Pittsburgh May Monster Job Index Continues Record Upward Trend!

The May Monster Jobs Index for Pittsburgh was released this week verifying the continuation of the Pittsburgh job market improvement. Pittsburgh hourly jobs were reported to be stronger than higher end positions, but this was mainly attributed to seasonality. Contrary to many other areas of the country, one of the strongest sub categories was construction hiring. Here is a partial quote from the findings:

PITTSBURGH, June 18, 2007 – The Monster Local Employment Index for Pittsburgh gained two points in May, extending a four-month upward growth trend despite a general seasonal slowdown in online recruitment activity among several white-collar occupations. Strong demand for workers in education, manufacturing and construction helped the Index for Pittsburgh achieve a three percent annual growth pace for the month, the highest on record.

Public sector specific occupations such as education, training, and library; and military specific led the Index in terms of growth during the month of May. Both categories have recorded extended growth streaks in 2007. The transportation and material moving; and production categories also registered sharp gains, suggesting improved local demand for manufacturing workers.

Online opportunities in the leisure and hospitality sector also increased last month. Food preparation and serving related occupations noted the steepest year-over-year improvement in the Index as Pittsburgh maintained its number one position for the category among the 28 markets monitored. Sales occupations also reached a new peak after five months of escalating online recruitment activity.

Meanwhile, the white-collar segment edged downward during May, marking an end to the spring recruitment season for entry-level professionals. Architecture and engineering occupations registered the most substantial downturn from the previous month, followed closely by computer and mathematical (IT); and management. Legal again proved to be the most atypical of the white-collar categories, following a muted recruitment month in April with a sharp May increase.

In total, 12 occupational categories rose in May, while five declined and two were unchanged.