UK online job opportunities rose by 9% in March, compared with the same month last year, according to the latest Monster Employment Index.

The Index reveals demand for skilled craft and tradesmen rose by 24% year-on-year and 4% month-on-month.

Strong performing sectors included engineering and IT and research, while banking and the public sector witnessed a decrease in roles in March, falling 7% and 6% respectively on the year.

The South West and East Anglia saw the greatest annual increase of online job postings year-on-year.   

Isabelle Ratinaud, Monster UK & Ireland, says: “While growth rate slowed during the autumn months, the private sector continues to grow steadily within industries such as IT, construction, transport and research and development, which could help in some way to offset public sector job losses. Construction has maintained its steady upward growth trend this month and remains at its highest recruitment level since December 2008, pre-recession.”