Online hiring activity showed signs of recovery in February, according to the Monster Employment Index.

Following a quarter of contraction, the index grew by 6 points.

Activity was driven by openings in education, training and library and management and consulting sectors.

Most regions bounced back after January with the South-West growing the most and Wales the only region recording a downturn in hiring.

Year-on-year, the Index declined by 39%, or 75 points.  

Hugo Sellert, head of economic research, at Monster Worldwide, says: “The UK online recruitment market expanded for the first time in four months, lifted by seasonal hiring in a number of sectors. The longer term recruitment trends remain down, however, as the shaky economy and uncertain outlook for 2009 continue to prompt businesses to exercise caution when it comes to new payroll commitments.

“Nonetheless, there are pockets of opportunity, as demand has increased significantly for workers in education, management and consultancy in February, while hiring in the healthcare sector has risen by more than 50% year-on-year.”