ENG-1957 — Page 55

OCCUPATIONS, WAGES AND LABOUR ORGANIZATION

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against 62% for 1956. The expansion of industry and industrial employment over the past three years has been as follows:

Industrial

Male

Female

Total

Year

Undertakings

Workers

Workers

Workers

1955

2,925

81,573

47,892

129,465

1956

3,319

91,443

55,434

146,877

1957

3,373

94,579

58,454 153,033

A similar table showing the development of industry over the same period by main industrial groups, and by selected industries within certain of these groups, is at Appendix II.

Unemployment. The absence of general employment statistics preclūdes anything but estimates on the broadest basis concerning unemployment and under-employment. Although the growth of industry and the sustained high level of building activity kept large numbers employed, and skilled workers found their services in demand, there was a large surplus of unskilled labour, most of it in the under- employed category.

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There were fluctuations in employment in various indus- tries, but reduced employment in any particular field was offset by increased employment in another. Changes of this kind do not necessarily imply any lengthy period of un- employment for individual workers, since the majority of semi-skilled and unskilled workers are adaptable and are capable of turning their hands, for example, from weaving or garment-making to assembly work in a metalware factory or gumming in a rubber shoe factory.

Migration to other territories for employment continued to take place, but only on a small scale, owing to immigra- tion restrictions based on unwillingness to accept Chinese as permanent settlers. During the year a small number of workers left permanently to join relatives in the United States, Canada, South America, France and India. Employ- ment contracts dropped slightly to 2,051 compared with 2,201 in the previous year.