Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1922-12-12
IN
UPWARD N Owe
IN new ENGLAND
Employment Situation
CO n tin ues to I'M
prove in Maine
Full Time Basis the Rule-Shoe
and Ship Building up to Ca
pacity-ShOrtage of Workers
in Textile Industries-En-
cOuraging Reports from
Other States

tons in New England show a de-
cidedly upward trend, according to
an analysis for November made pub
lie today by the New England dis
trict, Department of Labor. The re-
port Of Director Charles Brown
points to the employment situation
in Massachusetts as excellent"
while for Vermont a normal" sta
tus is said to obtain. Marked i'm
provement is noted for Maine, New
Hampshire, Rhode Island and Con-
necticut.
The textile industry of Massachu-
sets for the month past has shown
decided improvement. the survey
said. Shoe factories, for the most
part, are running full time with full
forces. Chair and cordage industries
are running full and jewelry and
silverware full to overtime. Granite
plants are daily increasing forces.
A shortage of labor exists in the
building trades, which continue &C
tive. A good demand for medium
priced houses holds in the thickly
settled districts but the housing sit
uation is reported as not acute.
In the Boston district, including
the shoe center of Lynn and other
cities, the building trades are more
active than for several years, though
experienced a marked shortage of
both skilled and unskilled workers.
The shoe industry Of Lynn evidenced
improvement for the month. In Cam
bridge all plants are working while
the same situation holds approx
nlately in Everett and Maiden. The
labor supply about equals the de-
mand.
Employment conditions in the CEN
quoted as excellent with normally
prevailing in the Springfield district,
Fall River, Brockton, Havcrhill,
E.tchburg and Salem. In Lowell, a
surplus of textile workers and rail-
road shopmen exists. New Bedford
conditions are said to be improving.
, In Maine employment continues to
improve, with full time basis pre-
vailing. The shoe and shipbuilding
but there is a shortage of workers
in the textile industries. Railroad
shopmen continue to return to work.
The building trades in certain sec
tons of the state are feeling a short
age of men. Housing conditions are
improved.
Steady betterment Of employment
conditions is reported for New Hamp-
shire. Due to labor controversy, the
textile plants still are unable to care
for surplus workers. The shoe indus
try has shown on upward trend and the
building trades are active. The gram
lite and machine plants ere not yet on
normal basis, though the former are
increasing their forces. The housing
situation is satisfactory.
Normal conditions prevail in YER
mont reports of principal industries
for the month showing increased
forces. The granite plants in most
cases are on part time schedules. The
lumber trade has increased its ac-
tivity and there is a slight shortage
Of men in the woodworking plants.
With the textile industry approach
ware crafts active to capacity, en-
ployment in Rhode Island for the
month has greatly improved. Machine
and metal industries are operating
three-fourths of capacity. Building ac-
tivity. is handicapped by a shortage of
men, Housing conditions are adequate
generally.
An employment expansion is pro-
crossing in Providence where the jew
elry crafts are feeling u need of skill
ed workers. A building boom is not
ed. Many plants in Woonsocket are
on full time with the textiles running
overtime to provide work for the I'M
employed. Business block erection and
road building also furnish labor for
many hands. Pawtucket plants are for
the most part on full time, though ex-
periencing difficulty in obtaining raw
materials.
The general situation in Connecticut
is reported as having shown a marked
improvement. All industries are oper-
ating IN full and in certain sections
overtime. There is shortage of w6m-
en- employees for factories and serious
lack of skilled workers for the metal
trades. All building craftsmen are
fully employed in heavy building ac-
tivity. Housing conditions are salts
factory throughout the state.
All plants in the Haven industrial
district are running nearly full time
and labor shortage is prevalent in
nearly all lines
Normal conditions apply in Hartford,
with shortage of skilled mechanics.