The Monster Employment Index Middle East, a monthly gauge of online job posting activity in Middle- East, declined in May by 14 percent on an annual basis, online job postings provider Monster Worldwide said on Monday.

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.

In May, the Monster Employment Index Middle East hit 118 points, down from 137 points in the same month last year. Nevertheless, month on month the index rose by 10 points or 9.25 percent.

Among occupation groups healthcare exhibited strongest growth year on year, while job offers in the segment software, hardware, telecom registered steepest annual decline.

In relation to countries, Egypt, with 16 percent more online employment offers followed by Bahrain (up 13 percent), led all countries in year-over-year growth. Job offers in Kuwait were down 26 percent, representing the steepest decline over the past 12 months.

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) suffers a 19 percent annual decline, while Saudi Arabia's oil and gas industry in on a hiring spree as the online employment posting climbed 22 percent in May.

"The double digit drop in the Monster Employment index is owing to the cautious approach adopted by Middle East employers owing to the business scenario globally," said Sanjay Modi, the managing director, Monster.com for the Middle East and South Asia.