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UK Online Recruitment Holds Steady in July, According to Monster Employment Index

July 2009 Index Highlights:
• The Monster Employment Index UK held steady in July. Overall, the Index is down 37 percent year-on-year
• Online job opportunities expanded in the transportation, HR and healthcare industries, while offerings fell most in management and media
• Northern Ireland saw the biggest upturn in demand of all UK regions. Job availability also rose in London and Scotland

Summary Overview
Online employment opportunities across the UK held steady in July, as recruitment remained largely unchanged for the fourth consecutive month. The overall European Index dipped one point in July and contracted by 40 percent year-on-year.

While the UK Index remains down year-on-year, the rate of annual decline has levelled off since February, indicating demand has bottomed out following last year’s dramatic decline. July saw increased hiring activity in both the transport, post logistics, and production, manufacturing, maintenance, repair sectors, suggesting job prospects in the hard-hit goods-producing sector may be improving. Meanwhile, consulting and marketing disciplines saw fewer opportunities.

The Monster Employment Index Europe is a monthly analysis of millions of online job opportunities culled from a large, representative selection of corporate career sites and job boards across the European Union, including Monster.co.uk.

Monster Employment Index UK findings for the past 13 months are as follows:

Jul 09 Jun09 May09 Apr09 Mar09 Feb09 Jan09 Dec08 Nov08 Oct08 Sep08 Aug08 Jul08
110 110 109 112 110 117 111 141 152 161 159 167 174

“It is encouraging that overall online job demand has stabilized and that recruiting in the goods-producing sector is picking up, but there is still little indication that hiring has resumed in the much-larger service sector,” commented Hugo Sellert, head of economic research, at Monster Worldwide. “The UK economy’s sustained contraction in the second quarter means labour market conditions will remain challenging in the foreseeable future. Competition for top talent is still fierce, however, as companies seek to attract the most qualified workers from the growing pool of unemployed workers.”

Demand for transportation and production workers surges as management and consulting drops sharply
July saw increased hiring activity in heavy industries, while management and consulting; and marketing, PR and media saw fewer opportunities. Private-driven sectors also saw continued growth.

The transport, post and logistics sector saw the largest monthly increase in July, jumping by 17 points (19 percent). Opportunities in the sector are now at a seven-month high, principally led by a steep rise in offerings in the South East. Year-on-year, however, the sector saw a 52 point (33 percent) drop in job availability. Production, manufacturing, maintenance and repair also logged a third consecutive upturn, adding six points (six percent) to reach its highest Index reading in twelve months.

Public-driven sectors continued to perform strongly, with opportunities in healthcare and social work up 22 points (seven percent), reaching a new Index high. The sector also performed well year-on-year, up 57 percent. The public, defence and community sector also rose five points (five percent) in July and 14 percent year-on-year. Despite a moderation of 16 points (five percent) in July, education, training and library showed continued strong performance year-on-year, up 26 percent.

By contrast, hiring of management and consulting workers fell 19 points (ten percent) in July and showed a continued annual decline of 26 percent. A significant decrease in job availability was also recorded in the marketing, PR and media sector, which fell by five points (five percent) in July.

Demand for plant and machine operators, and assemblers increases; hiring of service and sales workers drops off
Online job demand for plant and machine operators, and assemblers registered the highest rate of increase in July, rising six points (11 percent). Although demand for these workers has picked up considerably since its February trough, offerings remain down by 59 points (49 percent) from year-ago readings.

Job availability for service and sales workers fell by nine points (12 percent) in July. This occupation saw the steepest decline of all groups from an annual perspective, reflecting weak retail trends and weakened demand for professional services workers. Year-on-year, demand fell by 96 points (58 percent).

Hiring picks up in Northern Ireland; South West hit the hardest
Overall, six of the nine UK regions saw an upturn in job availability. Online hiring in Northern Ireland increased by four points (four percent), as demand in the region grew for the fourth consecutive month. Year-on-year, however, demand was down 31 percent. Scotland also saw more opportunities, rising by three points (three percent) and London was up two points (two percent).

Demand in the South West fell most, dropping by six points (three percent) in July. Hiring in Wales decreased by four points (two percent), although the region continues to show the most moderate decline in online recruitment from an annual perspective.

Best performing sectors
Industry sectors showing the greatest rate of increase in online job availability included:

Month-on-month

Industry

 Jul 09 Jun09 %
Transport, post and logistics 108 91 19%
HR 63 57 11%
Legal 136 126 8%
Healthcare, social work 334 312 7%
Production, manufacturing, maintenance, repair 114 108 6%

Year-on-year

Industry Jul 09 Jul08 %
Healthcare, social work 334 213 57%
Education, training and library 278 220 26%
Public sector, defence, community 111 97 14%
Production, manufacturing, maintenance, repair 114 119 -4%
Research and development 118 152 -22%

Monster Employment Index UK findings across industry sectors for the past 13 months are as follows:

