2nd Issue November, 1961 WESTERN CANADIAN LUMBER WORKER From Page 2 “Monstrous Lie” Annual Rates Reach Danger Point A still more alarming situation is realized when we examine the annual average rates of unemployment. The annual average rate of unemployment as a percentage of the labour force, 1946-1956, varied from 2.2% to 4.6%. The annual average rate, 1957-1960 varied from 4.6% to 7.1%. The four-year average was just under 6.2%, or nearly twice as high as the previous period. As a percentage of the labour market, the total of those avail- able for hire, the annual average for 1957-1960 varied from 5.8% to 8.7%. This four-year average was just under 7.6%. Putting it another way, from 1946-1956, one worker in 23 was unemployed. From 1958 to 1960, one worker in 12 was unem- ployed. Labour Force Growing Faster Than Jobs Over the whole period since the war, we have witnessed what | the Senate Committee calls “a pronounced upward drift in unem- ployment”. The reason for this is plainly to be seen. The labour force has grown faster than job opportunities. From 1947 to 1953, the labour force increased by 455,000. The number of jobs increased by 455,000. From 1953 to 1956, the labour force increased by 385,000. The number of jobs increased by 350,000. From 1956 to 1960, the labour force increased by 621,000. The number of jobs increased by only 370,000. 251,000 of the extra workers, or more than forty per cent, did not find jobs. The jobs were not available. For four years there have not been enough jobs to go around. NEW JOBS, 1947 to 1960 itttTHtl294,000 New so8s GOODS PRODUCING INDUSTRIES * ron-ogriculturoD SERVICE PRODUCING Ned intantietdntaneneeg|7s000 INDUSTRIES ** Cnon-ogricultural) ; Be eh Gee tee Fe at ie eh Dor Canada’s Economic Growth Slowing Down The Canadian economy has not been growing fast enough to provide jobs for its growing labour force. We measure economic growth by the Gross National Product, the total of goods and services produced in a year. To make reliable comparisons we must translate the figures into constant dollars. The Dominion Bureau of Statistics has put the figures for 1947- 1960 into 1957 dollars. From 1947 to 1953, real GNP rose 34.7%. From 1953 to 1956, real GNP rose 14.5%. From 1956 to 1960, real GNP rose only 7.3%. The highest rate of growth in any one of the last four years was 3.4% in 1959. When we look at real GNP per capita, the picture is worse. From 1947 to 1953, real GNP per capita rose 13.9% or an aver- age of 1.9% per year. From 1953 to 1956, real GNP per capita rose 5.7%, or an average of 1.9%. From 1956 to 1960, it fell by 3.1%, or an average of 0.8% per year. There are a number of reasons for this failure to achieve econo- mic growth in Canada. They will be dealt with in another article. The official statistics show that the politicians and the employers have no reason to state that unemployment is due to laziness or choosiness. They have failed to do the kind of economic planning required to free Canada from mass unemployment. EDITOR'S NOTE The statistics in the foregoing article, as well as the accompanying graphs, will be found in “Labour Research”, Feb.-June, 1961, published by the Re- search Department of the Canadian Labour Congress. Sooke Man Tops Again c. - Congratulations, Ardiel (and not forgetting your brother JUBIEL who has won the title FOUR TIMES ) from all of us at DAYTON’S and all DAYTON USERS, whose judgement you have so strikingly confirmed. We're right proud of you, boy ! AND NOW — 2 WORLD CHAMPIONS USING DAYTON'S We've always taken great pride in having our claims tested in competition - and WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS are about as high as you can shoot. Wearing DAYTON'’S 5 DANNY SAILOR has won more WORLD TITLES in Le ee — ~~ INTERNATIONAL TREE CLIMBING MEETS than a Bi it is decent to mention. DANNY IS NOW JOINED BY - ‘Ardiel Wickheim, of Sooke, B.C. THIRD WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP IN BIRLIN CHAMPIONSHIP MEET AT HAYWARD, WISC. * g eece 64 rea rel