Evening star., 1941-02-17
Sharp Job Increases
In Retail Trade
Are Forecast
industrial Activity
To Boost Demand
For Employees
BY PAUL ID. GESNER,
Associated Press Financial Writer.

NEW YORK, Feb. 17-Opportun-
tiles for jobs in retail stores and
other fields of selling are expected
to widen sharply in the months
just ahead. merchandising circles
hinted today.
Retail sales currently are pro-
ceeding along at the best dollar
volume rate for this season in
II years, and averaging to IS per
cent above the 1910 clip. Dollar
volume of retail business in 1910
is estimated to have totaled around
S45,5OO,0OO,O and business leaders
now are predicting this years ag-
gregate may be in the vicinity of
$50,000000,000, or around 10 per cent
above last year for the full II
months.
More clerical help in stores of
all types, in automobile saleSroomS,
in all clasSiflcations of selling will be
needed as trade expands.
Pay Rolls Climb.
The faster retail sales stem from
the wider employment and larger
pay rolls in American industry.
which at present, and throughout
not only peacetime goods, but also
the material needed in connection
with the S28 500, 100000 national de-
tense program.
PociIoc ao1y
of Federal funds through armament
building industry into the channels
of trade. the defense program is
opening up new jobs in retail and
other business lines in another way.
Present Army plans call for close to
100000 men under arms by mid
year National Guardsmen and some
draftees already are at training
camps. Many of these left peace
time jobs which are being filled as
quickly as possible Thousands of
jobs vacated by men going to train
ing camps between now and June,
however, will create new gaps in
retail trade personnel which will
have to be plugged up with new
workers if the Nations retail dis
tribution machine is expanded to
carry the anticipated heavier volume
of business.
Conservative estimates indicate at
least 100000 more men will be
under arms this coming June than
in June, 1910. The result: Prob
ably 100000 new workers in trade,
industry and commerce.
More Jobs Foreseen.
The latest Department of Com
merce figures on retail trade employ
ment are those for the year 1889
They show 6,214490 persons en-
ployed in retail selling in that year,
at pay aggregating S4,529 ,499 900.
Executives think that at least
100000 more persons have retail
jobs today than in 1899, and that re-
tail pay rolls were around S4O0,O0O,-
900 higher in 1910 than in the 1889
year. They presume that retail jobs
for another 100000 persons, adding
around S255,0000O0 to wages and
salaries in the field, may develop
before the end of 1941.
Throughout all divisions of trade
and industry the job outlook is said
to be the best in years. Total en-
ployment in the Nation in December
was 48,413,0OO workers, including
military forces. but excluding per-
sons on w. P. A, c. c. C. and
N. Y. A. rolls, according to the
national industrial conference board.
This aggregate is substantially above
the average employment of 47,925,-
900 workers in the boom year" 1929.
Unemployment in December to-
tailed 6,96l,0 persons, the board
estimated.
IF the 2,447,000 persons on emer-
gency relief projects (W. P. A., 1875
900; c. C. c., 255,0o0, and out-of-
school N. Y. A. work, 317,000) are
deducted from the estimate of $751;
600 persons unemployed, there re-
mains total of about 4,500,00O job
seekers without any work" the
board pointed out. About 1000
600 of these persons should be alb
sorbed by agriculture in the next
few months, leaving over 100000
available for the expansion of de-
fense industries, in addition to
young people who will normally
enter the labor forces as they finish
their school training"