
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: FRIDAY, June 25, 1993                   TAG: 9306250248
SECTION: BUSINESS                    PAGE: A-5   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: WASHINGTON                                LENGTH: Short

JOBLESS CLAIMS RISE NATIONWIDE BUT FALL IN VA.

The number of newly laid-off workers filing claims for jobless benefits shot up last week to the highest level in nine weeks, leaving analysts with mixed opinions over the direction of the labor market.

In Virginia, however, the number of new jobless claims fell in May to its lowest level in 44 months.

The U.S. Labor Department reported Thursday that first-time claims jumped by 8,000 to 353,000, the highest since 356,000 applications were filed during the week ended April 17. The jump was the biggest in three weeks.

Still, noted economist Samuel D. Kahan of Fuji Securities Inc. in Chicago, the claims level remained in the mid-300,000s, which he said suggested continued payroll growth ranging from 100,000 to 150,000 jobs a month.

Analysts generally prefer to track a four-week average because it smoothes out the volatility of the weekly claims and is a more reliable reflection of labor trends. The average rose 3,750 to 347,000 during the latest reporting period, ending June 12, and the highest since 351,750 during the period that ended April 24.

The report also said 28,781 applications were filed under a federal emergency unemployment program during the week ended June 12, up from 25,663 during the previous week.

The Virginia report, issued Thursday by the Virginia Employment Commission, said 18,372 initial claims for unemployment benefits were filed with its offices in May, down 28.8 percent from 25,818 in April. May's count was the lowest monthly total since 16,561 in September 1989.

by CNB