Monster Employment Index UK Jumps in March, Continuing Upward Momentum in Early 2007

Online Job Opportunities in Hospitality and Tourism Climb

Greater Demand for Shop and Market Sales Workers Reflects Strength in UK Retail Sales Sector

Online Recruitment Activity in Scotland
Rebounds from Dip in February

Online recruitment activity and related employment opportunities across the United Kingdom jumped 10 points in March, demonstrating continued upward momentum since the start of 2007. The March increase extended a two-month growth period, largely driven by increased demand for workers in hospitality and tourism and sales. Now at its highest level since its inception, the UK Index is showing year-on-year growth of 30 points, suggesting a far stronger online hiring environment for UK job seekers compared to a year ago.

Among industry sectors, hospitality and tourism registered the strongest rate of growth in March. Online job offers also increased within banking, finance and insurance for the second consecutive month. In contrast, healthcare, social work and personal care saw the greatest decline for online jobs over the last month.

After a three-month downward trend, online job availability for service workers and shop and market sales workers increased, partially due to a greater number of job vacancies within the surging hospitality and tourism industry.

Among the regions, Scotland saw the greatest rise in online recruitment activity, rebounding from a dip in February. Demand for workers in Scotland was highest in healthcare, social work and personal care and marketing, PR, media and sales. All other UK regions also registered gains.

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