Monster: April Online Ads Continued to Strengthen

A news release said that the Monster Local Employment Index increased in 20 of the 28 top US metropolitan areas during the month.

According to the announcement, during the past month, nine metropolitan markets showed strong growth in online recruitment activity, while 11 saw a slight-to-moderate rise, five showed flat growth, and three gave up ground. The Index grew by five points in Cincinnati, Phoenix and Portland during April, by four points in Cleveland and Indianapolis, and by three points in Detroit, Houston, Minneapolis and the New York City metro area.

At the other end of the list, online job availability in Los Angeles and Washington, DC decreased by one point, and fell four points in Pittsburgh.

“The solid growth in employer demand we see in April in the Monster Local Employment Index across a majority of the top metro areas in the country is further evidence of the continued strength in the US labor market,” said Steve Pogorzelski, Group President, International at Monster Worldwide, in the news release. “For graduating college seniors, the job market is looking extremely optimistic. Healthy corporate earnings, retiring baby boomers and a willingness to recruit and train all suggest that worker supply continues to be restrained and wages are beginning to rise.”

The Monster announcement said that during April, online recruitment activity for management occupations grew in 25 of the top 28 metro areas, with the largest rate of month-to-month advance registered in Cincinnati and Detroit.Over the 12-month duration of the Index, however, Denver and Sacramento topped the list of the fastest growing markets in this category.

Looking at business and financial operations occupations, 17 markets edged higher, with Portland logging the largest jump between March and April. Meanwhile, Phoenix and Seattle demonstrated the sharpest year-over-year growth, Monster said.

In the life, physical, and social science occupations, 23 metro markets demonstrated growth in online recruitment activity during April, the announcement said. Cleveland, Indianapolis and Portland saw the largest increases in demand, with Baltimore and Dallas registering strong growth, as well. Much of the hiring in this category is focused on workers in research institutes and academic institutions as well as R&D units of major corporations. Not only that, online job availability for IT workers (computer and mathematical) increased in 20 of the top 28 local markets, with particular strength in Cincinnati and Kansas City.

In the food preparation and serving related occupations, April also saw a greater number of online opportunities in 25 of the 28 markets tracked, with Phoenix, Portland and Seattle reporting the highest rate of increase month-to-month. Boston and New York also saw sizable advances in April , while Miami and Pittsburgh demonstrated strong growth over the 12-month period.

More information on the index go here .