University graduates and school leavers will find it harder to find work this year, according to new job advertisement figures.

The Olivier Job Index measures the number of jobs advertised on the internet.

In 2008, ads for administration and office support staff dropped 55.2 per cent and banking and financial services by 48.4 per cent.

The publisher of the index, Bob Olivier, says companies are now less likely to take on graduates.

"We've seen a 53 per cent fall in the number of online graduate opportunities, so both they and school leavers are going to find 2009 very difficult," he said.

He says the number of jobs ads fell in December by 1.81 per cent, a big improvment on November's big drop of 9.83 per cent.

He also says there has been a boost in ads for retail, sales and marketing jobs due to the impact of the Federal Government's policies to stimulate the economy.