The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1924-07-30
Sharp Decline in Year

The Department of Labor further
says that it's reports, based on the con-
ditions in the identical plants for the
last two years, show decrease of 1873
percent in employment; 1853 percent
in payroll totals; and 4.6 percent in
per capita earnings from June 1923
thru June 1924.
The New England group of states
leads in the reduction of employment
and wages with 16.1 and 24.4 percent
respectively for the year. In the East
North Central Division the decline in
employment was 1877 percent and in
payroll totals IS percent, since last
June. The Middle Atlantic states in
dictate a decrease of 10 percent in en-
ployment and 1615 percent in payroll
totals since June 1923. The remaining
divisions also show large decreases in
both items for the year.
Forty-seven of the flfty-two indus
tries surveyed show decline in en-
ployment. Forty-three industries show
a decline in payroll total during this
period.
The brick, confectionery, baking,
pottery, and book and job printing
show increases in employment of from
rs to percent for the year.
In the last twelve months, thirty
industries reduced their working forces
by more than 10 percent. The workers
engaged in the manufacture of agri-
cultural implements were the hardest
hit with a reduction of BIG percent.
Machinists Severely Hit
The foundry and machine shop work
ers lost nearly "a percent. The work
ingmen engaged in steam-railroad car
building and repairing lost % percent
of the total employed. Seventeen per-
cent of the leather workers and 10
percent of the cotton goods and shirt
workers were dismissed within the
last year. The automobile industry
shows a loss of 1914 percent; woollen
and worsted goods, 14.S percent; and
iron and steel 1874 percent in the
number employed during the year.
] The decrease in payrolls in the
above industries was even greater in
the last twelve months. In cotton goods
there was a decrease of thirty-ive per-
cent in payroll totals; foundries and
machine shops, more than % percent.
Agricultural implements and carpets,
more than 81 percent; automobiles,
more than % percent, woollen goods,
nearly "a percent; steam-railroad car
building and repairing, about % per-
cent; and the iron and steel industry,
close to % percent, in the total pay
rolls.
In the last year, there was also a
decrease in the per capita earnings of
20 percent in the cotton goods indus
try; more than 10 percent in the carpet
industry; 1917 percent in the iron
and steel industry; more than 10 per-
cent in woollen goods manufacturing,
and more than 9 percent in the mems
clothing industry.
Great Mass Unemployed
Forty percent of the nearly 5000
plants investigated by the Department
of Labor were operating on part time
schedule. Sixty-two percent of these
plants were operating with reduced
i forces. At the same time wage de-
creases were reported by 102 establish
, ments in 25 industries.
No government survey has yet been
made to indicate the total number of
unemployed in the country. Mr.. Ethel
bert Stewart, United States Commits.
sioner of Labor Statistics, who recent.
, ly made an address before the Inter
national Association of Public Employ
ment Services, holding it's convention
: in Chicago, shed some light on the
normal unemployment situation. From
his statement which we herewith sup.
ply one can judge approximately the
extent of unemployment prevailing in
the country at this moment when the
> situation is quite aggravated.
Said Mr.. Stewart: "a study Of the
payroll data in the manufacturing in
: dustries, which employ eleven million
of our population, indicates that the
fluctuation in volume Of employment
alone spells an average total Of twelve
= months unemployment for from one
; million five hundred thousand to one
one million seven hundred and fifty
thousand of that total number. o.
: course, do not mean that this mum
:. Der of individuals are out of work fol
twelve months, but the average az
4 gragate of idleness for the low per
: centage of full employment in various
+ industries amounts to about one mil
= lion seven hundred and fifty Thousand
: being idle all the time"