Online Ads Increase to 26-Month High in October, and By 1.1 Million Since the End of the Recession

In another sign that the U.S. labor market is gradually improving, the Conference Board reported today that online job demand reached its highest level in more than two years at 4,409,800 advertised vacancies in October.  Online job demand last month was the highest since August 2008, and improved by 113,700 vacancies compared to the September level, a 2.65% increase, and follows a 59,900 increase in September. Other highlights include:

1. Since the end of the recession in June 2009, online vacancies have increased by 1.1 million.

2. 40 out of 50 States posted gains in online job demand for October. 

3. The nation’s Supply/Demand rate stood at 3.44 unemployed for every advertised vacancy in September (the last available unemployment data), a figure that is down from a peak of 4.73 in October 2009.

4. Washington, D.C. is the one area in which the number of advertised vacancies exceeds the number of unemployed, reflected in the Supply/Demand ratio of 0.97 (100 vacancies for every 97 unemployed).

5. The West experienced the largest October gain, 47,800. California was the largest contributor with an increase of 32,100. California’s gain was largely due to increases in demand for computer and math jobs and management jobs.