Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, April 4, 1990 TAG: 9004040167
SECTION: BUSINESS PAGE: A9 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: GEORGE KEGLEY BUSINESS EDITOR
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
The number of people looking for work in the Roanoke area increased by 800 to a total of 5,050, according to the Virginia Employment Commission. The jobless rate was less than the 4.4 percent reported in February a year ago.
Roanoke's rate was slightly below the state figure of 4.4 percent, making it the second best February in 17 years. The state rate was down from 4.6 percent in January and unemployment rolls were down by 7,700 during the month.
Unusually mild weather allowed outside work to start sooner, said William F. Mezger, VEC research economist. Also, fewer layoffs were reported in auto and housing-related industries than in January, he said.
The Radford area, bracing for AT&T layoffs and scattered furloughs in other industries, had a February rate of 7.8 percent, up from 7.6 percent. It probably will get worse, Mezger said.
Roanoke's lowest employment of the year usually comes in February, a time when some areas in eastern Virginia are starting to pick up, the economist said.
Net employment for Roanoke in February was 400 lower than in January but the total was up 1,700 from a year ago.
Service companies added 200 jobs, bringing their total to 32,300. Manufacturing, transportation, finance and government each hired 100 more workers in February. Construction hiring was down by 100.
Only a few spotty layoffs were reported in the state, Mezger said. Employment statewide increased by 5,600 from January to February. The state has gained 86,100 jobs since a year ago.
Roanoke area factory wages in February dropped to $495.26 from $504.64 in January. The average number of hours in a factory work week dipped to 41.9 in February from 42.3 in January. Average hourly factory pay was $11.82, down from $11.93 in January.
The number of Roanoke area people drawing jobless benefits in February was 1,744, up by 230 during the month. New unemployment claims filed in February averaged 175 per week, less than half the 370 reported in January.
Mezger expects March unemployment to come in at about 4.1 to 4.2 percent, declining as a result of mild weather and few layoffs.
The Roanoke area's jobless rate was better than Lynchburg's, 5.6 percent, up from 5.2 percent; and Hampton Roads', 4.4 percent, down from 5.7 percent. Richmond had 3.9 percent, up from 3.6 percent, and Northern Virginia reported 1.9 percent, down from 2.1 percent.
The jobless rate for the city of Roanoke was 5.2 percent, up from 4.5 percent; Roanoke County, 3 percent, up from 2.7 percent; Salem, 4 percent, up from 2.6 percent; and Botetourt County, 3.8 percent, up from 3.4 percent.
In other Western Virginia areas: Bedford city and County, 4.6 percent, down from 4.9 percent; Martinsville, 7.6 percent, down from 8.1 percent; Norton-Wise County, 8.7 percent, down from 9.5 percent; Galax-Carroll County, 7.3 percent, down from 7.9 percent; Covington-Clifton Forge, 8.8 percent, up from 8.6 percent.
In Western Virginia counties: Montgomery, 6.2 percent, down from 6.4 percent; Floyd, 7.5 percent, down from 8.6 percent; Pulaski, 8.6 percent, up from 7.6 percent; and Giles, 11.6 percent, unchanged. Radford had 8.2 percent, up from 7.4 percent.
Bath, 15.8 percent, down from 18.1 percent; Bland, 4.5 percent, down from 6 percent; Buchanan, 8.6 percent, up from 7.8 percent; Craig, 7.4 percent, up from 7.1 percent; Dickenson, 11.9 percent, down from 16.6 percent.
Franklin, 7.7 percent, up from 5.9 percent; Grayson, 8.2 percent, down from 9.5 percent; Russell, 9.8 percent, up from 9.6 percent; Smyth, 9.1 percent, up from 8.4 percent; Tazewell, 7.5 percent, down from 7.9 percent; Washington, 5.4 percent, down from 5.6 percent; and Wythe, 8 percent, down from 8.2 percent.
by CNB