Unwanted workers

IN THE Great Depression of the 1930's, mass unemployment was a national disaster because of its waste of human resources and vast personal suffering. Now, in the 1960's, unemployment has again become a major national problem, although with changed dimen sions. First, unemployment has not been as widespread throughout the population but has hit some groups and some areas much harder than others. Second, there has been a pattern of recession and prosperity, with unemployment rates becoming higher in each successive period of prosperity.

Unemployment has not been returning to "normal" levels after recessions. Following the 1949 recession, unemployment averaged about 3 per cent of the labor force; but after the 1954 recession the average was above 4 per cent, and following the 1958 reces sion it stabilized above 5 per cent. The prosperity period after the 1960 recession has had an even higher average.