CONSUMER ACTION
Published: February 23, 2006
The Score: Looking for Jobs Online
 

Analysis shows that record numbers of Americans are visiting Job Search sites; younger women make up the biggest audience.

The recent deluge of advertisements from Monster.com and CareerBuilder has not-so-subtly reminded us that the New Year is a time to re-evaluate one's current job status and perhaps seek greener career pastures. Consumers have heeded these messages, with recent reports claiming that record numbers of Americans are currently scouring the job market. A recent comScore analysis revealed that traffic to Job Search sites jumped considerably in January versus the previous month, indicating that many consumers are at least mulling a job change even if they haven’t come to a formal decision on the matter.

  • Traffic to the Career Services & Development category increased 26 percent to 49.8 million visitors in January 2006 from the previous month. The Job Search subcategory drove much of the gains, surging 42 percent to 15.3 million visitors for the month.

  • The top two sites in the Job Search subcategory, CareerBuilder.com (up 52 percent to 7.3 million visitors) and Monster.com (up 50 percent to 6.9 million visitors) both outpaced the total category gains on a percentage basis.
Job Search Subcategory - Top Ten Sites
January 2006 vs. December 2005
  Unique Visitors (000)
  Dec-05 Jan-06 % Change
Total Internet 170,285 170,797 0%
Job Search 10,830 15,340 42%
CareerBuilder.com Job Search 4,832 7,331 52%
Monster.com Job Search 4,599 6,913 50%
Yahoo! Hotjobs Job Search 2,516 3,499 39%
AOL Find a Job by CareerBuilder.com Job Search 741 1,388 87%
MSN Careers by CareerBuilder.com Job Search 617 1,333 116%
Indeed.com Job Search 222 342 54%
Simplyhired.com Job Search 523 312 -40%
JOB.COM Job Search 260 235 -10%
Jobs.net Job Search 82 216 162%
Jobsearch.com Job Search 95 126 32%
Source: comScore Media Metrix
  • Women were five percent more likely than average to visit Job Search sites in January 2006, while men were five percent less likely to do so.

  • Visitors to the Job Search subcategory in January generally skewed toward younger adults. Woman and men in the 25 to 34 age range were more likely than the norm to visit this category, with women in the age range 44 percent more likely to visit, and men 33 percent more likely to do so.

  • People in higher household income brackets were more likely to be looking for new jobs. Individuals with household incomes less than $60,000 exhibited below average skews, while those with incomes above $60,000 exhibited above average skews. People in households earning at least $100,000 showed the highest skews and were seven percent more likely than average to visit Job Search sites.
Age & Gender Demographics for People Visiting Sites in the Job Search Category
January 206
Ranked by Composition Index
  Composition Index
All Males 95
Males: 18-24 97
Males: 25-34 133
Males: 35-44 127
Males: 45-54 111
Males: 55+ 72
All Females 105
Females: 18-24 119
Females: 25-34 144
Females: 35-44 122
Females: 45-54 117
Females: 55+ 81
Source: comScore Media Metrix


Household Income for People Visiting Sites in the Job Search Category
January 2006
Ranked by Composition Index
Household Income Composition Index
Less than 15,000 96
15,000 - 24,999 90
25,000 - 39,999 92
40,000 - 59,999 95
60,000 - 74,999 104
75,000 - 99,999 105
100,000 or more 107
Source: comScore Media Metrix

About comScore Networks
comScore Networks provides unparalleled insight into consumer behavior and attitudes. This capability is based on a massive, global cross-section of more than two million consumers who have given comScore explicit permission to confidentially capture their browsing and transaction behavior, including online and offline purchasing. comScore panelists also participate in survey research that captures and integrates their attitudes and intentions. Through its patent-pending technology, comScore measures what matters across a broad spectrum of behavior and attitudes. comScore consultants apply this deep knowledge of customers and competitors to help clients design powerful marketing strategies and tactics that deliver superior ROI. comScore services are used by global leaders such as AOL, Yahoo!, Verizon, Best Buy, The Newspaper Association of America, Tribune Interactive, ESPN, Nestlé, Bank of America, Universal McCann, the United States Postal Service, GlaxoSmithKline and Orbitz.