Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1958-01-12

country and nearly every phase
Of activity.
Here is what the Associated
Press found In key economic
and population centefs:
Los ANGELES-Unemploy
ment is 1880 compared with
$4,000 a year ago. But the area
has 2.524.60O employed. ex-
ceeding the 2.505. 900 Of a year
ago Aircraft and related In
dustries are hurting most. due
TO production cutbacks. Plane
plants have multi-billion dollar
backlogs Of orders. but some
have switched to missile and
rocket development. This takes
fewer. and more highly skilled.
workers. But the missile-rocket
work force will expand when
mass production comes later.
An aircraft industries spokes-
man says. Were not opti-
mistic. but we're not pessimis-
tic either"
BOSTON-About 10000 are
now receiving unemployment
compensation in New England.
Non-farm employment was
generally high in 1857 until a
weakening trend began In Au-
gust. Factory employment at
l.429.l00 is 7S.l00 below a year
ago. Non-manufacturing jobs,
on the other hand. are at
2.l60.700. or 2S.S00 above q
year ago. The job loss Is great
Test In textiles. shoes. leather.
machinery. metal working and
electrical manufacturing.
! Massachusetts,. with precision
instruments industries, expects
dement's from q new accent on
science and education. Richard
]. Chapman. president Of the
Merchants National Bank, Ros-
ton. said he sees an easing OF
money rates. and more avail
able capital. L. Douglas Mere
dith. president Of the New Eng
land Council. q regional pro-
motional organization, foresees
a shakedown Of imitation to
bring firmer foundation for
more prosperity.
CH1CAGO--ll0. 900 were un-
employed in the area at the end
OF December compared with
10000 q year earlier. Roy +.
Cummins. State Labor Depart
ment director. says the jobless
trend rose steadily during 1857
but at an inceased rate since
October. He forecast q spring
job pickup. as does De Yer
Sholes. research director for the
Chicago Association Of Com
merce and Industry. Mr.. Sholes
says the present jobless total
is mot too much Of a burden
for this area and we're not too
much alarmed"
NEW YORK-The State had
372. 900 idle in December, or 6
per cent Of the labor force. The
total represented q a per cent
increase over q year ago.
Relatively biggest layoifs are In
Upstate communities with
heavy industries and defense
plants. DR.. Charles A. Pearce.
Labor Department research
director. says a steady jobless
increase indicates a basic
trend" not a purely seasonal
phenomenon. B. Colwell Davis.
IT.. executive director New York
City Chamber Of Commerce,
says, many feel that signs In
the wind look encouraging
. perhaps for the middle Of the
year."
Lesion Faneuf. president OF
Bell Aircraft Corp. Buffalo
says. Defense business as a
whole will be very checkered
and spotty. but the missiles
business is going to be very
active. There is some evidence
Of industry shelving expansion
plans" Joseph P. Molony
Steelworkers Union district di-
rector. estimates that two
thirds Of the areas $4,000 Steel
workers are on q four day
week.
BIRMINGHAM-Area en-
ployment is of about 5000
from 900 a year ago. Steel
and aircraft industries are the
hardest hit. Robert s. Hall
president Of the Chamber OF
Commerce. sees more work
realized per dollar of wage cost
and about the same employed
at this time next year State
Labor Council President Bar
ney Weeks says there Is no
sign OF any upturn yet. but