Online Recruitment Rebounds Slightly in the UK in October, According to the Monster Employment Index
October 2008 Index Highlights:
The Index showed modest growth to rebound from a four month decline. Online job availability in the UK is now one percent higher than year-earlier levels
Demand surged in the healthcare and education sectors. Moderate increases were also seen in finance and engineering
By contrast, hiring fell sharply in the architecture, construction and HR sectors
Among occupational groups, demand for craft and related workers jumped while offerings for service workers and shop and market sales workers dropped
Regionally, Wales saw the highest monthly and annual growth rates. Northern Ireland fell back the most
Summary Overview
The Monster Employment Index UK increased by two points in October to reach a level of 161, indicating unexpected resilience in the jobs market following the recent financial turmoil. The upturn halted a fourth month decline and the Index is once again showing an annual increase after registering the first year-on-year decline on record in September. Online job availability rose most in the healthcare, social work; and education, training and library sectors and there were moderate increases in offerings in banking, finance and insurance; and engineering. In contrast, there was a marked decline in demand for workers in environment, architecture and urbanism; construction and extraction; and HR.
The Monster Employment Index Europe is a monthly analysis of millions of online job opportunities culled from a large, representative selection of corporate career sites and job boards across the UK, including Monster.co.uk.
Monster Employment Index UK results for the past 13 months are as follows:
Oct Sep Aug Jul Jun May Apr Mar Feb Jan Dec Nov Oct
08 08 08 08 08 08 08 08 08 08 07 07 07
161 159 167 174 177 181 179 187 192 160 174 169 160
“Although the recent financial crisis adds uncertainty to an already weak economic outlook and job offerings in some sectors are declining significantly, the October Index also shows areas of sustained high demand such as engineering, education and healthcare,” commented Hugo Sellert, Head of Economic Research, Monster Worldwide.
Demand for healthcare, social work; and education, training and library workers rockets
Online hiring in the healthcare, social work sector surged by 54 points in October as opportunities bounced back dramatically from a dip in September. This growth was principally driven by increased demand for professionals. Regionally, Wales saw the biggest upturn in job availability following two months of decline. Demand rose in Scotland for the second consecutive month. In contrast, opportunities dipped in Northern Ireland. Year-on-year growth was 73 points, or a remarkable 40 percent.
There was also a sharp increase in online job vacancies in the education, training and library sector in October, following two straight months of decline. The sector grew by 50 points as demand rose notably for both professionals; and technicians and associate professionals. There were major regional increases in Wales, Scotland and the South East, whilst only Northern Ireland saw fewer opportunities than last month. Year-on-year, demand rose 51 points, or 31 percent.
Contrastingly, there was a marked downturn in hiring in the environment, architecture and urbanism sector for the second consecutive month, likely as a consequence of the troubled real estate industry. This decline was led by reduced demand for both professionals; and technicians and associate professionals for the second month in a row. Regionally, Northern Ireland registered the sharpest fall, while the largest growth was seen in the South West. Year-on-year, the category declined 57 points, or 28 percent.
Job availability for craft and related workers bounces back
Online job availability for craft and related workers bounced back strongly in October following four successive monthly dips. This increase was largely due to higher demand within the construction and extraction sector. Regionally, Wales and the South West saw the strongest upturns, while opportunities in London declined for the second consecutive month. Year-on-year, the category was down 53 points, or 21 percent.
There was also a significant rise in demand for skilled agricultural and fishery workers after three months of decline. This upturn was driven by higher demand in the agriculture, fishing and forestry sector. Notable increases were seen across all regions, led by the South West and Wales. Year-on-year, the category was up 38 points, or 25 percent, the highest among occupational groups.
Demand for service workers and shop and market sales workers dipped again for the third month in a row after peaking in July. There were major declines in the public sector, defence, community; and arts, entertainment, sports, leisure sectors. Of the regions, London, East Anglia and the South West declined for the fourth successive month. Hiring rose in Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland. Year-on-year, the region was down 41 points, or 29%, one of the steepest after plant and machine operators and assemblers.
Wales leads regional hiring growth in October
Wales experienced significant growth in online hiring in October, reversing a sizeable dip in September. There were major increases in the banking, finance, insurance; education, training and library; and healthcare, social work sectors. In contrast, job availability in the engineering; environment, architecture and urbanism; and arts, entertainment, sports, leisure sectors dipped for the second continued month. Among occupational groups, demand rose most for skilled agricultural and fishery workers; and craft and related workers. Year-on-year growth for the region was 48 points, or 23%, the highest among regions.
Online job availability in East Anglia showed some recovery in October after two months of weakened demand. Hiring increased most in the education, training and library; and healthcare, social work sectors. Opportunities in the banking, finance, insurance sector also showed some recovery after a month of lower demand. Among occupational groups, the biggest increase was for legislators, senior officials and managers, while online positions dipped most for elementary occupations workers. Year-on-year, demand in the region dipped 11 points, or 7%.
