Despite strong results in some industries – including those closely tied to the public sector – online jobs index the Monster Employment Index (MEI) Europe saw a 3% decline year-on-year in October, the fastest rate of decline since April 2010.

This is also the 12th month in the last 18 when the index, compiled using data from Monster alongside other jobsites, has shown a year-on-year decline.

The three fastest-growing industries were environment, architecture & urbanism (24%), education, training and library (10%) and healthcare & social work (7%). No sector saw a decline of more than 10% and only three showed a decline of over 5% - telecommunication (7%), production, manufacturing, maintenance & repair (8%) and transport, post & logistics (9%).

As has been common in previous MEI Europe reports, Germany led the way with positive growth, albeit at only 2%, while other countries lagged behind. However, marginal growth of 1% was also seen in the UK and Belgium.