Monster Worldwide Inc.'s (MWW) U.S. employment index edged up 1%
in April from a year earlier, showing strong growth in the
transportation and warehousing industries but declines in the
public administration sector.
The Monster Employment Index, launched in April 2004, gauges
U.S. job demand based on millions of employer job postings on
career websites and online listings.
For the month of April, 14 of the 20 monitored industries showed
growth. Transportation and warehousing job postings were up 27%
from a year earlier, with strong hiring efforts for hard-to-fill
driver jobs. Agriculture, fishing, forestry, and hunting industries
saw an improvement of 22%, and the construction industry saw growth
of 10%.
Information and retail trade industries also showed
improvements, of 8% and 6%, respectively, though the growth rate in
both sectors has slowed since March.
Administrative support and management job listings stayed
roughly flat, with fewer recruitment efforts from consultancies and
holding companies in New York, Massachusetts, California and
Illinois.
Public administration job postings fell 17%, continuing to see
the steepest decline of the monitored industries.
The U.S. Labor Department is scheduled to release its latest
employment report later Friday.
The Labor Department said Thursday that the number of U.S.
workers filing new applications for unemployment benefits fell to
its lowest level in a month last week, an encouraging sign in a
shaky job market.
-By Kristin Jones, Dow Jones Newswires; 212-416-2208;
kristin.jones@dowjones.com