207,700 Help Wanted OnLine Ads in April

[May 07, 2014]  CHICAGO – Illinois businesses placed more than 207,700 help wanted ads on the internet in April, the Illinois Department of Employment Security said today, citing an independent report. More than 85 percent of the job listings sought full time workers. The data is not seasonally adjusted.

Help wanted leaders included the Decatur/Springfield region (7,576), Rockford Stateline (6,670), Champaign/Danville (5,721) and Quad Cities (5,238). The Chicago metro area (153,195) always will lead the state because it has the greatest population of any Economic Development Region.

“This independent report shows that there are real job opportunities in our state,” IDES Director Jay Rowell said. “Employers want to hire individuals who are reliable, who can demonstrate that they know the company’s history, and who can show how their experience will help the company succeed.”

The Conference Board collects the Help Wanted Online data. The Conference Board is a global, independent business membership and research association. The data represents industries that post online job ads. Some industries, such as construction, do not typically post job openings online.

The level of online postings continues its upward path, surpassing the pre-recession 2007 levels..

Statewide, the top five advertised positions in April were truck drivers (10,363), registered nurses, (6,488), first line supervisors of retail salespersons (5,089), retail salespersons (4,975), and marketing managers (4,422). The median hourly wage for an Illinois truck driver is $20.57; registered nurse, $31.34; first-line supervisors of retail salesperson, $17.03; retail salespersons, $9.85; and marketing managers, $48.78. Typically, the positions include some benefits, such as health insurance, paid sick days and vacation.

Included in the data are more than 150,000 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 to private efforts that cost hundreds of dollars. No-cost HR recruitment services for employers and workers are available at the website and at [phone].

[Text received; ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF EMPLOYMENT SECURITY]