Monster: U.S. Online Recruiting Growth Slowed in September 2012

Econintersect: Global online employment agency Monster Worldwide (NYSE:MWW) reports a slowing in growth of online recruiting in the U.S. for September 2012.  The Monster Employment Index U.S. showed a monthly  decline of 2% from August to September. This follows an increase from July to August of 6%,  a month-over-month decline from June to July of 3% and before that an increase of 3% from May to June.  All month-over month changes from January to May were positive.

The index is based on online job opportunities monitored across 28 metro markets.  The U.S. Monster Employment Index also provides sector-specific data measuring online job demand.  The y-o-y increase for September was 3%, less than reported for August (6%). The year-over-year growth trend has been up since April following a steep fall to near zero year-over-year growth in the first quarter of 2012.

The following graphics show the top growth and lowest growth industries, followed by the top growth and lowest growth occupations and then top growth metros and the lowest growth metros.

From the press release:

September 2012 Index Highlights:

• Monster Employment Index U.S. grows three percent annually in September and declines two percent month-over-month

• Retail trade (up 12 percent) leads all sectors in annual growth, while construction rises 11 percent accelerating from nine percent recorded in August
  

• Public administration (down 15 percent) and Information (down six percent) continue to exhibit negative year-over-year growth
  

• Among the metro markets tracked by the Index, New York and Los Angeles gain momentum, while Atlanta records top growth annually

The Monster Employment Index U.S. is a monthly gauge of U.S. online job posting activity based on a real-time review of millions of employer job opportunities culled from a large representative selection of career Web sites and online job listings. The Index does not reflect the trend of any one advertiser or source, but is an aggregate measure of the change in job listings across the industry.

Industry Year-over-year Trends: 14 of the 20 industries monitored by the Index showed positive annual growth trends.

• Retail Trade (up 12 percent) finished atop all industry sectors coinciding with the recently reported escalation in consumer spending
  

• Construction (up 11 percent) accelerated from the nine percent growth rate recorded in August, in line with recent relatively positive housing starts figures
  

• Professional, scientific, and technical services (up three percent) recorded a reduced growth pace compared to recent months reflected in the decelerated recruitment growth trends for architecture/ engineering and computer and mathematical occupations
  

• Finance and Insurance (up three percent) remained flat month-over-month with continued recruitment activity for sales agents and personal financial advisors, as well as information/records clerks
  

• Public administration (down 15 percent) continued to chart the steepest annual decline in the Index

Occupation Year-over-year Trends:  Annual online demand for workers rose in 19 of 23 occupational categories in August.

• Healthcare Occupations – Healthcare Support (up 17 percent) and Healthcare Practitioners and Technical (up 14 percent) recorded double-digit growth in September

• Computer and Mathematical remained flat; while Production (down five percent) turned negative in September

Geographic year-over-year Trends: All 28 metro markets recorded positive annual growth in
September.

• Atlanta (up 13 percent) led all metro markets in terms of annual growth with notable momentum gains in occupational categories like management and healthcare

• New York (up 10 percent) and Los Angeles (up 11 percent) gained momentum from August levels with a return to double-digit annual growth rate. Growth was recorded in computer and mathematical, business and financial operations, and arts, design, entertainment, sports and media for both markets

• Growth eased for Midwestern markets monitored by the Index, with Cleveland (up one percent); Kansas City (up three percent); Indianapolis (up nine percent) and Chicago (up nine percent) recording decelerated annual growth pace from the prior month

John Lounsbury

Source:

• Monster Employment Index, U.S. (Press Release, 05 October 2012)