Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, August 5, 1995 TAG: 9508070029
SECTION: BUSINESS PAGE: A6 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: JEFF STURGEON STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Short
In June 1990, the metro unemployment rate was 3.1 percent.
"The services and trade [sectors] are very strong, and manufacturing is above last year," said Bill Mezger, senior economist with the Virginia Employment Commission. He estimated that the current jobless rate, which will be reported in about two months, is between 3 and 3.5 percent.
The Roanoke area's June statistics fell below both the state, which posted a jobless rate of 4.7 percent, and the nation, which then stood at 5.6 percent.
A decline in the number of people drawing unemployment checks illustrates the vibrancy of the area job market. The number of claimants fell from 1,693 in June 1994 to 1,463 this June. New claims fell from 313 to 255, the VEC said.
Total employment in June in the Roanoke metro area - consisting of Roanoke, Salem and Roanoke and Botetourt counties - stood at 140,600 jobs, up 3.5 percent from a year ago. Service jobs accounted for 112,700, an increase of 3.9 percent, and manufacturing jobs, 27,900, a gain of 1.8 percent.
by CNB