Monster Employment Index UK Falls Sharply in January, Mirroring Similar Drop a Year Ago

LONDON, Feb 14, 2006 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Monster Worldwide UK:

Demand for Service and Shop Workers Declines, as Consumer Spending Slows; Online Opportunities for Professionals Decrease, and Recruitment for Workers in the Legal, Telecoms and Engineering Sectors Drops

Online job recruitment activity and related employment opportunities across the United Kingdom dropped sharply in January 2006, registering its biggest decline since the inception of the Monster Employment Index UK over a year ago. The Index fell 17 points from a level of 118 in December to 101 points in January. However, year-on-year the Index has risen 28 points, indicating higher online job demand for workers across a range of industries during 2005. January's figures echo last years' Index findings which also showed a seasonal slowdown over the same period.

During January, all nine occupational categories tracked by the Index registered varying decreases in online availability. Demand for service, shop and market sales workers saw the steepest rate of decline, falling 26 points, largely due to a significant drop in offers in the hospitality and tourism sector. This trend is consistent with the end of the Christmas period and the conclusion of temporary work contracts following the December spurt in holiday spending. Despite this, year-on-year growth for service, shop and market sales workers is up 26 points.

Meanwhile, online job opportunities for professionals in January also fell significantly, back to the Index's September 2005 level. Fewer offers within the legal, telecommunications, engineering, sales, accounting, banking, healthcare, HR and consulting sectors largely contributed to the decline. However, year-on-year growth for professionals was up 27 points, indicating that 2005 was a good year for recruitment overall within the category.

Monster Employment Index UK results over the past 14 months are as follows:

Jan Dec Nov Oct Sep Aug Jul Jun May Apr Mar Feb Jan Dec 06 05 05 05 05 05 05 05 05 05 05 05 05 04 ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- --- --- 101 118 108 108 100 102 108 105 102 102 103 100 73 88 ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- --- ---

"Online job availability in the UK fell markedly in January. However, this is consistent with last years' Index findings which showed a similar seasonal slowdown in recruitment activity in January 2005. It's encouraging to note that this was followed by a sharp rebound in recruitment in February 2005," explained Alan Townsend, Managing Director for Monster UK & Ireland. "What the Index is most likely to be showing is the beginning of the new recruitment cycle. Contracts which covered the Christmas period have come to an end and companies are only just beginning to formulate their recruitment strategies for 2006. Whilst the Index showed a sharp fall last month, recent economic indicators show that Q1, 2006 looks positive for online recruitment overall. Company profits and expectations were raised from even a few months ago. It will be interesting to see whether we see a similar rebound in the February Index results this year."

Online Job Availability Falls Across All Nine Occupational Categories, Reflecting Typical Post-holiday Season Slowdown

Online opportunities for service, shop and market sales workers registered the steepest rate of decline. The drop is consistent with reduced employer demand for additional staff in the hospitality and tourism sector following the winter travel season. In addition, offers for service, shop and market sales workers decreased following the end of the New Year sales period.

Online job availability for professionals also saw a major decrease in January. The trend observed is similar to January 2005, when the volume of offers for professionals had its highest drop-to-date of 25 points. Demand for professionals in the legal, telecommunications and engineering sectors registered the sharpest rate of decline last month.

Meanwhile, demand for workers in the UK production and manufacturing sector continued a negative trend in January, falling for the fourth consecutive month. This mirrors the latest data from the CBI reporting that over 25,000 manufacturing jobs were lost in the last quarter of 2005 with a total of 106,000 slashed over the past 12 months.

"Although the service sector has been heavily impacted by the declines in online job availability in January, there is evidence to show that increasing consumer spending will accelerate growth in the U.K.'s GBP 1.13 trillion economy in 2006, according to recent predictions by the Bank of England and by Chancellor of the Exchequer Gordon Brown.

A number of the big retailers recently reported higher revenues and overall the outlook should remain positive," added Townsend.

Jan Dec Nov Oct Sep Aug Jul Jun May Apr Mar Feb Jan 06 05 05 05 05 05 05 05 05 05 05 05 05 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Legislators, senior officials and managers 104 120 107 109 94 100 101 107 107 102 103 109 77 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Professionals 99 117 111 108 99 102 109 102 102 101 100 98 72 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Technicians and associate professionals 106 119 106 107 102 104 108 108 101 103 104 98 76 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Clerks 91 104 100 102 100 104 108 106 98 106 112 103 76 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Service workers and shop and market sales workers 107 133 117 106 98 99 106 97 96 98 106 111 81 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Skilled agricultural and fishery workers 105 128 95 108 102 108 117 96 104 111 96 94 82 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Craft and related workers 115 119 122 115 100 103 105 99 91 95 97 94 90 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Plant and machine operators and assemblers 96 104 92 116 117 104 109 104 90 93 96 97 89 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Elementary occupations 102 103 126 101 98 100 97 96 110 100 100 91 88 ----------------------------------------------------------------------

Majority of UK Regions Show Reduced Online Job Demand in January, with Significant Decreases Registered in Wales, the South East and the South West

In January, Wales registered its largest monthly drop since the inception of the Index.

