Evening star., 1931-06-20
OUTDOOR Jobs AID
us. EMPLOYMENT
MAYTOTALSSHOW.
Better Working Conditions
Reflected for Entire
CountTy.>
PUBLIC PROJECTS LEAD
WAY FOR INDUSTRIES
Recovery Is Tending to Take Up
Slack in Shoe and Textile Fac
tories Of Eastern States.

Better working conditions were re-
fected today in the May report Of the
United States Employment Service. In
the country as q whole increased en-
ployment was noted In all outdoor ac-
tivities.
There was further expansion in
road construction in practically every
section Of the country, which included
county, State and Federal projects" the
report revealed. Numbers Of skilled,
seYni-skilled and unskilled construction
1aborerS, who were unemployed during
most. Of the Winter months, have been
absorbed and are practically assured Of
steady employment until late Fail.
Heavy construction work, such IS
dams, tunnels and large mileage Of
natural gas pipe line installations, pro-
vided employment for many additional
men, including highly trained artisans.
Spring agricultural work was at its
peak, necessarily requiring the services
Of thousands Of farm workers.
~ Building ON Upgrade.
Building showed some improvement.
but remained on a basis below normal
for this period Of the year and consid-
cradle idleneSs was apparent In some
localities among the building trades
men" -4.
The report disclosed that, while in
dustrial operations and indoor factory
employment remained on q subnoFmal
basis in several Of the major industries,
there was no real decline from the
average maintained in April, except
that which was due almost entirely to
seasonal influences.
ff9attor eNhadHalaS - fha PaYOYf aAdad
prevailed in the boot and shoe indus
try, especially in the New England dis
trict, where quite a number Of these
factories worked with increased forces
and several Of these plants located. in
the West North Central district report
ed some increase in forces engaged.
Textile Trade Recovering.
IAN encouraging feature of the in
dustrial activity Of the month was the
upward trend in both production and
employment in certain branches of the
textile industry. However, many work.
ers were still employed on curtailed
schedules in certain localities and large
surpluseS Of textile mill labor prevailed
in some sections.
THE shipbuilding industry kept
large forces Of men engaged and addi-
tional skilled ShipfltterS were employed
IN a number Of the yards along the
Atlantic coast. Plants manufacturing
Airplanes and airplane motors worked
on fairly satisfactory schedules. Some
increase in operations occurred in the
automobile industry, but a number of
these workers were still employed on
part-time schedules.
The trend of activity in the iron
and steel industry was unsteady, as in
some of these mills there was a slight
L..
considerable unemployment was appar-
ent among these workers. Curtailed
schedules and forces obtained in sew
eral of the radio manufacturing eStab-
1iShmentS. There was a further sea-
sonal decrease In coal mining, affect
ing large numbers Of miners"
Surplus Continues.
Operations and employment in the
various industrial establishments of
the District, the report said, were
maintained at fairly satisfactory level
throughout May.
While a surplus of workers, en-
bracing nearly all trades, was apparent
the volume of unemployment registered
some decrease, compared with the
previous month. Favorable weather
stimulated activity on various outdoor
projects, thus providing employment
for additional workers.
There was an increase in the de-
mand for domestic help, clerical work.
ers and skilled building trades men.
Activities in the public utility estab-
lishments were described as normal for
this period of the year. Municipal
projects, including sewer connections
and extensions, street paving and
water-line installations, provided EN-.
ployment for large number of men.
Additional contracts for alley and pave
ment work, approximating $150,000 in
value, will be awarded early in July.
A large volume Of private and Federal
building was In progress. Building per-
mits recently issued call for the ex-
penditure of $4,933,579."
Little change was shown in condi-
tions in Maryland and Virginia.