EconoIndicators

Monster Employment Index At a Glance

• May Index: 166
• Monthly Change: Down 8
• Year-to-year Change: Down 23 Points
• Regions Growing: 1
• Regions Unchanged: 0
• Regions Declining: 8

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Monster Employment Index Declines in May
May 2008 Index Highlights:
• Index drops eight points, ending a three-month upward trend in U.S. online
recruitment activity
• Utilities industry bucks trend, exhibiting rising demand for workers across
occupational categories
• Online demand for management occupations climbs as employers compete for
top talent
• Fewer opportunities for sales and related occupations indicates caution among
employers amid softer economic outlook
• Transportation sector continues downward trend as fuel prices climb
• Midwest U.S. regions maintain strong pace, while Pacific region dips further
• Pittsburgh holds steady in May and is now the Index’s top growth market yearover-
year
Summary Overview
The Monster Employment Index fell eight points in May, ending a three-month upward
trend and indicating the end of the early spring recruitment push. 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®.
Online job availability rose in five of the 20 monitored industries in May, while eight of
the 23 occupational categories showed improvement on the month. With the sharp
decline in online job recruitment in May, the Index is now 12 percent below the yearago
level, marking the fifth consecutive month that the Index has shown a year-overyear
decline. Index results for the past 13 months are as follows:
MAY 08 APR 08 MAR 08 FEB 08 JAN 08 DEC 07 NOV 07 OCT 07 SEP 07 AUG 07 JUL 07 JUN 07 MAY 07
166 174 167 165 160 169 183 188 186 186 183 186 189
“After three months of steady growth, the decline in the Monster Employment Index in
May suggests further moderation in the job market resulting from a generally softer
economic outlook,” said Jesse Harriott, Vice President of Research at Monster
Worldwide. “Certain sectors, such as food, healthcare, natural resources, public
administration, military and utilities are still showing strong demand for workers.”
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www.monster.com May 2008
Online Demand in Utilities Shows Largest Monthly Increase in May
Online labor demand in the utilities industry registered the sharpest jump in May,
expanding significantly for the first time since a steep decline seen during the early
winter months. The sizable increase is likely due in part to the approaching summer
season, which tends to put additional strain on utility networks. Online opportunities in
the construction industry also edged upward in May, extending a period of mainly steady
online job availability in the industry to four consecutive months. The Index also saw an
increase in online job opportunities in the agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting; and
mining, quarrying, oil and gas extraction industries.
In contrast, the accommodation and food services industry saw the sharpest decline in
online job demand among all industry categories in May, likely a result of further
moderation in the hospitality sector.
On a year-over-year basis, two industry categories tracked by the Index are showing
greater online job availability compared to a year ago. Public administration; and
agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting are again the Index’s top annual growth
industries, marking the sixth consecutive month the two categories have held this top
spot. Meanwhile, momentum appears weak in the information; and finance and
insurance industries, as year-over-year growth rates decelerated rapidly between April
and May. Although the utilities industry had the largest upward swing in May, the
category remains well below its year-ago level.
Online Demand for Management Occupations Jumps in May, while
Education, Training and Library; and Sales and Related Edge Downward
Online demand for management occupations registered the largest monthly increase in
May as employers competed for top talent to help economize their operations during a
softer economic period. The strong rise in May also elevated the management category
above its year ago level for the first time since January. In fact, management is now the
only category in the white-collar segment to show over-the-year growth outside of
healthcare. Meanwhile, online job demand increased in May for both the military
specific; and installation, maintenance and repair occupational categories, marking the
fourth consecutive month of steadily increasing job availability.
In contrast, online job availability decreased for education, training and library; food
preparation and serving; and sales and related occupations in May, likely signaling the
end of the strong spring recruitment season for jobs in these sectors. The decline in
sales and related occupations may indicate further caution among employers amid flatter
purchasing trends and lower consumer confidence. Reduced recruitment activity was
also seen in the transportation and material moving occupations category, a likely byproduct
of higher fuel prices and congestion in various freight distribution networks.
