The volume of help-wanted advertising fell in August, according to the Conference
Board's Help-Wanted Advertising Index. The index dipped one point
in August to 37. In June and July, the index remained at 38.
In the last three months, help-wanted advertising rose in seven of the nine
U.S. regions. Largest increases occurred in the Mountain (19.3 percent), East
South Central (8.0 percent), and Pacific (6.0 percent) regions. Declines occurred
in the Middle Atlantic (-10.5 percent) and South Atlantic (-5.7 percent) regions.
"With the economy on the upturn, a labor market turnaround may finally
develop," says Ken Goldstein, an economist with the Conference Board..
"After shedding nearly 3 million workers, layoffs have stabilized and could
start slowing down. But while total job advertising volume is stabilizing, it
is at very low levels."
The Conference Board surveys help-wanted advertising volume in 51 major newspapers
across the country every month.
Latest seasonally adjusted results follow:
Aug. 03
July 03
June 03
Aug. 02
National
Index
37
38
38
41
Proportion
of Labor Markets With rising Want-ad Volume
