
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: TUESDAY, June 12, 1990                   TAG: 9006120408
SECTION: BUSINESS                    PAGE: A-3   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: WASHINGTON                                LENGTH: Medium

SUN BELT TO FARE PRETTY WELL BY 2000

One of every six jobs created through the turn of the century is expected to be in California, reflecting the continued shift of economic activity to the Sun Belt, the government said Monday.

"California is projected to gain 3.4 million of the 18.9 million new jobs created nationally" from 1988 to 2000, said the forecast by the Commerce Department's Bureau of Economic Analysis. That would give the state 19 million jobs.

Florida and Texas are projected to have increases of more than 1 million jobs each, to 8 million and 9.7 million respectively, the department said.

National employment opportunities are expected to rise 14.3 percent to 151.5 million jobs.

Virginia was projected to rank 12th in population by 2000, growing 14.1 percent to 6.86 million people. It was expected to rank 10th in personal income, rising 15.2 percent to an average $16,345 per capita, and 13th in job growth, up 17 percent to more than 4 million jobs.

The study projected that the fastest job growth will be in Nevada, up 31.5 percent to 847,000, and Arizona, up 26.7 percent to 2.3 million. Those two states also should show the fastest growth rates in total personal income and population, the department said.

The study said Utah and Hawaii also are projected to show rapid growth.

California will continue to be the nation's most populous state, growing 17.1 percent to 33.2 million people. It also will be first in total personal income, up 33 percent to $568 billion.

Personal income will jump 46.2 percent to $21.7 billion in Nevada and 40.6 percent to $59 billion in Arizona.

Total U.S. personal income is expected to advance 26.2 percent to $4.11 trillion. The income projections are adjusted for inflation.

Connecticut is projected to continue having the highest average per-capita income, rising 10.8 percent to $20,503. Mississippi, although gaining 19 percent, is expected to remain last, with $10,631.

The national average will be an estimated $15,345, an increase of 15.9 percent. The national growth rate is expected to be 8.9 percent, with the nation having 268 million in the year 2000.

Populations are projected to increase in every state except Wyoming, Louisiana and West Virginia, expected to post declines of 1 percent, 0.1 percent and 0.4 percent respectively.

by CNB