Hires related to Carilion Clinic's dramatic shift in emphasis from hospital-based health care to a clinic model have helped keep job numbers in the black for the Roanoke Metropolitan Statistical Area, according to the Virginia Employment Commission.

At least that seems to be the case during the 12-month period from May 2007 to May 2008.

"Right at the moment, Carilion's expansion seems to be maintaining employment growth in the Roanoke area because jobs in some other [sectors] are down," said Bill Mezger, chief economist for the VEC, during an interview Friday.

"Carilion is still keeping Roanoke positive," he said.

The Roanoke MSA includes the cities of Roanoke and Salem and the counties of Botetourt, Craig, Franklin and Roanoke.

In June 2006, then-Carilion Health System announced a plan to transform the health care provider to adopt an approach akin to that of the Mayo Clinic -- a physician-led health care and research center in Minnesota. Carilion said it would continue to operate its hospitals.

Since then, Carilion has been recruiting and hiring doctors. And in collaboration with Virginia Tech, it plans to open a new medical school in Roanoke -- another source of emerging jobs.

From May 2007 to May 2008, the private education/health care sector added 1,200 jobs in the Roanoke MSA -- largely because of Carilion's expansion, according to VEC estimates.

Other sectors also added jobs: about 400 total in government and 200 each in leisure/hospitality and miscellaneous services, the commission said.

Sectors losing jobs were: 500 in trade/transportation; 400 in professional/business services; 200 each in construction and manufacturing; and 100 each in information and finance.

Overall, there was a net gain of 500 jobs in the Roanoke MSA.

The Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford MSA lost jobs during the 12-month period, largely because of manufacturing layoffs, the VEC reported. The net loss was 400 jobs.

Mezger said some of the layoffs by Volvo Trucks North America occurred during the May reference week studied by the VEC. Some suppliers were affected also.