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MENT

A Statistical Guide

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Martin P. Ourkin,

Secretary

WOMEN'S BUREAU

Frieda S. Miller, Director

Washington 25, D. C.

D- 65

This report was prepared under the direction of Mary N. Hilton, Chief of the Research Division, by Jean S. Campbell, Chief of the Statistical Branch. The charts and tables were compiled by Regina M. Neitzey and other staff members of the Statistical Branch.

1 H

4 I I • I 1 • I i t • I

I 1 1 i.i I I

i I I

I I I ft I I

i I I

I I i I I

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corrrENTS

]

I. NUMBER OF WOMEN WORKERS Long-Term Trend - - - Changes Since 19UO -

II.

III.

OCCUPATIONS

Clericeil Workers ------------

Private Household Workers --------

Professional and Technical Workers - - - Operatives ---------------

Farm Workers --------------

Service Workers Except Private Household- Sales Workers --------------

Craftsmen ----------------

Managers, Officials, and Proprietors - -

INDUSTRY AND CLASS OF WORKER

Class of Worker in Nonagricultural

and Agricultural Employment ------

Major Industry Distribution -------

Manufacturing Industries --------

Federal Government Employment ------

Employment Among Farm Women -------

IV.

V.

UNEMPLOYMENT

Numbers -----------------

In Contrast to Men -----------

Women Among the Employed and Unemployed -

LABOR TURNOVER AND LENGTH OF TIME ON THE JOB Labor Tvtmover in Selected Manufacturing Industries — ---_---__-_- Turnover Among Men and Women ------

Length of Time on the Job --------

VI. AGE

Long-Term Labor Force Changes - Labor Force Changes Since 19^0 Occupations ------->---

Page

1 2

8

8

9

9

10

10

11

11

11

18 19 19 20 21

3^

3h

36 36 37

k6

VII. MARITAL STATUS

Population Chemges - - - -

Labor Force Changes - - -

Labor Force in Relation to

Population -------

Occupations- -------

VIII. MOTHERS

Labor Force Participation Since 19l»-0 Ages of Children of Working Mothers Marital Status of Mothers - - - - -

DC.

PART-TIME EMPLOYMENT

Occupations Employing Part-Time

Workers During 1951 -------

Age of Part-Time Workers During 1951 Work Patterns by Marital Status

During 1950 -_-.

X.

INCCfrE

Wages and Salaries • Husband -Wife Income Residence - - - - - Age --------

XI.

THE LABOR RESERVE - WCMEN NOT IN THE LABOR FORCE Expansion of the Nation's Labor Force - Previous Work Experience -------

X.

EDUCATION

Years of School Completed - - - - Employment of School Enrollees - - College Degrees Earned by Women - Field of Study in College Training

TECHNICAL NOTE

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COIWEHTS

Page

I. NUMBER OF WOMEN WORKERS

Long-Term Trend ------------- l

Changes Since 19ifO 2

II. OCCUPATIONS

Clerical Workers -_---_----_- 8

Private Household Workers -------- 8

Professional and Technical Workers - - - 9

Operatives --__-----_-__-_ 9

Farm Workers ---__-------_- 10

Service Workers Except Private Household- 10

Sales Workers -------------- n

Craftsmen ---------------- u

Managers, Officials, and Proprietors - - 11

:il, INDUSTRY AND CLASS OF WORKER

Class of Worker in Nonagricultural

and Agricultural Employment ------ 18

Major Industry Distribution ------- 19

Manufacturing Industries -------- 19

Federal Government Employment ------ 20

Employment Among Farm Women ------- 21

IV. UNEMPLOYMENT

Numbers ----------------- 34

In Contrast to Men ----------- 34

Women Among the Employed and Unemployed - 2^

V. LABOR TURNOVER AND LENGTH OF TIME ON THE JOB Labor Turnover in Selected Manufacturing

Industries — _-____-_--__ 36

Turnover Among Men and Women ------ 36

Length of Time on the Job -------- 37

VI. AGE

Long-Term Labor Force Changes ------ kk

Labor Force Changes Since 19^0 ----- 45

Occupations --------------- k6

VII.

VIII.

IX.

XI.

X.

MARITAL STATUS

Popiilation Changes - - - -

Labor Force Changes - - -

Labor Force in Relation to

Popiilation -------

Occupations- -------

THE LABOR RESERVE - WCMEN NOT IN THE LABOR FORCE Expansion of the Nation's Labor Force - Previous Work Experience -------

EDUCATION

Yeeirs of School Completed - - - - - Employment of School Enrollees - - - College Degrees Earned by Women - - Field of Study in College Training -

59 60

MOTHERS

Labor Force Participation Since 19it-0 - 68

Ages of Children of Working Mothers - 68

Marital Status of Mothers ------ 69

PART-TIME EMPLOYMENT

Occupations Employing Part-Time

Workers During 1951 -------- 76

Age of Part-Time Workers IKuring 1951 - 77 Work Patterns by Marital Status

During 195O -__ 77

INCCME

Wages and Salaries ---------- 82

Husband-Wife Income --------- 83

Residence -------------- 85

Age 85

96 97

102

102 103 104

TECHNICAL NOTE

For sale hy the Superintendent of Documents, U. S. Government Printing Office Washington 2"), D. C. - Price nO cents

List of Charts

Page

Page

NUMBER

I. Population and labor force: I89O-

1953

II. Number of enqployed persons in major occupation groups: April 1953 - - III. Percent of women emd men in each

occupational group: 1953 - - - -

IV. Occupational patterns: 19^0, 19^5

to 1953 --

V. Women in agriculture and nonagri-

cultxore: 1953 ----------

VI. Employed women by industry: 19^0

and 1952

VII. Women in manufacturing industries:

1950 and 1953

VIII. Proportion of men and women workers in manufacturing industries:

1953

IX. Number of women in federal civilian employment service: 1923-1952 - - X. Labor tiomover rates of women:

1950, 1951, 1952

XI. Job separation rates of mer and

women: 1952 -- --------

XII. Age of population and labor force:

1890 and 1950 --

XIII. Proportion of women in the popxila-

tion who worked: I89O to I95O - - XIV. Age distribution of women workers:

19^+0, 19^5, 1950 and 1953

	XV.
h
	XVI.
12
Ik	XVII.
16
	XVIII.
22
2lf	XIX.
26	XX.
	XXI.
28	XXII.
30	XXIII.
38
	XXIV.
1^0
	XXV.
kQ
50	XXVI.
52

Median age of women workers: 19^0 to

1953

Niimber of women in population and labor force by marital status: 19^0, 19*^, 1948, 1952 - -

Marital status of women in the popula- tion and labor force: 19^0, 19^+4, 191+7-1952

Marital status of women workers and pres- ence or absence of children: 1952 and 19l»-0

Proportion of all mothers who worked: 19U0, 19k6 to 1952 -

Characteristics of women part-time

workers ---------------

Wage and salary income: 1939 to 1951 -

Comparison of 1939 and 1951 wage or saleiry incomes for selected occupations - - -

Proportion of wives in the labor force in 1952 in relation to husband's income - --------------

Status of women not in the labor force:

April 1953

Years of school completed by persons 25 years of age and over: 19')-0 and 1950 -

Proportion of school enrollees who

were employed: 1951 ---------

5h

62

64

70

72

78 86

88

92

98

106

108

IV

I. MUMBER OF WOMEN WORKERS

Long-Term Trend

According to the 1950 Censvjs of Popvilation, the number of women in the total labor force in 1950 was about k^ times as large as the number who were working in I89O. Many factors have contributed to the tremendous increase in the niomber of working women in this covmtry, and one of the most basic has been the growth in the popuJ.ation.

During the past 60 years, the number of persons in the population of working eige (ill years and over) has cLLmost tripled. The in- crease in the number of women during these years has been slightly greater than the in- crease in the number of men. In I89O, women

were a little less than half of the population ik years and over; in 1950, when they numbered 57 million, women were a little more than half of this population.

Whereas the woman population almost tripled during these years, the woman labor force more than quadrupled. Population growth alone, therefore, does not account for the number of women workers today, by comparison with I89O. At the same time there has been an increasing proportion of women engaged in work outside of their homes, a proportion which has risen by more than 50 percent from I890 to 1950. In 1890, less than 20 percent of the woman

population ik yeaxs and over vere in the labor force. At this rate, women workers would have numbered only about 10^ million in 1950, or about two-thirds of the nvmiber actually re- ported (table l) .

Underlying this trend toward the increasing participation of women in the market place have been significant chemges in the economic life of the Nation, and in the social customs and modes of living of the people. Most of the productive activities of the country have been transferred from home to factory; but women's work is still required to perform them. Fxirthermore, this change requires increased money income in the family in order to obtain the goods and services which were formerly provided by xmpaid labor in the home*

Additional factors ^icb have contributed to and are reflected in the growth in the pro- portion of women who work outside of their homes have been the trend toward urbanization and the concomitant increase in apartment -house living, a declining birthrate (at least until recent years), and increasing education for women which has fitted them for a vsuriety of new jobs.

This increfiising tendency for women to work occiirred along with a declining proportion of men who were working: Between I89O and 1950, the number of men in the labor force more than doubled, but this was slightly less than the

growth in the male population of working age during these years. In other words, the pro- portion of men who were working in 1950 (79 per- cent) was somewhat less than the proportion who were working in 189O {6k percent). As a conse- quence, in 1890, almost 2 out of every 10 workers were women; in 1950, about 3 out of every 10 work- ers were women (table l) .

Changes Since 19^0

The changes which have occurred in the woman labor force since 19'tO represent a continuation of the long-term trend toward an increasing proportion of women in the Nation's civilian work force. This trend was, of course, accelerated by the stimulus of World War II. During the war yeara, women's work outside of the home was required to perform not only those jobs which were customarily carried on by women, but also those jobs which were vacated by men who were inducted into the armed services.

In March 19J^0, before World War II, there had been about ik million working women in the United States. At that time, 28 percent of all women ik years and over in the population were in the labor force; and they formed one -fourth of all workers. By April 19'<^5j after more than 3 years of war, there were 19f million women in the labor force. Thirty-seven percent of the women of working sige were working; and more than a third of the civil- ian workers were women.

This dramatic increase in the woman labor force in a 5-year period vas directly attributa- ble, of course, to World War II. Following the wax, men were discharged from the ajrmed services to resume civilian Jobs, and the Nation adjusted to a postwar economy. This was accompanied by an exod\is of women from the labor force, families were reunited, and the birthrate increased sharp- ly. A postwar low point in the participation of women in the Nation's work force was reached by 19li-7, \ihen l6 million women, or 30 percent of the woman population of working eige were in the labor force. Even in 19*^7* however, the proportion of the Nation's workers -who were women was 2 points above the 19^0 level (table 2).

Following the postwar low year of 19^7* the rising cost of living and the ever-pressing family need for additioneil money income forced many women back into the labor force. In addition, of course, increased employment opportvinities as a result of wartime labor -force experience were imdoubtedly an encouragement to many women to seek employment out- side of the home. Average annual employment of wom- en during the year 1950 vas 18.7 million, or one- third of the woman population. These women formed 30 percent of all civilian workers.

Since, in the main, all men of working age who are able to work are already in the labor force, any crisis in our national life which requires the ex- pansion of the civilian labor force or the Aimed Forces must result in additional numbers of women

finding employment outside of their homes. Dur- ing 1951* as a result of such a crisis in Korea, the number of women in the labor force averaged 19.3 million, by comparison with 18.7 million during the previovis year. This growth in the nianber of women workers was responsible for main- taining the civilieua labor force at approximately its pre-Korean level, in spite of the induction of large numbers of yoxmg men into the armed services (table 3) •

During the year 1952, there were - on the average - 19^ million women, or more than a third of the woman population, in the labor force. This number, though not the proportion of the woman population, exceeded the average for the wartime year of 19H (table 3),

In recent months there appears to have been some levelling-off in the need to utilize women as replacements for male civilian workers . April 1953 figures show just under 19 million women in the labor force.

CHART I

POPULATION AND LABOR FORGE, 1890-1953

(14 YEARS OF AGE AND OVER) 1890-19501/ 1940-1953 2/

MILLION 120

TOTAL POPULATION (Including military)

TOTAL LABOR FORCE (Including military)

WOMAN POPULATION

WOMAN LABOR FORCE

100

80

-• 60

40 -

• 20 ■

I I I I I I I I

CIVILIAN POPULATION

MILLION

ri20

CIVILIAN LABOR FORCE

^

WOMAN POPULATION

^-

WOMAN LABOR FORCE

1890 1900 1910 1920

SOURCE: U.S. Bureau of the Census

1930

0 ..U t ' \L iJ, tJ. '}. y

•ftr-:^-. 0

100

•80

60

40

• 20

1940 1950 '40 '41 '42 '43 '44 '45 '46 '47 '48 '49 '50 '51 '52 '53

J/ Decennial census ZJ Estimates

2G 23 86

Table 1. Total Population and Total Labor Force, by Sex: 189O-I95O

(In thousands)

1/

	Total	Women 2/	Men
	Population	Labor force	Poptilation	Labor	force	Population	Laboi	• force
Year		i'ercent		Percent		Percent
	1^4- years	Number	of	lU years	Number	of	l4 years	Number	of
	and over		popula- tion	and over		popula- tion	and over		popula- tion
1950	112,731	60,i^28	53.6	57,103	16,512	28.9	55,628	43,916	78.9
I9I+O	101,103	53,299	52.7	50,549	13,015	25.7	50,554	40,284	79.7
1930	89,101	1+7,^04	53-2	iA,013	10,396	23.6	45,088	37,008	82.1
1920	1h,\hh	if0,282	54.3	36,190	8,229	22.7	37,954	32,053	84.5
1910 ll - -	6if,32l	-	-	30,959	-	-	33,362	-	-
1900	5l,i^38	2T,6i^0	53-7	25,02if	i^,999	20.0	26,414	22,641	85.7
1890	in, 797	21,833	52.2	20,293	3,701^	18.3	21,505	18,129	84.3

1/ Data refer to April, except 1890 (June), I9OO (Jxme), and 1920 (January).

2/ Data for women in 1950 and 1940 as shovn in this table are not comparable vith data for these years as shown in Table 2.

"ij Compajrable labor force data not available.

Soiarce: U. S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census. 1950 Census of Popiolation. Data include Armed Forces and employed civiliems and their families overseas. I89O-I94O: Data computed from John D. Durand, Labor Force in the United States, I89O-I960, New York, Social Science Research Council, 1948.

Table 2. Women in the Civilian Population and Labor Force: 1940-1953

(In thousands)

1/

	Population l4 years and over 2/	Labor force
Year	Number	Percent of popula- tion	Percent of all workers
1953 1952 - - - 1951 1950 ■ 1949 1948 - - - 1947 19I4.6 1945 1944 1943 1942 19I+I 191^0	58,368 57,566 56,899 56,236 55,592 54,953 54,400 53,610 52,860 52,350 51,910 51,430 50,800 50,l40	18,912 18,798 18,607 18,063 17,167 17,155 16,320 16,590 19,570 18,450 18,100 15,460 13,930 13,840	32.4 32.7 32.7 32.1 30.9 31.2 30.0 30.9 37.0 35.2 34.9 30.1 27.4 27.6	30.1 30.4 30.1 29.0 28.2 28.3 27.6 29.4 36.1 34.0 33.0 27.7 25.3 25.4

1/ statistics are for April of each year except 1940, where they refer to the last week in March.

2/ NoninstitutionaJ..

Source: U. S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census, C\irrent Population Reports.

Table 3. Anniml Average Number of Persons in the Civilian Labor Force;

(in thousands)

1940-1952

	Number of men and women	Number of men	Women
Year	Number	Percent of woma,n population 1/	Percent of an workers
1952 1951 1950 1949 1948 1947 1946 1945 1944 1943 1942 1941 1940	62,963 62,884 63,099 62,105 61,442 60,168 57,520 53,860 54,630 55,540 56,410 55,910 55,640	43,450 43,612 44,442 44,075 43,858 43,272 4o,74o 34,830 35,460 36,840 40,300 41,270 41,480	19,513 19,272 18,657 18,030 17,583 16,896 16,780 19,030 19,170 18,700 16, no l4,64o 14, 160	33.8 33.8 33.1 32.4 31-9 31.0 31.2 35.9 36.5 36.0 31-3 28.7 28.2	31.1 30.6 29.6 29.0 28.6 28.1 29.2 35.3 35.1 33.7 28.6 26.2 25.4

1/ Noninstitutional.

Source: U. S. Department of Commerce, Bioreau of the Census, Ciirrent Population Reports .

II. OCCUPATIONS

In April 1953, tetter than 1 out every k vomen who were working - more thaxi 5 million women - were employed in clericeil occupations . One out of every 5 women employed, or almost k million women, were operatives or factory workers . These two occxq)ational groups accounted for almost half of all employed women in the spring of 1953- Service workers, professional or technical workers, and private household workers each accounted for about another 2 million women; the saleswoman group employed about Ij million women. Other occupational groups each had. less than a million women.

Since 19')-0 there have been a ntmiber of signi- ficant changes in the kinds of jobs that women hold and in the proportion of women workers who are in each type of occupation:

Clerical Workers

Certainly the most dramatic change since 19^0 has been the increase in the number of women cleri- cal workers - from 2^ million in 19^0 to more than 5 million in 1953- Although the number of women clerical workers declined slightly following World War II, by 1951 - with the impact of the Korean crisis - the number had exceeded the previoxis war- time peak. Today the number of women clerical workers is about the same as it was at the height of World War II (table k) .

As the number of clerical workers has in- creasedj the proportion of women who find employ- ment in these jobs has also increased. In 19^0, 1 out of every 5 employed women was a clerical worker; in 1953, 1 o^t of every k women was in this kind of job. Among employed men, on the other hand, less than 1 out of 15 is a clerical worker, and this proportion has varied only slightly since 19if0 (table 6) .

Of the 5 million men and women clerical workers in 19'<-0, slightly more than half were women. In 19^+5, 7 out of 10 clerical workers were women. Following the war, of course, the proportion of women in these occupations declined from its wartime peak; but the effect of this war- time experience persisted in that the proportion of women in clerical jobs remained considerably above the prewar level. In 1953 almost two-thirds of the clerical workers were women (table 5)'

Private Household Workers

Probably the most important change which has occurred in the occupational, pattern of employed women since 19^4-0 is that today only 10 percent of employed women are in private household work, whereas l8 percent were in this occupation before the war. That the proportion engaged in private household work declines as other job opportunities increase is evidenced by the fact that dioring the

var, vhen the demand for women In defense Indus- tries was greater than today, the proportion of women in private household work was even lower (table 6).

In 19'«-0, out of a total of 12 million employed women, there were 2 million private household workers. In 19^ 5> while World War II was still in process, there were only about 1^ million private household workers, out of a total of more than 19 million employed women (table k) . Although more wcanen were working in these low- paying Jobs following World War II, neither the nuniber nor proportion of women so employed has risen to the prewar level. In 19^0, the number of women household workers was the same as the nuoiber of women operatives. In 1953> there were more than twice as many women operatives as pri- vate household workers.

Today, almost sill private household workers are women. Only about 3 percent of the persons engeiged in this occupation are men, lAereas In I9U0, about 6 percent were men (table 5)-

Professional and Technical Workers

In Ajrll 1953 there were approximately 2 mm ion women employed as teachers., nurses, wel- fare workers, librarians, medical technicalns, and in similar professional and technical Jobs. These women numbered over I/3 million more than were similarly engaged in 19^ (table h) .

Despite this Increase in the number of wom- en professional and technical workers there has

been a decline in the proportion of women who find employment in these jobs today, by compari- son with 19^4-0; and during World War II the de- cline was even greater. In 19^0, about I3 percent of all employed women were professional or techni- cal workers. During the war, in 19i»-5, this pro- portion dropped to 8 percent. Today, 1 out of every 10 employed women Is a professional or technical worker (table 6) . These changes may be accounted for, in part, by the fact that, during the war when jobs were plentiful, many more wom- en entered employment directly without spending years in the necessary professional or technical training. Also, some women may have left low- paying professional jobs for more remunerative work in other occupations.

In 19'<-0, the 1^ million women in professional and technical occupations were a little less than half of all such workers. Today the 2 million women in these jobs are only slightly more than a third of all such workers (table 5).

Operatives

In 1953> women operatives, most of \Aom are semiskilled factory workers, constituted the second largest group of employed women, following only women clerical workers. One-and-a-half mil- lion more women are employed in these jobs today than were so employed in 19^0. The number today, however, is about ^/k of a million less thsui were employed during World War II. The number of women who have found employment as operatives since 19lf0 has fluctuated in accordance with the expanded manpower needs of defense industries and the size

of our Armed Forces. Vlhen men returned from military service and defense production was curtailed folloving World War II, the number of women operatives dropped from h^ million in 19U5 to less than 3| million by 19'<-7. Again, between 1950 and 1951, as a result of the Koresui crisis, the number of women opera- tives increased by ^ million - the sharpest year-to-year increase which has occurred since the end of World War II (table k) .

The changes in the proportion of employ- ed women in factory jobs since 19'4-0 have been less dramatic than the numerical changes . Since 19UO about a fifth of all employed women have held factory Jobs, except, of course, dur- ing World War II, when almost a fourth of all employed women were working as operatives (table 6).

Likewise, the proportion of operatives who were women has shown little change since 19^0, when about a fourth of all such workers were women; except, again, during the wartime year of 19^5, when almost two-fifths of the factory production workers were women (table 5) •

Farm Workers

Another occupational group in which the employment of women fluctuates sharply in accord- ance with national emergencies is thar of farm workers. (Most women engaged in farm work are employed as farm laborers and not as farmers or farm managers.) In March 19'4-0, about 2/3 million

women were employed in farm work, and they formed less than a tenth of all such workers. In April 19^5, almost 2 million women were work- ing on farms and they constituted more than a fifth of all such workers. Since the war, with the exception of 19*^9 when they numbered 1 million, the number of women farm workers ha^ declined steadily, and is not almost at the 19^0 level (tables k and 5) •

In 19''»-0, only about 5 percent of all employed women, but almost 25 percent of all employed men, were working on farms. During the war, the proportion of women engaged in farm work about doubled as women replaced men called to armed service and the proportion of men in farm work consequently declined. Following the war, the proportion of women engaged in farm work returned to its prewar level, while the proportion of men so employed has staedlly declined and today is only half of what It was in 19li-0.

Service Workers Except Private Household

Service workers inclvide such persons as waitresses, cooks, hospital attendants, beauti- cians, elevator operators, practical nurses, and so forth. The number of women employed in these jobs has almost doubled since 19^0; and today there are more than 2 million women en- gaged in the service occupations (table k) .

In 19^0, two-fifths of the persons employed in the service occupations were women. During the war almost half of these employees were women.

10

The proportion of vomen declined immediately fol- lowing World Wax II; but since 19^9 it hsis been increeiBing again and today it is close to the war- time peeik (table 5) •

Little change has occurred in the percent of employed women or men who find jobs in these serv- ice occupations. About 7 percent of employed men and 13 percent of employed women work in service jobs today; and these proportions are approximately the same as in 19^0 (table 6).

Sales Workers

As with service workers, the number of women salespersons has almost doubled since 19^4-0. Today there are almost Ig- million women employed in these jobs (table k) .

Little change has occtorred in the proportion of employed women or men engaged in sales work - about 8 percent of the women and 5 percent of the men are working in these Jobs today - almost the same proportion as were employed in 19^0 (table 6).

During the war women formed more than half of all salespersons, by comparison with their 19i|-0 proportion of slightly more than a quarter of all such workers. Today women eire about two -fifths of all sales workers, a proportion they have maintained throughout the postwar period.

April 1953* and only 300 thousand at the height of World War II (table k) . These jobs occupy about 20 percent of all employed men but only about 2 percent of employed women (table 6) .

Diuring World Wsir II women constituted eulmost 5 percent of all creuftsmen and foremen, when the shortage of trained men forced the opening of some of these jobs to women. Following the war, however, women resumed their traditional proportion of 2 or 3 percent of all such workers.

