YOUTH LABOUR IN DEMAND

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22590, 21 December 1938, Page 6

YOUTH LABOUR IN DEMAND

OPENINGS IN THE NEW YEAR

INDUSTRIAL TRADES ACTIVE

MOTOR ENGINEERING OVERSUPPLIED

Fewer boys and girls will be available to start work in January than in former years. A survey made by the Youth Centre in Christchurch discloses that a larger percentage of children who have completed their primary education will proceed to the secondary schools. Plenty of openings in manufacturing concerns are presented to youths and girls, and the indications are that the factories will be under-supplied with young labour in the new year. All the primary schools in the city were visited by officials of the Youth Centre when making a survey of the prospective labour for industry and other occupations. Only 10 per cent, of the boys and girls are going straight to work after the holidays. Another 10 per cent, are undecided as to their immediate course, but 80 per cent, of the children who have passed Standard VI will definitely continue their edu-1 cation at the high schools, technical colleges, and secondary schools. No survey of the secondary schools was made.

Post-Holiday Inquiries

With trad., for the secondary industries more buoyant in recent months, and with the prospects of a busier period when the import licensing restrictions become fully effective, manufacturers are making preparations to expand their staffing. Within the last fortnight, three large firms in Christchurch —a footwear, a shirt, and a woollen and artificial silk goods .factories —have advertised for staff to learn the trades. Although satisfactory, the response has indicated that the boys and girls now leaving school have little fear that they will not find a place in the industrial life of the city. In recent years, when staff vacancies were restricted, the applications for work exceeded the need. , The market has been reversed and now labour is in shorter supply. The firms which have advertised have stipulated that the apprentices and learners would not be required till the factories reopen in January. There was a time not so long ago when all vacancies would have been filled a few days after the close of the school year. Indeed, cases are on record where boys left school before examinations so as to make certain of obtaining a position—but the situation has changed. Having made an appraisal of the labour market, the boys and girls know that openings for them in industry will still be available early in the new year, and they prefer to have a holiday first without being burdened with the thought of starting on a life's work or of searching for employment. Once the holidays are over, manufacturers expect, applications for positions will be more numerous!

' Older Workers Not Wanted For juveniles who want work, plenty is offering,for them in various classes of manufacturing, so long as they show the required degree of intelligence and adaptability. In the clothing and the footwear trades, the number of applications for positions is reported to be only "fairly good." For work which provides apprenticeships the offering is more satisfactory. However, only a few firms have so far solicited applications, their belief being that it is wise to make early preparations for the future.

"The demand for factory workers Is much stronger than we have been able to meet," said Mr N. S. Woods, of the Youth Centre, yesterday. "The demand has been fairly general for the last three months. The sewing trades have taken on a good number of younger girls recently, but the same openings are not being presented to girls of about 20 years of age, with experience at the trades."

For office work, girls not more than 18 years of age. are not finding any difficulty in being placed. For oldei girls the openings are fewer. The motor engineering trade is one which will not be able to absorb all the boys offering. Few apprenticeships for youths with a mechanical turn of mind are available, and they are being rapidly tilled by those who have had technical training. The' boy with an engineering bent but without that training is certain to be disappointed in his search for a position. All engineering trades are reported to have a surfeit of aspiring apprentices, and in the motor industry juvenile labour tar exceeds the demand.