The Monster Employment Index UK dipped by one point as online job availability remained largely unchanged for a fifth month in a row in August.

Demand in the marketing/PR/media sector increased, while East Anglia recorded the highest rise in demand of all UK regions and hiring declined furthest in Wales.

Hiring levels in the UK was down 35% year-on-year, but  job availability appears to have stabilised from the dramatic decline seen in 2008.

August saw increased hiring activity in the marketing, PR and media; administrative, organisation; banking, finance, insurance; and IT sectors, while demand for workers in education, training and library; engineering and telecommunications were hit hardest.