XN000022-1987-03-20 — Page 8

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FRIDAY, MARCH 20, 1987

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ALL MANUFACTURING INDUSTRIES SURVEYED RECORDED SUBSTANTIAL INCREASES IN PAYROLL AND IN PER CAPITA EARNINGS IN JANUARY 1987, COMPARED WITH BOTH DECEMBER 1986 AND JANUARY 1986. THESE LARGE INCREASES OVER DECEMBER 1986 WERE MAINLY DUE TO THE AWARD OF DOUBLE PAY AND YEAR-END BONUSES IN MOST OF THE FACTORIES SURVEYED. THE INCREASE WAS MOST SIGNIFICANT IN THE PLASTIC PRODUCTS INDUSTRY WHERE THE LEVEL OF PER CAPITA EARNINGS WAS TWICE AS HIGH AS THAT IN DECEMBER 1986.

IN THE CONSTRUCTION SECTOR, THE LEVEL OF EMPLOYMENT IN JANUARY 1987 REMAINED STABLE COMPARED WITH THE PREVIOUS MONTH, WHILE PAYROLL AND PER CAPITA EARNINGS SHOWED SUBSTANTIAL INCREASES DUE TO THE AWARD OF DOUBLE PAY AND YEAR-END BONUSES. COMPARED WITH JANUARY 1986, EMPLOYMENT SHOWED A MODERATE INCREASE, WHILE PAYROLL AND PER CAPITA EARNINGS INCREASED SIGNIFICANTLY.

IN THE SERVICES SECTORS, THE LEVEL OF EMPLOYMENT IN JANUARY 1987 WAS SIMILAR TO THAT IN THE PREVIOUS MONTH, WHILE PAYROLL AND PER CAPITA EARNINGS INCREASED. AMONG THE SERVICES SECTORS SURVEYED, PAYROLL AND PER CAPITA EARNINGS IN HOTELS INCREASED VERY SUBSTANTIALLY, WHILE THOSE IN BANKS DECLINED.

MOST BANKS SURVEYED ISSUED DOUBLE PAY AND YEAR-END BONUSES IN DECEMBER 1986, WHILE MOST OF THE HOTELS SURVEYED ISSUED THOSE IN JANUARY 1987. COMPARED WITH JANUARY 1986, THE SERVICES SECTORS TAKEN TOGETHER SHOWED A SLIGHT INCREASE IN EMPLOYMENT, AND MODERATE INCREASES IN PAYROLL AND IN PER CAPITA EARNINGS.

THE PERCENTAGE CHANGES IN ORDERS-ON-HAND, EMPLOYMENT AND PER CAPITA EARNINGS ARE SHOWN IN TABLES WHICH HAVE BEEN SENT BY FACSIMILE NETWORK AND ALSO BOXED FOR COLLECTION,

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 THE IR EMPLOYMENT IN MARCH 1983.

AS THE SAMPLE WAS NOT DRAWN ON A RANDOM BASIS, THE DEPARTMENT CAUTIONED THAT THE MAGNITUDE OF CHANGE INDICATED BY THE SURVEY MIGHT NOT REFLECT THE EXPERIENCE OF THE ECONOMY AS A WHOLE. NEVERTHELESS, THESE RESULTS ARE EXPECTED TO PROVIDE A USEFUL

INDICATION OF THE DIRECTION OF CHANGE FOR A QUICK ASSESSMENT OF DEVELOPMENTS IN THE ECONOMY IN THE SHORT TERM.

THE SURVEY REPORT FOR JANUARY 1987 IS ON SALE AT THE GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS SALES CENTRE, GENERAL POST OFFICE BUILDING, AT $1.50 PËR COPY.

ENQUIRIES ABOUT THE SURVEY RESULTS MAY BE MADE TO THE INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTION STATISTICS SECTION OF THE DEPARTMENT ON 5-8234820.

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