LABOUR DEMAND

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22971, 24 February 1938, Page 15

LABOUR DEMAND

CONDITION OF INDUSTRY TRADE FLUCTUATIONS POSITION IN AUCKLAND Some marked fluctuations in the demand for various types of labour in Auckland is takiug place, according to the experience of tho Placement Service. While the demand for operatives in the footwear industry is not strong it is sufficient to indicate some improvement. The same remark applies to sections of the clothing trade, more especially with factories engaged in the manufacture of winter clothing, such as overcoats. One larjje concern has made some dismissals, but these are described as chiefly seasonal, it being associated with a particular type of clothing. Thero is a very slight demand for factory workers generally. Electrical wiring has been largely completed in Government houses at Orakei, with the result that many men are back on the market, in which the demand has eased considerably. A slackness in the engineering trade is described as seasonal, and an improvement is anticipated next month. There is now little work available for sheet metal workers or brass finishers, but there is plenty of work for motor mechanics, newspaper advertisements indicating a keen inquiry from country districts. Advertisements in the Herald show clearly that there are many vacant situations for boys, but age is a big factor, youths in their late teens finding employment difficult to obtain. Canvassers and salesmen aro sought after, but inquiries show that in many cases the remuneration is on a commission basis only. Most classes of tradesmen in the building industry are in demand, plasterers being one of the exceptions. From January 31 to February 19 the Auckland Placement Senvice made 392 placements in the Dominion total of 2775. It led Wellington, which ranked second among cities and towns with 298 placements. Of the Dominion total only 800 placements were classed as permanent. Auckland's permanent placements being 98 and Wellington's 94.