EconoIndicators

Monster Employment Index At a Glance

• September Index: 186
• Monthly Change: Unchanged
• Year-to-year Change: Up 14 Points
• Regions Growing: 4
• Regions Unchanged: 3
• Regions Declining: 2

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Monster Employment Index Holds Steady in September, Demonstrating Little Change in Online Recruitment Activity

September 2007 Index Highlights:

* Although down from its peak reading in May, the Index continues to show greater online job availability than a year ago, indicating relatively robust employer demand for workers

* Online opportunities in the retail and whole trade industries, and for sales and related occupations, edge higher in September, however year-over-year growth remains modest

* Construction and manufacturing industries see moderate rise in online job opportunities, while most blue-collar occupations also see expanded opportunities

* Index shows fewer online job offers in finance and insurance industry, and business and financial operations, likely reflecting recent turmoil in the financial sector

* Demand for education and skilled healthcare professionals continues to climb amid sustained worker shortages

* West North Central region registers largest increase in online job demand for the second consecutive month, while opportunities in New England and Pacific regions ease slightly

NEW YORK–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Oct. 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 of employer job opportunities culled from more than 1,500 different Web sites, including Monster(R).

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 eight percent, 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. Index results for the past 13 months are as follows:

Sept. Aug. Jul. Jun. May Apr. Mar. Feb. Jan. Dec. Nov. Oct. Sept.
07 07 07 07 07 07 07 07 07 06 06 06 06
———————————————————————-
186 186 183 186 189 186 185 177 168 167 175 172 172
———————————————————————-

“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 President, Global Sales and Customer Development 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 Register Highest Rate of Increase in Online Job Availability in September

Among industries, online job opportunities for arts, entertainment and recreation registered the sharpest increase between August and September, jumping eight percent, followed closely by transportation and warehousing, which rose six percent. Online recruitment activity also increased over the month for industries in the goods producing sectors, with both construction and manufacturing edging up three percent. Both the wholesale and retail trade industries saw online opportunities expand again in September, with wholesale trade edging up two percent and retail trade rising three percent. In fact, wholesale trade rose to a historical high of 172 and is now up eight percent on a year-over-year basis.

In contrast, real estate and rental and leasing posted the largest decrease in online job offerings in September, falling five percent. Other industries that showed fewer opportunities last month include management of companies and enterprises; and finance and insurance, which both dipped one percent. Five industry categories remained unchanged on the month.

On a year-over-year basis, transportation and warehousing remained the top growth industry, followed closely by utilities and public administration.

Legal; Education, Training and Library; and Transportation and Material Moving Occupations Register Sharpest Monthly Increases

Online job availability increased the most for legal occupations in September, as the category rose three percent, with education, training and library following close behind after edging up two percent. Several blue-collar occupational categories also registered gains on the month, including transportation and material moving; and construction and extraction, which both added two percent. Online opportunities for sales and related positions also expanded, climbing two percent in September.

While the protective service category posted the sharpest decline in online job demand last month, dropping three percent, food preparation and serving also dipped, easing one percent and continuing a three-month downward trend. Meanwhile, online recruitment for several white-collar categories such as management, and business and financial operations, also contracted during September, while several technical categories such as computer and mathematical (IT); architecture and engineering; and life, physical, and social science were unchanged.

Year-over-year, healthcare support remains the Index’s top growth category, while military specific has registered the steepest decline.

Four of Nine U.S. Census Bureau Regions Show Increased Online Job Availability in September

Just four of the nine U.S. Census Bureau regions tracked by the Index saw online job availability expand in September. The West North Central region registered the sharpest gain, edging up two percent on greater demand for workers in education, healthcare, sales and construction. Meanwhile, the Pacific region posted the largest monthly decline, shedding one percent. On a year-over-year basis, the West South Central is the Index’s top growth region, while the Mountain region continues to show the smallest gain.

Among the 50 states and the District of Columbia, New Mexico registered the highest rate of increase during September, while California and Massachusetts saw the biggest drops. Year-over-year, Texas remains the Index’s top growth state while Alaska and Arizona have dipped the most.

To obtain a full copy of the Monster Employment Index report for September 2007, including all charts and tables, please visit http://www.monsterworldwide.com/Press_Room/MEI.html. Data for the month of October 2007 will be released on November 1, 2007.

About the Monster Employment Index

Launched in April 2004 with data collected since October 2003, the Monster Employment Index is a broad and comprehensive monthly analysis of U.S. online job demand conducted by Monster Worldwide, Inc. Based on a real-time review of millions of employer job opportunities culled from more than 1,500 Web sites, including a variety of corporate career sites, job boards and Monster, the Monster Employment Index presents a snapshot of employer online recruitment activity nationwide. All of the data and findings in the Monster Employment Index have been validated for their accuracy through independent, third party auditing conducted on a monthly basis by Research America, Inc. The audit validates the accuracy of the online job recruitment activity measured within a margin of error of +/- 1.05%.

About Monster Worldwide

Monster Worldwide, Inc. (NASDAQ: MNST), parent company of Monster(R), the premier global online employment solution for more than a decade, strives to bring people together to advance their lives. With a local presence in key markets in North America, Europe, and Asia, Monster works for everyone by connecting employers with quality job seekers at all levels and by providing personalized career advice to consumers globally. Through online media sites and services, Monster delivers vast, highly targeted audiences to advertisers. Monster Worldwide is a member of the S&P 500 Index and the NASDAQ 100. To learn more about Monster’s industry-leading products and services, visit www.monster.com. More information about Monster Worldwide is available at www.monsterworldwide.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.

Monster Employment Index September 2007 [PDF]

Source: Monster.com