and the aggregate of wages by less than one-half of 1 per cent. There were increases in wage rates and expansion of plants to some extent. Offsetting these were slackness caused by flood conditions up State, the dull season, and labor disputes. These results are indicated by returns received from a large number of leading factories, including all of the important manufacturing industries and localities in the State and covering the last three years. As compared with the previous month, 4 of the 11 industrial groups reported gains in both number of employees and amount of wages paid out. In two other groups, there were increased wages with a decrease in employees. In five groups, there were decreases in both employees and wages. While the increases and decreases were generally slight, the increases were sufficient to establish new high records in wages for 6 of the groups. Activity in June, 1917, was much greater than in the corresponding month of each of the last three years. As compared with June, 1916, the increase in employees was 4 per cent and in wages 17 per cent. The corresponding increases over June, 1915, were 22 per cent and 54 per cent, and over June, 1914, they were 19 per cent and 53 per cent, respectively. The average per capita earnings for one week in June, 1917, of all employees, including both sexes, were $16.20. In May, 1917, these earnings were $16.15. Similar figures for June, one year ago were $14.41; for June, two years ago, $12.81; and for June, 1914, they were $12.70. The stone, clay, and glass products group had in June, 1917, 5 per cent fewer employees and paid out 3 per cent less in wages than in May. The decline was most pronounced in lime, cement and plaster mills, and in the glass industry. Miscellaneous stone and minerals underwent practically no change, and the brick, tile, and pottery industry paid out more wages than in May. As compared with June of last year, the group as a whole had 3 per cent more employees and paid out 21 per cent more wages. The metals, machinery, and conveyances group, the weightiest in these returns both as to number of employees and amount of wages paid, reported in June a decrease of less than 1 per cent in employees and a similar increase in wages as compared with May. This established a new high record in wages for this group. There were some labor disputes and some wage increases. Six of the twelve industries in the group reported increases in both employees and wages and six reported decreases in both. The largest industry to report a decrease was the manufacture of noncommercial automobiles. The manufacture of brass and copper goods and of sheet-metal work and hardware were the next largest to report decreases. The machinery industry, much the largest in the group, reported an increase. The manufacture and repair of railway rolling stock, and of pig iron and rolling mill products, both important industries, likewise reported gains. As compared with June of last year, the group had 7 per cent more employees and paid out 22 per cent more wages. The wood manufactures group in June reported a loss of nearly 1 per cent in employees and nearly 2 per cent in wages compared with May. Saw and planing mills reported a seasonal increase. The manufacture of furniture and cabinet work was less active, and that of musical instruments decidedly less so. The group had 3 per cent more employees and paid out 15 per cent more wages than in June of last year. The furs, leather, and rubber goods group in June decreased its number of employees by nearly 1 per cent and increased its aggregate of wages by more than 1 per cent as compared with May, establishing a new high record for wages. Boot and shoe manufacturing, which dominates the group, made a slight gain. Each industry reported a gain in wages, except pearl-horn-bonehair goods, which reported a decline. As compared with June, one year ago, the group employed 4 per cent more workers and paid out 18 per cent more wages. The chemicals group increased its number of employees slightly in June and paid out 3 per cent more wages, thereby establishing new high records in both respects. Each of the four industries, except miscellaneous chemical products, reported gains, the gain in wages exceeding that in employees in each instance. As compared with June of last year, the group had 7 per cent more employees and paid out 23 per cent more wages. The paper industry reported in June nearly 2 per cent more employees and paid 3 per cent more wages than in May, thereby establishing a new high wage record for the group. The number of employees was 9 per cent greater and the amount of wages was 23 per cent greater than in June of last year. The printing and paper goods group reported a loss of 2 per cent in number of workers and of more than 1 per cent in amount of wages in June as compared with May. The loss was shared by each of the 3 industries in the group. There were slightly fewer employees in the group than in June of last year but 5 per cent more wages was paid out. The textiles group had 2 per cent fewer employees in June than in May and paid out 2 per cent less in wages. There was a loss in wages in four of the industries in the group. Wool manufactures and cotton goods suffered the greatest losses, due in part to slack season and partly to flood conditions. As compared with June of last year, the group employed one-half of 1 per cent more employees and paid out 13 per cent more wages. The clothing, millinery, and laundering group in June reported nearly 4 per cent fewer employees and 3 per cent less wages than in May. Men's clothing, alone of the seven industries, reported an increase, which was seasonal. Women's clothing, women's underwear, and millinery reported seasonal decreases. As compared with June of last year, the group had 2 per cent more employees and paid out 11 per cent more wages. The food, liquors, and tobacco group reported in June a negligible increase in employees and less than 1 per cent increase in wages as compared with May. This slight increase established a new high record for wages in this group. The most marked gain was in fruit and vegetable canneries for which the season has opened. Slaughtering and meat packing establishments and the cigars and tobacco industry reported gains. Miscellaneous groceries, bread and bakery products, and confectionery reported losses. The water, light, and power industry increased both its number of employees and its wage payment of 5 per cent in June as compared with May, thereby establishing new high records in both respects. As compared with June of last year, there were 7 per cent more workers and 13 per cent more wages. BUILDING ACTIVITY IN PRINCIPAL CITIES. [As reported by building departments.] Building operations were better in June, 1917, than in the previous month, according to returns received from the building departments of the 10 first and second class cities of the State. The estimated cost of work (four-fifths of which was new construction) for which permits were issued was 38 per cent greater than in May. Four cities only--Buffalo, New York, Schenectady, and Yonkers-reported an increase, the other six reporting decreases. The borough of Brooklyn, in which was more than one-half of the total value of all permits in the entire State, was responsible for the increase. As compared with June, 1916, there was a decrease of 50 per cent, three cities only—Schenectady, Utica, and Yonkers-reporting an increase. WORK OF FEDERAL, STATE, AND MUNICIPAL EMPLOYMENT OFFICES IN THE UNITED STATES AND OF PROVINCIAL EMPLOYMENT BUREAUS IN CANADA. Data are presented in the table below showing the work of the public employment offices for the month of June, 1917, and, in instances where figures are available, for June, 1916. For the United States the table includes figures from Federal employment bureaus in 29 States and the District of Columbia, Federal-State employment bureaus in 2 States, a Federal-State-county-municipal employment bureau in 1 State, Federal-municipal employment bureaus in 1 State, State employment bureaus in 16 States, State-municipal employment bureaus in 2 States, municipal employment bureaus in 8 States, and a municipal-private employment bureau in 1 State. Figures from 1 Canadian employment bureau are also given. OPERATIONS OF PUBLIC EMPLOYMENT OFFICES, 1916 AND 1917. |