From: Nigel.Allen@bbs.oit.unc.edu (Nigel Allen)
Subject: Slow Job Growth Ahead, Industry and Defense Downsizing Cited
Organization: Echo Beach
Date: Tue, 8 Sep 1992 08:34:10 GMT

Here is a press release from the Interstate Conference of
Employment Security Agencies (ICESA)

 Slow Job Growth Ahead, Industry and Defense Downsizing Cited
 To: National and Business Desks
 Contact: Greg Shaw, 202-835-8831, or
          Christopher Shields, 202-628-5588

   WASHINGTON, Sept. 3 /U.S. Newswire/ -- U.S. job growth during the
last half of 1992 is expected to increase by about 1 percent
nationally compared with the first six months of the year, according
to a survey released today of the nation's state employment security
agency labor market information directors.
   Those surveyed believe job growth during the last half of this
year will contribute to a national decline in the unemployment rate
of about 0.2 percent.  Unemployment in the U.S. during the first half
of 1992 averaged 7.3 percent, compared with an average of 6.6 percent
during the same period of 1991.
   Southern states were most optimistic about job growth, projecting
growth of 1.2 percent for the last half of this year.  Directors in
the Midwest and in the West projected job growth for their states of
1 percent.  Northeastern states project the least growth with 0.8
percent.
   Service, trade and construction jobs are expected to account for
the largest areas of growth.  Job growth in the public sector,
government, is expected to decline by 0.1 percent, according to the
survey.
   State employment security agencies cite industry and defense
downsizing as the most important factor related to the decrease in
the number of jobs in the recent recession.  Federal and state budget
deficits, global competition and foreign imports also ranked high as
having increased unemployment.
   William Grossenbacher, president of the Interstate Conference of
Employment Security Agencies (ICESA) and administrator of the Texas
Employment Commission, said the survey is indicative of what he is
seeing in employment offices across the country.
   "A continued sluggish economy, along with business restructuring,
are causing large demands for employment services in the states,"
said Grossenbacher.
   "It is critical that each state's employment service be funded to
provide the necessary transition services to the unemployed.  Despite
these sobering employment figures, the employment service is facing
reduced federal appropriations even though the trust fund for the
employment service ended the year with a balance of more than
$2 billion."
   The survey of labor market information directors was conducted by
ICESA, a Washington, D.C.-based organization of state employment
security agencies from all 50 states, the District of Columbia,
Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands.
   ------
   Editors: Regional survey results available from the contacts
listed above upon request.
 -30-

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