosa, (212) 351-7067
david.rosa@monsterworldwide.com