The Monster Employment Index Europe is a monthly gauge of online job posting activity based on a real-time review of millions of employer job opportunities culled from a large representative selection of career web sites and online job listings across Europe. The Index does not reflect the trend of any one advertiser or source, but is an aggregate measure of the change in job listings across the industry.

• The Monster Employment Index UK registers a three percent decline in July, the first overall negative growth trend in 30 months
• Public Sector, defence, community charts the highest online recruitment growth year-over-year at 23 percent, driven by increased demand for part-time and voluntary positions
• Banking, finance, insurance sees the largest decline in recruitment activity year-over-year
• Plant and machine operators and assemblers exhibits the highest annual growth for the fifth consecutive month
• The Midlands continues to lead all regions, but only registers one percent growth year-over-year. Wales shows further decline for the seventh consecutive month

“It’s disappointing to see the online job market showing an annual decline, with the Eurozone debt crisis continuing to affect companies’ recruitment plans, however there are still positive signs for a few select sectors,” comments Julian Acquari, Managing Director of Monster UK & Ireland. “The public sector, for example, continues to show double-digit growth year-over-year. Additionally, research and development is charting its highest annual growth rate for four months, However these pockets of growth are currently counterbalanced by declines in the banking, marketing and construction industries.  Once the seasonal stagnation over the summer months subsides we may see this start to turn.”

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