Monster Employment Index Dips Slightly in June

New York, NY, July 5, 2007--The Monster Employment Index dipped three points in June, suggesting that the seasonal summer slowdown in hiring activity typically seen in July may have arrived slightly earlier than in previous years, but also pointing to renewed moderation in online job demand after five months of growth. The Monster Employment Index is based on a real-time review of millions of employer job opportunities culled from more than 1,500 different Web sites, including Monster(R).

The Index's slight decline last month brought its year-over-year growth rate down to nine percent, the slowest on record. Overall, only six of 20 industries and six of 23 occupational categories tracked by the Index registered increased online job availability last month.

"The slight decline in the Monster Employment Index in June follows five consecutive months of rising online recruitment activity, and signals an earlier-than-usual arrival of the anticipated summer seasonal slowdown," said Steve Pogorzelski, Executive Vice President, Global Sales and Customer Development at Monster Worldwide. "The findings are also consistent with other indicators pointing to further moderation in the U.S. economy. These include the recent decline in U.S. consumer confidence and continued softness in the housing sector," added Pogorzelski.

Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting; Transportation and Warehousing; and Finance and Insurance Industries Show Greater Demand for Workers in June

For the second consecutive month, the agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting industry category registered the highest rate of increase in online job opportunities over the month. The growth in online job demand in the industry between May and June is in dramatic contrast with the category's downward movement during the same period last year. Furthermore, agriculture, along with transportation and warehousing; and public administration, has actually been among the industries showing the most consistent monthly growth this year. Online opportunities in the educational services industry also increased for the fifth consecutive month, as the attrition rate among new teachers and the number of veteran teachers nearing retirement remains high.

By contrast, industries in the leisure and hospitality area (arts, entertainment and recreation; and accommodation and food services) exhibited steep drop-offs in their annual growth rates compared to a year ago. In fact, overall online job availability levels in six industries, including finance and insurance, are lower than a year ago according to the latest Index findings.

Online Demand for Healthcare Occupations Continues Upward Momentum in June

Online recruitment activity for healthcare workers continued to rise in June, with advertised opportunities in the healthcare support category (up 12 points) increasing the most on the month, followed by healthcare practitioners and technical (up seven points). Healthcare occupations extended a steep five-month upward trend and the categories are now the fastest growing on a year-over-year basis, demonstrating high demand for both high- and low- skilled workers amid a persistent labor shortage across the healthcare industry. Education, training and library; and food preparation and serving occupations also saw increased online job availability in June.

In contrast, online demand for personal care and service occupations dipped the most between May and June, following explosive growth during the earlier part of the year. Legal occupations also posted a significant decline last month, following three months of elevated online job availability. Nevertheless, a total of 20 occupational categories are showing greater online job demand on a year-over year basis.

Online Job Demand in Pacific Region Eases, while Opportunities in the West South Central Region Rise

Among the nine U.S. Census Bureau Regions tracked, New England was the best performing region, remaining unchanged in June, and topped the list for the third consecutive month. Although the West South Central region dipped two points last month, it has demonstrated the strongest long-term growth and is now up 23 percent year-over-year. In contrast, the Pacific region declined sharply over the month (down eight points), continuing its downward trend largely due to reduced online recruitment activity in California. The moderation in online recruitment suggests that the cooling housing market and overall softer economy is beginning to adversely impact employer demand in the Golden State. Only five U.S. states registered increases in online job demand last month.