Nov. 10 (Bloomberg) -- Monster Worldwide Inc.’s index of online job advertisements across the European Union rose for the first time in eight months, led by demand in France and the U.K.

The Monster Employment Index Europe, which surveys online job postings in Germany, the U.K., France, the Netherlands, Belgium, Italy and Sweden, rose to 99 in October from 97 in September, according to a report published today.

“Increased optimism about economic-recovery prospects led employers in primarily France and the U.K. to resume hiring,” said Hugo Sellert, head of economic research at Monster Worldwide. “While many businesses continue to focus on cost reductions and restructuring, the latest uptick in online- recruitment activity signals a positive trend shift in overall demand for workers.”

The rise in online recruiting comes as France and Germany both emerged from a yearlong recession in the second quarter. Government-stimulus measures and inventory building are set to keep the euro-region’s main economies growing this year, though unemployment may keep rising into 2010, economists said.

“Being out of the crisis means creating jobs,” French Finance Minister Christine Lagarde said yesterday. “An actual recovery will be the creation of jobs. I don’t expect that to be early in 2010.”

To contact the reporters on this story: Mark Deen in Paris at markdeen@bloomberg.net;

Last Updated: November 10, 2009 00:00 EST