Monster Employment Index Surges to New All-time High in January

Index Shows Solid Growth in Online Job Availability Across Majority of Industries, Occupations, and U.S. Census Bureau Regions

Demand for White-collar Workers in Business and Finance; IT; Legal; and Office and Administrative Support Rises Sharply

January 2006 Index Highlights:

Index soars six points to 151 in January, rebounding strongly from seasonal slowdown in December 2005

Online opportunities for white-collar workers in accounting, IT and legal professions surge, demonstrating broad strength in business services

Demand for protective service and military specific occupations rises sharply, resuming growth following two-month downward trend

All nine U.S. Census Bureau divisions edge upward, with the West South Central region again posting the largest gain due to continued hurricane reconstruction efforts

The Monster Employment Index soared to a new all-time high in January, as a majority of industries, occupations, and all nine U.S. Census Bureau regions registered higher levels of online job availability during the month. The Index jumped six points, from 145 in December to 151 in January, rebounding strongly from a seasonal slowdown during the final month of last year and mirroring a similar trend seen at the beginning of the previous two years.

Sharply increased demand for white-collar workers in business and financial; IT; legal; and office and administrative support helped drive the Index higher during January. Online job availability in the accommodation and food services; transportation and warehousing; and educational services also showed solid growth. In addition, online demand for protective service (security and law enforcement) and military specific (including aerospace and defense) occupations rose to new all-time highs in January after dipping in November and December.

ìOnline recruitment activity as measured by the Monster Employment Index accelerated sharply in January, reflecting the underlying strength and positive momentum of the job market and providing an encouraging sign that the U.S. labor market is continuing to expand as we begin 2006,î said Steve Pogorzelski, Group President, International at Monster Worldwide. ìThe Indexís eight-point increase over the past three months strongly suggests that employers are continuing to hire new workers so they can further grow their businesses in the New Year.î

Accommodation and Food Services; and Transportation and Warehousing Industries Show Higher Demand for Workers in January

The accommodation and food services industry showed sharply higher online demand for workers in January, continuing the strong growth registered during December, likely due to sustained strength in the U.S. hotel industry and efforts to support the busy winter travel and tourism season. Overall, online job demand for workers rose in 12 of 20 industries during January, with strong growth measured in:

Transportation and warehousing, which continued a three-month upward trend since October, suggesting growing demand for workers in the trucking and logistics sectors;

Manufacturing, which, despite recent layoffs in the automotive sector, saw recruitment activity pick up again in January, possibly due to an up-tick in the goods-producing sector; and

Educational services, which saw online job availability surge last month, continuing a two-month growth trend.

Online Demand for White-collar Workers Surges in January, Suggesting Strong Upward Momentum for Providers of Business Services

Online job demand for white-collar workers across a range of occupations rose strongly in January, indicating greater optimism within the corporate sector and a tightening job market for corporate professionals. Occupational categories showing a significant increase in online opportunities during the past month include legal; management; business and financial; computer and mathematical (IT); and office and administrative support. Overall online demand for workers rose in 22 of 24 occupational categories in January, indicating a widespread recovery in online job availability across a majority of positions. Particularly strong growth was noted in the following occupations:

Construction, which bounced back from a dip in December, showing a sharp increase in online job availability for workers;

Military Specific, which surged to an all-time high, likely due to heightened government hiring needs as well as a surge in new orders seen in the aerospace and defense industries; and

Personal care and service, which saw a sharp rise in demand for workers, extending a three-month upward growth trend.

West South Central Region Registers Sharpest Rate of Increase in January, Likely Due to Continued Gulf Coast Reconstruction Efforts

Online job demand for workers increased in all nine U.S. Census Bureau regions in January, indicating broad growth in online job demand during the month. The West South Central region registered the sharpest rate of growth as Louisiana continued, for yet another month, to struggle with broad hiring needs for renovation, reconstruction and repair work in the New Orleans area. Forty-six U.S. states and the District of Columbia saw increases of varying degrees during January, with Alaska, Louisiana, North Carolina and Texas among those registering the greatest gains.

To obtain a full copy of the Monster Employment Index report for January 2006, including all charts and tables, please visit www.monsterworldwide.com/Press_Room/MEI.html. Data for the month of February 2006 will be released on March 9, 2006.