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17
unemployment.
I am indebted to the Manager of the Orpington Employment
Exchange for the following information with regard to unemployment
in the area during 1955:—
"The early days of the year found us with a smaller than normal
winter register of unemployed men, due to less severe weather than
usual and registrants were mainly in the upper age groups or limited
in their usefulness owing to disability.
The women's register was the lowest for many months, and less
than half that of January, 1954, due to the steady improvement in
the demands of local factories. Women unemployed included some
who were available only for restricted hours owing to domestic circumstances
and others who lacked special qualifications or whose
capabilities were limited by age.
The second quarter saw a large increase in the men's register,
due to the Printing Trades Dispute, but apart from this the normal
register continued to decrease and reached the lowest total for several
months, whilst the women's register remained low and steady.
The third quarter's story is really a continuation of plentiful
employment opportunities and small unemployment registers, and this
position was maintained for the rest of the year, with only a very
slight increase in December due to seasonal slackness.
Summing up the year, the gradual improvement in the unemployment
registers which began in early 1953 has continued except
for isolated disturbances due to trade disputes.
This improvement coincides with the national position and is
due to the ever-growing demands of local industry and firms in surrownding
districts."