Online Labor Demand Down 163,900 in August

September 8, 2011 – Online advertised vacancies were down 163,900 in August to 3,990,600, according to according to The Conference Board’s Help Wanted OnLine Data Series (HWOL). The August drop follows a decline of 217,000 in July and a decrease of 100,000 in June. The supply/demand rate stands at 3.35, indicating there were just over three unemployed for every online advertised vacancy in July, the latest monthly data available for unemployment. “Following a very strong 1st Quarter (+763,000), labor demand has fallen off in the 2nd Quarter and into the 3rd Quarter (-456,000), reducing the earlier gains,” said June Shelp, vice president at The Conference Board. Overall, 2011 is still showing a 308,000 increase in labor demand, but the average monthly gain this year (+38,000) is less than last year's average monthly gain at this point (+62,000).