VOL. XIV, No. 3.

WHOLE NO. 64.

state of employment on March 31, 1909, more nearly corresponds to that on September 30, 1908, than to that of any other of the last five quarters. The seasonal conditions which were responsible in a measure for the increased percentage of idleness at the end of December over that reported on September 30, 1908, were less operative at the end of March 31, 1909. The comparison of the percentage of idleness for March 31, 1909, with that for March 31, 1908, shows that the recovery following the period of industrial depression has been in some measure accomplished during the year included by those dates, the difference between the percentages of employment amounting to nearly six and one-half per cent.

The principal cause of idleness on March 31, 1909, as shown in Table I below, was, as usual, lack of work or material. The degree of idleness for this cause is, independently of all other causes, a sufficient index of industrial prosperity or depression. It is therefore significant that the percentage idle on account of lack of work or material was 9.50 per cent on March 31, 1909, as compared with 10.98 per cent on December 31, 1908, and 16.18 per cent on March 31, 1908. The contrast between the state of employment for March 31, 1909, and March 31, 1908,

is strikingly shown under this cause of idleness, and the difference between the percentages under this head is practically the same as the difference in the corresponding percentages for all causes, showing conclusively that the improved conditions of employment during the past year have been due largely, if not wholly, to a more plentiful supply of work.

The next important cause of idleness was disability (sickness, accident, and old age), the percentage being 1.29 on March 31, 1909, as compared with 1.23 for the end of the preceding quarter, and 0.76 on March 31, 1908.

The percentage idle on account of strikes or lockouts was less on March 31, 1909, than on December 31, 1908, the percentages for the two quarters being respectively 0.16 and 0.68. The percentage idle on account of unfavorable weather was very small at the end of the last quarter, being only 0.13 per cent as compared with 0.54 per cent on December 31, 1908. The percentage idle on account of other causes was somewhat less than at the end of the preceding quarter because fewer concerns were closed for stock-taking on the later date, a cause of idleness which at the end of December increased the percentage of idleness for "other causes quite appreciably.

The following table shows for the end of the first quarter of 1909 the number of unions making complete returns of employment and membership, the aggregate membership, and the number

and percentage of membership idle in the fourteen cities from which reports for over 1,000 union members were received and in 101 other cities and towns.

Of the 777 unions reporting at the end of March, 475, having a total membership of 84,156, or 80.10 per cent of the total membership reporting, were located in the 14 cities specified; and 302 unions, having a membership of 20,903, or 19.90 per cent of the total membership reporting, were located in 101 other cities and towns of the State.

In

The percentage of idleness in Taunton, Salem, Lowell, New Bedford, Holyoke, and Boston exceeded the corresponding percentage (11.42) for the State as a whole, Taunton showing the largest percentage idle, namely, 23.15 per cent, and Salem showing the next largest percentage idle, namely, 17.78 per cent. the eight other cities specified the percentage of idleness was less than that for the State as a whole, Haverhill showing the smallest percentage idle, namely, 4.09 per cent. In Lynn, which like Haverhill is a shoe manufacturing city, the percentage of idleness was quite small, namely, 5.38 per cent, and in Brockton, notwithstanding the somewhat unsettled conditions in the boot and shoe industry in that city at the

end of March, the percentage of idleness was only 8.62 per cent. In two textile cities, Fall River and Lawrence, the percentages of idleness were respectively 7.14 and 7.78, being considerably below the corresponding percentage of idleness for the State as a whole, while in Lowell and New Bedford, also textile cities, the percentages were somewhat higher than the corresponding percentage for the State as a whole, the percentage for these two cities being respectively 14.24 and 12.25.

