XN000022-1984-04-18 — Page 6

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WEDNESDAY, APRIL 18, 1984

FEBRUARY SURVEY OF EMPLOYMENT,

PAYROLL AND ORDERS-ON-HAND

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THE AVERAGE VOLUME OF ORDERS-ON-HAND IN TERMS OF MONTHS) IN THE MANUFACTURING SECTOR AS A WHOLE REMAINED STABLE AT A HIGH LEVEL IN FEBRUARY 1984, ACCORDING TO THE MONTHLY SURVEY OF EMPLOYMENT, PAYROLL AND ORDERS-ON-HAND FOR FEBRUARY RELEASED BY THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT TODAY.

SOME INCREASES WERE REPORTED BY RESPONDENTS IN THE PLASTIC PRODUCTS, FABRICATED METAL PRODUCTS, TEXTILES AND THE 'OTHERS' CATEGORY OF INDUSTRIES.

THE ORDERS POSITION OF THE ELECTRICAL AND ELECTRONIC PRODUCTS INDUSTRY SHOWED NO CHANGE, COMPARED WITH THE PREVIOUS MONTH. HOWEVER, A SLIGHT DECLINE IN THE VOLUME OF ORDERS WAS RECORDED IN THE WEARING APPAREL INDUSTRY.

THE LEVEL OF EMPLOYMENT IN MOST OF THE MANUFACTURING INDUSTRIES SURVEYED EITHER STABILISED OR DECLINED SLIGHTLY AS SOME WORKERS LEFT THEIR JOBS AFTER THE LUNAR NEW YEAR.

THE EXCEPTION WAS THE PLASTIC PRODUCTS INDUSTRY WHERE EMPLOYMENT SHOWED A SLIGHT INCREASE.

EMPLOYMENT IN THE SERVICES SECTOR SHOWED LITTLE CHANGE FROM THE PREVIOUS MONTH, APART FROM A SMALL DECLINE RECORDED IN HOTELS.

IN THE CONSTRUCTION SECTOR, THE NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES INCREASED SLIGHTLY AS A FEW FIRMS STARTED SOME NEW CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS.

SUBSTANTIAL DECREASES IN BOTH PAYROLL AND PER CAPITA EARNINGS OVER THE PRECEDING MONTH WERE REPORTED BY ALL THE MANUFACTURERS SURVEYED, DUE TO THE PAYMENT OF BONUSES AND DOUBLE PAY IN JANUARY.

PAYROLL AND PER CAPITA EARNINGS IN THE SERVICES AND CONSTRUCTION SECTORS ALSO DECREASED FOR THE SAME REASON.

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

THE DEPARTMENT POINTED OUT THAT THE SURVEY COVERED A PANEL OF THE 200 LARGEST MANUFACTURING COMPANIES AND THE 50 LARGEST COMPANIES IN THE CONSTRUCTION AND SELECTED SERVICES SECTORS CHOSEN BY REFERENCE TO THEIR EMPLOYMENT IN MARCH 1983.

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

THE SURVEY REPORT WILL SOON BE ON SALE AT THE GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS CENTRE, GENERAL POST OFFICE, AT $1.5 PER COPY.

/ENQUIRIES ON .......