CONFUSED BY THE JOB PICTURE IN VIRGINIA? YOU'RE NOT ALONE

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

DATE: SATURDAY, January 23, 1993                   TAG: 9301230138
SECTION: BUSINESS                    PAGE: A-7   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: GEORGE KEGLEY STAFF WRITER
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium
CONFUSED BY THE JOB PICTURE IN VIRGINIA? YOU'RE NOT ALONE
Almost 40 percent more jobs were promised last year than in 1991 by new and expanding companies in western regions of the state, rosier projections than the 26 percent gain statewide.
A total of 5,901 new jobs were announced last year in the Valley, Southwest Virginia and Southern Piedmont regions, up from 4,227 in the preceding year, according to the state Department of Economic Development.
As recovery from the recession started, the state total for new jobs was 14,878, up from 11,732, the department said.
Investment planned by new and expanding companies jumped almost three-fold in the three regions that cover Western Virginia, from $178 million in 1991 to $510.6 million last year. Statewide, proposed industrial investment grew from $580 million in 1991 to $930.3 million last year.
The report, complied annually by the state agency, drew criticism this week in Northern Virginia, where the Journal Newspapers said some of the growth numbers for that area were inaccurate, perhaps because of misleading or wrong figures submitted by officials of localities in that part of the state.
The newspapers said in some instances the report lists jobs that were never created. John K. Loftus, a department spokesman, said in response that some companies may have reported total current employment instead of new jobs.
Also, the department lists projected employment figures from expanding companies. Achieving the projected levels may take years, depending on changes in the economy.
An example is Capco, a machine-tool maker that recently moved from Salem to a new plant in Botetourt County. Capco said it hoped to have 250 employees within five years, but that figure was used by the state when it reported 1992 employment gains. The company's current work force is about 20.
The Valley region, covering Roanoke to Winchester, had the largest total investment in the state last year. The $21 million expansion with 240 jobs at Vitramon Inc. in Roanoke, Westvaco Corp.'s plan to spend $75 million at its mill in Covington and Du Pont's $100 million expansion at Waynesboro accounted for almost half of the region's investment. The 500 jobs announced for the Orkand Corp. in Salem was the region's largest single addition to a work force.
The Southwest region, led by factory announcements, recorded 250 jobs for Cross Creek Apparel's planned plant in Floyd County and 250 for an expansion by Renfro Corp. in Pulaski County.
The state's expansion figures for new jobs and investment are similar to those for 1989 and 1990, prior to the recession, the department said.
Development by foreign companies in Virginia continued last year. Nine new firms and 16 expansions accounted for nearly 800 jobs and more than $120 million in investment. The nine new companies are from Canada, Germany, Italy, Japan, Taiwan and England.

by Bhavesh Jinadra by CNB