Online Job Demand Down in October

November 2, 2009 – Online advertised vacancies declined by 83,200 to 3,280,000 in October, according to The Conference Board Help-Wanted OnLine Data Series (HWOL). Online labor demand has been relatively flat since the low point in April 2009, increasing a modest 117,000, or slightly less than 20,000 per month. The October decline reflected dips in labor demand across much of the nation. “The September and October numbers are a further indication that, thus far, the recovery is weak,” said Gad Levanon, senior economist at The Conference Board. “Labor demand is a leading indicator of employment, and the numbers indicate that employment is not likely to rise for the rest of this year.” While there are fewer layoffs and some states, like Maryland and New York, have a modestly upward trend, overall the labor market remains quite anemic. “The gap between the number of unemployed and the number of advertised vacancies is about 11.8 million, with 4.5 unemployed for every online advertised vacancy.” Among the top 10 occupations in October with online advertised vacancies were sales and related occupations, business, finance, computer and mathematical science positions. Healthcare practitioners and technical occupations, the largest category in terms of volume, dropped 68,900 in October to 535,600. Advertised vacancies in management occupations were down 56,000 in October to 353,700.