Employers purchased slightly more help-wanted ads with America's major newspapers in January, according to the Conference Board.
The Conference Board's Help-Wanted Advertising Index - a barometer of America's
job market - edged up one point in January. The index now stands at 40, up from
39 in December. It was 47 one year ago.
In the last three months, help-wanted advertising increased in five out of
nine of the U.S. regions. Largest increases occurred in the Mountain (20.1 percent),
South Atlantic (12.0 percent) and New England (8.7 percent) regions. Steepest
declines occurred in the Middle Atlantic (-9.3 percent), East North Central
(-5.0 percent) and West South Central (-4.1 percent) regions.
"The fact that job advertising was no higher in January 2003 than in October
2002 shows how flat the labor market has been," says Conference Board Economist
Ken Goldstein: "Hiring intentions are not expected to turn more bullish
as long as the overall economy remains stuck in neutral."
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.
Latest seasonally-adjusted results follow:
| |
Jan. 03
|
Dec. 02
|
Nov. 02
|
Jan. 02
|
| National Index |
40
|
39
|
40
|
47
|
|
Proportion of Labor Markets
With rising Want-ad Volume
|
47%
|
41%
|
43%
|
49%
|
| Unemployment Rate |
5.7%
|
6.0%
|
5.9%
|
5.6%
|
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