Online job opportunities in the UAE saw a 36 per cent jump from December 2010, according to the latest Monster Employment Index.

This year-over-year growth (from December 2010 to December 2011) was robust and online recruitment activity in the country edged up four per cent between November and December last year.

Education tops the annual growth chart while engineering, construction and real estate lead all sectors in month-on-month growth in the country. Healthcare continues to be the leading annual gainer among occupational groups.

Opportunities grew for five of the seven countries monitored by the Index. Saudi Arabia (up 56 per cent) maintained its position charting the most significant annual growth among countries. Within the country, advertising, market research, public relations, media and entertainment continued to lead all sectors in the annual growth. Sales and BD followed by HR and administration recorded the strongest annual growth in demand among occupations in the kingdom.

Egypt saw a 43 per cent growth and Kuwait registered a 39 per cent jump. Bahrain (up 13 per cent) registered its first positive month-on-month growth since July’11. Qatar, on the other hand, saw a -1 per cent decline and Oman (down 12 per cent) recorded the most notable drop in online recruitment activity between December’10 and December’11.

“The Index continues to show a positive sequential expansion. Strong hiring trends are observed in most industry sectors like retail/trade and logistics; education and healthcare. Major economies such as KSA, UAE and Kuwait are exhibiting robust double digit annual growth.” said Sanjay Modi, Managing Director, Monster.com (India/Middle East/South East Asia).