July Monster Employment Index Grows 21 Percent
August 6, 2010 – The Monster Employment Index (MEI), a monthly analysis of millions of online job opportunities culled from a large, representative selection of corporate career sites and job boards, remained at 21 percent (24-point increase) with the degree of July's seasonal slowdown matching the historical July average seen in the Index, suggesting some stability in underlying job market drivers. The Index declined by three points (two percent) on a monthly basis reflecting a seasonal easing in online recruitment activity seen at this stage of the year as companies reduce hiring activity after meeting their summer requirements. During July, online job availability rose in 8 of the Index's 20 industry sectors and in eight of the 23 occupational categories monitored. “The Monster Employment Index monthly contraction in July was in line with seasonal expectations considering the summer months tend to be a slower period for recruitment activity,” said Jesse Harriott, senior vice president and chief knowledge officer at Monster Worldwide. “Year-over-year growth remained unchanged between June and July. The fact that hiring is more robust than a year ago points to a general improvement in the nation's hiring conditions as the economy continues its slow but steady recovery.”