Simply Hired Releases December 2011 U.S. Employment Outlook

SUNNYVALE, Calif. -- (BUSINESS WIRE) -- SimplyHired.com®, the world’s largest job search engine, today released its December Employment Outlook highlighting national and local market outlooks, as well as industry and employer trends. According to the report, nationwide job openings increased for the fifth consecutive month -- up 2.7 percent month-over-month and 7.4 percent year-over-year.

Nationwide competition for jobs decreases.

The nation’s job competition ratio decreased in November, dropping from four unemployed people per every one job posting to three unemployed people per job posting. This is likely a combined result of a slight decrease in unemployment and a slight increase in job openings due to seasonal hiring.

Availability of jobs remains steady in most industries and occupations.

• Fifteen of 18 industries and 14 of 24 occupation categories, as defined by O*NET, experienced job growth this month
• Most areas with fewer jobs available this month had declines of less than ten percent
• Agriculture-related jobs decreased 5.2 percent at an industry level, and 13 percent at an occupation level, which is usually anticipated at year’s end

More transportation jobs are available nationwide.

Openings for transportation jobs increased significantly in November, with the industry seeing a positive change of 47.4 percent month-over-month. Jobs for drivers, pilots and transportation workers grew 31.4 percent.

“Overall, nationwide competition for jobs is decreasing despite year-end being a typically slow time for hiring,” said Gautam Godhwani, CEO of SimplyHired.com. “November’s slight job growth means that seasonal hiring is offsetting at least some of the temporary stagnation in full-time hiring. Transportation jobs make up most of this month’s seasonal increases, likely in anticipation of higher demand for freight transport during the holiday season.”

About SimplyHired.com

With over eight million job listings, Simply Hired (www.SimplyHired.com) is the world’s largest job search engine -- 25 times the size of the biggest job board. Servicing 17 million monthly users across 24 countries, SimplyHired.com powers jobs on more than 25,000 network partner sites, including LinkedIn, CNNMoney, Washington Post and Bloomberg BusinessWeek. Reaching passive as well as active candidates, the SimplyHired.com network delivers millions of targeted job applicants and boasts one of the lowest cost-per-hire rates in the industry. The company is based in Sunnyvale, California and is funded by Foundation Capital and IDG Ventures.