Monster Reports Seasonal Drop In Online Job DemandMonster Reports Seasonal Drop In Online Job Demand

Monster Worldwide Inc. on Thursday said its job index fell four points in December, as a majority of occupations across the nation registered a decline in online job demand.

The job site said its index fell to 145 from 149 in November, but the decline appeared to be mostly seasonal, based on similar activity in December of 2004 and 2003. The index was 32 points higher than its level in December of last year.

Fewer online jobs were available in business, construction and manufacturing, but demand was higher in the transportation and accommodation industry, as the winter travel and tourism season began, the New York-based company said.

Online recruitment activity in Louisiana continued a three-month growth trend from ongoing recovery efforts from Hurricane Katrina in the Gulf Coast area.

Manufacturing was one industry whose decline was not seasonal, but indicated a cautious outlook among employers regarding long-term growth. Monster said the negative outlook was due in part to strong growth in labor-replacing technology and the waning domestic automotive industry.

In business, budgetary constraints likely resulted in a slower pace of worker recruitment for management, legal, business and financial and office and administrative jobs.

Overall, online demand for workers declined in 20 of 23 occupational categories followed by Monster. The two other occupations that registered increases included personal care and service, and healthcare support, such as nurses, medical technicians, pharmacists and home-care specialists.