The Unemployed Two Million The Ministry of Labour returns for
February show a decrease of 134,701 in unemployment, and thus mitigate the shocknf the unusually large seasonal increase disclosed in January. The returns also confirm the explanation given for the increase, that the figures were made up on a day when bad weather had severely affected out-of-door occupations, especially building and public workS con- tracting, on which the improvement in industrial activity continues to depend. Of the decrease in unemployment in February, over 80,000 was accounted for by these two industries, and there is likely to be a further improvement as the year goes on. Only in engineering can any in- creased employment attributable to armaments activity be observed. On the other hand, in coal mining tempor- ary stoppages caused an increase in unemployment, but only in South Wales. Since February last year unem- ployment has decreased by 260,442. Against these figures, which give some cause for satisfaction, must be set the total of over 2,000,000 persons still unemployed, and largely concentrated in the depressed areas. The Government continues to give no proof that it is really aware of the seriousness of this position, which in South Wales, for instance, has led to urgent demand for immedi- ate action.
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