The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1925-01-15

I
of per cent in the aggregate amour
industries during November. 1882.
employers in a wide range of industry
had 276,195 workers in December, a
gain of $500 over the number the
identical employers had month be-
fore.
Evidence of improvement is in.
Dictated in the reports for the month
Of the Illinois free employment offices
in 13 Of the principal cities of the
state. There was a slight increase in
the ratio of applicants to jobs open at
the state free employment offices. In
December the index stood at 149 per
100 which was not appreciably above
that of one year ago. Placements by
the offices in Is of the principal cities
Of the state totaled 10105 in Decem-
Der, which was S32 more than the
same month last year.
1.-THE larger industrial cities lead in
the extent of expansion of the month.
In Chicago, there was a gain of AS
per cent and average weekly earnings
increased to S33.06 per week for males
and $685. for females, higher than
for some time.
AS the leading railroad center of
the country, Chicago receives more
migratory unemployed in the winter
when the out-of-door Industries are
closed down. Nevertheless, there
xryora opIxy IA rar;c+rox+. =. CLs...-~
for each 100 jobs open at the state
free employment Office in that city,
the lowest point since April and so
points better than in June and July.
"At East st. Louis, Rockford, and
Aurora the gain in the number Of fac
tory workers was of substantial pro-
portions. At Moline, Peoria and Rock
Island, the gain was smaller while at
Bloomington, Danville, Decatur,
Joliet and Quincy employment de-
clined.
1.-THE metals, machinery and con-
veyance group, represented in the re-
ports to the department by 1856 EN-.
ployers, had IL per cent more work
ers than month previous and of
the II industries made progress dur
ing the month.
1.-THE agricultural implement indus
try added 1915 per cent more people.
In the past four months this industry
has added 38 per cent more workers.
Blast furnaces had new labor re-
quiraments during the month and en-
ployment in this industry increased
3.5 per cent for the ia employers. fol.
lowing gains of slighter amount in Oc-
tober and November.
"The machinery industry which is a
highly sensitive barometer to indus.
trial changes reported an increase in
employment to the extent of 3.S per
cent. There was also a minor gain in
November. In previous months, how
ever, the changes were decidedly
downward.
"a recovery of some of the lost
ground is shown in the reports of the
car builders. The employment in.
crease amounted to 2.5 per cent
"The apparel industries have be-
come seasonally active. 26.5 per cent
was the addition made to the forces
In the mems clothing factories, IFS
per cent in millinery, and 1913 per cent
in women's furnishings.
"The outstanding change in the food
industries was in meat packing. Dur
ing December hog receipts at the
Chicago stockyards reached the
highest point of any time in the past
10 years and cattle and sheep receipts
were high for the time of year. This
resulted in an expansion in work
forces. 10 reporting packers in De-
cember had "a per cent more people
than they had month ago.
IAN analysis of the reports by size
OF firms shows smaller firms are at
least keeping pace with their larger
competitors. Thus, in the metals.
machinery and conveyance group of
industry employers of fewer than 1O1
persons reported increasing the num-
Der Of their workers by per cent,
which was not exceeded substantially
by any other group and was consider
ably more than the increase by en-
ployers Of over 1000 workers.
There has been Improvement in
the mining industry during the month.
IL mines, some of which have been
closed for two years, reopened in De-
cember. At other mines orders have
justified an increase OF the forces or
an increase OF operations to full time.
There has been a reduction in the
number Of workers working only part
time and during December there was
an increase in the number working
overtime. As reported by 1,O43 en-
ployers who responded to the ques-
ton of the extent Of operations, Il an.
pears that n per cent of the work
ers are on a full time schedule. "a
plants are still closed down.
| u, 1903 EMPLOYERS I'm all fnduefriaa