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

DATE: TUESDAY, July 31, 1990                   TAG: 9007310374
SECTION: BUSINESS                    PAGE: A5   EDITION: EVENING 
SOURCE: Staff report
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

JOBLESS RATE IN VALLEY DOWN IN JUNE

Roanoke was the only major metropolitan area in the state where the unployment rate dropped in June compared with May, the Virginia Employment Commission reported today.

The region's jobless rate fell to 3.1 percent in June from 3.8 percent in May.

The statistical drop was because of a decline in claims for jobless benefits, which more than offset growth in the labor force caused by the seasonal influx of high school students looking for jobs.

However, the high school students' entry into the job market raised unemployment in the state from 3.8 percent to 4.2 percent and in all other metropolitan areas, said William Mezger, research economist for the Virginia Employment Commission.

Roanoke apparently has a smaller number of high school students in proportion to its total population than do other metro areas of the state, such as Northern Virginia, Hampton Roads and Richmond, Mezger said.

The VEC reported 3,710 people looking for work in the Roanoke area last month, down from 4,200 in May and from 4,740 a year ago. The jobless rate in June 1989 was 3.8 percent.

By locality, the VEC reported Roanoke County's unemployment rate was 2.7 percent in June, down from 2.8 percent in May; Roanoke City was 3.6 percent, down from 4.1 percent; and Salem was 2.4 percent, down from 3.1 percent.

Employment for the Roanoke metro area reached a record 127,800 in June, up 300 from the previous high in May.

The July rate for the state is expected to decline slightly to 3.7 or 3.8 percent because most of the students have found work or stopped looking, Mezger said. He expects layoffs at ITT will raise the Roanoke rate as well.

by CNB