Managers, Officials, and Proprietors

Almost a million women were employed as man- agers, officials, or proprietors in April I955. This was almost double the nimiber of women in such jobs in 19^0 (table k) .

The proportion of employed women in these jobs is about half that of men, and the proportion has increased only slightly for both women and men since 19^ (table 6).

During World War II women formed about 17 percent of all aanagers, officiaJs, and proprie- tors, an increase of 5 percentage points over their proportion in 19^0. Today they are only 2 points below their 19^5 level, althovigh there have been some fluctuations in the intervening years (table 5) •

Creiftsmen

Relatively few women are employed as craftsmen or foremen. They numbered about 250 thousand in

11

CHART IT

NUMBER OF EMPLOYED PERSONS IN MAJOR OCCUPATION GROUPS

APRIL, 1953

PROFESSIONAL, TECHNICAL AND KINDRED WORKERS

FARMERS AND FARM MANAGERS

MANAGERS, OFFICIALS AND PROPRIETORS EXCEPT FARM

CLERICAL AND KINDRED WORKERS

SALES WORKERS

CRAFTSMEN, FOREMEN AND KINDRED WORKERS

OPERATIVES AND KINDRED WORKERS

PRIVATE HOUSEHOLD WORKERS

SERVICE WORKERS EXCEPT PRIVATE HOUSEHOLD

FARM LABORERS AND FOREMEN

LABORERS EXCEPT FARM AND MINE

WOMEN MEN

MILLIONS OF WORKERS

23456 789 10

SOURCE U S Bureou of the Census

IS

I 1 I I I I

? 'I 'I

I I

Table k. Major Occupation Group of Employed Women: 19^0, 19^5, and 1947.1953

(In thousands)

1/

Major occupation group

1953

1952

1951

1950

1949

I9J+8

19^7

19^5

194

N\mber of employed women - - -

Professional, technical and kindred

workers -------------.

Farmers and farm workers __---. Farmers and farm managers - - - . Farm laborers and foremen - - - ■ Managers, officials and proprietors,

except farm ------------

Clerical and kindred workers - _ - . Sales workers ------------

Craftsmen, foremen and kindred

workers --------------

Operatives and kindred workers - - • Private household workers ------

Service workers, except private

household -------------

Laborers, except farm and mine - - ■

lQ,k3h

l8,23l^

17,890

17,176

16,356

16,529

15,800

19,310

1,928 730 150 580

888 5,090 IM^

268 3,862 l,85if

2,300 80

2,026 780 166 61k

978 5,28i^ 1,1+16

21+4 3,496 1,71+8

2,13^^ 128

1,784 813 205 608

1,039 1,264

211

3,737 1,872

2,11+3 97

1,862 916

253 663

91+1 ^,539 1,516

181 3,215 1,771

2,168 68

1,^^77

1,057

236

821

867 i+,5i+2 1,386

165 3,199 1,666

1,911 85

1,584

97^ 27I+ 700

915 4,497 l,4oi

184 3,^29 1,671

1,797 78

1,5^+0 910 260 650

780 4,130 1,320

160 3,420 1,690

1,770 80

1,510 1,930

800 4,900 l,44o

300 4,610 1,670

1,980 170

11,9

1,5 6

4

2,5 8

1 2,1 2,1

1,3

1

1/ Statistics are for April of each year except 191+0, where they refer to the last week in March.

Source: U. S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census, Current Population Reports; and U. S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Monthly Labor Review, August 1947-

262286 0-53-3

13

I I I

1 i 1 •

% i I •

11 I III

1 I • .•.•.

i i i ^ I I I

• 1 ■ 11

II i i I f

I 4 i I «' ?. I 111 III I I I ^

■ I I I I r

i I I I 9 i t 111 I I I ^

i* t* j» f^

1?^ i?^ ;*

CHART IT

NUMBER OF EMPLOYED PERSONS IN MAJOR OCCUPATION GROUPS

APRIL, 1953

PROFESSIONAL, TECHNICAL AND KINDRED WORKERS

FARMERS AND FARM MANAGERS

MANAGERS, OFFICIALS AND PROPRIETORS EXCEPT FARM

CLERICAL AND KINDRED WORKERS

SALES WORKERS

CRAFTSMEN, FOREMEN AND KINDRED WORKERS

OPERATIVES AND KINDRED WORKERS

PRIVATE HOUSEHOLD WORKERS

SERVICE WORKERS EXCEPT

PRIVATE HOUSEHOLD

FARM LABORERS AND FOREMEN

LABORERS EXCEPT FARM AND MINE

WOMEN MEN

MILLIONS OF WORKERS

7 8 9 10

Prcfe vor

exc Clerl Sales Craft

vor Opera Prlva Seni

hou laboi

Ml

SOURCE U S Bureau of the Census

12

ill

I I If I i- I 1 I l> • I >« .

Ill III 1 f I I i i i i i i

I 1 I I I 1 11 I i I i I I II

I I I I I 1 I I' i I i I I I i i I i I I i I I I I 1 I I i t I I I 1 II ^ I I I I I I I 1 I 3 I B I I I I 11 n- ^11 I I I f ^

Table k. Major Occupation Group of Employed Women: 19^+0, 19'<-5, and 1914.7-1953

(In thousands)

1/

Major occupation group

1953

1952

1951

1950

19^+9

19hQ

19I+7

19^5

Number of employed women - - - •

Professional, technical and kindred workers -------------.

Farmers and farm workers -_--_. Farmers and farm managers - - - . Farm laborers and foremen - - - • Managers, officials and proprietors,

except farm ------------

ClericaJ. and kindred workers - - - . Sales workers ------------

Craftsmen, foremen and kindred

workers --------------

Operatives and kindred workers - - • Private household workers ------

Service workers, except private

household -------------

Laborers, except farm and mine - - ■

18,434

18,234

17,890

17,176

16,356

16,529

15,800

19,310

1,928 730 150 580

888 5,090 1,434

268 3,862 1,854

2,300 80

2,026 780 166 6l4

978 5,284 l,4l6

244 3,^^96 1,7*^8

2,134 128

1,784 813 205 608

1,039 ^^,931 1,264

211

3,737 1,872

2,l43 97

1,862 916

253 663

94i

^,539 1,516

181 3,215 1,771

2,168 68

l,i^77

1,057

236

821

867 4,542 1,386

165 3,199 1,666

1,911 85

1,584

97^ 274 700

915 4,497 1,401

184 3,^29 1,671

1,797 78

1,540 910 260 650

780 4,130 1,320

160 3,420 1,690

1,770 80

1,510 1,930

800 4,900 1,440

300 4,610 1,670

1,980 170

1/ Statistics are for April of each year except 1940, where they refer to the last week in March.

Sovirce: U. S. Department of Commerce, Btireau of the Census, Current Population Reports; and U. S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Monthly Labor Review, August 1947'

262286 0-53-3

13

CHART nr

PERCENT OF WOMEN & MEN IN EACH OCCUPATIONAL GROUP:

1953

of

ALL OCCUPATIONS

SALES WORKERS

PRIVATE HOUSEHOLD WORKERS

CLERICAL WORKERS

SERVICE WORKERS, EXCEPT PRIV. HOUSEHOLD

PROFESSIONAL.TECHNICAL, KINDRED WORKERS

WOMEN

OPERATIVES, KINDRED WORKERS

/^

MEN

^

MANAGERS, OFFICIALS, PROPRIETORS, EXCEPT FARM

FARMERS, FARM WORKERS

CRAFTSMEN, FOREMEN, KINDRED WORKERS

LABORERS, EXCEPT FARM a MINE

SOURCE: U. S. Bureou of the Census

14

Table 5- Percent Women Formed of All Employed Persona in Each Occupational Group;

19^0, 19^5, and 191^7-1953" 1/

Major occupation group

1953

1952

1951

1950

19*^9

191^8

1947

19^5

19'4-0

Total

Professional, technical and kindred

workers -------------

Farmers and farm workers -----

Farmers and farm managers - - - Farm laborers and foremen - - - Msinagers, officials and proprietors,

except farm -----------

Clerical and kindred workers - - - Sales workers -----------

Craftsmen, foremen and kindred

workers -------------

Operatives and kindred workers - - Private household workers -----

Service workers, except private

household ------------

Laborers, except farm and mine - -

30.1

35.9

12.5

4.0

27.4

14.5 65.4 38.8

3.0 30.0 97.3

44.8 2.2

30.3

39.1

12.6

4.1

28.7

16.3 65.1 38.4

2.8 28.7 97.9

46.1 3.6

29.8

29.3

28.3

28.3

27.9

37.4

12.5

4.9

26.0

16.6 65.1 34.9

2.5 29.7 97.4

47.4 2.5

41.8 13-0

5.5 27.4

14.8

59-3 39.0

2.4 26.9 92.1

45.4 2.2

36.6

13.9

4.9

29.2

13-8 61.2 37.7

2.1

38.7

13.

5.

27.

14, 61,

27. 91.

44, 2.

38.8

2.3 28.0 92

42, 2,

39.9 11.8

5.1 25.0

13.5 58.6

39.9

2, 28, 92.

43. 2,

36.0

46.5 22.4

17. 70, 54,

4, 38,

93.8

47.8 6.1

25.9

45.4 8.0

11.7 52.6

27.9

2.1

25.7 93.8

40.1 3.2

1/ Statistics are for April of each year except 1940, where they refer to the last week in March.

Source: U. S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census, Current Population Reports; and U. S. Labor, Biureau of Labor Statistics, Monthly Labor Review, August 1947 »

Department of

15

CHART Bt

OCCUPATIONAL PATTERNS'- 1940, 1945 TO 1953

PERCENT OF WOMEN WORKERS ENGAGED IN SELECTED FIELDS

PERCENT 30|

20

THESE JOBS INCREASED .

28 28 28

lot

"40 45 '47 '49 '51 '53

CLERICAL

'40 '45 '47 '49 '51 '53

OPERATIVE

'40 '45 '47 49 '51 '53

MANAGERIAL

20

THESE JOBS DECREASED -

13

'40 45 '47 '49 '51 '53

PROFESSIONAL

40 45 47 '49 '51 '53

PRIVATE HOUSE HOLD

20

t20

10

THESE JOBS SHOWED LITTLE CHANGE,

12 12

I

40 45 '47 '49 '51 '53

SERVICE

40

45 47 49 SALES

51 53

10

SOURCE- U. S. Bureau of the Census

16

Table 6. Percent Distribution of Employed Men and Women, by Occupation: 1940, 19it5, 19^7, 19if9, 195J, and 1953

1/

Major occupation group

1953

Men

Women

1951

Men

Women

1949

Men

Women

1947

Men

Women

19^5

Men

Women

1940

Men

Women

Total - - -

100.0

Professional, technical

and kindred workers - Farmers and farm workers Farmers and farm

managers - - - - - Farm laborers and foremen - - - - - Managers, officials and

proprietors , except

farm --------

Clerical and kindred

workers -------

Sales workers - - - - -

Creiftsmen, foremen and

kindred workers - - - Operatives and kindred

workers -------

Private household

workers -------

Service workers, except

private household - - Laborers, except faxm

and mine ------

8.0 11.9

8.3

3.6

12.2

6.3 5.3

20.0

21.1

.1

6.6 8.4

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

10.5

3.9

3.1

4.8 27.6

7.8

1-5 21.0 10.1

12.5

.4

7.1

13-5 4.1

12.3

6.3 5.6

19.6

21.0

.1

5.6 8.9

10.0

4.5

1.1 3A

5.8

27.6 7.1

1.2

20.9 10.5

12.0

.5

6.2

15.8

11.0 4.8

13.0

7-0

5.5

18.1

20.3

.4

5.8 7.8

9.0

6.4

1.4

5.0

5.3 27.8

8.5

1.0

19.6

10.2

11.7 .5

5.7 16.7

11.9

4.8 12.2

7.1 4.9

18.0

21.4 •3

5.6

8.1

9-7

5.8 1.7

4.1

4.9

26.1 8.4

1.0

21.7 10.7

11.2 ■ 5

5.1 19.5

11.0 6.0

3.5

19.0

21.7

.3

6.3

7.6

7.8

10.0

4.1 25.4

7-5 1-5

23.9 8.6

10.3 .9

5. 23.

9.9

100.0

13.3 5.7

3.8

6.7 6.3	21.2 7.0
14.7	.9
18.5	18,4
.4	17.6
5.9	11.3
8.8	.8

1/ Statistics are for April of each year except 1940, where they refer to the last week in March.

Source: U. S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census, Current Population Reports; and U. S. Dep6u*tment of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Monthly Labor Review, August 1947-

17

III. INDUSTRY AND CLASS OF WORKER

Class of Worker in Nonagrlcultural and AgricultxiraJ. Employment

Since 19*^0, at least four-fifths of all employed women have been wage and salary workers, and the remainder have been self-employed or \m- paid family workers. Figvires differentiating self-employed women from unpaid women family workers have been available only since 19^+6; and these figures indicate that less than 10 percent of the women who are in the labor force are self- employed. In 1953> these women were only 6 per- cent of nil employed women. Among all employed workers, both women and men, the combined group of the self-employed and the unpaid family work- ers has declined from a fourth of all workers in ■19lt-0 to less than a fifth in 1953* Women were 1^4- percent of all self-employed and unpaid family workers in 19i4-0. In 19*+ 5 > when women were apparent- ly caring for the business enterprises of their soldier-husbands, this proportion rose to 28 per- cent. In 1953» women accounted for 20 percent of all self-employed persons and unpaid family workers combined (table 7) •

About 95 percent of all employed women work in iionagriciiltural industries. Almost all of these women are wa^e and salary workers; only about 6 percent are self-employed. Among the wage and salary workers, more than 2^ million women are employees of Federal, State, or local governments; almost another 2 million are In pri- vate household work; and the remaining 12 mil- lion are wage or salary workers in private employment (table 7) •

Only about 5 percent of all employed women^ or less than 1 million, vork in agriculture.

During the spring and summer and the fall har- vesting seasons, this number almost doubles.

In off-season months roughly from 10 to 15 percent of the persons in agriculture are women. In the harvesting seasons, however, this propor- tion may be as high as one-fourth of all workers. Depending upon the season of the year, from more

18

than a half to almost three-fourths of women farm workers may be unpaid family workers who do farm work for at least 15 hours a week (table 7).

Major Industry Distribution

Four major indvistry groups - manufacturing, retail trade, professional and related services, and personal services - accounted for the employ- ment of more than three-fourths of ^n women workers in both 1914-0 and 1952. Within this period of time, however, a significant change had occurred in the distribution of women within these four groups; Whereas in 19^0, a quarter of all women were employed in personal services and only a fifth in manufacturing indiistries, by 1952 these proportions were more than reversed, with nearly a quarter in manufacturing and less than a sixth in personal services (table 8).

In memuf acturlng, the proportion women were of all workers had increased only slightly be- tween 19^0 and 1952. During this same period, however, the proportion women formed of retail trade workers increased 10 points - from less than a third to two-fifths of all such workers (table 8). Although the proportion of workers in personal services who were women declined during the 12-year period, women were still al- most three-fourths of all employees in the industry.

Not more than 5 percent - less than a million women - were employed in each of the remaining major indvistry groups in 1952. However, the pro- portion women were of all workers in these indus- tries increased within the decade; and in 1952, wcanen were two-fifths of all employees in finance. Insurance, smd real estate, and about a quarter of all persons employed in entertainment and recreation and of all public administration employ- ees (table 8) .

Manufacturing Industries

Four indvistrles accounted for the employment of more than half of the k.6 million women in manufacturing industries in March 1953- These industries were the following: Apparel and other finished textile products, with almost a million women; textile-mill products, and electrical machinery, each with more than half a million women; and food products, with slightly more than one-third million women (table 9)-

Since 1950, only relatively small changes have occurred in the industry distribution of women in manufacturing. Howevei^ the cumulative effects of these changes have been sitf fie lent to produce a noticeable change in the "durable-non- durable" distribution of women: In 1950, more than two-thirds of the women were engaged in the production of soft goods - apparel, textiles.

19

food, leather goods, etc.; and the remainder were engaged In heavy industries, such as machinery, transportation equipment, fabri- cated metal products, ordnance, etc. By 1953/ reflecting the stepped-up production for defense purposes, the proportion of women employed in durable goods had increeus- ed 9 points, to k2 percent; and the propor- tion in nondvirable goods had declined 8 points, to 58 percent.

The most dramatic increase in the employ- ment of women in heavy industries was in ordnance and accessories. From only h thousand women in 1950, the number of employed women increased to 51 thousand women in 1953, or from only 1? per- cent of all ordnance workers to 2J percent of all workers in this field (tables 9 and 10).

Women were three-fourths of all workers in apparel manufacturing, nearly three-fifths of all workers in tobacco manufactures, and a third or more of all workers in textile, electrical machinery, leather products, instruments, and mis- cellaneous manufactures, in March 1953 (table 10).

Data are not available from the same source to indicate how many of the women employed in manvtfacturing are production workers, and how many are clerical, administrative, euad supervi- sory workers. According to the 19^7 Census of Manufactures, however, 8I percent of all women

and 6h percent of all men in manufacturing were production workers. For women, this proportion ranged from a high of ^k percent or more in tobacco, textile, and apparel manufacturing, to a low of k6 percent or less in primary metals, printing and publishing, and petroleum and coal products manufacturing, the latter with less than a qviarter of the women employed as production workers .

During World War II, of course, it was as production workers, particularly in the durable- goods indiistries, that women were added to the labor force in such impressive nianbers, to reach a wartime peak in November 19^3 of 5 million women in all manufacturing industries, double the nvmiber who were so employed before the war. Women rose from only 8 percent of all dxurable- goods production workers in October 19'»-0 to 2k percent of all such workers in 19^3- In non- durable-goods industries women increased from 39 to k^ percent of all production workers during this period.

Federal Government Employment

In June 1952, there were slightly more than ^ million women working for the Federal Government in civilian jobs. These women constituted about a fourth of all Government workers (table 11).

In 1923, the first year for which data are

20

available "by sex, there were only 80 thoiasand women in the Federal service and they formed only a sixth of all Government workers. Their numbers increased slowly in subsequent yeaxs and in June 19^1^ before Pearl Harbor, there were only 266 thousand women in Federal jobs, a fifth of all Federal workers (table 11).

Necessity temporarily opened the Federal service to women, and 2 years after the outbreak of war their numbers approached 1 million; this was more than a third of all Federal civiliem workers, better than double the proportion they had formed 10 years earlier.

Immediately following the war, of course, the size of the Federal civilian service declined by 20 percent, but the number of women employed declined by i^•0 percent. In 19^5^ women were 38 percent of all Federal workers. In 19^6, women were displaced by men, many of whom were now eligible for veterans ' preference in the Federal service; and the proportion of women declined to 28 percent. Today, women are only a fourth of an Federal workers (table 11).

Employment Among Farm Women

In April 1952, there were about 8 million women, l^J- percent of the woman population, who

were living on farms. Only about a fifth of these women - about l|- million - were employed. More than half of this group were in nonagricul- tural industries (table 12) . However, April is not a month of high seasonal employment among farm workers; therefore, these figures fail to show that during the heirvesting seasons many additional farm women will be engaged as unpaid family workers on family farms. (See ch. II, Occupations - Farm Workers.)

Limited employment opportunities for farm women is probably one of the factors involved in the shift in population from rural to urban areas . This population shift has been a significant develop- ment in this country in the last decade. According to the 1950 decennial census, the proportion of the woman popvilation living in rural farm areas was reduced from a fifth an an eighth between 19^4-0 and 1950. The proportion of women living in urban areas, on the other hand, increased from three- fifths to two-thirds during this period. The resi- dential distribution of the woman labor force, of course, followed a similar pattern (table 13) .

Although the labor force participation rate of women living in rural farm areas increased during the decade, in 1.950 it was only lb percent^half the worker rate for woinen living in urban areas (table 13).

262286 0-53

21

CHART :£

WOMEN IN AGRICULTURAL AND NONAGRICULTURAL INDUSTRIESM953

AGRICULTURAL WORKERS

NONAGRICULTURAL WORKERS

NUMBER OF WOMEN -APRIL 1953

10

12

14

16

18

CLASS OF WORKER, APRIL 1953

IN AGRICULTURAL INDUSTRIES

IN NONAGRICULTURAL INDUSTRIES

WOMEN IN AGRICULTURE: 1952

THOUSANDS I500t

1000

500

THOUSANDS tISOO

ERS AND FOREMEN

FARMERS AND FARM MANAGERS

1000

500

JAN

APRIL

JULY

OCT

SOURCE: US Bureau of the Census

22

Table 7- Clasa of Worker of Employed Women: 19^, 19'+6, 1950, and 1953 ^

	Number of women			Percent			Percent of
Class of	(in thousands)		distribution			all workers
Worker	1953	1950	1946	1940	1953	1950	1946	1940	1953	1950	1946	... 1940
Total --	18,1*3'^	17,176	16,130	11,920	100.0	100.0	100.0	100.0	30.1	29.3	29.8	25.9
Wage or salary workers - - - -	16,330	14,824	13,600	10,240	88.6	86.3	84.3	85.9	32.4	32.0	32.5	29.7
Self-employed and unpaid
family workers 2/ _ _ _	2,10U	2,352	2,530	1,680	11.4	13.7	15.7	14.1	19-5	19.1	20.7	14.4
Self-employed workers —	1,178	1,410	1,320		6.4	8.2	8.2		12.7	13-3	13.1
Unpaid family workers	926	942	1,210		5.0	5.5	7.5		61.7	56.2	55.8
Employed in stgriculture - - -	77^*	923	1,360	700	4.2	5.4	8.4	5.9	12.8	12.8	16.6	8.0
Wage or salary workers - - -	98	46	i4o	120	.5	.3	.9	1.0	7.5	3.4	9.2	5.6
Self-employed workers - - -	160	253	360	190	.9	1.5	2.2	1.6	1^.3	5.5	7-3	3.6
Unpaid family workers - - -	516	625	860	390	2.8	3.6	5.3	3.3	50.2	48.7	49.7	28.7
Employed in nonagricultural
industries ________	17,660	16,253	11^,770	11,220	95.8	94.6	91.6	94.1	32.0	31.6	32.1	30.0
Wage or salary workers 2/ -	16,232	14,778	13,460	10,120	88.1	86.0	83.4	84.9	33.0	32.8	33.3	31.3
Private household workers.	1,862	1,756	1,400		10,1	10.2	8.7		89.9	88.7	88,1
Government workers - — -	2,29k	2,233	2,o4o		12.4	13.0	12.6		35.8	36.3	36.6
Other wage or salary
workers -------	12,076	10,790	10,020		65.5	62.8	62.1		29.7	29.2	30.2
Self-employed and unpedd
family workers 2/ _	1,1*28	1,1*74	1,310	1,100	7.7	8.6	8.1	9.2	23.7	22.9	23.5	21.8
Self-employed workers - -	1,018	1,157	960		5.5	6.7	6.0		18.3	19.1	18.7
Unpaid family workers - -	kio	317	350		2.2	1.8	2.2		86.9	81.1	79.5

1/ statistics are for April of each year except 1940, where they refer to the last week in March.

2/ Detail not available for these groups in 1940.

Source: U. S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census, Current Population Reports.

