Stability of employment in the American merchant marine

This thesis was written as the result of more than three years' study of the problem of instability in maritime employment and of approaches toward promoting stabilization. Its purpose is to analyze the extent and causes of unemployment, labor turnover and other labor market problems in the merchant marine, the organization of the labor market for seamen, trends in demand and supply for seamen, and proposals for promoting greater stability and regularity in the employment of seamen. This thesis includes data on a survey of continuity of employment among seamen in 1945-46, which was designed as a part of this study in order to fill gaps of information on the work experience of seamen. In addition, it furnishes information on other studies conducted during the war which have not hitherto been published. Employment stabilization is a subject which has grown in interest in recent years, in relation to various industries. This study represents the first comprehensive effort at exploring stabilization possibilities for the ocean shipping industry.