Monster Sees Sharp Decline In Online Job Recruiting In JulyMonster Sees Sharp Decline In Online Job Recruiting In July

Online recruitment declined sharply in July, according to a tally from the Monster Employment Index released Thursday. Monster International said the decline was seasonal in nature and tracked similar declines recorded in July 2005 and July 2004.

There was a lower demand for executives in July following a strong surge in demand in June. On the plus side, military-related and protective service occupations registered a strong surge in demand.

"Opportunities (in those occupations) also increased sharply, reflecting strong online recruitment efforts by the Armed Forces, the aerospace and defense industry, and public administration organizations," Monster International said. Occupations cited include law enforcement personnel, firefighters and airport screeners.

Online job availability increased for healthcare practitioners including registered nurses and other health services staff, according to the employment service.

Overall downturn in online recruiting activity followed several months of increased activity, Steve Pogorzelski, Monster's Group President, said in a statement.

"With the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reporting more moderate job creation over the past two months and the U.S. GDP growth rate slowing to 2.5 percent in the second quarter the index findings are consistent with these and other economic indicators suggesting that U.S. business expansion is shifting to a more moderate level of growth at the outset of the third quarter," Pogorzelski wrote.

Eight of the nine U. S. Census Bureau Regions reported lower online recruiting activity, according to the report. The ninth region " the West North Central Region " remained unchanged. That region includes Minnesota, Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska, Missouri and the Dakotas.