( 30 ) 



tunities in the cities are poor, the migration is slowed down 

 even though conditions on the farms may be unfavorable. 



War Depleted Farm Labor Supply 



During 1942 there was a rapid shift from farm to city. The 

 net movement away from farms, over 1,600,000 persons, may 

 be broken down as follows: 



Enlistments or inductions in the armed forces, young males 737,000 



Others, males and females, all ages 890,000 



The net movement away from farms for 1942 1,627,000 



The net movement away from farms for 1941 1,357,000 



The net movement away from farms for 1940 681,000 



As a result of the agricultural depression and urban expan- 

 sion of the twenties, the net movement away from farms 

 rose to as much as 1,100,000 but never reached the 1941-2 

 levels. The normal rate is about 500,000 per year. 



The rate of movement has been more rapid in the South 

 and the Mountain States than in the states east of the Mis- 

 sissippi and north of the Ohio river. 



The net movement away from farms during 1943 will be 

 much less than that for the last two or three years. This will 

 be because : 



(a) The present policy is to defer men for farm work. 



(b) The previous large-scale migrations to the armed forces and to 

 industry have depleted those age groups that normally leave farms 

 in the largest numbers. 



(c) Former farm residents are returning to farms. 



(d) The lengthening of the urban work week reduces the pressure on 

 farm labor. 



(e) Reduction in employment in non-war industries provides war 

 industry with additional labor from city sources. 



(f) Urban building has declined. 



