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EL1JV LJ L   I I  Il IN  1U%0.  I  - II
Table X compares the number of Pis with the number of gainfully em-
ployed persons as of midyear 1947. Comparison was necessarily restricted
to
a few selected occupations or groups of occupations. The figures indicate
that
the return of PWs will increase the labor supply to an appreciable degree
in
many occupations faced with labor shortage. For instance, male labor supply
in
construction will be increased by 12.0 percent, in agriculture by 7.9 percent,
and In metal and related trades by 8.7 percent. It is also anticipated that
economic activity will be influenced more favorably than is indicated by
this
head count, as the majority of the Ply are in the most officient age groups.
TABLE X
CCKPARISON OF GAINFULLY EMPLOYED MALES WITH UNRETURNED PRISONERS
OF WAR REGISTERED IN THE U.S. ZONE JUNE AND JULY 1947
BY OCCUPATION
Gainfully                  Prisoners
Employed                    of War
Males         Prisoners   as percent
Occupations               (30 June 1947)1/   of War     of column 2
(1)                                  (2)           (3)          (4)
All occupations                        4,236,363         375,290k/     8.9
Selected occupations:
Agriculture                            994,392          78,131       7.9
Construction and related trades        261,490         31,493      12.0
Metal and related trades               656,503         57,340        8.7
Woodworking and related trades         201,663         20.018        9.9
Textiles                               157,485         11,123        7.1
Processing of food, tobacco
products and beverages               156,999         22,477       14.3
Trade, transportation and
administrative occupations           940,980         66,047        7.0
aG German Labor Office statistics
). Less students
The full favorable effect on the labor market brought about by the
return of PW* actually occurs only in the case of prisoners released by the
Western powers. The Soviet Union obviously follows a policy of selection
In
this respect, first releasing old and physically unfit PWs from which the
labor
market derives little benefit, in no way comparable to the immediate benefit
derived from the return of PW from other countries. A relatively high per-
centage of PWs from Russia, some of whom must be hospitalized, are incapable
of work, and the number of fit young men is relatively small. (It is possible,
however, that with the stepped up program of returning PWs held by the Soviet
Union a larger percentage of physically fit persons will be returned.)
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CIVIL ADMINISTRATION DIVISION
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