US online job ads fell by 276,800 in December to approximately 5.41 million, according to The Conference Board’s report on online job ads. December’s large drop offsets a strong gain of 232,000 online job ads in November.

“Labor demand in 2015 continued at the same slow steady pace of 2014, averaging about a 24,000 monthly increase,” said Gad Levanon, managing director of macroeconomic and labor market research at The Conference Board. “While labor demand growth has been somewhat slow over the past two years, the monthly employer demand levels have remained consistently high, providing a strong basis for a healthy labor market.”

All of the largest online job categories posted decreases in December. Transportation ads posted the largest loss, down by 42,500 to a total of 435,600. Office and administrative support ads fell by 30,200 to 582,600. Other ad losses include:

• Food and preparation and serving related: Down 4,800 to 269,700
• Sales and related: Down 27,400 to 579,900
• Healthcare practitioners and technical: down 10,600 to 646,700. In 2015, the healthcare practitioners and technical ads saw an over-the-year increase of 92,800.
• Business and financial operations: Down 19,600 to 331,000