The Ashdown Group Jobs Index (AGJI) tracks the number of advertised permanent jobs at the Ashdown Group and the leading Internet job boards within the IT, Marketing, Accountancy and HR sectors. Data is compiled throughout the month and released in the first few days of the following month.
October 29th 2009:
6782
points
Change across October
Overall: +4.80%
IT: +3.33%
HR: +11.28%
Marketing: +10.80%
Accountancy: +2.87%
Headline Figure:
The Index has recorded a monthly rise of 4.88% in the number of advertised vacancies across the month of October. Following a drop of 151 points (-2.29%) in September, a huge bounce in the number of HR and Marketing jobs being advertised has seen the Index climb to a 2009 high of 6782 points.
Summary - Confidence Returns to the Job Market:
Increased positive sentiment appears to have fuelled a surge in recruitment activity. All sectors within the Ashdown Group Jobs Index (AGJI) are up but it is the rise in HR and marketing jobs that will be creating headlines. The number of jobs in HR and marketing rose by 11.28% and 10.80% respectively in October.
Some of the results this month could be attributed to a market correction following a poor September performance. A steady rise since June 2009 fell away last month (-2.48%), with the net effect being a flat market, we have now seen for the first time a marked increase in hiring activity and the first signs of real growth.
Short-term and medium range forecast from John Lynes, Director of the Ashdown Group:
‘Following last months poor performance, I am delighted and quite surprised to see such an enthusiastic rebound so soon. I am cautiously optimistic about the future; our business has seen a distinct upturn with many companies making multiple hires. The market remains volatile with no real trends emerging, the outlook has been difficult to forecast with the job market lurching about so unpredictably.
‘The results of October’s study are the most positive of the recession and I would like to think signal the end of a difficult year. 11.28% growth in the HR jobs market suggests businesses are gearing up to re-employ.
‘The marketing sector has been fairly resilient throughout the year and I believe it is investment in this area that will see the biggest returns for businesses looking to capitalize on any economic improvements. With a 10.8% increase in the number of UK jobs advertised, it would appear that many businesses feel the same way. I see this sector remaining strong in the short to medium term.
‘The accountancy market has remained stable and has been less volatile than other sectors throughout the year, we have seen an increase of 2.87% through the month.
‘We see demand for IT personnel growing steadily in line with increased economic confidence, There have been a number of predictions that IT spending will accelerate through 2010, of most note was the study conducted by Microsoft and IDC. The IT sector has seen an increase in jobs advertised by 3.33% in October.'
About the Ashdown Group Jobs Index
The Ashdown Group is a leading specialist recruitment agency operating in the UK
The Ashdown Group Jobs Index (AGJI) tracks the number of advertised permanent jobs at the Ashdown Group and the leading Internet job boards within the IT, Marketing, Accountancy and HR sectors. Data is compiled throughout the month and released in the first few days of the following month.
Analysis and commentary is provided by John Lynes, Operations Director of the Ashdown Group.
This data, comment and associated imagery is owned by the Ashdown Group. If you would like to reproduce any of the information or analysis please do so quoting us as your source and including a backlink.
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