Monster Employment Index Dips Slightly in November

December 3, 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 one point in November, as online demand for workers remained muted across the U.S. On a year-over-year basis, the Index is now down 17 percent, the mildest rate of annual decline since September last year. During November, online job availability rose in ten of the Index's 20 industry sectors and in nine of the 23 occupational categories monitored. The utilities industry registered the highest rate of increase in online job demand in November amid a seasonal rise in demand for field workers. Largely seasonal rises were also noted in the transportation and warehousing; and wholesale trade industries. Professional, scientific, and technical services; and finance and insurance edged up marginally, extending a gradual recovery from their reduced demand levels in July. In contrast, healthcare and social assistance registered a substantial decline to reach its lowest level on record in the Index. Retail trade and public administration also edged lower while manufacturing, real-estate and administrative services remained flat in November. Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting is the only industry category showing greater online job availability compared to a year ago. “The trend in online job availability has been largely flat for most of the year and remained so in November,” said Jesse Harriott, senior vice president and chief knowledge officer at Monster. “While job losses have continued to ease, businesses remain cautious about adding to their payrolls in light of sustained economic uncertainty.”