Local online job ads fell sharply in January from their end-of-2012 levels, but demand in nursing, retail and computer technology remained strong.
Sacramento-area employers posted about 25,000 ads online in January, 5,000 fewer than December 2012, according to the state Employment Development Department's Help Wanted OnLine report.
The 30,000 ads posted locally in December marked the first time employers reached that level in five years, according to the EDD, though the numbers were far fewer than the 140,000-ad peak in pre-recession 2007.
The report, released Friday, came as state employment figures showed January unemployment in the four-county Sacramento region at 10.3 percent.
The January unemployment rate was 10 percent in El Dorado County, 8.9 percent in Placer County, 10.3 percent in Sacramento County, and 12.7 percent in Yolo County, according to the EDD.
The area's health networks maintained their customary spots atop the list of employers with the most ads in the report.
Sutter Health, Mercy hospitals, Dignity Health and Kaiser Permanente combined for more than 1,500 online job postings – more than half of the postings of the top 10 employers.
Staffing firms Voit Information Sciences and Allegis Group, Intel, Wells Fargo and tech personnel staffers AeroTek and CyberCoders rounded out the list.
Although total online postings fell in January and retailers shed seasonal workers after the holiday shopping season, online job ads seeking retail workers remained robust.
Employers posted about 1,300 ads combined for front-line retail supervisors and managers along with retail sales workers, according to the report.
The two categories placed Nos. 3 and 4 among the 10 occupations with the most job ads.
Posts for registered nurses again led the way with more than 1,200 ads, down slightly from the more than 1,300 posts in December.
And demand remains high in computer careers.
Computer systems analysts held firm to the No. 2 spot in January with a full 700 job ads.
Employers placed more than 400 ads for computer support specialists, good for eighth place, while another 400 ads sought Web developers.
Customer service representatives, truck drivers, food preparation and office managers filled out the list.
Swim instructors sought
California Family Fitness is seeking swim instructors and pool attendants at a job fair Wednesday at its Orangevale corporate offices, 8680 Greenback Lane.
The free event is from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Candidates can meet with department managers to discuss job opportunities.
Applicants must be 18 years of age or older, and should bring résumés.
For more information, visit www.californiafamilyfitness. com, then select "careers."
How to build a résumé
Job seekers can learn to build their résumés at a free workshop Tuesday at Colonial Heights Library, 4799 Stockton Blvd., in Sacramento.
The 3 p.m. workshop guides participants to the resources available at the library.
Register in advance online at www.saclibrary.org under "Events."
For more information, call the Sacramento Public Library at (916) 264-2920 or visit www.saclibrary.org.
Let us hear from you
Is your company hiring? Is your organization hosting a career fair? Starting a networking group?
Contact Job Front at dvsmith@sacbee.com.
Call The Bee's Darrell Smith, (916) 321-1040.
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