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Monster Employment Index At a Glance

March Index: 174
Monthly Change: Up 7
Year-to-year Change: Down 12 Points
Regions Growing: 9
Regions Unchanged: 0
Regions Declining: 0

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Monster Employment Index Rises in April
April 2008 Index Highlights:
• Index climbs seven points, continuing a three-month upward trend, but remains
down six percent year-over-year
• Online job demand surges in the accommodation and food services industry,
reflecting intense seasonal hiring
• Financial services sector sees a degree of stabilization, despite highly publicized
layoffs in the banking industry
• Government hiring remains active, as online recruitment in the public
administration industry rises for third consecutive month
• Southern U.S. regions show largest gains in online job availability, driven by
rebounding demand for workers in Texas and Florida
• Online job opportunities continue to expand in Kansas City, Pittsburgh and
Houston
Summary Overview
The Monster Employment Index added seven points in April, as online job availability in
the U.S. continued to rise moderately for the third consecutive month. Despite the
gradual upward trend during the past three months, the Index remains down six percent
year-over-year, but its growth rate was slightly improved from the year-over-year
reading in March. The Monster Employment Index is based on a real-time review of
millions of employer job opportunities culled from a large, representative selection of
corporate career sites and job boards, including Monster®.
Similar to March, a majority of industry and occupational categories tracked showed
greater online job demand in April, with 17 of 20 industries and 21 of 23 occupations
registering gains. Index results for the past 13 months are as follows:
APR 08 MAR 08 FEB 08 JAN 08 DEC 07 NOV 07 OCT 07 SEP 07 AUG 07 JUL 07 JUN 07 MAY 07 APR 07
174 167 165 160 169 183 188 186 186 183 186 189 186
“While the Monster Employment Index registered its strongest single month gain in
over 12 months, the increase was largely seasonal in nature and U.S. online recruitment
activity remains softer compared to a year ago,” said Jesse Harriott, Vice President of
Research at Monster Worldwide. “At the same time, the Index’s three-month growth
trend, combined with its slightly improved year-over-year growth rate, is an encouraging
sign of stabilization in the U.S. labor market.”
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Online Demand in Accommodation and Food Services Shows Largest
Monthly Increase in April
Online demand in the accommodation and food services industry registered the largest
increase in April, reflecting the approaching summer hiring season for hospitality
workers, as well as the increase in foreign tourists to the U.S. resulting from the weak
dollar. Arts, entertainment and recreation also jumped in April, while the finance and
insurance industry saw a slight increase, demonstrating a degree of stabilization in the
broader financial sector, despite highly publicized layoffs in the banking industry. Online
job recruitment activity also turned sharply higher in the management of companies and
enterprises industry, following a slight decrease in March.
In contrast, both the utilities; and mining, quarrying and oil and gas extraction industries
registered declines last month, while agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting held
steady.
On a year-over-year basis, four industries categories tracked by the Index are showing
greater online job availability compared to a year ago. Public administration; and
agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting remain the Index’s top annual growth industries,
having held those positions for five consecutive months. Year-over-year growth turned
positive for the information industry in April, as online job postings surged at the onset
of the traditional recruitment season for the technology industry. Meanwhile, the
utilities and educational services industries both saw historical declines and remain down
year-over-year.
Demand for Food Preparation and Serving Occupations Shows Largest
Increase in April, while Architecture and Engineering Edged Slightly
Downward
Online demand for food preparation and serving occupations registered the largest
monthly increase in April, a customary trend for this time of year as hiring activity
typically picks up ahead of the busy summer season. The rise may point to optimism
among food service employers that consumer spending patterns will remain somewhat
steady over the coming months. Among white-collar occupational categories that
showed low activity in March, legal occupations saw the largest upswing in demand last
month. Opportunities in business and financial operations occupations also expanded
sharply, rebounding from a notably weak first quarter.
In contrast, online job availability edged slightly downward for architecture and
engineering occupations in April, contrary to the normal steady build up in recruiting
activity usually seen at the start of the spring.
