Unemployed (red line, left axis) vs Number of Advertisements (blue line, right axis)
The number of help wanted (and unfilled) positions in 2012 remains in a channel between4.5 and 5 million.
From the Conference Board in part:
Online Labor Demand up 128,600 in September
- The September rise follows a loss of 262,300 in July and August
- Even with the September rise, labor demand finished Q3 down 134,000
- The 2012 average monthly gain is 55,000 with a sharp gain in Sales occupations in September
Online advertised vacancies rose 128,600 in September to 4,813,400, according to The Conference Board Help Wanted OnLine® (HWOL) Data Series released today. Following a strong rise of 625,000 in the first half of 2012, the third quarter finishes down 134,000. The Supply/Demand rate stands at 2.7 unemployed for every vacancy. In August the number of unemployed was 7.9 million above the number of advertised vacancies, down from 11.8 million at the end of the recession in June 2009 and 10 million in Q3 of 2011.“The September rise was welcome news, especially the strong gain for Sales staff and managers, which made up almost one third of the increase,” said June Shelp, Vice President at The Conference Board. “Occupations commonly associated with building (Construction and Building and Grounds Maintenance) also rose a combined 8,900 in September as employers had to replace or add workers. In 2012 the average monthly increase has been 55,000 and 48 of the 50 States (all but Vermont and Wyoming) are showing gains.”