Occupational Trends
Monster Occupational Trends provide HR professionals and executives with a snapshot of job seeker activity and online job demand on Monster as well as labor statistics within the United States. These reports present a historical and timely snapshot of the current situation on Monster.
Top Growth Markets by Occupation
The Monster Local Employment Index is a key measure of online job demand in major U.S. markets. By tracking growth in online recruitment activity and related job opportunities over time, the Index can be used to illustrate which markets are demonstrating the largest rate of increase in online recruitment for a given occupational category.
- Management
- Business and Financial Operations
- Computer and Mathematical
- Architecture and Engineering
- Life, Physical, and Social Science
- Community and Social Services
- Legal
- Education, Training, and Library
- Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media
- Healthcare Practitioners and Technical
- Healthcare Support
- Protective Service
- Food Preparation and Serving Related
- Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance
- Personal Care and Service
- Sales and Related
- Office and Administrative Support
- Farming, Fishing, and Forestry
- Construction and Extraction
- Installation, Maintenance, and Repair
- Production
- Transportation and Material Moving
- Military Specific
Management Occupations
Overview
Management positions are available in virtually all industries. The general role of management occupations is to plan, direct, or coordinate the operations of companies or organizations. Duties might include formation of policies, oversight of daily operations, and forward planning of resource allocation.
Findings
Among the 28 major metropolitan areas monitored by Monster's Employment Index, Kansas City moved into the top growth position among markets in March while Baltimore showed the weakest annual trends. The California markets were also dramatically lower on the year.
Click on the table to see full data from the past 13 months.
To learn more about the methodology of the Monster Employment Index, click here.
Business and Financial Operations Occupations
Overview
This category spans a wide range of professions and has a high concentration of employment in the professional & business services and financial activities sectors. Workers in these occupations position conduct resource valuation or diligence in relation to an individual’s or a corporation’s business operations. Jobs in this category include accounting, cost estimating, insurance underwriting, logistics, and financial analysis.
Findings
Among the 28 major metropolitan areas monitored by Monster's Employment Index, Pittsburgh was the only one to exhibit positive year over year growth in online demand for business and financial operations occupations. Washington D.C. and Baltimore continue to show the most severe annual contraction.
Click on the table to see full data from the past 13 months.
To learn more about the Monster Employment Index, click here.
Computer and Mathematical Occupations
Overview
The computer and mathematical occupations category covers jobs in two closely related technical fields. The general role of these positions is to develop or implement solutions reliant on computational programming. Jobs in this category include information science research, computer programming, systems analysis, database administration, actuarial science, and operations research analysis.
Findings
The Denver IT market was the fastest growing when it comes to online demand for computer and mathematical occupations. A total of only 5 markets are on a positive growth track. Baltimore had the deepest decline on the year.
Click on the table to see full data from the past 13 months.
To learn more about the methodology of the Monster Employment Index, click here.
Architecture and Engineering Occupations
Overview
The architecture and engineering occupations category as a whole is responsible for design and development of virtually all man-made construction and manufacturing processes. Jobs in the architecture subcategory include architects, cartographers, surveyors, and drafters. In addition to varied engineers, the engineering subcategory includes technicians and support staff.
Findings
The Indianapolis region contained the fastest growing market for architecture and engineering jobs. Only 8 of the 28 major markets had expanded demand for the occupational category over the year. Baltimore registered the steepest move lower on the year.
Click on the table to see full data from the past 13 months.
To learn more about the methodology of the Monster Employment Index, click here.
Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations
Overiew
These occupations involve investigation, research, and analysis within the natural and social sciences. Included in this category are psychologists, economists, urban planners, historians, physicists, biologists, chemists, and their accompanying technicians and assistants.Findings
Among the 28 metropolitan markets monitored by the Monster Employment Index, Denver recorded the fastest online demand growth for jobs in the sciences in March. The major markets in California and Florida continued to note flagging demand over the year.
Click on the table to see full data from the past 13 months.
To learn more about the methodology of the Monster Employment Index, click here.
Community and Social Services Occupations
Overview
The community and social services field generally involves personal advisement for social issues. Among those included in this category are educational counselors, marriage and family therapists, public health social workers, probation officers, and religious clergy.
Findings
Portland led the Monster Employment Index as the fastest growing market for community and social service jobs. Although the 76.6 percent year-over-year growth is significant, it represents a relatively small portion of regional jobs. The category is most significant in Boston, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and New York; New York charted the most substantial growth.
Click on the table to see full data from the past 13 months.