In Table III is shown comparatively by industries the state of employment on March 31, 1909, December 31, 1908, and March 31, 1908. In all of the leading occupations represented, with the exception of the boot and shoe industry, public employment, and teaming, the percentage of idleness was less than that observed on December 31, 1908; similarly, a comparison by industries of the returns for March 31, 1909, with those for March 31 of the previous year shows a large measure of improvement in the state of employment on the latter date. In the building trades, which comprise

14.95 per cent of the total membership reporting on March 31, 1909, the percentage of idleness was 18.49 as compared with 21.21 on December 31, 1908, and 25.20 on March 31, 1908. Decided improvement in the stone working trades is indicated by the percentages 5.25, 16.90, and 29.98 for the three respective quarters, and a slight improvement in employment of unskilled building and street labor is to be observed on March 31, 1909, as compared with December 31, 1908, the corresponding percentages being 42.82 and 53.88.

In boot and shoe manufacturing, comprising 22.64 per cent of the total membership reporting, the percentages of idleness were 12.78, 6.37, and 8.04 for the respective quarters. The increase in the percentage for March 31, 1909, over that for December 31, 1908, is largely to be attributed to the unfavorable report returned by one large organization which reported over 75 per cent of its membership idle on account of the closing down of a large factory for a period of two weeks. Were the returns from this single organization eliminated from our present report, the percentage of idleness in this industry would have been but slightly larger than that reported for December 31, 1908, and would have been more favorable than the percentage reported idle on March 31, 1908.

In transportation, comprising 20.72 per cent of the total membership reporting, the percentages of idleness were 4.37, 5.69, and 13.28 for the respective quarters, indicating a more favorable state of employment at the end of the last quarter than at the end of the previous quarter, and a decidedly more favorable condition than was observed a year earlier. A similar statement holds true of transportation on railroads, but in the case of teaming the percentage of idleness for March 31, 1909, was somewhat higher than for December 31, 1908, although not so high as on March 31, 1908. The increase in the percentage for the end of the last quarter over that at the end of the previous quarter is due to

the large degree of idleness reported by one union in Boston.

In the textile industry there was a marked improvement in the condition of employment on March 31, 1909, the percentage being 6.72 per cent as compared with 20.86 per cent for December 31, 1908, and 43.92 per cent for March 31, 1908.

In the iron and steel industry conditions appear to have greatly improved during the first quarter of the year, the percentage for March 31, 1909, being 9.81, as compared with 16.27 on December 31, 1908, and 16.58 on March 31, 1908.

Certain other occupations, in which the total membership of unions reporting was comparatively small in each case, may also be considered. Thus in cigarmaking the percentage of idleness for March 31, 1909, was 13.64 as compared with 40.62 at the end of the previous quarter, and 15.65 per cent on March 31, 1908. A large number of cigarmakers in Boston and Springfield who were reported idle on December 31, 1908, have since returned to work following more settled conditions in this industry. In printing and allied trades the percentage of idleness decreased from 9.37 on December 31, 1908, to 6.42 per cent on March 31, 1909, and the latter percentage may be favorably compared with the percentage 8.98 for March 31 of the previous year. A marked improvement in the condition of employment in the garment making industry (including garment workers, tailors, and dressmakers) on March 31, 1909, as compared with December 31, 1908, should be noted, the respective percentages being 4.61 and 25.08; the corresponding percentage for March 31, 1908, was 25.81. Under public employment the increase from 12.71 on December 31, 1908, to 20.09 on March 31, 1909, in the percentage of idleness reported is due largely to the conditions reported by one large organization of city employees; nevertheless, the percentage of idleness. in public employment for the last quar

ter does not approach that for March 31, 1908, when it was 77.58. In restaurant and retail trade conditions appear to have remained somewhat stationary for the last two quarters, but were somewhat less favorable than at the end of the first quarter, 1908. Slight decreases in the percentages idle of stationary enginemen and of barbers are to be observed.

Table IV presents in fuller detail re

turns at the end of the fourth quarter, showing the number of unions making complete returns, the membership, and the number and percentage idle in the several industries classified by occupations. Proper caution should be used in drawing conclusions with reference to those particular industries for which only a comparatively small number of union members have reported.