Saudi leads online jobs boom with 56% growth

Saudi Arabia has posted 56 percent growth in online job opportunities over the past year, while Oman saw a 12 percent decline, according to the Monster Employment Index.

Online opportunities exceeded December 2010 levels in five of the seven countries monitored in the region by the index.

Saudi Arabia led the way while the UAE witnessed 36 percent growth and Bahrain opportunities rose 13 percent in December, its first positive movement since July.

Overall, the Monster Employment Index Middle East edged up three percent in December compared to the previous month.

Banking and financial services led all industry sectors for annual growth, while education and healthcare also showed strong growth, Monster said.

It added that oil and gas was the only sector to record an annual decline.

The Monster Employment Index is a monthly gauge of online job demand in the Middle East.

Sanjay Modi, managing director, Monster.com (India/Middle East/South East Asia), said: "The Monster Employment Index Middle East continues to show a positive sequential expansion. Strong hiring trends are observed in most industry sectors... major economies like Saudi Arabia, UAE and Kuwait are exhibiting robust double digit annual growth."