Evening star., 1943-07-03
VINO Sees Manpower
Goal Of 100000
More Persons in Year
By MIRIAM GUTENBERG.

ny iAkNAhNA " i 4 1AS SDNASNs
An additional 100000 men
and women must be taken into
the armed forces and munitions
industries by July, 1914, to bal
ance the manpower budget, ac-
cording to the War Manpower
Commission.
In making public statistics cover
ing all manpower requirements.
VINO slashed several hundred
thousand OF armed forces estimates
given Congress by VINO Director
McNutt.
As 1t stands now the armed forces
will go up from $4,000 this month
to 10000, 900 by the end of the year
an increase OF 1900 ,000-and will
increase by another 100000 by July,
1914.
Army to Level on.
The Army will level of at 8, ,233 900
and the remainder of the II 800 900,
by next June will 60 to the naval
forces. The figures include both
men and women and both ofhcers
and enlisted personnel.
1t was emphasized, however, that
the figures did not indicate exactly
how many men must be drafted by
mid-l944 since requirements for
battle casualties and other losses
had not been included in the esti-
mates.
At the same time, the munitions
industries must have another l,6OO,-
600 workers by July. 1914. VINO
emphasized that reported cutbacks
In production don't ease the man.
power problem at all but only COM
plicate 1t.
Reports OF cutbacks, a VINO Of
ficial commented, have led people
to assume that manpower require
ments have been met. Although
the peak may have been reached in
some type Of munitions, he said,
new contracts now being let or
planned indicate new manpower
demands.
No Recruiting for Farmers.
As compared with the need of
$500, 900 for the armed forces and
munitions industries from July. 1943
to July. 1914, 5000, 900 were added to
the armed forces, munitions and
agriculture in the last fiscal year
No additional recruiting is planned
for agriculture above the $4,000 900
high this month.
Manpower officials insisted, how
ever, that the recruiting problem
isn't as simple as those figures In
dicate They pointed out that they
had lost their pool OF unemployed.
that those most willing to work had
already gone to work and that the
major requirements were in cities
which already have labor shortage
They expect to get their 3,600,0c
from two sources-2, 100000 trans
ferring from non-war activities and
300. 900 entering the labor market.
OF the latter, about half represent
the normal increase resulting from
the population growth while the
other half must consist principally
of women The most available
group at present. 1t was reported.
are the 100000 nonfarm house
wives under the age of IS who are
not responsible for the care OF chill
dren under l6.
Serious Local Problems.
While the labor resources OF the
Nation as whole appear more
than adequate" for all essential
needs to mid-l944, VINO comment
ed. very serious local labor problems
exist. 1t was reported that over
half the employment in the final
assembly of aircraft and tWo-thirds
OF the employment in shipyards will
be located in areas OF current or
anticipated acute labor shortage.
The VINO also is counting on an
Increase in the work week from a
present average of 469 hours to 48
hours and 10 per cent increase per
manhour In munitions output The
latter. 1t was explained. is expected
to come from mechanical improve
ments and better training OF
workers
On the score OF hours. the VINO
! reported an increase in the average
work week from 375 hours a week in
January. 1910, to IS hours a week in
April. l943 The average weekly
earnings In manufacturing industries
have jumped in the same period
from $2456 to $42.48.
Goal Set by Plants.
The manpoWer goal of IS 900, 900
workers in mid 1914. it was ex-
planned. was set by plant capacity
and facilities rather than the actual
number of workers who might be
available.
Asked how they expected to trans
! fer 1900 900 workers. manpower off,
cials said the transfers would come
from the normal decline of nonwar
activities because of shortages OF
materials.
Workers now engaged In con-
struction were expected to be the
largest single source of transfers
because of the decline in building
| work, though declines were also ex-
pected in trade and service indus
tries and in some nonwar Federal
agencies.
On the other hand. there were re-
ports. today that the Army has
agreed to turn over to hard-pressed
civilian industry 10 per cent of the
approximately 10000 students it is
sending to college for specialized
training. An informed source said
the 10000 to be relinquished by the
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