Labor

The shortage of manpower remains a chronic problem, particularly in the skilled and semiskilled categories.

A total of 9,335 job openings were received by the Guam Employment Service from the Government of Guam, the Navy, Air Force and from private firms. Of the 9,335 job openings, 8,709 were filed for the importation of foreign nationals and for the extension of employment of alien contract workers. The majority of job vacancies occurred in the constructi@n category-a total of 4,656. Service activities were next in demand with a call for 1,682 workers. Professional, technical, and managerial-type job openings numbered 983.

Labor clearances were issued to the Immigration and Naturalization Service for 1,606 Civil Service vacancies, and for 1,000 reconstruction and rehabilitation workers.

Of the 170 petitions for alien workers, 97 were approved by the U.S. Labor Department's regional office in San Francisco, 38 were denied, and 35 were still pending.

Applications for jobs during fiscal year 1969 totaled 1,516, or 199 less than the previous fiscal year. These figures, however, do not include the 1,736 applications for Government of Guam positions.

The number of positions filled by job applicants totaled 687, a decrease of 172 compared to last year. It is noted that no placements were made in the farming, fishing, or forestry category, whereas 35 vacanices in agriculture were filled in fiscal year 68.

In the course of the year, 960 youths seeking employment were registered with the Guam Employment Service. These included high school graduates, school dropouts and youths from underprivileged families. GES offered employment counseling, placement services, testing and referrals ,,to federally financed vocational training programs such as the Neighborhood Youth Corps, the Manpower Development and Training Act program, and the local Apprenticeship Training Program.

Fifty-seven school dropouts received special counseling services under the Neighborhood Youth Corps program with the objective of either encouraging them to return to school or of increasing their employability. Thirty-eight other youths from low-income families were given counseling services and part-time employment to enable them to remain in school until they graduated. In line with the summer program, 50 students were given financial assistance and training to improve their employment potentials. Some of them received remedial education and counseling in addition to work experience to encourage them to return to school after the summer vacation.

During the school summer vacation, 130 students registered with GES for summer employment. Of this number, 55 were placed with Government of Guam, with Federal Government agencies and with private industry. Under the Youth Opportunity Campaign program, 30 students from low-income families were placed with the U.S. Air

Force and with the Federal Aviation Agency.

More than 1,260 job referrals were submitted to the Community Action Agency by the various community centers. Of these, 598 were placed on income-generating jobs. Hmvever, 667 were not placed, due to delays in the recruitment process, the reluctance of some people to accept existing jobs, and in some cases to lack of transportation to and from work.

Job applications from veterans totaled 113. Of this number, 12 were successfully placed in employment. Many veterans returned to their former employers while others chose to take up immediate employment.

Under the terms of the Work Incentive Program (WIN) during 4 months of operation a total of 60 AFDC welfare recipients were referred by the Department of Public Health and Social Services. Of these, 18 were in training, 15 were employed, and 22 cases remained pending. Five cases were terminated. . An Arts and Crafts program sponsored by the Community Action Agency led to the training of 54 adults who reached production stage. The total gross sales from their products amounted to $3,589 during the period between April l and June 30, 1969. Over 100 women participated in the sewing classes, and 46 were attending classes at the end of the fiscal year.

The rehabilitation of substandard horn~ of poor families was another of CAA's major goals during the year. A total of 37 homes under\\'ent major repair, and 26 more were under repair or construction. Still on the list awaiting repairs were 144 homes. This long waiting list was due to the difficulty in obtaining building materials.