Since 1965, the manufacturing industries have provided and re- cruited staff for 254,000 additional jobs. The annual increase in employ-
ment is:-
table 4
average number of workers directly
engaged in manufacturing industries
net increase
% of growth compared with preceding year
1964
326,000
1965
333,000
7,000
2.1
1966
367,000
34,000
10.2
1967
409,000
42,000
11.4
1968
453,000
44,000
10.8
1969
514,000
61,000
13.5
1970
542,000
28,000
5.4
1971
564,000
22,000
4.1
1972
570,000
6,000
|.|
1973
580,000
10,000
1.8
LABOUR SHORTAGES
There have usually been some shortages of labour for industrial employment since 1948 but, recently, there have been indications of a more balanced labour market. Vacancies occur mostly at the operative or semi-skilled level and are found in fast-growing industries or industries offering a wage rate which is less attractive to workers. The following table analyses reported vacancies by industrial group in registered and recorded industrial establishments in March 1974:-
8