* Online demand across the EU dipped two percent in June
* June’s decline marks the fourth consecutive month of falling job availability, leaving the Index 39 percent short of its year-ago reading
* Industry sectors reporting sharpest declines included management and consulting; transportation, engineering and R&D
* Sweden remains stable; Belgium and UK edge higher; Marketing, PR and Media bounce back
While the overall Index continued its decreasing trend, individual country results were mixed. Germany, Italy and the Netherlands reported sustained declines, whereas modest increases were seen in Belgium and the UK. Year-on-year, however, all EU markets remained in the red, reflecting the broad slowdown in hiring activity across the continent. The Netherlands is now showing the steepest annual rate of decline of all major EU markets.
“The sustained deceleration in online recruitment during the second quarter indicates that recession continues to linger in the EU job market despite budding signs of improvement in some areas of the European economy,” commented Hugo Sellert, head of economic research at Monster Worldwide. “Many companies are looking to contain labour costs, particularly for cost-intensive management and consultant positions. In other areas such as healthcare and education, however, demand remains strong with ample opportunity for employment.”
Management and consulting opportunities decline in the second quarter of2009; Marketing, PR and media bounce back
Management and consulting reported the steepest fall among industry sectors, losing 15 points (12 percent), suggesting companies across Europe are cutting back on higherlevel staff as well as external consultants. Infrastructure industries also suffered in the June Index. Transport, post and logistics was down eight points (eight percent), engineering lost six points (five percent) and production, manufacturing, maintenance and repair dropped five points (three percent).
There were significantly fewer opportunities for production workers in the hard-hit manufacturing sector and related industries such as engineering and research and development continued to decline. While most sectors reported slower hiring, some recovered somewhat from extended downtrends, such as real estate, automotive and HR.
A bounce-back in hiring was also recorded in the marketing, PR and media sector, following three months of decline. Despite this, year-on-year offerings remained down by an above sector-average of 43 percent, indicating sustained low demand for creative professionals.
Clerical support workers sector reports reduced demand, while skilled agricultural workers benefit from high-season
Demand for clerical support workers across Europe fell strongly by eight points (seven percent) in a third consecutive month of decline, demonstrating a consistent quarterlong decline. Year-on-year the occupational group fell 44 percent.
Plant and machine operators also trended lower, slipping four points (five percent). The latest reading of 71 was the lowest level since the Index’s inception in December 2004. In contrast, skilled agricultural, forestry and fishery workers reported a 15-point, (ten percent) jump as well as positive annual growth of one percent.
Country Highlights:
· Belgium: The Monster Employment Index Belgium saw a slight increase in June climbing one point (one percent), following two months of decline. Year-on-year the Index was down 20 percent, far better than the European Index’s annual decline of 39 percent. Offerings in hospitality and tourism extended its increasing trend to a sixth month, whilst increased opportunities in healthcare also helped fuel the June uptick
· France: The Monster Employment Index France dipped one point (one percent) in June, leaving the Index at its lowest reading since the beginning of 2009. The fall suggests businesses are slowing down their recruiting following a surge in seasonal hiring activity between January and April 2009. Annually, the Monster Employment
Index France declined at the sharpest rate on record, with offerings falling 40 percent
· Germany: Online recruitment activity in Germany fell for the fourth consecutive month, with opportunities falling most notably in the construction, manufacturing and engineering sectors. Offerings dipped two points (two percent) compared to May 2009 and 24 percent compared to year-earlier figures
· Italy: The Monster Employment Index Italy dipped two points (two percent) in June amid reduced demand for workers in financial services sector, such as accounting, audit and taxes. However, some positive trends are being shown by non-cyclical sectors, such as education, where opportunities are soaring. The latest Index reading of 124 points the lowest Index level since January 2007. Compared to year-earlier figures the Index slumped 29 percent, marking an eighth consecutive month of annual decline
· Netherlands: The Monster Employment Index Netherlands dipped four points (four percent), as online recruitment activity fell to its lowest level since March 2005. Office and clerical workers reported the largest decline in June, with online job opportunities declining in HR and administration, as businesses looked to sharply reduce costs. On an annual basis, the Index fell 55 percent, a sharper rate of decline than Europe as a whole
· Sweden: The Monster Employment Index Sweden remained unchanged in June, following three months of consecutive decline between March and May 2009. Hiring increased slightly in education and construction; this was offset by fewer offerings in the engineering, IT and consulting sectors. Year-on-year, offerings fell in line with the overall European Index, dipping 39 percent
· UK: The Monster Employment Index UK exhibited an uptick of one point (one percent) in June following a surge in demand for workers in the education and healthcare sectors. Compared to June 2008, the Index is performing at a similar rate to the European Index, with offerings falling 38 percent
