FURTHER DIP IN ONLINE RECRUITMENT IN THE UK IN JULY

The Monster Employment Index UK decreased by three points in July to reach a level of 174, following a similar drop in June. This partly reflects a seasonal decrease in online recruitment activity during the early summer months, but also suggests loosening conditions in the jobs market. Hiring in the legal sector fell most, while there was a significant upturn in demand for healthcare and social workers. The Monster Employment Index UK 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.

Hugo Sellert, head of Economic Research, Monster Worldwide, said: “The UK economy continues to slow and the outlook for the rest of 2008 remains gloomy, meaning tougher conditions in the labour market. Given this backdrop, it is not surprising that online recruitment is now moderating, with fewer job offerings than a year ago in areas such as finance, retail and technology.  

“Still, it should be noted that advertised vacancies remain well above last summer’s levels and that demand in the education, healthcare and tourism sectors, and overall in Northern Ireland, remains elevated.”

Online hiring in the legal sector fell by 45 Index points in July, following a moderate dip in June. A similar seasonal trend was seen in previous years. The decrease was mainly driven by lower demand for professionals. Most regions registered a decline in online job opportunities, with demand in London falling for the third consecutive month. Meanwhile, availability in Northern Ireland rose for the third month in a row. Year-on-year, the sector was down 25 points or 12% – the largest annual decline on record.  

Opportunities for workers in the environment, architecture and urbanism sector also fell sharply in July. This drop was principally led by reduced demand for technicians and associate professionals, while hiring of professionals rose slightly after three months of decline. Regionally, Scotland decreased the most, falling for the fourth successive month. Year-on-year growth was 27 points, or 16%.  

By contrast, the healthcare, social work sector grew by 31 points, as online hiring increased for the third month in a row in line with a seasonal pattern.  There were considerably increased opportunities for technicians and associate professionals; and professionals. All regions showed increased demand, with Wales registering the strongest rate of increase. Year-on-year growth was 31 points, or 17%.

Online job availability for craft and related workers fell sharply again in July, for the second month in a row. As in June, the decline reflects markedly fewer opportunities in the production, manufacturing, maintenance, repair; and construction, extraction sectors. Regionally, Northern Ireland dipped most following two months of growth. By contrast, hiring increased in the South West and North England, reversing a three month declining trend. Year-on-year, the category dropped 26 points, or 10% – the biggest fall among occupational groups.

There was also a significant decrease in skilled agricultural and fishery workers in July, following two months of large seasonal increases. Regionally, availability dipped most in London, following two months of higher demand. Year-on-year growth, however, was a solid 61 points, or 43%. This was the highest among occupational groups, reflecting increased online hiring in the agriculture, fishing and forestry sector.

Contrastingly, elementary occupations saw strong growth in July, after three months of stability. This surge was driven by higher demand in the production, manufacturing, maintenance, repair sector. North England saw the strongest rate of increase. Year-on-year growth was 37 points, or 43%.

The South West fell by 14 Index points in July. Opportunities have dropped in the region for five straight months and are now at its lowest since January. Hiring fell the most in the legal; accounting, audit, taxes; and administrative, organisation sectors. Among occupational groups, clerks saw the steepest decline. Year-on-year growth for the region was SEVEN  points, or three per cent following a sharp decline in the first six months of the year.

Online hiring also decreased in the Midlands, following two months of growth. Major declines were seen in the agriculture, fishing and forestry; production, manufacturing, maintenance, repair; transport, post and logistics; and marketing, PR and media sectors. Among occupational groups, the sharpest decrease was for skilled agricultural and fishery workers.   

Online recruitment rose significantly in Northern Ireland for the second consecutive month, reaching an Index high for the region. Major rises were seen in the accounting, audit, taxes; administrative, organisation; and banking, finance, insurance sectors. All occupational groups registered higher demand, with the exception of craft and related workers. Year-on-year growth, in this region, was the highest of all UK regions at 42 points, or 30%.

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