Numbers of new professional jobs fell slightly in July within the Republic of Ireland, according to the latest Morgan McKinley Irish Employment Monitor.

The Monitor recorded a 4% month-on-month decrease in the number of new professional jobs in the Irish market in July 2011 with jobs registered falling from 8.250 in June to 7,900 in July. Job numbers were however 50% up on July 2010.

July also saw a 7% decrease in the number of professionals looking for new job opportunities in the month.

Karen O’Flaherty, chief operations officer, Morgan McKinley says: “The latest figures show that the levels of new professional jobs in Ireland are stabilising as we progress into H2 2011. Once again the Irish Employment Monitor registered a significant improvement (50%) in the number of new professional jobs compared to the same month last year. Despite still being a long way off the record job levels seen during 2007, this encouraging trend shows that the professional hiring market is in a much healthier position than it was in July 2010.”