(Yicai Global) Jan. 18 -- Chinese  employers were looking to hire more workers in the last quarter of 2018  than during the third quarter.

Demand from employers climbed 25 percent,  while the number of job seekers rose 3.9 percent to 2.38 points,  according to an index built by the China Institute for Employment  Research under Renmin University of China and recruitment site  Zhaopin.Com. This increase was lower than the reading of 2.91 in 2017. 

The job index mostly faced headwinds last  year. In the first quarter, the benchmark was flat at 1.91 point and  during the second quarter, it fell to 1.88. Rebound started in the third  quarter, as the gauge rose to 1.97, which, however, was lower than the  reading of 2.43 in 2017. 

The CIER Index is expected to continue  sliding in the first quarter of this year, caused by seasonal factors,  the two index providers revealed in a joint report. 

Editor: Emmi Laine