LABOR As of June 30, 1968, the territory had a labor force of 21,316, 57 percent of whom were employed either by the Federal government or the government of Guam. Twenty percent of the labor force were Philippine nationals utilized primarily in consb·uction projects. There was no known unemployment. All employable persons willing to work could find jobs. There was, however, a continuing demand for skilled workers and efforts were being exerted to upgrade the skills of local workers through expanded and improved curricula and facilities of the Guam Trade and TeclmicaJ School, the Navy Apprenticeship Program, and other governmental in-service training programs. The Guam Employment Service completed plans for the establishment of a State Manpower Development Planning System under which the GES is responsible for developing an annual state training plan in con~ultatio11with other agencies. Three Manpower Development and Training Act projects were completed with 51 trainees graduating. They involved two clerk-stenographer projects and one block-layer mason. Of the 51 graduates, 48 were placed with private industry or government service. The programs were sponsored jointly by the Guam Employment Service, the Department of Labor and Personnel, and the Guam Trade and Technical School. Another training program for waiters and waitresses was started in
May 1968. Seven enrollees completed the 8-week course. Fourteen young workers participated in the Apprenticeship Ti:aining Program, a joint venture between the government of Guam and the Guam Contractors Association. Seven employers participated in the program. During the year, 738 youths seeking employment were registered with the Guam Employment Service. These youngsters included dropouts, disadvantaged, and high school graduates. Services rendered included employment counseling, placement, testing, and referral to federally financed vocational training such as the Neighborhood Youth Corps and the MDTA program. Approximately 250 students registered with the Guam Employment Service for summer jobs, of whom 150 were placed either with the local or Federal government or with private industry. The GES conducted a survey of high school graduating seniors to ascertain their immediate plans. Of the 995 graduating seniors from public and private schools, 653 responded. Two hundred and nineteen indicated they wished to attend college on a full-time basis; the same number planned to seek full-time employment; 51 want-.::dto join the armed forces; 57 planned to attend college on a part-time basis; and 107 were undecided. The GES offer.:edassistance to the 219 who wanted immediate employment. 29
