Report: New Online Employment Ads Up In MayReport: New Online Employment Ads Up In May

New online job ads rebounded in May after a sharp decline in April, according to a report issued by the Conference Board (CB). While May's increase was a positive sign, the economic research organization said that there may be additional indications of continued slowing in hiring.

New ads jumped in May to 2,354,500 with 91,800 of them representing a four percent increase over the previous month. The Conference Board, which released the report Tuesday, noted that the totals still lag those of March, which is not viewed as positive news.

"May is typically a month with strong recruitment activity as students are graduating around the country," said Gad Levanon, a Conference Board economist, in a statement. "This might point to some continued slowing in hiring that is consistent with weak government measures of employment, hiring, and vacancies in April and especially weak employment growth in May.

"Other labor market indicators, including employment-related questions from our Consumer Confidence Index, are also providing signals of a weakening job market in recent months."

The CB said increases in new online job ads were recorded in all nine U.S. regions it covers. The largest increase for May was recorded in the Pacific region -- up seven percent -- followed by the Middle Atlantic region -- up six percent.

The New England region continues to pace all regions with the highest number of new online jobs per 100 persons " 2.38.