Industry Jul 09 Jun 09 May 09 Apr 09 Mar 09 Feb09 Jan09 Dec08 Nov08 Oct08 Sep08 Aug08 Jul08
Accounting, audit, taxes 82 85 83 85 84 91 90 108 119 121 123 123 132
Administrative, organisation 90 91 90 88 89 98 87 132 160 178 173 184 182
Arts, entertainment, sports, leisure 100 95 103 108 108 120 113 144 151 178 175 185 180
Banking, finance, insurance 106 106 107 115 116 123 117 148 167 173 158 168 165
Construction and extraction 72 70 74 79 83 81 81 108 114 125 134 156 152
Education, training and library 278 294 283 290 267 253 215 256 224 217 167 185 220
Engineering 122 121 125 136 138 149 143 188 196 202 197 203 205
Environment, architecture and urbanism 62 62 63 68 68 74 74 124 134 146 180 219 196
Healthcare, social work 334 312 276 330 291 305 321 263 314 255 201 226 213
Hospitality and tourism 130 132 139 124 123 129 115 150 159 165 162 178 223
HR 63 57 56 56 59 72 52 74 111 127 131 162 173
IT 79 80 81 80 82 85 82 96 103 108 110 108 116
Legal 136 126 125 130 120 139 127 163 162 183 186 179 176
Management and consulting 162 181 187 176 156 162 135 169 193 196 207 204 219
Marketing, PR and media 99 104 103 119 121 138 128 163 196 204 199 207 208
Production, manufacturing, maintenance, Repair 114 108 106 95 97 86 91 103 108 109 110 111 119
Public sector, defence, community 111 106 106 105 104 104 103 108 112 108 113 105 97
Research and development 118 121 133 146 149 146 130 151 150 146 143 147 152
Sales 91 88 88 86 85 86 82 110 121 133 133 137 147
Telecommunications 66 71 66 71 74 80 80 89 102 92 92 99 96
Transport, post  and logistics 108 91 96 93 89 97 94 110 126 136 140 146 160

Monster Employment Index UK findings across occupational categories for the past 13 months are as follows:

Occupation Jul 09 Jun 09 May 09 Apr 09 Mar 09 Feb09 Jan09 Dec08 Nov08 Oct08 Sep08 Aug08 Jul08
Managers 103 100 101 105 103 107 101 130 140 151 145 158 162
Professionals 108 110 107 113 111 122 118 152 169 172 164 173 180
Technicians and associate professionals 121 115 111 108 107 109 110 134 147 153 158 160 162
Clerical support workers 86 87 90 83 84 87 83 105 119 135 135 141 147
Service and sales workers 69 78 80 78 79 86 72 90 105 102 119 126 165
Skilled agricultural, forestry and fishery workers 173 160 157 181 197 214 195 209 205 191 167 196 202
Craft  and related workers 139 138 139 140 148 158 133 171 194 204 176 205 246
Plant and machine operators, and assemblers 62 56 56 49 48 44 51 72 82 88 95 107 121
Elementary occupations 73 68 69 69 71 60 60 76 90 98 104 106 124

Monster Employment Index UK findings across the regions for the past 13 months are as follows:

Region Jul 09 Jun 09 May 09 Apr 09 Mar 09 Feb09 Jan09 Dec08 Nov08 Oct08 Sep08 Aug08 Jul08
Midlands 102 100 103 101 102 110 110 133 154 165 163 162 182
North England 131 128 127 138 133 136 126 155 171 177 179 181 190
London 101 99 96 95 96 100 98 113 124 128 131 135 141
South East 99 98 98 103 104 107 104 120 124 128 126 132 132
South West 189 195 194 198 189 190 176 223 250 276 260 265 273
Wales 184 188 195 192 192 174 179 211 235 257 217 238 237
Scotland 109 106 108 114 100 114 108 133 139 149 149 154 172
East Anglia 106 109 110 105 111 112 101 119 136 148 131 150 155
Northern Ireland 113 109 108 106 93 96 96 143 151 147 185 160 184
 
Monster Employment Index UK for August will be released on September 8, 2009.
 
About The Monster Employment Index Europe
The Monster Employment Index Europe provides monthly insight into online recruitment trends across the European Union. Launched in June 2005 with data from December 2004, the Index is based on a review of millions of employer job opportunities culled from a large, representative selection of corporate career sites and job boards, including Monster. The Monster Employment Index’s underlying data is validated for accuracy by Research America, Inc. – an independent, third-party auditing firm – to ensure that measured online job recruitment activity is within a margin of error of +/- 1.05%.
 
The Index monitors online job opportunities across all European Union member countries.
 
The monthly reports for Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Sweden, the United Kingdom and Europe are available at: http://about-monster.com/employment/index/17.
 
About Monster Worldwide
Monster Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE: MWW), parent company of Monster, the premier global online employment solution for more than a decade, strives to inspire people to improve their lives. With a local presence in key markets in North America, Europe, and Asia, Monster works for everyone by connecting employers with quality job seekers at all levels and by providing personalized career advice to consumers globally. Through online media sites and services, Monster delivers vast, highly targeted audiences to advertisers. Monster Worldwide is a member of the S&P 500 index. To learn more about Monster's industry-leading products and services, visit www.monster.com. More information about Monster Worldwide is available at http://about-monster.com.
 
Special Note: Safe Harbor Statement Under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: Except for historical information contained herein, the statements made in this release constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Such forward-looking statements involve certain risks and uncertainties, including statements regarding Monster Worldwide, Inc.'s strategic direction, prospects and future results. Certain factors, including factors outside of Monster Worldwide's control, may cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in the forward- looking statements, including economic and other conditions in the markets in which Monster Worldwide operates, risks associated with acquisitions, competition, seasonality and the other risks discussed in Monster Worldwide's Form 10-K/A and other filings made with the Securities and Exchange Commissio803n, which discussions are incorporated in this release by reference.
 
CONTACTS:
Charlie Meredith-Hardy
Weber Shandwick
+44 (0)20 7067 0647
cmeredith-hardy@webershandwick.com