Monster Employment Index UK Shows Solid Growth in Online Recruitment Activity in October

LONDON, Nov 08, 2005 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Monster Worldwide, Inc. (Nasdaq:MNST):

-- Service And Shop Workers See a Rise in Online Job Demand for the First Time in Three Months, Indicating a Pick Up in the Retail Sector

-- Sales, Marketing and PR Sectors Register Highest Growth in Online Job Availability

Online job recruitment activity and related employment opportunities across the United Kingdom increased in October, according to the Monster Employment Index UK. The Index rose solidly during the month, moving up three points from 103 in September to 106 in October.

During October, eight of the nine occupational categories tracked by the Index registered an increase in online job demand. Craft workers, legislators, senior officials and managers experienced the highest growth in online job availability. This was largely driven by a greater number of opportunities for workers in the sales, marketing and PR sectors. Demand for service and shop workers also rose, pointing to first signs of a recovery in the UK retail sector as a result of increased consumer spending following the Bank of England's reduction of interest rates in August for the first time in two years.

In contrast, demand for plant and machine operators registered a slight decline in online job opportunities, due in part to lowered demand for workers in the production, manufacturing, maintenance and repair sectors.

Results for the Monster Employment Index UK over the past eleven months are as follows:

Oct Sep Aug Jul Jun May Apr Mar Feb Jan Dec 05 05 05 05 05 05 05 05 05 05 04 -------------------------------------------- 106 103 103 106 104 103 103 104 102 91 97 --------------------------------------------

"After a period of flatness in August and September, online job opportunities in the UK increased in October, returning the Index to the record level set in July," explained Alan Townsend, Managing Director for Monster UK & Ireland. "The Index's rise is not too surprising, given the unexpected boost in retail sales in the UK during September that may have led to the creation of more jobs. However, economists rightly warn that the retail sector is far from booming. It will be interesting to see whether we experience continued growth in this sector as we head towards the Christmas season."

Online Job Demand Rises in Eight of Nine Occupational Categories, Led by Craft and Related Workers

Craft and related workers saw a significant rise in online job offers with online activity reaching its highest level for the year and reversing a downward trend from the previous two months. This was as a result of increased demand for workers in the construction, extraction, production, manufacturing, maintenance and repair sectors.

Online job availability for professionals, legislators, senior officials and managers also grew in October, due in large part to an increase in sales, marketing and PR recruitment activity.

Demand in the service and shop workers sector also rose for the first time in three months, reversing a decline and rising back to the same level recorded in July of this year.

Plant and machine operators and assemblers was the only category that experienced a decline in online demand in October. This was the result of a significant decrease in online hiring within the production, manufacturing, maintenance and repair sectors.

"The Index findings reflect what's happening in UK manufacturing at the moment. In October, the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) predicted the loss of more manufacturing jobs in the future. According to the CBI, thousands of UK manufacturing jobs are at risk as companies seek to cut costs," added Townsend.

Oct Sep Aug Jul Jun May Apr Mar Feb Jan Dec Occupation 05 05 05 05 05 05 05 05 05 05 04 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Legislators, senior officials and managers104 99 101 102 104 104 102 102 104 92 95 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Professionals 106 103 103 106 103 104 103 102 100 90 101 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Technicians and associate professionals 105 104 104 106 106 103 104 104 102 92 95 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Clerks 102 101 103 104 103 100 103 106 102 92 96 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Service workers and shop and market sales workers 104 101 101 104 100 100 101 104 107 93 96 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Skilled agricultural and fishery workers 106 103 106 110 100 104 107 100 99 93 97 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Craft and related workers 119 110 114 116 111 98 104 107 102 96 94 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Plant and machine operators and assemblers 114 115 110 114 109 95 101 106 106 95 98 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Elementary occupations 103 101 102 100 103 108 102 102 96 95 97 -------------------------------------------------------------------

Online Job Demand Rises Significantly in London and Wales and Declines in Northern Ireland

Online job opportunities in Wales rose in October for the first time in two months, mainly due to increased demand for clerks, professionals and service and shop workers. Plant and machine operators and assemblers was the only category that saw a decline, consistent with the overall findings in the UK.

London also demonstrated a steady rise in online recruitment activity in October, ending a period of flatness. Legislators, senior officials and managers exhibited the most significant growth, while demand for technicians and associate professionals also increased.

Northern Ireland was the only region that reported a decline in October. Online demand for legislators, professionals, technicians and clerks fell mainly due to a decline in online job offers within the healthcare, education, IT and sales sectors.

Monster Employment Index Europe

The Monster Employment Index saw a solid rise of three points, rising from 110 in September to 113 in October. For the first time since May 2005, all countries tracked by the Index registered growth of varying degrees. France saw the steepest growth in October, rising ten points, followed by the Netherlands and the UK, which both rose three points during the month. Germany and Sweden registered moderate increases of one point, after showing solid growth in the previous month.

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

Oct Sep Aug Jul Jun May Apr Mar Feb Jan Dec 05 05 05 05 05 05 05 05 05 05 04 -------------------------------------------- 113 110 109 109 108 105 104 103 100 94 94 -------------------------------------------- Oct Sep Aug Jul Jun May Apr Mar Feb Jan Dec Country 05 05 05 05 05 05 05 05 05 05 04 --------------------------------------------------------------------- France 108 98 102 110 106 106 104 102 100 94 94 --------------------------------------------------------------------- Germany 117 116 114 110 109 106 103 102 99 96 93 --------------------------------------------------------------------- Netherlands 111 108 108 110 107 106 103 103 97 93 97 --------------------------------------------------------------------- Sweden 99 98 94 98 104 105 101 103 102 91 97 --------------------------------------------------------------------- United Kingdom 106 103 103 106 104 103 103 104 102 91 97 ---------------------------------------------------------------------

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 November will be released on December 13, 2005.

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. 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