The Washington herald., 1922-01-07
SLIGHT DECREASE
In MENT.
DECEMBER RECORD
Manufacturing Centers
Confident of Speedy
Improvement.

Stock-taking ard inventory caus-
ing the temporary closing of
many Industrial plants, resulted in
a slight decrease-4.7 per cent-in
employment throughout the country
during the month of December, as
compared with the previous month.
This temporary setback made
little or no impression on the con-
ditions in this city, where unem-
ployment exists only among rail-
road shop men, automobile mechar-
les, machinists, common laborers
and general clerical workers and ar
fecting only a small Eumber.
While the general trend in Mary
land is forward, the actual progress
during the past month was rot
equal to that of the preceding
month.
With the exception Of coal min
ing, little Improvement is Indicated
by the conditions in Virginia, al
though Employment in Richmond is
in healthier state than at any
time during the past year.
OF the sixty-five principal indus
trial centers of the country. twenty
nine report employment increases
during the past month. while thirty
six report slight decreases.
shrinkage I'm PayroIIs.
The 1.42S firms in the centers
usually employing more than 500
workers each. or a total of 500. 900,
had on their payrolls at the end
of December 74.267 less employees
than at the end of November.
These industrial facts are con-
tanned in the survey for the month
of December, issued by the Employ
ment Service of the Department of
Labor
The significant and encouraging
feature of this report is the slight
but continuous increase in employ
ment among the basic and non-sea-
sonal Industries, namely, textiles,
iron and steel and other metats,
lumber. leather and paper" said
Francis /. Jones, director general of
the survey.
However, unemployment in rail-
road repair shops and miscellaneous
industries continues to be a cloud
in the industrial horizon" he said.
Reports from 23l of the principal
centsrs show unemployment in
creasing in the agricultural dis
tricts. particularly in the Pacific,
Rocky Mountain. Middle Western,
Southwestern and Southern regions,
with no prospect of material change
until spring. All Agricultural and
allied activities have been COM
pleted for the season, leaving the
small amount of outdoor public
work insufficient to relieve the
number now unemployed.
speedy Gains Indicated.
, The reports from the manufac-
turing centers. embracing the East
ern and New England districts, are
encouraging and optimistic as to
the immediate Improvement In busi-
ness activity. The consensus of
opinion in these districts is that
there will be material Improvement
within the next thirty days"
OF the cities showing decreased
employment during the past month,
Detroit. Mich, stands foremost, with
a percentage of AIS, while of the
cities showing an increase in em-
ployment Philadelphia takes the
lead with a percentage of g.
Baltimore shows a decrease Of 105
per cent in employment over the
preceding month. while Richmond.
Va. shows a decrease Of per cent,
although the future in these Is con-
sidered bright.
Virginia, although credited with
a decrease in employment during
the past month, is reported to be in
a healthy industrial condition, with
the greater portion of the unenn-
ployed persons being unskilled la.
borers. A boom in industry Is fore
casted for the early months Of the
new year.