Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, May 31, 1990 TAG: 9005310605
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL PAGE: A-1 EDITION: EVENING
SOURCE: GEORGE KEGLEY BUSINESS EDITOR
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
The drop reflects 500 fewer people drawing jobless benefits and gains of 600 construction and trade jobs, said William F. Mezger, VEC research economist.
The 2.3 percent level - surpassed in the state only by 1.6 percent in Northern Virginia and 2 percent in Charlottesville - dropped from 3.4 percent in March. The jobless rate for Roanoke was 3.5 percent in January and 4.1 percent in February.
Unemployment in the state also declined to 3.4 percent, the best for April in 17 years, from 3.9 percent in March.
"I didn't think I'd ever see a rate that low in Roanoke," said Marjorie Skidmore, VEC job service manager in Roanoke.
The April drop in unemployment came before a layoff of about 200 Singer Furniture employees earlier this month, as well as the announcement of the layoff of about 240 ITT employees later this summer, Skidmore said.
Some construction workers, based in Roanoke and working in other areas, apparently were called back to their jobs last month, Mezger said. He reported gains in trade during the Easter season.
April usually is the lowest unemployment month in the first half of the year, before college students swell the ranks of job-seekers, Mezger said.
He predicts that May unemployment will rise slightly to 3.5 percent or 3.6 percent in the state, when students enter the labor force.
Some auto industry-related layoffs were reported this month at the Volvo plant at Dublin and at suppliers in the New River and Bristol areas, Mezger said.
In April, the number of people drawing jobless benefits in the Roanoke area was 1,049, 500 less than the March level. New claims for unemployment benefits increased slightly - up 33 to an average of 197 per week in April.
by CNB