The Waterbury Democrat., 1942-07-09
Decline Noted In Clock Industries By
 Federal Authorities
Conversion of Plants Offsets Seasonal Letup in Sev- eraI Trades; Government Curtaiment Affects
 Local Shops

Jobs were found for 11,l59 people n June. the greatest number in the history of the U. s. Employment Service for Connecticut, William G. Ennis, acting director, announced today in reviewing the industrial situation in the state based on re- ports from 18 field officers. Para doxically, in spite of the large num- Der of job openings filled during the month, layoffs and shutdoWns were greater last month than any since Pearl Harbor, due to variety of factors including government re- strictions on the use of metals, cur- tailment orders, delay in deliveries and materials and machinery.
 Conversion Progresses
 Reconciling the two apparently contradictory trends of layoffs and increased hirings, MT. Ennis stated that further conversion to war pro- duction combined with seasonal de- clines in the needle trades and the hating trades contributed to unem- ployment. Balanced against this, was the increased hirings in fac ;ories already converted.
 The gross total of unemployment benefits paid during June was $338,- 900, the highest of the year and a jump of $65,0O0 over the previous month. The present situation prom lses to be no more than temporary as far as employer needs are con- cerned, since further conversion to war production and the completion of present construction programs will shortly result in an expanded hiring schedule that vii ltake up the labor market.
 Employment reduction ware re- ported by the clock industry in Bristol and Waterbury. the office appliance industry in Hartford and Bridgeport, electrical appliance and fixtures plants in Meriden, Bridge port. Hartford and Winsted, certain hardware factories in New Britain and at scattered textile plants in Eastern Connecticut. Seasonal and part time unemployment developed in apparel trades located at Bridge port, New Haven, Ansonia, Nor walk and Danbury. Seasonal de- clines in the Danbury and NorWalk hating industry were further com plicated by the developing shortage of raw materials. Isolated layoffs occurred also in certain war pro- duction plants through shortages of raw materials, machinery and for other reasons.
 Spotty Picture
 Tn spite of the spotty picture pre- Vailing in June, MT. Ennis said, the anticipated labor needs between now and October 1 will be in excess of 50,00O workers, the largest in re- cent years. For this reason, 1ayoffs at the present time are considered temporary phenomenon and any slack developing will be rapidly taken up by increased demands due to the completion of new facilities Tor war production, and additional war orders
 Increased agricultural activity during the past month has been reflected by vastly increased num- Der of farm placements. with 1878 Iarm workers placed in the State. AltllOuBH 4dIHl ldUOI VIII Uc SSd1SC, It appears at this time as though the situation will be met adequately by the use of Land Army regis trants. Tn New Haven, in addition to filling all orders for farm work ers there is now surplus of work CTS willing and able to handle these jobs. During the month of June more than 300 farm placements were made in New Haven alone, the high est monthly figure in the history of this office.
 With the exception of construction workers, there is now little notice able migration of workers from