Monster Employment Index Shows Jump in Online Job Demand in August

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 2, 2004--Monster Worldwide (NASDAQ:MNST):

-- Index Resumes Upward Trend, Reaching Highest Level Since its Inception, Indicating Strong, Sustained Growth in Online Job Demand

-- Manufacturing Among Industries Showing Greatest Increase in Online Job Availability

-- Nearly Every Occupational Category Up Over Last Month

Overall demand for workers and related online job recruitment activity across the United States grew in August, as the Monster Employment Index reached its highest level since its inception. Rebounding off a slight decline in July, the Index resumed its upward trend in August, reflecting continued strength in U.S. online job availability. Overall, the Index rose to 145 in August from 134 in July. Results for the first eight months of 2004 are as follows:

August July June May April March February January ---------------------------------------------------------------------- 145 134 136 128 125 109 107 102 ----------------------------------------------------------------------

Online job demand remained strong across most industries during the month of August, with all but three industries experiencing varying degrees of growth. In fact, 14 industries reached their highest levels for 2004 during the month. Industries that saw online job availability increase significantly in August included manufacturing; mining; professional, scientific & technical services; transportation & warehousing; and agriculture, forestry, fishing & hunting.

Manufacturing was up sharply during August, as was professional, scientific & technical services. Finance & insurance registered a seventh consecutive month of growth, while healthcare & social assistance and utilities both continued five months of modest sequential growth. In contrast, management of companies & enterprises ended a five-month positive trend, as did real estate, rental & leasing, and administrative/waste management services which all dipped a few points.

Online demand for workers increased across nearly every occupational category in August, with 18 of 23 categories registering their highest levels in 2004. Occupations showing the biggest increases in August included computer & mathematical; architecture & engineering; production; management; and community & social services.

Computer & mathematical, which captures the greatest number of IT-related positions, saw its biggest jump this year and reached its highest level. Business & financial operations recorded its eighth month of sequential growth, as did training & education. Demand for sales occupations also increased, continuing an upward trend over the past eight months. Conversely, online demand for legal occupations remained essentially flat.

"With the Monster Employment Index showing a mostly upward trend over the past eight months, we are seeing strong evidence of continued growth in online job demand for the year," said Jeff Taylor, Founder and Chief Monster. "Overall, August's upward trend in online job availability may be a potential precursor to increased hiring activity in the last quarter of the year. It may also be indicative of companies beginning to recruit recent college graduates."

"The Index's seven-month growth trend in finance & insurance is likely reflective of increased business expansion and merger and acquisition activity. Likewise, the renewed upward trend in online demand for sales positions following a flat July is further evidence that companies continue to position their enterprises for growth - a positive indicator of further economic recovery," continued Taylor.

Strong Regional Online Job Demand in August

According to the Monster Employment Index, regional online job demand for workers increased in all nine regions of the U.S. in August, with every region achieving its highest level since October 2003. The Mountain region, which includes Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming, saw the greatest increase in job availability, driven by Wyoming and Arizona. Other regions registering sharp increases during August included the West South Central region (Oklahoma, Texas, Arkansas, and Louisiana) and the West North Central region (Minnesota, Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska, Missouri, and the Dakotas), which marked its eighth consecutive month of growth.

Every state showed an increase in online job demand in August, except Florida (as it recovers from Hurricane Charley) and West Virginia, which remained flat. Individual states that saw significant increases in online job availability during August included Arizona, which saw its highest index rating since October 2003, and Louisiana, which increased sharply after three consecutive months of little to no growth. Oregon, Alaska and North Carolina also registered sharp increases.

Based on online job demand in relation to total working population, the Monster Employment Index found the following to be among the top ten in terms of online job availability growth during the month of August:

1. Arizona 2. District of Columbia 3. Delaware 4. Maryland 5. Virginia 6. California 7. Connecticut 8. Massachusetts 9. New Jersey 10. Alaska

Based on sheer quantity alone, California offered the most online job availability of any state during the month of August.

Top Five Industries Looking for Employees in August

During August, the Monster Employment Index showed an increase in online job demand across most U.S. industries, with healthcare continuing to offer the greatest volume of online job availability compared to all other sectors. Industries showing the greatest increase in job availability in August included:

Industries August July June May April ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing & Hunting 148 128 120 101 87 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Manufacturing 146 129 123 124 118 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Mining 118 102 104 101 100 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Professional, Scientific & Technical Services 171 157 135 118 126 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Transportation & Warehousing 131 120 122 116 110 ----------------------------------------------------------------------

Most Wanted Occupational Experience

Occupational categories showing the largest increase in online job demand in August included:

Occupations August July June May April ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Community & Social Services 157 133 136 138 168 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Production 154 136 139 137 129 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Architecture & Engineering 136 119 131 127 117 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Computer & Mathematical 117 104 103 105 105 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Installation, Maintenance & Repair 134 121 121 125 112 ----------------------------------------------------------------------

Online Job Demand Increases Across the Country

Every U.S. Census region saw online job demand increase in August. Following are the regions listed in order of greatest month-to-month increase:

U.S. Census Regions August July June May April ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Mountain 179 161 161 154 145 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- West South Central 141 125 132 134 136 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- West North Central 151 137 133 130 128 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- New England 169 155 154 145 141 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- East North Central 143 131 133 128 126 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Mid-Atlantic 147 136 135 131 125 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Pacific 154 145 147 140 129 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- East South Central 143 135 139 133 127 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- South Atlantic 138 132 131 124 121 ----------------------------------------------------------------------

The Monster Employment Index is a broad and comprehensive monthly analysis of U.S. online job demand based on data from more than 1,500 Web sites conducted by Monster Worldwide, Inc. (NASDAQ: MNST), the parent company of the leading global online careers property, Monster(R). Based on a real-time review of millions of employer job opportunities culled from more than 1,500 Web sites, including a variety of corporate career sites, job boards and Monster, the Monster Employment Index presents a snapshot of employer online recruitment activity nationwide. The Index counts job postings as an indicator of employer demand for employees or, in other words, job availability. Job postings are online advertisements placed by an employer looking to fill one or more vacant job positions.

All of the data and findings in the Monster Employment Index have been validated for accuracy through independent, third party auditing conducted on a monthly basis by ARC Research, a Cranford, New Jersey-based provider of innovative click and brick market research solutions. The audit validates the accuracy of the online job recruitment activity measured for the last six months within a margin of error of +/- 1.05%.

Additional information on the Monster Employment Index, including all charts and tables, is available online at http://eIndex.monsterworldwide.com. The Monster Employment Index will report results monthly. Data for the month of September will be released on October 7, 2004.

About Monster Worldwide

Founded in 1967, Monster Worldwide, Inc. is the parent company of Monster(R), the leading global online careers property. The company also owns TMP Worldwide, the world's largest Yellow Pages advertising agency and one of the world's largest Recruitment Advertising agency networks. TMP Worldwide is also a provider of direct marketing services. Headquartered in New York with approximately 5,000 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.

Celebrating its 10-year anniversary, Monster is the leading global online careers property. A division of Monster Worldwide, Monster works for everyone by connecting quality job seekers at all levels with leading employers across all industries. Founded in 1994 and headquartered in Maynard, Mass., Monster has 22 local language and content sites in 20 countries worldwide. Monster is the official online career management services sponsor of the 2004 U.S. Olympic Team. 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.

CONTACT: Monster Worldwide, Inc.
David Rosa, 212-351-7067
david.rosa@monsterworldwide.com
or
Weber Shandwick
Christian Harper, 212-445-8135
charper@webershandwick.com

SOURCE: Monster Worldwide, Inc.