Evening star., 1947-09-23
.42,558,000 Employed
In Non-Agricu|tHaI
Jobs for Al Record

A 1947 record of 1855, 600 work.
ers in nonagricultural establish
ments was interpreted by Labor De-
partment officials today as a sign
OF current "full-time full employ
ment" and 8 promise of continued
gains in industrial activity until late
this fall.
Evan Clague, commissioner of
the Bureau of Labor Statistics, ex-
planned the BIS monthly employ
ment report for August, made pub
lie last night, showed the highest
employment figure thus far this
year, although slightly below the
postwar peak of last December. The
1853, 900 was about 100000 more
than the July total.
The overall national employment
total, including agricultural work.
ers and members of the armed serv-
ices, was not contained in the BIS
report. Labor Department statis-
ticians estimated it at we'll over co.
100000. The Census Bureau re-
ported last month the July total
reached an all-time record of Co.
079,000.
Jobless Claims Drop.
Mr.. Clague, commenting on the
BIS report for August, used the
expression full time full employ
ment" in discussing the nonagricul-
tural worker employment total, the
comparatively small number Of labor
stoppages at this time and the un-
employment figure of only 2,120,000
last August !. This was practical
ly the same as in August, 1916, he
said.
He added that initial claims for
unemployment compensation have
been steadily decreasing. indicating
a decline in industrial layoffs. The
overall claims load is at the lowest
level since shortly before the end
OF the war, he said.
THE unemployment rolls have de-
clined in virtually every area" he
explained, but the greatest reduc-
tions have been occurring along the
Eastern Seaboard, where the ap-
parel and textile industries center,
and in California where the can
ming industry has reached a sea-
sonal high"
Downward Trend Reversed.
Manufacturing employment re-
versed "a downward trend that be-
gan last spring and rose by more
than 100000 to a total of Is, ,484 ,0OO
In August. The textile-apparel-
leather group accounted for 1877 900
of this. Employment in the apparel
industries in August exceeded the
previous postwar level of last March,
the report stated.
While most of the durable goods
industries, as well as the canning
and other food-processing industries,
showed slight employment gains, the
number of workers in the automo-
bile industry fell off from 963 900
in July to $4,000 in August. The
report attributed this mostly to
steel shortages. Mr.. Clague said
however, the automobile employ
ment situation is "'at an even keel"
as of today.
Construction contractors added al
most 100000 workers during August
to bring building industry employ
ment to 1,948,000, the highest level
of the postwar period, the report
said. This, however, was still about
10000 below the 1941 peak.
Construction Continues.
Mr.. Glagte remarked that ordi-
narily IN prewar years a seasonal
decline set in during September In
the construction field: The un-
usually large Number of buildings
started in August indicates a con-
tinued upswing in construction en-
ployment at a-greater-than- seasonal
pace this fall, as long as favorable
weather remains, he said. His staff
found construction in areas outside
of cities is moving to new high levels,
he disclosed.
Employment in the bituminous
coal fields began to go up after the