Monster Employment Index UK Rises Sharply in December, Establishing New All-time High and Demonstrating Strong Online Recruitment Activity at the End of 2005

LONDON, Jan 10, 2006 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Monster Worldwide (Nasdaq:MNST):

-- Demand for Service and Shop Workers Rises Sharply, as Businesses Look Towards Expansion in 2006

-- Index Shows Greater Number of Online Opportunities in Banking, Finance and Insurance, as Firms Build on the Momentum of Strong Profits

Online job recruitment activity and related employment opportunities across the United Kingdom jumped significantly in December, driving the Monster Employment Index UK to its highest level since its inception. The Index registered steep growth, rising ten points to 118 from a previous level of 108. Compared to December 2004, the Index has risen 30 points, indicating higher online job demand for workers across a range of industries.

With a year of data collected, and in keeping with research best practices, Monster Worldwide has officially re-scaled the Monster Employment Index UK using the average of the first twelve months of data (from December 2004 to November 2005) as the Index's new baseline of measurement. The newly re-scaled monthly historical numbers continue to accurately reflect the up and down movements over the past year, and will serve as the Index's basis of measurement moving forward.

Monster Employment Index UK results over the past 13 months are as follows:

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

Eight of nine occupational categories tracked by the Index registered growth of varying degrees during December. Demand for service and shop workers saw the strongest rate of increase, jumping 16 points, largely due to greater online job availability for chefs, bar and banquet workers. Online job opportunities in the banking, finance and insurance sectors also rose significantly, with the sheer volume of offers in this sector helping to fuel the Index's growth. Demand for legislators, senior officials and managers also registered sharp growth, as companies stepped up their online recruitment efforts to secure sales managers and executives.

"After a flat period in October and November, the number of online job opportunities in the UK rose significantly in December, indicating a more positive business and hiring climate, fueled by increased consumer spending," explained Alan Townsend, Managing Director for Monster UK & Ireland. "In a recent report by the Office of National Statistics, retail sales have exceeded analysts' expectations, with a 2.1% increase compared to a year ago. Predictions of the UK's coldest season in a decade have driven clothing and footwear sales up 3.6% percent over the previous year. The strong retail sales results in the UK appear to be creating increased demand for service and shop workers."

Online Job Availability Rises in Eight of Nine Occupational Categories, Led by Higher Demand for Service and Shop Workers

Online opportunities for service and shop workers registered the steepest rate of increase in December, with demand rising to its highest level since the inception of the Index and continuing a three-month growth trend. Employer requirements for additional staff in the hospitality and tourism sector showed a significant rise, as businesses in the sector took steps to meet anticipated demand during the winter travel season.

Online job availability for legislators, senior officials and managers also grew significantly in December, due in part to increased demand for sales managers and executives.

The number of offers for technicians also rose, continuing a three-month growth trend and registering the sharpest month-to-month rate of increase since the inception of the Index. Opportunities for technicians were largely concentrated in the banking, insurance, administration and construction sectors, while demand also increased in the public administration; and hospitality and tourism sectors.

Online job demand for plant and machine operators surged, rising 12 points, showing a nearly two-fold increase in online job availability for workers in the manufacturing and construction sectors. Professionals also saw a significant rise in online job availability, due to higher demand for technically skilled workers in the engineering sector.

The telecommunications, legal, science and healthcare sectors also saw increased recruitment activity, while online job offers within the IT sector remained essentially unchanged. Online recruitment activity in the education sector, which had increased significantly in the previous month, declined in December.

In contrast, craft workers was the only occupational category that declined in December, following a two-month growth period.

"Leading investment and retail banks have reported record earnings for 2005, with bankers and traders expecting bonus increases of up to 20 percent, following a year of heavy merger and acquisition activity. This appears to be having a very positive impact on hiring in the sector," added Townsend. "The bonus pay-outs will also likely contribute positively to the housing market and retail industry as that money is channelled into increased consumer spending."

