ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times
DATE: Thursday, January 9, 1997 TAG: 9701100020
SECTION: BUSINESS PAGE: B-5 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: JEFF STURGEON STAFF WRITER
The Roanoke metropolitan area registered a 2.6 percent unemployment rate in November, while the state posted a rate of 3.8 percent, state labor officials reported Wednesday.
The state's rate was lower than at any time since the 1990 recession, the Virginia Employment Commission said.
The Roanoke region's rate was lower in March 1996, when it stood at 2.4 percent; but even though November didn't set a record, a 10-month pattern of rates below 3 percent continued. A senior VEC economist predicted the percentages are unlikely to fall much lower.
"Roanoke for the year has been probably about as low as you can expect the rate to go," William Mezger said.
Even with unemployment near or at the theoretical bottom, labor analysts said 3,330 people in Roanoke, Salem, Roanoke County and Botetourt County who wanted work could not find a job in November. That was 100 fewer than a year earlier.
The number of people collecting unemployment benefits stood at 709 in November, down from 1,247 a year earlier. New benefit claims totaled 115 per week, compared with 216 a year earlier.
Employment in manufacturing, construction and mining fell by 600 between November 1995 and November 1996, while employment in services, including government, increased 1,000.
LENGTH: Short : 36 lines ILLUSTRATION: GRAPHIC: Chart by staff: Employment rates.by CNB