On a year-over-year basis, five occupational categories are showing higher demand
compared to a year ago. Healthcare support has edged out farming, fishing, and forestry
as the top growth occupation over the year, with healthcare practitioners and technical
occupations rounding out the top three. Installation, maintenance, and repair saw its
annual growth rate turn positive in April, indicating a return of heightened demand for
assorted manual and technical service professionals. Despite recent month-to-month
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growth, the legal category continues to show one of the most pronounced annual
declines in the Index.
Online Job Availability Rises in All Nine U.S. Census Bureau Regions in April
During April, online job availability increased in all nine U.S. Census Bureau regions, with
the East South Central region showing the strongest gain, followed by the Mid-Atlantic
and West South Central regions. Overall, online demand in regions located in the
southern area of the U.S. showed the sharpest increases in opportunities, as business
expansion proceeded at a higher pace there than in other parts of the country. Yearover-
year, eight of the nine regions are showing lower online job availability than a year
ago, with only the West South Central region registering an increase over the year.
At the state level, online job demand rose in 46 of the 50 U.S. states plus the District of
Columbia between March and April.
Adjusting the number of online help-wanted ads for total employment, the following
states had the highest per-worker online job availability during April:
Rank State
1 Massachusetts
2 Connecticut
3 Alaska
4 Delaware
5 Maryland
6 Montana
7 New Jersey
8 West Virginia
9 Arizona
10 Colorado
Online Job Availability Rises in All of the Top 28 Major U.S. Metro Markets
During April, online recruitment activity rose in all of the 28 U.S. metro areas
monitored by the Index, with Orlando registering the largest gain, driven by strong
demand for healthcare and blue-collar workers. Other metro markets in Florida,
including Miami and Tampa, also demonstrated above-average growth during the month.
Philadelphia was the second strongest market, followed by Kansas City, Indianapolis and
Cincinnati. Meanwhile, Phoenix, Sacramento and Seattle had the smallest gains, with
below average increases in online recruitment activity for legal and white-collar
occupations.
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On an annual basis, seven of the 28 monitored markets are showing more online job
opportunities than a year ago, with Pittsburgh again ranking as the Index’s top growth
market year-over-year, a position it has held for three consecutive months. Houston
and Dallas again remained among the top five amid continued high demand for
healthcare, education and production occupations. In contrast, Los Angeles, followed
closely by Baltimore, noted the largest annual decline among all markets tracked by the
Index. Both markets have seen substantial reductions in online recruitment activity for
healthcare, construction and transportation over the past 12 months.
Top Industries Looking for Employees in April
Industries showing the greatest increase in online job availability in April included:
INDUSTRY APR 08 MAR 08 FEB 08 JAN 08 DEC 07 APR 07
Accommodation and Food
Services 164 140 137 128 148 172
Retail Trade 167 154 150 148 160 192
Other Services 223 211 203 192 198 230
Management of Companies and
Enterprises 161 150 152 144 149 161
Public Administration 228 217 208 185 188 153
Most Wanted Occupational Experience in April
Occupational categories registering the most significant increases in online job demand
in April included:
OCCUPATIONS APR 08 MAR 08 FEB 08 JAN 08 DEC 07 APR 07
