N.Z. LABOUR FORCE

Press, Volume CV, Issue 31007, 12 March 1966, Page 17

N.Z. LABOUR FORCE

Million Mark Reached

New Zealand’s labour force was estimated to have reached the one million mark during the last two months of 1965, according to the latest issue of the “Labour and Employment Gazette,” published by the Department of Labour. It was estimated to be 995,500 in October.

“Taking into account the usual upsurge in activities in seasonal processing and other industries which occurs during the last two months of each year, and which provides additional employment in the industries concerned for some 20,000 or more persons (including many not at other times employed), it is clear that the labour force topped the million mark probably during November, or at the latest by December, 1965.” The inflow of school-leavers at the end of 1965 will ensure that the labour force will remain above one million during 1966 and thereafter. Although the population has been growing at a slowly decelerating rate in recent years, employment has been increasing at an accelerating rate, said the journal. Large gains in the proportion of women in paid employment, both full-time and part-time, are an outstanding characteristic of the period.