23

CHART YL

EMPLOYED WOMEN BY INDUSTRY: 1940 ond 1952

(PERCENT distribution)

PERCENT

lOQ

OTHER INDUSTRIES

PERCENT rlOO

80

60

40

20

3.5

3.1

^IM^s^y' """""■ ' ' i^y^^^^^A^jji^^^AgiijM^

3.2

4.2

26.4

16.9

17.0

PUBLIC administration" AGRICULTURE

personal service

professional service

retail trade

manufacturing

5.1

4.2

4.5

4.6

5.0

15.8

1.1^.1 t,t f.l, t,\

16.2 ■:

21.0

80

V-60

■40

20

1940

source: U.S. Bureou of the Census

1952

24

Table 8. Major Industry Group of Employed Women: 19^0, 19 5Q and 1952

1/

Major industry group

Number (in thousands)

1952

1950

19l)-0

Percent distribution

1952

1950

19l<-0

Percent of all workers

1952

1950

19'J-O

All groups - - -

Manufacturing - - - - - -

Retail trade - - - - - -

Professional and related services - - - - _ _ _

Personal services - - - -

Finance, Insurance and real estate - ---- -__

Transportation, communication

and otber public utilities Agriculture, forestry and fisheries ---- _.--

Public administration - - - Wholesale trade - - - - - -

Business and repair services Entertainment and recrea- tion services - - - - - -

Construction - - - - - - -

Mining ------ _-__

1

18,231+

i+,3io 3,826

2,956 2,888

912

830

Blk

nk

1+18 218

1I+6

128

11+

16,671+

11,920

100.0

100.0

100.0

30.3

3,765 3,1+03

2,735 3,000

856

663

692

7I+3 1+52

159

125 68

15

2,51+0 2,021

2,018 3,11+5

1+97

377

533

371

199

81+

87 37 12

23.6 21.0

16.2 15.8

5.0

1+.6

1+.5 1+.2

2.3 1.2

.7 .1

22 20

16.1+ 18.0

5.1 l+.O

1+.2 I+.5 2.7 1.0

.7 .1+ .1

21.3 17.0

16.9 26.1+

1+.2

3.2

I+.5 3.1 1-7

.7 .7

•3

.1

26, 1+0,

60.1 71.6

1+2.9

17.6

12.6

21+.9 i8.5

16.7

27.0

3.1 1.6

29.0

25.1+ 36.2

55.2 70.7

1+2.7

11+.9

10.2 25.1+

19-3 13-1+

21+.1+ 2.2 1.8

25.9

23.2 30.7

57.1+ 73.2

32.5 11.8

6.2 20.5 16.0

9-5

21.3 1.8 1-3

1/ Data refer to April 1952, March 1950, eind March 19I+O.

Source: U. S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census, Ciurrent Population Reports.

25

CHART ¥11

WOMEN IN MANUFACTURING INDUSTRIES M950 and 1953

DURABLE GOODS ELECTRICAL MACHINERY

TRANSPORTATION EQUIPMENT MACHINERY (except electrical) FABRICATED METAL PRODUCTS INSTRUMENTS AND RELATED PRODUCTS STONE, CLAY, AND GLASS PRODUCTS PRIMARY METAL PRODUCTS FURNITURE AND FIXTURES LUMBER AND WOOD PRODUCTS ORDNANCE AND ACCESSORIES

MISCELLANEOUS MANUFACTURING

NONDURABLE GOODS

APPAREL AND OTHER FINISHED TEXTILE PRODUCTS

TEXTILE- MILL PRODUCTS

FOOD AND KINDRED PRODUCTS

PRINTING, PUBLISHING AND ALLIED PRODUCTS

LEATHER AND LEATHER PRODUCTS

CHEMICALS AND ALLIED PRODUCTS

PAPER AND ALLIED PRODUCTS

RUBBER PRODUCTS

TOBACCO MANUFACTURES

PRODUCTS OF PETROLEUM AND COAL

SOURCE^ Bureau of Labor Statistics

100

200

NUMBER OF WOMEN (In thousonds) 300 400 5 00 600 700

8 00

900

1000

1953 1950

t

86

Table 9. Numiber of Women In Manufacturing Industries: 1950-1953

(In thousands)

1/

Industry

1953

1952

1951

1950

All manufacturing --------

Durable goods ---------------

Nondurable goods -------------

Apparel and other finished textile products Textile-mill products -----------

Electrical, machinery -----------

Food and kindred products ---------

Transportation equipment ---------

Machinery (except electricsuL) -------

Fabricated metal products ---------

Printing, publishing, and allied industries Leather and leather products -------

Chemicals and allied products -------

Instruments and related products - - _ - - Paper and allied products -- ------

Stone, clay, and glass products - - - -

Primary metal industries ---------

Rubber products ----- ______--

Furniture and fixtures -- --------

Tobacco manufactures ---- ---_-__

Lumber and wood products (except furniture) Ordnance and accessories ---------

Products of petroleiom and coal ------

Miscellaneous manufacturing industries - -

k,622.3

1,919.7 2,702.8

980.8 542.9 50if.5 3^ A 255A 2iA.9

235.1

212.1

204.2

146.4

125.0

124.0

94.1

82.3

76.6

73-2

56.1

52.8

51.2

15.3 201.2

4,238.0

4,280.0

1,665.0 2,573-0

928.8

516.7

416.3

337.9

203.9

235.7

199

203

188

143

110.8

112.6

87.9 77.6

71.1 64.3 55.2

50.9

44.0

14.7

174.6

1/ Data are for March of each year.

Source: U. S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics.

1,598.4 2,681.6

964.7 568.6 401.7 350.8 163.8

219.3

209.0

206.9

192.1

134.4

101.9

122.6

96.3

71.7

73.7

66.2

55.3 55.3

10.4

12.5

202.8

3,752.7

1,238.3 2,514.4

912.0

546.5

303.6

332.2

107.2

168.6

166.1

193.8

181.7

115.1

76.8

108.2

78.0

59.6

60.3

56.2

53.8

50.4

4.4

10.8

167.4

27

CHART YHL

PROPORTION OF MEN AND WOMEN WORKERS IN MANUFACTURING INDUSTRIES- 1953

DURABLE GOODS

ELECTRICAL

N

ISC. MFG.

NSTRUMENTS

ORDNANCE FABRICATED FURNITURE STONE

, CLAY, MACHINERY

TRANSPORTATION LUMBER

PRIMARY

MACHINERY METALS GLASS (EXCEPT ELEC)

METALS

PERCENT NONDURABLE GOODS

PERCENT

22

42

49

56

72

73

76

76

81

94

7«;

75 50

^^ps^H

^^

^^^^^H ^H^l^H ^■i^^l ^^^^^H ^HI^^H ^H^^^l

^^^

^^^^^^B ^^^^^^1 ^^Hi^^H ^Hii^H

"^ — ^ — ^ — ^ — ^ — ^ — ^Vi^^ ~

25

^^^1 ^^^1 ^^^1 ^^^1 H|e^ HaTH Hf^H H^TH ^PHH ^^^^^^1 ^^^^^^1 ^^^^^H ^^^^^H ^^^^^^1 ^^^^^^1 ^^B^^H ^^B^^H ^Hi^^H

^■^^ 0

APPAREL TOBACCO LEATHER TEXTILES RUBBER PRINTING FOOD PAPER CHEMICALS

PRODUCTS OF

PETROLEUM S COAL

SOURCE: Bureau of Labor Statistics

28

Table 10. Percent Distribution of Employed Women and Percent Women Formed of All Workers

in Manufacturing Industries: 1950-1953 1/

Industry

All manufacturing ------

Durable goods -------------

Nondurable goods -----------

Apparel and other finished textile products - -------------

Textile-mill products ---------

Electrical machinery ---------

Food and kindred products -------

Transportation equipment -------

Machinery (except electrical) - - - - -

Fabricated metal products -.?-----

Printing, publishing, and allied

industries -------------

Leather and leather products - - - - .

Chemicals and allied products - - - - -

Instruments and related products - - - Paper and allied products -------

Stone, clay, and glass products - - - -

Primary metal industries -------

Rubber products ------ -----

Furniture and fixtvires --------

Tobacco manufactures ,--------

Lumber and vood products (except

fximiture) -------------

Ordnance and accessories -------

Products of petroleum and coal - - - -

Miscellaneous manufacturing industries

Percent distribution

1953

100

k2 58

21

12 11

7 6

5 5

5 k

3 3

3 2 2 2

2

1

1 1

r

1952

100

39 61

22 12 10

8

5 6 5

5 k

3 3 3 2 2 2 2 1

1 1

1951

100

37 63

23 13 9 8 k 5 5

5 k

3 2

3 2 2

2 2

1

1950

1

2/ 5

100

33 67

24

15 8

9 3 k k

5 5 3 2

3 2 2 2

1 1

1

Percent of all workers

1953

27

19

38

78 kk k2 2k

13 Ik 20

27 51

19 38 2k

17 6 28 19 58

7

27

6

1^1

1952

26

18 38

77 k3 ko

2k

13 Ik

19

27 50 19 36 23 17 6

27 18 58

7 28

6 39

1951

27

18 38

77 k3 ko

2k

n Ik 19

28

1^7 18 36 21^

17 6 28 17 59

7 22

5

in

1950

27

17 38

76 1^3 38 24

10

13 19

27

46

17 33 23 16

5 26 l6 57

7 17

5 40

1/ Data are for March of each year.

2/ Percent not shovn vhere less than 1.

Sovirce: U. S. Depajrtment of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics.

262286 O - 53

29

CHART IX

NUMBER OF WOMEN IN FEDERAL CIVILIAN EMPLOYMENT

1923 — 1952

THOUSANDS 1200

1100

1000

900

800

700

600

500

400

300

200

100

'29

34

'39 '40 '4\ '43 44 45 46 47 48 49 "50 '51 '52

30

Table 11. Employment in Federal Civilian Service:

(in thousands)

1923-1952

1/

1/ Data refer to June, except l^kk- (July) .

2/ Partially estimated.

3/ Fxill-time regxilaj: employees only.

Source: U. S. Civil Service Commission. Data for Continental United States only.

	Number of men	Women ]		Number of men	Women
		Percent		Percent
Year	and	Number	of all	Year	axid	Number	of all
	women		workers		women		workers
1952	2^19	597	2i+.7	3/ 1943 - - - ^	2,793	961	3>k.k
1951	2,313	573	2k. d	19111 .	1,358	266	19.6
1950	1,819	k06	22.3	1940	1,003	186	18.6
1949	1,929	k3k	22.5	1939 .	920	173	18.8
191^8	1,860	If2U	22.8	1934 .	673	103	15.3
I9I+7	1,850	hhl	23.8	1929	560	80	14.3
I9J+6	2,299	6k6	28.1	192if	5 522	78	lif.9
191^5	2,915	2/1,093	37.5	1923	516	81	15.8
191^4	2,91^1	1,106	37.6

31

Table 12. Employment Status of Women Living on Farms: 1950-1952

1/

Employment status

Number of women (in thovisandsj

1952

1951

1950

Percent distribution

1952

1951

1950

Percent of womaji population 2/

1952

1951

1950

Women living on farms

In labor force ------

Employed --------

Agriculture _ - - - -

Nonagricultural

industries - - - - -

Unemployed -------

Not in the labor force - -

8,075

l,66l

1,637 760

877

2k

7,965

8,391

100.0

100.0

100.0

14.0

1,838

1,792

793

999 1^6

6,127

1,921^

1,851

896

955 73

6,h6l

20.6

20.3

9A

10.9 • 3

79 A

23.1 22.5

10.0

12.5 .6

76.9

22.9

22,

10,

11,

77.1

8.8

9.0

93.6

5.0 I1.3

16.5

11+. 0

9.9 10.0 9h.k

5.9 6.k

16.0

1I+.9

10.7 10.8 97.1

5.9 8.2

16.9

Employment of Women Living on Farms

Employed

Agriculture - -

Nonagri cultural

industries

1952 100.0	1951 100.0	1950 100.0
46.1+ 53.6	kk.3 55.7	kQ.k 51.6

1/ Data refer to April of each year.

2/ Civilian noninstitutional population, Ik years and over.

Source: U. S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census, Current Poptilation Reports; and Department of Agriculture, Bxireau of Agricultural Economics.

32

Table 13 . Urbaji-Rural Residence of Women in the Population and Labor Force;

1914-0 and 1950

Residence	Number of vomen (in thoiisands)	Percent distribution	Percent of total
	1950	191^0	1950 1 I9I+O	1950	19*^0
Total	Population 57,Oif2 50,5^9 100.0	100.0	50.8	50.0
Urban ----- -_-- Riu-al nonf arm - - - - - Rural farm - - - - - - -	38,622 10,935 7,i^85	30,772 9,838 9,939	67.7 19.2 13.1	60.9 19.5 19.7	52.0 1^9.2 1^7.1	51.6 k9.l 1^6.5

Labor Force

Total	16,501	12,8i^5	100.0	100.0	27.5	24.3
Urban ---- ----- Rural nonf arm - - - - - Rural farm - - - - - - -	12,838 2,1^85 1,178	9,606 2,032 1,207	77.8 15.1 7.1	7l^.8 15.8 9.h	31.2 22.9 li^.5	29.5 21.0 11.5

Labor Force Participation Rates

Urban - - - - Rural nonfarm Rural farm -

1950

33.2 22.7

15.7

19^0

31.2 20.7 12.1

Source: U. S. Department of Commerce, Bxireau of the Census, 1950 and 19I+O Census of Population. (Population and labor force in Continental United States . )

33

IV. UNEMPLOYMENT

Persons who are not working, either because they are not able or do not wish to work, are not considered part of the labor force and, therefore, are not among those classified as "unemployed." In April 1953^ unemployed women, those actually seeking work, numbered almost h raillionj however, these women represented only 2j percent of all women in the labor force. Furthermore, at that time women formed no greater proportion of the unemployed than of the eniployed.

Numbers

Since 19'<-0, unemployment among women has dropped from about 2 million to less than j mil- lion, the low point being approximately -^ million during the war years 19^ and 19^5' Beginning with the postwar year 19^6, the mamber of unemployed wom- en fast began to approach the 1 million mark, until 1951 ■when the employment effects of the Korean crisis caused a reversal of this trend, bringing the number down again to the post-World War II level of |- million.

In Contrast to Men

Traditionally, the unemployment rate for men is higher than for women; however, this pattern has been subject to deviations when men are being inducted into or released from the Armed Forces. As one might ex- pect, the unemployment rates for both men and women were at their lowest during World War II, but slight- ly higher for women than for men because war-occasioned job opportunities brought large numbers of women into the labor force to seek work. The postwar period (19^6 to 1950); however, showed the traditional pic- ture, with unemployment rates for men, who were

returning from the armed services and seeking civilian jobs, noticeably higher than for women, many of whom were leaving the labor force following the war. With the advent of the Korean crisis, the picture was again re- versed, and the rate for women exceeded that for men. Like the World War II picture, this development unquestionably resulted from the influx of women into the labor market for the pvtrpose of secioring jobs expected to arise from defense expansion.

Women Among the Employed and Uneniployed

The proportion which women form of all em- ployed persons has risen steadily since 19^0, from about 1/4 to almost I/3 of the total; the only marked fluctuation in this trend has been the definite increase during World War II. Among the unemployed, however, no such steady or clear trend is evident. Rather, the pro- portion \Aiich women form of the unemployed has shown a number of fluctuations which axe direct- ly related to expansion and contraction of the labor market: The proportion rose shsa^jly dur- ing World War II, fell sharply eifter the war and rose sharply again with the Korean engagement. This reflects clearly the tendency of a sizable segment of the woman population to enter the labor force during times of emergency, and withdraw when heavy demands for labor have sub- sided or not materialized. However, in viev of the small but steady increase in women's proportion of the employed, it is also clear that some of these new entrants become permanent members of the labor force.

34

Table l4. Unemployment Among Women in the Labor Force: 1940-1953

1/

Year	Number of unemployed women (in thousands)	Unemployment rate	Percent women formed of-
	Women Men	Unemployed	Employed
1953 1952 1951 1950 - 1949-- 191^8 1947 1946 1945 1944 1943 1942 1941 - 1940	478 564 716 887 811 626 520 460 260 270 500 1,010 1,690 1,920	2.5 3.0 3.8 4.9 4.7 3.6 3.2 2.8 1.3 1.5 2.8 6.5 12.1 13.9	2.5 2.4 2.4 6.0 5.0 3.6 4.4 4.7 .8 1.0 1.4 5.0 11.4 15.9	30.2 35.0 41.1 25.2 26.9 28.5 21.5 19.7 49.1 42.9 49.5 33.1 26.5 23.0	30.1 30.3 29.8 29.3 28.2 28.3 27.6 29.4 36.1 34.0 33.0 27.7 25.3 25.4

1/ statistics are for April of each year except 1940, where they refer to the last week in March.

Source: U. S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census, Cvurrent Population Reports,

35

LABOR TURHOVER AND LENGTH OF TIME ON THE JOB

Labor Turnover In Selected Manufacturing Industries

The rate at -which persons voluntarily quit their jobs is affected by the availability of other jobs. Following the Korean crisis, as eniployment in defense- connected industries expanded, the quit rate for women increased. For the month of April 1950, jxist prior to the Korean outbreak, women were quitting their jobs at a rate of l8 per 1,000 women employees. In April 1951> this rate had increased to 26, and in April 1952 it was 2k.

Moreover, in I95O the rate for involuntaxy separa- tions among women - layoffs, discharges, etc. - was about the same as the rate for voluntary separations, or 17 women per 1,000 women employees. In April 1951> however, while the quit rate for women was 26 per 1,000 women, the involuntary separation rate was 20 per 1,000. In April 1952, the rates on voluntary and involiintary separations for women were 2k and 21 (per 1,000 employees), respectively (table 15) •

Hiring of women workers in manufacturing plants was, of course, considerably stimulated by the Korean crisis. The rate of hiring changed from 35 women per 1,000 em- ployees in April 1950 to if 5 women per 1,000 employees in April 1951^ or an Increase of almost 30 percent. In April 1952, there was a decline in the hiring rate by comparison with 1951^ hut the rate was still I7 percent above what It had been in April 1950 (table 15) •

Turnover Among Women and Men

Labor turnover rates for men emd women separately are available for 20 manufacturing industries. These rates for April 1952 indicate that in those durable -

goods industries for which rates are available voluntary separations among men and women occurred at the same rate, namely 23 per 1,000 employees. In two individtial industries within the durable - goods group, quit rates were higher for women than for men: In electrical machinery sind in instrument manufacturing (table 16) .

In the nine other heavy indiostries for which rates were reported, quit rates were approximately the same for women as for men, with the following two exceptions: In furniture manufacturing, where women are about a fifth of all workers, the women's quit rate was substantially lower than men's. In lumber manufacturing (primarily a man-employing industry) the men's quit rates were substantially higher than the rates for women (table I6).

In nondurable -goods Industries, on the other hand, the overall quit rates for the industries reported are considerably higher for women than for men - respectively, 26 and 18 per 1,000 employees. Women quit their jobs at a somewhat higher rate than men in the large women-employing industries of apparel, tobacco, and leather manufacturing. (About 50 percent or more of all of the employees in these Industries are women.) Women also leave their jobs voluntarily at a higher rate than men in the rubber, paper, chemical, and petroleum- products manuf act\aring industries . With the ex- ception of petroleum products, between a fourth and a fifth of all employees in these industries are women ( table l£) .

36

.i I I I 1 I

I I I I I

I i I

I I I

I I

t I I

f I

t I I

f I

t I I

If

The common generalization, then, that quit rates for vomen are consistently higher than for men is obvioiosly in need of certain modifications. Differences in the rates between women emd men in the durable and nondurable industries suggest that the relatively lower wage rates in the large woman-employing industries may be an important factor in explaining some of the turnover among women workers.

In industries in which women were about a fifth of all employees, involuntajry separations from factory jobs - layoffs, discharges, etc., - were higher for women than for men in four dura- ble-goods industries in April 1952 - electrical machlnei^, instruments, fabricated metal products, and miscellaneous manufacturing; and in three nondvirable -goods Indvistrles, namely rubber, food, and paper manufacturing. Involuntary separation rates for men were higher than for women in ordnance and furniture manvtfacturinfe, among the durable -goods industries; and in apparel, textile, tobacco, chemi- cal and leather maniofacturing among the soft-goods industries .

Length of Time on the Job

A January 1951 s\irvey by the U. S. Bureau of the Census revealed that men, on the average, had been employed about k years at the job •vdiich they were holding at the time of the survey, whereas women had been eniployed only a little more than half as long at their current job (table 17) .

Peirt of this difference Is accounted for by the fact that the woman labor force, on the whole, is slightly younger than the male labor force. However, it must also be noted that the greatest discrepancies between men and women in length of

time on the job exist in the upper age groups. In fact, women 20 to 2k years of age are Inclined to stay with the same employer to a somewhat greater extent than men. Among women in the older age groups, however, there were many who had left the labor market to assimie full-time homemaking responsi- bilities, and who did not return to jobs outside of their homes until they had reached their middle years. Thus, women 55 to 6I|- years had been employed at the same job for only half as long as men in the same age groups (table 17) •

Single women, primarily because they are younger women, had been with the same en^jloyer for an average of only 2 years. Married women without children under l8 years of age, on the other hand, had an average time of almost 3 years on the job, only a year less than that for men. Mothers of young children under 6 years of age, as might be expected, showed the lowest median years on the job - less than 1 year (table 17)-

Among women, private household workers, service workers, and sales workers showed the lowest, and farm workers the highest, average time on the same job. Among men, fSLrm laborers and other laborers were the least stable employees, with farmers, and managers and officials showing the most stability. Though relatively few women are employed as crafts- men their average time with the same employer was equ to men's. Interestingly enough, the stability of wome opeatives was not very much less than that of men operatives. Among men ajid women clerical workers, however, men had been with the same employer for a considerably longer period of time them women. Men in this occupation are older as a group than are the women so employed; and, in addition, men probably were offered more opportvmities for advance- ment in their jobs (table Iti) .

262286 O - S3

37

i i i f I

i I II

f J I I I 1 i % • ^ I xf I f I

^^f ^1 f f I

It

I I I

if

I I I f t

I I I I t I I I 1

I I " • «

E •

■ i II

1 I It I r

lit I 9' i i 1 I f I I I 1 I I

i I I I I I i

III! S* t^ '- f I I I I

t • I /

■ 11?

LABOR TURNOVER AND LENGTH OF TIME ON THE JOB

Labor Turnover in Selected Manufacturing Indvis tries

The rate at "which persons voluntarily quit their jobs is affected by the availability of other jobs. Following the Korean crisis, as employment in defense- connected industries expanded, the quit rate for women increased. For the month of April 1950, just prior to the Korean outbreak, women were quitting their jobs at a rate of 18 per 1,000 women employees. In April 1951* this rate had increased to 26, and in April 1952 it was 2k.

Moreover, in 1950 the rate for involimtaxy separa- tions among women - layoffs, discharges, etc. - was about the same as the rate for voluntary separations, or 17 women per 1,000 women employees. In April 1951* however, while the quit rate for women was 26 per 1,000 women, the involuntary sepeiration rate was 20 per 1,000. In April 1952, the rates on voluntary and involuntary separations for women were 2h and 21 (per 1,000 employees), respectively (table 15) •

Hiring of women workers in maxiufacturing plants was, of course, considerably stimulated by the Korean crisis. The rate of hiring changed from 35 women per 1,000 em- ployees in April 1950 to if 5 women per 1,000 employees in April 1951, or an increase of almost 30 percent. In April 1952, there was a decline in the hiring rate by comparison with 1951* but the rate was still 17 percent above what it had been in April 1950 (table 15).

Turnover Among Women and Men

Labor turnover rates for men and women separately are available for 20 mginufacturing industries. These rates for April 1952 indicate that in those durable -

goods industries for ■vdiich rates exe available voluntary separations among men and women occurred at the same rate, namely 23 per 1,000 employees. In two individual industries within the diirable- goods group, quit rates were higher for women than for men: In electrlceuL machinery and in Instrument manufacturing (table 16) .

In the nine other heavy industries for which rates were reported, quit rates were approximately the same for women as for men, with the following two exceptions: In furniture manufacturing, where women are about a fifth of all workers, the women's quit rate was substantisilly lower than men's. In lumber manxifacturing (primaxily a man-employing indxistiry) the men's quit rates were substantially higher than the rates for women (table I6).

