Thursday, September 20, 2007


NEW YORK, Sep. 20, 2007 (Business Wire) -- Online job availability rose in 21 of the top 28 U.S. metro markets in August, reflecting a modest rise in online recruitment activity across a majority of major U.S. markets at the onset of the fall hiring season, according to the Monster Local Employment Index. The 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).

'A majority of large U.S. cities saw online recruitment activity pick up during the month of August, which typically marks the end of the seasonal summer slowdown and the beginning of the fall hiring period,' said Steve Pogorzelski, Executive Vice President, Global Sales and Customer Development at Monster Worldwide. 'Not surprisingly, most of the markets tracked saw stepped up online recruitment in education-related occupations as academic institutions prepared for the fall semester, and continued strong demand for healthcare workers, particularly in those with heavy senior citizen demographics.'

Online job recruitment activity in the nation's capital region was mixed in August, with Washington D.C. showing increased online job availability, while neighboring Baltimore saw fewer opportunities last month and is now showing a decline from a year ago. Washington D.C., which added three points or 3 percent in August, registered the highest monthly rate of increase among all Index markets, fueled by elevated demand in the public sector and among blue-collar occupations. Community and social services registered the largest monthly increase of all major categories, placing the Washington D.C. market among the top three growth markets for the category. Other occupations with a strong public sector component are also up significantly from a year ago, including education, training and library; and protective service. Online demand for military specific occupations also edged higher in August, rising seven points, or five percent, bringing the category's year-over-year growth rate to 35 percent, making Washington D.C. the top growth market for this category. In the blue-collar sector, online demand for installation, maintenance and repair; and production occupations showed the strongest rebounds from July. Opportunities for construction workers also expanded in August, making Washington D.C. the top growth market for the month in this category.

Meanwhile, the Index for Baltimore dipped one point last month amid reduced demand for white-collar occupations. Baltimore is now one of only four Index markets showing reduced online job availability over the year. Management; and business and financial operations were among the categories that registered the sharpest declines in Baltimore in August and both categories are down sharply from a year ago, indicating a softening in hiring activity in the corporate and financial services sectors. Online recruitment activity for life, physical and social science occupations in Baltimore dipped for the third consecutive month, and the area has seen the sharpest year-over-year decline of any Index market, suggesting weakness in the metro area's important research and development sector.

Pittsburgh, which rose three points, or three percent, in August, is now up 11 percent on the year, second only to Houston in terms of year-over-year growth. Two categories - education, training and library; and healthcare practitioners and technical - were among those registering the highest rate of increase in online job availability over the month. Meanwhile, food preparation and serving related occupations, which edged up four points in August, remained the top growth category on a year-over-year basis. Despite a reported slowing in the manufacturing sector, online recruiting efforts increased in the production; and transportation and material moving occupations with both categories showing positive growth over the year. However, banking and financial services employers appear to be recruiting at a slower pace, which may be connected to recent issues surrounding the sub-prime mortgage industry.

Online recruitment activity in Dallas edged lower for the third consecutive month, falling one point, or one percent, extending a negative seasonal summer trend that runs counter to historical trends over the past two years. Nevertheless, the Dallas metro region's sustained population inflow has continued to drive online demand for workers in construction. Online demand for construction and extraction occupations is up 12 percent from last year, fueled largely by commercial construction in the Dallas area.

Despite a sharp deceleration in construction related recruitment due to the slowing housing market, Houston remains the Index's hottest growth market. Adding just three points, or two percent, in August, the Index for Houston still finished the month 19 percent higher than a year ago. Local white-collar demand was strong last month, with expanded online job opportunities in management; business and financial operations; computer and mathematical (IT); and office and administrative support.

Meanwhile, in the Midwest, St. Louis and Kansas City, each gained one point in August and continues to show impressive growth fueled by robust demand for workers in office and administrative support occupations. The upward trend in this category demonstrates the high demand for customer service and call center; and administrative support services in both cities, suggesting that relatively low business costs in these markets may be drawing the attention of companies looking to expand or relocate. Year-over-year, the Index for St. Louis is up 12 points, or 11 percent, while Kansas City is up eight points, or 7 percent.

For the first time since the Index's inception, Detroit's year-over-year growth rate fell into the negative following a one point dip in August and a further slowdown in the local job market. Sales and related; production; management; business and financial operations; computer and mathematical (IT); and legal all showed fewer online opportunities than a year ago, while occupations in the healthcare, social assistance and food services sectors were areas of sustained growth in the region.

