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SECTION A
STATISTICS AND SOCIAL CONDITIONS
1. General Statistics.
Area In Acres 1,390
Total Population (including Service
personnel)39,990
Number of inhabited houses (approx.) 11,629
Rateable Value - General Rate £566,856
Sum represented by Penny Rate £ 2,3l6
2. Social Conditions.
Mr.P.R.Smith, the Manager of the local Employment
Exchange has kindly provided the following information
regarding employment in Kingston and the surrounding
districts.
"There was not much change in the general pattern
of unemployment during 1952 except that, for the first
time since the war, there was a marked increase in long
term unemployment affecting the unskilled worker,
particularly those in the older age groups and those
registered under the Disabled Persons (Employment) Act,
1944.
"The lowest level of unemployment during the year
was in early June when 544 (321 men and 223 women) and
the highest in mid November when 827 (467 man and 360
women) were registered as unemployed. There were 421
men and 212 women registered at the beginning of the
year, and 514 men and 218 women at the end.
"The insured population of this Employment Exchange
area is estimated to be 80,000 persons and unemployment,
at its peak, was slightly more than 1% of this figure.
The aircraft and general engineering industries
have continued to make the greatest demand on available
manpower and are very heavily committed. The heaviest
demand on us has been for skilled aircraft fitters,
engineers and skilled building trade operatives.
Seasonal slackness in the building industry contributes
largely to unemployment during the winter months when as
many as 70 painters were unemployed at one time.
"The demand for women for factory work was lower
than in previous recent years and part-time employment
in factories was practically non-existent.
"Shope and offices had numerous vacancies for men
and women under 25 years of age but there was little
scope for the older commercial types which formed a
large part of the unemployed registers.
"During 1952 7,370 men and 3,435 women were
placed in vacancies in the Exchange area.