Although online help-wanted ads fell nationally in March compared with those of March 2007, in Maryland the picture looks much better. Online Maryland employment ads rose 15 percent for the period, suggesting that local companies are willing to hire and that the state is avoiding recession. The figures are from the Conference Board.

Maryland's results contrast with those in states such as California (online help-wanted ads down 17 percent), Florida (down 10 percent) and Oregon (down 25 percent.) Maryland has the fifth-highest demand for labor in the United States, says the economic research organization. And because of its low unemployment rate, Maryland had the lowest imbalance in the country between available positions and the number of people seeking work.