XN000022-1983-04-21 — Page 3

THURSDAY, APRIL 21, 1983

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MONTHLY SURVEY OF EMPLOYMENT,

PAYROLL AND ORDERS-ON-HAND FOR FEBRUARY

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THE AVERAGE VOLUME OF ORDERS-ON-HAND IN TERMS OF MONTHS AS REPORTED BY THE MANUFACTURERS SURVEYED FOR FEBRUARY 1983 INCREASED SLIGHTLY OVER JANUARY, ACCORDING TO THE MONTHLY SURVEY OF EMPLOYMENT, PAYROLL AND ORDERS-ON-HAND RELEASED TODAY BY THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT.

THE MORE NOTABLE INCREASES OCCURRED IN THE FABRICATED METAL PRODUCTS. PLASTIC PRODUCTS AND ELECTRICAL AND ELECTRONIC PRODUCTS INDUSTRIES, THE SURVEY SHOWS.

THE SURVEY COVERED A PANEL OF THE 200 LARGEST MANUFACTURING COMPANIES CHOSEN BY REFERENCE TO THEIR EMPLOYMENT SIZE IN SEPTEMBER 1979 - AS WELL AS THE 43 LARGEST COMPANIES IN THE CONSTRUCTION AND SELECTED SERVICES SECTORS.

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

PAYROLL AND PER CAPITA EARNINGS IN THE PLASTIC PRODUCTS, FABRICATED METAL PRODUCTS AND ELECTRICAL AND ELECTRONIC PRODUCTS

INDUSTRIES AS WELL AS IN THE OTHERS+ SECTOR INCREASED FOR FEBRUARY WHEN SOME OF THE MANUFACTURERS ISSUED THEIR YEAR-END AWARDS, THE SURVEY SAYS.

BUT THEY DECREASED IN THE FOOD AND DRINKS, WEARING APPAREL AND TEXTILES INDUSTRIES PLUS THE CONSTRUCTION AND SERVICES SECTORS AS BONUSES AND DOUBLE PAY WERE GRANTED BY A NUMBER OF COMPANIES A MONTH EARLIER.

BECAUSE OF LABOUR TURNOVER FOLLOWING THE LUNAR NEW YEAR. EMPLOYMENT FOR THE SURVEYED MANUFACTURERS COLLECTIVELY DECLINED SLIGHTLY IN FEBRUARY OVER JANUARY.

IN THE CONSTRUCTION SECTOR, EMPLOYMENT DROPPED AS SEVERAL COMPANIES CUT MANPOWER BECAUSE OF FEWER CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS ON HAND.

THE SURVEY ALSO SHOWS THAT AS MANUFACTURERS FOUND IT CONVENIENT TO GRANT THEIR EMPLOYEES HOLIDAYS AROUND THE LUNAR NEW YEAR, THE AVERAGE NUMBER OF DAYS WORKED PER WEEK BY OPERATIVES DECLINED IN MOST MANUFACTURING INDUSTRIES IN FEBRUARY,

THE SURVEY REPORT IS NOW ON SALE AT THE GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS CENTRE, GENERAL POST OFFICE, AT $1.5 PER COPY. ENQUIRIES ON THE SURVEY MAY BE MADE TO THE DEPARTMENT'S INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTION STATISTICS SECTION AT 3-7212832.

/THE FOLLOWING