Evening star., 1932-10-27
16 NATIONS SHOW
JOBLESS DECREASE
Statistics Given Interna'
tionaI Labor Office Indicate
Recovery in Spring.
BY ALBIN E. JOHNSON.


Special Dispatch to The Star.
MADRID, Spain, October 27.-Slx.
teen out of twenty-five countries-most
of them European-Showed marked I'M
proyements in unemployment during
the past Summer, according to an ofn-
cial survey submitted to the Governing
Board of the International Labor Or
fee now in session here. The statlstlcs.
compiled mostly from official reports,
indicate that the backbone OF the de-
preston will be broken next Spring, ac-
Cording to economic experts, who. al
though admitting that the seasonal
fluctuations in the labor markets may
have been largely responsible Tor the
recent improvements in employment,
nevertheless insist that general upturn
is imminent.
The other nine countries-as widely
separated as Great Britain, Japan,
Sweden, New Zealand, Denmark, Chile,
Holland, Australia and Ireland-show
growing unemployment throughout the
Summer, when seasonal demand should
have absorbed thousands OF workers.
There is no escape from the fact that
at the moment % per cent of Germanys
workers are unemployed: in Britain 22.9
per cent are idle; in the United States.
according to the American Federation
of Labor estimate, "a per cent, gain of
3 per cent since June and more than 8
per cent as compared with year ago.
In Austria one-fifth of the working
population is without work or means OF
support. The estimates in Britain. Ger
many and Austria are based upon COM
pulsory unemployment insurance statiS-
tics and are reliable.
4O5 Per Cent Idle in Belgium.
II voluntary unemployment insurance
figures truly reflect the situation of a
Nations workers then Belgium has 40.5
per cent of her laborers idle; Holland
has 80 per cent unemployed and Den
mark 80 per cent during the Summer
months.
During the coming Winter unemploy-
ment will naturally increase. especially
in industrial countries, and the high
points Of the Winter of 1892 are cer-
tain to be exceeded.
Germanys unemployment problem
is still the most critical on the conti
nent, although Austria, Hungary and
Italy are in a difficult situation. Dur
ing the Summer months unemployment
showed a drop of nearly 100000 III
Germany, but in September there were
still 5,261 900 workers on the insurance
lists. in June the number stood at
$685. ,307 However as compared with
1901, lIlCAC dAC lllOiC tlioil
100000 additional idle and the num-
Der is growing.
Great Britain also is showing con-
Germ over the coming Winter. Her idle
increased steadily during the Summer
and now total nearly 100000, as
against 2,813,163 who were in receipt
of relief exactly II months ago.
Italy, whose situation was alarming
last Spring, showed slight improvement
during the Summer, largely because of
the speeding up of public works. In
on the official list. In September the
number had dropped to 964.509. A
year ago it stood at about one-half that
figure.
Austria Stems Tide.
Austria the barometer of Central
Europe much to the surprise of every
one, seems to have stemmed the tide of
unemployment, despite the fact that
there is no visible reason for better
ment. Latest Vienna reports show
269,179 workers receiving assistance
from state insurance funds as COM
pared with 284,350 four months pre-
vious. Twelve months ago there were
l96321 in receipt Of state benefits
Up in Scandinavia conditions appear
to be getting worse, especially in Den
mark. Sweden and Holland. Norway
reports slight improvement. Danish
workers in receipt Of aid through VOL
untary unemployment insurance in
creased by 20 per cent the past three
months and so per cent as compared
with II months ago. In Holland there
were 161 OPS unemployed registered rs
voluntarily insured in September. as
against 1876 in May and only 70,479
q year ago.
Sweden'S unemployed army has more
than doubled in II months and the
increase during the Summer amounted
to about IT'S per cent. The gains of
June. July and August were quickly lost
in September after crops were har-
vested
The survey of the international labor
office is made from statistics gathered
from four sources-compulsory ana VOL
untary unemployment insurance rec
ords. trade union reports and employ
ment exchange estimates. The inSur-
ance records cannot be challenged. The
trade union reports and employment
bureau estimates give fair cross-sec-
ton of conditions. Obviously there are
thousands of unemployed who are
neither in receipt of relief nor regis
tered. Nor is account taken of those
receiving aid throuPh private charities.
While the Labor Office does not claim
that its statistics can be used for COM
rarison of conditions between various
Co1nt!.c3, nor as q criterion of the exact
nm, of unemployed, thev are val
u13'c a. an indication of the month
to-montl and year-to-year trend Of the
depression. Those just made public
show that:
July Shows Drop.
In Belgium there we're BAL 1926 unem-
ploye& in July Of this year, as against
349, 738 in April and 67,287 year ago.
Czechoslovakia had 459,406 idle in
September, as against 482, 900 in June
and 215,040 in September of 1881.
Switzerland reports 87,162 unem-
ployed in July, 1882, as against 103O82
in April of this year and 46,S43 in July
last year.
Australia had 1923 unemployed in
July, as against 120,366 in April and
1l3,424 in July. 1881.
Canada, with 38,240 unemployed &C