Trainman News

Labor Supply Is Short, But No Production Lag.

WASHINGTON - Manpower is tightening up, shortages are reported and increasing, but no delay is existing or due in the defense production program.

That's the outlook after a survey of 152 major metropolitan centers which Labor Secretary Tobin disclosed recently.

He said several steps have been taken to meet existing or anticipated shortages of skilled workers or other workers in short supply, thru the Labor Department's defense manpower program.

More women and older workers were being hired to replace military withdrawals from the market and to fill job openings when there was a scarcity of men.

In many areas women, however, were not being readily employed, especially in some types of factory jobs. In as many as 40 of the major areas women comprised more than half of the total number of job seekers.

"Employers were still consistently reluctant to hire draft-age men, however, and there were only spotty indications of increased hiring of minority groups, handicapped, and inexperienced workers," said the secretary.

Out-of-area recruitment programs for workers was cited as on the increase to fill local shortages. Inadequate housing programs, and similar shortages in other areas prevented this method of hiring from succeeding.

Director Robert C. Goodwin, Bureau of Employment Security, has reported that non-agricultural employment has risen between September and November in more than 100 of the areas surveyed and unemployment declined in 91.