Evening star., 1951-01-14
Labor Supply Tight
Across the Country,
Secretary Tobin Says

Secretary of Labor Tobin re-
ported last night that survey
across the country showed a.
Tightening Of the labor supply and
widespread labor shortages in
specific occupations.
But he added there have been
no significant delays in defense
production attributable to lack of
manpower.
It also was reported that the
immediate outlook is clouded by
the possibility that hiring for de-
fense production may not be
rapid enough to absorb layoffs
due to shortages of materials and
cut-backs ordered by the Ma
tional Production Authority. But
the long term prospect is for in
creasingly tight labor markets as
defense production expands.
Washington was among the
dozen centers where the labor
supply was labeled tight. The 12I
were among the 56 centers classi-
fled GA" meaning a tight or bal
anced labor supply with the ratio
Of unemployment to the total
labor force being under 3 per cent.
Government Adds Workers.
The report noted gains in Gov
ernment hiring due to the ex-
pansion Of defense agencies. It
said the labor supply here was
increased by incoming workers.
At the same time the United
States Employment Service for
the District announced that en-
ployment in Washington is at an
all-time high. It put the No.
vember employment figure at
466,300, an increase of 4,700 from
the previous month and almost
1000 more than for November.
1949.
Not only was Government en-
ployment up. but almost all re-
porting industries showed employ
ment gains. Exceptions were
transportation. communications |
and other public utilities, retail |
gasoline stations. finance. insur-
ance and real estate establish
ments and personal service con-
Germs.
Baltimore was advanced in the
ratings from a &C" area, where
there Is q moderate labor surplus,
to a ''B" area, with only slight
labor surplus. Defense work was
said to have contributed to the
employment increases there. while
q shortage of skilled workers
brought 50-hour work week in
some machine shops.
Cumberland Classed "E."
Cumberland and Garrett Coun-
ty, Md, where among five small
areas reporting unemployment of
IL per cent or more and classified
as "E." These five we're not in
cluded in the 152 major areas on
which most of Mr.. Tobin's report
was based. There were no "E"
areas among the 152 although
there were two with that rating
In the last report issued two
months ago.
In Virginia, the Norfolk Ports
mouth and the Roanoke areas
were given "B" ratings and Rich
mond was rated GA" These were
unchanged from the last report.
Secretary Tobin said that en-
ployers are reluctant to hire draft
age men.
More women and older work.
ers were being hired to replace
military Withdrawals from the
labor market or to fill job open
ings when there was q scarcity OF
men," he said.
Robert C.. Goodwin, defense
manpower director, said that. in
general, employment advances
slackened in pace from the previ-
GUS two months.
Although defense orders are
relatively small compared with the
total volume of production, Mr..
Goodwin said, they are showing
up in more industrial areas than
two months ago. Material short
ages have caused or contributed
to layoffs in % areas and slowed
expansion in seven others. !