Evening star., 1932-04-22
WORK IS REPORTED
/ STILL ON DECLINE
Statistics Bureau Notes is
Per Cent Drop in Major
Industries.for Month.

Employment throughout the United
States continues on the decline, Com
missioner Ethelbert Stewart Of the Bu-
reau of Labor Statistics announced to-
day. Mr. Stewards figures are consid-
cred in all quarters as being the most
accurate of all the various agencies,
both official and semi-ofhcial, now re-
porting on labor conditions.
Basing his report on returns received
from 60,896 establishments in 16 major
industrial groups, he said there had
been a decrease of Is per cent in en-
ployment and "a per cent IN earnings
for the month. These major groups had
a total employment Of 4,564,l4l workers,
who drew in wages in one week S97,-
684. .467 during March, according TO the
commissioners report.
simultaneously with the release OF
Mr.. Stewards statement came bulle-
tin from the Labor Departments En-
ployment Service, which conflicts as 10
employment conditions with the report
of the Statistics Bureau, also Labor
Department agency. The Employment
Service said from reports 1t had received
from all sections Of the country there
was slight improvement in the vol
ume Of employment"
No Forecast on Number.
Neither agency hazarded prediction
as to the total number OF men and
women out of work. The American
Federation of Labor, through the presi-
dent, William Green, estimated from
Nationwide survey made by unions
there were 100000 unemployed and
5000, 900 workers on part-time during
March.
The American Federation Of Labor
estimate is conceded to be the most &C
curate OF the semi official agencies, and
Is fairly In line with the official Gov
ernment barometer, which shows the
general index of both employment and
pay rolls now to be at 35.5 under its
base of 100 computed in 1926. For
March, 1881, the general index was 75.9,
and Is now 645.
Meantime another report Of the Labor
Departments Statistical Bureau threw
out some encouragement with the an
nouncement that the number OF build
ing permits issued showed a gain OF
nearly fourth in aNrch IN 355 of the
country's larger cities, while the esti-
mated costs of the projects they cover
advanced more than 10 per cent over
the February figure. ,......
The gain was reflected in increases
for both residential and non-residential
structures, as well as for additions, al
terations and repairs, as compared with
February totals. Building activities were
shown to be far below the level Of
March, 1881, however,
Increase in Some Groups.
As to employment, the labor statistics
noted an increase in workers in anthra-
cite mining, retail trade and dyeing and
cleaning, with an advance in earnings
also in hard-coal mining. In the manu-
featuring industries employment gains
were noted in the leather, railroad re-
pair shops and glass groups.
Mr.. Stewards statement showed en-
ployment gains in 29 out Of SO manu-
featuring industries. Iron and steel,
automobile making and textiles regis
tered a decline. The bulletin Of the
United States Employment Service, how
ever, said some increase occurred in
forces engaged in certain units Of the
iron and steel and automobile factories,
and Slight increases in employment
occurred in the mills in several of the
textile areas"
Both statements agreed on an en-
ployment gain in boot and shoe plants.
The unemployment apparent during
the past 80 days, particularly in the
more tfickly inhabited sections" the
bulletin said, embraced practically all
trades, and included many clerical
workers, professional men and unskilled
help"
Mr.. Stewart reported that for March
13,015 operating establishments in 80
manufacturing industries noted an aver
age Of So per cent of full-time opera
ton, this being per cent lower than
the average reported in February.