In nondurable-goods indxistrles, on the other hand, the overall quit rates for the Industries reported are considerably higher for women than for men - respectively, 26 and 18 per 1,000 employees. Women quit their jobs at a somewhat higher rate than men in the large women-employing industries of apparel, tobacco, axid leather manufacturing. (About 50 percent or more of all of the eii5)loyees in these Industries are women.) Women also leave their jobs voluntarily at a higher rate than men in the rubber, paper, chemical, and petroleiam- products manuf actviring industries . With the ex- ception of petrolexan products, between a fourth and a fifth of all, employees in these industries are women ( table l£).

rati

uen

Dlf:

in

tha-

vom

fac

fifl froi

mad

rat( and Indi cal

tne

VOi

haL

the is I lovi

36

• i 1^ 1^ i I 1 It

11 I 1> I I 111 1 l ^

111 fit f I I i 1 1 lit

t 1 1 I I It %' I i 1 1 1 1 I 1

I I I 1 i 1 I t I i I 1 1 1 • 1

i 1 1 i I 1 t t

1111 11 t

• lilt I t 1

111 1 I 'm^ «^

'■^~ {^ \^

The common generalization, then, that quit rates for vomen are consistently higher than for men is obvioxialy in need of certain modifications. Differences in the rates betveen women and men in the dxirable and nondurable industries suggest that the relatively lover vage rates in the large woman-employing industries may be an iraportaxit factor in explaining some of the turnover among women workers.

In industries in which women were about a fifth of all emplojrees, involuntaiy separations from factory Jobs - layoffs, discheirges, etc., - were higher for women than for men in four dura- ble-goods indvistries in April 1952 - electrical machinery, instruments, fabricated metal products, and miscellaneous manufacturing; and in three nondurable -goods industries, namely rubber, food, and paper manufacturing. Involuntary separation rates for men were higher than for women in ordnance and furniture manufacturing, among the durable -goods industries; and in apparel, textile, tobacco, chemi- cal and leather manufacturing among the soft -goods industries .

Length of Time on the Job

A January 1951 survey by the U. S. Bureau of the Census revealed that men, on the average, had been etnployed about h years at the job which they were holding at the time of the survey, whereas women had been employed only a little more than half as long at their current job (table 17) .

Part of this difference is accovmted for by the fact that the woman labor force, on the -vdiole, is slightly yoimger than the raale labor force. However, it must also be noted that the greatest discrepancies between men and women in length of

time on the job exist in the upper age groups. In fact, women 20 to 2k years of age axe inclined to stay with the same employer to a somewhat greater extent than men. Among women in the older age groups, however, there were many who had left the labor market to assume full-time homemaking responsi- bilities, and who did not retvim to jobs outside of their homes until they had reached their middle years. Thus, women 55 to 614- years had been employed at the same job for only half as long as men in the same age groups (table 17) •

Single women, primarily because they are younger women, had been with the same employer for an average of only 2 yeaxs. Married women without children under l8 years of age, on the other hand, had an average time of almost 3 years on the job, only a year less than that for men. Mothers of young children under 6 years of age, as might be expected, showed the lowest median years on the job - less than 1 year (table 17) •

Among women, private household workers, service workers, and sales workers showed the lowest, axid farm workers the highest, average time on the same job. Among men, farm laborers and other laborers were the least stable enqployees, with farmers, and managers and officials showing the most stability. Though relatively few women are employed as crafts- men their average time with the same employer weis equal to men's. Interestingly enoiigh, the stability of women opeatives was not very much less than that of men operatives. Among men and women clerical workers, however, men had been with the same employer for a considerably longer period of time than women. Men in this occupation eire older as a group than are the women so employed; and, in addition, men probably were offered more opportunities for advance- ment in their jobs (table Itt) .

262286 O - 53 ■

37

CHART X

LABOR TURNOVER RATES OF WOMEN

(SELECTED MANUFACTURING INDUSTRIES)

RATE PER 100 EMPLOYEES

7

JAN.

APR. JULY

OCT.

JAN. APR. JULY OCT

JAN.

1950

1951

♦ includes discharges and miscellaneous SEPARATIONS SOURCE: u. S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics

APR. JULY

1952

OCT

38

Table 15 . Labor Turnover Rates of Women in Selected Manufacturing Indxistries: 1950-1952 (Quarterly)

(Per 100 women)

Month and	Separations	Total
	Total	Quits	Other 1/	accessions
1952 October ------ July - April ------- January ------ 1951 October ------ July April January ------ 1950 October ------ July ------- April ------- January ------	i^.5 h.9 h.^ k.Q 5.2 h.l 4.6 4.2 4.1 2.9 3-5 3.8	3.2 2.8 2.4 2.4 2.6 2.6 2.6 2.5 2.7 2.0 1.8 1.7	1.3 2.1 2.1 2.4 2.6 2.1 2.0 1.7 1.4 .9 1-7 2.1	6.1 5.2 4.1 5.2 4.9 4.4 4.5 5.4 5.4 4.8 3-5 4.1

1/ Includes discharges, lay-offs, and miscellaneous separations.

Source: U. S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment and Payrolls .

39

CHART XE

JOB SEPARATION RATES OF MEN AND WOMEN: 1952

SELECTED MANUFACTURING INDUSTRIES

RATE PER 100 EMPLOYEES 8

RATE PER 100 EMPLOYEES

8

MEN WOMEN MEN WOMEN MEN WOMEN MEN WOMEN MEN WOMEN MEN WOMEN MEN WOMEN MEN WOMEN MEN WOMEN MEN WOMEN MEN WOMEN

Electricol Machinttry

Instrumenrs Ordnonce Fobncoted Furniture Stone, Cloy Mochlnery Tronsporlotlon Lumbei

Mfllal Glass

Primory Metols

Mlic. Mfg. Industries

QUITS

LAYOFFS

RATE PER 100 EMPLOYEES

6

RATE PER 100 EMPLOYEES 6

MEN WOMEN MEN WOMEN MEN WOMEN MEN WOMEN MEN WOMEN MEN WOMEN MEN WOMEN MEN WOMEN MEN WOMEN

Appar«) Tobocco Leothef Teitlles Rubber Food Paptr Chemlcols Producrs of

Potroleum a Cool

'INCLUDES DISCHARGES AND MISCELLANEOUS SEPARATIONS SOURCE: U.S. DEPT. OF LABOR, BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS

40

i • I I • I

« • I

$ I I I

'■M -W ^1 • I I I

I

• <» '1

I

Table l6. Labor Turnover Rates of Women and Men in Selected Manufactiaring Industries: 1952

(Per 100 employees)

1/

Industry group

Percent women

formed of all

employees 2/

Separations

Total

Women Men

Quits

Women Men

Other 3/

Women Men

Total accessions

Women Men

Manufacturing --------

Durable goods - Total ------

Electrical machinery -----------

Instruments and related products - - - - -

Ordnance and accessories ---------

Fabricated metal products (except ordnance,

machinery, and transportation equipment) Furniture and fixtures ----------

Stone, clay and glass products ------

Machinery (except electrical) -------

Transportation equipment _---_--_- Lumber and wood products (except furniture) Primary metal industries ------^--

Miscellaneous manufacturing industries - -

Nondurable goods - Total - - - -

Apparel and other finished textile products Tobacco manufactures --------

Leather and leather products -------

Textile mill products -----------

Rubber products --------------

Food and kindred products ---------

Paper and allied products ---------

Chemicals and allied products - - - - _

Products of petroleum and coal ------

26

17 38 35

28

19 18

17 14

13 7 6

39

37 76 60 h9 h3 27 2k

23

19

6

h.5

1^,0

2.!+

2.2

2.1

1.8

k.k 5.2 2.6 2.5

k.6

k, 3. 3. k. 2. 3. 7.

l+,

5.

3.

k.

k.

k.3

5-3

k.k

3.2

1.9

k.l

2.8

1.5 2.8

4.5 6.0 3-k 3.5 5.1 5.4 3.2 5.0

3.8 5.6 3.3 4.5 5.0 2.7 4.5 3.1 2.k 1.2

2.3

2.8 l.k 1.8

2.0 2.k

1.7 2.1 2.4 2.1 1.6 2.7

2.6 3-5 2.1 3.2

1.9 2.6 2.2

2.3

1.8

1-5

2.3 1.5

2.2 3.8

1.9 2.2 2.6 3.8

1.9 2.8

1.8 2.5 1.7 2.6 2.0

1.6 2.3

1.8 .8 .6

2.1

2.4

1.2

.7

2.6 1.6

1.5 1.1

1.7

.8 1.4 4.6

2.1 1.8 1.0 1.4 2.7 1.7 3.1 2.1 1.4 .4

1.8

1-3

.7

1.0

2.3 2.2

1.5 1.3 2.5 1.6

1.3 2,2

2.0

3.1

1.6

1-9 3.0 1.1 2.2

1.3

1.6

.6

4.1

4.3 3-7 2.9 4.2

4.0 4.3 2.5 4.4 3-8 4.2 4.6 3.8 2.6 2.4

3.6

3-9 2.5 2.2

^.3

3.8 4.7 3.2 3.2 5.6 6.0 2.8 4.2

2.7

3.7

2.9

3

3

2

3-71 2

1 1

5

1/ Data refer to April of each year. 2/ Data for March 1952.

3/ Includes discharges, lay-offs, and miscellaneous separations,

Source: U. S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment eind Payrolls ,

41

I f

»1 ^i -^i

1 I • I

% I I

lilt If

I I t t I "

i I I i I I I I I I I I ■ I iv

I I I I I I I I I I I I "

II I If « till

If I

CHART 31

JOB SEPARATION RATES OF MEN AND WOMEN: 1952

SELECTED MANUFACTURING INDUSTRIES

RATE PER 100 EMPLOYEES

8

RATE PER 100 EMPLOYEES 8

MEN WOMEN MEN WOMEN MEN WOMEN MEN WOMEN MEN WOMEN MEN WOMEN MEN WOMEN MEN WOMEN MEN WOMEN MEN WOMEN MEN WOMEN

Electrlcol Mocfiinary

Inslrumenis Ordnonce

Fabf icoled Metal

Stone, Cloy Machinery Tfoosportollon Lumber

Gloss

Primory Metals

Misc. Mfg. Industfies

QUITS

RATE PER 100 EMPLOYEES

6

5:!-, 5.3 NON- DURABLE GOODS

LAYOFFS

RATE PER 100 EMPLOTEES

6

MEN WOMEN MEN WOMEN MEN WOMEN MEN WOMEN MEN WOMEN MEN WOMEN MEN WOMEN MEN WOMEN MEN WOMEN

Apporcl Tobocco Laolhcr T«xtll«s Rubbar Food Poptr Chomlcols Prodocrs of

Petroleum a Cool

i:. i

•includes discharges and miscellaneous separations source: u.s. dept of labor, bureau of labor statistics

40

I 1 Iv t^ . .

I 1 Iv Iv •'» i

I i I I 11^ I I I I I I 1^

I ft i I I ■ • ,» , ^ I I 1 I I ■.1.* «

till t i.i.«;«

■^ N'.'.'.'.V'.'.

I I I I I ■ 1,1

• I 1 • • i.*v

. \% i«^ ^ pp \> i* k» i^

•,-, !l ft. I'i. ;- [ ■■ ■

Table l6. Labor Turnover Rates of Women and Men in Selected Manufacturing Industries: 1952

(Per 100 employees)

1/

Industry group

Percent women

formed of all

employees 2/

Separations

Total

Women Men

Quits

Women Men

Other 3/

Women Men

Total accessions

Women Men

Manufacturing --------

Durable goods - Total ------

Electrical machinery -----------

Instruments and related products - - - - -

Ordinance and accessories ---------

Fabricated metal products (except ordnance,

machinery, and transportation equipment) Furniture and fixtures ----------

Stone, clay and glass products ------

Machinery (except electrical) -------

Transportation equipment ---------

Lumber and wood products (except furniture) Primary metal industries ------,--

Miscellaneous manufacturing industries - -

Nondurable goods - Total - - - -

Apparel and other finished textile products Tobacco manufactvires --------

Leather and leather products -------

Textile mill products -----------

Rubber products --------------

Food and kindred products ---------

Paper and allied products ---------

Chemicals and allied products - - _ - _

Products of petroleim and coal ------

26

17 38 35 28

19 18

17 Ik

13 7 6

39

37 76 60 h9 h3 27 21+

23

19

6

^•5

k.o

2.k

2.2

2.1

k.k 5.2 2.6 2.5

1+.6 4.0 3.2 3.2 l+.l 2.9 3.0 7-3

k.l 5.3

3-1 k.G k.6 4.3 5-3 k.k 3-2 1-9

k.l 2.8 1.5 2.8

5.0

3.8 5.6

2.3 2.8 1.4 1.8

2.0 2.4

1-7 2.1 2.4 2.1 1.6 2.7

2.3

1.5

.8

1.8

1.8 2.5 1.7 2.6

1.2

2.3

1.8

1.5

.6

2.1

2.4

1.2

•7

2.6 1.6 1-5

1.1

1-7

.8

1.4

4.6

2.1 1.8 1.0 1.4 2.7 1.7 3-1 2.1 1.4 .4

1.8

1-3

• 7

1.0

2.3 2.2

1.5 1-3 2.5 1.6

1-3 2.2

2.0

3-1 1.6

1-9 3.0 1.1 2.2

1.3

1.6

.6

4.1

4.3 3-7 2.9

4.2

4.4 4.6 3-3 3-5 6.4

4.7 3-3

5-5

3.8 2.6 2.4

3.6

3-9 2.5 2.2

4.3

3.8

4.7 3.2 3.2

2.7 3.7 2.9 3.4

1/ Data refer to April of each year. 2/ Data for March 1952.

3/ Includes discharges, lay-offs, and miscellaneous separations.

Source: U. S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment and Payrolls .

41

1/

Table 17 . Median Years on Ciorrent Job: January 1951

Age

TotELl employed

Ik to 17 yeaxs - - -

l8 and 19 years - - -

20 to 2k years - - -

25 to 3**^ years - - -

35 to kk- years - - -

45 to 5^ years - - -

55 to 6ii years - - -

65 yesirs and over - -

Women

2.2

0.5

.6

l.k

1.8

3.1 k.O

k.9

Men

3.9

1 2 k 7 9 10/

Marital statiis

Total employed women

Married women ----------

With no children under I8 years of age -----------

With one or more children tmder 18 years of age -------

With children lander 6

years of age ------

With children 6 to 17 years of Eige - --------

Single women ------- —

Widowed, divorced or separated women ------------

Women

2.2

2.1 2.8

1.3 .8 2.1 2.0 2.7

1/ Current job was defined for all workers as a continuous period of employment, ~ but with the following variations for different classes of workers: For wage and salary workers - with a single employer; odd job workers - at the parti- cular type of job; self-employed - in a particular type of business or profes- sional practice in the same locality; and unpaid workers - on the family- operated farm or business. In government employment, different agencies or bureaus were considered as different employers.

Source: U. S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census, Current Population Reports .

42

Table l8. Median Years on Current Job, by Occupation Group: Jemuary 1951

Occupation group

Women

Men

Total employed

2.2

Professional, technical, and kindred workers - - Farmers and farm managers ------------

Managers, officials, axid proprietors, except farm Clerical and kindred workers -_--_____-

Sales workers ------------------

Craftsmen, foremen, and kindred workers -----

Operatives and kindred workers ---------

Private household workers ------------

Service workers, except private hovisehold - - - -

Farm laborers and foremen ------------

Laborers, except farm, and mine ---------

2.5 7.1 i^.2

2.5 1.6 4.2

2.3 1.2 1.2

4.8

1/

3-9

4.3 9.6

5.3 3-9 2.6

4.3 3-1 1/ 2.9 2.4 1.6

1/ Base too small to justify computation.

Source: U. S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census, Current Population Reports .

43

VI. AGE

Between I690 and 1950 the population of working age {ih years and over) vmderwent important changes in size, sex composition, auid age distribution. The size of the population of working age increased al- most threefold, from k2 million to 113 million, with women accounting for a slightly larger proportion of the increEise than men. The sex composition was re- versed. In 1890, men in the working-age groups out- numbered women by moiethan 1 million; in 1950, women in these groups outnumbered men by almost Ig- million. Most significantly, the number of men and women 45 years and over increased substantially more than the nvmiber under 45: Whereas men and women 4-5 years and over quadrupled in number, those under 45 only doubled.

Long-Term Labor Force Changes

Like the population, the labor force increased almost threefold between I890 and 1950 - from 22 mil- lion to more than 60 million. Changes in the sex and age composition of the labor force were substantiaU.y more pronounced than in the population. The number of women in the labor force increased approximately

4^ times, while the number of men increased about 2^ times. The greater proportion of both of these increases was in age groups 45 years and over, with women in these eiges showing an almost ninefold increase. Thus, the number of women 45 years and over increas- ed 4 times in the population, but almost 9 times in the labor force (table 19)-

In vie./ of this tremendous increase in the number of older women 'vrtio were working, it is understandable that the median age of wcanen workers advanced from 25 years in 169O to 36 years in 1950, the most rapid change taking place between 194o and 1950 when World War II created many additional job opportunities for women. Although the median age for uien in the labor force advanced during this period, it wa.s a much smaller change, from 34 years to 39 years. The median age of women workers today is only 3 years below that of nen workers; whereas in I890, it was 9 years (table 19).

44

Almost 1 out of every 3 women of working wage was in the labor force in 1950, as contrasted vith less than 1 out of every 5 in 169C. The pro- portion of women in the population who work in- creased since I69O in every age group, except Ik to 19 years. Almost three times the proportion of women between 35 and 5^ years of age and twice the proportion of women 25 to Sk and 55 to 6k were working in 1950. Clesirly then, it was women be- tween the ages of 35 and 5^ who had the greatest effect on the overall participation rates of women workers (table 20).

In the decade 19^0 to 1950, changes in the woman labor force continued to follow the long- term pattern of am overall increasing partici- pation rate with the emphasis on the older age groups. However, the pattern \ra.s somewhat more pronounced during this short period than during the preceding 50 years. Well over one -third as many women - 3*5 million - were added to the labor force dtiring this one decade as dioring the previous 5 decades. Had women's peurticipation in the labor force followed the same average rate of increase between 19^0 and 1950 as during the pre- vious 50 years, only about 2^ million would have been added to the woman labor force. Likewise, if the participation rates of older women had not increaised so significantly between 19^0 and 1950,

the median age of women workers probably would have risen only 1 or 2 years rather than k years (table 20).

Labor Force Changes Since 19^0

Before World War II women under 35 years of age outnumbered their elders in the woman labor force; and even at the height of the war (l9'<-5), they still predominated in the labor force. But, when the war was over, a greater proportion of these younger women left the labor force to take up duties of home and family, while many of the older women remained at work. Thus, in 19^+7 - for the first time - women 35 years and older outnumbered yovinger women work- ers. In 1953, these older wcsnen constituted 56 percent of the woman labor force; the number of women in the age groups I8 to 3^ years in the labor force had decreased while all other age groups, even 65 years and over, increased in comparison with 19^0 ( table 21) .

The proportions of women who work incareased sharply in all age groups during World War II, reaching a peak in 19^*^5 • After the war, partici- pation rates dropped for all age groups, but not so sheurply for groups 35 years and over. In 1953, women in all eige groups except 20 to 3*4-

262286 0-53-7

45

vere participating in the labor force to a greater extent tham in 19^0; but signifi- cantly, only in the sige groups k') to 6k were women participating at a higher rate than in 19U5. Today, therefore, a smaller propor- tion of the women in the child-bearing, child- reeu-ing age groups are in the labor force than in 19^0; while a much higher proportion of the women in older sige groups are working (table 20).

Occupations

Almost half of the I8 million employed women in April 1953 were between the ages of 25 and kk (table 23). More than half of these women were employed as clerical or factory workers, whereas slightly less than half of all women workers were so employed (table 24).

Clerical work is, of course, a very important field of work for women - more them one -fourth of all employed women were clerical or kindred workers in 1953* However, clerical

work as a field fbr women decreases in importance as age advances. Young women (ik to 24 years) are heavily concentrated in clerical work. Next to clerical work, young women are fcjnd in fac- tory, private household work, or service work, but to a substantially lesser degree (table 24).

Although women 25 to 44 years of age out- nvmiber all other age groups in clerical occu- pations (as they do in most occupations because of their larger numbers), they are almost as apt to be factoid workers as clerical workers. This group, like young workers, also tends to be in serv- ice work next to clerical and factory work. How- ever, professional work is euLmost as important to them as service work (table 24) .

The next older group, 45 to 64 years of age, tends to spread more evenly over the occupation- al groups, with some concentration in clerical and factory work (table 24). Significant proportions of this group axe also found in service work, pro- fessional work, and private household work - in that order of importance.

46

Elderly vomen, 65 years and over, are con- centrated in private household work and service work. One -fourth of the employed women in this age group in 1953 were private household workers and one -fifth were service workers. Undoubtedly this is, in large part, due to the fact that women of advanced years may prefer the part-time schedules which frequently are possible in such work and, in addition, are not so well able to secure or hold the office jobs which are so popu- lax among young women. On the other hand, we find that only in this elderly group is there a significant concentration in the group called "Managers, officials, and proprietors, except farm." Perhaps this is due to their mature years, length of experience in their chosen fields, or inheritance of businesses from their husbandB. In addition to these three occupational groups, women 65 years and over are found also in professional work and factory work (table 2k),

In summary, one might say that the young woman is most likely to be an office worker; the

mature woman, an office or factory worker; the older woman, an office, factory, or service worker; and the elderly woman, a private house- hold or service worker (table 2k).

Although the overall occupational distri- bution of women workers showed no significant changes between 1951 and 1953^ there were more occupational shifts among older women than among young women. Young women (l^ to 2k years) showed some movement out of service work into clerical work, while women 25 to kk years of age moved out of clerical work and into factory and service work. Older women {k3 to 6k years) moved into professional, clerical, and sales work as well as into the crafts field and left factory and private household jobs. Women 65 years and over shifted mostly into private household work but also into professional and clerical work, having moved out of the sales 6ind crafts fields. All age groups showed some decrease in the group termed, "Managers, offi- cials, and proprietors, except farm."

47

CHART Xn

AGE OF POPULATION AND LABOR FORGE: 1890 and 1950

1890

1950

MILLIONS OF PERSONS

6S432I0I234S6

MILLIONS OF PERSONS

13 12 II 10 9 e 7 6 5 4 3 2 I 0 I 2 3 4 5 6 7 e 9 10 II 12 13

WOMEN

SOURCE: U.S. Bureau of the Census end Sociol Science Reseorch Council

AGE GROUP

6 5 and OVER 55 to 64 45 to 54 35 to 44 25 to 34 20 to 24 14 to 19

— 1 r — 1 1 1 1—

~i 1 r-

— I 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 r-

T T- f ^ ' I

13 12 II 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 I

WOMEN

In labor force Not in labor force

I 2 3 4 S 6 7 e 9 10 II 12 13

MEN

48

Table 19. Total Labor Force, by Age and Sex: 189O-I95O

(in thousands)

1/

Age and sex	1950	I9I+0	1930	1920	1900	1890
Total 2/	60,1+28	53,299	1+7,1+04	40,282	27,640	21,833
ll+ to 19 years - - - - - 20 to 2k years 25 to 3I+ years - - 35 to 1+1+ years - - - - - 1+5 to 5*+ years - - - - - 55 to 61+ years - - - - - 65 years and over - - - Women 2/	i+,oin 7,169 ll+,682 13,766 10,816 7,01+9 2,90l+ 16,512	l+,0l!+ 7,723 13,683 11,21+1 9,072 5,i+32 2,131+ 13,015	4,386 7,063 11,634 10,268 7,615 4,400 2,038 10,396	4,587 5,865 10,327 8,340 6,163 3,437 1,563 8,229	4,064 4,481 7,072 5,279 3,599 2,031 1,114 4,999	2,981 3,774 5,732 3,997 2,783 1,630 936 3,704
II+ to 19 years - - - - - 20 to 2k years - - - - - 25 to 3I+ years - - - - - 35 to 1+1+ years - - - - - 1+5 to 5I+ years ----- 55 to 61+ years - - - - - 65 years and over - - - Median age ------- Men 2/	1,1+71+ 2,521 3,839 3,762 2,902 1,507 509 36.1 ^3,916	1,395 2,688 3,607 2,500 1,691 859 275 31.7 1+0,281+	1,591 2,316 2,581 1,823 1,224 618 243 30.0 37.008	1,61+0 1,785 2,011 1,303 869 441 180 28.4 32,053	1,230 1,179 1,139 652 427 245 127 25.8 22,641	981+ 938 789 427 304 172 90 24.6 18,129
ll+ to 19 years - - - - - 20 to 2l+ years ----- 25 to 3^+ years 35 to 1+1+ years ----- 1+5 to 5I+ years ----- 55 to 61+ years - - - - - 65 years and over - - - Median age -------	2,569 i+,650 10,81+3 10,001+ 7,915 5,5^0 2,394 38.9	2,619 5,035 10,076 8,71+1 7,381 i^,573 1,859 37.8	2,795 4,747 9,053 8,445 6,391 3,782 1,795 37.3	2,947 4,080 8,316 7,037 5,294 2,996 1,383 44.7	2,831+ 3,302 5,933 4,627 3,172 1,786 987 33.7	1,997 2,836 4,943 3,570 2,479 1,458 846 33.6

1/ Data refer to April, except I89O (June), I9OO (June), and 1920 (January).

