Online recruitment in the Philippines decreased by 19% in February 2021 when compared to February 2020, according to data from the Monster Employment Index.

The Monster Employment Index (MEI) decreased to 121 in February 2021 from 149 in February 2020.

On a month-on-month basis, the Index recorded growth of 3%.

Online hiring demand in February 2021 exceeded February 2020 levels in two of the 12 industries monitored by the Index.

Logistics/Courier/Freight/Transportation (+8%) and IT, Telecom/ISP (+3%) were the only industries to mark growth among all monitored industries in February 2021 from the year-ago level.

Hospitality (-45%), Retail (-29%) and Consumer Goods/FMCG (fast-moving consumer goods) (-28%) saw the sharpest annual decline.

Annual online demand for professionals dipped in all of 10 functional areas as monitored by the Index.

Software, Hardware, Telecom (-2%) recorded the lowest decline among all monitored functional areas in February 2021 from the year-ago level.

Purchase/Logistics/Supply Chain (-36%), Hospitality & Travel (-34%) and HR & Admin (-33%) saw the steepest decline among others, year-on-year.

The Index is a broad and comprehensive monthly and quarterly analysis of online job posting activity conducted by Monster.