Evening star., 1945-09-03
Promising Prospect

With the publication and dlStrlbu-
ton of it's study of Postwar Plans
of Metropolitan Washington EN-
ployers" the Postwar Planning Com
mittee of the Washington Board of
Trade brings to close one impor-
tant phase of the work for which it
was organized. The results reflect
great credit on an undertaking, by
an organization of Washington citi-
zens, which had for it's purpose the
systematic assembly of facts relat-
ing to population. the plans of resi-
dents and the plans of employers in
the period following the war.
Looking ahead, through the pages
of these studies. we find a popula-
ton growth which probably will fol-
low the patterns established in the
years 190O-1910 and 192O-193O. dec
ades of continuous increase The
estimates in the field perhaps are
conservative, for the reduction in
the Federal establishment which
has followed other wars has failed
to bring about any substantial de-
crease in population. A population
of about 100000 for the Metropoli-
tan County Zone is anticipated for
1850.
1t is on employment possibilities,
however, that chief interest seems
to be centered now. for Washington
Is in for period of rea6justment
as the Government machine changes
from war to peace. A balance struck
In this category of estimates is in
formative. On one side of the ledger
we find an anticipated decrease of
about $4,000 Government positions
and Leturn to the city of some
$4,000 men now in the service,
total of 10000 people who theoreti-
cally might be considered in need of
work.
But on the other side we find,
from sampling of private employ
ers, an expected increase of about
26 per cent in private employment
during the first year after the defeat
Of Japan. That means about 66,83O
additional employees will be taken on
In the next twelve months or so.
During the same interval, about
$4,000 workers have expressed in
tention to leave the area, while
$4,000 more have stated that they
will quit the labor market entirely.
There was no basis on which to
estimate the number of new busi-
ness firms to be established in
washington, but there will be some,
OF course, and they will provide ad-
ditional employment.
Such statistics indicate available
1ty OF employment, as far as mere
numbers of persons are concerned,
for some time to come. And the fact
that private enterprises plan an ex-
pend1ture of more than $500 100000
In the first two years after the war
In expansion and improvement of
their own facilities is another en-
couraging sign There are consid-
erationS which modify some of the
estimates OF employment need, how
ever, such as the fact that while the
net decline in Government EMPLOY
ment may reach $4,000, more than
this total will be displaced to make
places for returning servicemen. And
while employers indicate that major
expansion in jobs will be among
male workers, there seem to be about
as many women as men who will be
looking for work. Domestic employ
ment, SO drained by demand for war
workers, will take up some of the
slack in employment of women.
The prospect presented by these
studies is a most encouraging one.
Justifying full confidence in the
promise of the years ahead. Having
laid such good groundwork in esti-
mates of the postwar situation, the
Postwar Planning Committee is pre-
pared to undertake the second phase
OF It's program, which includes the
detailed application of information
gathered to specific classiications of
nrms composing Washington's busi-
ness community.