2/ Details do not necessarily add to totals because of rounding. Figures for ~ periods prior to 1940 adjusted to include persons of unknown age.

Source: See Table 1.

49

CHART Xni

PROPORTION OF WOMEN IN THE POPULATION WHO WORKED:

1890 — 1950

1890 1900 1920 1930 1940 1950

ALL AGES

27 28

25 1

1

23 1

19 1

23 1

1890 1900 1920 1930 1940 1950

14-19 YEARS

1890 1900 1920 1930 1940 1950

20-24 YEARS

17

19 1

1

24 1

27 1

33 J

31 1

1890 1900 1920 1930 1940 1950

25-34 YEARS

1890 1900 1920 1930 1940 1950

35-44 YEARS

18 til

20 1

22 1

33 1

1890 1900 1920 1930 1940 1950

45-54 YEARS

iilii

23 1

1890 1900 1920 1930 1940 1950

55-64 YEARS

1890 1900 1920 1930 1940 1950

65 YEARS a OVER

SOURCE: U.S. Bureau of the Census

50

Table 20. Labor Force Participation Rates of the Total Population, by Age and Sex: I89O-I950 1/

Age and sex	1950	19U0	1930	1920	1900	1890
Total ------	53.6	52.7	53.2	5i^.3	53.7	52.2
ik to 19 years ------ 20 to 2k years ------ 25 to 3k years ------ 35 to kk years ------ k3 to 5k years ------ 55 to 6k years ------ 65 years ajid over - - - - - Women ------	31.6 61.7 61. i+ 61^.0 62.3 53.0 23.7 28.9	27.2 66.7 64.1 61.3 58.5 51.4 23.7 25.7	31-^ 64.9 61.3 59.7 58.5 52.4 30.6 23.6	39.8 63.1 60.1 58.9 58.6 52.4 31.6 22.7	44.4 60.9 58.3 57.1 56.0 50.5 36.0 20.0	37.2 60.6 58.2 56.4 54.9 52.0 38.6 18.3
Ik to 19 years - 20 to 2k years ------ 25 to 3^+ years - - - 35 to kk years ------ Ji5 to 5^ years ------ 55 to 6k- years ------ 65 years and over - - - - - Men	23.2 42.8 31.5 3i^.6 33.^ 22.7 7.9 78.9	18.9 45.6 33.i^ 27.3 22.4 16.6 6.0 79.7	22.8 41.8 27.0 21.7 19-7 15.3 7.3 82.1	28.3 37.5 23.7 19.2 17.9 14.3 7-3 84.5	26.8 31-7 19.4 15.0 14.2 12.6 8.3 85-7	24.5 30.2 16.8 12.7 12.5 11.5 7.6 84.3
ik to 19 years ------ 20 to 2k years ------ 25 to 3k years ------ 35 to kk years ------ ^5 to 5k years ------ 55 to 6>k years ------ 65 years and over -----	i+0.0 81.1 92.6 9i^.l 91.3 83.0 i^l.3	35.4 88.5 95.7 95.4 92.7 84.6 42.2	40.1 88.8 95.9 95.7 93.8 86.5 54.0 1	51.5 69.9 95.7 95A 93.5 86.3 55.6	62.0 90.6 9^.9 9^.5 92.8 86.1 63.2	50.0 90.9 96.0 95.9 93.9 89.0 68.2

1/ Data refer to April, except I890 (June), I9OO (June), and 1920 (January)

Source: See Table 1.

51

CHART TTV

AGE DISTRIBUTION OF WOMEN WORKERS M940J945, 1950 J953

65 YEARS AND OVER 55 TO 64 YEARS

45 TO 54 YEARS

35 TO 44 YEARS

25 TO 34 YEARS

20 TO 24 YEARS

14 TO 19 YEARS

13,840

NUMBER OF WOMEN WORKERS

(IN THOUSANDS)

19,570 ,00 PERCENT 18,063

18,912

V 'T »"■'¥ 'r'fg ' f

1940 1945

SOURCE: U.S.Bureau of the Census

1950

1953

5S

Table 21. Age of Women in the Civilian Labor Force: 19l4-0-1953i/

(In thousands)

Age	1953	1952	1951	1950	1949	1948	1947	1946	1945	1944	1943	1942	1941	1940
Total - - -	18,912	18,798	18,607	18,063	17,167	17,155	16,320	16,590	19,570	18,450	18,100	15,460	13,930	13,840
ill to 19 years - - - -	1,10k	1,768	1,724	1,677	1,767	1,844	1,820	1,930	2,720	2,730	2,580	1,910		1,460
Ik and 15 years - -	176	188	158	181	155	189	170	2/	280	259	188	2/		57
16 and 17 years - -	53^	564	546	513	529	543	530	1/	934	847	809	1/	4,370	333
18 and 19 years - -	99i^	1,016	1,020	983	1,083	i,n?	1,120	2/	1,506	1,624	1,583	2/		1,070
20 to 2k years - - - -	2,Ji38	2,442	2,584	2,598	2,484	2,703	2,690	2,B30	3,270	3,240	2,930	2,B20		2,820
25 to 314^ years - - - -	4,192	4,226	4,188	4,045	3,880	3,839	3,640	7,420	4,450	4,142	4,358	3,906		3,820
35 to kk years - - - -	4,470	4,360	4,203	4,056	3,898	3,749	3,580	4,060	3,888	3,722	3,113	8,190	2,680
k^ to ^ years - - - -	3,556	3,558	3,382	3,245	3,027	2,907	2,690	4,000	2,969	2,749	2,595	2,212	1,830
55 to 6k years - - - -	1,968	1,920	1,954	1,868	1,605	1,599	1,460	1,611	1,321	1,415	1,117	1,370	920
65 years and over - -	584	524	574	576	509	515	440	410	490	380	500	380	310
Median age 3/ - - - - -	37.5	37.2	36.9	36.8	36.2	35.5	35.0	34.3	33.5	32.9	33.1	32.7	32.2	31-9
				_	Percent distribution	.
Total - - -	100.0	100.0	100.0	100.0	100.0	100.0	100.0	100.0	100.0	100.0	100.0	100.0	100.0	100.0
Ik to 19 years - - - -	9.0	9.4	9.3	9.3	10.3	10.7	11.2	11.6	13.9	14.8	14.3	12.4		10.5
Ik and 15 years - -	0.9	1.0	0.8	1.0	0.9	1.1	1.0	-	1.4	1.4	1.0	-		0.4
16 and 17 years - -	2.8	3.0	2.9	2.8	3.1	3.2	3.2	-	4.8	4.6	4.5	-	31.4	2.4
18 and 19 years - -	5.3	5.4	5.5	5.4	6.3	6.5	6.9	-	7.7	8.8	8.7	-		7.7
20 to 2k years - - - -	12.9	13.0	13-9	14.4	14.5	15.8	16.5	17-1	16.7	17.6	16.2	18.2		20.4
25 to 3li- years - - - -	22.2	22.5	22.5	22.4	22.6	22.4	22.3	44.7	22.7	22.4	24.1	25.3		27.6
35 to kh years - - - -	23.6	23.2	22.6	22.5	22.7	21.9	21.9	20.7	21.1	20.6	20.1	58.8	19.4
1^5 to 5^ years - - - -	18.8	18.9	18.2	18.0	17.6	16.9	16.5	24.1	15.2	14.9	14.3	14.3		13.2
55 to 64 years - - - -	10.4	10.2	10.5	10.3	9.3	9-3	8.9	8.2	7.2	7.8	7.2	9.8	6.6
65 years and over - -	3.1	2.8	3.1	3.2	3.0	3.0	2.7	2.5	2.5	2.1	2.8	2.5	2.2

2/ Not available.

3/ For the years 194l and 1946, median computed on estimated age inteirvals smaller than those shown in table.

SpURCE: U. S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census, Current Population Reports.

(62286 0-53-8

53

CHART 33Z:

MEDIAN AGE OF WOMEN WORKERS

1940 TO 1953

YEARS OF AGE 40

YEARS OF AGE 40

SOURCE: u. S. Bureou of the Census

54

II I

II I

I II

C E • I

I 1 I r I I I I i I III

i i ^ ^1 I

I 1 I

! I I III

III III

i I I I I I

III

Table 22. Civilian Labor Force Participation Rates of Women, by Age: 19^4-0-1953

1/

Age	1953	1 1952	1951	1950	1949	1948	1947	1946	1945	1944	1943	1942	1941	19
yotal	32. k	32.7	32.7	32.1	30.9	31.2	30.0	30.9	37.0	35.2	3'+.9	30.1	27.4	27
ik to 19 years - - - -	26.7	27.9	27.5	26.6	27.9	28.7	27.7	28.8	39.9	39 -h	36.6	26.7	2/	20
Ik and. 15 years - - -	8.0	8.6	l.h	8.6	7.6	9-3	8.1	2/	12.2	2/	2/	2/	2/	2
l6 and 17 yeeirs - - -	25.3	26.8	26.7	25.2	25.4	25.3	24.2	2/	40.8	2/	2/	2/	2/	13
l8 and 19 years - - -	48.1	^9.7	48.7	45.6	49.1	49.6	48.9	2/	67.3	2/	2/	2/	2/	42
20 to 2k years - - - -	kk.3	k3.k	45.0	44.6	41.9	44.9	44.3	47.0	54.9	51^.3	49.1	47.6	2/	48
25 to 34 years - - - -	3U.2	3h.l	34.6	33.6	32.5	32.5	31.2	2/	40.2	37-0	39.2	35.5	2/	35
35 to kk years - - - -	39.7	39.9	39.0	38.2	37.4	36.5	35.4	2/	40.7	40.5	39.3	33.2	2/	29
45 to 5^ years - - - -	39-2	39.^	38.1	37-1	35.2	34.4	32.3	2/	36.9	34.6	33.0	28.5	2/	24
55 to 6k years - - - -	28.6	27.2	28.2	27.6	24.3	25.0	23-5	2/	27.5	23.1	25.4	20.5	2/	18
65 years and over - - -	8.5	8.2	9.3	9.7	8.8	9.2	8.1	7.8	9.6	7.6	10.3	8.0	2/	6

1/ Civilian noninstitutional population, last week in March.

2/ Not available.

Statistics are for April of each year except 1940, where they refer to tl

Source: U. S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census, Current Population Reports ,

55

.1 I 11

Mil I

/I i 1 • fMM 1 %

,1 :i .1 ^1 . i I 1

^t-.! .t ••• ..i ■!

I .1 J 11

II I I I

11

I i I

I I 1 f i t I ■ "

• i

I I I I i I ^- I I I I I I' f

i I <| 1 r 9\

A ■ ^ ^ fli ''*

fl I fl fl B I ' 8 '

i I I I I I 1

III 1 ■ ~ I I I I I

t • ■ • ^

CHART XSr

MEDIAN AGE OF WOMEN WORKERS

1940 TO 1953

YEARS OF AGE 40

YEARS OF AGE 40

1940

1942

1944

1946

1948

1950

1952

1953

SOURCE: u. S. Bureau of the Census

54

^i< |v i> 1. i . 1 I 1- I' 1

I I II I I I

■ III 1 I I I • I I I I I

I I 1 I 1 I i.l *!.» tililllll

I i I I I I ■.■.•.» I I I I I I 1 I I

*"- • I I i I 1 I ■ I I 1 I I I V ^

r»' h \'^ (*• . k*

Tatle 22. Civilian Labor Force Participation Rates of Women, by Age: 1940-1953

1/

Age	1953	1952	1951	1 1950	1949	-i 1948	19^7	1946	19*^5	1944	1943	1942	1941	1940
T'otal	32.4	32.7	32.7	32.1	30.9	31.2	30.0	30.9	37.0	35.2	i^'9	30.1	27.4	27.6
l4 to 19 years - - - - l4 and 15 years - - - l6 and 17 years - - - l8 and 19 yaars - - - 20 to 24 years - - - - 25 to 34 years - _ - - 35 to 44 years - - - - 45 to 54 years - - - - 55 to 64 years - - - - 65 years and over - - -	26.7 8.0 25.3 48.1 44.3 34.2 39.7 39.2 28.6 8.5	27.9 8.6 26.8 i^9.7 43.4 3^.7 39.9 27.2 8.2	27.5 7.4 26.7 48.7 45.0 34.6 39-0 38.1 28.2 9.3	26.6 8.6 25.2 45.6 44.6 33.6 38.2 37-1 27.6 9.7	27.9 7.6 25.4 49.1 41.9 32.5 37.4 35.2 24.3 8.8	28.7 9.3 25.3 49.6 44.9 32.5 36.5 34.4 25.0 9.2	27.7 8.1 24.2 48.9 44.3 31.2 35.4 32.3 23.5 8.1	28.8 2/ ^^ 2/ 47.0 2/ H 2/ 2/ 7.8	39.9 12.2 40.8 67.3 54.9 40.2 40.7 36.9 27.5 9.6	39.^ 2/ P/ 55.3 37.0 40.5 34.6 23.1 7.6	36.6 2/ ^ 2/ 49.1 39.2 39.3 33.0 25.4 10.3	26.7 2/ 2/ 47.6 35.5 33.2 28.5 20.5 8.0	2/ 2/ 2/ 2/ 2/ ^< 2/ ^^ 2/ 2/	20.0 2.4 13.8 42.7 48.0 35.5 29.4 24.5 18.0 6.9

1/ Civilian noninstitutional population, last week in March.

2/ Not available.

Statistics are for April of each year except 1940, where they refer to the

Source: U. S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census, Current Population Reports ,

55

Table 23. Percent Distribution of Employed Women in Major Occupation Groups, by Age:

April 1953

Major occupation group

Number

(in

thousands)

Total

lU-24 years

years

45-64 years

65 years and over

Total employed women

Professional, technical, and kindred workers Feirmers and faxm managers ----------

Managers, officials, and proprietors, except farm ---------- ---_..-_-

Clericed. and kindred workers --------

Sales workers ----------------

Craftsmen, foremen, and kindred workers - - - Operatives and kindred workers -------

Private household workers ----------

Service workers, except private household - - Farm laborers and foremen ----------

Laborers, except farm and mine -------

18,434

1,928 150

888 5,090

268 3,862 1,854 2,300

580 80

100.0

21.5

46.0

100.0 100.0

100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0

16.3

1-3

1.6 3^.1

23.7

12.7 17.1

21.2

15.9 15.1 27.5

48.

29.

46.2 44.4

39.9

42.5

55.8 38.6

44.0 4o.o 40.0

29.4

32, 57.

45.0 20.5 3^.3

44.1 25.6 32.5

35-0 41.4 30.0

3.1

3.5

12.0

7.2 .9

2.1

• 7 1.6

7.7 5.0

3A

2.5

Source: U. S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census, Current Population Reports ■

56

Table 24. Percent Distribution of Employed Women, by Major Occupation Group and Age: 1951 and 1953

1/

	1953	1951
Major occupation group	Total, 14 years and over	14-24 years	25-44 years	45-64 years	65 years and over	Total, 14 years and over	14-24 years	25-44 years	45-64 years	65 years and over
Total employed women - -	100.0	100.0	100.0	100.0	100.0	100.0	100.0	100.0	100.0	100.0
Professional , technical, and kindred workers ------ Farmers emd farm managers - - Managers, officials, and proprietors, except farm - Clerical and kindred workers - SaJLes workers -------- Crsiftsmen, foremen, and kindred workers ------ Operatives and kindred workers Private household workers - - Service workers, except private household - - - - - Farm laborers and foremen - - Laborers, except farm and	10.5 .8 4.8 27.6 7.8 1.5 21.0 10.1 12.5 3^1 .4	7.9 •1 .3 43.8 8.6 .9 16.6 9.9 9.2 2.2 .6	10.9 .5 4.8 26.7 6.8 1.4 25.4 8.5 12.0 2.7 • 3	11.4 1.6 7.4 19-3 9.1 2.2 18.3 11.1 14.8 4.4 .5	12.0 3.2 11.3 8.1 5.3 .4 10.6 25.0 20.4 3.5 .4	10.0 1.1 5.8 27.6 7.1 1.2 20.9 10.5 12.0 3.4 .5	8.1 .2 1.0 42.1 7-9 1.0 16.2 9.8 10.5 2.4 .9	10.7 1.0 5.8 28.1 6.4 1.3 24.3 7.7 10.9 3.4 .4	10.4 2.0 8.6 17.5 7.4 .9 20.5 13.7 14.4 4.1 .6	9.5 3.4 14.7 7.2 6.8 2.7 10.2 24.9 16.6 4.1

1/ statistics are for April of each year.

Soxurce: U. S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census, Current Population Reports.

57

VII. MARITAL STATUS

Population Changes

Since 19^0, the niimber of single women in the popvilatlon has been steadily declining - from al- most Ik million in 19^0 to only 11 million in 1952, a decrease of more than 20 percent. During this same 12-year period, the manber of married women in the population has steadily increased, from 30.I mil- lion in 19^0 to 38.7 million by 1952, an increase of 28| percent. There has also been an increase of 1.8 million widowed or divorced women in the popu- lation (table 25).

Reflecting these numerical changes, the mari- tal distribution of the woman population today differs markedly from what it was in 19^0. In 1952, only a fifth of the woman population ik years and over were single, and two-thirds were married; in 19^0, more than a fourth of the women were single, and only three -fifths were married. The proportion of widowed and divorced women in the population was a- bout the same in 1952 as in 19i»-0 - approximately Ik percent (table 26).

Labor Force Changes

Partly as a result of these population changes, the marital composition of the woman labor force has chajiged dramatically in the last 12 years. The population decline in single women was reflected by an almost equal decline in the niomber of single women in the labor force: From 6.7 million in 19^0 to 5.5 million in 1952, a decrease of I8 percent. Among married women workers, on the other hand, there was an Increase in number of more than 100 percent - from 5 million in 19^0 to 10.4 million in 1952; and among widowed and divorced women there was a i<-0-percent Increase in the number working, from slightly over 2 mil- lion to nearly 3 million during these years (table 25).

More than half of the woman labor force today is married. In 19'<-0, however, married women formed only a little more than a third of all women workers. The proportion of single

58

women workers, by contrast, declined from almost a half In 19^0 to considerably less than a third by 1952. The proportion of widowed and divorced women in the labor force, as in the popialation, has remained the same - about 15 percent of the woman labor force (table 26).

Population changes alone, however, do not accovint for the "new (married) look" of today's women workers, by comparison with 19^0. Married women increased by 29 percent in the population during these years, but by more than 100 percent in the labor force becaiise a much laxger pro- portion of married women sought jobs outside of their homes during this period. In 19^0, only 17 percent of the married women in the popula- tion were workers; but in 1952 about 27 percent of these women were workers. Among single women, and divorced and widowed women, on the other hand, the proportions in the labor force chsuiged very little in these years - about one -half for single women and about one -third for widowed and divorced women ( table 27) •

Labor Force in Relation to Popvilation

This phenomenal increase in the proportion of married women who work began during the years of World War II, when the proportion of married women who were working or seeking work increased from 17 percent in 19^0 to 26 percent in 19^-. These women.

of course, were needed as replacements for men who had left civilian Jobs to serve in the Armed Forces, and many of these women were the wives of servicemen. Following World War II, there was a definite decline in the number and pro- portion of married women who were working, as men returned from the Armed Forces and families were reunited. By 19'*-8; however, the partici- pation rate for married women had again begun to increase, and by 1951 exceeded the World War II peak (table 27). Undoubtedly the primary impe- tus to this post-World War II increase in the proportion of married women who axe working has been the need for married women's contributions to the economic solvency of their homes and families, as well as the common American desire for an improved standard of living. (See ch. X, Women as Heads of Families and Annual Income.)

The need for additional workers in the Nation's civilian labor force during World War II was responsible aJj3o for an increase in the pro- portion of single women who were working - from k8 percent in 19^0 to 59 percent in 19Mf. How- ever, this proportion returned to about its pre- war level following the war, and has remained fairly constant ever since (table 27) • As a matter of ffe.ct, there axe relatively few single women today who are not already working. In the age group 25 to 3^ years, for example, 83 percent of aJJL single women in the population

59

are in the labor force, as compared with only 27 percent of the married women of these ages, many of whom have yoiang children. The World War II expansion in the proportion of single women who were working undoubtedly occurred chiefly among girls of school age (1^4- to 19 years) who, during the war yeeirs as today, comprised the bulk of single women not already in the labor force. (See ch. XI, Labor Reserve.)

Occupations

Regardless of marital status, women workers tend to concentrate in a few occupations: More than a third (37 percent) of the employed women in April 1952 were in clerical, sales and kin- dred jobs (of which almost 80 percent were cleri- cal Jobs); about a fifth were in service occupa- tions; another fifth worked as operatives or on kindred jobs; and about a tenth were in profes- sional or technical occupations. However, within these major concentrations marital status has some effect in determining the kind of occupation in ■which a woman finds employment (table 28) .

Almost half {k'J percent) of all employed single women were in clerical, sales or kindred

jobs in April 1952. This is londerstandable, of course, since single women workers are by- and-large younger women (having a median age of 25 years). Consequently, they are often new entrants to the labor market; relatively free from family responsibilities, and able to under- take the full-time, year-round work required in these jobs. For these reasons, they are frequent- ly willing to accept the relatively low wage levels common to many clerical jobs. Furthermore, cleri- cal jobs are apt to be fiill-year Jobs which re- sult in higher annual incomes than many service jobs; also, they require a shorter training period, relative to earnings, than professional and technical Jobs; and they are considered by many to have more prestige than the "blue-collar" factory jobs . These factors undoubtedly explain why sei^ice occupations claim only 17 percent of n.n employed single women, professional and technical jobs only 16 percent, eind operative jobs or factory work only I3 percent (table 28).

Among married women with husbands present, only slightly more than a third are clerical or sales workers, almost a fourth are operatives, about a fifth are service workers, and only a tenth are professional and technical workers.

60

It is impossible, of coiirse, to generalize about the widely varying family responsi- bilities which this group of women carry; however, many, and especially those among them who have children, are likely to work intermittently during the year. (See ch. IX, Part-Time Employment.) Those factory jobs which are most commonly open to women often require no previous work experience or train- ing, provide relatirely short on-the-job training, and - relative to the training required - offer higher earnings than ser- vice jobs. These factors account, in part, for the relatively high proportion of married women who find employment as operatives (table 28) ,

Widowed, divorced, and separated women tend to concentrate in service jobs, which employ more than a third of this group. Another fourth are found in clerical or sales Jobs, and a fifth are employed in factories. This is the group of women most likely to be forced into the labor market suddenly and

involuntarily, as they find themselves heads of families or faced with the necessity for self support. Service jobs are in many cases the only jobs available to them under these circumstances (table 28) .

