The Monster Employment Index UK decreased by 30 points in January, continuing the overall downtrend seen since February 2008.

The drop was the third consecutive month of decline. Year-on-year, the Index was down 49 points, or 31 percent - the steepest slump on record - indicating continued slowdown in online recruitment activity at the start of 2009. Demand continued to decline in the HR sector for the seventh consecutive month. The healthcare and social work sector saw a large upturn in demand after a month of decline.

The UK Index dropped by 30 points in January. The current level of 111 represents the lowest reading on online job availability since May 2006

- This fall was the steepest annual decline on record in January, shrinking 31 percent or 49 points, indicating a further slump in employer demand

- The Index's decline reflects sharply reduced opportunities in the environment, architecture and urbanism; construction and extraction; engineering; and administrative and organisation sectors. HR remained the weakest area for jobs, declining for the seventh consecutive month

- Despite the overall decline there was a surge in demand in the healthcare and social work sector, while education, training and library; and public sector, defence and community remained up year-on-year

- Demand eased across all occupational groups, with craft and related workers seeing the steepest fall

- Offerings declined in all UK regions in January. Northern Ireland and the South West showed the most notable monthly declines