Evening star., 1936-05-02
INDUSTRY JOBLESS
SET AT 3,0&,3OO
Newspaper Survey Holds
A. F. L. Figures Are
Too High.
by the Associated Press.

NEW YORK, May 2.-The New
York Sun estimated today In q news
story that the total unemployment in
all United States industries. trades,
mining and transportation-which the
newspapers survey said covered 58.7
per cent of all fields of employment
amounted to 3,084, 800 persons.
The papers survey Of 5000 COM
panies did not include such categories
fessional service. 1t did not attempt
to calculate the total amount of I'M
employment.
The National Industrial Conference
Board, a statistical organization sup
ported by corporations, has estimated
total unemployment in the United
States at 9,649, 900, and the American
Federation of Labor has placed it at
12.184. 900.
The Suns unemployment figure was
based on q survey of the employment
lists Of more than 5000 companies for
1929 and 1885.
A. F. L. Figure Denied.
The survey characterized as 'pre-
posterous" the statement of William
Green, president of the A. F. of L.,
that "l2,184,00o persons are without
normal work"
In the news story accompanying
comprehensive tables on employment
in the categories studied, Green's
figures were described as obviously
erroneous" The newspaper called on
him to give exact figures on employ
ment in the various trade groups
affiliated with the A. F. of L.
The number of workers employed By
these 5000 companies, as of January l.,
1886, said the story. was 4,570,864
This the Sun estimates to be II per
cent of all gainfully employed persons
in industry and trade.
The survey, continued the newspaper.
showed that in the categories studied
there should be employed total of
29,926, 800 persons, and that there were
actually employed an estimated 1884,
500 persons. 1t stressed that breweries
and distilleries were not included, "and
the liquor industry, a new one since
1929, has given employment to hun
dreds Of thousands"
Also" it said, the Sun did not
subtract from industry's quota of en-
ployables 100000 or more workers
who have returned to farms since 1899.
Furthermore, no attempt was made tJ
allocate the 250.000 additional Federal
employees since 1890"
The newspaper contended that based
on census figures, employment in the
United States should be approximately
5l,O00,000 persons. divided among
these categories: Manufacturing and
mechanical; trade; transportation and
communication; extraction of minerals
except oil and gas; agriculture; fores.
try and fishing; public service; pro-
fessional service. and domestic and
personal service.
The survey points to the classifica-
ton and communication as the real
sore spot" in the Unemployment pic
ture.
The story characterized as the
brightest employment picture" the
figures in the trade" category, "A
classification which is called upon to
take care of 7,948, 700 workers
some 80 of the largest organizations
reported to the Sun that at present
they employ 4s6,00O persons as against
352 900 in 1929"
Next to transportation and commu-
nication, the Suns survey finds the
gloomiest report in the general indus
trial category comest from the mines.
Current employment in this category
the Sun placed at only 68 per cent Of
1929.