The white-collar job market deteriorated at the end of last year despite a slight recovery in the first half of the year, according to a report released on Tuesday.

The report, by human resources website Zhaopin, said competition for white-collar jobs became fiercer in the fourth quarter, with an average of 37 job seekers vying for each position - compared with 26 in the first quarter, 29 in the second and 35 in the third.

In the first quarter of 2014, each opening drew on average 45 candidates.

Wang Yixin, a senior consultant at Zhaopin, elaborated on the grim outlook for the job market and economic situation in general.

"The job market of Q1 and Q2 in 2015 was more optimistic than in 2014, thanks to the work opportunities brought by startups and the Internet industry," said Wang. "But increasing downward economic pressure influenced the market, with competition growing tougher in Q3 and Q4 in 2015 than it had been in that period the previous year."

Demand for talent shrank as the economy slowed, Wang said.

"Many industries began to lay off employees, forcing them back on to the job market," she said. "In addition, the Internet industry, which used to be a big source of jobs, is also cutting back on hiring due to setbacks in the second half of last year.

"At the same time, more employees considered changing jobs, adding to the competition."

Continuing the trend of previous quarters, competition in the job market in second-tier cities, especially in Northeast China, was even fiercer than in first-tier cities.

In Zhaopin's competition index for major cities, Chengdu, in Sichuan province, ranked first. But in Northeast provinces, Shenyang ranked second, Dalian sixth, Changchun eighth and Harbin 10th.