World War Two created major labor shortages. The civilian work force increased by nearly 20 percent during the war; however, more workers were needed to produce industrial goods and ammunition. During this period, union membership also grew greatly. Almost 3 million people joined unions between 1941 and 1945. Consequently,these large unions began making demands on the government, including the guarantee that unions would thrive. Still, a labor organizer would have needed to rally more workers. Many women joined the work force during the war, since their husbands were fighting and they needed to secure an income. Labor organizers encouraged women to work in factories by making domestic analogies which would portray the jobs as simple. Posters representing the importance of female workers were also distributed. These propaganda techniques were effective, as women constituted one-third of paid workers in 1945.
