INtAl{D

Where ls rhe Fulure Supply of Workers Coming From?

Persons 45 years of age and over will be the major source of labor supply throughout the nation by 1965, according to Rocco C. Siciliano, assistant secretary of Labor, in a speech given to the home building industry and leading labor representatives attending the National Housing Center's recent Labor Relations and Manpower Workshop.

The low birth-rate of the '30's, Siciliano declared, would produce an a.ctual deficiency of 700,000 persons in the 24-34 age group by 1965.

The Assistant Labor Secretary said that 10,000,000 persons rvould be added to the labor force in the decade 1955-65, and predicted all of these rvorkers would be needed if the gross national product is kept to the needed economic level.

Of the 10,000,C00 additional workers, 4/2 million would be in the 16-24 age group ; one-half million in the 24-44 age group, and five million over 45 years of age, he stated.

Mr. Siciliano noted that the building industry was the largest single industrial employer of labor.

He said :"It is obvious that what is called 'mature worker' will have to remain productive for a longer period than is now customary. Experience has sholvn that age does not mean a lessening of general efficiency. Older workers are frequently more efficient than those in a lower age group, and absenteeism, that bugaboo of industry,'is in no way more prevalent among the over-45's than in the lower age group.

. "fndustry must get rid of some of the myths sur- rounding the older generation of workers. fears of the older worker have their basis in fantasy, not fact."

The forum was also addressed by Boyd Leedom, chairman of the National Labor Relations Board, who discussed the application of the Taft-Hartley Act to the Construction industry.

The Assistant Secretary of Labor also stressed the urgent necessity fora comprehensive training program throughout industry, to keep up the supply of skilled labor. There is a necessity for continued efforts to provide training for the young people entering industry-particularly the building industry, r,vhich is playing a critical role in our country's overall economy at this period, Siciliano said. "We must make certain that the number of apprentices keeps pace with the estimated losses of employes through retirement and death. Training programs must be implemented if we are to focus efforts in the challenge ahead, on u'hich the nation's economic future hangs."

Discussing the Federal Government's efforts to emphasize the necessity for employing older workers, and at the same time for training the workers in the "under 24" group, he also underlined the fact that it is "purely the responsibility" of. labor and management to provide training.

In 1956, more than 560/o of. all fatalities occurred on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.