Monster Employment Index Holds Steady in September

New York, NY, October 4, 2007--The Monster Employment Index was flat in September, following a modest rise in August, suggesting relatively cautious online recruitment activity during the final month of the third quarter.

The Monster Employment Index is based on a real-time review of millions job advertisements culled from more than 1,500 different websites, including Monster.

Many of the industries and occupations tracked were little changed last month, with gains in some categories offset by declines in others. The index's annual growth rate also held steady at 8%, as overall online job availability remained 14 points higher than a year ago.

Overall, 11 of 20 industries and nine of 23 occupational categories tracked by the Index registered increased online job availability last month.

"With payrolls declining for the first time in four years in August, signs of upward pressure on the unemployment rate and a slowing worker turnover rate, U.S. online recruitment appears to have leveled off somewhat over the past three months," said Steve Pogorzelski, executive vice resident at Monster Worldwide.

"While online opportunities for white-collar occupations in general, and the financial sector in particular, eased further in September, the Index has yet to show any dramatic adverse impact on demand for workers in the broader service sector as a result of the sub-prime mortgage fallout."

Arts, entertainment and recreation, transportation and warehousing, and construction industries had the highest rate of increase.

Online recruitment activity increased for industries in the goods producing sectors, with both construction and manufacturing edging up 3%.