Evening star., 1942-10-13
Monpower
Continued From First Page.)

'SOIlIilluCu TlOI1l Tllo 81 TdScJ
requirements will vary as the mill
tary situation progresses.
1t is admitted that many of the
facts on which any rationing sys-
tenn must be based are at present
known only to the high military
commands. Until these powers deem
is advisable to release this conf
Dental information overall labor
power planning necessarily will be
retarded.
Any estimate Of the ultimate pos
sible size of the armed forces pre-
sumably would be based on utiliza-
ton at maximum efficiency of the
Nations manpoWer. Donald B. Mel
son, War Production Board chief
tain, said last week 100000 Army
was possible, but he declined to
forecast.the year in which the coun-
try's war productivity could be
geared to permit an Army of this
size.
Lacking the specific data and
pressed at congressional hearings
for information, Paul V. McNutt,
War Manpower Commission chair
man, has predicted that the Nation s
labor power might reach force of
62,500,000 by December, 1943. He
used the latest Government esti-
mates, repeatedly based on assump-
tions that there would be 5000 ,0OO-
man Army at that time, war ex-
penditures would reach $4,000, ,O00,-
900 to S85, 900, 100000 war industries
would work the limit of practical
capacity, virtually all metal working
industry would be converted to war
production. unemployment would be
reduced to 100000, the volume
of agricultural employment would
decline 5 per cent and the output of
workers would be increased by 9
per cent as the result of increased
efficiency and .lengthening of work.
ing hours.
In June. 1912, the total civilian
labor power was estimated at 56,-
100000, with 53.3 employed and
2.8 million unemployed. The natural
increase in labor power is expected
to raise its total by the end of
1943 to SIS million.
Requirements Analysed.
Labor requirements of 62la mil
lion by December, 1913, would re-
quire placement of 1872 million non
agriculture workers in new jobs,
Government statisticians say. They
pointed out that apart from the
placements in new jobs, it would
be necessary to make 7l2 million
placements per year in manufac-
turing industry in the event the
current turnover rate continues
The statisticians say that during
the last few months tighter labor
market has developed and war and
non-essential productivity is already
drawing substantially on, labor re-
serves There have been for some
time, they assert, acute shortages
of labor in particular occupations
and areas and these so-called bottle
necks would prevent production
from becoming large enough to
bring about general labor shortage
1t is estimated that 621a million
labor force would, require about
5 million people to enter or remain
in the labor force who would not
normally do so. This million, it
was explained, would have to be
made up of women not now en-
ployed, from young people still in
school, and older workers who can
come back to work from retirement,
and possibly from certain groups in
the agricultural population.
WomanpoWer reserves are held to
be much the largest. There are
4,400,000 non-farm homemakers
under As with no children under
16, and 100000 with children un-
der 16 Non-farm homemakers
under As and over total 100000
There also are ABOUT 100000 stu
dents 18 and over and almost 7,0O0,-
900 who are IA to II inclusive. 1t is
estimated that an average reduction
of six months in the school-leaving
age would add 100000 to the work
ing force between now and the end
of 1943, another haif-million would
be added by increasing the average
retirement age by six months.
The problem now facing the COM
mission, it was explained, is not sc
much to find sufficient number OF
workers, but to find those who have
the requisite skills or who can be
readily trained in them. The CON-
mission has held for sometime that
to get maximum efficiency from
available labor. it is necessary tc
stop boarding of skilled workers, tc
put an end to the pirating OF
workers, to eliminate unnecessary
migration, to make full use of Local
labor reserves and to reduce absen-
| teeism.
The stress the President placed
in last nights speech on the man
power situation will add materially
it is believed, to the Importance o.
the report on farm labor problem:
which the House Agriculture Com
mittee expects to make public thi:
week. The report will conclude {
month study and the committe'
is expected to declare that labo
scarcity menaces the Nations fooe
and fiber supply. and will make de-
tailed recommendations for {
remedy.
Farm Problem Studied.
The Manpower Commission, in 1t!
PLANNING for the coming year. il
reported to be seeking a solution
to the farm labor problem. Dur
ing 1943, it was explained. large
number of men are expected to joir
those who have already left thu
farm for industry and the armed
forces. The demand last week o1
Is farm State Senators for q tenn,
porary freezing" order to keep mer
on the farms until a program /.
perfected will probably come up fol
discussion at a meeting of the com
mission tomorrow.
Manpower planners hold that IL
the absence of careful weighing O
the farm situation. the agency vii
be confronted next year with an ar
ray of hurriedly improvised and ur
| gently advocated schemes for i'm