The Monster Employment Index UK rose by 12 percent in February, and improved six percent from a year ago, reflecting continued acceleration in its long-term growth trend to suggest a continued firming in underlying labour demand conditions. The overall level of online job availability in February was higher than any point since December 2008.

In addition to the month-on-month growth registered by the IT sector, the production and transportation sectors displayed positive annual improvements, signalling an upswing in demand trends for manufacturing and commerce related workers and thereby lending some evidence that business activity is reviving. Sales and arts also showed positive online recruitment growth trends.

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 European Union, including Monster.co.uk.

Monster Employment Index UK findings for the past 13 months are as follows:

“The February Index findings show that UK online job recruitment activity continues to trend higher, with the annual growth rate hitting six percent,” commented Julian Acquari, Managing Director at Monster UK and Ireland. “However, despite the Index’s emergence from the low points of 2009, the job market remains challenging in this fragile economy.”

Majority of sectors register rise in online recruitment, IT shows best growth

The vast majority of industry sectors registered a rise in online recruitment activity between January and February, with 11 sectors achieving positive annual growth.

The IT sector registered the fastest monthly growth, adding 15 points (19 percent). Year-on-year the sector has gained eight percent, indicating a much improved job market for professionals in the computer field relative to the market at the beginning of 2009.

Arts, entertainment, sports, leisure registered a 14 point (11 percent) increase in the February Index, rising for a fourth consecutive month. Sales also registered an upturn.

In contrast to IT, other highly technical sectors, including research and development; and engineering, have annual declines of 26 percent and 24 percent respectively, making them the poorest trending of all the sectors in the Index.

Healthcare, social work edged down in the February Index, but the decline is somewhat aligned with seasonal patterns for this time of year. Public sector, defence, community logged an unseasonably steep monthly decline, with current online demand slightly below its year-ago level.

Clerical support workers group continues to register upturn

Online job demand strengthened in eight of the nine occupational groups monitored by the Index in February. Professionals saw the largest monthly rise in opportunities, jumping 15 points (15 percent). The annual pace of decline flattened from 14 percent in January to 4 percent in February, but remains weaker than the overall national trend.

Clerical support workers extended an upward trend in the Index, as online demand for back-office workers expanded for a seventh consecutive month. The improvement in job availability was unmatched by any other occupational group.

Growth observed in all regions

All UK regions registered a rise in online job availability between January and February. Northern England displayed the highest rate of increase in February, rising 19 points (15 percent) in February. Year-on-year the region is up nine percent in the Index.

Northern Ireland also continued on a track of expansion, adding 13 points in February, and rising 19 percent above its year-ago level. London and Wales were the top growth regions in the Index year-on-year; the only regions to fall below their February 2009 levels were East Anglia and the South East, indicating that those local climates for job creation are still challenging.

Best performing sectors

Industry sectors showing the greatest rate of increase in online job availability included:

Month-on-month

Year-on-year

Monster Employment Index UK findings across industry sectors for the past 13 months are as follows:

Monster Employment Index UK findings across occupational categories for the past 13 months are as follows:

Monster Employment Index UK findings across the regions for the past 13 months are as follows:

Monster Employment Index UK for March will be released on April 13, 2010.

October 2009 Index Highlights:
• The Monster Employment Index UK grew by seven points as the online job market started to show early signs of recovery
• Online hiring increased in the majority of sectors, led by strong growth in education, manufacturing, transportation, hospitality and sales
• Job demand rose most in Wales, with notable upturns also recorded in Scotland and the South West

Summary Overview
Online employment opportunities in the UK increased by seven points (seven percent) in October, as job demand reached its highest level since February 2009. Opportunities remain significantly below levels 12 months ago but the annual pace of deterioration has continued to ease. The overall European Index also increased, registering an uptick of two points (two percent) in October. However, offerings were down 32 percent year-on-year.

Year-on-year, hiring levels in the UK are down 29 percent. The monthly rise in October was driven by an upturn in demand in education and the export-driven manufacturing and transportation industries. There were also increases in hospitality and tourism; and sales sectors, which jumped to a ten-month high as demand for service and sales occupations surged, possibly boosted by a rise in foreign visitors and improved consumer confidence. By contrast, opportunities in the construction sector remained at an all-time Index low.

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 European Union, including Monster.co.uk.

Monster Employment Index UK findings for the past 13 months are as follows:

“Despite economic indicators showing that the UK remains mired in recession, the solid expansion in online recruitment activity in October suggests the fourth quarter is off to a better start,” commented Hugo Sellert, head of economic research, at Monster Worldwide. “The rise in online job openings to an eight-month high points to an early recovery in hiring demand. Companies across the UK may now be considering expanding payrolls again as economic conditions have stabilised.”

