Online Labor Demand down 108,700 in August

NEW YORK, Sept. 5, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --Online advertised vacancies fell 108,700 in August to 4,684,800, according to The Conference Board Help Wanted OnLine (HWOL) Data Series released today. The combined July and August losses of 262,000 bring HWOL basically back in line with the May 2012 level. The Supply/Demand rate stands at 2.7 unemployed for every vacancy. In July, the number of unemployed was 8 million above the number of advertised vacancies, down from 10 million in the fall of 2011.

"So far, 2012 is shaping up to be a very slow-growth recovery for labor demand," said June Shelp, Vice President at The Conference Board. "August is a month when we normally expect to see employers gear up for the fall, but this year, labor demand was disappointingly below seasonal expectations." On the positive side, the U.S. has an average monthly increase of 45,000, and 45 of the 50 States are still showing gains for the year.

REGIONAL AND STATE HIGHLIGHTS

Labor demand falls in 18 of the 20 largest States in August

In August, online labor demand declined in 42 of the 50 States in the U.S. States that posted increases included Mississippi (+1,100), Texas (+900), Alaska (+800), North Dakota (+400), Montana (+300), West Virginia (+300), Delaware (+200), and North Carolina (+100).

Online labor demand in the Northeast fell 44,800 in August. Pennsylvania declined 11,700 for a cumulative gain of 4,400, or 2.5 percent, so far this year. New York fell 11,300 in August for a cumulative gain of 22,600, or 8.9 percent, in 2012. Massachusetts fell 4,100 for a cumulative gain of 12,900, or 10.1 percent, in 2012. New Jersey dropped 1,400 for a cumulative gain of 10,100, or 7.1 percent, this year. Among the smaller States in the Northeast, August labor demand decreased by 800 in Rhode Island , 600 in Connecticut, 500 in New Hampshire, and 300 in Maine.

In the West, online labor demand fell 35,800 in August. California, the largest State, dropped 13,300 in August but was up 51,500, or 11.1 percent, in the first eight months of 2012. Washington dropped 6,300 in August and was up 7,800, or 7.5 percent, so far this year. Colorado fell 4,700 for a cumulative 2012 gain of 12,100, or 14.2 percent. Arizona dropped 4,300 for a cumulative gain of 6,900, or 8.7 percent. Among the smaller States, in August, Nevada decreased by 2,600, Oregon dropped 1,600, and Utah fell 1,000.

Online labor demand in the Midwest dropped 29,000 in August. Ohio experienced the largest decline, 4,700, while Wisconsin posted a drop of 4,600. The August decline in Ohio brought the eight-month total for 2012 to a gain of 13,400, or 7.9 percent. Wisconsin's cumulative gain was just 800, or 0.9 percent. Illinois was down 4,400 in August for a year-to-date gain of 19,700, or 12.4 percent. Michigan fell 3,200 for a cumulative gain of 12,300, or 9.9 percent. Minnesota was down 2,400 for a 2012 gain of 11,900, or 10.9 percent. Missouri dropped 400 for a cumulative gain of 3,100, or 3.6 percent. Among the smaller Midwest States, in August Indiana lost 1,700, Kansas dropped 1,400, South Dakota lost 300, and North Dakota gained 400.

Online labor demand in the South fell 12,900 in August with Texas and North Carolina posting slight increases (900 and 100 respectively). Texas's cumulative 2012 increase was 45,900, or 14.9 percent; North Carolina's was 14,100, or 12.0 percent. Maryland dropped 3,800 in August for a year-to-date gain of 9,500, or 9.2 percent. Georgia lost 3,100 for an eight-month increase of 9,500, or 8.1 percent. Virginia dropped 800 for a cumulative increase of 18,100, or 13.3 percent. Florida lost a mere 100 for a cumulative gain of 23,400, or 9.7 percent. In August, among the smaller States, Tennessee fell 600, South Carolina lost 300, and Arkansas and Louisiana both fell 100.

The Supply/Demand rate for the U.S. in July (the latest month for which the national unemployment number is available) stands at 2.67, indicating that there are between 2 and 3 unemployed workers for every online advertised vacancy. Nationally, there are 8 million more unemployed workers than advertised vacancies.

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Online Labor Demand down 108,700 in August