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Employment Index UK Shows Solid Growth in Online Recruitment Activity
in
October 11,
2005
- Service And Shop Workers See a Rise in Online Job Demand for
the First Time in Three Months, Indicating a Pick Up in the Retail
Sector
- Sales, Marketing
and PR Sectors Register Highest Growth in Online Job Availability
Online job recruitment
activity and related employment opportunities across the United
Kingdom increased in October, according to the Monster Employment
Index UK. The Index rose solidly during the month, moving up three
points from 103 in September to 106 in October.
During October, eight
of the nine occupational categories tracked by the Index registered
an increase in online job demand. Craft workers, legislators,
senior officials and managers experienced the highest growth in
online job availability. This was largely driven by a greater
number of opportunities for workers in the sales, marketing and
PR sectors. Demand for service and shop workers also rose, pointing
to first signs of a recovery in the UK retail sector as a result
of increased consumer spending following the Bank of England’s
reduction of interest rates in August for the first time in two
years.
In contrast, demand
for plant and machine operators registered a slight decline in
online job opportunities, due in part to lowered demand for workers
in the production, manufacturing, maintenance and repair sectors.
"After a period
of flatness in August and September, online job opportunities
in the UK increased in October, returning the Index to the record
level set in July," explained Alan Townsend, Managing Director
for Monster UK & Ireland. "The Index’s rise is
not too surprising, given the unexpected boost in retail sales
in the UK during September that may have led to the creation of
more jobs. However, economists rightly warn that the retail sector
is far from booming. It will be interesting to see whether we
experience continued growth in this sector as we head towards
the Christmas season."
Online Job Demand Rises
in Eight of Nine Occupational Categories, Led by Craft and Related
Workers
Craft and related workers
saw a significant rise in online job offers with online activity
reaching its highest level for the year and reversing a downward
trend from the previous two months. This was as a result of increased
demand for workers in the construction, extraction, production,
manufacturing, maintenance and repair sectors.
Online job availability
for professionals, legislators, senior officials and managers
also grew in October, due in large part to an increase in sales,
marketing and PR recruitment activity.
Demand in the service
and shop workers sector also rose for the first time in three
months, reversing a decline and rising back to the same level
recorded in July of this year.
Plant and machine operators
and assemblers was the only category that experienced a decline
in online demand in October. This was the result of a significant
decrease in online hiring within the production, manufacturing,
maintenance and repair sectors.
"The Index findings
reflect what’s happening in UK manufacturing at the moment.
In October, the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) predicted
the loss of more manufacturing jobs in the future. According to
the CBI, thousands of UK manufacturing jobs are at risk as companies
seek to cut costs," added Townsend.
Online Job Demand Rises
Significantly in London and Wales and Declines in Northern Ireland
Online job opportunities
in Wales rose in October for the first time in two months, mainly
due to increased demand for clerks, professionals and service
and shop workers. Plant and machine operators and assemblers was
the only category that saw a decline, consistent with the overall
findings in the UK.
London also demonstrated
a steady rise in online recruitment activity in October, ending
a period of flatness. Legislators, senior officials and managers
exhibited the most significant growth, while demand for technicians
and associate professionals also increased.
Northern Ireland was
the only region that reported a decline in October. Online demand
for legislators, professionals, technicians and clerks fell mainly
due to a decline in online job offers within the healthcare, education,
IT and sales sectors.
Monster Employment
Index Europe
The Monster Employment Index saw a solid rise of three points,
rising from 110 in September to 113 in October. For the first
time since May 2005, all countries tracked by the Index registered
growth of varying degrees. France saw the steepest growth in October,
rising ten points, followed by the Netherlands and the UK, which
both rose three points during the month. Germany and Sweden registered
moderate increases of one point, after showing solid growth in
the previous month.
The Monster Employment
Index UK provides a broad, comprehensive monthly analysis of online
job demand in the UK and is compiled by Monster Worldwide, the
parent company of the leading global online careers and recruitment
resource, Monster(R). The Index is independently audited by ARC
Research, a U.S.-based market research, to ensure the accuracy
of the data within a margin of error of +/- 1.05%. The U.S. version
of the Monster Employment Index was first introduced in April
2004.
www.Monsterworldwide.com
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