New York, NY, January 26, 2007--The Conference Board Help-Wanted Advertising Index--a key measure of job offerings in major newspapers across America--rose four points in December. The Index now stands at 33. It was 38 one year ago.
The Conference Board is the global business research and membership organization.
In the last three months, help-wanted advertising rose in seven of the nine U.S. regions. Largest increases occurred in the East North Central (35.9%), West South Central (23.0%), New England (16.1%) and Middle Atlantic (10.5%) regions.
Says Ken Goldstein, labor economist at The Conference Board: "Job advertising in print was up in December, reversing some of the decline earlier in the year. Change in online ad volume (on a year-over-year basis) was a little stronger in December than a month or two earlier. Also, the Leading Economic Index rose in December, suggesting there could be a little more spark in business activity in 2007. Employers are expending a little more effort to attract job candidates, suggesting a stronger labor market in the next few months."
In December there were 3,344,600 online advertised vacancies, a rise of 17 percent from last December, according to The Conference Board Help-Wanted OnLine Data Series™.
The Conference Board surveys help-wanted print 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.
