|
The Conference Board's
Help-Wanted Advertising Index—a key barometer of America's job
market—was 37 in September, holding even with the previous
month. The Index was 43 a year ago.
In the last three months, help-wanted advertising declined in
eight of the nine U.S. regions. Steepest declines occurred in
the Mountain (-14.6%), West North Central (-12.1%), South
Atlantic (-9.4%) and New England (-7.9%) regions.
Says Conference Board Economist Ken Goldstein: “The labor
market is no longer declining, with want-ad volume at the same
level since June and initial unemployment claims inching down.
While employment gains have been scant, the number of layoffs
has slowed. An advancing economy and a sustained increase in the
demand for goods and services will generate more demand for
labor. If the economy stays on its current growth path, a better
job market should start to develop over the next six months.
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 an important gauge of change in the local,
regional and national supply of jobs.
Latest seasonally-adjusted results follow:
| |
Sep 03 |
Aug 03 |
July 03 |
Sep 02 |
| National Index |
37 |
37 |
38 |
43 |
Proportion of Labor Markets
With Rising Want-Ad Volume |
41% |
49% |
35% |
71% |
| Unemployment Rate |
6.1% |
6.1% |
6.2% |
5.7% |
|
RTO Online is the official channel for Rent-to-Own Industry News and the
only independent source of news for the rent-to-own, rental-purchase,
lease-purchase trade. RTO Online (Rent to Own Online) represents the choice
of the entire RTO Industry for trusted information, as it happens. |
|
Tell us what you think
Rate the article at the top of this page |
|
|
|
|