Food Preparation and Serving 183 159 161 152 164 203
Installation, Maintenance and
Repair 186 164 159 154 160 184
Healthcare Support 218 201 195 205 206 184
Healthcare Practitioners and
Technical 193 181 166 162 170 169
Management 182 173 184 178 183 201
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Online Job Demand Increases across All Nine U.S. Census Bureau Regions in
April
Online job opportunities rose by varying increases in all nine U.S. Census Bureau
Regions in April. The regions are presented here in order of largest monthly increase:
U.S. CENSUS BUREAU
REGIONS
APR 08 MAR 08 FEB 08 JAN 08 DEC 07 APR 07
East South Central 166 154 152 146 153 169
West South Central 262 250 245 236 248 256
Middle Atlantic 169 160 159 153 163 178
West North Central 186 178 177 168 176 189
South Atlantic 163 156 155 151 158 175
New England 173 167 172 164 174 181
Mountain 179 173 170 169 178 195
East North Central 163 159 157 149 158 168
Pacific 161 158 156 155 164 201
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80
90
100
110
120
130
140
150
160
170
180
190
200
Apr May June July Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr
Monster Employment Index, 2007-2008
APR 07 MAY 07 JUN 07 JUL 07 AUG 07 SEP 07 OCT 07 NOV 07 DEC 07 JAN 08 FEB 08 MAR 08 APR 08
186 189 186 183 186 186 188 183 169 160 165 167 174
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By Region
2008 2007
Apr Mar Feb Jan Dec Nov Oct Sep Aug Jul Jun May Apr
New England 173 167 172 164 174 190 194 187 188 188 188 188 181
Mid-Atlantic 169 160 159 153 163 178 184 180 180 177 179 181 178
East North Central 163 159 157 149 158 171 174 171 169 166 167 169 168
West North Central 186 178 177 168 176 190 196 194 191 185 189 191 189
South Atlantic 163 156 155 151 158 169 173 172 172 170 173 176 175
East South Central 166 154 152 146 153 166 172 169 168 164 167 169 169
West South Central 262 250 245 236 248 265 271 268 266 260 260 262 256
Mountain 179 173 170 169 178 191 195 195 195 189 191 194 195
Pacific 161 158 156 155 164 179 183 183 184 183 187 195 201
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By Industry
2008 2007
Apr Mar Feb Jan Dec Nov Oct Sep Aug Jul Jun May Apr
Agriculture, Forestry,
Fishing and Hunting
200 200 196 162 171 171 171 171 171 173 171 164 150
Mining, Quarrying and Oil
and Gas Extraction
167 168 172 160 157 163 171 168 166 167 169 175 189
Utilities 126 127 124 124 159 198 186 172 172 172 175 178 194
Construction 216 211 205 195 202 215 222 228 222 214 219 232 245
Manufacturing 120 117 111 104 116 126 132 130 126 126 132 134 135
Wholesale Trade 167 164 165 154 159 167 173 172 168 163 164 165 159
Retail Trade 167 154 150 148 160 180 186 185 180 187 188 194 192
Transportation and
Warehousing
180 174 168 163 176 195 201 209 198 190 198 191 186
Information 134 124 119 115 127 141 146 142 142 136 136 140 131
Finance and Insurance 123 117 120 112 133 147 156 153 154 148 146 140 135
Real Estate and Rental and
Leasing
115 108 107 99 105 124 134 138 145 149 148 150 142
Professional, Scientific,
and Technical Services
138 133 130 123 134 153 157 153 153 151 154 160 161
Management of
Companies
and Enterprises
161 150 152 144 149 160 162 156 158 161 152 157 161
Administrative, Support,
Waste Management,
Remediation Services
100 97 95 86 95 117 124 120 119 112 111 109 105
Educational Services 119 114 113 101 112 123 126 133 130 130 135 134 131
Healthcare and Social
Assistance
119 116 113 108 115 125 127 124 121 120 120 122 120
Arts, Entertainment, and
Recreation
100 92 84 96 122 143 166 173 161 153 153 155 162
Accommodation and
Food Services
164 140 137 128 148 167 167 170 169 169 170 177 172
Public Administration 228 217 208 185 188 188 184 155 155 161 159 156 153
Other Services 223 211 203 192 198 210 215 217 220 218 226 231 230
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By Occupation
