Evening star., 1941-08-03
Defense Industries
In Virginia Need
Skilled Craftsmen
Report Declares Plenty
Of inexperienced Men
Are Available
BY OLIVER MCKEE.

Though there is no lack of un-
skilled labor in the State, defense
industries in Virginia face a short
age of highly trained skilled work.
ers, according to report just re-
ceived by the Labor Department.
Pointing out that war industries
In Virginia are having difficulty in
obtaining second grade workers,
and semi-skilled workers." the re-
port disclosed definite shortage
of skilled craftsmen, such as ma
chinists, mechanics, boilermakers
carpenters, sheet metal workers and
electricians.
On July II, the Richmond Office
of the State Employment Service
had on hand acquisitions from es-
sential defense industries for 625
machinists. In addition, two en-
ployers said they had jobs for all the
machinists that the Office could sup
ply. Because of the shortage, the
Office was unable to meet these
acquisitions, the report said.
Though the construction industry
has plenty of hammer and saw"
laborers, ''first-class carpenters are
not to be found" it stated There
are many mechanics. carpenters and
others who are skilled in their own
locality, but who are not qualified
to perform the exacting work re-
ouired of machinists in shipbuild-
ing"
Serious Shortages Feared.
Reports reaching the Bureau of
Labor Statistics show growing
shortage of skilled defense workers
in many parts of the country. These
shortages, it is said, are likely to be-
come more serious as defense pro-
duction moves into high gear. In
many classifications, the number OF
registrants at public employment
Offices Is very small.
At the end of April, the Federal
Security Agency estimated that ap-
proximately 100000 skilled crafts
men were registered at public en-
ployment agencies as seeking work.
Since that date, defense production
has increased substantially.
On the basis of contracts awarded
and pending, the Bureau of Labor
Statistics has estimated that 1,408,-
58l additional workers will be needed
before April in the manufacture
of aircraft, machine tools. ordnance
and other defense items, and in the
construction of ships for the Navy
and the merchant marine. These
estimates do not include workers
needed on defense housing projects.
OF the total required, 550.858 are
skilled workers, 539,057 semi-skilled,
227, ,4S3 unskilled, and 91.183 profess
sional and sub-professional. Among
skilled workers, according to the
bureau, the principal requirements
will be as follows: Machinists, 1885,
453; foremen, 64,508; aSsemblers,
38,7l2, sheet metal workers, 33,710;
tool and die makers, 27039; grinder
operators. 36,S64; welders, 21,034,
and electricians. 20,145.
Semi Skilled Needs.
Requirements for semi-skilled
workers included the following: as
semblers (erectors). 139, ,448; machine
operators. so,249; drill press-opera-
tors, 47,471: riveters, 32,437, and
handy men, 2l053.
At the end of April 3,877 skilled
workers were registered in Mary
land as seeking employment. BY
April, 1912, the bureau estimated !
that defense industries in Maryland
rill need approximately $1,000 more
skilled craftsmen.
The shortage of skilled craftsmen |
has caused a revival of the proposal /
for the establishment of an Indus |
trial Defense Corps, to be made up .
of workers in defense plants. Mem
bers of the corps, advocates of the |
proposal point out, would have a |
prestige and a place in the defense
picture that workers in war indus /
tries do not at present enjoy. BY |
making these workers an integral .
part of the national defense organi- !
zation, it is argued, greater in
centive would be given to those
with special skills to enter defense
industries. thus helping to eliminate |
existing bottlenecks arising from a
shortage of craftsmen with special !
skills.
The proposal for the creation of .
an Industrial Defense Corps is now
under consideration by defense la
Dor officials. 1t was learned yesterday. |