Online job ads rose, US nonmanufacturing slowed its growth pace in March, and the Denver metropolitan area posted the lowest jobless rate among all large, US metropolitan areas.

Online job ads

US online job ads edged up by 102,000 in March to almost 4.64 million, according to The Conference Board’s report on online job ads. This follows a decrease of 360,200 online job ads in February.

The Conference Board reported the data series has experienced a declining trend in the number of online job ads that may not reflect broader trends in the US labor market. Based on changes in how job postings appear online, The Conference Board is reviewing its methodology to ensure accuracy and alignment with market trends.

Eight of the 10 largest online job categories posted increases in March. Sales and related ads posted the largest increase, up 21,700 to a total of 473,400, followed by computer and mathematical science ads, which gained 16,900 ads for a total of 524,800.

Transportation and material moving ads decreased by 9,300 to a total of 298,500, while food preparation and serving-related ads fell by 5,700 to a total of 208,600.

US nonmanufacturing

Economic activity in the US nonmanufacturing sector expanded in March but at a slower pace than the month prior, according to the Institute for Supply Management’s nonmanufacturing index released today. ISM’s nonmanufacturing index fell in March to a reading of 55.2 from February’s reading of 57.6, which was the highest reading since October 2015.

Readings above 50 indicate growth.

The employment portion of the index fell to a reading of 51.6 in March from February’s reading of 55.2.

Bloomberg reported American service companies expanded in March at the slowest pace in five months, adding to signs of tepid economic growth in the first quarter. “We had this euphoria after the election that was reflected by our respondents in their comments and the numbers as well, and then there’s this uncertainty that we’re experiencing right now which pairs with this cautiousness because the comments throughout talk about trade, immigration, healthcare,” Anthony Nieves, chairman of the ISM non-manufacturing survey, said on a conference call with reporters. “We’re seeing a little bit of waning only due to that uncertainty.”

Metropolitan area employment

Denver-Aurora-Lakewood metropolitan area in Colorado and Salt Lake City, Utah, posted the lowest unemployment rates in February, 3.2% each, among US metropolitan areas with populations of 1 million or more, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics.

The Cleveland-Elyria area in Ohio posted the highest jobless rates in December at 7.5%.

Among metropolitan areas of all sizes, Ames, Iowa, posted the lowest unemployment rate of 2.1% in February; El Centro, Calif., posted the highest at 18.4%.