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

DATE: TUESDAY, November 28, 1995                   TAG: 9511280082
SECTION: BUSINESS                    PAGE: B6   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: JEFF STURGEON STAFF WRITER
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

JOB MARKET COOL-OFF PREDICTED, BUT ROANOKE NOT SWEATING IT

A new survey predicts a cooling-off period for Roanoke Valley's hot job market early next year. But some people concerned with creating and filling jobs say there is nothing to worry about.

The percentage of employers with plans to lay off workers has risen from earlier predictions of 10 percent during the final quarter of the year to 13 percent in the first three months of 1996, says Manpower Inc., a temporary services company.

The reports signal "a quiet hiring climate ... this winter'' in Roanoke, Salem and Roanoke County, Manpower says in its latest quarterly Employment Outlook Surveys.

The Milwaukee company gathers employment projections every three months from 15,000 employers nationwide and provides results for local areas. However, Manpower will not say how many local companies are interviewed.

Employers' plans to hire more workers dropped from 16 percent in the current quarter to 10 percent next quarter, the report says. Employers planning to hold work forces steady rose from 74 percent to 77 percent.

Employers may be reacting to a predicted slowdown in the national economy, says Phil Sparks, acting chief of economic development for Roanoke.

The impact of any layoffs will be modest at worst, he says.

``We never had the high highs many areas have, but nor do we have the low lows,'' Sparks says. ``We have a good steady, solid economy because our economy is so diversified.''

While they lacked surveys to support their predictions, other employment services see growth continuing next year.

Pauli Pitrowski, manager of Kelly Services' Roanoke division, says she does not foresee a halt in the strong hiring trend next year.

Donna Whitt, who manages the Roanoke office of Olsten Staffing Services, says the region's economy may not continue adding jobs at the rate of 5,000 per year, but there are no apparent signs of weakness.

Manpower says nationally, 20 percent of employers expect to hire more workers, and 12 percent say they plan to cut their staffs in the next quarter.

by CNB