The Conference Board indicated that its index of help-wanted advertising did rise slightly last month but only to 24 from 23 in August. The figures are near the record low for the series which dates back to the 1950s.

The index had shown slight improvement during the third quarter but it has since dissipated.

During the last ten years there has been a 57% correlation between the level of help-wanted advertising and the three month change in non-farm payrolls.

The proportion of labor markets with rising want-ads improved to 57% from a low 16% in August.

In most regions of the country the index of help-wanted advertising remained low or fell further in September with the exception of the South where moderate improvement occurred.

The Conference Board surveys help-wanted advertising volume in 51 major newspapers across the country every month.

The latest help wanted report from the Conference Board is available here.

Recent Financial Developments and the U.S. Economic Outlook also from the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco is available here.