Monster Employment Index Europe Edges Up Slightly in November

LONDON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

“Despite a first quarterly expansion in GDP since early 2008, online recruitment demand across Europe remains deflated. Businesses seem cautious about hiring, waiting for real product and service demand improvements before significantly increasing their staffing levels”

November 2009 Index Highlights:

• Online recruitment activity across Europe rose modestly, by a point, amidst increases in marketing and leisure jobs
• Year-on-year, offerings fell 32 percent, the lowest annual rate of deterioration since February 2009
• Worker demand jumped the most in Sweden, where an increase was noted for the third consecutive month; Italy and the UK also noted upticks whilst opportunities fell slightly in France and the Netherlands

Summary Overview

The Monster Employment Index Europe climbed for the second consecutive month in November, as offerings rose by one point (one percent). Despite this increase, opportunities remain at a low level and have been largely unchanged since the summer. Whilst offerings were down 32 percent year-on-year, the fall was lowest seen since February 2009, indicating that online worker demand may have stabilised.

The monthly uptick was driven by increased demand for workers in the arts, entertainment sports and leisure; and marketing, PR and media sectors. However, the increase was offset slightly by falling opportunities in accountancy and hospitality and tourism.

Monster Employment Index Europe results for the past 13 months are as follows:

Nov 09	Oct 09	Sep 09	Aug 09	Jul 09	Jun 09	May 09	Apr 09	Mar 09	Feb 09	Jan 09	Dec 08	Nov 08
100	99	97	100	101	102	104	111	112	115	106	132	146

“Despite a first quarterly expansion in GDP since early 2008, online recruitment demand across Europe remains deflated. Businesses seem cautious about hiring, waiting for real product and service demand improvements before significantly increasing their staffing levels,” commented Hugo Sellert, head of economic research at Monster Worldwide. However, the Index has remained fairly stable over the past four months which suggest the decline in job vacancies has reached a bottom, a positive development as we move into 2010. Growth trends are already being seen in Sweden and the UK, and other countries may soon follow suit.”

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 Europe, including Monster.

The full Index report can be found on the Monster Worldwide Newsroom. Separate reports are also published for Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Sweden and the United Kingdom. If you are a journalist interested in more information or an interview about any of these reports, please get in touch using the contact details below.