Online job demand strengthened in eight out of nine occupational groups, according to the Monster Employment Index for November.

However, only three sectors (education, training and library; production & manufacturing; and health & social care) reported year-on-year growth.

Arts, entertainment, sports and leisure saw the highest monthly rate of increase, jumping 14%.

The index for clerical support workers rose 5% to reach its highest level since November last year.

However, banking, finance and insurance declined by 2%

In the past 12 months, education training and library recorded the highest rise of 28%.

Seven of the 10 UK regions registered a rise in online job availability between October and November. Only Northern Ireland saw a decline.

Hugo Sellert, head of economic research at Monster Worldwide, told Recruiter that this month’s figures signalled that online recruitment had turned the corner after a long period of decline.

“We really hit the bottom in the third quarter but the October and November figures suggest this is part of a long-term trend.

“It’s really a response to the building momentum in the economy spilling into employer confidence.”

Sellert adds that “surprisingly” the improvement is being led by the goods producing sector, including manufacturing, as well as investment in R&D.

“This is an important sign because it shows that the industrial sector, which has been hit hard in the downturn, is coming back to life.”