Online recruitment activity contunued to decline in March, according to the Monster Employment Index.

The UK Index slumped by seven points in March as online demand dropped on February.

Year-on-year, the Index fell by 41%, or 77 points, the fifth consecutive month that the Index has fallen on a yearly basis.

In March, there were fewer job opportunities in the legal, marketing and healthcare sectors, while online recruitment activity increased most for education workers, while opportunities in production also grew.

The most significant decline was among occupational groups including skilled agricultural workers, professionals, and craft and related workers.

Most UK regions suffered a decline with Scotland experiencing the greatest decline, while all regions witnessed an annual fall in demand.