The Monster Worldwide Inc. employment index of online job demand rose one point in March to a reading of 125. The one point gain follows an increase of 10 points in February.

"We're encouraged by the positive uptick in the index in the past two months," said Jesse Harriott, senior VP and chief knowledge officer at Monster. "The index results may be a signal that companies intend to start hiring again. While the labor market continues to be challenging for those looking for work, we are encouraged to see early signs of what may be a return to consistent job growth."

Monster's index is based on a review of online job ads taken from a selection of Web sites, including Monster.