THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, October 7, 1995 TAG: 9510070268
SECTION: BUSINESS PAGE: D2 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY MYLENE MANGALINDAN, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Short : 47 lines
A strong economy and tourism helped push the jobless rate in Hampton Roads down to 4.6 percent in August, the Virginia Employment Commission said Friday.
Hampton Roads reported 34,390 people unemployed during the final full month of summer. That's down from 4.9 percent, or 36,840, in July.
August's total also is a full percentage point below last year's 5.6 percent jobless figure.
Strong growth in the services and retail sector helped bolster the local economy and job scene as well, said William Mezger, senior economist at the employment commission.
``Everything else in the Hampton Roads area is looking strong,'' he said. ``Manufacturing is up a little over the year. Construction employment is up 2,300 over the year.
``It's just generally a strong economy right now. We practically have no massive layoffs in Hampton Roads. . . ,'' he said.
At 1.7 percent, Mathews County had the lowest unemployment rate in Hampton Roads.
Virginia hit its lowest August unemployment rate since 1990. The state's jobless figure was 4.5 percent, or 159,900, in August. That's down from 4.9 percent, or 170,100, a year ago. The commonwealth has shown consistently low unemployment this year, Mezger said.
Virginians also earned a record average weekly wage of $494.56, up $26.12 from August 1994.
Hampton Roads joined Roanoke and Northern Virginia in falling unemployment rates. The Richmond area saw rising unemployment due to downsizing. Northern Virginia had the lowest at 3.1 percent, with Roanoke close behind at 3.3 percent. ILLUSTRATION: UNEMPLOYMENT IN VIRGINIA
Staff graphic
SOURCE: The Virginia Employment Commission
[For a copy of the graphic, see microfilm for this date.]
KEYWORDS: UNEMPLOYMENT JOBLESS RATE by CNB