U.S. online job ads fell by 257,900 in October to a total of about 4.93 million, according to The Conference Board’s report on online jobs ads released today. October’s drop negated September’s large gain of 209,000.

“Slow overall economic growth has left labor demand flat in the first 10 months of 2013,” said June Shelp, vice president of The Conference Board. “Even though the labor demand level still hovers around 5 million/month, the October loss leaves the 2013 year-to-date basically flat. This continues the trend we’ve seen this year with gains in one month being offset by declines the next month.”