XN000022-1982-04-13 — Page 4

TUESDAY, APRIL 13, 1982

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MONTHLY SURVEY OF EMPLOYMENT, PAYROLL AND ORDERS-ON-HAND

FOR FEBRUARY 1982 *****

THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT TODAY RELEASED STATISTICS FROM THE MONTHLY SURVEY OF FEBRUARY 1982, WHICH WAS CONDUCTED ON A PANEL OF THE 200 LARGEST MANUFACTURING COMPANIES (CHOSEN BY REFERENCE TO THEIR EMPLOYMENT SIZE IN SEPTEMBER 1979) AS WELL AS OF THE 43 LARGEST COMPANIES IN THE CONSTRUCTION AND SELECTED SERVICES SECTORS.

AS THE SAMPLE WAS NOT DRAWN ON A RANDOM BASIS, THE RESULTS ON MAGNITUDE OF CHANGE MIGHT NOT REFLECT THE EXPERIENCE OF THE ECONOMY AS A WHOLE, BUT SHOULD GIVE USEFUL INDICATIONS OF THE DIRECTION OF CHANGE FOR A QUICK ASSESSMENT OF DEVELOPMENTS IN THE ECONOMY IN THE SHORT RUN.

EMPLOYMENT IN THE ELECTRICAL AND ELECTRONIC PRODUCTS AND FABRICATED METAL PRODUCTS INDUSTRIES DROPPED BECAUSE OF LABOUR TURNOVER IN SOME FACTORIES.

PAYROLL AND PER CAPITA EARNINGS DECREASED SIGNIFICANTLY IN THE MANUFACTURING, CONSTRUCTION AND SERVICES SECTORS IN FEBRUARY WHEN COMPARED WITH JANUARY 1982, BECAUSE BONUSES AND DOUBLE PAY WERE AWARDED IN THE PRECEDING MONTH TO EMPLOYEES IN MANY COMPANIES SURVEYED.

THE OVERALL VOLUME OF ORDERS HELD BY THE MANUFACTURERS SURVEYED INCREASED SLIGHTLY IN FEBRUARY 1982. THEY ROSE IN THE PLASTICS, TEXTILES, FABRICATED METAL PRODUCTS, AND ELECTRICAL AND ELECTRONIC PRODUCTS INDUSTRIES (WITH THE LARGEST INCREASE FOR PLASTICS), BUT DECLINED IN THE WEARING APPAREL INDUSTRY AND THE OTHERS+ CATEGORY OF THE MANUFACTURING SECTOR.

THE PERCENTAGE CHANGES IN EMPLOYMENT, PER CAPITA EARNINGS AND ORDERS-ON-HAND FOR THE LAST THREE MONTHS ARE SHOWN IN THE ACCOMPANYING TABLE.

THE SURVEY REPORT FOR FEBRUARY 1982 IS NOW ON SALE AT THE GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS CENTRE, GENERAL POST OFFICE, AT $1 PER COPY.

ENQUIRIES ON THE SURVEY RESULTS MAY BE MADE TO THE INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTION STATISTICS SECTION OF THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT (AT 3-722191-),

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