2008 2007
Apr Mar Feb Jan Dec Nov Oct Sep Aug Jul Jun May Apr
Management 182 173 184 178 183 194 199 194 197 192 191 194 201
Business and Financial
Operations
184 177 183 175 189 207 210 206 208 208 207 215 217
Computer and
Mathematical
167 162 160 157 167 178 183 181 181 179 182 184 189
Architecture and
Engineering
175 177 173 173 182 196 202 198 198 194 195 194 202
Life, Physical, and Social
Science
159 156 153 147 156 166 174 168 168 168 169 170 171
Community and Social
Services
194 190 204 196 200 216 213 218 218 209 209 215 210
Legal 180 171 175 167 186 218 214 217 211 216 224 245 245
Education, Training, and
Library
147 144 142 137 147 158 160 168 164 157 164 161 159
Arts, Design,
Entertainment, Sports, and
Media
130 128 125 126 139 151 156 157 157 160 165 165 161
Healthcare Practitioners
and Technical
193 181 166 162 170 182 185 182 179 178 181 174 169
Healthcare Support 218 201 195 205 206 209 209 209 213 209 209 197 184
Protective Service 135 130 130 142 164 176 177 174 179 180 176 174 170
Food Preparation and
Serving Related
183 159 161 152 164 173 175 178 180 185 193 189 203
Building, Grounds
Cleaning, Maintenance
160 154 145 136 141 150 155 155 158 153 155 161 164
Personal Care and Service 127 126 120 159 155 167 170 170 173 168 170 189 236
Sales and Related 132 128 125 122 131 145 150 150 147 145 147 151 151
Office and Administrative
Support
153 150 152 145 154 172 177 174 175 168 172 181 184
Farming, Fishing, and
Forestry
172 172 174 140 142 140 142 142 142 142 143 148 148
Construction and
Extraction
141 137 129 124 131 143 149 153 150 146 149 153 154
Installation, Maintenance,
and Repair
186 164 159 154 160 172 179 183 182 176 178 184 184
Production 147 145 142 131 139 149 154 153 150 147 149 151 151
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Transportation and
Material Moving
113 111 108 108 116 128 132 135 132 131 132 134 135
Military Specific 172 169 161 159 184 183 193 170 167 165 163 163 160
By Local Market
2008 2007
Apr Mar Feb Jan Dec Nov Oct Sep Aug Jul Jun May Apr
Atlanta 131 127 129 123 134 146 149 145 140 138 142 143 144
Baltimore 91 88 89 86 94 101 104 103 103 100 103 127 129
Boston 131 123 131 120 135 152 153 150 147 152 150 154 137
Chicago 119 115 121 106 120 142 142 144 141 137 139 138 142
Cincinnati 141 132 137 124 135 151 158 150 143 143 148 143 147
Cleveland 137 133 129 114 127 137 140 136 135 131 134 141 140
Dallas 147 139 138 128 137 150 150 148 144 140 142 142 141
Denver 138 133 130 125 136 145 149 151 147 142 144 144 137
Detroit 132 128 123 105 119 135 138 139 132 129 134 135 133
Houston 164 159 157 146 153 163 164 162 163 158 157 155 154
Indianapolis 119 111 114 98 108 120 124 123 118 115 118 125 129
Kansas City 152 140 145 123 140 159 162 156 153 143 148 144 144
Los Angeles 101 98 99 90 100 114 116 117 118 117 123 135 145
Miami 96 91 95 92 94 105 105 109 106 105 108 108 113
Minneapolis 129 124 123 115 122 134 137 134 128 123 130 129 128
New York City 118 113 117 108 117 131 131 133 130 127 130 133 134
Orlando 84 76 77 70 75 88 86 90 85 85 91 104 105
Philadelphia 116 106 105 98 108 125 126 130 124 121 126 136 130
Phoenix 104 102 104 99 107 117 120 121 122 115 117 118 117
Pittsburgh 163 153 147 140 149 161 157 155 145 141 148 142 142
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Portland 140 135 128 114 126 153 163 159 160 146 148 150 142
Sacramento 95 93 95 89 98 116 120 121 118 116 119 126 124
San Diego 102 98 98 91 96 105 110 112 114 110 116 122 127
San Francisco 106 103 109 100 110 122 125 125 129 123 126 126 126
Seattle 139 137 131 120 133 147 151 151 149 143 148 152 142
St. Louis 154 149 149 137 147 160 166 167 158 151 162 155 153
Tampa 99 95 95 90 97 104 103 104 104 102 104 108 109
Washington, D.C. 105 100 101 90 103 118 120 123 120 114 121 131 132