New-York tribune., 1911-12-27
FEW CLERICAL Jobs OPEN
Young Men Should Learn Trades,
Employment Agency Says.
SUPPLY EXCEEDS DEMAND
Leaving Jobs Elsewhere to Seek
Office Work Here Called
Worse than Foolish.

There arc so few clerical Jobs now un-
filled in New York City and so many per
sons already here to fll any vacancies that
may occur that Edward W. Carpenter, man
ager Of the National Employment Ex-
change. at No. 90 Church street, said yes
terdav persons who left jobs in smaller cities
to come TO New York to seek such employ
ront we're worse than foolish. In fact
,aere we're so many unemployed men and
women looking for clerical work here that
the exchange would not accept the applica-
uon Of any one who did not live within
committing distance Of the city. he said.
1t is not because of any sudden de-
crease in the demand for office help, said
Mr.. Carpenter that there are so many ap-
plicants for the limited number of places
10 be filled. II is, as Mayor Gaynor says
there are not enough young fellows who are
masters of trades and are willing to DO
manual labor Most Of those who come
here TO look for Office work have never had
2 trade TO fall back on. When out Of a job
they are therefore helpless They have been
educated with the idea Of taking up clerical
work, and they do not care TO stoop TO
manual labor.
For more than a year now the exchange
has had TO face a situation where there
were a limited number Of Office Jobs and
great excess of applicants for them. /
want 20 say that the sooner young men
learn trades the better off they will be.
With such a large number Of persons coming
to the city all the time, often just TO 1--we
here. not being content with small cities
1he clerical workers have become so numer-
GUS that many who think there is a job
awaiting their application are doomed 10
disappointment"
Mr.. Carpenter will address the American
Association for Labor Legislation III WASH
ington on Friday Of this week on the sub
Iect "The Experience Of the National En-
ployment Exchange
Among other phases of the work to oe
dwelt on by the manager of the exchange
will be the present small demand for labor.
But such a small demand is not an indica-
ton Of hard times. Instead, employers
have filled their vacant places. Mr.. Car
penter said there had been likewise fewer
requests for jobs as farm laborers and
manual workers in the last fan and at the
present time This, he contended, also went
10 show that men who have cared 20 look
for such work had found it,
There was demaid for office boys, ac-
cording to the manager Of the exchange.
Many orders received have remained untitled
because suitable Office boys We're scarce.
I'VE received orders for 2SS office boys
IN the year ended september 3o," said Mr..
Carpenter we placed 100 We have
made special efforts 20 obtain them but
without success. Boys remain at school
longer nowadays. and when they leave they
feel above the work allotted 20 the office
boy. Male stenographers are also scarce.
During the same time 152 orders We're re-
ceiyed. hut the exchange was able to iii
only forty-three. Salaries offered male ste
nographers average higher than for any
other class of clerical help"
Mir. Carpenter said there were many
farmers who were willing 10 provide board
and lodging t0 men who would do chores
about the farm during the winter in an
.Tort fo keep such employees until spring
when they are willing 20. pay good salaries
10 them. This, he declared, should attract
unemployed labor in the city.