Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, September 1, 1995 TAG: 9509010067
SECTION: BUSINESS PAGE: A-9 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: JEFF STURGEON STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
"We are getting increasing complaints," Majorie Skidmore, job services manager of the Virginia Employment Commission's Roanoke office, said Thursday.
Company operators are disappointed by the low number of job applicants she sends their way. Skidmore said it is not her fault.
"We refer people to the jobs and they don't show up," Skidmore said. "They find another job before they get there. The market is so good, they are able to pick and choose. 'Oh, that paid $6 [an hour]. Let's see about this one here that paid $6.20.'"
Skidmore has said several times this year that jobs in that pay range or lower are going begging. But her description of employers' growing anger comes on the heels of fresh evidence the situation didn't ease this summer, because the economy is still booming.
The unemployment rate fell to 3.5 percent in July from 4 percent a year ago for the combined areas of Roanoke, Salem and Roanoke and Botetourt counties, the VEC said Thursday. The new rate was the lowest for July in this area since 1990; five years ago, the rate was 3.4 percent.
Roanoke County's unemployment - at 2.6 percent - ranked ninth lowest of 135 cities and counties in the state.
Year-to-date, the metro area jobless rate averaged 3 percent, compared to 4.2 percent last year.
As the jobless rate has fallen, employers have found it increasingly difficult to fill jobs paying less than $6 an hour without benefits. Relief could come from people entering the job market when outside activity such as road paving stops this winter, Skidmore said.
The jobless rolls have shrunk from 5,250 people in July 1994 to 4,710 this past July. The number of people drawing unemployment checks fell from 1,673 to 1,447.
The number of residents working rose from 125,730 in July 1994 to 131,540.
Because some workers commute to the Roanoke area, the job supply is higher. It stood at 139,400 positions in July, up by 3.6 percent or 4,800 jobs from a year earlier.
The state's jobless rate dropped from 5 percent in July 1994 to 4.5 percent last month, the VEC said. Students enjoyed the best summer job market since 1990, but 161,000 people of all ages still were looking for work.
August's jobless rates, to be released in about a month, are expected to be still lower for the region and state, the VEC said. Jobless rates fall to their lowest levels during the last part of the year, because schools and factories have ended summer breaks, tourists still are plentiful, fieldworkers have crops to harvest and stores hire for holiday selling.
by CNB