Texas Almanac, 1949-1950 Page: 349
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Employment and Unemployment in Texas
BY DR. FLORENCE E. BARNSNote.-Dr. Barns is Research Librarian of the
Texas Employment Commission at Austin, Texas.
By the end of 1946, reconversion of industry
from the wr effort to peacetime effort was
practically complete and the nation waited for
evidences of employment trends. Early in
1947 uncertainty dominated the employment
outlook, but as the year progressed, che em-
ployment trends manifested an increasing
climb. In Texas the trends followed the
national pattern, and In the last three months
of the year established an all-time record for
employment in the state. The high rate of
employment continued throughout 1948. Pro-
duction, whether in terms of farm crops or
raw materias or manufactured goods, re-
mained at a high level, largely because of
consumer demand for war shortages and in-
come sufficient to satisfy consumer demands.
The Texas Employment Commission.
The Fiftieth Legislature amended the Tex-
as Unemployment Compensation Act to
change the name of the Texas Unemployment
Compensation Commission to Texas Employ-
ment Commission. This amendment became
effective June 12, 1947. The purpose of the
change was to dentify the agency by a name
that more nearly disclosed in a positive way
the full scope and purpose of its activities.
The responsibility of this agency foi the
functions of unemployment compensation ioo
applications, and job placements in Texas
highlights it as the principal source ot un-
employment and employment information and
statistical data for the state. Foi the pur-
poses of administration, the commission di-
vides the state into districts; at the close of
1948 there were twelve districts.
Estimates of Texas Population.
Because of the shifting population during
the war years, exactly comparable figures are
not possible. The census figure as of April
1, 1940, for the State of Texas, was 6.414,824.
The census estimate of July 1. 1945. was
6,786,740, exclusive of members of the armed
forces of erseas. Two years later, July 1,
1947. the census fr'i:re was approximately
7,105,000; and on July 1 1948 the estimate
had advanced to approximately 7,230.000. On
this basis of census estimates the population
of Texas has increased since April 1, 1940,
by about 815,176.
Employment Trends, 1946-1948.
After dropping sharply at the close of the
war period, nonagricultural employment in
Texas leveled off at around 1.700,000 and re-
mained at that point until October of 1945.
It then started a slow climb that carried it to
a 1946 high of 1.877,500 in November. During
the next three months It again fell off, drop-
ping to 1,841,000 in February. A decided and
accelerating upward trend then set in whicn
continued without faltering until the end of
the year. The wartime peak was passed in
October, when a total of 2,145,000 persons
were engaged In nonagricultural pursuits In
the state. Further rises were recorded in
November and December and at the close of
the year the number at work amounted to
2,231,000.
The high level of employment resulted in
substantial changes in the volume of the
various activities carried on by the commis-
sion. As employment climbed and unem-
ployed workers were absorbed on employers'
payrolls, claims for unemployment compensa-
tion and servicemen's readjustment allow-
ances fell; new firms became subject to the
provisions of the Unemployment Compensa-
tion Act; a smaller sum was paid in benefits
from the reserve fund while the fund itself
grew larger; applications of jobseekers filed
349with the employment service division dropped
oft but the placement of workers in jobs in-
creased.
During 1948, industry and employment in
Texas grew steadily, except for the seasonal
drop in January and February. A rising
trend then set in without interruption; em-
ployment climbed throughout the year. The
ecember, 1947. high was surpassed in April.
1948. The figure for each month thereafter
established a new all-time record. In Decem-
ber 2,338,000 were gainfully employed as wage
workers, owners, partners, or as persons self-
employed in nonagricultural activity n Texas.
Servicemen's Readjustment Allowances.
The program for servicemen's readjustment
allowances became effective in September.
1944, with the Texas Unemployment Compen-
sation Commission as a duly authorized agent
of the Veterans Administration for handling
claims. Between September and December 31.
1944, a total of 3.371 claims were processed.
In 1945, the number increased unevenly from
1,204 in January to 27.423 in December with
a total for the year of 235.783. The total
number discharged from the armed forces in
Texas as of Dec. 31, 1946. was 709.184.
SRA active accounts for unemployed veter-
ans reached the peak for 1946 in July with a
total of 155,984 accounts; the peak for allow-
ance payments was reached in April with a
total of $9.143.206. SRA active accounts for
self-employed veterans reached the peak for
1946 in June with a total of 29.647 accounts;
the peak for allowance payments was
reached in April with a total of $3.664.565.
The number of accounts dropped steadily
until the end of the year, when it totaled
77,574. During the first four months oft 1947
it remained around this level. From May to
November. however, it dropped steadily.
reaching a low of 27.561 at the end of the
latter month. A slight rise occurred In
December. and at the close of the year 30,021
veterans had active accounts. These active
accounts represented 27.328 unemployed vet-
erans and 2,693 who were self-employe.
Servicemen's Claims Filed.
At the time ofo filing his first initial claim
for servicemen's readjustment allowances a
veteran files an application. He may discon-
tinue that claim series by ceasing to file and
later reinstate the series with a new initial
claim. If so. however, a new application is
not required; the number of applications
taken represent the number of different vet-
erans who have claimed unemployed or self-
employed allowances under the Servicemen's
Readjustment Act.
By the end of 1946 a total of 318.196 appli-
cations had been filed with the commission.
During 1947 an additional 58.648 were filed so
that by the end of the year a total of 376,844
veterans had taken steps to initiate claims for
allowances. This amounts to nearly one half
of all the veterans residing in Texas. This
total number of applications, however, when
compared with the 30,021 active accounts at
the end of 1947 indicates a very rapid absorp-
tion of the veteran population into postwar
employment.
Payments to Veterans, 1947.1948.
During 1947 $48.966,827 of federal funds
was pald in readjustment allowances to vet-
erans. af this amount, $37,184.201 was paid
to unemployed veterans and $11.782.626 to
self-employed. Payments in 1947 brought the
total paid since the beginning of the pro-
gram in September, 1944. to 5153,143.905, of
which $115.698,468 was paid to unemployed
and $37.445,437 to self-employed veterans.
During the first three months of 1948. the
active accounts remained around the low level
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Texas Almanac, 1949-1950, book, 1949; Dallas, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth117167/m1/351/: accessed April 26, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.