US Online Job Demand Surges in August

NEW YORK, - U.S. online job demand and online recruitment activity surged significantly higher in August over July, according to the latest findings of the Monster Employment Index. Nearly all industries as well as all occupations, regions and states measured strong growth in online job availability in August, as the Monster Employment Index jumped eight points from 134 in July 2005 to 142 in August, establishing a new all-time. The record rise in August was a sharp rebound from the brief seasonal slowdown measured in July, demonstrating continued strength in U.S. online job demand at the outset of the fall hiring season. The Index is also up sharply - a total of 30 points - compared to August 2004, when it stood at 112.

This monthís data provides a promising snapshot of our current economy. The Monster Employment Index soared to an all-time high in August, showing a strong rebound from the minor seasonal slowdown measured in July. In fact, this surge far outpaced the rise measured last August, with the Index showing growth in online job demand across all regions of the country and all 50 states, said Steve Pogorzelski, president of Monster, North America. Since the Index measures jobs posted online that are likely to be filled over the next 30 to 60 days, this well-distributed growth is a very encouraging sign for the fall hiring season, especially in conjunction with other positive economic data, including a recent four-year low in weekly jobless claims. The fact that the Index has so strongly resumed its mostly upward growth trend in 2005 certainly bodes well for online recruitment activity and the broader labor market in the months ahead.

Construction Industry Continues Rapid Pace of Growth in Online Job Demand The construction industry registered a sharp increase in online job demand in August, continuing a three-month upward growth trend spurred in part by the U.S. housing boom. With demand showing a 50-point year-over-year increase in August, the construction industry has outpaced all other industries over the past three months. Nearly all industries tracked by the Monster Employment Index - 16 out of 20 - saw increases in online job demand in August, led by the agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting industry, which saw a marked increase consistent with a similar surge in August of last year. Seasonal hiring within this sector is traditionally strong during the harvest season in late summer and early fall, thus companies and staffing agencies likely began posting farm-related jobs in earnest last month in preparation. Other industries that showed significant increases in August included:

Wholesale trade, which extended a six-month growth trend for 2005, and suggests that employers continue to prepare for a commercially strong fall season;

Mining, which saw a steep increase most likely due to the seasonal hiring peak that typically occurs in July and August, as well as stepped up interest in alternative sources of fuel as a result of record-high oil prices; and

Transportation and Warehousing, which saw demand rise to an all-time high in August, likely related to the broader rise in world trade which has caused congestion at several ports as well as a continued shortage of drivers that is plaguing the trucking industry.

In contrast, online job demand within the manufacturing industry decreased slightly in August, continuing a four-month downward trend.

Online Demand for Legal Occupations Rebounds, While Demand for Military Positions Continues Steep Upward Growth Trend

Legal positions were among the occupations that saw the strongest month-to-month increase in online job demand during the month of August. This shift comes after relative calm during the summer months, which followed a busy spring hiring season of law school graduates. Military-related occupations, which registered a very sharp increase in online job demand from July, continued a four-month growth trend due in large part to the U.S. militaryís continued recruitment efforts to secure additional personnel. Overall online demand for workers rose to varying degrees in all 23 occupational categories during August, showing increased online job availability across a wide range of positions. Other occupations that registered significant increases during the month included:

Business and Financial Operations, which saw a large jump in online availability in August, likely reflective of the largely positive corporate business climate and a greater need for auditing and accounting positions; and

Office and Administrative Support, which registered a notable increase in August, also likely due to an increasingly stable U.S. economy spurring further business growth and the increased need for workers in customer support and services areas.

Online Job Demand Rises Across All U.S. Regions in August Online job demand for workers rose significantly in all nine U.S. Census Bureau regions in August, led by the Pacific and Mountain regions, which both registered the sharpest month-to-month increases. All regions remained at very high levels when compared year over year. All U.S. states, along with the District of Columbia, also registered increases during the month, with Hawaii, Arizona, Indiana and Washington among the states that saw the greatest gains.

To obtain a full copy of the Monster Employment Index report for August 2005, including all charts and tables, please visit http://eIndex.monsterworldwide.com. Data for the month of September 2005 will be released on October 6, 2005.