Online recruitment activity increases the most in the educational sector
The vast majority of industry sectors registered month-on-month increases, with four sectors reporting annual growth. Job activity increased the most in the education, training and library sector, with a steep increase of 50 points (22 percent).

Offerings also rose sharply in the hospitality and tourism sector, growing by 17 points (14 percent) to reach a new 2009 high. An uptick in job vacancies was also seen in the public, defence, community sector, showing an increase of 13 points (13 percent) in October, or six percent year-on-year.

An upturn in hiring was seen in the administrative, organisation sector for the third consecutive month. Hiring also picked up in the transport, post and logistics; and production, manufacturing, maintenance, repair sectors with both notching solid gains.

In contrast, construction and extraction showed a steep decrease, edging down 46 percent lower than a year ago, indicating still-depressed demand for construction workers.

Majority of occupational groups rise; skilled agriculture, forestry and fishery falls
Eight of the nine occupational groups monitored by the Index registered increased offerings, with service and sales workers rising the most with an 11 point (16 percent) gain. Year-on-year, however, the category is down 22 percent.

Despite a modest rise in October, professionals was the worst-performing occupational group on a year-on-year basis, exhibiting a 38 percent decline. This annual dip reflects a contraction in the job market for highly-skilled and often highly-paid professional workers. In contrast, demand has held up well for technicians and associate professionals, suggesting employers are hiring lower-level professionals in order to control labour costs.

Job demand rises in the majority of regions monitored by the Index; all regions fall year-on-year
Online job availability rose in eight out of the nine regions in October, with Wales leading with a 21 point (12 percent) jump as job activity increased for the first time in five months. Increases were also seen in Scotland, South West and North England. However, all regions fell year-on-year.

Northern Ireland was the only region to edge lower in the Index, shedding one point (one percent) as demand fell for the third straight month.

London is showing the most moderate rate of decline among all regions, with recruitment activity falling 20 percent year-on-year. This slight recovery in online job demand has been driven by increased demand in the arts, entertainment, sport, leisure; and accounting, audit, taxes sectors. The Midlands showed the largest annual rate of decline, falling by 36 percent, due to decreasing hiring in construction and extraction; environment, architecture and urbanism; and engineering.

Best performing sectors
Industry sectors showing the greatest rate of increase in online job availability included:

Month-on-month

Year-on-year

Monster Employment Index UK findings across industry sectors for the past 13 months are as follows:

Monster Employment Index UK findings across occupational categories for the past 13 months are as follows:

Monster Employment Index UK findings across the regions for the past 13 months are as follows:

Monster Employment Index UK for November will be released on December 8, 2009.

Graduates Yorkshire has been awarded the contract to run and relaunch the graduate recruitment scheme GradsEast in East Anglia on behalf of the Association of Universities in the East of England (AUEE).

The social enterprise will roll out its successful business model in East Anglia under the existing GradsEast banner to ensure it matches employers in the region with the best graduate talent.

The deal effectively doubles the area Graduates Yorkshire operates in and includes the Universities of Cambridge, East Anglia, Essex, Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire within its remit. The AUEE covers the  higher education institutions across the six counties of Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Essex, Hertfordshire, Norfolk and Suffolk.

Mike Hall, Deputy Director from the AUEE, says: “Graduates Yorkshire will help us retain the best graduates in the area by working closely with businesses and promoting the region.

“It is not just major companies that benefit, but small and medium sized enterprises which are also searching for this talent to give them a competitive edge. The graduate market in the East of England is particularly fertile and offers a wealth of opportunities to employers.”

British Sugar is the first company to sign an agreement with the social enterprise. They’re keen to develop links with students to ensure the region’s best graduates are aware of the career opportunities available to them.

Graduates Yorkshire Chief Executive Martin Edmondson said: “This agreement further demonstrates the strength of Graduates Yorkshire to help graduates find employment, deliver benefits to companies and contribute to the region’s economy.

“The AUEE have confidence in us to make the same impact in the east of England as we have in Yorkshire, we’re excited about transferring our knowledge into another region.

“We are looking forward to the challenge. The area has more people working on research and development than anywhere else in the UK and includes one of the top two universities in the world, according to The Times.”

