Research >> Economics
Employment Trends Index fell in March to 111.20
The Conference Board Employment Trends Index™ (ETI) fell in March. The index now stands at 111.20, down from 111.43 (an upward revision) in February. The March figure is 3.7 percent higher than a year ago.
Despite the decline in March, the Employment Trends index is still signaling moderate job growth in the coming months. The current trend suggests faster growth than the disappointing increase of 88,000 jobs in March. At the same time, 200,000 new jobs per month in the current economic environment is not in the cards either.
March’s weakening in the ETI was driven by negative contributions from four of its eight components. The declining indicators — from the largest negative contributor to the smallest — were Percentage of Firms With Positions Not Able to Fill Right Now, Real Manufacturing and Trade Sales, Initial Claims for Unemployment Insurance, and Job Openings.
Posted: April 8, 2013 Monday 10:00 AM