"The decline in online job availability in a majority of major U.S. metro areas reflect the typical summer seasonal slowdown in recruitment," said Steve Pogorzelski, Executive Vice President, Global Sales and Customer Development at Monster Worldwide. "While most markets continue to demonstrate healthy underlying growth, the downturn in business/financial operations opportunities may point to challenges in the financial sector, including the recent declines in the sub-prime mortgage industry."
Among the 28 cities monitored by the Index, Orlando, Los Angeles and Philadelphia registered the sharpest declines in online recruitment activity during June, offsetting the strong gains that they recorded in recent previous months. Orlando, which plunged five points, or five percent, recorded the largest drop, followed closely by Los Angeles, which fell four points, or four percent, and Philadelphia, which also shed four points, or three percent.
The decline in Orlando last month suggests moderating local demand for workers following a particularly strong surge in May when the Index for Orlando jumped five points. In Los Angeles, the decline in recruitment activity was most pronounced in the white-collar segment, with reduced opportunities in occupations such as legal and management. Meanwhile, the Index for Philadelphia showed lower online job availability across the majority of occupational categories tracked, with business/financial operations and legal among the categories that dipped during the month of June.
Minneapolis, which added two points, or two percent, saw the greatest monthly increase in online recruitment activity in June, fueled by strong seasonal demand for healthcare workers and increased opportunities in construction. Healthcare practitioners and technical occupations registered the largest jump of all categories in the Twin Cities of Minneapolis-St. Paul last month, mirroring a similar spike seen in June of last year, and also suggesting a recurring seasonal hiring pattern. Opportunities for Twin Cities healthcare support positions also widened. In a sign of new activity in the region's blue-collar segment, online job offerings for both construction and extraction; and installation, maintenance, and repair occupations edged higher on both a monthly and annual basis.
The Index for Pittsburgh edged up one point last month, continuing a five-month growth trend as demand for workers in food services, construction and manufacturing rose further. The Index for Pittsburgh is now up 15 percent year-over-year, suggesting a tightening of the local labor market and an improving local economy. Despite a mild decline in June, the food preparation and serving category is up 50 percent compared to a year ago, and remains the Index for Pittsburgh's top growth category. Signs of renewed strength were also seen in the blue-collar industries with installation, maintenance, and repair registering the highest rate of increase in online opportunities in June.
Meanwhile, the Index for Denver also climbed one point, or one percent, on greater demand for workers in a number of categories, including protective service; community and social services; and legal. Online opportunities for computer and mathematical (IT) occupations rose, both on the month and on a year-over-year basis. Other categories in Denver showing sizable gains compared to last year include sales and related; office and administrative support; and construction and extraction.
Despite a slight decline in June, Dallas remains the Monster Local Employment Index's second-fastest growth market on a year-over year basis, reflecting continued strength in the broader Texas economy. The Index for Dallas dipped three points, or two percent, in June, causing its annual growth pace to slide from 17 percent to 15 percent. The decline in Dallas reflects fewer online job opportunities in office and administrative support; and food services related occupations, however, both categories remain sharply above year-ago levels.
Online job availability in Houston remained flat last month. Nevertheless, the market continues to hold the Index's top rank in terms of annual growth, and all occupational categories tracked in the Houston area continue to show double-digit growth year-over-year, indicating broad based expansion across all industry sectors. Both Dallas and Houston saw solid demand for sales and related occupations which is reflective of the growing population base and sustained consumer spending in both regions.
In California, all four monitored markets registered moderate declines in online job availability in June, indicating that the state's labor market may be loosening. Los Angeles dipped four points, or four percent, largely driven by a sharp, 29-point decline in online opportunities for legal occupations. Sacramento declined two points, or two percent, amid fewer opportunities in both blue- and white- collar opportunities, however, much of the decline may be seasonal as the Index for Sacramento showed a similar decline a year ago. San Diego and San Francisco both shed three points last month, with San Diego reporting fewer white-collar opportunities in management and legal occupations, while San Francisco showed sharply reduced offerings for computer and mathematical (IT) and transportation and material moving occupations.
A majority of the 28 markets tracked registered lower online demand for workers in business and financial operations during June, suggesting that business conditions including the erosion of the sub-prime mortgage sector may be impacting hiring in the financial sector. The category declined in 23 of the top 28 markets on the month compared to only one market a year ago - a strong indication that the drop may not have been seasonal in nature. The fact that all 28 markets are now showing lower annual growth rates for the category provides further evidence of softening recruitment in this sector.