Because married women are more than half of all employed women, the proportion they form of the women employed in each of the major occu- pation groups is greater than that of either single women or widowed, divorced, and separated women, with two exceptions: Among professional and technical women, the proportion of single women is about as high as the proportion of married women {k2 percent and k'^ percent respec- tively) . Among farmers and farm managers, more than half of the employed women are widowed, divorced, or separated. In general, married women form from two -fifths to a half of all employed women in each major occupation group except operatives and pro- prietors emd manager* where they constitute three- fifths; and fajnn laborers, where they form four-fifths of all women engaged in these occupations.

61

CHART 221

NUMBER OF WOMEN IN POPULATION AND LABOR FORCE BY

MARITAL STATUS: 1940. 1944. 1948. 1952

MILLIONS 40n

30

20

10-

MARRIED WOMEN

Q NOT IN LABOR FORCE Q IN LABOR FORCE

MILLIONS -40

30

20

1940 1944 1948 1952

ALL MARRIED

1940 1944 1948 1952

HUSBAND PRESENT

1940 1944 1948 1952

HUSBAND ABSENT

MILLIONS

SINGLE

WIDOWED AND DIVORCED

IS-i
10

MILLIONS

rl5

10

1-5

1940 1944 1948 1952 SOURCE : US Bureau of the Census

1940 1944 1948 1952

62

Table 25- Marital Status of Women in the Civilian Popiilation and Labor Force:

19^4-0, 19lflf, and 191^7-1952 1/

(In thouaands)

Marital status

1952

1951

1950

19^9

19i^8

1947

19'i-ii-

Women, Ik years and over -

Single -------------

Married -------------

Husband present --------

Husband absent --------

In armed forces -------

Other ------------

Widoved and divorced ------

Women, ih years and over

Single ------------

Married ------------

Hvisband present -------

Husband absent -------

In armed forces ------

Other -----------

Widowed and divorced -----

In population 58.03'^ 57,354 56,635 56,001 55,361+ 54,806 52,759 50,549

11,068

38,670

36, 510

2,160

478

1,682

8,296

10,946

38,124

35,998

2,126

398

1,728

8,284

11,126

37,451

35,925

1,526

H

2/

8,058

11,174

37,013

35,323

1,690

H 2/

7,Bl5

11,623

35,783

34,289

1,494

2/ 2/ 7,958

12,078

35,212

33,458

1,754

2/

2/

7,516

12,875

32,948

28,667

4,287

2,788

1,493 6,936

In labor force

18,812 18,602 17,795 17,167 17,155 16,323 ( 18,449 13,8UO

5,532 10,350

9,222

1,128 226 902

2,930

5,430

10,182

9,086

1,096

158

938

2,990

5,621

9,273

8,550

723

2/

2/

2,901

5,682

8,739

7,959

780

2/

2/

2,746

5,943 8,281

7,553 728

2/

2/ 2,931

6,181

7,545

6,676

869

H 2/

2,597

7,542

8,433 6,226 2,207 1,464 743 2,474

1/ Statistics are for April of each year except 1940 (the last week in March), and 1950 (first week in March) .

2/ Not available.

Source: U. S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census, Current Population Reports .

63

CHART -yVTT

MARITAL STATUS OF WOMEN IN THE POPULATION AND LABOR FORCE

1940,1944,1947 to 1952

(PERCENT DISTRIBUTION) POPULATION LABOR FORCE

PERCENT

too

PERCENT 100

1940 1944 1947 1948 1949 1950 1951 1952

SOURCE: U.S. Bureau of the Census I

Single

1940 1944 1947 1948 1949 1950 1951 1952 Married \~ ~j Widowed and divorced

64

Table 26. Percent Distribution of Women in the Civilian Population and Labor Force,

by Marital Status: 19lj-0, ISkk, and 19^^7-1952 l/

Marital status	1952	1951	1950	19^9	I9if8	19hl	19i^4	19^0
		It	t population
Women, l4 years smd
over -------	100.0	100.0	100.0	100.0	100.0	100.0	100.0	100.0
Single	19.1	19.1	19.6	20.0	21.0	22.0	2k. k	27.6
Married ----------	66,6	66.5	66.1	66.1	6k.6	6I+.2	62.5	59.5
Husband present - - - - -	62.9	62.8	63.h	63.1	61.9	61.0	51+. 3	36.k
Husband absent - - - - _	3o7	3.7	2.7	3.0	2.7	3.2	8.1	3.1
In armed forces - - - -	.8	.7	-	-	-	-	5.3	-
Other ---------	2.9	3.0	-	-	-	2.8	-
Widowed and divorced - - -	1^.3	Ik.k	14.2	li^.O	ik.k	13.7	13.1	12.9

Women, ik yeeirs and over -------

Single __---•-- Married -------

Hiisband present - -

Hiosband absent - -

In armed forces -

Other ------

Widoved and divorced

In labor force

100.0

29.4

55.0

1+9.0

6.0

1.2

h.&

15.6

100.0

29.2

48.8

5.9

.8

5.0

16.1

100.0

31.6

52.1

48.0

4.1

16.3

100.0

33.1 50.9

46.4 4.5

16.0

100.0

34.6

48.3

44.0

4.2

17.1

100.0

37.9

46.2

40.9

5.3

15.9

100.0

40.9 45.7 33.7 12.0

7.9

4.0 13.4

100.0

48.5 36.4

30.3 6.1

15.1

1/ Statistics are for April of each year except 1940 (last week in March), and 1950 (first week in March) .

Source: U. S. Department of Commerce, Biireau of the Census, Current Population Reports.

65

Table 27. Civilian Labor Force Participation Rates of Women, by Marital Statios:

19lfO, 191^4, and 19^7-1952 l/

j

19^7 19W-

McLTital status

1952

1951

1950 191^9

19^8

19i^0

Women, Ik years and over

Singile __-

Married ----------

Husband present - - - - -

Husband absent - - - - -

In armed forces - - - -

Other

Widowed and divorced - - -

32. 1^

50.0 26.8

25.3 52.2

53-6 35.3

32.4

i+9.6 26.7 25.2 51.6 39.7 5'*.3 36.1

31 A

50.5 21^.8 23.8 1^7.^

36.0

1

30.7

50.9 23.6 22.5 lt6.2

35.1

31.0

51.1 23.1

22.0 1^8.7

36.8

29.8

51.2 21.4 20.0 49.5

3k.6

35.0

58.6 25.6 21.7 51.5 52.5 49.8

35.7

27.4

1^8.1 16.7 14.7 53.^

32.0

1/ Statistics are for April of each year except 19^0 (last week in March), and 1950 (first week in March) .

Source: U. S. Depeurtment of Commerce, Bvireau of the Census, Current Population Reports.

66

Table 28. Msjor Occupation Group of Employed Women^ by Marital Status: April 1952

(In thousands)

Marital status

Number

of

employed

workers

Major occupation group

Clericalj

sales,

Eind

kindred

workers

Service workers

Profes- sional, Operative^ techni-

and kindred workers

ca], and kindred workers

Proprie- tors, managers.

and offi- cials, ex- cept farm

Farm laborers

£ind foremen

Crafts- men, foremen, and kindred workers

Farmers and farm managers

Laborers ,

except

farm and

mine

Total employed women -

18,234

6,700

3,882

3,^^96

2,026

978

61k

2kk

166

128

Single -------

Married, husband

present - - _ _ _ Other marital status

Total

5,360

8,946 3,928

100.0

Single -------

Married, husband present -----

Other marital status

Total -

100.0

100.0 100.0

100.0

2,534

3,096 1,070

^6.7

924

1,606 1,352

678

2,058 760

850

870 306

138

594 246

116

480 18

82

116 46

14

66 86

24

60 44

Percent distribution by occupation

47.3

34.6 27.2

21.3

17.2

18.0 34.4

19.2

12.6

23.0 19.3

11.1

15.9

9.7 7.8

5.4

2.6

6.6 6.3

3.h	1.3	.9	.7
2.2	1.5	.3	.4
5.4 .5	1.3 1.2	.7 2.2	.7 1.1

Percent distribution by marital status

Single -------

Married, husband present -----

Other marital status

29.4

49.1 21.5

100.0

37.8

46.2 16.0

100.0

23.8

41.4 34.8

100.0

19.4

58.9 21.7

100.0

42.0

42.9 15.1

100.0

14.1

60.7 25.2

100.0

18.9 78.2

2.9

100.0

33.6

47.5 18.9

100.0

8.4

39.8 51.8

100.0

18.8

46.9 34.4

Source: U. S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census, Current Population Reports.

67

VIII. MCTTHEKS

Labor Force Participation Since 19^0

Of the almost 19 mm ion women in the labor force In April 1952, more than 5^ million - about 3 out of 10 - were mothers of children under l8 years of sige. This number was about 35 times as large as the nimber of mothers who were working in 191^0 (table 29).

Almost one -fourth of all of the mothers in the popiolation, with children under I8 years of age, were working in 1952. Exactly comparable data for 19'i-0 are not available. However, it has been estimated that the Ig- million mothers who were working In 19^0 represented less than 10 percent of the mothers in the population at that time, in other words, in 19^0, less than one-tenth of the mothers in the population, who had children under I8 years of age, Were working; by 1952, almost one -fourth of such mothers were in the labor force (table 30) .

Between 19^0 and 19^6, during the years of World War II, the number of working mothers more than doubled, and the proportion of mothers who were working Increased about 10 percentage points. Furthermore, the end of the war did not bring about Euiy reversal of this trend; for both the nimber and the proportion of working mothers continued to Increase steadily (tables 30 and 31).

Ages of Children of Working Mothers

Of the 5J: million working mothers in April 1952, about 2 million had one or more young children under 6 years of age. The remaining 3-J- million women had older children only (be- tween the aiges of 6 sind 17 years) . The 2 mil- lion mothers of young children represented a little more than 10 percent of the woman labor

A8

force in 1952, vhereas mothers of older children only, represented about 17 percent of the woman labor force (table 29).

Working outside of the home is, of course, most difficult for mothers of young children, and this is reflected in the pro- portion of those mothers vho are so engaged, by comparison with mothers who have children of older ages only. Whereas a little more than a third of the mothers of children between the ages of 6 and I7 years were working, only about a sixth of the mothers of preschool age children were in the labor force in 1952. Furthermore, the increase during the post-war years in the proportion of working mothers who had young children has been less pronounced than the increase among those who had children of school age only (table 30) •

Marital Status of Mothers

In view of the dioal responsibility and physical strain involved for mothers who are employed outside of their homes, it may be Eiasiamed that the vast majority of mothers vtio work do so for economic reeisons. This explains, in part, the tremendous difference in the pro- , portion of working mothers among women who are living with their husbands by comparison with women who have children but who are widowed.

divorced, or separated. Among the latter group, more than half were in the labor force in 1952. Among women whose husbands were present, on the other hand, only a fifth were in the labor force (table 31).

Among mothers of young children, only about ik percent whose husbands are present were in the labor force; and while there has been a steady increase in this proportion since 19^6, the difference between 19k6 and 1952 is one of only k.^ percentage points. Among mothers who are widowed, divorced, or separated, on the other hand, two-fifths were in the labor force in 1952 and an even greater proportion in 19^8, respectively 6 and 10 per- centage points over 19^6 (table 32).

In the population, 90 percent of all mothers are women whose husbands are present. Therefore, despite the tremendous differences in the participation rates of mothers by their marital status, those mothers whose husbands are present form four-fifths of all mothers in the labor force. And we miost assiane that^ for many of these women economic reasons force them - as well as the widowed, divorced, and separated women - to accept the tremendous responsibilities of home, children, and out- side job (table 3I) .

69

CHART XVIII

MARITAL STATUS OF WOMEN WORKERS 81 PRESENCE o" ABSENCE

OF CHILDREN - 1952 a 1940

NUMBERS IN MILLIONS

18.8

1952

No Children

E

With Children Under 18 Years Old

NUMBERS IN MILLIONS 3.8

1940

SOURCE: U.S.Bureau of the Census

70

Table 29. Women in the Labor Force, by Marital Status and Presence or Absence

of Children: 1940, and 1948-1952 1/

(In thousands)

Marital status and age of own children	1952	1951	1950	1949	1948	1940
Women, l4 years and over ------	18,812	18,602	17,795	17,167	17,155	13,840
Women ever married -------- With no ovn children under 18 - With ovn children under I8 - - - Under 6 years 3/------" 6 to 17 yeaxs only ------	13,280 7,984 5,296 2,054 3,242 5,532	13,172 7,910 5,262 2,040 3,222 5,430	12,174 7,549 4,626 1,701 2,925 5,621	11,485 7,152 1^,333 1,623 2,710 5,682	11,?1? 2/ 7,042 ~ 4,165 2/ 1,559 2/ 2,606 5,943	7,130 5,630 1,500 6,710

1/ statistics are for April of each year except 1940 (last veek in March), and 1950 (first week in Mar<di),

2/ Estimated; therefore, aggregates do not add to totsLl.

^/ Includes some women who also have children between 6 and 17 years of age.

4/ Not available.

Source: U. S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census, Current Population Reports.

71

CHART -smr

PROPORTION OF ALL MOTHERS WHO WORKED

1940, 1946 TO 1952

MOTHERS WITH CHILDREN UNDER 18 YEARS OF AGE®

MOTHERS WITH CHILDREN UNDER 6 YEARS OF AGE

INCLUDES MOTHERS WITH CHILDREN UNDER 6 AND 6 TO 17 YEARS OF AGE *NOT AVAILABLE

SOURCE: U. S. Bureau of the Census

72

Table 30* Labor Force Participation Rates of Women, by Marital Status and Presence

or Absence of Children: 19^0, and 19^8-1952 1/

Marital status and age of ovn children

Percent of women in the population who were in the labor force

1952

1951

1950

19h9 '

19i^8

19^0

Women, 1^ years and over

Women ever married -------

With no own children under l8 With own children under l8 - - Under 6 years 3/ ----- -

6 to 17 years only - - - - -

Single women ----------

32. k

28.3 32 A 23.8 15.7 35.1 50.0

32.4

28 A 32.6 23.8 15.8

3h'Q 1^9.6

31 A

26.8 3l.k 21.6 13.6 32.8 50.5

30.7

23.6 30 A 20.3 13.0 30.7 50-9

31.0

25.6

30.5 20.2 12.8 30.7 51.1

27. If

19.5 2/

2/ 4B.1

1/ Statistics are for April of each year except 19^4^0 (last week in March), emd 1950 (first week in MEirch) .

2/ Not available.

3/ Includes some women who also have children between 6 and 17 years of age.

Soiirce: U. S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Censtis, Current Pop\ilation Reports.

73

Table 31-

Marital Status of Mothers with Children Under l8 Years of Age, in the Population and the Labor Force: 19I+O, and I9I+6-I952 1/

(In thousands)

	Mothers with children under I8 years of age
	Total •	Married, husband present	Widowed, separated, divorced
	Civilian popula- tion	Labor force	Civilian popvila- tion	Labor force	Civilian popula- tion	Labor force
Year	Number	Percent of popula- tion	Nianber	Percent of popula- tion	Number	Percent of popula- tion
1952 1951 1950 I9I+9 I9I+8 I9I+7 2/ I9I+6 2/ I9I+O 2/	22,286 22,11+3 21,1+59 21,308 20,617 19,21+0 19,11+0 17,31+3	5,296 5,262 l+,626 l+,333 1+,165 3,588 3,1+90 1,500	23.8 23.8 21.6 20.3 20.2 18.6 18.2 8.6	20,170 19,818 19,597 19,509 18,818 17,619 17,010 3/	U,l80 l+,070 3,601+ 3,1+15 3,151 2,795 2,580 3/	20.7 20.5 18.1+ 17.5 16.7 15.9 15.2 3/	2,116 2,325 1,862 1,799 1,799 1,621 2,130 3/	1,116 1,192 1,022 918 l,0ll+ 793 910 3/	52.7 51.3 5I+.9 51.0 56.1+ 1+8.9 42.7 3/

1/ statistics are for April of each year except 19I+O (last week in March), 19I+6 (February), and 1950 (first week in March) .

2/ Data for I9I+O, I9I+6, and I9I+7 are for families (other than sub-families) with male head married, wife ~ present and families with female head; these data are not exactly comparable with data for later years which relate to persons. (Persons include members of families and sub-families .) However, it is assumed that persons with children are more likely to be in families than are other persons in the population.

2/ Not available.

Soxirce: U. S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census, Current Population Reports.

74

Table 32. Marital Status of Mothers with Children Under 6 Years of Age, in the Population and the

Labor Force: 19^4-6-1952 1/

(In thouseuids)

				Mothers	s with children under 6 years c	5f age
		Total	Married;	husband present	Widowed, separated,	divorced
	Civilian	Labor	force	Civilian	Labor force	Civilian	Labor	force
Year		Percent		Percent		Percent
	popula-	Number	of	popula-	Number	of	popula-	Nximber	of
	tion		popula- tion	tion		popula- tion	tion		popvQa- tion
1952	13,062	2,054	15.7	12,162	1,688	13-9	900	366	4o.7
1951	12,884	2,040	15.8	11,890	1,670	14.0	994	370	37.2
1950	12, 529	1,701	13.6	U-,799	1,399	11.9	730	302	41.4'
19if9	12,1+92	1,623	13.0	11,718	1,285	11.0	774	338	^3.7
192^8	12,142	1,559	12.8	11,399	1,222	10.7	743	337	45.4
1947 2/	10,918	1,312	12.0	10,314	1,067	10.3	6o4	245	40.6
192;6 2/	10,500	l,24o	11.8	9,490	890	9.4	1,010	350	34.7

1/ statistics are for April of each year except 1946 (February), and 1950 (Msirch) .

2/ Data for 1946 and 1947 are for families (other than sub-families) with male head, married, wife present, and families with female head. These data are not exactly comparable with data for later years which relate to persons. (Persons include members of families and sub -families.)

Source: U. S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census, Current Population Reports .

75

IX. PART-TIME Er-IPLO:fl-ElW

Persons classified as part-time workers are those who ordinarily work at jobs for less than 35 hours per week. During 1951^ about 10^ million persons worked on a part-time basis. This group represented 15 percent of the 'JO million persons who worked at some time during 1951 (table 33) •

Part-time employment is more common among women than among men: One -fourth of the 2h.6 mil- lion women who worked at some time during 1951 had part-time jobs, whereas less than a tenth of the k^.h million men who worked dviring the year were on a short schedule (table 33)-

Occupations Employing Part-Time Workers During 1951

Farm laborers and private household workers are the two occupation groups with the largest complement of part-time workers. Among women farm laborers almost two-thirds, and among men farm laborers about one -third were employed for less than 35 hours a week. Memy of the farm laborers working on a part-time basis are unpaid family members who work as needed during busy periods on the family farms. (Unpaid family workers are considered as part of the labor force if they work as much as 15 hours a week on a family- operated farm or business.) Women on farms, of course, have much less opportunity for continuous full-time employment than do the women in urban communities (table 33) •

Private household work is predominantly a woman's job; 98 percent of the part-time workers in this occupation are women. These workers often work by the hour or by the day in private homes; and during 1951> about 60 percent - or 3 out of every 5 household workers - were employ-

ed on a part-time basis, i. hours a week (table 33)*

for less than 35

Sales work is another occupational group in which large proportions of part-time workers are found, particularly among women. Almost kO percent of the women salespersons - though only 17 percent of the men so employed - were part- time workers during 1951- As with the retail trade industries which employ peirt-time sales women in large proportions, the service industries such as restaurants, beauty shops, etc., often find it advantageous to employ help on a part- time basis. Twenty-five percent of all women service workers other than in private hoxoseholds were working for less than 35 hours a week dur- ing 1951 (table 33).

Among clerical workers and operatives, the two largest woman-employing occupation groups, accounting for the employment of almost 50 per- cent of all working women, the proportion of part-time workers was smaller - onlj'- about 12 percent in each group - during 1951 (table 33).

76

Age of Part-Time Workers During 1951

Among vtimen part-time workers, almost 60 percent were between the ages of 25 and 5^ years. Among men part-time workers, on the other hand, only 20 percent were found in these ages during 1951. Yoxuig hoys, between the ages of l^f and 17 years, and older men, 55 years and over, formed the bulk of the male part-time labor force.

Among both young women and men of Ik to 17 yeeirs, almost two -thirds of all persons who worked at some time during 1951 were employed on a part-time basis. A high percentage of girls and boys of this age group are enrolled in school, which accounts for the prevalence of part-time work among them (table 3^) •

Again, in the l8-to-2i^-year age group, the proportion of young women who worked part time was about the same as the proportion of young men - 15 percent among women and 12 percent among men. This is the age group of greatest full-time labor force participation among women (table 3^) •

For women in the age groups 25 to 6h years, however, the proportion of women part-time workers reflects the fact that msmy women have child-rj?arlng or homemaking responsibilities and, therefore, often cannot accept fvill-time jobs. Most of the men of these ages, on the other hand, work at full-time, year-round jobs.

In the older age groups, 65 years and over, the proportion of women workers in part-time jobs is again much higher than the proportion of men workers in such jobs. Job opportunities for both

men and women in these ages are, of course, limited. In addition, among women, many have had no previous or recent work experience which would qualify them for full-time jobs; among men, past the traditional retirement age of 65 years, also, opportunities for full-time employment axe limited (table 3^) .

Work Patterns by Marital Status During I950

Not marriage per se, but presence or absence of young children in the home, is the key factor in determining not only whether a woman works full or part time, but also - among full-time workers - whether she works throughout the year or on an inter- mittent basis. Among married women with no children under I8 yeeo's, and among widowed, divorced, and separated women, and single women, about a fourth of those who worked were on a part-time basis dur- ing 1950. (Comparable data for 1951 8xe not availa- ble.) Among women with children, however, aJjnost two-fifths worked on a part-time basis (table 35) •

Three-fourths of nil married women workers without children, as well as of the widowed, divorced, and separated women, and the single women who were employed, worked at full-time jobs diaring 1950. Fiirthermore, more than half of the women in these marital groups worked for at least half a year; and at least two-fifths of them were full-time, year-round workers (table 35) •

Among women with children, on the other hand, only about two-fifths of those with children be- tween 6 and 17 years, and only a fourth of those with children under 6 years worked at full-time jobs for a half year or more (table 35)-

77

CHART XZ

CHARACTERISTICS OF WOMEN PART-TIME WORKERS

AGE DISTRIBUTION DURING 1951

14 TO 17 YEARS 18 TO 24 YEARS 25 TO 34 YEARS 35 TO 44 YEARS 45 TO 54 YEARS 55 TO 64 YEARS 65 YEARS AND OVER

OCCUPATIONAL DISTRIBUTION DURING 1951

PERCENT 0

FARM LABORERS

HOUSEHOLD WORKERS

SALES WORKERS

CLERICAL WORKERS

SERVICE WORKERS

OPERATIVES

PROFESSIONAL WORKERS

OTHER OCCUPATIONS

! 1
1
J
J
-■■
RS^-.WlUll

DISTRIBUTION OF WOMEN WORKERS BY FULL- AND PART-TIME WORK AND BY MARITAL STATUS DURING 1950

PART-TIME JOBS

FULL-TIME JOBS

26 WEEKS OR LESS

27 TO 49 WEEKS 50 TO 52 WEEKS

wm

PERCENT lOO-i-

NO CHILDREN

UNDER

18 YEARS

v_

PERCENT =V-r 100

NO CHILDREN SOME CHILDREN

UNDER UNDER

6 YEARS 6 YEARS

"V~

MARRIED

WOMEN

OTHER WOMEN WORKERS 1/

SOURCE: U.S. Bureau of the Census

1/ INCLUDES SINGLE. WIDOWED, SEPARATED AND DIVORCED.