Fewer offers for legislators, senior officials and managers; professionals; technicians and associate professionals and clerks contributed most to the overall decline.

The South East and South West exhibited a similar pattern, with fewer online opportunities across occupational groups and the majority of the sectors. The South West region registered a slight increase for education, training and library workers, whilst the South East saw a decrease in online offers for this sector.

Scotland and London also saw a significant reduction in online demand in January - though less than in Wales, South East and South West regions -- with all occupational groups experiencing strong declines.

In contrast, online job demand remained flat in the Midlands where higher demand for legislators, technicians, and craft workers was offset by fewer offers for professionals; and plant and machine operators. Strong growth was also registered for automotive, IT and consultancy workers, though this was counter-balanced by fewer opportunities in the banking and administrative sectors.

Monster Employment Index Europe

The Monster Employment Index Europe declined sharply in January 2006, registering a six-point drop and reverting back to the levels recorded in July and August last year, ending the mostly upward growth trend over the fourth quarter of 2005. The Index dropped from an all-time high of 112 in December to 106 in January, the Index's lowest reading since September last year. Sweden was the only country that registered an increase in online job availability during January, with a rise of seven points mostly due to increased opportunities for white-collar workers. Online job demand in eight of nine occupational categories tracked by the Index dropped in January, with legislators and senior officials registering the steepest rate of decline, following three months of strong growth. The drop of the Index is due mostly to significantly lower online job demand in three of Europe's largest nations, namely Germany, France and the UK.

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

Jan Dec Nov Oct Sep Aug Jul Jun May Apr Mar Feb Jan Dec 06 05 05 05 05 05 05 05 05 05 05 05 05 04 ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- --- --- --- --- --- 106 112 111 112 107 106 106 104 100 98 97 93 82 83 ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- --- --- --- --- ---

Monthly Index results for the five individual countries over the past fourteen months are as follows:

Jan Dec Nov Oct Sep Aug Jul Jun May Apr Mar Feb JanDec Country 06 05 05 05 05 05 05 05 05 05 05 05 05 04 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- France 107 112 110 111 91 99 114 105 106 102 99 96 84 84 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Germany 106 109 111 112 111 108 104 103 99 96 95 91 87 83 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Netherlands 116 119 113 111 105 105 109 103 102 98 98 88 81 87 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Sweden 116 109 101 100 97 86 97 111 114 105 108 107 80 95 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- United Kingdom 101 118 108 108 100 102 108 105 102 102 103 100 73 88 ----------------------------------------------------------------------

The Monster Employment Index UK provides a broad, comprehensive monthly analysis of online job demand in the UK and is compiled by Monster Worldwide, the parent company of the leading global online careers and recruitment resource, Monster(R). The Index is independently audited by ARC Research, a U.S.-based market research, to ensure the accuracy of the data within a margin of error of +/- 1.05%. The U.S. version of the Monster Employment Index was first introduced in April 2004.

Additional information on the Monster Employment Index United Kingdom is available online at http://euIndex.monsterworldwide.com. Visitors can subscribe to receive the monthly UK Index report as well as the broader Monster Employment Index Europe report in English, French, German or Swedish. Monster Employment Index UK data for February will be released on March 14, 2006.

About Monster UK

Monster UK is the local content and language website for Monster(R), the leading global online careers and recruitment resource. With over 2.2 million visits per month, Monster UK works for everyone by connecting quality job seekers at all levels with leading employers across all industries. The Monster global network consists of local sites in the United Kingdom, France, the Netherlands, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Finland, Belgium, Germany, Ireland, Spain, Italy, Switzerland, Luxembourg, Poland, Czech Republic, Hungary, and Austria, as well as in the United States, Canada, Singapore, Hong Kong and India. For more information see www.monster.co.uk or call +44 207 406 5050.

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 4,800 employees in 26 countries, Monster Worldwide (NASDAQ: MNST) is a member of the S&P 500 Index and the NASDAQ-100 Index. More information about Monster Worldwide is available at www.monsterworldwide.com.

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SOURCE: Monster Worldwide UK

Monster Worldwide UK Michelle Brown + 44 (0) 20 7406 5050 michelle.brown@monster.com or Weber Shandwick Gerry Grewal +44 (0) 20 7067 0515 ggrewal@webershandwick.com