EconoIndicators

Monster Employment Index At a Glance

• August Index: 186
• Monthly Change: Up 3 Points
• Year-to-year Change: Up 13 Points
• Regions Growing: 8
• Regions Unchanged: 1
• Regions Declining: 0

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Monster Employment Index Sees Modest Rise of
Three Points in August, as Online Recruitment
Activity Rebounds Slightly from Seasonal Summer
Slowdown

August 2007 Index Highlights:
• Half of the Index’s industries and a majority of its occupations show increased
online job availability in August
• Index’s annual growth pace slows further, dipping to lowest level on record and
indicating continued moderation in online demand for workers
• Fewer opportunities in the retail industry and a modest increase in demand for
sales occupations suggest retailers are recruiting cautiously
• Index shows mixed picture in financial sector as online demand for business
and financial occupations remains flat, while job offers in the finance and
insurance industry increase
• Expanded opportunities in education; community services; healthcare; and
office and administrative support occupation categories demonstrate continued
growth in the services sector
• Online job opportunities in mining industry ease for sixth consecutive month
• West North Central region registers largest monthly increase in online job
availability amid greater demand in Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska and Iowa

Summary Overview
The Monster Employment Index rose three points in August, reflecting a slight rebound
in online job availability across a majority of industries, occupations and geographical
regions following the traditionally slower summer months of June and July. 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®.

The Index’s three-point gain last month was smaller than the typical rise seen in past
months of August and trimmed the Index’s annual growth pace to roughly 7.5 percent,
its lowest level on record and a further indication of softening employer demand for
labor. Overall, 10 of 20 industries and 16 of 23 occupational categories tracked by the
Index registered increased online job availability last month. Index results for the past
13 months are as follows:

AUG 07 186
JUL 07 183
JUN 07 186
MAY 07 189
APR 07 186
MAR 07 185
FEB 07 177
JAN 07 168
DEC 06 167
NOV 06 175
OCT 06 172
SEP 06 172
AUG 06 173

“Although the Index was broadly up in August, the overall increase in online job
availability was more modest than in previous years and points to further moderation in
online recruitment activity compared to last year,” said Steve Pogorzelski, Executive
Vice President, Global Sales and Customer Development at Monster Worldwide. “The
Index’s findings suggest that employers are recruiting more cautiously amid general
uncertainties as to how much the troubled domestic housing sector will negatively
impact broader U.S. economic growth in the months ahead.”

Administrative, Support, Waste Management and Remediation; Arts,
Entertainment and Recreation; and Information Register the Highest Rate of
Increase in August

Among industries, the administrative, support, waste management and remediation
category registered the highest rate of increase in online job availability during the
month of August, rising seven points, or six percent, followed by arts, entertainment
and recreation; and information. Meanwhile, finance and insurance surprisingly edged up
six points, or four percent, but remains flat year-over-year. Online job availability in the
construction industry also rose eight points in August and is now up nine percent on a
year-over-year basis. The transportation and warehousing industry, which added eight
points in August, remains the top growth category among industries on an annual basis.

In contrast, the retail trade and public administration industry categories saw the largest
declines in August, as both fell about four percent on the month. The sharp seven-point
drop in online demand in the retail trade industry was unexpected and pushed its annual
growth into the single digits for the first time since the Index’s inception. Although
August has not always brought an increase in recruitment activity to the retail sector in
the past, the size of the decline suggests that retailers have been much more cautious
lately about hiring than in previous years. The mining industry category also saw a
significant drop-off in online job demand last month, falling nine points and continuing a
six-month downward trend.

Education, Training and Library; Community and Social Services; and Office
and Administrative Support Occupations Register Sharpest Monthly
Increases

The education, training and library; community and social services; and office and
administrative support occupational categories registered the largest gains in online job
availability in August, as schools and other public and private community service entities
commenced hiring for the fall semester, and corporate sector strength helped fuel hiring
for call center and customer service employees. The up-ticks in these categories mirror
similar August Index findings in each of the previous years since its inception.

Meanwhile, the sales and related occupational category registered a modest two-point
gain in August, but remains down on a year-over-year basis for the third consecutive
month. Contrary to seasonal expectations, online recruitment for business and financial
operations occupations remained flat in August and is now up just two percent on the
year.

The food serving and related occupations category saw the sharpest decline in August,
falling seven points, or three percent, while fewer online job opportunities in the legal
sector caused that category to shed five points, or two percent. Nevertheless, both
categories remain up on a year-over-year basis, with food serving and related up a
sizable 15 percent and legal up nine percent over the year.

Eight of Nine U.S. Census Bureau Regions Show Increased Online Job
Availability in August

Among the nine U.S. Census Bureau Regions tracked, the West North Central and
Mountain regions registered the highest rate of monthly increase in August. The West
North Central region’s rise was fueled by higher demand for workers in Kansas,
Missouri, Nebraska and Iowa, while the Mountain region was helped by expanded
opportunities in Montana, Arizona and Utah. The New England region remained flat fo
the third consecutive month.

Forty-four U.S. states registered increased online job demand during August, with
Kansas, Vermont and Montana seeing the highest rates of increase over the month.
Texas remained in the top slot on a year-over-year basis.

Monster Employment Index August 2007 Public Release

Source: Monster.com