Help-Wanted Index Dips One Point

In the last three months, help-wanted advertising increased in seven of the nine U.S. regions. The largest increases occurred in the East South Central (36.2%), Mountain (18.1%) and New England (16.9%) regions. Declines occurred in the Pacific (-4.7%) and Middle Atlantic (-2.3%) regions.

Says Conference Board Economist Ken Goldstein: “The forward indicators of labor market activity were positive at the end of 2006. But the picture is more mixed now. Print job advertising was lower in February. Online ad volume has maintained its pace. Unemployment claims edged higher in February and early March. And consumer expectations of job opportunities dipped in March. This suggests employment growth may continue, but probably at a more modest pace through spring and early summer.”

The Conference Board surveys help-wanted advertising volume in 51 major newspapers across the country every month. Because ad volume has proven to be sensitive to labor market conditions, this measure provides a gauge of change in the local, regional and national supply of jobs.

Total online job ads increased to 3,824,200 in February, up 22 percent from January, according to The Conference Board Help-Wanted OnLine Data Series™. There were 2.5 advertised vacancies online for every 100 persons in the labor force in February.