Evening star., 1943-04-03
Poll Of 10000
Calls Jobs Chief
Postwar Task
Research Institute
Conducts Survey
Among Employers

Manpower employment looms as
the most difficult single postwar
problem, exceeding in Importance
the finding of new markets, the Re-
search Institute of America declared
today in summarizing a survey con-
Quoted among 10000 industrial exec
utives and professional men.
The clue to the prominence of the
employment problems, Leo NJ
Cherne, institute executive secre-
tary, said in an analysis of the sur
vey, is supplied by the anticipated
rate of layoffs during the transition
period after the war.
The institute today was to hear
also a talk by William L. Bait, WPB
vice chairman.
Among companies employing 500
or fewer workers, two-thirds do not
expect to find it necessary to lay off
employees, the survey indicated. For
those employing between 500 and D.
600 the ratio is reversed; that is,
two-thirds of the firms expect to
find it necessary to dismiss en-
ployes. Enterprises employing more
than 5000 workers anticipate the
need for dismissal of employees in
the ratio Of to l.
Firms Set Aside Funds.
ut is not surprising" Mr.. Cherne
said, Ito find that plans for improved
personnel relations occupy first rank
among the steps favored for the but
tressing of the companies postwar
position. For the same reason,
sizable percentage of the firms re-
plying to the QUESTIONABLE are plan
ming to set aside funds with which
to keep their key personnel, even
though there NAV be no immediate
place for them in the organiza ton
after V-day
Conversely, all companies, re-
gardless of size, placed the National
Labor Relations Act first as the
most serious imposed
impeachment to postwar readjust-
ment."
AS to other management prob
lens, the survey revealed these be-
Eefs:
Virtually all companies, regard
less OF size, expected to be engaged
In peacetime production within
three months after V-day. About
10 per cent in the groups employing
between 500 and 5000 set six months
ss their time limit for such read
justment.
Plant Utilization Doubted.
Full plant utilization is expected
to be reached by only so per cent of
those employing 2,OO1 to 5000 and by
40 per cent of firms in the top
bracket employing over 5000. In
the lowest group $50 or less en-
ployes) over 80 per cent of the firms
expect to make full use of their
present plant facilities
About one-haf of the capital re-
quirements for postwar readjust-
ment are expected to be supplied by
depreciation reserves. postwar re-
serves and postwar tax credits and
refunds. Firms employing more than
5000 expect to use bank loans only
to the extent of about Is per cent
of their total requirements.
Almost all firms, regardless of
size, are of the opinion that postwar
foreign trade will exceed prewar
levels.
Tax incentives lowered tax
rates. and the right to deduct a
limited postwar reserve from tax
able income are listed as the most
desirable types of help. Next in
Importance are rated Government
insurance of conversion loans,
Gcvernment-promo campaign to
stimulate consumer savings for post
war purchasing, and public works.
Price Control Favored.
Price control appears to be gen.
orally favored more than any other |
kind of Government regulation
Next in rank of Importance comes
wage stabilization and control of |
exports and imports. followed closely |
by rent control. There is a strong
sentiment in favor of the complete
discontinuance of all Government |
controls adopted during the war"
The survey analysis emphasized
that larger companies employing
1000 or more workers appear to be
cooperating extensively with trade
associations and with other enter
prises in the same industries in their
postwar planning.