Dec Nov Oct Sep Aug Jul Jun May Apr Mar Feb Jan Dec 05 05 05 05 05 05 05 05 05 05 05 05 04 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Legislators, senior officials and managers 120 107 109 94 100 101 107 107 102 103 109 77 85 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Professionals 117 111 108 99 102 109 102 102 101 100 98 72 97 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Technicians and associate professionals 119 106 107 102 104 108 108 101 103 104 98 76 83 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Clerks 104 100 102 100 104 108 106 98 106 112 103 76 86 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Service workers and shop and market sales workers 133 117 106 98 99 106 97 96 98 106 111 81 86 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Skilled agricultural and fishery workers 128 95 108 102 108 117 96 104 111 96 94 82 89 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Craft and related workers 119 122 115 100 103 105 99 91 95 97 94 90 89 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Plant and machine operators and assemblers 104 92 116 117 104 109 104 90 93 96 97 89 92 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Elementary occupations 103 126 101 98 100 97 96 110 100 100 91 88 92 ----------------------------------------------------------------------

All UK Regions Show Higher Online Job Demand in December, with Significant Increases Registered in Northern Ireland, the South East and Northern England

Online job opportunities in Northern Ireland rose strongly in December, following a drop in the previous month, mainly due to significantly greater demand for professional occupations, as well as workers in the administrative, banking, finance and insurance sectors.

The South East also showed increased online job availability for workers within the administrative sector. In addition, a number of other sectors registered growth of varying degrees during the month, including engineering, healthcare, tourism, arts and media. In contrast, online recruitment in the education sector fell, likely due to a seasonal slowdown during the December holiday period.

Online opportunities for service workers declined in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, but increased dramatically in the South East and Northern regions of England.

While all regions in the UK registered a greater number of online offers for legislators, senior officials and managers, the strongest rate of increase in December was observed in London. At the same time, demand for plant and machine operators also rose in nearly all regions of the country, except London.

Monster Employment Index Europe Edges Higher in December

The Monster Employment Index Europe edged higher in December, climbing back to its all-time high and demonstrating a stable level of online hiring activity across the five European countries it tracks. The Index rose one point from 111 in November to 112 in December, a 29-point increase compared to December 2004.

The UK registered the highest rate of increase in online job demand during December, jumping 10 points and establishing a new all-time high. Sweden and the Netherlands also saw significant increases in online job availability, as the Index for those two countries rose eight and six points respectively. France registered a two-point increase in online demand, showing solid growth in online recruitment activity. Germany was the only country that registered a decline in December, easing back two points and continuing a two-month downward trend.

Newly re-scaled results for the Monster Employment Index Europe over the past 13 months are as follows:

Dec Nov Oct Sep Aug Jul Jun May Apr Mar Feb Jan Dec 05 05 05 05 05 05 05 05 05 05 05 05 04 ---------------------------------------------------- 112 111 112 107 106 106 104 100 98 97 93 82 83 ---------------------------------------------------- Dec Nov Oct Sep Aug Jul Jun May Apr Mar Feb Jan Dec 05 05 05 05 05 05 05 05 05 05 05 05 04 --------------------------------------------------------------------- France 112 110 111 91 99 114 105 106 102 99 96 84 84 --------------------------------------------------------------------- Germany 109 111 112 111 108 104 103 99 96 95 91 87 83 --------------------------------------------------------------------- Netherlands 119 113 111 105 105 109 103 102 98 98 88 81 87 --------------------------------------------------------------------- Sweden 109 101 100 97 86 97 111 114 105 108 107 80 95 --------------------------------------------------------------------- United Kingdom 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 January will be released on February 14, 2006.

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.

About Monster

Monster(R) is the leading global online careers and recruitment resource. A division of Monster Worldwide, Monster was founded in 1994 and is headquartered in Maynard, Massachusetts, USA. Monster has 26 local language and content sites in 24 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 Worldwide, Inc.

Monster Worldwide UK Michelle Brown, + 44 (0) 20 7406 5050 michelle.brown@monster.com or Weber Shandwick for Monster Abi Holdaway, +44 (0) 20 7067 0529 aholdaway@webershandwick.com