September 2009 Index Highlights:
• The Monster Employment Index UK dipped by two points as online job availability declined for the second consecutive month
• Online job demand fell markedly in the public sector, with losses also seen in the technology sector. Offerings grew in sales
• Job demand held steady in London and the Midlands, whilst hiring in North England and the South West fell most

Summary Overview
Online employment opportunities across the UK dipped by two points (two percent) in September, as job demand dropped slightly for the second straight month. Despite this fall, online hiring has remained largely flat since the turn of the year. The overall European Index also dipped three points (three percent) in August and fell by 37 percent year-on-year.

Year-on-year, hiring levels in the UK are down 33 percent. September saw a notable decrease in hiring activity in public sector, defence, community. There was reduced availability in education, training, and library; and healthcare, social work – possibly reflecting pressure on government spending amid widening deficits. Declines were also seen in IT; engineering; and R&D, indicating that the technology sector continues to be hit by the economic slowdown. By contrast, demand for workers in sales increased, suggesting retailers are more optimistic amidst the recovery in consumer confidence.

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 European Union, including Monster.co.uk.

Monster Employment Index UK findings for the past 13 months are as follows:

“Hiring among UK companies remains worryingly stagnant. As long as the macroeconomic outlook is uncertain, companies will remain reticent to hire workers, which in itself could slow the actual recovery,” commented Hugo Sellert, head of economic research, at Monster Worldwide. “Despite sharp drops in hiring in the public sector and among technology companies in September, there is some cause for optimism in the broader business sector. Recruiting increased in the third quarter for areas such as sales, management and office and administrative support.”

Demand public sector workers plunges as the sales sector sees signs of recovery
Just eight of the 21 industry sectors monitored by the Index registered overall increases in online job availability in September. Public sector, defence, community was hit the hardest, with offerings down by 11 points (ten percent) in September. The sector dropped to a 14-month low, indicating less hiring in the government sphere.

There were also decreases in healthcare, social work (down six points, or two percent); and education, training and library (down nine points, or four percent), although they remained the only two industry sectors to report growth on an annual basis.

The technology sector saw a continued ease in demand for workers as online hiring fell in engineering (down five points, or five percent); IT (down two points, or three percent); and research and development (down seven points, or six percent). Job availability for HR workers also retracted sharply, suggesting overall demand for recruiting personnel remains weak.

Telecommunications registered the highest upturn in online hiring, increasing by six points (ten percent). There were also notable jumps in arts, entertainment, sports, leisure (up seven points, or seven percent); and accounting, audit, taxes sectors (up four points, or five percent).

Opportunities in the sales sector inched marginally higher, extending a six-month positive trend, showing signs of recovery in online hiring among retailers.

Hiring drops for service and sales workers; string upturn for skilled agricultural, forestry and fishery workers
Online job demand for service and sales workers fell by one point (one percent) in September. This category registered the largest annual fall in online job demand, plummeting by 50 points (42 percent).

There were also sharp downturns in hiring in September for craft, and related workers (down five points, or four percent); technicians and associate professionals (down four points, or three percent); and elementary occupations (down four points, or six percent).

By contrast, skilled agricultural, forestry and fishery workers posted the sharpest uptick, growing by 21 points, or 14 percent. It was also the only occupational group to register an increase in job availability compared to a year ago.

Demand for clerical support workers saw a second successive upturn, increasing by seven points (seven percent). Hiring of plant and machine operators, and assemblers also edged slightly higher (up one point, or two percent).

Job demand falls most in North England and the South West; hiring holds steady in the Midlands and London
None of the nine UK regions registered an increase in online hiring. Demand fell most in North England (down three points, or two percent) and the South West (down three points, or two percent). Job opportunities fell in Wales for the fourth consecutive month.

Offerings held steady in both the Midlands and London. Year-on-year, East Anglia is showing the most moderate rate of decline, whilst Northern Ireland and the Midlands have dropped furthest.

Best performing sectors
Industry sectors showing the greatest rate of increase in online job availability included:

Month-on-month

Year-on-year

Monster Employment Index UK findings across industry sectors for the past 13 months are as follows:

Monster Employment Index UK findings across occupational categories for the past 13 months are as follows:

Monster Employment Index UK findings across the regions for the past 13 months are as follows:

Monster Employment Index UK for October will be released on November 10, 2009.

The University of Derby Student Employment Agency (SEA), which assists with finding students opportunities for temporary and part time paid jobs whilst studying and during their vacation periods, has enhanced its eploy® recruitment software platform to support its growing student placement process. 

“The eploy® software has provided SEA with a wide selection of user-friendly tools that we now rely on to deliver our student employment service.  Following the recent enrichment of the system we can now undertake a range of additional functions that will benefit the efficiency of the operation.  These include the automatic extraction of information from student CV’s to online registration forms and the ability to work live on individual vacancies,” said Ailsa Costello, from the University of Derby’s’ Student Employment Agency.

