Post War Jobs

[connie]

Under the "Endless Possibilities" thread, Roger brought up a subject that deserves to be expanded on. He mentioned the work his dad did after the war: 106thdivision.proboards.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=home&thread=268&page=1#819

I have wondered about this one from time to time. Here is a country that is gearing down from an economy built around production for the war effort. And here are countless men returning home and looking to find work.

How hard was it to find jobs? What kind of jobs were available?

[gfgrant8443]

Connie

My father got a job with the Detroit Street Railway driving a bus. At that time Detroit still had a combination streetcars, electric buses and conventional gas buses. I was too young to remember if it was difficult to get the job, but he did that for a couple of years right after the war.

Frank Grant

[connie]

Interesting stuff. Thanks, Frank!

[connie]

In a recent post, Floyd alludes to his own post war job finding challenges: 106thdivision.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=remembering&action=display&thread=685

I hadn't thought about the young age of many of these men in the 106th or the fact that their military experience was their first post high school job...

[floydragsdale]

The U.S.A. was gearing down, from almost, 100% war production to a pre-war way of life. There was a period of time when jobs were not easy to find.

Just out of high school, and entering the Army, an Infantry Soldier had been trained to kill people, destroy and break things that belonged to the enemy. Needless to say, I'm sure an ex-infantry soldier didn't mention that when applying for a job. That kind of experience, in civilian life wasn't needed.

Upon being discharged from the Army, many ex-G.I.'s joined what we nick-named the 52/20 Club. Meaning the U.S. Government would give us $20.00 a week for 52 weeks unless a Veteran found a job before his year was up.

About once a month a veteran had to report to the "employment office" to prove he/she had been seeking employment or, inquire if there were any jobs available. I refused a job "making french fries" at an amusement park for $18.00 a week; twelve hours a day and six days a week.

I decided my "free time" was worth more than that. Thus my 52/20 money was denied me. That government money, for me, lasted about three months. Finally, I just quit looking for work and went to school on the G.I. Bill.

In a few years, with more than a High School education under my belt, I found employment and have worked every year since then.

To illustrate how conditions were, a person could not buy a new car off a dealer's show room, or car lot. There weren't any for sale. When the auto industry got production lines going again (early 50's) a car dealer got one to show. I remember people standing in line to "place an order for a new car". Some folks drove to the car maker's site to pick up their new car when it came off the assembly line.

I remarked to my bride of less than a month that when we buy a car, the salesman will have to SELL it to us; I'll be darned if we'll stand in line to order one.

That's how some things were in the early post war years.

Floyd

[connie]

Floyd,

Thanks. This is interesting stuff. The $20. a week for 52 week potential pay post discharge is something I was completely unaware of.

I know my father was one of the lucky ones who had a job waiting when he returned home. His mother had a home improvement business and there was room for him to work there. It was hard work that left linoleum paste under his fingernails. That scent still brings memories of Dad. It replaced his pre-war ambitions. But he was now a married man in need of immediate work and wanting to start a family. The war had decided. There was no time for pursuing career dreams. He took the available job.

The info about car sales is interesting, too. It hadn't even crossed my mind that car production was probably re-directed to something war related for a few years...

Connie

[floydragsdale]

Hi Connie:

The Auto makers switched their production of cars in 1942, to Military Vehicles, Tanks, Trucks, Jeeps and etc. That was by Government order.

A civilian could not buy tires all through the war years. The Military got all of them. Most of the nations tires were made raw rubber that came from the rubber plantations in the far east. The Japanese, at that time, controlled just about all of that area. Synthetic rubber was unheard of in those days. If a tires' tread became thin, or bald, it could be retreaded and sometimes re-capped That's why the national highway speed limit was 35mph and also the reason that gasoline was rationed. I could go on and on, however, I'll stope here.

Floyd

[bigjohn]

I know after Dad was discharged from the hospital at Valley Forge he entered an apprentice program to become a carpenter or cabinetmaker (can't remember which one). I have a photo of him with another soldier and a sailor who were all in the same program. They were making ashtray stands for vets who were stuck in the hospital. Dad went on to work construction for many years during the post-war building boom and had a hand in building many homes in the Berks County area as well as some commercial properties like the Titus Station power plant near Reading, PA. I must try to find that picture and post it.