Monster’s U.S. employment index rose three points in August after falling two points in July, a trend that is consistent with seasonal expectations, Monster Worldwide Inc. announced today. The index stands at 147.

On an annual basis, the index rose 8 percent from a reading of 136 in August 2010, the 19th consecutive month of year-over-year growth.

“The index exhibited an uptick in August, with increased demand for retail workers in particular, possibly driven by the back-to-school season,” said Jesse Harriott, senior vice president and chief knowledge officer at Monster Worldwide. “Current economic conditions are driving hiring growth at a measured pace across a diverse set of occupations like transportation, personal care and community services, IT and engineering.”

The index is based on a review of online job ads taken from a selection of websites, including Monster.