H—llA

(v) Survey of Employment Prospeets 498. In the middle of last year, when progress in the war pointed to an early cessation of hostilities, it became the responsibility of the Department to review the whole field of employment from a new angle as a preparation and basis for the demobilization of large numbers from the Armed Forces and to prepare an employment budget to set out factually the employment problems involved in the transition from wartime topeacetime conditions and to enable plans to be made to meet the various problems involved in the change-over. Whereas in previous surveys the emphasis had been on minimum man-power the prospect of demobilization necessarily changed this to an emphasis on maximum man-power. 499. The Department accordingly carried out a survey of almost the whole field of employment to provide a basis for the study of the employment position in relation to the re-alignment of industrial activities in conformity with existing and post-war needs and prospects. In particular, information was desired to facilitate the placement of servicemen, the full-time employment of other persons seeking work, the possible provision of training and employment facilities, and the alignment of building and development works programmes with the employment position. The data obtained from employers showed the following: — (а) Pre-war staff. (б) Present staff. (c) The estimated outflow due to retirements, relaxation of man-power control, completion of war contracts, displacement of workers by demobilized personnel, &c. (d) Estimated inflow during the re-adjustment period. (e) Estimates of the net labour shortages after allowing for pending retirements and return of absent employees. (/) Information regarding proposed new buildings or extensions and estimated cost of thesebuildings. (vi) Survey of Employment for the coming Winter 500. Early in 1946, in order to obtain knowledge of the buoyancy of the employment situation throughout the Dominion, a report was obtained from each district giving details of the numbers of persons likely to be disengaged and seeking work as a result of demobilization or the tapering-off of seasonal work at various time points during the coming winter. A general picture was also obtained of the probable employment situation during future months, and an indication as to any works in view to absorb between season unemployment. SECTION lII.—POST-WAR EMPLOYMENT RETURNS 501. Since the cessation of hostilities problems of rehabilitation and of finding employment for persons displaced from wartime positions have increased the importance of maintaining regular and up-to-the-minute information regarding vacancies, disengaged persons, and placements. (i) Vacancies '502. Detailed information concerning notified vacancies is available at half-monthly intervals as from the 30th September, and is summarized in Table 41 of the Appendix. 503. The returns of notified vacancies show the distribution, over the various districts, of the steadily increasing demand for labour, industry by industry. They also give an indication of the comparative urgency of requirements for labour of each industry, the type of worker required, and any unbalance between skilled and unskilled workers in particular industries.

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