N.Z. LABOUR SHORTAGE PAST THE PEAK

Grey River Argus, 21 February 1949, Page 5

N.Z. LABOUR SHORTAGE PAST THE PEAK

Labour shortage reached a peak in 1947 and two surveys taken since then’ indicated that it had decreased slightly, according to the latest halfyear survey of employment just released by the National Employment Service. . "In all industries combined the expansion of employment shown by the latest, survey is higher than appeared possible a year ago, but pressure for extra labour is less extreme and it appears that temporarily at least , a saturation point has been reached in

some industries,” the survey states. The civilian labour force had increased from 701,500 in October, 1947, to 712,400 in October, 1948. This increase is described as beinghigher than expected. Known sources of extra civilian labour were natural increases and immigration (4600), a reduction in the armed forces of approximately 1000, and an increased number of juveniles in industry (900)# , . Much of the increased, juvenile employment, incidentally, is thought to be due to decentralised industry. Some country girls who a few years ago would have never gone to workare now working in country factor--16 Those reasons were not, alone sufficient to account for the increase in the labour force. It appeared that a higher percentage of the adult population was at work than was the case a year ago, the survey comments. in individual groups, the public administration and professional groups absorbed some the increase, after losing staff during 1947. Increased numbers of teachers and nurses account for the swelling of numbers there.. More employees have gone into building work, -but. the rapid increase of employees in the food, drink, tobacco, engineering, and metalworking trades has fallen off to a static figure. Vacancies for women in clothing trades and men in engineering have decreased, but a big increase has taken place, in transport employees in the period under review. Increases expected during this year are natural increase (about 2000) and immigration (4600),. Some increase might take place in the number of young women entering work .after leaving school, but this depends on the progress of industrial decentralisation. “When all influences are considered, it is likely that the increases in the labour force for the year ending October, 1949, will be lower than during the past year,” the survey concludes. “With the reduced labour shortage as indicated both by the vacancy position and by other information there is not likely to be any reversal of present trends.”