Financial Information by Quarter (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Sep. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2014	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2014		Dec. 31, 2013		Dec. 31, 2012
Quarterly Financial Information [Line Items]
Revenue	$ 186,203	$ 191,220	$ 194,441	$ 198,149	$ 198,718	$ 196,817	$ 200,058	$ 211,986	$ 770,013		$ 807,579		$ 890,392
Salaries and related	107,337	100,587	103,220	101,999	99,433	92,931	89,467	97,575	413,143		379,406		408,305
Office and general	50,450	52,186	49,131	55,207	50,461	51,542	52,262	51,132	206,974		205,397		226,601
Marketing and promotion	32,493	35,109	37,377	41,413	38,840	38,089	43,394	49,267	146,392		169,590		188,326
Goodwill impairment	325,800								325,800				262,650
Total operating expenses	516,080	187,882	189,728	198,619	188,734	182,562	191,951	211,141	1,092,309		774,388		858,240
Operating (loss) income	(329,877)	3,338	4,713	(470)	9,984	14,255	8,107	845	(322,296)		33,191		32,152
Gain on deconsolidation of subsidiaries, net				11,828					11,828
Interest and other, net	(3,739)	(1,830)	(1,660)	(1,323)	(1,663)	(1,482)	(1,357)	(1,268)	(8,552)		(5,770)		(5,883)
Income (loss) before income taxes and (loss) income in equity interests	(333,616)	1,508	3,053	10,035	8,321	12,773	6,750	(423)	(319,020)		27,421		26,269
(Benefit from) provision for income taxes	(45,503)	1,934	1,615	6,663	28,157	4,480	2,366	(11,999)	(35,291)		23,004		(32,978)
(Loss) income in equity interests, net	(78)	75	58	(133)	(86)	(119)	(245)	(458)	(78)		(908)		(1,081)
Income (loss) from continuing operations	(288,191)	(351)	1,496	3,239	(19,922)	8,174	4,139	11,118	(283,807)		3,509		58,166
Net income (loss)	(288,191)	(351)	1,496	3,239	(19,922)	11,269	3,380	4,984	(283,807)		(289)		(258,720)
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest	1,528	1,318	1,462	1,174	193				5,482		193
Net income (loss) attributable to Monster Worldwide, Inc.	(289,719)	(1,669)	34	2,065	(20,115)	11,269	3,380	4,984	(289,289)		(482)		(258,720)
Basic earnings (loss) per share	$ (3.31)	$ (0.02)		$ 0.02	$ (0.21)	$ 0.11	$ 0.03	$ 0.04	$ (3.29)	[1]		[1]	$ (2.29)	[1]
Diluted earnings (loss) per share	$ (3.31)	$ (0.02)		$ 0.02	$ (0.21)	$ 0.11	$ 0.03	$ 0.04	$ (3.29)	[1]		[1]	$ (2.27)	[1]
Weighted average shares outstanding:
Basic	87,478	86,576	87,080	91,102	97,872	105,394	110,932	111,402	88,045		106,947		112,866
Diluted	87,478	86,576	89,955	94,416	97,872	105,967	111,937	112,637	88,045	[2]	107,913	[2]	113,995	[2]
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Foreign currency translation adjustments, net	(29,883)	(27,563)	(2,861)	3,496	1,257	21,022	(9,139)	(36,999)	(56,811)		(23,859)		23,419
Comprehensive income (loss)	(318,074)	(27,914)	(1,365)	6,735	(18,665)	32,291	(5,759)	(32,015)	(340,618)		(24,148)		(235,301)
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest	(1,918)	(14)	4,379	347	128				2,794		128
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Monster Worldwide, Inc.	(316,156)	(27,900)	(5,744)	6,388	(18,793)	32,291	(5,759)	(32,015)	(343,412)		(24,276)		(235,301)
Restructuring and Other Special Charges							6,828	13,167			19,995		40,358
(Loss) income from discontinued operations, net of tax						$ 3,095	$ (759)	$ (6,134)			$ (3,798)		$ (316,886)
Basic earnings (loss) per share attributable to Monster Worldwide, Inc.:
Income (loss) from continuing operations					$ (0.21)	$ 0.08	$ 0.04	$ 0.10	$ (3.29)		$ 0.03		$ 0.52
(Loss) income from discontinued operations, net of tax						$ 0.03	$ (0.01)	$ (0.06)			$ (0.04)		$ (2.81)
Basic earnings (loss) per share	$ (3.31)	$ (0.02)		$ 0.02	$ (0.21)	$ 0.11	$ 0.03	$ 0.04	$ (3.29)	[1]		[1]	$ (2.29)	[1]
Diluted earnings (loss) per share attributable to Monster Worldwide, Inc.:
Income (loss) from continuing operations					$ (0.21)	$ 0.08	$ 0.04	$ 0.10	$ (3.29)		$ 0.03		$ 0.51
(Loss) income from discontinued operations, net of tax						$ 0.03	$ (0.01)	$ (0.06)			$ (0.04)		$ (2.78)
Diluted earnings (loss) per share	$ (3.31)	$ (0.02)		$ 0.02	$ (0.21)	$ 0.11	$ 0.03	$ 0.04	$ (3.29)	[1]		[1]	$ (2.27)	[1]

[1] (Loss) earnings per share may not add in certain periods due to rounding

[2] For periods in which losses are presented, dilutive earnings per share calculations do not differ from basic earnings per share because the effects of any potential common stock equivalents are anti-dilutive and therefore not included in the calculation of dilutive earnings per share. For the year ended December 31, 2014, those potential shares totaled 3,046 which are included in the weighted average anti-dilutive common stock equivalents above, in addition to 3,891 of out of the money anti-dilutive common stock equivalents for the year ended December 31, 2014.