78

Table 33. FiJll-Time and Part-Time Statxis of Women and Men Who Worked During 1951, by Major

Occupational Group

Major occupationail group	Women workers	Men workers
	Total	Full-time	Part-time	Total	Full-time	Part -time
All occupations (in thousands) - - -	2l+,598	18,206	6,392	h3,36k	i^l,338	i^,026
Total	Percent 100.0	distribution T^+.O 26.0	100.0	91.1	8.9
Professional, technicsil euad kindred	100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0	85.6 62.7 87.1 88.1 61.6 93-6 87.1 ^1.5 75.5 35.9 78.9	Ik.k 37-3 12.9 11.9 38.4 6.k 12.9 58.5 2k. 5 6k.i 21.1	100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0	9k. 6 92.9 97.3 9i^.8 83.3 95.i^ 93.9 50.0 85.7 65.3 Qk.k	5.^ 7.1 2.7 5.2 16.7 k.6 6.1 50.0 11^.3 3^.7 15.6
Farmers and farm maneigers -------- Managers, officials and proprietors, except farm -------------- Clerical, and kindred workers ------
Craftsmen, foremen, and kindred workers - Operatives and kindred workers ----- Private household workers -------- Service workers, except private hoxosehold Farm laborers and foremen -------- Laborers, except farm and mine -----

Source: U. S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census, Current Population Reports.

79

Table 3k. Women and Men Who Worked Part-Time Dixring 1951, by Age

Age	Percent distribution of part-time workers	Proportion part-time workers formed of all workers
	Women	Men	Women	Men
All n£PS ______	100.0	100.0	26.0 65.7 15.3 21.2 25.2 26.2 28.6 45.0	8.9
Ik to 17 years ----- 18 to 2k years ----- 25 to 3k years - - - - - 35 to kh years _____ k3 to 5^ years _ - _ - - 55 to 6k years _ - - - _ 65 years and. over - - - -	15.5 ll.k 18.3 21.3 17.5 10.8 5.3	38.5 lJi.8 7.9 5.4 7.0 10.6 15.8	6k.3 11.6 3.0 2.2 3.k 7.0 22.2

Source: U. S. Department of Commerce, Bxrreau of the Census, Current Popvilation Reports .

80

I I

1 t

I 1 i i I I I I I I I

[ I I

Table 35. Fvill-Tlme and Part-Time Status of Women Who Worked During 1950, by Marital

Status BJid Presence or Absence of Children

(Percent distribution)

	All women	Married		Other
	Total	No children xander I8 years	With	children 18 years	under
Work experience during 1950	Total	Widowed, divorced, separated
Total	None under 6 years	Some under 6 years	Single
Women who worked during 1950	100.0	100.0	100.0	100.0	100.0	100.0	100.0	100.0	100.0
At fu]l-time jobs 13 weeks or less - - - Ik to 26 weeks - - - - 27 to k9 weeks - - _ - 50 to 52 weeks At peort-time jobs - - -	73.^ 8.9 9.8 17.9 36.8 26.6 1	69.5 10.3 10.8 18.6 29.9 30.5	76.1 6.5 9.1 20.1 i^O.3 23.9	62.7 llf.l 13.2 16.8 19.0 37.3	Sk.O 9.k ll.k 18.1 25.3 35.7	61.1 19.0 l'+.7 15.3 12.3 38.9	77.9 l.k 8.5 17.3 kk.9 22.1	77.7 5.9 8.1 19.^ kk.3 22.5	78.0 Q.k 8.8 15.6 1^5.2 22.0

Sovirce: U. S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census, Current Popizlation Reports .

81

1 I • t I I

I 1 I

t I I I I

III

I I • I I I

1 I i 1 1 f

I I 1

; t i I f I i

I III I i

I I % ■ ^ n §41 I I

I I I 11 I ' '''

II I III I i I I I

i I I I I t • 11 f

Table 3^. Women ajid Men Who Worked Part-Time Diaring 1951^ ty Age

Age	Percent distribution of part-time workers	Proportion part-time workers formed of all workers
	Women	Men	Women	Men
All ages ------	100.0	100.0	26.0 65.7 15.3 21.2 25.2 26.2 28.6 lj-5.0	8.9
ik to 17 years - _ - _ _ l8 to 2k years ----- 25 to 3k years ----- 35 to kh years ----- k3 to 5^ years - _ - - - 55 to 6k years ----- 65 years and over - - - -	15.5 n.k 18.3 21.3 17.5 10.8 5.3	38.5 llf.8 7.9 5.k 7-0 10.6 15.8	64.5 11.6 3.0 2.2 3.^ 7.0 22.2

Source: U. S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census, Current Population Reports .

80

I t

1 11

I III. 1

I I I I* 1^ Iv i 1 II I I «

tt ■ S B B I ' B

I i I I I i^iV 1 1 I I I I I I

' • • • • 'i'l'i*!,

II I I I i l^l;

I I i I 1 I I;

I I I I I 1^ ' I I I I II "

III! 1 ?

(Y ^ > fv ^; [^ s>

Table 35. Full -Time and Part-Time Status of Women Who Worked During 1950, by Marital

Statxas and Presence or Absence of Children

(Percent distribution)

	All women	Married		Other
	Total	No children under I8 yesa-s	With	children 18 years	under
Work experience during 1950	Total	Widowed, divorced, separated
Total	None under 6 years	Some under 6 years	Single
Women who worked during 1950	100.0	100.0	100.0	100.0	100.0	100.0	100.0	100.0	100.0
At full-time jobs - - - - 13 weeks or less - - - li+ to 26 weeks - - - - 27 to 1+9 weeks - — - 50 to 52 weeks At part-time jobs - - -	73.1^ 8.9 9.8 17.9 36.8 26.6	69.5 10.3 10.8 18.6 29.9 30.5	76.1 6.5 9.1 20.1 1+0.3 23.9 i	62.7 ll+.l 13.2 16.8 19.0 37.3	61+.0 9.1+ 11.1+ 18.1 25.3 35.7	61.1 19.0 II+.7 15.3 12.3 38.9	77.9 1-k 8.5 17.3 1+1+.9 22.1	77.7 5.9 8.1 19.1+ I+I+.3 22.5	78.0 8.1+ 8.8 15.6 1+5.2 22.0

Source: U. S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census, Cvirrent Population Reports ,

81

X. INCOME

Even though there are more Job opportunities for women and more women are working today than before World War II, women's income from their Jobs has increased less than has men's income, since 1939' In 1951> the median income of work- ing women was only about two-fifths that of men, whereas in 1939 it vas nestrly three-fifths of men ' s .

From these facts on income it appears that the large numbers of women who have entered the labor force throughout the past decade have found employ- ment in those lower-paying Jobs which were always open to women or in those which were vacated by men who moved into the higher-paying Jobs created by war and defense conditions. Furthermore, women apparently have remained in these lower-paying Jobs; consequently men's income from wages and seuLaries has increased at a greater rate than women's.

Wages and SsLlaries

Between 1939 and 1951 the median wage and salary income of women, like that of men, showed a significant increase - from $555 per year to $1,361 per year. In other words, women's income increased almost 1^ times. However, during this time men's incane increased slightly more than 2

times, thereby widening the traditional gap between women's anA. men's wage and salary income. Whereas women's income amounted to 59 percent of men's in 1939* it amounted to only kk percent of men's in 1951 (table 36).

It is interesting to note that war and defense conditions did not result in any increase in women's income in relation to men's. As a matter of fact, there was a svib- stantial decresise in women's income relative to men's between the prewar year of 1939 and the postwar year of 19^* 5 • This wels followed by a small increase in women's relative earn- ings in 19^(^7; ^oA again, gradual decreases each year from 19'*^8 through 1951- These developments suggest that war and defense periods drew many younger men from lower - paying Jobs into military service, and pro- vided men in civilian employment with signi- ficantly better Job opportunities than women. Furthermore, men were successful in keeping these Jobs (table 36).

The proportion of women with wage or salary incomes whose incomes from this source were under $2,000 decreased by 30 percentage points between 1939 and 1951; nevertheless.

82

67 percent of all women wage or salary workers in 1951 still had incomes below that amount. By contrast, only 27 percent of all men wage or sal- ary workers had incomes irnder $2,000. Whereeis women in the $5,000 and over group formed less than one -half of 1 percent of all women wage and salary workers in 1939 and 1951, men in this group increased by 11 percentage points between these years, and had become 12 percent of all men wage and salary workers by 1951 (table 36).

The widening of the gap in wage and salary incomes of women and men is further evidenced by comparative income data for six occupational groups . In all of these occupational groups except two - professional and technical workers and meinagers, officials, and proprietors - in- creases in men's earned incomes between 1939 and 1951 exceeded those In women's. This is particu- larly important in view of the fact that the two groups excepted employ only about 15 percent of all women workers. Proportionately speaking, therefore, the important woman-employing occupa- tional groups are providing greater increases in wages to men than to women (table 37)-

These facts are vmdoubtedly significant in considering the jjersistent labor shortages in occupations frequently filled by women. For

exaii5)le, although women have continued to dominate the clerical field, there is still a shortage of such workers; yet, at the same time, men's incomes in these occupations are increasing more rapidly than women's.

In none of the six occupational groups in 1951 did women's income amount to as much 818 two-thirds of men's; and in the sales worker group, women's income was only one-third of men's (table 37).

Husband-Wife Income

As might be expected, families in which both hxisband and wife work have higher incomes thein those in which only the huabemd works. In 1952, only a fifth of the families with the wife in the labor force as con^ared to a third of those with the wife not in the labor force had total money incomes under $3,000 dollars for the previous year. Almost half of the families with husband emd wife working, but only a fourth of those with the wife not working, had incomes above $5|000. Total money income includes income from self- employment, interest, rents, annuities, etc., in addition to wage and salary income (table 38).

83

Both the extent to which wives participate in the labor force and the level of wives ' in- comes when they do work are directly related to the husbands ' incomes . The percent of wives in the labor force decreases markedly in accord- ance wi th the hiisbands ' incomes . Whereas about one -third of the wives were working in families in which the husbands ' incomes were between $1,000 £ind $3,000, only about one -seventh of the wives were working when their husbands ' incomes were $6,000 or more. Furthermore, 1951 data show that the median income of working wives of husbands with incomes of $i4-,000 or more was close to $2,000, while incomes of wives whose hxisbsuads earned, less than $2,000 a year was only about $1,000 (table i^O) .

Among the reasons for these relationships may be the fact that husbands and wives tend to have similar backgrounds, education, experience, and work qualifications; furthermore, wives of higher-income men may be reluctant to accept low-paying jobs, since their need for additional income is less pressing than in low-income fami- lies .

In 1951, median income in the United States was lowest for families with a female head, and highest for familiep having a male head with wife

in the labor force. However, even when the wife was not in the labor force, families headed by a man had substeintially higher median incomes than families headed by a woman, with a difference of more than $1,400 per year (table 39)'

The significance of this discrepancy in family income becomes apparent when one con- siders that there are more than k million families, 1 out of every 10, in the United States with a woman head. Three -fourths of ■chese families are located in urban areas, where the difference in family incomes is even more marked than in the country aa a whole: In urban areas, ^ere almost 1 out of every fci families has a woman head, the median income of male -headed families with the wife in the labor force is almost twice that of families with a female head. Even where zhe wife is not in the labor force, the income of urban families with a male head exceeds that of families with a female head by <3D percent, or $1,500 (table 39). Clearly then, low incomes of women, relative to men, affect not only the women themselves, but also the large number of families for which these women hold sole or primary responsibility.

84

Residence

Age

In urban areas, wcmen's total money income - including money from wages, salary, self- employment, rents, interest, etc. - averaged about two-fifths of that of men in 1951- In jnoral areas, women's total money income averaged less than a third of men's (table hi). In rural areas, of course, about two-thirds of the woman labor force is composed of unpaid family workers, many of whom work only during the planting or haxvesting seasons on the family farms. (See ch. II, Industry and Class of Worker.)

The proportion of unpaid family workers among the woman labor force in farm areas is considerably greater than the proportion of these workers among the male labor force in these areas. These differences account, in part, for the fact that the total money income of women in rural-farm areas avereiged only 35 percent of the money income of women in virban areas in 1951^ whereas men in rural areas had a median money income of nearly half (U6 per- cent) that of men in urban areas. However, for both women and men in rural areas total money income excludes payments in kind, and urbem-rural comparisons must be evaluated with this in mind.

Almost twice as many men as women had some money income in 1951 • Among persons Ik years of age and over, slightly more than k out of every 10 women as compared with 9 out of every 10 men bad some money income that year. For both men and women, the median income figure was lowest for the li^ to 20 year old group. For both, in- comes increased after 20 years of age; however, women's median income began to diminish at 35 years while men's did not begin to decrease un- til 45 years of age. These data reflect the fact that many women 35 years and over have family responsibilities and so are not in the labor force, and, also, that men - by compari- son with the women who axe working - are more likely to work in fields •vrtiich permit them greater opportunities for advancement as they acquire seniority and experience (table k2) .

Whereas men's and women's median income was about the same in the ih to 20 yeax group, men's income increasingly exceeded women's in the upper age groups, ranging from about l|- tiraes as large as women's at 20 to 25 years to 3 times women's at 55 to 65 years. At 65 years and over, however, men's median income dropped to only twice that of women's (table k2) .

85

CHART XXI

MEDIAN WAGE OR SALARY INCOME : 1939 to 1951

$555

1939

^980

1945

WOMEN

$1,141 $1,189 ^'.208 ^1.203 $1,361

1947

1948

1949

1950

1951

EACH SYMBOL REPRESENTS $200.00

$ 2,079

$939

1939

1945

MEN

$2,260 ^^•'^'^^ ^^•'^''^

$ 2,670

fe=r=:r^

$ 3,083

1947

1948

1949

1950

1951

U.S. Bureau of the Census

86

t II I i I t

' I I

i I I % i II

I'M V *''

I I I

I I I

I I I

I I I

Table 36. Wage or Salary Income of Workers, by Sex: 1939, 1945> 1947, 1948-1951

Wage or saJ.ary	Women	■ ' ■ — Men
income	1951	1950	1949	1948	1947	19^5	1939	1951	1950	1949	1948	1947	1945	1939
Median income - - Persons with wage or salary income - - -	$1,361 100.0	$1,203 100.0	$1,208 100.0	$1,189 Pe 100.0	$l,l4l rcent d 100.0	$980 dstribi- 100.0	$555 ition 100.0	$3,083 100.0	$2,670 100.0	$2,476 100.0	$2,445 100.0	$2,260 100.0	$2,079 100.0	$939 100. c
Under $1,000 $1,000, under $2,000 - $2,000, under $3,000 - $3,000, under $5,000 - $5,000 and over - - -	41.9 25.3 22.6 9.7 0.5	45.4 26.2 22.0 6.2 0.3	44.4 29.6 20.3 5.6 0.2	44.1 31.3 20.1 4.2 0.3	45.5 35.1 15.7 3.1 0.5	50.8 37.6 9.8 1.5 0.2	79.0 18.1 2.1 0.6 0.1	14.1 12.5 21.0 39.9 12.4	18.3 15.3 24.3 34.0 8.3	19.6 18.1 26.2 30.0 6.1	18.9 18.1 27.5 29.6 6.1	19-3 22.2 28.8 25.0 4.8	26.0 21.6 28.1 19.5 4.9	52. { 33.^ 3.3 1.4

Source: U. S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census, Current Population Reports .

Percent Women's Median Income was of Men's Median Income

1939 1945 1947 1948 1949 1950 1951 59.1 47.1 50.5 48.6 48.8 45.1 44.1

87

■;*.; '*i ■■* i

• 1

II k I I I

III 1 I I

ill 1 i I.

1 I I

i i I

t I I

i i i

^1 I I ,« '

' -11 I ^ ,•.»,

Sill. .•,•

., I I II r.«-

Kl I I f If t

Mil i I t • r

I f • tf I I I I

I I I I I ~ ~

I I 1 I I I I I I I s ^

III I I till

II I

CHART XXI

MEDIAN WAGE OR SALARY INCOME: 1939 to 1951

$555

$980

1939

1945

EACH SYMBOL REPRESENTS J 200.00

WOMEN $1,141 $1,189 ^'.208 $1,203 $1,361

1947

1948

1949

1950

1951

to II

i 12,1

i l!,f

$ 2,079

$939

1939

1945

$2,260

MEN $ 2.445

1947

1948

$ 2,476

$ 2,670

$ 3.083

1949

1950

1951

U.S. Bureau of the Census

86

1 I 111

1 1 I 11 I i 1 t I 11 II 1 i 1 1 1 1 1 1

1 1 1 1 I I'' 1. .- ■''

'l*i*l 1 1 I. ■.!.-, I 1 I 1 1 I ■.■.*.*

I i 1 1 1 • •.« i;

- -" I 1 1 1 i I •.? 11111 1 I

■ — ^ I I 1 I 1 1 ' 1" '^'

1111111 11 - 1 If-

Table 36. Wage or Salary Income of Workers, by Sex: 1939, 1945, 1947, 1948-1951

Wage or salary	Women	Men
income	1951	1950	1949	1948	1947	1945	1939	1951	1950	1949	1948	1947	1945	1939
Median income - - Persons with wage or saleiry income - - -	$1,361 100.0	$1,203 100.0	$1,208 100.0	$1,189 $l,l4l $980 $555 Percent distribution 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0	$3,083 100.0	$2,670 100.0	$2,476 100.0	$2,445 100.0	$2,260 100.0	$2,079 100.0	$939 100.0
Under $1,000 $1,000, under $2,000 - $2,000, under $3,000 - $3,000, under $5,000 - $5,000 and over - - -	41.9 25.3 22.6 9.7 0.5	45.4 26.2 22.0 6.2 0.3	44.4 29.6 20.3 5.6 0.2	44.1 31.3 20.1 4.2 0.3	45.5 35.1 15.7 3.1 0.5	50.8 37.6 9.8 1.5 0.2	79.0 18.1 2.1 0.6 0.1	14.1 12.5 21.0 39.9 12.4	18.3 15.3 24.3 34.0 8.3	19.6 18.1 26.2 30.0 6.1	18.9 18.1 27.5 29.6 6.1	19.3 22.2 28.8 25.0 4.8	26.0 21.6 28.1 19.5	52.8 33-4 9.4 3.1 1.4

Source: U. S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census, C\irrent Population Reports.

Percent Women's Median Income was of Men's Median Income

1939 1945 1947 1948 1949 1950 1951 59.1 47.1 50.5 48.6 48.8 45.1 hh.l

87

CHART "innT

COMPARISON OF 1939 AND 1951 MEDIAN WAGE OR SALARY INCOMES FOR SELECTED OCCUPATIONS'

1000

1939 1951 1939 1951

Professional, Technical, Monogers, Officials, Kindred Workers Proprietors Except

Farm

*FOR EXPERIENCED WORKERS IN LABOR FORCE

SOURCE: U.S. Bureau of the Census

1939 1951

Clerical, Kindred Workers

1939 1951

Soles Workers

1939 1951

Operatives, Kindred Workers

1939 1951

Service Workers

Except Private Housetiold

1000

88

Table 37. Median Wage or Salary Income of Experienced Women and Men in the Labor Force,

in Selected Major Occupation Groups: 1939 Bjod. 1951

Major occupation group

1951

Women

Men

Percent women's

earned income

of men's

1939 1/

Women

Men

Percent women's

earned income

of men's

Percent cliange 1939-1951

Women

Men

Professional, technical

and kindred workers - - Managers, officials and proprietors, except f Eirm ---------

Clerical and kindred workers Sales workers ------

Operatives and kindred workers --------

Service workers, except private household - - -

$2,1^95

2,679 2,147 1,176

1.739 996

$4,071

3,366 3,539

3,064 2,426

61.3

64.7 63.8 33.2

56.8

41.1

$1,023

1,107 966 636

582 ^^93

$1,809

2,136 1,421 1,277

1,007 833

56.6

51.8 68.0 49.8

57.8

59.2

/l^3.9

/142.0

/122.3 /84.9

/198.8

/102.O

/125.O

/94.O /136.9 /177.I

/204.3 /191.2

1/ Includes only the workers with $100 or more of wage or salary income.

Source: U. S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census, Current Population Reports .

89

1/

Table 38. Distribution of Families With Money Income, and Labor Force Status of Wife:

1951 and 1952

(Percent distribution)

Family income 1/

Husband-wife families -

Under $1,000

$1,000, under $2,000 -----

$2,000, under $3,000 - -

$3,000, under $iI-,000 ----- $4,000, under $5,000 - - - - - $5,000, under $6,000 ----- $6,000, under $7,000 - - - - - $7,000, under $10,000 - - - - - $10,000 and over -------

Median income ---------

1952

Wife in

the

labor

force

100.0

3.8 6.8 11.0 16.3 18.3 16.1 10.7 13.0 l+.l

$lf,631

Wife not in the labor force

100.0

8.0 11.1^ 16.8 21.8

15.7 10.2

5.9 6.3 3.8

$3,631^

1951

Wife in

the

labor

force

100.0

5A

9.9 lif.2 20. i| 17.1 1^.3

9.1

2.2 $4,003

Wife not in the labor force

100.0

10.5 12.9 18.7

22.1

13.7 8.2

4.5 5.5 3-9

$3,315

1/ Income data are for previous years.

Source: U. S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census, Current Population Reports.

90

Table 39. Male and Female Heads of Families in 1952, and Family Median Income

1/

	United States	Urban
Type of fajmily	Number (in thousands)	Percent	Median income l/	Number (in thousands)	Percent	Median income 1/
Total families - -	40.442	100.0	$3,709	26,918	100.0	$4,071
Male head ------- Married, wife present Wife in labor force ------ Wife not in the labor force - - - Other marital status Female head ------	36,412 35,196 8,044 27,152 1,216 4,030	90.0 87.0 19.9 67.1 3-0 10.0	$3,829 3,837 4,631 3,634 3,i^52 2,220	23,808 23,090 6,088 17,002 718 3,110	88.4 85.8 22.6 63.2 2.7 11.6	$4,216 4,217 4,883. 4,028 '^,191 2,493

1/ Income data are for previous year.

Source: U. S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Censvis, Current Population Reports.

91

CHART Xyill

PROPORTION OF WIVES IN THE LABOR FORCE IN 1952 . . .

IN RELATION TO HUSBAND'S INCOME'

HUSBANDS INCOME

UNDER SI, 000

81,000 UNDER S2.000

92,000 UNDER $3,000

«3,000 UNDER $4,000

»4,000 UNDER S5,000

$5,000 UNDER $6,000

$6,000 UNDER $10,000

$10,000 AND OVER

PERCENT OF WIVES IN LABOR FORCE

5 10 15 20 25

30

35

40

"income for 1951

SOURCE: u. S Bureau of the Census

92

Table kO. Proportion of Wives in the Labor Force in 1951 and 1952, in Relation to

Husband's Income l/

Income of husband l/

Under $1,000

$1,000, under $2,000 - $2,000, under $3,000 - $3,000, under $li-,000 - $l+,000, under $5,000 - $5,000, under $6,000 - $6,000, under $10,000 $10,000 and over - - -

Percent of wives in labor force

1952

United States Urban

2k 28 29 27 2k 20 15 13

29 36

33 28

25 22 16 Ik

1951

United States

28

29 28

27 21 16 11 12

Urban

3^^

32 28 21

17 11 11

Median

income

of wife

in

1950

$908 1,09^^ l,5i^8 1,718

1,95^

l/ Income data relate to previoiis years.

Source: U. S. Department of Commerce, Bvireau of the Census, Current Population Reports .

