The Monster Worldwide Inc. (NASD: MNST) employment index was unchanged in September, reflecting employer caution at the end of the third quarter. The reading remained at 186, the same as in August. However, the index is up from 172 in September 2006.

"With payrolls declining for the first time in four years in August, signs of upward pressure on the unemployment rate and a slowing worker turnover rate, U.S. online recruitment appears to have leveled off somewhat over the past three months," said Steve Pogorzelski, executive VP, Global Sales and Customers Development at Monster.