Online advertised vacancies dropped 92,200 in July to 4,888,100, according to The Conference Board Help Wanted OnLine (HWOL) Data Series released today. In the first seven months of 2013, labor demand dipped an average of 12,500 per month. The Supply/Demand rate stands at 2.4 unemployed for each vacancy. In June there were 6.8 million more unemployed than the number of advertised vacancies, down from 11.9 million at the end of the recession in June 2009.

"In July labor demand continued to be flat," said June Shelp, Vice President of The Conference Board. "While the 4.9 million advertised vacancies in July shows a healthy churn in the labor market for job changers, it does little to reduce the ranks of the unemployed. In the first seven months of 2013 national labor demand has been essentially flat, and the trend is down in more than half of the 20 largest States." 

Jobs ads continued to show strength in the building occupations including: construction; grounds and buildings maintenance; installation and repair; and transportation/material moving. Lackluster occupations included management, sales workers, and office help.