ROANOKE TIMES 
                      Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times

DATE: Saturday, March 15, 1997               TAG: 9703170088
SECTION: BUSINESS                 PAGE: A-5  EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: MAG POFF 

UNEMPLOYMENT

Claims for unemployment benefits in the Roanoke Valley were down in January compared to a year earlier, but last winter's harsh weather is blamed for the increase in January 1996.

William Mezger, research analyst with the Virginia Employment Commission, said much of the difference between the two years can be attributed to the heavy snows in early 1996, which threw many people out of work.

The number of workers applying for jobless benefits for the first time fell 46.8 percent. Those added to people collecting continuing benefits means the number of active claims was down by 30 percent.

LENGTH: Short :   22 lines