Activity in online recruitment showed expansion in February after four months of contraction, according to the Monster Employment Index.

The index shows, in February, growth in online recruitment was driven by ‘significant' increases in job opportunities in the education, training, library, consultancy and management sectors.

And despite a decline over the past seven months for HR roles, there was growth in online recruitment in this sector - driven by higher demand from HR professionals.

Hiring in the healthcare sector has risen 50% since February 2008, but overall online recruitment had decreased by 39% since last year.

Hugo Sellert, head of economic research at Monster Worldwide, said: "The UK online recruitment market expanded for the first time in four months, lifted by seasonal hiring in a number of sectors. The longer-term recruitment trends remain down, however, as the shaky economy and uncertain outlook for 2009 continue to prompt businesses to exercise caution when it comes to new payroll commitments."