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Workers and Jobs (1935)
 

Synopsis

Warning: screenonline full synopses contain 'spoilers' which give away key plot points. Don't read on if you don't want to know the ending!

The work of labour exchanges in Great Britain. Scenes of men and women at work in home and factory, some of the 15,000 different kinds of work. The foreman at Smiths of Westminster requests that the manager employ six additional fitters and turners if the job in hand is to be completed in time. The foreman suggests contacting the labour exchange. At the Poplar labour exchange, the request for the fitters and turned is filled. Smiths employ five of the six men sent from the exchange. Scenes inside the exchange: the officials and men looking for work: form filling, filing, men called for work, men standing about waiting to be seen, men chatting (all well dressed). Should labour not be available locally, vacancies are registered throughout Britain by means of a clearing house exchange. Men at desks with telephones: they sit in a large semi-circle of desks and take calls from exchanges listing details of available jobs. These are typed up and sent to other exchanges.