The Bozeman courier. (Bozeman, Mont.) 1919-1954, 1923-05-23
Change
IN LABOR WORLD

u8cuI Oh laDOf, LHen uUQSf OeH1OCEdLlC
administration, estimated that 2,000,-
600 workers ordinarily employed were
idle. On January 20, 1921, the Plumb
Plan League, composed of A. F. of L.
unions and railroad brotherhoods
gave out a statement that 2.350,000
of work. On April 25, 1921, a little
over a month after the Republican
administration came into power, but
before any of its policies could posi-
bly, be put into effect, Samuel Com
pers himself issued a statement in
which he estimated the number of
unemployed to be 100000.
That was but a few days over two
years ago. Today there is an actual
shortage of workers in % states of
the Union, while in Fl other states
unemployment has been completely
wiped out. In only four states
Georgia, Tennessee, Oklahoma and
South Cardinals there any general
unemployment. This survey of the
present labor situation is according
to statistics and reports gathered
from every state and every commun-
ity, from labor organizations and
state and federal agencies. Not only
is there a scarcity of labor through
out the country, but wages are at a
higher level than at any time previous
in American history, with the posi-
bic exception in some industries in
1920. In many industries, however,
wages are higher today than even the
peak of 1920.
Such, in brief, is the Transformation
in the labor and industrial world that
has come about in the two years that
the Harding administration has been
in power.
According to the survey made, IA
states report serious shortage in farm
labor. They are Illinois, Iowa, North
Dakota. Nebraska, Minnesota, Wis
cOnSin, South Dakota, Nebraska, Vir-
ginia, South Carolina, Montana, Ida
no, Oregon, Washington and Cali
fornia.
The following states show a scare
: ity of skilled workers (both male and
female), there being more jobs than
there are people to fill them: New
York, Illinois, Ohio, Kansas, Arizona,
Connecticut, Maryland, Montana and
! Mississippi.
: In the following states the building
trades are paying fabulous wages and
yet are unable to secure enough help
to carry on construction work under
contract: New York, Pennsylvania,
: ! Virginia, Louisiana, Ohio, Florida, Il
: linois, Kansas, Indiana, Iowa, Ken
lucky, Missouri, Tennessee, Arizona,
) Nevada, Idaho, California.
The following states report no un-
employment, the majority of indus
tries being normal and in some indus
: tries there being a scarcity of help.
Maryland, Delaware, Maine, New
Hampshire, Massachusetts, Vermont
: Rhode Island, Kansas, Wisconsin
South Dakota, Michigan, Texas, New
: Jersey, West Virginia, Alabama, Ar
kansas, North Carolina, Colorado, wy.
! omlng, New Mexico and Nevada.
Notwithstanding farmers are offer.
ing wages higher than any previous
time in the history of American agri
= culture, with the exception of the wa
\ period, they are unable to secure nee
= essary help. This is also true farthe.
: west, of ranch hands, and in tn,
northwest, of lumber men.
Common labor is at a premium now
= IN many states, being paid 20 to 8
cents an hour.
u A report just issued by the u. s
bureau of labor statistics covering 5
different industries and 5,453 plants
shows that for the month of March 3
of those industries increased the nun
oof Der of employees, and Al of the 43 il
~ creased the total ~payrolls. AS com
" pared with a year ago, the increase j
number of employees and amount G
- payrolls is ~stupendous.
The iron and steel industry, as con
pared with a year ago, shows an II
- crease of "a per cent in the numbt
of employees and SO per cent in wage
paid.
.os The automobile industry shows 8
increase of So per cent in the nun
10 Der Of employees and S4.5 per cent
the amount of wages paid.
The boot and shoe industry show
an increase of 5 per cent in the mn
Der of employees and over IL per cel
J n amount of wage paid.
.ue Car building and repairing shoy
he an increase Of A43 per cent in Il
aat number of employees and 81 per ce
SIS in amount of wages paid.
To- Cotton manufacturing indust
shows an increase Of AZ per cent