ROANOKE TIMES 
                      Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times

DATE: Thursday, June 6, 1996                 TAG: 9606060065
SECTION: BUSINESS                 PAGE: B-7  EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: JEFF STURGEON STAFF WRITER 

ROANOKE AREA CONTINUES TO GAIN JOBS

The Roanoke region had 1,400 more jobs at the end of March than a year earlier, as the local economy maintained a long-running head of employment steam.

The Virginia Employment Commission reported Wednesday that the job supply for the month stood at 137,700 in Roanoke, Salem and Roanoke and Botetourt counties. Gains during the previous 12 months equaled a 1 percent growth in the number of jobs in the region.

The Roanoke metropolitan area ranked fifth for its job growth of eight metro regions in the state. During the second half of last year, Roanoke posted a first- or second-place showing for several months. Labor analysts have attributed the lower March performance to the lingering effects of winter.

The jobless rate stood in March at 2.4 percent, the most recent month for which data are available. The majority of new jobs were in trade.

The statewide job supply swelled over the year to 3.08million on gains of 35,000 positions in services and 14,000 positions in trade. The new service jobs were largely in what senior VEC economist Bill Mezger described as ``high-tech/high-wage'' industries such as business services and health care.

LENGTH: Short :   32 lines
ILLUSTRATION: GRAPHIC:  Chart by staff: Employment in Virginia Metro areas.