On a year-over-year basis, six occupational categories are showing higher demand
compared to a year ago. The farming, fishing, and forestry category edged out both the
healthcare support; and healthcare practitioners and technical categories as the Index’s
top occupational category in terms of year-over-year growth. The sharp increase in
online opportunities for management occupations in May lifted overall recruitment for
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www.monster.com May 2008
the category slightly above year-ago levels, following a first quarter that saw limited
activity. In contrast, business and financial operations; life, physical and social science;
and legal all continued to lose momentum.
Online Job Availability Declines in Eight of Nine U.S. Census Bureau Regions
in May
During May, online job availability dipped in eight of the nine U.S. Census Bureau
regions, with only the West South Central registering an increase and the Mid-Atlantic
region registering the greatest drop. Year-over-year, all nine regions are showing lower
online job availability compared to a year ago.
At the state level, online job demand fell in 45 of the 50 U.S. states plus the District of
Columbia between April and May.
Adjusting the number of online help-wanted ads for total employment, the following
states had the highest per-worker online job availability during May:
Rank State
1 Alaska
2 Massachusetts
3 Connecticut
4 Delaware
5 Maryland
6 Arizona
7 Colorado
8 Montana
9 New Jersey
10 Wyoming
Online Job Availability Falls in 27 of the Top 28 Major U.S. Metro Markets
During May, online recruitment activity fell in 27 of the 28 U.S. metro areas monitored
by the Index. Pittsburgh, the only major market that did not register a decline in May,
held steady this month, with elevated activity throughout both the blue- and white-collar
segments. Similar to national occupational trends, all major metropolitan markets saw
fewer online opportunities for food preparation and serving; and sales and related
occupations. Meanwhile, Philadelphia and Washington, D.C. were among the markets
showing the steepest declines in May, with reductions in online job postings seen in the
sciences, engineering and education.
On an annual basis, two of the 28 monitored markets are showing more online job
opportunities than a year ago. Pittsburgh, with accelerated growth in management,
construction and production occupations, is once again the Index’s top growth market
year-over-year. For the first time in the history of the Index, year-over-year growth in
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www.monster.com May 2008
Dallas turned downward, despite strong growth in areas such as management, the
sciences and healthcare. Los Angeles and Baltimore continue to show the most
dramatic declines in online job demand, as white-collar occupations in particular saw
year-over-year growth slip in May.
Top Industries Looking for Employees in May
Industries showing the greatest increase in online job availability in May included:
INDUSTRY MAY 08 APR 08 MAR 08 FEB 08 JAN 08 MAY 07
Utilities 135 126 127 124 124 178
Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and
Hunting 207 200 200 196 162 163
Mining, Quarrying, Oil and Gas
Extraction 171 167 168 172 160 175
Other Services 226 223 211 203 192 231
Construction 217 216 211 205 195 232
Most Wanted Occupational Experience in May
Occupational categories registering most significant increases in online job demand in
May included:
OCCUPATIONS MAY 08 APR 08 MAR 08 FEB 08 JAN 08 MAY 07
Management 196 182 173 184 178 194
Farming, Fishing, and Forestry 185 172 172 174 140 148
Military Specific 178 172 169 161 159 163
