LABOUR SHORTAGE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27291, 18 January 1950, Page 4

LABOUR SHORTAGE

MORE ACUTE THAN EVER THREE THOUSAND JOBS At the end of December last there were over 3100 jobs awaiting workers in the Dunedin District, according to figures supplied to the Daily Times yesterday by officials of the local branch of the Department of Labour and Employment. The position regarding women and girls is the same as it was 12 months earlier when there were 1800 vacancies, but there has been rather a surprising increase in the number of vacancies for men and boys and the department here could place at least 1300 without difficulty. The number on the department's books for the previous December was 824. There has been an increase of about 70 per cent, in the number of jobs offering. It is hardly likely that there has been any appreciable change since the figures were compiled a month ago, though no doubt, with the intervention of the holiday period, many workers have had the urge to seek a change in their employment, or at least, to go elsewhere. The figures reveal that the general shortage of workers in almost all industries, which has been a marked feature of the Dominion's economy for several years, is becoming even more acute. “It is true to say that we can place a man in almost any industry that he wants to go into,” commented one of the officials. “This applies particularly to the building, engineering, and related industries. At the moment, however, the freezing industry is- an exception. The department was able to supply 17 men for the Burnside works vesterday, but there is always a possibility that more men will be required at short notice." As showing how difficult the-labour situation is becoming it was pointed out that the State Forest Service had made an application to the department for from 12 to 15 men for general maintenance and other work in the forests. That was the first time the Forest Service had sought the assistance of the department in recruiting labour. Twenty men were also required for the Roxburgh Gorge hydroelectric power scheme. “As a rule, plenty of men are offering there,” the official said.

Of the vacant jobs for women and girls, it was emphasised that nearly a third of them were in the clothing industry.