Online recruitment activity in Tampa and San Diego showed marginal movement in August, remaining flat and edging up one point, respectively. Although there was some improvement on the month in healthcare and management occupations in San Diego, the positive growth in these categories was offset by softer hiring activity in retail sales and construction, leaving the overall Index for San Diego 10 percent below its year-earlier reading. Similarly, online recruitment in the Tampa area has slowed significantly in recent months, as demonstrated by the Index for Tampa's five percent decline over the year. Food preparation and serving; architecture and engineering; and education, training, and library were the top growth categories for Tampa in August.

In all, 24 of the 28 Index markets are showing increased online job availability on a year-over year-basis. Results for the top 28 U.S. metro markets over the past 13 months are as follows:



AUG JUL JUN MAY APR MAR FEB JAN DEC NOV OCT SEP AUG 07 07 07 07 07 07 07 07 06 06 06 06 06---------------------- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---Atlanta 117 118 118 117 117 115 113 106 109 110 111 110 108---------------------- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---Baltimore 103 104 104 106 106 106 105 101 105 106 107 106 107---------------------- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---Boston 108 106 108 111 107 105 104 102 103 105 108 107 107---------------------- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---Chicago 113 112 112 112 112 110 109 102 105 109 110 108 107---------------------- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---Cincinnati 106 107 107 107 107 106 108 103 105 108 106 106 105---------------------- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---Cleveland 117 116 115 117 116 115 113 106 110 113 113 108 109---------------------- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---Dallas 120 121 123 126 122 118 114 108 107 111 110 110 109---------------------- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---Denver 121 120 119 120 117 113 108 104 108 112 112 112 113---------------------- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---Detroit 106 107 107 108 107 108 108 103 106 110 109 108 108---------------------- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---Houston 137 134 132 132 131 126 122 115 117 120 120 117 115---------------------- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---Indianapolis 109 108 110 111 113 109 108 103 104 109 108 108 107---------------------- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---Kansas City 119 118 119 118 117 113 111 108 110 114 114 113 111---------------------- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---Los Angeles 110 109 113 117 117 115 110 103 103 104 105 104 101---------------------- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---Miami 113 111 111 113 112 111 108 104 105 107 108 106 105---------------------- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---Minneapolis 116 115 119 117 115 112 110 108 110 114 116 113 111---------------------- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---New York City 111 110 110 110 111 109 108 103 104 108 108 106 106---------------------- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---Orlando 108 108 108 113 108 108 106 102 103 107 106 105 105---------------------- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---Philadelphia 109 108 108 112 109 108 104 103 104 107 106 105 105---------------------- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---Phoenix 115 112 114 113 111 111 106 105 105 110 110 111 112---------------------- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---Pittsburgh 118 115 117 116 114 112 108 105 105 109 109 106 106---------------------- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---Portland 122 119 119 120 116 114 109 105 105 111 113 112 115---------------------- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---Sacramento 112 110 111 113 112 111 108 102 105 108 109 106 109---------------------- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---San Diego 104 103 106 109 110 109 106 103 106 110 111 110 115---------------------- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---San Francisco 115 113 112 115 114 112 111 107 107 111 111 109 110---------------------- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---Seattle 116 114 115 117 113 112 110 106 108 111 113 112 115---------------------- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---St. Louis 120 119 123 123 122 121 113 106 104 108 111 109 108---------------------- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---Tampa 101 101 104 106 108 107 105 101 100 103 104 103 106---------------------- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---Washington, D.C. 107 104 106 108 107 106 102 100 101 104 106 106 106---------------------- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---


The September results of the Monster Local Employment Index will be released on October 18, 2007.

About the Monster Local Employment Index

Providing a broad, comprehensive monthly analysis of online job demand in the top 28 U.S. metro markets, the Monster Local Employment Index is an extension of the national Monster Employment Index, which is compiled each month by researchers at Monster Worldwide, Inc. (NASDAQ: MNST), parent company of the leading global online career and recruitment resource, Monster(R). Based on a real-time review of millions of employer job opportunities culled from more than 1,500 Web sites, including Monster(R), the Monster Local Employment Index presents a snapshot of employer online recruitment activity in the top 28 U.S. markets with the largest working populations.

The Index counts job postings as an indicator of employer demand for employees or, in other words, job availability. Job postings are online advertisements placed by an employer looking to fill one or more vacant, or recently created, job positions. All of the data and findings have been validated for accuracy through independent, monthly third party auditing conducted by Research America, Inc. of Newtown Square, Pennsylvania. Individual Index reports containing data for each of the 28 metro markets, as well as additional information on occupational demand in each area, are now available at  http://LocaleIndex.monsterworldwide.com.

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.

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