By Ruth Mantell
WASHINGTON (MarketWatch) -- A gauge of employment trends declined in June, signaling that jobs growth may remain slow through the summer, according to a monthly labor-market report released Monday by the Conference Board. The private research group said its employment-trends index, which is designed to forecast turning points in employment, decreased 0.70% in June from the prior month. "Since there is little hope of acceleration in the pace of economic activity any time soon, these weak labor market conditions are likely to persist for the coming months," said Gad Levanon, macroeconomic research director at the Conference Board. The employment-trends index is made up of eight labor-market indicators, four of which made negative contributions in June, led by the percentage of firms with positions that they are unable to fill right now. June's index level is 5.6% higher than last year. The index reached 107.47 in June, compared with 100 in 1996.
