MANPOWER: Drift-Out in the Shipyards

West Coast shipyard workers quit their jobs in droves.

Labor turnover at the shipyards had always been high, but the yards had usually been able to hire replacements. Puget Sound yards were suffering a net loss of 2,500 workers a month.

Workers were tired. Some wanted to get in a few licks on the farm. Some wanted to go fishing. Many, worried about cutbacks, wanted to get into secure, peacetime jobs.

But as far as the Navy was concerned, now was the worst possible time for a man to quit. With the quickening of the war in the Pacific, the greatest need was...

Want the full story?

Subscribe Now

Subscribe
Subscribe

Learn more about the benefits of being a TIME subscriber

If you are already a subscriber sign up — registration is free!