In contrast, there was a significant downturn in job availability in Northern Ireland in October, following strong growth in September. Opportunities in the environment, architecture and urbanism sector showed the sharpest decrease. Despite the fall, online hiring showed some recovery in the banking, finance, insurance; and hospitality and tourism sectors after two months of lower demand. Among occupational groups, opportunities for professionals dropped the most. Year-on-year growth was 10 points, or 7%.
Top Industries Looking for Employees
Industries showing the greatest rate of increase in online job availability included:
Industry Oct Sep Aug
08 08 08
Healthcare, social work 255 201 226
Education, training and library 217 167 185
Banking, finance, insurance 173 158 168
Administrative, organisation 178 173 184
Engineering 202 197 203
Most Wanted Occupational Categories
Occupational categories registering most significant increases in online job demand included:
Occupation Oct Sep Aug
08 08 08
Craft and related workers 204 176 205
Skilled agricultural and fishery workers 191 167 196
Professionals 172 164 173
Legislators, senior officials and managers 151 145 158
Monster Employment Index UK findings across industry sectors for the past 13 months are as follows:
Industry Oct Sep Aug Jul Jun May Apr Mar Feb Jan Dec Nov Oct
08 08 08 08 08 08 08 08 08 08 07 07 07
Accounting, audit, taxes 121 123 123 132 145 137 128 131 142 118 122 111 113
Administrative, organisation 178 173 184 182 203 204 220 212 220 182 199 192 204
Arts, entertainment, sports, leisure 178 175 185 180 197 198 194 201 191 182 201 195 163
Banking, finance, insurance 173 158 168 165 162 166 189 178 168 152 178 157 177
Construction and extraction 125 134 156 152 157 167 155 179 174 156 161 176 163
Education, training and library 217 167 185 220 204 188 162 180 195 167 192 192 166
Engineering 202 197 203 205 197 211 199 218 206 166 180 177 161
Environment, architecture and urbanism 146 180 219 196 219 232 217 252 235 195 218 203 203
Healthcare, social work 255 201 226 213 182 168 140 185 202 156 176 196 182
Hospitality and tourism 165 162 178 223 200 172 158 141 148 130 133 139 144
HR 127 131 162 173 193 188 175 198 233 193 201 196 189
IT 108 110 108 116 120 126 130 138 150 130 127 125 114
Legal 183 186 179 176 221 232 220 234 196 204 229 210 185
Management and consulting 196 207 204 219 240 236 215 235 242 200 192 184 178
Marketing, PR and media 204 199 207 208 204 232 223 238 241 209 221 198 185
Production, manufacturing, maintenance, Repair 109 110 111 119 124 117 110 115 121 114 109 112 107
Public sector, defence, community 108 113 105 97 101 104 97 108 109 98 102 107 102
Research and development 146 143 147 152 160 156 154 171 181 146 143 136 134
Sales 133 133 137 147 142 149 153 156 158 129 142 141 136
Telecommunications 92 92 99 96 98 106 115 122 112 110 120 134 122
Transport, post and logistics 136 140 146 160 180 172 160 158 159 136 149 140 139
Monster Employment Index UK findings across occupational categories for the past 13 months are as follows:
Occupation Oct Sep Aug Jul Jun May Apr Mar Feb Jan Dec Nov Oct
08 08 08 08 08 08 08 08 08 08 07 07 07
Legislators, senior officials and managers 151 145 158 162 157 164 161 167 161 133 148 148 142
Professionals 172 164 173 180 182 191 188 201 202 173 185 178 165
Technicians and associate professionals 153 158 160 162 168 167 170 173 175 150 165 150 153
Clerks 135 135 141 147 165 166 159 164 172 141 146 158 148
Service workers and shop and market sales workers 102 119 126 165 161 139 142 162 155 132 145 147 143
Skilled agricultural and fishery workers 191 167 196 202 230 220 195 208 197 199 160 190 153
Craft and related workers 204 176 205 246 275 307 273 307 322 299 292 294 257
Plant and machine operators and assemblers 88 95 107 121 127 122 109 123 129 113 114 161 129
Elementary occupations 98 104 106 124 101 100 100 100 94 119 121 89 88
Monster Employment Index UK findings across UK regions for the past 13 months are as follows:
Region Oct Sep Aug Jul Jun May Apr Mar Feb Jan Dec Nov Oct
08 08 08 08 08 08 08 08 08 08 07 07 07
Midlands 165 163 162 182 189 186 180 197 209 168 183 177 172
North England 177 179 181 190 194 202 196 199 210 168 187 183 171
London 128 131 135 141 145 146 147 152 155 142 147 146 140
South East 128 126 132 132 133 135 134 137 137 126 132 132 127
South West 276 260 265 273 287 290 291 301 308 264 286 264 250
Wales 257 217 238 237 234 245 241 266 273 231 232 207 209
Scotland 149 149 154 172 167 175 177 197 187 147 160 142 146
East Anglia 148 131 150 155 153 155 147 185 193 164 172 163 159
Northern Ireland 147 185 160 184 164 147 163 173 175 149 166 135 137
Monster Employment Index UK for November will be released on December 9, 2008.
