Employment Index Makes Monster Jump

Wednesday we pointed to three reports that reflect job market improvement. On Thursday another encouraging sign emerged.

The Monster Employment Index for August was released. It recorded its highest monthly rate of improvement in four years spiking 6% higher than its July reading. The report -- produced monthly by the popular online jobs bulletin board -- registered increased job availability in a majority of industries, occupations, and regions.

The Monster Employment Index is a dynamic gauge of U.S. job demand based on a real-time review of millions of employer work opportunities selected from a large representative sampling of corporate career Web sites and job boards, including Monster's own listings.

During August positive indications were broad based with online job postings rising in 15 of the Index's 20 industry sectors and 18 of the 23 occupational categories monitored by Monster.

In an press release, Monster's senior Vice President Jess Harriott reflected on the report: "The significant jump in the Monster Employment Index in August offers encouraging signs of improvement in the US economy with the demand for managers and professionals as well as sales and office workers picking up in time for the fall hiring season."

Indeed we would agree that the second half of 2009 will be characterized by surprisingly strong economic growth.

Comments

[The Recusant:]

OH, PLEASE! Stop with the "good news" slant and tell the real picture. Optimistic reports that skew the actual facts do no one any good. How can people prepare for what's coming if you continually throw rainbows in front of their eyes?

Here's what the BLS reported last week:
"In August, the number of unemployed persons increased by 466,000 to 14.9 million, and the unemployment rate rose by 0.3 percentage point to 9.7 percent. The rate had been little changed in June and July, after increasing 0.4 or 0.5 percentage point in each month from December 2008 through May. Since the recession began in December 2007, the number of unemployed persons has risen by 7.4 million, and the unemployment rate has grown by 4.8 percentage points." And this is nowhere close to the actual rate of 16.8% of those who are out of work, no longer are receiving benefits, or are underemployed. Ask the majority of the unemployed, those 45 years old and older, if the Monster Employment Index is good news to them or if the job openings are appropriate for their skill and pay levels.

Sep 05 06:39 PM

[The Good Ne...:]

Sorry Recusant, but in case you have not noticed, that is what we do. If you want the bad news you can read it elsewhere. The mainstream media by its own admission publish the "bad news" slant. It is what sells. The bad news is usually what is most "newsworthy."

The Good News Economist blog is all about a perspective that is also slanted by its own admission. If it is bad news, it is *not* newsworthy at our blog. "When all you read is gloom, turn here for a much different perspective." That's our by-line.

Don't expect it to change anytime soon.

Sep 07 11:52 PM

[jay brebner:]

please keep throwing those rainbows in front of my eyes.

Sep 08 08:21 AM