To learn more about the methodology of the Monster Employment Index, click here.
Legal Occupations
Overview
The legal category encompasses all individuals involved in the practice of law. Beyond attorneys, judges, and arbitrators, this category also includes support workers such as paralegals, court reporters, law clerks, and title examiners.
Findings
The Detroit market leads all major metros in the Monster Employment Index, featuring the fastest growth in online demand for legal occupations over the past 12 months; the steep rise is due in part to uncharacteristically low demand during the February and March 2007 months. Los Angeles exhibited turned lower over the year more than any other market.
Click on the table to see full data from the past 13 months.
To learn more about the methodology of the Monster Employment Index, click here.
Education, Training, and Library Occupations
Overview
The education, training, and library category covers a labor force that directly provides learning resources for students. Jobs include teachers, teacher assistants, trainers, librarians, archivists, and curators.
Findings
Cincinnati held the top spot among all major metropolitan markets in the Monster Employment Index for fastest growth in online demand for education, training, and library jobs. Atlanta has turned towards the downside, joining other major markets of the southern region.
Click on the table to see full data from the past 13 months.
To learn more about the methodology of the Monster Employment Index, click here.
Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations
Overview
This broad category encompasses a creative workforce. Artists, athletes, coaches, writers, PR specialists, and broadcast operators are among the workers in the category.
Findings
The Cleveland market led the Monster Employment Index in online demand growth for creative and performance jobs. Sacramento and Chicago are the poorest performing markets.
Click on the table to see full data from the past 13 months.
To learn more about the methodology of the Monster Employment Index, click here.
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations
Overview
The healthcare practitioners and technicians category includes professionals involved in the direct medical treatment of patients . Physician, surgeon, pharmacist, registered nurse, therapist, veterinarian, and various technicians are the general jobs associated with this category.
Findings
The Dallas market topped the Monster Employment Index in terms of online demand growth for healthcare professionals. Seattle continues to be a top-growth market. On the other end of the list, ten markets headed in the negative direction year-over-year.
Click on the table to see full data from the past 13 months.
To learn more about the methodology of the Monster Local Employment Index, click here.
Healthcare Support Occupations
Overview
The healthcare support category involves workers that assist professionals in medical treatment of patients. Typical jobs in this category include nursing aides, orderlies, attendants, massage therapists, medical assistants, medical equipment preparers, and medical transcriptionists.
Findings
Of the 28 metropolitan areas monitored by the Monster Employment Index, Minneapolis leads with the fastest growth in online demand for healthcare support jobs. Pittsburgh remains a top-growth market based on steady increases in online job postings in the category over the past 12 months. Los Angeles exhibited the steepest decline.
Click on the table to see full data from the past 13 months.
To learn more about the methodology of the Monster Employment Index, click here.
Protective Service Occupations
Overview
The protective services category is concerned with issues of public or private safety. In addition to law enforcement and fire fighting/prevention, this category also includes animal control, private investigation, security, ski patrol, and other recreational protective service.
Findings
Dallas led the Monster Local Employment Index for the protective service category in terms of year over year growth.
Click on the table to see full data from the past 13 months.
To learn more about the methodology of the Monster Employment Index, click here.
Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations
Overview
The food services category includes jobs such as head chef, cook, food preparer, server, bartender, and various restaurant attendants.
Findings
Among the 28 metropolitan areas monitored by the Monster Employment Index, Dallas registered the fastest growth in online demand for jobs in food services. Los Angeles showed the steepest decline on the year.
Click on the table to see full data from the past 13 months.
To learn more about the methodology of the Monster Employment Index, click here.
Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance Occupations
Overview
The building and grounds cleaning and maintenance category comprises services for aesthetic and sanitary upkeep of public and private spaces. In addition to janitorial and housekeeping workers, this category includes landscaping, groundskeeping, and gardening workers and pest controllers.
Findings
Minneapolis led all metropolitan markets tracked by the Monster Employment Index in this category. The softening in demand for upkeep service workers continues to be most pronounced in Los Angeles and San Diego.
Click on the table to see full data from the past 13 months.
To learn more about the methodology of the Monster Employment Index, click here.
Personal Care and Service
Overview
Personal care and services is a wide-spanning category that includes hairdressers, concierges, travel guides, physical trainers, animal trainers, and ushers, among others.
Findings
Among the 28 major metropolitan areas monitored by Monster's Employment Index, Pittsburgh was the only one to exhibit positive year over year growth in online demand for business and financial operations occupations. Washington D.C. and Baltimore continue to show the most severe annual contraction.
