The journal. (Caldwell, Ohio) 1934-1961, 1951-02-01
MANPOWER SHORTAGE

To provide the manpower sufficient to carry the
defense program and also provide for civilian needs
going to take bit of doing but be done Those insist
ing price controls wage freezing and other government
Iegmentatlon point to an imaginary manpower shortage
that exists mostly in the bureaucratic mind
In recent article, my associate DR.. Alfred P Haake
had this to say 1--WE actually do have enough workers if
during regular working hours and need be-
work additional hour at regular rates"
Dr. Haake is right; the productivity of the nations
working force be increased by lengthening the work
ing period In October $780, the average work week
equal the World War III peak of 452 hours would add
nearly 10 percent to the manhours worked approximately
the equivalent of IA million additional workers.
negative factor however, the small number of un-
employed persons compared with mid94O when
present there only % million unemployed compared
with more than million in 1910 Undoubtedly large pro-
portion of those unemployed are unernploy-
able due to physical mental disability and not many
additional workers be recruited from their ranks
On the other hand there are the ladies' God bless em
They constitute the largest potential of additional
labor. In the last war; women workers increased by 5
Million and their proportion to the total labor force in
creased from Is percent in 1910 to Sc percent at the
time peak compared with 80 percent present Approx
maey onethrd of all females fourteen years of old and
employed and of those not in the labor force
nearly 80 percent keeping house Nevertheless case
of emergency the largest of recruitment of work
would be the 81 million in the age group twenty
sixty -four who not in the labor force
Then there the fellows who have been turned out
pasture many none too happy about having
been relegated to the deines The proportion of males
over years OF age at work increased from As
at present it is percent If this proportion were again
raised that of the last war; the labor force would be
creased by around 100000 workers.. ,-
1t is estimated that with proper rehabilitation one
million workers could be recruited from the physically
handicapped group.
In the teen-age group there than % million
and while the military forces will draw heavily upon the
there will still be many available add to the production
force.
According to the Bureau of the Census, in November
$780, the total number of persons employed 1871 000
The S. Department of Labor by using the last wars peak
pattern, estimates that this be increased to 69
million full is made of current labor force Of
these, the Department of Labor alocaes 125 million
workers to the armed forces increase of million in
war" industries which would curtailment of 66
million in Civilian" industries.
This indicates that those left in civilian industries will
have work longer hours and do work per hour
avoid RECOMMENDATION of economy The situation
calls for the full cooperation of all groups using all the
energy and ingenuity their command to attain
productiveness If this is done there definitely will be
shortage of manpower.-George Peck, ..