Serious Unemployment in Canada.

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 471, 4 June 1932, Page 12

Serious Unemployment in Canada.

TORONTO, May 29. | One Canadian out of three was out of a job in March, according to a survey by three economists of Toronto University. Their somewhat disturbing conclusion, presented before the Canadian Political Science Association convention, caused widespread interest, in view of the growing attention that is being given to unemployment insurance. Their finding is qualified by the fact that a portion of the unemployed comprises youngsters who, failing to find jobs, are remaining at school. Others who have left industrial work have gone back to farms. Others still have left Canada to try their luck elsewhere, although this is discounted by the fact that last year, for the first time, Canada gained in the movement of population between the Dominion and the United States. The main conclusion reached is that, compared with an average of 160,000 unemployed industrial workers in 1929, Canada had last year an average of 500.000 unemployed, and this total reached a peak figure of 720,000 in March last. This represents 35.9 per cent of the estimated working force of Canadian industries. This peak figure was, of course, accentuated by the usual seasonal slackness that comes in the first quarter of every year. The opening of spring has reduced unemployment since March.