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The Haskin LetterBy Frederic J. HaskinTHE GEOGRAPHY OF JOB HUNTINGWashington, D. C., Jan. 21.— There are two outstanding facts in connection with the prevailing sttu-ation concerning unemployment which are of paramount interest; one that the advice of Horace Greeley to go west still apparently holds good, and the other that people in the east who have Jobs should be thankful for them.The United States bureau of labor statistics compiles figures on the volume of employment from various sources. One source is the various employment agencies throughout the country. All the data are brought togother and an average reached for the United States as a whole and for various sections.The measure used is the number of applicants for each 100 jobs available.The general business depression began in September, 1929. The manner in which it has developed la graphically shown by the movement of these emp’oyment figures. In that month there were 114 applicants for each 100 jobs, averaging the entire United States. The very next month, following the famous black Friday In the stock market, the figure had risen to 127 applicants for every 100 available jobs. October had a series of adverse happenings. The loss of confidence resulting from the collapse of stock values caused factories to close down and businesses to suspend. So November saw the employment figure reach 153 applicants for each 100 Jobs.This continued and during the bitter months of January and February of 1930 a peak was reached. For both of those months the average for the United States worked out at 201 applicants for each 100 jobs.This continued and during the bitter months of January and February of 193 0 a peak was reached. For both of those months the average for the United States workedout at 201 applicants for each 100 jobs.With the coming of spring, farm work started and construction was resumed, which meant a substantial increase in the number of jobs. The figure got. down to 162 applicants for every 100 jobs in April, but began to rise again and while data for the current period have not been compiled as yet the figuro once more is around 200. That means that for every job available two persons are seeking it.The situation is far worse in the eastern states, the central states, and the south than in the west. In fact in the west there are more than enough jobs to go around. It is in the industrial regions, apparently, that the most distress is found.For example, in the eastern states in September, 1929, there were 121 applicants for every 100 jobs. By midwinter of last year this number had reached 231. It got as low as 177 in April, 1929, but. only temporarily, and has climbed back to the peak of last winter.Central States Now WorseIn the central states the situation is nearly parallel. Starting in September, 1929, with a figure of 132 applicants for every 100 jobs, the same peak of 231 was reached by midwinter and now it is higher than in the eastern states.The situation in the southern states can only be explained by the recent industrialization which has' taken place there. All kinds of factories have moved into the south In the last ten years. There is scarcely a southern state which has not some plant which formerly operated in the north. The movement of textile mills southward was the first, but it has been followed by furniture factories, fertilizer factories, largo canneries, and a great many other types of organized Industry.The old south of plantation days never knew unemployment. There was always something for everyone to do. But with the coming of the factories the farm hands left their
Newspaper Details
Helena Independent
Helena, Montana, US
Tue, Jan 27, 1931
Page 4
Full Page
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DC, USA 06 Jun 2024
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