Further Fall in Online Recruitment in the UK in December, According to the Monster Employment Index

LONDON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--December 2008 Index Highlights:

• The Index decreased by 11 points in December to reach a 20-month low as online job availability continued to fall from its February peak
• Demand for HR-related positions slumped to an Index low and the financial sector fell to its lowest level since January 2007, reflecting the negative impact on hiring from the recent financial crisis
• In contrast, hiring of education workers rose, partly due to demand for training from unemployed workers. Modest increases were also noted in the legal; and R&D sectors
• Demand dropped in all occupational groups except skilled agricultural and fishery workers. Plant and machine operators, and assemblers; and elementary occupations were the hardest hit, suggesting a further drop in industrial activity
• Hiring fell in all regions, with East Anglia showing the largest annual decline in demand

Summary Overview

The Monster Employment Index UK decreased by 11 points in December to reach a level of 141. Online job demand is now at its lowest level since May 2007. Year-on-year, the Index was down 33 points, or 19%, compared to a 10% annual decrease in the previous month, indicating a dramatic slowdown in recruiting at the end of 2008. Demand fell most in the healthcare, social work; and HR sectors. The banking, finance, insurance sector also saw a marked annual decrease in job availability. In contrast, there was a surge in demand for education, training and library workers for the third straight month. Moderate growth was seen in the legal; and R&D sectors.

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:

Dec 08	Nov 08	Oct 08	Sep 08	Aug 08	Jul 08	Jun 08	May 08	Apr 08	Mar 08	Feb 08	Jan 08	Dec 07
141	152	161	159	167	174	177	181	179	187	192	160	174

Monthly Index reports for Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Sweden, the United Kingdom and Europe are available at:

http://corporate.monster.com/Press_Room/MEI_EU.asp.