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19
UNEMPLOYMENT
I am indebted to the Manager of the Bromley Employment
Exchange for the following information with regard to unemployment
in the area during 1955:—

The figures indicate that throughout the year unemployment
has steadily declined compared with the corresponding months in
the previous year. From May onwards unemployment has been
at its lowest level since 1945. In April, as result of a Trade dispute
by maintenance men in the London National Newspaper industry,
148 men affected by the dispute registered as unemployed for 4 or
5 days only.
Employment in the area has continued at a high level throughout
the year and demands for workers have been continuous.
During last winter and to date during this winter, there has been
less unemployment in the building industry and the problem of
seasonal unemployment among Painters has been less acute.
Unemployment among men is mainly confined to the older
blackcoated worker or to those affected by some degree of disability.
Of the 40 registered as unemployed on 14th November. 25 were
age 55 and over. 12 were between 40 and 54 and only 3 were
under 40. Among women, unemployment is in the main, confined
to clerical and shop workers in the higher age groups and to
women who require work for restricted hours owing to domestic
responsibilities.
It will be seen from the preceding paragraph that what little
unemployment exists in the Borough is mainly confined to the older
worker. In this connection the National Advisory Committee on
the Employment of Older Men and Women issued a second report
on 6th December in which they say they are encouraged by the
progress already achieved in promoting the employment of older
people, but are convinced that there is room for much wider adoption
of the recommendations made in their first report and for
further experiment and research to overcome the difficulties which
remain,