Personal Care and Service 131 127 126 120 159 189
Installation, Maintenance, and
Repair 190 186 164 159 154 184
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Online Job Demand Declines in Eight of the Nine Major Regions in May
Online job opportunities decreased in eight of the nine U.S. Census Bureau regions in
May. The regions are presented here in order of largest monthly increase:
U.S. CENSUS BUREAU
REGIONS
MAY 08 APR 08 MAR 08 FEB 08 JAN 08 MAY 07
West South Central 264 262 250 245 236 262
Mountain 170 179 173 170 169 194
West North Central 176 186 178 177 168 191
East South Central 156 166 154 152 146 169
Pacific 151 161 158 156 155 195
East North Central 152 163 159 157 149 169
South Atlantic 151 163 156 155 151 176
New England 159 173 167 172 164 188
Middle Atlantic 155 169 160 159 153 181
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80
90
100
110
120
130
140
150
160
170
180
190
200
May June July Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May
Monster Employment Index, 2007-2008
MAY 07 JUN 07 JUL 07 AUG 07 SEP 07 OCT 07 NOV 07 DEC 07 JAN 08 FEB 08 MAR 08 APR 08 MAY 08
189 186 183 186 186 188 183 169 160 165 167 174 166
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By Region
2008 2007
May Apr Mar Feb Jan Dec Nov Oct Sep Aug Jul Jun May
New England 159 173 167 172 164 174 190 194 187 188 188 188 188
Mid-Atlantic 155 169 160 159 153 163 178 184 180 180 177 179 181
East North Central 152 163 159 157 149 158 171 174 171 169 166 167 169
West North Central 176 186 178 177 168 176 190 196 194 191 185 189 191
South Atlantic 151 163 156 155 151 158 169 173 172 172 170 173 176
East South Central 156 166 154 152 146 153 166 172 169 168 164 167 169
West South Central 264 262 250 245 236 248 265 271 268 266 260 260 262
Mountain 170 179 173 170 169 178 191 195 195 195 189 191 194
Pacific 151 161 158 156 155 164 179 183 183 184 183 187 195
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By Industry
2008 2007
May Apr Mar Feb Jan Dec Nov Oct Sep Aug Jul Jun May
Agriculture, Forestry,
Fishing and Hunting
207 200 200 196 162 171 171 171 171 171 173 171 164
Mining, Quarrying and Oil
and Gas Extraction
171 167 168 172 160 157 163 171 168 166 167 169 175
Utilities 135 126 127 124 124 159 198 186 172 172 172 175 178
Construction 217 216 211 205 195 202 215 222 228 222 214 219 232
Manufacturing 117 120 117 111 104 116 126 132 130 126 126 132 134
Wholesale Trade 161 167 164 165 154 159 167 173 172 168 163 164 165
Retail Trade 162 167 154 150 148 160 180 186 185 180 187 188 194
Transportation and
Warehousing
178 180 174 168 163 176 195 201 209 198 190 198 191
Information 124 134 124 119 115 127 141 146 142 142 136 136 140
Finance and Insurance 110 123 117 120 112 133 147 156 153 154 148 146 140
Real Estate and Rental and
Leasing
113 115 108 107 99 105 124 134 138 145 149 148 150
Professional, Scientific,
and Technical Services
136 138 133 130 123 134 153 157 153 153 151 154 160
Management of
Companies
and Enterprises
149 161 150 152 144 149 160 162 156 158 161 152 157
Administrative, Support,
Waste Management,
Remediation Services
96 100 97 95 86 95 117 124 120 119 112 111 109
Educational Services 108 119 114 113 101 112 123 126 133 130 130 135 134
Healthcare and Social
Assistance
119 119 116 113 108 115 125 127 124 121 120 120 122
Arts, Entertainment, and
Recreation
87 100 92 84 96 122 143 166 173 161 153 153 155
Accommodation and
Food Services
148 164 140 137 128 148 167 167 170 169 169 170 177
Public Administration 193 228 217 208 185 188 188 184 155 155 161 159 156
Other Services 226 223 211 203 192 198 210 215 217 220 218 226 231
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By Occupation
2008 2007
May Apr Mar Feb Jan Dec Nov Oct Sep Aug Jul Jun May
