The Conference Board’s Experimental Help Wanted OnLine Index edged up to a reading of 104.0 in February from a reading of 103.7 in January. The Conference Board in December revised its report on online job ads to reflect a new methodology and current landscape of online job advertisements.

The index measures the change in ads relative to the base period (July 2018=100). An increase in the index is associated with an increase in job openings and hiring activity in the US economy.

The Help Wanted OnLine Index has been stable in recent months, despite the volatility in financial markets and business confidence, according to Gad Levanon, chief economist, North America, at The Conference Board.

“This is consistent with solid employment growth in the coming months,” Levanon said. “With the partial government shutdown ending, US-China trade tensions diminishing and the recovery in stock prices, the US economy is much less likely to experience a major slowdown in the first half of 2019.”

The Conference Board expects a gradual moderation in economic employment growth during 2019.

“Recruitment activity is likely to remain high as labor turnover will further increase in a tightening labor market,” Levanon said.