The sun., 1917-09-30
BRITISH PLANTS
GAIN 100000
GIRL WORKERS
Ministry Of Labor Makes
Public Interesting In
dustrial Statistics.
MANY MEN SUPPLANTED
figures DO Not Include DO.
nestle Servants or Red Cross
Hospital Nurses.
Ny JCDsON c. wELLlvER.
London Representative of The suu,

ny JCDsON c. wELLlvER.
London Representative of The san.
LONDON, Sept 2o.--The British,
Ministry OF Labor which possesses
many functions Of the American De-
partment Of Labor, has been investigat-
D ing the employment of women In this
country. There has been so much gen.
sral talk and so little Of detailed fact
that the showing now published by the
Ministry of Labor is Of the greatest
interest.
The tables are based on returns by
all kinds Of employers to the Ministry.
Women employed as domestic servants.
working In military, naval and Red
Cross hospitals are not included In the
returns, Even leaving these 'out, how
ever il is shown that there are roundly
5000, 900 women employed In gainfui
occupations In the country. Consider
ing that Great britain has less than
10000, 900 population. and that the num-
hg Of women in cnploynCnts not in
< Guided In this return IL large indeed.
N%N appears that the revolution in woinen's
economic position has Just about been
accomplished.
When British women get the ballot.
/ as they are certain to do in :hc next
few months. II will be "A difficult; matter
to dlfferentiate precisely between the
economic and political status of the
two sexes. The estimated number OF
women employed at the beginning of
the war is 3.29S.0Oo. The statistics
show that 100000 have been added to
this figure. When TO this are added the
numbers employed AS casual agricul.
tural laborers. in small workshops. for
which returns are not made. and other.
wise away from their homes. the re-
port concludes that ?63.0o0 more must
be added TO the total OF workers: a
TOTAL OF rather over 100000 is thus
reached.
10000 Work for Government.
The greatest number Of women em-
ploy ed before the war In industries was
sls4.00o. To that figure has nov been
added 463, 900. But it IL explained that
this iigure does not include women work.
Ing in Government establishments. OF
whom the number was very small indeed
before the war and now runs far into
tens of thousands In fact, the Gov
ernments estimate OF the number of
women In Government industrial estab-
lishments indicates that there we're 1000
Of them when war broke out. and there
are now $4,000.
These Government establishments in
cIude arsenals. dockyards and shell fll-
ing and projectile factories operated di-
rect,y by the Government; they do not
include concerns controlled by the Gov
eminent and manufacturing their prod
ucts for II. The increase in Government
Industrial establishments In the largest
proportionate increase IN women's ein-
pigments In any one direction. The
rext largest ratio Of increase is In
anancc and banking, In which II fs
shosn that $500 women were employed
before the war. and almost 10000 are
now employed. The extent to which
women have demonstrated their COM
petence for this kind Of work Is most
remarkable.
In the business OF transportation there
has also been a great increase by rea-
son Of the employment Of women as con-
ductors. ticket agents. cab drivers and
N many other positions. particularly on
the railroads. Before the war there
were 10000 wcr.en workers In trans
portation while there are now $1,000.
In commerce there were employed
$4,000 women before the war. which
number has been increased by 100000.
Professional women numbered 67.B00 be-
fore the war. and now number SS 500.
The civil service enumerated $4,000
women employees before the war. while
il now counts $4,000. THIS concerns
the civil service national Government.
exclusive OF local government bodies.
Under the head OF local governments 1t
10 shown that 19s. 900 women were en-
ployed before the war, and that c45,000
are now employed.
aeDlaeenents ef Men.
The number Of rsplacements OF men BY
women workers 10 likewise impressive.
IN i,2Ss.0oo cases the Job Of . man has
been turned over to . woman But this
does not In fact convey anything like an
adequate idea OF tho number of mems
tobs or Jobs that before the war would
nave been regarded as appropriate only
~ man, that are now held By women.
Eor example. the industry Of mauufac-
surns explosives might fairly b re-
sarded a. . new one In England. be-
cause on its present scale and under
present methods II bears practically no
relation TO pre-war conditions BY far
the greater part Of the work In this in
dustry Is done by women.
The figures given by the Ministry deal
With conditions ~ Of April. 1917. The
been very large since that time. Indeed.
the statistics now published show there
had actually been a slight reduction from,
the beginning Of the Waf - April Of 191
IN the number Of women employed ID
agricultural labor. 6inoo that time thii
condition has been reverssd owing TO the
special slforts that have bs1n made tc
9st more women on tAs Hand. Last zeal
shers wAs . considerable reduction n
NE acfease a hand cultivated IN Grea'
Britain. whereas this year there has been
large increase. ard thsss 10 oeftain y
e vary much larger Increase ~ 1913
The incroaSinI noooosltieg Of tn
eTmies have rsquired great numbers o.
men to b taken away from al eoTts oi
occupations IN the last two months. and
ness heve Of necessity been mainly 70
pnc>d b women. Thus the procssl
eoss o. a4 conskAntly aoceleratinl
pacs.
How this aocsisratins ratio ei
vomsn's employment 10 affecting var3oui
occupations 10 disoussd IN the rspert Il
NJ last qusrtsr Of 1919 thsre was IN In
ereeee of 30, e,0oe IN The number o. VoeneI
"a Industrial oc6upa lions, whereas tn tht
drst quaFt1r Of 1917 there was IN In
GREASE ef $500. In III mstal tyNAal
None N the Arst tArss months of 1S1'
Slyoeo WoQAan employees were taken on
~ the eAamieal inAuGerise WAiSA haS'
9panAe1, o,ooo wosmen weee sAdAd b
u rolls n ~ arst luartsf q th1s ysAs
During ~ saSitae PERIODS At a. ~,
0sre was esnG1A1saAle lScraAso> In II
ssms9 e ve1sa aapleysd n saea
snaA - ~ - = - -
8aaiak n .s, ~ {isiij "a. ;Al. x