A gauge of online demand for labor in the United States rose in May for the fourth straight month to the highest level since November 2008, a private research group said on Thursday.

Monster Worldwide Inc, an online careers and recruiting firm, said its employment index rose to 134 points in May from 133 in April, indicating the demand for labor is strengthening.

The index for May marks the highest year-over-year growth rate since its peak in April 2007, Monster said. In May 2009, the index stood at 118.

The index peaked at 189 in May 2007 and dropped to 143 in November 2008.

The sustained expansion of job opportunities, especially in some large industries, is encouraging, said Jesse Harriott, senior vice president and chief knowledge officer at Monster Worldwide.

While some of this increase can be attributed to seasonality, the notable improvement in annual growth rate is the highest since April 2007 and reflects a better job market heading into the summer months compared to this time last year, he said.

The healthcare and social assistance industries saw the strongest rise in online job demand in May, while real estate, the accommodation industry and food services all fell in May, Monster said.

The Monster Employment Index is a monthly analysis based on a selection of corporate career sites and job boards. The margin of error is approximately plus or minus 1 percent.

(Reporting by Edith Honan; Editing by Kenneth Barry)

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