H—ll

Seasonal Industries.—The maximum number of workers employed in- seasonal industries over the past year was 563 in January, 1949, and the minimum number 218 in October, 1948. Only 10 of these, at each date, were not employed in meat-freezing. While not of major importance in this district, seasonal industries do have some effects on employment, and, as recorded above, some firms suffered from these effectsat the peak of the season. Building and Construction. Th,e demand for tradesmen and labourers rose considerably during the year, the number of vacancies being 248 at 31st March, 1949 (including 183 skilled workers), as compared with 176 (including 148 skilled) at the end of the previous year. Tertiary Industries. —Retail stores report that the labour-supply appears to be adequate except that vacancies still exist for juniors. Only 37 male and 27 female vacancies were notified at 31st March, 1949, in the commerce and finance group. The position regarding female employment in hospitals deteriorated during the year r and at 31st March 42 nurses and 31 general hospital workers were required. Wellington District This district and Lower Hutt are in many ways complementary. While the emphasis in the latter is on manufacturing, tertiary industries predominate in Wellington. The employment situation in this district is influenced by the fact of its being the administrative centre of New Zealand. Secondary industries claim one-third of Wellington's male labour force, and almost all the remaining two-thirds are engaged in tertiary industries. The chief secondary industries are the engineering and metalworking groups and building and construction, each of which employs a little under one-tenth of the male labour force. Among tertiary industries the transport and communication group, and' the public administration and professional group, each employ approximately one-sixth, while just under one-quarter of males are engaged in distribution and finance. The predominance of tertiary industries is even more pronounced in the case of females, of whom nearly three-quarters are employed in such industries. Over one-half of all women and girls in Wellington are claimed .by the two groups distribution and. finance, and public administration and professional. The most substantial employers of female labour among secondary industries are those in the textiles, clothing, and and leather manufacturing group. Vacancies. —Total male vacancies at 31st. March, 1949, numbering 2,927, were only 263 lower than at the end of the previous year. The demand for female workers felt quite considerably, vacancies being 2,801, as compared with 3,503 at 31st March, 1948. In part the reduction in the number of vacancies may be attributed to a more frequent checking of the position by the Department, but, in addition, there has been a pronounced decline in the demand for unskilled labour. The demand for skilled labour,, and particularly for juvenile workers, remains at a high level. Manufacturing Industries. —Slightly over one-half, or about the same proportion as in the previous year, of the I*llB vacancies notified in manufacturing industries at 31st March, 1949, are for skilled workers. The greatest number of these are in the engineering and metalworking group of industries with 532 vacancies, of which 320 are skilled. The figures for the engineering trades, nevertheless, show a fall of over 100 in both the total and the skilled requirements, as compared with 31st March, 1948. Though the demand for female labour fell by 361 to 1,700 at 31st March, 1949, some industries (for example, electrical-goods manufacture, and the printing trades) show increased requirements. The clothing industry with 985 vacancies, of which more than 70 per cent, are for skilled workers, has by far the greatest unsatisfied demand for female workers.

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