Click on the table to see full data from the past 13 months.
To learn more about the Monster Employment Index, click here.
Sales and Related Occupations
Overview
The sales category includes all agents, brokers, or salespeople from fields such as real estate, advertising, insurance, and financial services, as well as retail. The category also includes the related occupations of demonstrators, product promoters, and models.
Findings
Each of the 28 major markets monitored by the Monster Employment Index exhibited a net decline in online recruitment for sales workers over the past 12 months. Los Angeles was at the very bottom of the list. 
Click on the table to see full data from the past 13 months.
To learn more about the methodology of the Monster Employment Index, click here.
Office and Administrative Support Occupations
Overview
The office and administrative support category provides ancillary services. This includes secretaries, assistants, couriers, postal service workers, financial clerks, office clerks, and telephone operators.
Findings
Kansas City claimed the top spot among 28 markets monitored by the Monster Local Employment Index in this category. As this category contains jobs that support other professions, the KC region's 11 percent growth reflects general occupational growth in the local economy.
Click on the table to see full data from the past 13 months.
To learn more about the methodology of the Monster Employment Index, click here.
Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Occupations
Overview
The farming, fishing, and forestry occupations category includes farmworkers, animal breeders, agricultural inspectors, fishers, hunters, forest and conservation workers, and loggers.
Findings
Cincinnati led all markets in this category, according to the Monster Employment Index. Although the year-over-year figures are large, they represent marginal increases in online job recruitment, as 26 of the 28 markets monitored average a statistically insignificant number of job postings per month in this category.
Click on the table to see full data from the past 13 months.
To learn more about the methodology of the Monster Employment Index, click here.
Construction and Extraction Occupations
Overview
The construction and extraction occupations category encompasses the traditional craftsmen such as masons, carpenters, plumbers, electricians, painters, and roofers. It also includes highway and rail maintenance workers, hazmat removal workers, oil and gas extractors, miners, and quarry workers.
Findings
Of the 28 markets monitored by the Monster Local Employment Index, Pittsburgh finished March as the fastest growing market for the construction/extraction category. The major markets in California and Florida remain among the weakest from an annual growth standpoint.
Click on the table to see full data from the past 13 months.
To learn more about the methodology of the Monster Employment Index, click here.
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations
Overview
This category includes all installers, mechanics, technicians, and repairers. Subjects of their work might include heating/air conditioning, motor vehicles, electronics, and telecommunications.
Findings
Pittsburgh claimed the top spot among major metro markets in the Monster Employment Index for this category. St. Louis and Denver remained strong growth markets, while Dallas and Houston remain among the top 10.
Click on the table to see full data from the past 13 months.
To learn more about the methodology of the Monster Employment Index, click here.
Production Occupations
Overview
The production category includes occupations that directly involve creating new goods. Amongst workers in this category are assemblers, fabricators, bakers, food processors, metal and plastic workers, textile and apparel workers, woodworkers, and power plant operators.
Findings
Among the 28 metropolitan areas monitored by the Monster Employment Index, Pittsburgh recorded the fastest growth in this category. Houston slipped, but remains in the top 5. Negative growth was seen in ten major markets. 
Click on the table to see full data from the past 13 months.
To learn more about the methodology of the Monster Local Employment Index, click here.
Transportation and Material Moving Occupations
Overview
The transportation and materials moving category includes occupations involving machine movement over air, road, rail, and water. This is made up of pilots, drivers, conductors, and workers that coordinate the movement of the vehicles. The materials movement occupations include freight machine operators, packers, loaders/unloaders, fuel pump operators, and refuse collectors.
Findings
Pittsburgh and Houston are showing strong growth in online demand for transportation and warehousing workers. The slowdown in transportation category recruitment continues in San Diego, which was a top growth market as recently as mid-2007.
Click on the table to see full data from the past 13 months.
To learn more about the methodology of the Monster Employment Index, click here.
Military Specific Occupations
Overview
The military specific category includes all occupations of enlisted members of the armed forces and a variety of position in aerospace and defense sectors that require security clearance.
Findings
Among the 28 metropolitan regions monitored by the Monster Employment Index, Kansas City experienced the fastest growth in the military category with a 35.4 percent jump. Nationwide, only 11 major markets exhibited positive growth in online recruitment by government offices from a year ago.
Click on the table to see full data from the past 13 months.
To learn more about the methodology of the Monster Employment Index, click here.