The Hardin tribune-herald. [volume] (Hardin, Mont.) 1925-1973, 1945-12-13
Ssh Finds Workers Want
Jobs, Not Pay TO Be Idle
Only One in Six Who Lose Jobs Ever Ask for
Unemployment Insurance, and Even
They Soon Leave Rolls.
BY BAUKHAGE
Ne1rs ANALYST and Commentator.

because war industries had to con-
vert to peacetime operation.
In the first wave about six million
workers found themselves out OF
work as a result Of the ending OF
war contracts. OF these. three mil
lion shifted to peacetime jobs right
away without any interruption. two
million registered in unemployment
compensation offices and about one
million are unaccounted for-they
may have found other jobs without
registering in the unemployment Of
fee. or they might have gone on
vacation or retired. About LOO. 900
former war workers of this number
found it necessary TO draw nem-
ployment compensation. Right now
the claims for jobless pay are drop
ping each week and Social Security
officials say that means the full inn
pact Of the first wave Of unemploy-
ment-the reconversion wave-has
been felt. The bulk Of the war work
ers have been laid off. The bulk Of
those who are going to file for bene-
fits have already done so.
What's ahead. then. is the second
wave-the unemployment which will
come as an aftermath Of demobili-
cation.
1t is estimated that from six
to nine million servicemen are
destined to return to industry
in the next 9 to IL months. In
addition, about two million
workers who have been in gov
ernment service during the war
will be looking for new jobs.
That means that about eight
million persons will be thrown
on the labor market in this
second wave which will come
as a result of the end of the war.
Crisis Looms
By 1947
AS nearly as can be judged, So
cial Security officials see a crisis by
l947 if there are not enough jobs.
That is, they expect that unemploy-
ment compensation payments will
carry people over jobless periods
until about l947. by which time pay
ments will have been used up. Since
the amount of compensation and the
length of time for which it is paid
are based on previous length of en-
ployment and wages. it is plain that
a period of spotty employment will
affect a workers future benefits.
A different type Of person is ap-
plying for jobless compensation
these days than when the system
was set up in the days when apples
were being sold On street corners
and unemployment was a major
threat to family security.
In the early thirties workers
collected their benefits for the
entire period of their eligibility
and still we're without jobs. As
of this moment they are col
lecting for an average Of four
weeks and then getting jobs. To-
day more women are applying
for unemployment compensation
than men. Skilled workers make
ND more than so per cent of the
claimants; semi-skilled rank
next in number.
AS unemployment comes into the
national picture again and effort:
are made to get more complete JOB
less legislation out of Congress-, ar
eunents are heard that people Wht
are able to get unemployment com
p%ensation do not bother TO look tol
Jobs. This is answered by the SO
cial Security Board IN the basis o
what they have been finding on
from the postwar claims.
They point out first that little bet
ter than one in six Of the person!
who lost their jobs as a result o
reconversion is receiving unem
ploylnent compensation payments
This shows, they say. that a worke'
prefers a job any day to being paie
for not working. Moreover, the.
point to the fact that over $50, 0O'
persons, or about IS per cent of thu
workers who filed claims initial!
since VI Day. have already left tn
rolls and taken jobs. Then there !
the testimony that in two represen
tative cities where special studies
were made it IA found that two
thirds of the workers who left tn
claim rolls took jobs before the!
drew any benefits at all. They sa!
that other cases can be cited Il
prove the point.
Meantime, as the second wave o
jobless workers hits the labor maj
ket, the unemployment compensation
agencies prepare to handle growing
claims for jobless pay unless-ant
until-peacetime industry gets 1T
wheels turning to provide the job
that are needed.
NV Rnukhnp