SKILLED LABOUR

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIX, 30 January 1936, Page 7

SKILLED LABOUR

SHORTAGE EXPECTED IN AUSTRALIA ABSORPTION OF UNEMPLOYED (United Press Association—By Electrio Telegraph—'Copyright) SYDNEY, 29th January. Addressing a conference of interstate Ministers oT" Labour and oilicers to-day, the Premier of New South Wales, Mr B. S. Stevens, declared that the rate of absorption of unemployed into industry was now faster than the increase in the working population. Australia, he believed, was on the verge of an era when there would be a more or less permanent shortage of skilled labour. Instancing the case of New South Wales he said that the number of persons in employment in June, 1933, was 594,000, while in August, 1935, the figures had grown to 708,000. The average rate of improvement in both secondary and primary industries had been fairly steady over the past two years and was continuing. Mr Stevens said there were nine men employed in New South Wales to every one looking for work. He expected a considerable improvement in these figures by the end of tlfe year. He added that poultry farmers were unable to get youths although they were offering them 25s a week and keep, but unemployment on the coalfields continued to be too high.

He intended to invite his Government to think in terms of new industries, as well as of the expansion of old ones in order completely to abolish relief work.