(Source: The Roanoke Times)
By Duncan Adams, The Roanoke Times, Va.
Dec. 30--Andrew Kelderhouse, president of Fralin & Waldron, said that he recalls no other double-digit layoff during his 31 years with the construction and real estate development company.
In late October and early November, the Roanoke County-based company laid off 11 employees.
He cited a housing slowdown that began in 2006 and has recently reached a crawl.
Kelderhouse said the people affected were mostly those holding "field-oriented" jobs, such as carpenters, laborers and other construction workers. He said remaining employment totals 38 to 40 people.
Fralin & Waldron has constructed a number of residential developments in recent years in the Roanoke Valley, including the Daleville Town Center in Botetourt County. Kelderhouse said the company still has construction crews working in the field.
The company's slowed sales required a work force adjustment, he said.
He added that Fralin & Waldron remains committed to fully serving prospective home buyers.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau and U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, housing starts in November were off about 47 percent nationally when compared with the same period in 2007.
Building permits authorized for privately owned housing units were off about 48 percent when compared to last November, the agencies reported Dec. 16.
On Dec. 23, the U. S. Department of Commerce reported that sales of newly built single-family homes in November recorded the slowest pace since January 1991.
In recent months, hundreds of workers in the New River and Roanoke valleys have lost their jobs in employment cuts tied to the ongoing financial crisis. Many layoffs occurred at manufacturers but other sectors are cutting jobs too. Some of the jobs do not end until January.
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