During the month of March, 15 of 20 industries and 20 of 23 occupational categories tracked by the Index registered increased online job demand for workers.
“While the Monster Employment Index has registered positive growth in online recruitment activity over the past two months, and demonstrated a solid rebound from the seasonal slowdown that extended beyond the year-end holidays and into January, the Index is still showing signs of a slower annual growth pace than in previous years,” said Steve Pogorzelski, Group President, International at Monster Worldwide. “The U.S. job market continues to exhibit signs of continued stability, which should be comforting to active jobseekers. However, tight labor conditions suggest a fiercely competitive environment for this year’s crop of college graduates vying for entry-level positions.”
Transportation and Warehousing; Real Estate, Rental and Leasing Show Sharpest Gains in March
Online demand for workers in the transportation and warehousing industry jumped for the second consecutive month, adding 14 points in March. The sharp growth in online opportunities for workers reflects the thriving U.S. trucking and freight industry, which is expected to see continued growth and drive demand for both freight workers and truck drivers alike, according to industry association reports.
The real estate and rental and leasing category also rose last month, gaining nine points and extending a fourth-month growth trend. The increase may be partly due to employers feeling more confident about recent data showing a rebound over the past three months in the sales of existing homes, which suggests that the housing market may be starting to stabilize.
Mirroring the Index’s February findings, the utilities sector remains the Index’s fastest growing industry on a year-over-year basis, followed closely by transportation and warehousing; and management of companies and enterprises. Among the five industry categories that registered declines year-over-year, agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting dipped the most, followed by wholesale trade; healthcare and social assistance; and finance and insurance.
Online Demand for Legal; Healthcare Support; and Healthcare Practitioner and Technical Occupations Rises in March
Online job availability for legal occupations registered the sharpest rate of increase among occupations in March, surging 34 points and extending a three-month growth trend. While online recruitment activity for legal professionals typically intensifies at this time of the year, the sharp increase in online recruitment activity in the earlier months of January and February suggests an overall strengthening in demand for both experienced attorneys and recent law school graduates, primarily in the private sector.
Online job demand for healthcare workers also surged in March, as opportunities in the healthcare practitioner and technical category (up 25 points) and healthcare support category (up 28 points) rose significantly. Both categories registered their largest monthly increases to date as well as their highest readings since the inception of the Index in October 2003. The rise last month reflects heightened demand in the healthcare industry for both high-end specialists and lower-skilled generalists. A growing nurse shortage, resulting from high turnover and lack of space in nursing programs, also continues drive online job recruitment activity in the healthcare industry.
In contrast, online demand for military specific occupations fell nine points in March, continuing a four-month downward trend that has contributed to the category’s 10-point year-over-year deficit. According to Index data, the decline appears to be mainly due to a slowdown in recruiting efforts in the military sector specifically, as opposed to the private sector which includes aerospace, aviation and defense contractors.
Year-over-year, several occupational categories are showing strong growth in online job availability including legal; protective service; and community and social services. The slowest growing categories year-over-year include military specific, transportation and material moving; and building and grounds cleaning and maintenance.
Online Job Demand Rises in All Nine U.S. Regions in March
Online job availability rose by varying degrees in all nine U.S. Census Bureau regions last month. The Pacific region registering the strongest rate of growth between February and March, largely due to heightened demand in the Southern California area. The West South Central region also rose sharply, gaining 15 points. All nine regions are showing double-digit gains year-over-year.
A total of 48 U.S. states, plus the District of Columbia, registered increased online job demand in March, and a majority of states remain up year-over-year.
