LABOUR MARKET

Southland Times, Issue 23946, 12 October 1939, Page 6

LABOUR MARKET

Vacancies Caused By Enlistments EMPLOYERS UNCERTAIN (Special to the Times) AUCKLAND, October 11. The need for an early Government announcement of its intentions about the special military force now undergoing training was urged by several Auckland business men when commenting on the present employment position in the city. Till such information was forthcoming it was stated that existing uncertainty among employers, particularly about z filling vacancies caused by enlistments, would continue.

At present employers did not know whether the men in the special force were to be sent abroad or temporarily discharged after their three months’ training and made available again to industry, it was said. The important question of replenishing staffs thus arose, and most employers, excepting those carrying out Government contracts, were taking no action in the meantime. Lack of information on this point was also claimed to be affecting the rate of enlistment. Employees were loath to give up their positions and enlist while there was a possibility that at the end of three months' training they would be discharged and forced to look for work. Because of the present uncertainty, trends in the labour market caused by the war were difficult to describe, it was said. Required for military works, men in the building trades had been in heavy demand and a number of workers from other industries had been absorbed. These included cabinetmakers and similar workers who had lost their jobs as the result of slackness of itrade immediately after the outbreak of war. The furniture trade was now returning to normal arid many of these men were again required. . A temporary slackness in the motor trade, which had occurred when war broke out and petrol restrictions were imposed, was now being overcome, and in other industries, including the clothing trade, business was said to be satisfactory. Though numbers of girls have lost their positions in offices since the war began, several factories have engaged additional female labour and some of the girls have been absorbed. From the number of applications received by business colleges for placement in employment, however, many apparently remain out of work.