Monster Worldwide Says Employment Index Rose 21% in July

Online careers and recruiting company Monster Worldwide (MWW) said its monthly gauge of online labor demand grew 21% in July from a year earlier.

Monster said its employment index gained 138 points in July 2010, compared with 114 points in July 2009, Reuters said. Recruitment activity grew in 18 of the 20 industries that the index monitors.

"The fact that hiring is more robust than a year ago points to a general improvement in the nation's hiring conditions as the economy continues its slow but steady recovery," said Monster vice president Jesse Harriott.

July was the sixth straight month of annual growth, Monster said.

Monster's index of intent to hire fell from June to July. This has occurred every year since 2003, which Monster attributes to a routine summer dip in hiring.