THE LABOUR MARKET

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 121, 15 February 1921, Page 3

THE LABOUR MARKET

POSITION IN THE CITY BAD FOR UNSKILLED WORKERS By present appearances, the outlook for unskilled labour in the city is none too promising. A good many labourers are out of work just now, and every day there is a constant stream of callers to the Labour Department’s employment bureau in Ghuznee Street in eefirch of work. ‘

An official of the Labour Department stated to a Dominion reporter yesterday that the bulk of the work-seekers were labouring men, and there were very few, if any, tradesmen among them. Within the past few days four or five immmigrants have asked if places could be found for them, but, as a rule, tho number of new arrivals in need of assistance in this respect was very small, as the immigration authorities had secured employment before landing for this class of people. The official stated that, while there was practically "nothing doing” for unskilled 1 labour in the city at present, on the other hand there was a big demand for labourers in the country districts. For instance, the Public Works Department was in need of 15 men to take on road reconstruction work at Stratford, and private individuals were also anxious to obtain men.

Last week, the bureau was successful jn finding work for a farm hand, an electrician." and fourteen labourers. With the exception of two, who wore sent to Government jobs, all these men were placed with private employers. Ylesterday was a busy day at the bureau, the majority of the callers being about a dozen girls,* from 15 to 16 year? of age, who hail been working formerly at Messrs. W. D. and JI. 0. Wills’s tobacco factory in Blair Street. Employment was found for one 1 or two of the girls as waitresses in local tea rooms. On inquiry of Messrs. Wills, it was ascertained that the. firm contemplates a rearrangement at its factory, and for this reason the services of a number of girl piece-workers and boys had been dispensed with temporarily. The manageine.nt contradicted a rumour that the factory was being closed down, and said it was hoped that within a month or six weeks the staff would be fully employed again.