The Conference Board reported help-wanted advertising fell sharply in April, indicating that unemployment may be on the rise. The board`s help-wanted advertising index dropped 5.5 percent, losing more than 7 points, to 131. The index, based on 51 major newspapers around the country, is sensitive to changes in demand for labor and general business conditions. ”While there are some signs that the overall pace of economic activity is stronger in the second quarter than in the first quarter, the latest findings . . . show that labor demand is not yet picking up,” the board said. ”While too much shouldn`t be made over just one month`s statistics, the significant drop in job advertising in April is consistent with the view that the unemployment rate may rise a bit over the next few months,” the board said. Advertising volume dropped in eight out of nine regions, with only the East South Central showing improvement, gaining 4.1 percent.
