BUILDING-TRADE EMPLOYEES

Press, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 27064, 12 June 1953, Page 10

BUILDING-TRADE EMPLOYEES

NUMBER INCREASES BY 1200 MORE MEN ENGAGED IN HOUSING (New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, June 11. The labour force in the building industry has increased more than 1200 in the last six months, and the number of men engaged on housing and flats has also risen, thus reversing a trend that operated for two years. These facts are given in a halfyearly employment survey just completed by the Department oL Labour and Employment The survey shows that the total surveyed labour force in the building industry at the end of April was 45,512 (44,234 in October, 1952, and 39,708 in April, 1950). The number engaged on houses and flats was 11,433 in April of this year (11,217 in October, 1952, and 12,776 in April, 1950). The number engaged on commercial and industrial premises has fallen from 5324 in April, 1952, to 5213. The figure in April, 1950. was 3529. In three years the number of male vacancies in the industry has fallen from 2739 to 1904. A feature of the statistics is the large increase over the last three years of the labour force (including working proprietors) of private builders and contractors. The increase has been more than 31 per cent., from 25,276 in April, 1950, to 33,229 in April last. There has been a lar£e decrease in the number of building workers directly employed by Government departments—from 13 684 in April, 1950, to 11,229 this year. This is largely accounted for by the maturing of the rehabilitation trade training schemes. Trainees three years ago numbered 1587; now they total only 53. The Government’s programme of capital works is reflected in the steadily growing total of employees engaged on civil and electrical engineering works. The total has increased by more than 43 per cent, in two and a half years, and now stands at 7420. The labour, force on such Government buildings as schools and hospitals has also steadily increased. The total is now 4243, an increase of 68 per cent, in three years. All occupational groups except one have increased their numbers over the last three years. The exception is tunnellers, whose numbers have fallen from 153 three years ago to 106.