CAB129-37 — Page 532

THIS DOCUMENT IS THE PROPERTY OF HIS BRITANNIC MAJESTY'S GOVERNMENT

Page 532

Printed for the Cabinet. November 1949

The circulation of this paper has been strictly limited. It is issued

N

for the personal use of Sir N Brook

TOP SECRET

C.P. (49) 225

4th November, 1949

CABINET

Copy No.

31

ECONOMIC REPORT

NOTE BY THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER

I circulate a note on the more important statistics relating to the economic situation which have become available since my last Economic Report (C.P. (49) 121).

·Treasury Chambers, S. W. 1,

4th November, 1949

R. S. C.

ECONOMIC REPORT

I.-Man-Power

Between September 1948 and August 1949 the total working population rose by 43,000. The number in the Forces and on release leave declined over the eleven months by 71,000 and the number of registered unemployed by 43,000. The total in civil employment increased by 157,000 and the total in manufacturing industries by 109,000. The textile industries gained 27,000 and the clothing industries 38,000; but there was a fall of 18,000 in the metals and engineering industries. Both agriculture and coalmining had fewer workers than in September. 1948.

Change in Total Man-Power between September 1948 and August 1949

September 1948

August 1949

Change

Basic industries—

Thousands

Thousands

Thousands

Total

4,267

4,262

5

Agriculture

1,240

1,234

6

Coal-mining

787

779

8

Gas, water and electricity

299

311

+ 12

Transport and communication

1,818

1,815

3

Manufacturing industries-

Total

8,173

8,282

+109

Textiles

961

988

+ 27

Clothing

709

747

+ 38

Metals, engineering, &c.

3,912

3,894

18

Building and contracting...

1,509

1,490

19

Distributive trades.......

2,720

2,789

69

Professional, financial and miscellaneous services

3,920

3,924

4

Public administration

1,466

1,465

Total in civil employment

22,055

37734

Registered unemployed (end of month estimate) age 532 of

22,212

+157

308

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