Online advertised job ads fell by 108,700 in August to 4.68 million, according to The Conference Board help wanted online data series released today. The average monthly increase for 2012 stands at 45,000 per month.

“So far, 2012 is shaping up to be a very slow-growth recovery for labor demand,” said June Shelp, vice president at The Conference Board. “August is a month when we normally expect to see employers gear up for the fall, but this year, labor demand was disappointingly below seasonal expectations.”