Executive Job Market Shows Growth in Healthcare; Industrial Sector Remains Strong

TheLadders.com Quarterly Executive Job Market Trends Report Analyzes Hiring
Activity and Surveys Job Seeker Sentiment in Nationwide $100k+ Job Market
NEW YORK--(Business Wire)--
Across the U.S., nonfarm payrolls lost 533,000 jobs in November 2008, the worst
monthly decline since 1974. How is this economic crisis impacting the higher end
of the job market? According to TheLadders.com`s Quarterly Executive Job Market
Trends Report for Q408, which tracks hiring patterns in 20 major cities and
surveys job seekers nationwide, recent changes in the economy have shuffled the
deck for those earning over $100,000 per year.

Job Market Sectors

While some traditionally strong sectors have seen declines, others, have
remained strong. The healthcare sector continues to show growth in $100k+ job
postings over this past quarter, especially within categories such as patient
care and medical devices and diagnostics. Certain industrial categories such as
engineering services have also shown an increase in new opportunities while
aerospace/defense continues to exhibit a strong demand.

"There are segments of the job market that are clearly strained right now, but
it`s critical for job seekers to recognize that even in this tumultuous market
companies are still adding to their executive ranks," said Marc Cenedella,
founder and CEO of TheLadders.com. "Take the financial sector, for example. Even
though thousands of jobs have been lost on Wall Street alone, accounting
professionals are in demand. The top three companies hiring in New York right
now are accounting firms."

Regional Job Market Analysis

To get at the heart of hiring patterns in the $100k+ job market,
TheLadders.com`s Quarterly Executive Job Market Trends Report measured hiring
activity across a variety of metrics and found the regional markets with the
most favorable $100k+ climates (ratio of job seekers to job postings) were:

* 3:1 - Washington DC, San Francisco
* 4.1 - Seattle, San Diego, Houston, Baltimore
* 5:1 - Boston
* 6:1 - Philadelphia, New York
* 7:1 - Los Angeles, Chicago, Austin

For the fourth quarter of 2008, regional markets attracting the highest number
of job seekers from other parts of the country were San Francisco, New York,
Boston, Seattle and Chicago.

Job Seeker Survey

As part of TheLadders.com Quarterly Executive Job Market Trends Report, active
job seekers throughout the country were asked to weigh in with their own
first-hand accounts on the status of the current job market in their cities. Job
seekers were asked questions such as: How do you feel about the job market in
your city?Are you open to relocation?How long do you think it will take to land
your next job?

When describing the high-end job markets in their cities:

* 63 percent said they were willing to relocate from their current cities for a
new job opportunity; an increase from 55 percent during the same period in 2007
* 68 percent cited a general lack of stability in their cities` job markets
* 36 percent said that if they could switch sectors, they`d choose healthcare

This survey was conducted in December and had 929 respondents. It is
statistically accurate to within +/- 3.21 percent.

About TheLadders.com:

TheLadders.com is the world's largest online service catering exclusively to the
$100k+ job market. Our job is to make the search for senior talent and senior
positions quick and effective. With access to the most $100k+ job leads in one
place, senior level professionals can get to the next step in their careers
faster. Top recruiters value the ability to quickly and easily connect with so
much qualified talent in the sales, marketing, finance, HR, legal, tech and
operations industries. Founded in 2003 by Marc Cenedella, TheLadders.com has
grown into the largest specialty employment website. In addition to traditional
job search services, TheLadders.com also provides a host of specialized career
development resources, including a proven, one-on-one resume service; advice
from career experts; customized online profiles; and e-mail alerts.
TheLadders.com is headquartered in New York with offices in London. For more
information, please visit www.theladders.com or www.theladders.co.uk.

TheLadders.com
Lou Casale, 646-307-7544
lcasale@theladders.com
or
J. Roderick, Inc.
John Roderick, 631-656-9736
john@jroderick.com

Copyright Business Wire 2009