Online job opportunities across the EU slowed in August as the Monster Employment Index Europe dropped five points to its pre-Summer level. August saw the first decline in online hiring since January but despite the dip, online hiring is up 17 percent since the beginning of the year. Sectors showing the most significant declines in August included education, training and library; and hospitality and tourism.

The Monster Employment Index Europe is a monthly analysis of millions of online job opportunities culled from different websites across Europe, including Monster.

Of the five key European economies that have the highest rate of online hiring, France, the Netherlands and Sweden saw declines in job opportunities, Germany showed no overall change and the UK saw an increase in online hiring.

“Since the beginning of the year we’ve seen a significant overall rise in online recruiting activity and the fall in August represents a seasonal dip as hiring for the hospitality industry slowed,” said Alan Townsend, COO Monster UK & Ireland. “The growth through the first half of this year outstripped that of last year and its continued high level indicates that job creation remains high right across Europe,” added Townsend.

The hospitality and tourism; and education, training and library sectors saw the most significant downturns in August, with hospitality showing declines mostly in Southern European countries. Meanwhile, there was a sixth consecutive month of growth in demand for workers in the production, manufacturing, maintenance and repair industry, as well as a fifth month of growth for transport, post and logistics workers.

France saw online hiring decline by six points due to a sharp decline in the sales sector, while the Netherlands experienced a dip of four points due to declining demand for education, training and library workers. Sweden saw a second consecutive month of decline, falling by 10 points as a result of fewer opportunities for workers in the banking, finance and insurance industry.

Online recruiting in the UK edged up by two points, bouncing back from a dip in July, driven up by significant growth in the arts, entertainment, sports and leisure; and administrative, organisation sectors. Demand in Germany remained flat, with the overall level of job opportunities maintaining the same high level as recorded in July. Opportunities in the production, manufacturing, maintenance and repair sector continue to drive online recruitment activity in Germany, increasing for the sixth consecutive month, while opportunities in hospitality and tourism declined.

“The stability of the level of job demand in Germany, Europe’s largest economy, plays a big role in the continued overall high level of the Index across Europe,” added Townsend. “Heavy industries in particular in Germany seem to be showing strong and sustained demand for workers, despite suggestions that such industries will feel the impact of the slowing growth across the Eurozone.”