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

DATE: SATURDAY, February 13, 1993                   TAG: 9302130077
SECTION: BUSINESS                    PAGE: A-7   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

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ROANOKE'S JOB GROWTH LEADS VA.

For the second consecutive month, Roanoke's rate of job growth was the best of any metropolitan area in the state.

According to a report Friday from the Virginia Employment Commission, the number of jobs in the area grew at an annualized rate of 1.3 percent. The VEC report credited the metro area's job growth to strong service-sector employment.

But Roanoke may not be able to hold this lead after pending job losses in banking, manufacturing and trade, said William F. Mezger, the VEC's research economist.

A breakdown showed increases of 1,900 jobs in services, including 1,700 in health and business services. Also, 600 jobs were created by government and 100 by manufacturing and durable goods makers.

They were partly offset by declines of 400 in finance, insurance and real estate, 200 in construction and transportation and public utilities and 100 in retail trade and other durable goods.

The state lost jobs at a 0.4 percent rate last year, equal to 10,300 jobs. That was marginally lower than the annualized loss of 0.3 percent or 8,900 jobs reported for November, the VEC said.

Lynchburg had an increase of 700 jobs or 0.9 percent in 1992. Service, trade and government jobs in the Lynchburg area increased, offsetting factory employment losses last spring, the VEC said.

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