New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1918-05-15
NO INTENSE DRAIN
ON OUR MAN POWER
Great Problem Is Distribution,
Chicago Survey Discloses

Chicago May 15.--The nation in
rious depletion as a result of the
United States first year in the world
war, so far as indicated in recent sur
veys of the general labor situation
conducted by the Unitec. States En-
ployment Service and the Illinois Free
Employment Bureau. Except in GER
tain skilled trades these bureaus find
there is no marked shortage of labor.
the chief problem at present being
distribution.
The labor turnover SO far this year
has been greater than in previous
years. This is attributed to some
extent to unusual opportunities for
individual betterment offered by plants
working on war contracts.
On an average, 100, 900 persons are
obtaining employment through the
Chicago district office of the federal
bureau, as compared with a total of
1000 during the past fiscal year.
This huge increase is accounted for by
the recent reorganization of the bu-
reau fer service a S the national ma
chinery for the mobilization and dis
tributiOn of the countTys labor. AS
such it has handled the applications
of hundreds of thousands of workers
registering With the Public Service
Reserve, including more than $50 600
mechanics for shipbuilding.
A system of daily surveys shows the
bureaus where the greatest shortages
or SURPRISES exist and with this in
formation it is able to make economic
distribution. Manufa cturers are being
urged to use the government agency
the labor turnover and economic COM
petition between industries essential to
the war
At the state employment bureau
5000 persons sought work in March
and there, too, the demand is in about
equal balance with the supply, except
in a few trades. Positions were found
for nearly all the applicants.
Demand for Women Normal.
The demand for women workers is
said to BE about normal. Only in a
few isolated cases have they replaced
men called to the colors. A few plants
engaged on war contra cts have en-
ploycd large numbers of women with
out difficulty
Many, women teachers are said to
be leaving the school rooms for more
remuneratiyc employment and the
draft has drawn so heavily upon the
already scant supply Of men teachers
that several states report the situa-
ton alarming for next year. a sur
vey Of 81 states just completed by the
Professional Service division Of the
federal bureau shows that during the
| present school year West Virginia was
| forced to close between $50 and 900
schools because of the scarcity of
I 4 tho,
! about two dozen schools were closed
! for the same reason, while New
! Hampshire, North Carolna,- Delaware,
| Mississippi, Alabama, New Mexico,
| South Dakota, Wisconsin and Indiana
! report a marked shortage. The bu-
| reau has 700 teachers applications
| and 500 vacancies listed, but a large
! percentage of those seeking positions,
| it is pointed out, are not qualified for
| work in the departments where the
greatest deficiency exists.
| To cope with what is expected to be
| al unprecedented railroad labor short
age later in the year new depart
| ment of the United States Employ
| ment Service has been organized tc
| handle railroad labor for the Western
! regional district. BY order Of Direc-
| or-General McAdoo, the railroads
| have abolished their labor bureau:
! and the government agency will re
| cruit their men as we'll direct the
| distribution. In event of an acute
! shortage of workers in maintenance
of way departments, it is planned te
suspend work not absolutely necessary
and send men from these locations
to points where they are most urgent
ly needed A great number of labor
ers are said to have left the road
| because of the higher wages they cal
| obtain in mines or factories
So far the farmers of the Contra
West and Northwest have had littI
| difficulty in finding enough help. Mos