"A majority of large U.S. cities saw online recruitment activity pick up during the month of August, which typically marks the end of the seasonal summer slowdown and the beginning of the fall hiring period," said Steve Pogorzelski, Executive Vice President, Global Sales and Customer Development at Monster Worldwide. "Not surprisingly, most of the markets tracked saw stepped up online recruitment in education-related occupations as academic institutions prepared for the fall semester, and continued strong demand for healthcare workers, particularly in those with heavy senior citizen demographics."
Online job recruitment activity in the nation's capital region was mixed in August, with Washington D.C. showing increased online job availability, while neighboring Baltimore saw fewer opportunities last month and is now showing a decline from a year ago. Washington D.C., which added three points or 3 percent in August, registered the highest monthly rate of increase among all Index markets, fueled by elevated demand in the public sector and among blue-collar occupations. Community and social services registered the largest monthly increase of all major categories, placing the Washington D.C. market among the top three growth markets for the category. Other occupations with a strong public sector component are also up significantly from a year ago, including education, training and library; and protective service. Online demand for military specific occupations also edged higher in August, rising seven points, or five percent, bringing the category's year-over-year growth rate to 35 percent, making Washington D.C. the top growth market for this category. In the blue-collar sector, online demand for installation, maintenance and repair; and production occupations showed the strongest rebounds from July. Opportunities for construction workers also expanded in August, making Washington D.C. the top growth market for the month in this category.
Meanwhile, the Index for Baltimore dipped one point last month amid reduced demand for white-collar occupations. Baltimore is now one of only four Index markets showing reduced online job availability over the year. Management; and business and financial operations were among the categories that registered the sharpest declines in Baltimore in August and both categories are down sharply from a year ago, indicating a softening in hiring activity in the corporate and financial services sectors. Online recruitment activity for life, physical and social science occupations in Baltimore dipped for the third consecutive month, and the area has seen the sharpest year-over-year decline of any Index market, suggesting weakness in the metro area's important research and development sector.
Pittsburgh, which rose three points, or three percent, in August, is now up 11 percent on the year, second only to Houston in terms of year-over-year growth. Two categories - education, training and library; and healthcare practitioners and technical - were among those registering the highest rate of increase in online job availability over the month. Meanwhile, food preparation and serving related occupations, which edged up four points in August, remained the top growth category on a year-over-year basis. Despite a reported slowing in the manufacturing sector, online recruiting efforts increased in the production; and transportation and material moving occupations with both categories showing positive growth over the year. However, banking and financial services employers appear to be recruiting at a slower pace, which may be connected to recent issues surrounding the sub-prime mortgage industry.
Online recruitment activity in Dallas edged lower for the third consecutive month, falling one point, or one percent, extending a negative seasonal summer trend that runs counter to historical trends over the past two years. Nevertheless, the Dallas metro region's sustained population inflow has continued to drive online demand for workers in construction. Online demand for construction and extraction occupations is up 12 percent from last year, fueled largely by commercial construction in the Dallas area.
Despite a sharp deceleration in construction related recruitment due to the slowing housing market, Houston remains the Index's hottest growth market. Adding just three points, or two percent, in August, the Index for Houston still finished the month 19 percent higher than a year ago. Local white-collar demand was strong last month, with expanded online job opportunities in management; business and financial operations; computer and mathematical (IT); and office and administrative support.
Meanwhile, in the Midwest, St. Louis and Kansas City, each gained one point in August and continues to show impressive growth fueled by robust demand for workers in office and administrative support occupations. The upward trend in this category demonstrates the high demand for customer service and call center; and administrative support services in both cities, suggesting that relatively low business costs in these markets may be drawing the attention of companies looking to expand or relocate. Year-over-year, the Index for St. Louis is up 12 points, or 11 percent, while Kansas City is up eight points, or 7 percent.
For the first time since the Index's inception, Detroit's year-over-year growth rate fell into the negative following a one point dip in August and a further slowdown in the local job market. Sales and related; production; management; business and financial operations; computer and mathematical (IT); and legal all showed fewer online opportunities than a year ago, while occupations in the healthcare, social assistance and food services sectors were areas of sustained growth in the region.
Online recruitment activity in Tampa and San Diego showed marginal movement in August, remaining flat and edging up one point, respectively. Although there was some improvement on the month in healthcare and management occupations in San Diego, the positive growth in these categories was offset by softer hiring activity in retail sales and construction, leaving the overall Index for San Diego 10 percent below its year-earlier reading. Similarly, online recruitment in the Tampa area has slowed significantly in recent months, as demonstrated by the Index for Tampa's five percent decline over the year. Food preparation and serving; architecture and engineering; and education, training, and library were the top growth categories for Tampa in August.