Since its adoption by the Student Employment Agency 5 years ago, eploy® has delivered a range of operational and technical improvements that have helped the University to develop stronger relationships with business clients and achieve greater flexibility in day-to- day management of the recruitment process. The web-based solution has addressed the dispersed nature of the University’s sites and the need for staff to work and liaise with others from any remote location.

“System access and mobility were significantly improved by introducing a web-based solution.  We can now update information, CVs and the diary function using a range of practical and easy to use tools, from the PC or mobile telephone.   Our work is taking us out of the office more and more so mobility has been a key benefit of the eploy®  system to us,” added Alisa.

The new 2009 enhanced application software will help SEA to monitor its performance against increasingly demanding Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) by providing reporting information on metrics such as the number of students registered, their faculty, the number of students employed and percentage from each faculty and the number of vacancies and employers.

Paul Burgess, Managing Director, eploy® said: “Universities are large communities that need powerful solutions to address the employment needs of their students and clients but often do not operate like a high street recruitment company.  To ensure an appropriate and positive user experience we have tailored the eploy® solution for the University and continue to support their needs through regular product enhancements.”   

In addition to the University of Derby, eploy® is also the chosen recruitment software for many other Universities, including the University of Wolverhampton and University of the Arts London

For a free online demonstration or trial version, please visit www.itssystems.co.uk, or contact eploy® on 0800 073 4243 or email info@eploy®.co.uk.

A quarterly global survey of hiring and firing trends covering more than 7000 organisations in 34 countries has found job prospects for professionals and managers improving for the first time since the autumn of 2008.

 The ‘Global Snapshot’ from the international recruitment firm, Antal, asked 7397 companies in major markets such as western and eastern Europe, Africa, India, China and the USA whether they were currently hiring at professional and managerial level. It then asked whether they planned to do so in the coming quarter and whether they were currently letting staff go or were planning to do so in the next three months. Current hiring across the globe was up from 46% of respondents in the spring to 50% now. And the percentage of organisations intending to hire in the coming quarter was up from 44% to 48%. At the same time the percentage of organisations intending to shed staff had fallen from 35% in the spring to 25% now.

Western Europe

 The highest current hiring levels amongst the larger economies were in France (54%), UK (50%) Belgium (50%) and Germany (46%). The lowest level of hiring was in Switzerland at 35% of businesses surveyed, reflecting the economy’s reliance on the financial sector.

Eastern Europe and Eurasia

 The highest recruiting levels in this region were in Russia (62%), the Czech Republic (60%), Poland (53%) and Bulgaria (54%).. Hungary’s well-documented economic problems meant that it had the lowest level of hiring in the region with only 26% of businesses questioned actively seeking new managers or professionals.

Africa and the Middle East

 After a dip in demand for staff in the spring, hiring in Egypt had rebounded to make it the most vibrant job market in the region with a hiring level of 61%. Despite the evident end of the ‘boom’ market in the Gulf, hiring levels in the UAE were still relatively robust at 46% and looked set to rise to 49% in the coming quarter.

Asia

 After a substantial dip in hiring levels at the start of 2009, confidence has definitely returned to the Chinese jobs market with hiring levels up to 74%.The picture in India is a similar one to that in China with the professional jobs market making a substantive recovery after a major loss of confidence at the start of 2009. Current India hiring levels are up to 51% from 29%.

The Americas

 Although the economic picture in the USA is decidedly mixed the latest Snapshot suggests a definite improvement in the professional and managerial jobs market. The percentage of organisations hiring has risen to 55% from 43% in April and of those intending to hire in the coming quarter to 56% from 34%. Furthermore firing levels are down, albeit marginally from 38% to 34%.

Conclusions

 “We would be very brave, or possibly very foolhardy, to assert that the economic crisis that has assailed the world is over,” says Antal’s CEO, Tony Goodwin, “but there is little doubt that the results of this edition of Global Snapshot give cause for some optimism. The hiring and firing of staff is one of the most effective measures of business confidence and there is no denying that, with a few exceptions, the jobs market for professionals and managers is improving all around the world.”

 “Of course there may still be unforeseen troubles waiting around the corner – the W-shaped recession or the ‘dead cat bounce’, for example, so beloved by the more apocalyptic commentators. But what may save us even if they are lying in ambush is an underlying sense of confidence that appears to be returning for the first time in nearly two long and difficult years.”

To read the Full Global Snapshot Click Here or visit www.antal.com