Monster Employment Index Dips in July

August 7, 2009 – The Monster Employment Index, a monthly analysis of millions of online job opportunities culled from a large, representative selection of corporate career sites and job boards, edged down three points in July, as U.S. online recruitment activity eased slightly and inline with seasonal hiring patterns. Year-over-year, however, the Index fell by the least in four months, indicating additional improvement in underlying employer demand for workers at the outset of the third quarter. “The decline in U.S. online recruitment activity at the beginning of the third quarter is likely due to a seasonal summer slowdown that is typical this time of year, with most industry and occupational categories experiencing reduced demand,” said Jesse Harriott, senior vice president and chief knowledge officer at Monster Worldwide. “Although the Index is down 27 percent year-on-year, an encouraging take-away and potential sign of stability is the fact that the Index is now showing its most moderate pace of annual contraction since February.”