Area job losses continue in April

The Winchester labor market lost 2,500 jobs in the 12 months ended April 30, according to a Virginia Employment Commission report.

The corresponding 4.4 percent decline was the highest of all Virginia metro areas.

About 2,000 of the job losses were in the goods-producing sector, which includes mining, construction and manufacturing. The area has been hit hard by cutbacks in vehicle and housing-related manufacturing.

Local service industries were down 1.1 percent, or 500 jobs, during the period, including a loss of 300 in trade/transportation and an offsetting gain of 300 in total government.

— Daily Staff Report