Dive Brief:
- A report from The Conference Board says online job ads increased by 1,200 in January 2018, following a rise in December of last year. Across the country, online demand for labor rose in 28 states, declined in 21 and remained unchanged in 1 other.
- Several of the largest online categories saw increases in ads posted online; they included computer and mathematical jobs; business; sales; transportation; and installation, maintenance and repair. Other categories declined, including positions in education, training and library; and healthcare practitioners and technical jobs.
- As of December of last year, supply/demand for employees was 1.34 unemployed worker for every advertised vacancy.
Dive Insight:
It’s no surprise that computer science ads are on the rise. The skills gap in tech is so significant that employers are teaming up with schools and government agencies to plant the seeds for interest in STEM careers and train a new talent pool. Some are even targeting students in elementary schools to pique interest, particularly for girls.
Declines in postings in education may not be surprising, mid-school year. But losses in training amid a renaissance of employee training and e-learning for business, government and community groups to retool the unemployed and upskill current staff members may be less easily explained.
While labor shortages for skilled workers continue to be a concern for small business, the rate of unemployment does offer the potential to fast-track training for new employees, particularly in construction and trade fields. Employers may see even further increases, as a recent report showed hiring intentions for 2018 were the most optimistic they’ve been in ten years.