Management 196 182 173 184 178 183 194 199 194 197 192 191 194
Business and Financial
Operations
170 184 177 183 175 189 207 210 206 208 208 207 215
Computer and
Mathematical
153 167 162 160 157 167 178 183 181 181 179 182 184
Architecture and
Engineering
163 175 177 173 173 182 196 202 198 198 194 195 194
Life, Physical, and Social
Science
146 159 156 153 147 156 166 174 168 168 168 169 170
Community and Social
Services
195 194 190 204 196 200 216 213 218 218 209 209 215
Legal 167 180 171 175 167 186 218 214 217 211 216 224 245
Education, Training, and
Library
130 147 144 142 137 147 158 160 168 164 157 164 161
Arts, Design,
Entertainment, Sports, and
Media
116 130 128 125 126 139 151 156 157 157 160 165 165
Healthcare Practitioners
and Technical
196 193 181 166 162 170 182 185 182 179 178 181 174
Healthcare Support 221 218 201 195 205 206 209 209 209 213 209 209 197
Protective Service 127 135 130 130 142 164 176 177 174 179 180 176 174
Food Preparation and
Serving Related
162 183 159 161 152 164 173 175 178 180 185 193 189
Building, Grounds
Cleaning, Maintenance
157 160 154 145 136 141 150 155 155 158 153 155 161
Personal Care and Service 131 127 126 120 159 155 167 170 170 173 168 170 189
Sales and Related 118 132 128 125 122 131 145 150 150 147 145 147 151
Office and Administrative
Support
146 153 150 152 145 154 172 177 174 175 168 172 181
Farming, Fishing, and
Forestry
185 172 172 174 140 142 140 142 142 142 142 143 148
Construction and
Extraction
135 141 137 129 124 131 143 149 153 150 146 149 153
Installation, Maintenance,
and Repair
190 186 164 159 154 160 172 179 183 182 176 178 184
Production 140 147 145 142 131 139 149 154 153 150 147 149 151
Transportation and 106 113 111 108 108 116 128 132 135 132 131 132 134
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Material Moving
Military Specific 178 172 169 161 159 184 183 193 170 167 165 163 163
By Local Market
2008 2007
May Apr Mar Feb Jan Dec Nov Oct Sep Aug Jul Jun May
Atlanta 122 131 127 129 123 134 146 149 145 140 138 142 143
Baltimore 83 91 88 89 86 94 101 104 103 103 100 103 127
Boston 121 131 123 131 120 135 152 153 150 147 152 150 154
Chicago 109 119 115 121 106 120 142 142 144 141 137 139 138
Cincinnati 129 141 132 137 124 135 151 158 150 143 143 148 143
Cleveland 128 137 133 129 114 127 137 140 136 135 131 134 141
Dallas 140 147 139 138 128 137 150 150 148 144 140 142 142
Denver 136 138 133 130 125 136 145 149 151 147 142 144 144
Detroit 125 132 128 123 105 119 135 138 139 132 129 134 135
Houston 160 164 159 157 146 153 163 164 162 163 158 157 155
Indianapolis 113 119 111 114 98 108 120 124 123 118 115 118 125
Kansas City 139 152 140 145 123 140 159 162 156 153 143 148 144
Los Angeles 93 101 98 99 90 100 114 116 117 118 117 123 135
Miami 89 96 91 95 92 94 105 105 109 106 105 108 108
Minneapolis 124 129 124 123 115 122 134 137 134 128 123 130 129
New York City 110 118 113 117 108 117 131 131 133 130 127 130 133
Orlando 76 84 76 77 70 75 88 86 90 85 85 91 104
Philadelphia 104 116 106 105 98 108 125 126 130 124 121 126 136
Phoenix 102 104 102 104 99 107 117 120 121 122 115 117 118
Pittsburgh 163 163 153 147 140 149 161 157 155 145 141 148 142
Portland 130 140 135 128 114 126 153 163 159 160 146 148 150
Sacramento 93 95 93 95 89 98 116 120 121 118 116 119 126
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San Diego 98 102 98 98 91 96 105 110 112 114 110 116 122
San Francisco 102 106 103 109 100 110 122 125 125 129 123 126 126
Seattle 136 139 137 131 120 133 147 151 151 149 143 148 152
St. Louis 148 154 149 149 137 147 160 166 167 158 151 162 155
Tampa 96 99 95 95 90 97 104 103 104 104 102 104 108
Washington, D.C. 96 105 100 101 90 103 118 120 123 120 114 121

Source: Monster