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

DATE: THURSDAY, April 21, 1994                   TAG: 9404210211
SECTION: BUSINESS                    PAGE: B-8   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: By LON WAGNER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

JOB GROWTH SLOWED BY - GUESS WHAT? - THOSE ICE STORMS

Virginia's 2.8 percent job growth in February could have been stronger, were it not for the winter's worst snow and ice storm, the Virginia Employment Commission reported Wednesday.

The storm that hit the region Feb. 10 and 11 meant nearly a weeklong halt to some businesses. Despite that, February's job gain was only slightly below January's 3 percent employment growth - the strongest monthly post-recession growth yet.

In the Roanoke metropolitan area, the services industry led the annual gain by adding an estimated 2,700 jobs over last February's mark, primarily in business and health services. Despite much talk of governmental downsizing, the Roanoke area added 400 government jobs from February 1993, the VEC reported. The state has added 6,200 government jobs during the past year.

Roanoke's other job gains came in the construction and manufacturing sectors, up 500 and 300 jobs respectively. Roanoke's gain in manufacturing countered the state trend, which saw that sector lose 1,200 jobs during the year.

Statewide job growth in February would have increased even more dramatically without major losses in the Tidewater area. Defense industry cutbacks in the southeastern part of the state resulted in the loss of 2,600 manufacturing jobs and 1,700 government jobs.

by CNB