N.Z. Labour Market Still Has Many Shortages

Grey River Argus, 19 March 1947, Page 8

N.Z. Labour Market Still Has Many Shortages

At the end of February, there were only 92 men and 16 women enrolled with the National Employment Service throughout New Zealand, according to the monthly review of employment issued by the National Service Department. Despite these low figures, 1,852 men and 597 women enrolled with the department were placed in employment during the month. Vacancies for women at the end of February totalled 12,516, a drop of 333 on the figure for the previous month, the main decreases occurring in biscuit manufacture, hospitals, and Government services. Vacancies for men, however, rose by 551, the main increases being in general engineering, metal working, building, and rail transport.

In Greymouth, the total number of unsatisfied vacancies at the end of February was 205, a decrease of 15 on the figures for the previous month.. The estimated male labour force in the district is 8,300. ■ These figures reveal that New Zealand, in common with most other countries in the world, is faced with an acute labour shortage. Tn. analysing the situation, the department found that the juvenile labour force was- waning and would not begin to increase until 1952. It was found too that shipping problems would restrict the volume of immigration for some time to come. .

Investigations by the department have enabled it to find out what reservoirs of untapped labour have existed in secondary towns with 2000 or more population. From this information, employers have already established new factories bringing an additional 513 men and 1170 women into the manufacturing field.