March 2026 Help Wanted Online Ads

by Luke Coury

April 10, 2026

The Conference Board-Lightcast Help Wanted OnLine series measures online ad volume over time. It’s a useful source of information about demand for workers in Oregon’s labor market.

Oregon Online Ads Grew in March

Oregon had 97,100 online ads in March 2026, up over the month from 96,900 in February. The number of ads posted for the first time (new ads) decreased by 3,400. Online ads peaked in the historically tight labor market in the two years following the pandemic-recession, but have since decreased.

 

 

The number of unemployed Oregonians per online ad rose to over 3.0 during the pandemic before dropping to a low of slightly over 0.5 in 2022. Since then, the ratio has gradually increased to around 1.0. The ratio of unemployed persons to online postings was 1.1 in January.

 

 

Online Ads Grew Nationally in March

Online ads nationally followed a similar trend to Oregon. The U.S. had 7.4 million ads in March and new ads decreased by 341,300.

 

 

Oregon’s ad volume was in between its neighboring states in March. California had the most ads with 682,800 followed by Washington with 163,400. Nevada and Idaho had fewer ads than Oregon with 64,600 and 44,400, respectively.

New Ads Varied by Oregon Area

Ad volume varied significantly among Oregon’s metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs). The Portland MSA had the most ads in March with 58,570. Portland new ads decreased by 2,960. For Oregon’s other metro areas:

  • The Salem MSA had 10,280 ads. New ads decreased by 830.

  • The Eugene MSA had 7,620 ads. New ads decreased by 210.

  • The Medford MSA had 3,980 ads. New ads decreased by 90.

  • The Bend MSA had 5,740 ads. New ads decreased by 150.

  • The Corvallis MSA had 1,830 ads. New ads decreased by 50.

  • The Albany MSA had 2,060 ads. New ads increased by 20.

  • The Grants Pass MSA had 1,100 ads. New ads increased by 130.

(Note: On the graph below, press on the series in the legend to select or deselect each series from the visualization)

 

 

The two counties making up the Portland MSA had the highest ad volumes of any county in Oregon. Multnomah County had the highest ad volume with 23,800 followed by Washington County with 16,200.

 

 

Ad volume was also estimated by local workforce area. Portland-Metro had the the highest number of job openings with 39,920 followed by Mid-Valley (14,100), Clackamas (9,500), East Cascades (8,600), Lane (7,800), Northwest Oregon (5,400), Rogue Valley (5,200), Eastern Oregon (3,800), and Southwestern Oregon (3,400).

(Note: On the graph below, press on the series in the legend to select or deselect each series from the visualization)

 

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