50
THE PROBLEM OF THE UNEMPLOYED
trades; but the expanding demand for labour was so
great that a very small proportion of the working population
was at any time out of employment. Where improvements
of machinery occur during periods of “ booming”
trade they do not occasion any large quantity of unemployment
or distress. It cannot therefore be held that
the application of improved machinery, is itself a chief
and necessary cause of unemployment.
§ 4. Estùnate of Minor Causes. Trade Depression
shown as Major Cause.
These machinery changes and specific trade movements
are, of course, extremely numerous and of continual occurrence.
For this very reason, in taking a term of years
their influence may be discounted. The amount of
“unemployment” due to these causes must be taken as
a pretty constant quantity. A glance at the statistics of
unemployment recorded by the Board of Trade during the
last ten years will indicate the importance of this conclusion.
All Trade Unions Making Returns.
1893 1894 1895 1896 1897 1S9S 18994900 1901 1902
At end of
Per Per
cent, cent
Per Per j Per ¡ Per Per
cent. cent. cent. cent, cent
Per
cent
Per Per
cent, cent
8.2
January.
February
March .
April
May. .
June. .
July . .
August .
September
October
November
December
4-5
3-3
5-0
3-0
4.0
i0.0 7.0
9-5 6.3
8.76.5
6.9 ] 6. i
6.2 6.3
5.8 6.3
6.2 1 7.4
4 4
3*
C.6
7-9
2.9
3-9
43
3-0
4.4
3-6
6-5
z-5
3-5
2.5
3-1
2-3
3-8
6-5
3 9
3-2
2-5
2-9
2.2
3-6
6.0
2-5
2-3
2.7
2.4
4-0
3-3
2.6
2.0
5-6
4 2
3-2
2.7
2-3
2.6
2.7
5-3
2.7
3-4
4.0
2-3
2.8
4.5
7-1
7-7
5.2
3-4
3*5
2-3
3-0
3-9
3-6
7-6
3-6
2.6
3-7
5-0
7-3
4-9
2.4
3-7
5-0
7-4
3-3
4-7
2-5
2-3
3 3
7-3
4.9
3-8
4-8
4.8
7.2
7.0
4 3
2.9
23
.'.2
3-2
4-6
4.8
2-5
5-5
7-7
5-3
4.0
7-9
3-2
2.9
3-8
6.9
5-8
Yearly Mean
3-5
3-0
2-4
2.9
7-5
3-4
1-4
