* The Monster Employment Index UK fell by 2% in May, offsetting growth seen in April. Overall, the Index is down 40% year-on-year
* Online job opportunities dipped most in the healthcare; marketing; engineering; and R&D sectors while offerings rose in hospitality; and management
* Regionally, demand fell furthest in North England and Scotland. Job availability rose in both East Anglia and Wales
Summary Overview
The Monster Employment Index UK fell by three points or two percent in May, following a slight uptick in online hiring in April. Despite the fall, the past months’ relatively flat Index readings suggest that online recruitment activity has stabilised in the UK after a sharp contraction in 2008. In addition, the Index’s year-on-year rate of decline of 72 points, or 40 percent, has remained largely unchanged over the past three months.
The dip in May was largely driven by a fall in demand for workers in the healthcare, social work; marketing, PR, media; engineering; and research and development sectors. By contrast, there was an upturn in advertised opportunities in the hospitality and tourism; and management and consulting sectors. The overall European Index contracted by 37 percent year-on-year.
“The latest reading from the Monster Employment Index shows that UK online recruitment activity has levelled off so far in 2009, but employer demand for workers still falls way short of recent years’ levels,” commented Hugo Sellert, head of economic research, at Monster Worldwide. “Most indicators suggest that the UK economy remains stuck in a deep recession. However, a recent pick-up in demand for production workers suggests that jobs prospects in the battered manufacturing sector may be improving somewhat.”
Demand for healthcare workers declines, while hospitality & tourism rises
Online job demand in the healthcare, social work sector fell by 54 points, or 16%, in May. This was the steepest decline among all industry sectors and was largely driven by weakened demand for professionals. All regions showed fewer opportunities, with North England seeing the biggest decline. However, healthcare, social work still remains the top growth sector on a year-on-year basis.
Job availability in the marketing, PR and media sector also fell in May, dropping by 16 points, or 13%, to reach its lowest level since August 2005. The sector has recorded the sharpest downturn in demand over the past three months of all industry sectors, as companies across the UK cut back on spending to cope with the economic hardship. Offerings fell furthest in Scotland. Year-on-year decline was 56%.
By contrast, hiring in hospitality and tourism jumped by 15 points, or 12%, due to robust seasonal hiring for service and sales workers in London, the South East and Wales. Although online job availability in the sector is now at a five-month high, the category was down by 19% year-on-year.
Opportunities in production, manufacturing, maintenance and repair saw an 11 point, or 12%, rise in the Index. Hiring in the sector slowed significantly between June 2008 and February 2009 but has since shown signs of re-acceleration. There was also an 11 point upturn in the management and consulting sector in May, led by increased hiring in the Midlands. Year-on-year, however, the sector was still down 49 points, or 21%.
Demand for plant and machine operators, and assemblers; and clerical support workers increases; opportunities for agricultural workers reduce
Online job demand for plant and machine operators, and assemblers surged by seven points, or 14%, indicating demand for factory workers and skilled tradesmen may be stabilising following a plunge in hiring between mid-2008 and February 2009. Despite this growth, the category is down by 54% year-on-year – the second worst hit of all
occupational groups.
Job availability for clerical support workers rose by seven points in May, or 8%, to reach a five-month high in the Index. This growth was driven by increased hiring in the administrative and organisation sector; and the public sector.
In contrast, there was a marked reduction in online job opportunities in May for skilled agricultural and fishery workers. Demand for this category fell by 24 points, or 13% - the third straight monthly drop. Despite a 29% decline year-on-year, the category is holding up the best on an annual basis.
North England hit hardest
Online hiring fell by 8% in North England in May. This was the biggest regional downturn, principally caused by reduced demand in engineering, R&D and telecommunications. There were also steep declines in Scotland and the South East with both regions registering a 5% drop.
Online job availability grew most in East Anglia in May. Demand increased by five points, or 5%, fully offsetting the dip seen in April. This growth was largely due to increased hiring for administrative and organisation workers. Job offerings also edged higher in the Midlands, Northern Ireland and Wales. Year-on-year, Wales has seen the most resilience to the overall slowdown among the major regions while the Midlands continues to show the steepest annual decline.
