The producers news. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1918-1937, 1931-02-06
GREEN FINDS Tin
E EMPLOY MENT
WORSE IN JAN'Y

Washington FTP "Unemploy-
ment has increased since December
and 100000 wage earnerS in the
United States were out of work In
the first part of aJnuary according
to our preliminary estimate" said
William Green, president of the
American Federation of Labor, on
January 81. This compares with
100000 in December (revised esti-
mates.) These figures do not include
farmer-labor or office workers."
GREEN'S depressing news to the
workers comes on the heels of the
announcement by President Hoov-
er's unemployment experts that the
Metropolitan Life Insurance Cos. es-
innate made in December was that
100000 to 100000 workers were
unable to find jobs in the industries
of the United States. It dispose5
of the latest assurances from G. o.
p. politicians that industrial revival
has already begun.
1.-THE increased number out of EN-
ployment," said Green, lis partly ex-
planned by the fact that many firms
who were keeping their forces on
part time, laid men off altogether.
A number of unions report this fact,
especially in the garment, metal and
other manufacturing industries; and
in building, many wage earnerS who
had temporary or part time work in
! December had no work at all in the
! first part of January. In the count
try at large there was less part time
employment and more were entirely
without work; in December 20 per
cent fthe union membership had at
] least part time work, in the first
! half if January only Is per cent.
Much unemployment has also been
, due to year-end shutdowns which
lasted over into January.
This decrease in part time work
and increase of unemployment
sounds a warning to the American
business world. Thousands of firms
have been keeping their men at work
at least part of the time if they
could not give full employment. Now
is no time to abandon this barrier
against depression forces. Already
there are 100000 more out Of work
than there were at this time last
year.
Industrial recovery is starting,
competent observers tell us, and the
spring season just ahead is the best
time for advance. We cannot afford
to have tchecked as it was last
year by increasing unemployment
and reduced buying power. Efforts
to keep men on the payroll and to
give relief should be redoubled now
when the need is greatest and wher
workers buying will count most in
stimulating trade.
Looking pack four years, our fig
ureS show that the increase in un
employment from December to Janu
airy this year was larger than usual
Reports from the department Of la
! Dor representing all wage earners IL
manufacturing, show this same ten
dency; in November and Decembl
the number laid off was larger thar
usual. This does not mean that bus
mess is suddenly. worse. But it doe
indicate a dangerous trend, which j
it continues will retard business re
covery
Widespread relief has undoubtedl.
prevented the situation from becom
ing far more serious. But relief can
: not possibly meet the need, an,
l there is much illness, eviction from
homes, under nourishment and evel
I starvation which never comes L
public notice. This crisis calls 70
. every citizen to do his part for tn
$ unemployed"
Green's weighted unemployment
figures for January 1928 were IL.
u per cent; for January 1929, 11.3 pc
cent; for January 1880, 1875 per cen
and for January 1881, 1914 per CEN
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