The Monster Employment Index, a monthly gauge of online job posting activity in Middle-East based on a real-time review of employer job opportunities, declined nine per cent year-on-year during July.

The Index does not reflect the trend of any one advertiser or source, but is an aggregate measure of the change in job listings across the industry.

“The decline in annual growth is reflective of the prevailing challenging economic conditions. Keeping this in mind, companies are adopting a cautious approach while hiring which is reflected in the index,” said Sanjay Modi, managing director, Monster.com India/ Middle- East/ South East Asia.

Online opportunities exceeded July 2012 levels in six of the 13 industry sectors monitored by the index. Education (up 12 per cent) led all sectors followed by BFSI (banking, financial services and insurance), which rose 11 per cent, while Production/Manufacturing, Automotive and Ancillary was down  25 per cent, registering the steepest  annual  decline.

Five of 11 occupation groups registered improved online demand over the year, with legal leading with an increase of 10 per cent year-on-year. Customer service (down 41 per cent) professionals registered the weakest long-term trend.

Online opportunities exceeded July 2012 levels in four of the seven countries monitored by the Index.

Egypt (up 27 per cent), followed by Qatar (up 13 per cent), led all countries in year-over-year growth, while UAE (down 30 per cent) registered the steepest decline over the past 12 months.

Online recruitment activity in Saudi Arabia rose seven per cent from July 2012 level with oil & Gas (up 36 per cent) registering positive annual growth.  Among occupation groups, Marketing & Communications/Arts/Creative (up 20 per cent) registered highest annual growth.

UAE registered a 30 per cent annual decline, with health care and BFSI (up 0 per cent) being the only industry sectors not recording a negative annual growth. Healthcare (up 2 per cent each) is the only occupation group to record the positive annual growth. – TradeArabia News Service