The United States eQuest Employment Index showed a slight increase for the month of July moving from 106.06 to 106.22.   The July increase was the result of a small increase in overall job postings and candidate traffic similar to June.  Healthcare and Biotech led all industries with the highest indices.  The Government industry was again the industry with the largest move down in the overall index rankings.

The top three Industries in the Unites States for overall job posting volume in June were Healthcare, Energy and Biotech.   Production and manufacturing-based industries continue to occupy the bottom of the Employment Index driven by a continued lack of a significant number of new positions being added to the marketplace and a consistent level of higher applicant traffic.  Geographically, all states had relatively stagnant index change over the month but the largest posting numbers were within states already showing favorable hiring conditions.  The states with the highest hiring demand in July were New Hampshire, Wyoming and Utah while Rhode Island, North Carolina and Alabama to show the lowest demand indices.

The United Kingdom had relatively large increase in the index for the month of July.  This was caused by stagnant growth in job postings but a significant downturn in candidate flow.   This effect is most likely the result of the Olympic Games taking place and August may show a return or even a catch up effect. The net result of these effects was an increase 97.79 to 98.56.  Index values continue to vary widely in the UK ranging from 116.61 in better regions to 80.05 at the lower end of the spectrum.  Eden, East Devon and Ryedale again posted the highest overall demand values while Nottingham, Kingston upon Hull and Liverpool continued a more than year long position at the bottom of the regional list for candidate demand.  Even during several months of an overall UK downturn London has continued to show better than average signs of growth with steady job volumes and is projected to have candidate traffic return in August.

Credit: onrec.com