THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Monday, February 5, 1996 TAG: 9602030221
SECTION: BUSINESS WEEKLY PAGE: 04 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Talk of the Town
LENGTH: Medium: 53 lines
Job hunger continues in Hampton Roads. New employers have drawn long lines of job candidates even though the unemployment rate months ago dropped to less than 5 percent on the Peninsula and the southside.
ValuJet Airlines of Atlanta witnessed the phenomenon recently. When the discount carrier advertised for 600 positions at its new customer reservations center, which TAD Aviation Services will operate at Newport News/Williamsburg International Airport, about 1,000 people applied for work on the first day of the job fair.
``We know there are a large number of people who are underemployed, and want to work full-time,'' said Christopher Newport University economist Marshall Booker in Newport News. ``They want some security for their job.''
Although the region has set employment records month after month, many new jobs offer only part-time hours with few or no benefits.
As a result, many people hold down two or more jobs, Booker said.
ValuJet isn't alone in tapping the region's labor pool. A wave of service centers and telemarketing firms have arrived, especially on the Peninsula, where ValuJet will join Harris Select Communications, MCI Communications and United Parcel Service.
One notable exception to the wave of service centers on the Peninsula is the arrival of personal computer manufacturer Gateway 2000, but even its wages will be in the $18,000-per-year range.
One reason for the region's popularity among telemarketers is the wage base. In recent years, Tidewater's average wage dropped to 80 percent of the national average, estimated John Whaley, director of economic services at the Hampton Roads Planning District Commission. Wages in Tidewater, population 1.6 million, are the lowest among metro areas of similar size.
Ford award: The workers at Ford's Norfolk Assembly Plant will get a tip of the hat today.
First, they were chosen for the tough task of assembling the initial restyled F150 pickup truck. And when Norfolk Assembly pickups were shipped to Detroit as an entry at the North American International Auto Show in January, a panel of auto writers proclaimed the model the Truck of the Year.
Ford division general sales manager Phil Novell was scheduled to visit the plant in the Campostella section today to present the award.
Nature park: Hampton wants to raise $15,000 by March 30 for Sandy Bottom Nature Park. The city is asking businesses for donations.
Nature tax: Line 27f of Virginia's tax form allows donations to the park system. Contributions are tax deductible. All or part of your income tax refund can be donated to the Open Space Recreation and Conservation Fund. by CNB