Online recruitment in the UK rose significantly in February as the Monster Employment Index grew by 32 points, rebounding strongly from a seasonal dip in January. The Monster Employment Index UK is a monthly analysis of millions of online job opportunities culled from a large, representative selection of corporate career sites and job boards across Europe.

The Index reached a level of 192 points in February, partly due to strong growth in online job availability in the healthcare, social work; and management and consulting sectors. The Index also showed significant increases in demand for the majority of occupational groups, with online opportunities for clerks rising the most. Overall, the Index is up 52 points, or 37 percent, compared to February 2007.

"The sharp rise in online hiring in February indicates that the demand for workers across the UK remains elevated despite signs of a slowing economy,” said Julian Acquari, managing director of Monster UK and Ireland. "While recruitment has clearly moderated in the financial sector, opportunities in most other industries have continued to expand. The Index seems to show a positive outlook for the UK employment market.”