Online Recruitment Activity Rises in 20 of Top 28 US Metro Markets in April

- Online Job Demand for Management; and Business and Financial Workers Increases across Majority of Markets

- Online Job Opportunities in IT; and Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations Spike

According to the latest findings of the Monster Local Employment Index, online job availability increased in 20 of the 28 top U.S. metropolitan areas during April, reflecting a continued rise in online hiring demand in a majority of major U.S. metro areas.

During the past month, nine metropolitan markets showed strong growth in online recruitment activity, while 11 saw a slight-to-moderate rise, five showed flat growth, and three declined. The Index grew by five points in Cincinnati, Phoenix and Portland during April, by four points in Cleveland and Indianapolis, and by three points in Detroit, Houston, Minneapolis and the New York City metro area. Meanwhile, online job availability in Los Angeles and Washington, D.C. decreased by one point, and fell four points in Pittsburgh.

The solid growth in employer demand we see in April in the Monster Local Employment Index across a majority of the top metro areas in the country is further evidence of the continued strength in the U.S. labor market, said Steve Pogorzelski, Group President, International at Monster Worldwide. For graduating college seniors, the job market is looking extremely optimistic. Healthy corporate earnings, retiring baby boomers and a willingness to recruit and train all suggest that worker supply continues to be restrained and wages are beginning to rise.

During April, online recruitment activity for management occupations grew in 25 of the top 28 metro areas, with the largest rate of month-to-month increase registered in Cincinnati and Detroit. Over the 12-month duration of the Index, however, Denver and Sacramento top the list of fastest growing markets in this category. For business and financial operations occupations, 17 markets edged higher, with Portland logging the largest jump between March and April. Meanwhile, Phoenix and Seattle demonstrated the sharpest year-over-year growth for business and financial operations occupations.

Twenty-three metro markets demonstrated growth in online recruitment activity for life, physical, and social science occupations during April. Cleveland, Indianapolis and Portland saw the largest increases in demand, with Baltimore and Dallas registering strong growth, as well. Much of the hiring in this category is focused on workers in research institutes and academic institutions as well as R&D units of major corporations. Additionally, online job availability for IT workers (computer and mathematical) increased in 20 of the top 28 local markets, with particular strength in Cincinnati and Kansas City.

Food preparation and serving related occupations also saw a greater number of online opportunities in 25 of the 28 markets tracked with Phoenix, Portland and Seattle registering the largest rate of increase month-to-month. Boston and New York also saw sizable gains last month, while Miami and Pittsburgh demonstrated strong growth over the 12-month period. Seasonal factors such as warmer weather were potential contributors to the elevated demand, as was strong continued growth in the restaurant and hotel industries.

Twenty-two markets registered increased online recruitment for transportation and material moving workers with particular strength in Seattle, Portland and Minneapolis. The broad increase suggests that high gas prices have not yet taken a toll on hiring activity in the transportation sector, which is enjoying strong momentum thanks to the booming economy and intense domestic and international trade. Furthermore, a wide array of businesses are using extra fees and fuel surcharges to shift some of their rising energy costs to consumers. Significant increases in online demand for transportation and material moving workers were measured in Houston, Orlando and St. Louis in recent months. Dallas, by contrast, dipped in April, and Pittsburgh has remained essentially flat over the last year.

The May results of the Monster Local Employment Index will be released on June 15, 2006.