195,400 help wanted online ads in March

85 percent seek full-time workers

[April 14, 2014]  CHICAGO — Illinois businesses placed more than 195,400 help wanted ads on the Internet in March, according to the Illinois Department of Employment Security. More than 85 percent sought full-time workers.

The help-wanted activity echoes other economic indicators that point to a growing economy. Help-wanted demand has increased in 25 of the past 27 months. The data is not seasonally adjusted.

"The help-wanted ads show Illinois' business leaders are looking to add workers to meet current orders and anticipated future demand," said IDES Director Jay Rowell. "These good-paying job opportunities across our state show the progress that is being made as our economy improves."

The Conference Board collects the "Help Wanted Online" data. The Conference Board is a global, independent business membership and research association. The data measures new, first-time online jobs and jobs reposted from the previous month on Internet job boards, corporate boards and smaller, niche websites.

Statewide, the top five advertised positions in March were truck drivers, 9,944; registered nurses, 6,171; first-line supervisors of retail salespeople, 4,381; retail salespeople, 4,351; and customer service representatives, 4,038. The most-often-sought workers also included marketing managers, 3,931; computer systems analysts, 3,576; and Web developers, 3,423.

The median hourly wage for an Illinois truck driver is $20.57; registered nurse, $31.34; first-line supervisors of retail salespeople, $17.03; retail salespeople, $9.85; and customer service representatives $16,08. Typically, the positions include some benefits, such as health insurance, paid sick days and vacation.

Included in the data are more than 130,000 positions advertised on IllinoisJobLink.com. IDES operates the state's hiring board. Job seekers can build multiple resumes to emphasize different skills and experiences. Business owners can use keyword-matching technology to search resumes and find the best candidate. IllinoisJobLink.com is free for workers and employers. It compares favorably with private efforts that cost hundreds of dollars. No-cost human resources recruitment services for employers and workers are available at the website and at 877-342-7533.

Using IllinoisJobLink.com to apply for work or record other work search efforts can ensure eligibility for current and future unemployment insurance benefits.

___

Top 5 Occupations, Regions 1-10   (PDF)

[Text from Illinois Department of Employment Security file received from the Illinois Office of Communication and Information]