NEW YORK -- Total online job ads were 3,824,200 in February, an increase of 682,400 or 22 percent from January, according to The Conference Board Help-Wanted OnLine Data Series.

The increase this month, which was largely a result of seasonal factors, marks the second highest level in the history of the series, only slightly behind the peak in October 2006. There were 2.5 advertised vacancies online for every 100 persons in the labor force in February. The monthly increase in advertised job vacancies was reflected in every state in the nation and was widespread across most major metropolitan areas. Over the year February 2006 to February 2007, online advertised vacancies increased 18 percent for the nation as a whole.

The 3,824,200 unduplicated online advertised vacancies in February include 2,561,600 new ads that did not appear in January, as well as reposted ads from the previous month. During February, total ads increased 22 percent and new ads increased 29 percent from the previous month. Over the year (February 2006 - February 2007) total ads and new ads rose 18 percent and 20 percent, respectively.

Monthly percent change increases were greatest in the East South Central, Middle Atlantic, and West South Central regions. States with the largest increases included California (+110,400), Texas (+57,600), New York (+51,600), Florida (+50,900), and Pennsylvania (+33,400). Major metropolitan areas contributing to these increases were New York (+50,100), Los Angeles (+45,400), Chicago (+27,000), San Francisco (+24,100), and Dallas (+20,600).

The fastest year-over-year growth was in the mid-section of the country with the West North Central and West South Central regions up 33 percent and 32 percent, respectively. Across the nation, states with the largest over-the-year gains in advertised vacancies were Maine (+75 percent), Minnesota (+49 percent), Wisconsin (+40 percent), and Idaho (+39 percent).

Metropolitan areas with the fastest over-the-year growth were heavily concentrated in areas where labor markets were disrupted by the 2005 Gulf Coast hurricanes; Houston (+62 percent) and Austin, Texas (+61 percent).