Monster Employment Index Continues to Rise

March 9, 2010 – 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, rose by 10 points in February, as employers resumed hiring activity after January's seasonal lull. The long-term growth rate turned positive, with the Index up two percent year-on-year, for the first time since December 2007 suggesting some improvement in the underlying demand for labor. During February, online job availability rose in 15 of the Index's 20 industry sectors and in 19 of the 23 occupational categories monitored. “Although some of the increase in the February Index can be attributed to seasonality, a rise in hiring for sectors like manufacturing, transportation and wholesale trade offers an encouraging sign of increased investment and business activity,” said Jesse Harriott, senior vice president and chief knowledge officer at Monster Worldwide. “The fact that we are seeing a year-over-year increase in the Index may be an early indication that companies are stepping up recruiting efforts.”