New Delhi, June 9 (PTI) Recruitment trends improved last month, primarily driven by increased hiring activities in sectors such as oil, gas, petroleum, power and retail, according to job portal Monster.com.

Indicating better hiring trends, the Monster Employment Index -- a monthly gauge of online job demand -- climbed 12 per cent in May 2011 as compared to the year-ago period.

"The Index continues to record a positive year-over-year trend, with strong pockets of demand for professionals within the IT, oil/gas and automotive sectors," Monster.com's Managing Director (India/Middle East/South East Asia) Sanjay Modi said in a statement today.

Oil, gas, petroleum, power and retail were the sectors that led the annual growth. Overall online job demand in the oil/gas/petroleum and power sectors rose 30 per cent in May.

"Sales and business development occupations recorded notable expansion in online demand, while opportunities in finance and accounts declined," the statement said.