93

Table 4l. Total Money Income of Women and Men, by Residence: 1914-8-1952

	Women with income 1	Men with income
Residence
and		Percent	Median income		Percent	Median income
year	Niomber	of	for previous	Number	of	for previous
	(in thoxisands)	popvilation	year	(in thousands)	population	year
Urban
1952	18,708	47.6	$1,267	31,50if	91.1	$3,23^
1951	17,790	if7-l	1,178	30,787	91. if	2,894
1950	17,227	^5.9	1,167	31,263	91.3	2,684
191^9	15,569	kk.l	1,236	28,762	91-1	2,679
191^8	15,082	k3.Q	1,193	28,163	90.1	2,if31
Rural-nonfarm
1952	k,3^9	ifO.9	781	8,910	eo.k	2,725
1951	i^,501	38.9	706	9,648	90.2	2,454
1950	If, 089	37.9	681	9,586	89A	2,190
191^9	4, If 00	38.2	803	10,016	90.6	2,324
1948	3,832	33-3	19k	10,119	89.5	2,191
Rural. -farm
1952	2,122	27.7	kho	7,083	86.4	1,486
1951	2,360	31.0	kn	7,150	87.0	1,328
1950	2,191^	28.0	392	7,i^09	87.3	1,054
191+9	2,756	29.7	1167	8,592	85.5	1,385
1948	2,565	28. 4	1+83	8,531	86.3	1,360

Source: U. S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of the CensiiS, Current Popvilation Reports ,

94

Table k2. Median Income of Women and Men, by Age Groups: 1952

	With annual money income	Percent	distribution
	Number (in thoxisands)	— ■ ■ Percent of all in population	Median income ly	w^
Age	Popula- tion	Persons with income
Women, Ik years said over	25,179	43.7	$1,045	100.0	100.0
Ik to 19 years ------ 20 to 2k years ------ 25 to 3^^ years ------ 35 to kh years - k3 to 3k years ------ 55 to 6k yesurs ------ 65 years and over - - - - Men, ik years em.d over -	2,124 3,101 5,075 4,661 4,008 2,686 3,524 47,497	33.6 55.1 41.6 42.6 44.4 38.0 55.1 90.1	411 1,397 1,623 1,538 1,327 968 536 $2,952	11.0 10.0 21.2 19.0 15.7 12.3 11.1 100.0	8.4 12.3 20.2 18.5 15.9 10.7 14.0 100.0
Ik to 19 yefiirs - 20 to 2k years - 25 to 314- years ------ 35 to kk years ------ k3 to 3k years ------ 55 to 6k years _ - - 65 years suid over - - - -	2,554 3,77»+ 11,032 10,159 8,502 6,473 5,003	42.2 90.7 98.8 98.8 98.2 95.4 88.9	434 2,259 3,288 3,617 3,280 2,840 1,008	11.5 7.9 21.2 «19.5 16.4 12.9 10.7	5.4 7.9 23.2 21.4 17.9 13.6 10.5

1/ Median income for previous year.

Source: U. S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census, Current Population Reports.

95

XI. THE LABOR RESERVE - VCMEN NCfT IN THE LABOR FORCE

Expansion of the Nation's Labor Force

In April 1953, there were about 39|- million women Ik years and over who were not in the labor force. At the same date, there were 9 million men who were not work- ing. The women, therefore, constituted the largest single source for increasing the Nation's work force in the event of expand- ed labor needs (table U3) .

However, about k percent of the women not in the labor force were unable to work because of disability, advanced age, or other reasons, and another 10 percent were in school. More than 80 percent of those in school were between the ages of Ik and 17 and, therefore, would normally be en- couraged to complete their education before entering the labor force. Eliminating the young women who were in school and those imable to work, there remain some 35 million ilfan -working women \fho would be available as

a possible source of additional workers, and the vast majority of these are classed as "keeping house" (table ^3) •

Many of these women who are "keeping house," however, axe 65 yeaxs of age and over; sind others are mothers who must care for their children. It is, therefore, not reasonable to assume that all of the 3^ miULion women in this group could be brought into the labor force, if necessary. Rather, this number represents about the entire pool of women not now in the labor force from which additional workers might be made available to an expanded economy.

A more practicsLL estimate of the supply of women actually available would not in- clude mothers responsible for the care of children or elderly women. This leaves a primtiry labor reserve of about 11 million

96

women betveen the eiges of l8 and 6k, having excluded the women 65 yeeirs and over and an estimated 17 million mothers. Thus, it is estimated that approximately 28 percent of all the women Ik years and over who were not working in 1953 would have been availa- ble for labor force expansion, if necessary (table k3).

Previous Work Experience

In considering the utilization of women in the labor reserve, it is important to take account of their previous work experience, particulEirly if such work experience was re- cent. A March 1951 Bureau of the Census svir- vey of the labor reserve revealed that almost 1 out of every 3 of the women who were not then in the labor force had had some previous work experience dviring or after World War II (table k^).

For a majority of these women - almost 7 million - their previous work experience was fairly current, that is, since 19^5- Some k million out of the total 11 million

women had work experience during World War II, and also many of those with current work ex- perience had worked during the wax period (table 45) .

Slightly more than 6 thousand of the women with previous work experience were in the age group 20 to 34 years, while the remain- der were about evenly divided between the age groups 35 to kk and 45 to 6k. Furthermore, the 20 to 34 year age group included almost k times as many women with current work experience and twice as many women with experience prior to 1945 as either of the other two groups. Obvi- ously, therefore, it was women between the ages of 20 and 34 years who meide up the bulk of the experienced labor reserve and, particu- larly, the currently experienced reserve. However, it should be remembered that it is this age group, also, which is most likely to be responsible for the care of young children; Eind if their services are needed in the Nation's labor force, account will have to be taken of the threefold responsibility - for home, chil- dren, and job - \rtiich these women would be assuming.

97

CHART TKN

STATUS OF WOMEN NOT IN THE LABOR FORGE

APRIL 1953

^ MILLION IN SCHOOL

/g MILLION UNABLE TO WORK

14 TO 17 YEARS (IN SCHOOL AGE GROUP)

18 TO 64 YEARS (WORKING AGE GROUP)

65 YEARS AND OVER (AT HOME, RETIRED, AGE GROUP)

SOURCE: U.S. Bureau of the Census

98

Table U3. Status of Women Not in the Labor Force, by Age: April 1953

(in thousands)

	Total	Keeping house	In school	Unable	to work	Other
		Percent		Percent		Percent		Percent		Percent
Age		of women		of womein		ofvDinaoa		of woman		of woman
	Number	popula- tion 1/	Number	popula- tion	Number	popula- tion	Niamber	popula- tion	Number	popula- tion
Women, li*- years and over:
NUMBER	39,^56	67.6	34,008	58.3	3,910	6.7	860	1.5	678	1.2
PERCENT	100.0	-	86.2	-	9-9	-	2.2	-	1.7	-
ik and 15 years - - - -	2,024	92.0	78	3.5	1,904	86.5	2	0.1	40	1.8
16 and 17 years - - - -	1,580	74.7	282	13.3	1,252	59.2	-	-	46	2.2
18 and 19 years - - - -	i^o-jk	51.9	570	27.6	486	23.5	14	0.7	4	0.2
20 to 2l4- years - - - -	3,068	55.7	2,796	50.8	236	4.3	12	0.2	24	0.4
25 to 34 years - - - -	8,052	65.8	7,900	64.5	26	0.2	48	0.4	78	0.6
35 to kk years - - - -	6,788	60.3	6,694	59.5	2	2/	36	0.3	56	0.5
k^ to 5'^ years - - - -	5,520	60.8	5,408	59.6	4	2/	56	0.6	52 0.6
55 to 6k years - - - -	5,028	71-9	4,854	69.4	-		86	1.2	88 1.3
65 years and over - - -	6,322	91.5	5,426	78.6	-	-	606	8.8	290 1	4.2

1/ Civilian noninstitutional.

2/ Percent not shown where less than O.O5.

Source: U. S. Department of Commerce, Biireau of the Census, Current Population Reports.

		Percent distribution
Total	100.0	100.0	100.0	100.0	100.0
l4 and 15 years - - - -	5-1	0.2	48.7	0.2	5.9
16 and 17 years - - - -	4.0	0.8	32.0	-	6.8
18 and 19 years - - - -	2.7	1-7	12.4	1.6	0.6
20 to 24 years - - - -	7.8	8.2	6.0	1.4	3.5
25 to 34 years _ _ _ _	20.4	23.2	0.7	5.6	11-5
35 to 44 years - - - -	17.2	19.7	0.1	4.2	8.3
45 to 54 years - - - -	14.0	15.9	0.1	6.5	7.7
55 to 64 years - - - -	12.7	14.3	-	10.0	13.0
65 years £ind over - - -	16.0	16.0	-	70.5	42.8

99

Table kk. Age and Marital Status of Women Not in the Labor Force: 19^0, 19^4, and 1952

1/

Age

Total

1952

19M+

19^4-0

Single women

1952

19kh

19i<-0

Women ever married 2/

1952

19W-

19'+0

NUMBER (in thoiisands)

Women, ik years and over

ik to 19 years - - - - 20 to 2k years - - - - 25 to 3^^ years - - - - 35 to kk years - - - - k^ years and over - - k^ to 6^4^ years - - - 65 years and over -

Women, ik years and over

ik to 19 years - - - - 20 to 2k years - - - - 25 to 34 years - - - - 35 to kk years - - - - 45 to 5^ years - - - - k^ to 6M- years - - - 65 years and over -

39,222

1^,612 3,212 8,0li+ 6,646 16,738 10,7i^2 5,996

100.0

35,670

4,830 2,850 7,040

6,270

14, 680

3/ 3/

36,709

5,881

3,075 6,998 6,488 14,266 9,963 4,303

5,536

3,946 404 220 184 782 354 428

5,690

4,230 330 260 200 670

3/ 3/

7,226	33,686
5,258	666
651	2,808
330	7,794
191	6,462
796	15,956
437	10,388
359	5,568

29,980

Percent distribution

11.8 8.2 20.4 16.9 42-7 27.4 15.3

100.0

13.5 8.0

19.7 17.6 41.2

3/ 3/

100.0

16.0 8.4 19.1 17.7 38.9 27.1

11.7

100.0

71.3 7.3

4.0

3.3

l4.l 6.4 7.7

100.0

74.3 5.8

4.6

3-5 11.8

3/ 3/

100.0

72.8 9.0

4.6 2.6 11. 0 6.0 5.0

100.0

2.0

8.3 23.1 19.2 47.4 30.8 16.5

600

2,520

6,780

6,070

14,010

3/ 3/

100.0

2.0

8.4 22.6 20.2 46.7

3/

3/

29,483

623 2,424 6,668 6,298 13,470 9,526 3,944

100.0

2.1 8.2

22.6

21.

45.

32.

13.

.4 .7 .3 .4

1/ Statistics are for March 1940, February 1944, and April 1952.

2/ In 1952, 81 percent and in 1940, 82 percent of these women were married women with husbands present.

The remainder were widowed, divorced, or separated. 3/ Not available. ^

Source: U. S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census, Current Population Reports .

100

Table 45 • Women With Work Experience Diiring and After World War II, Who Were Not in the Labor Force in March 1951^ by Age

(In thousands)

Age

With some work experience

Total

Percent of all women not in the labor force

After World War II 1/

During World War II

Women, 20 years and over -

10,956

28.9

20 to 3)k years -

35 to hk years

k^ to 6k years

65 years and over

6,190

2,136

2,08U

3k6

56.7

32.9

20.0

9.8

6,712

J+,058

l,lit-0

1,190

32k

k,2kh

2,132 996

89^^ 222

1/ Three -fourths of these women also worked during World War II to 1945-

Source: U. S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census, Current Popx^lation Reports .

101

XII. EDUCATION

Years of School Completed

Only about 2 percent both of women and of men 25 years eind over In the population in 1950, compared vith k percent in 19^0, had had no schooling. In addition, about a fifth of the vomen and a fourth of the men 25 years and over in 1950, but a fourth of the women and three -tenths of the men in 19^0 had less than an 8th grade education ( table h6) .

On the whole, women have had about half a year more of schooling than men in this country. For women, the median school years completed was 9«6 in 1950; for men, it was 9.0 yesirs. The bulk of this difference is accovmted for by the fact that two -fifths of the women, but only one -third of the men 25 years and over had some high-school education in 1950. But, on the other hand, a slightly higher proportion of men (l4 percent) than

of women {12^ percent) had canpleted some college training. As these data indicate, college -trained persons are still a small minority of thp adult population: Only 25- million women and 3 million men 25 years and over had conrpleted k or more years of college by 1950 (table h6) .

Employment of School Enrollees

In 1951> there were about k^ million women and k-3/h million men between the ages of ik and 2k years who were enrolled in school. Among the 1^4- to I7 year olds, the proportion of girls and boys in school was the same. In the college -age groups, however, the proportions of men in school were considerably higher than the proportions of women. Only 9 percent of all women I8 to 2k years old, but 19 percent

102

of all men of these ages, were in school in 1951 (table 1^7).

The implications of this pattern of school attendance for future employment pros- pects for men smcL women are numerous . Men, to a much greater extent than women, are clearly fitting themselves for jobs which require longer training and offer higher sal£a*ies. In this connection, two facts concerning women's employment should be kept in mind: In comparison to men, women have less choice of employment fields, and this situation tends to discourage women from spending long periods in acquiring the training necessary for higher-level Jobs. Furthermore, in fields which re- quire advanced training and are tradi- tionally open to women - teaching, nursing, socisLL work, etc. - average earnings are almost gilways substantially lower than those in professions where men predominate.

Data on employment of students further indicate that higher proportions of young men than of young women Eire employed while they are still in school. Only 30 percent

of the young women 20 to 2k years, but almost kO percent of the young men in these ages, who were in school in 1951>were simultaneously employed. This work experience acquired by men dviring their school years undoubtedly assists in qualifying them for additional training and employment opporttmitles when they have finally completed their schooling, (table kf).

College Degrees Etimed by Women

In 1951 52, women earned about one -third of all college degrees conferred that year, or about double the proportion in I890, the first year for which this information is availa- ble. The proportion which women have formed of all college graduates has fluctuated considerably in the past 60 years. From less than a fifth of all graduates in I89O they had become a third of the total by 1920. During the depression of the 30 's, about 2 out of 5 graduates were women. During World War II, of course, when vast numbers of young men were in the armed services, women were more than half of all college graduates. Following the war, their number increased, but their proportion dropped to about a fourth, sis

103

many veterans availed themselves of the opportunity to obtain a college educa- tion (table k8).

Field of Study in College Training

In the school year 1951-52, women received college degrees in more than 60 different fields of study. However, the bulk of these degrees were concentrated in the field of education, which accounted for Eilmost ho percent of all college degrees earned by women. Quite obviously, a sub- stantial number of college women - more than k3 thousand - were preparing them- selves for teaching, an occupation in which women have predominated for many years. Apparently, job opportunities for women still are not broad enough to change materially the college -educated woman's

choice of teaching as a career, any more than they have changed the less-than-college- educated woman's choice of clerical work (table k9).

Next to education, the most important fieldfor college women was English; but this accounted for only 7 percent of all women greiduates. These, together with home economics (7 percent), business and commerce (5 percent), and nursing and music (each h percent), account for al- most 65 percent of ail college -trained women who graduated in 1951-52. Each of the remaining fields of study accounted for 3 percent or less of the 125,500 woman graduates. Thus, there is little diversification in the kinds of speciali- zation which college -trained women under- take (table k9).

104

Men outnumbered women in all but 10 of the fields of study in which college degrees were conferred in 1951-52. At the top of the list of women's specialized fields were nursing and home economics in which 99 percent of the de- grees were earned by women- Women also out- numbered men in the fields of library science, modem languages, education, social work, fine arts, English, sociology, and music - in other words, in liberal arts training primarily.

Women earned less than 10 percent of the degrees conferred that year in the following 20 fields of study: Agricvilture , einatomy, animal husbandry, architecture, dentistry, engineering, entomology, forestry, geology, industrial arts, law, metallurgy, meteorology, military or naval science, optometry, osteopathy.

pharmacy, physical sciences, physics, and veterinary medicine. Interestingly enough, none of these fields fall in the general categories of liberal arts or social studies; almost all of them Eire specialized fields in the natural and physiceil sciences or in engineering.

From these facts it may be concluded that men, in acquiring college training, tend toward those highly specialized fields of study •vrtiich relate most directly to job oppor- tunities in industry. The majority of women, on the other hand, continue to choose those fields of study which provide more general education and culture, and which, therefore, equip them for family and community life as much as for paid work.

105

CHART "iorv

YEARS OF SCHOOL COMPLETED BY PERSONS 25 YEARS OF AGE

AND OVER-- 1940 and 1950

1940

WOMEN

NOT REPORTED

COLLEGE ( I year or more)

HIGH SCHOOL (4yeors or less)

ELEMENTARY (8 grades or less)

1950

1940

MEN

1950

SOURCE: u S Bureau of the Census

106

Table k6. School Attainment of Women and Men 25 Years and Over: 1940 and I95O

(Niambers in thouseinds)

Years of school completed

1950

Number

Women

Men

Percent distribution

Women

Men

19i^0

Number

Women

Men

Percent distribution

Women

Men

Percent

change

19i^0 to 1950

Women

Men

Total, 25 years and over ________

None -___-------

Less than 8 years _ - - _ 8 years _________

1 to 3 years of high school k years of high school - - 1 to 2 years of college k or more years of college Not reported -__-_--

i^,886

i^2,685

100.0

100.0

37,313

37,^63

100.0

100.0

1,07^ 10,262

8,903 7,851 10,162 3,359 2,257 1,018

1,110 10,970 8,828 7,005 7,529 2,903 3,027 1,312

2.k 22.9 19.8

17.5

22.6

7.5

5.0

2.3

2.6

25.7

20.7

16. 1^

17.6

6.8

7.1

3.1

1,329

9,87^^

10,125

5,81^9 6,0kh

2,251 1,386

11,087 10,631 5,333 4,507 1,824 2,021 588

3.6 26.5 27.1

15.7

16.2

6.0

3.7 1.2

3.9 29.6 28.4 l4.2 12.0

4.9 5.4 1.6

/20.3

-19.2

/3.9 -12.1 /34.2 /68.1 /49.2 /62.9 /124.3

/13.9

-24.5

-1.1

-17-0

/67.O

/59.2

/49.8

/123.O

Soxirce: U. S. Department of Commerce, Bioreau of the Census, 1950 Census of Popvilation.

107

K^i I I f I r

m^§ i I % I • ^

I t I 4 I 1 • I ■ •III i t'

I I I I I I I I I I I f "

I I I I I

t • I i ^

If •

CHART XXVI

PROPORTION OF SCHOOL ENROLLEES WHO WERE EMPLOYED :

(PERSONS 14 TO 24 YEARS)

951

39%

SOURCE; U. S. Bureau of the Census

31%

31%

\1

h

WOMEN MEN	WOMEN MEN	WOMEN MEN	WOMEN MEN
TOTAL	14-17 YEARS	18-19 YEARS	20-24 YEARS
(14-24 years)

108

II I I I It I «

II I I 1^ IS i' i II II I « till I I >

. I I I I I l^t^A

I 1 I I I I I 1 I i I I I I ■.■.», 1 1 I I I I i I 1

— 1 I I I i I r ' I I I I I I I t I • I I I I III. 1 I I I I I I 1 1

it I

f 1 I 1 i I

I I I •

Table kT . School Enrollees ik to 2k Years of Age, and Their Employment: 19itO, 19J4-6-1951

1/

Age

Number

(in thousands)

1951

Women I Men

Women

1951

1950

19^9

I9i^8

19^7

I 19^6 1

19i^0

Men

1951

1950

19^9

19^8

19^7

Total - - •

ill- to 17 years ■ l8 and 19 years 20 to 2k years -

Total -

Ik to 17 years - - l8 and 19 years

20 to 2k years - -

		Percent	of populati<	3n enrolled .	Ln school
4,286	4,750	36	35	33	33	32	32	36	47	44	43	43	42	43
3,602	3,614	85	82	81	82	80	80	80	85	84	83	82	79	79
1^0	534	21	24	20	20	19 18	27	32	36	32	34	31	29
2kh	602	4	5	4	3	4	3|	5	14	14	15	17	17	18

Percent school enrollees employed

838

638

124

76

1,370

968 166 236

20

18 28 31

19

17 27 32

16

14 24 31

14

14 14 22

13 12

11 20 19

11 14 21

2 12 23

29

27 31 39

31

29 34 36

23

21 26 28

24

24 27 25

22

22 24 24

21

21

23

18

1/ Statistics are for October of each year except 1940 (April) .

Source: U. S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census, Current Population Reports.

109

■A. ■^^. .^1 /■

.. ... -q A ^ A

.] ' ^\ .] ^ :^ ^ ^

>i '-^1

• I

I I ^ I I I

ill i I I 1 I I I I

i I I I i I I

f i i i i I I

i i i

•;t. ^

I I 1 I _ f I f I 1 I I 1 I •- ^ • i ■ I ■ *

I f 11^ I I I • 1 1 i

I I fl 1^ t • • i f

CHART XXVI

PROPORTION OF SCHOOL ENROLLEES WHO WERE EMPLOYED : 195

(PERSONS 14 TO 24 YEARS)

39%

SOURCE: U. S. Bureau of the Census

\1

OMEN MEN	WOMEN MEN	WOMEN MEN	WOMEN MEN
TOTAL	14-17 YEARS	18-19 YEARS	20-24 YEARS
(14-24 YEARS)

lOS

I I 1*^ i 1 I i> I I I I •« I ^

I 1 1^ I* l< I i'

I I I C I Iv I ^

t I I I I r 1^ I I 1 I I twj

■ i I • • » • * 11111111 I 1 I 1 1 I i.«.».

I i 1 1 1 l.i.t- 1; ^ 1 i I 1 1 1 1.»

11111 r 1^

■ 1 1 1 1 ' 1 ' 1" 7^

- - ■ 11 1

r» fv \^

^11

i I

R I * I

i I I i I 1 I I

till till

III! lilt

I i I i

f I I I

I I i I I -I f ,f

■',...

^Bl

1/ Table 4?. School EnroHees ik to 2i^ Years of Age, and Their Employment: 19i»-0, 19^6-1951

Age

Number (in thousands) 1951

Women

Men

|i

• 1951

1950

19^9

19i^8

19^7/ 19^61 l9i^0

1951

1950

19k9

19^8

19^7

19^6

Women 1 Men

1

Total ik to 17 years - - l8 and 19 years - 20 to 2k years - - Total ik to 17 years - - L8 and 19 years - 20 to 2k years - -

1|,286

^,750

Pe 36

rcent 35

of poj 33

Jtilation enr 33 32

oiled 32

in school 36 kl

kk

k3

k3

k2

k3

3,602 kho 2kk 838

3,6ll^ 53^^ 602 1,370

85 21 20

82 2k 5 Percen 19

81 20 t schc 16

82 20 3 )ol em 14

80 19 k rollee 13

80 18 3 3 empl 12

80 27 5 Dyed 5

85 32 Ik 29

8k 36 Ik 31

83 32 15 23

82 3k 17 2k

79 31 17 22

79 29 18 21

638 12k 76

968 166 236

18 28 31

17 27 32

Ik 2k 31

Ik Ik 22

11 20 "1

11 Ik 21

2 12 23

27 31 39

29 3k 36

21 26 28

2k 27 25

22 2k 2k

21 23 18

1/ Statistics are Source: U. S. Dej

for October of artment of Comme

each year except 19l)-0 (April) . jrce. Bureau of the Census, Current Population Rep 109

orts.

«/

,. ft i I i I

i 1 I 1

i t II I

_ I I 1.1 1«

. 1 1 i/,ti

CHART mCTT

PROPORTION OF SCHOOL ENROLLEES WHO WERE EMPLOYED: 1951

(PERSONS 14 TO 24 YEARS)

39%

31%

Nl

WOMEN MEN	WOMEN MEN	WOMEN MEN	WOMEN MEN
TOTAL	14-17 YE4RS	18-19 YEARS	20-24 YEARS
(14-24 YEARS)
SOURCE: U. S. Bureau o< the Census

108

Table 47. School Enrollees ik to 24 Years of Age, and Their Employment: 1940, 1946-1951

1/

Age

Number

(in thousands)

1951

Women I Men

Women

1951 1950

1949 1 1948

1947

/ 1946 1940

Men

1951

1950

1949

1948

1947

1946

1940

Percent of populatj.on enrolled in school

Total

l4 to 17 years - - 18 and 19 years - 20 to 24 years - -

4,286

3,602 440 244

4,750

3,6l4 602

36

85

21

4

35

82

24

5

33

81

20

4

33

82

20

3

32

80

19 4

32

80 18

3

36

80

27

5

^1

85 32 14

44

84 36 14

Percent school enrollees employed

Total - - - -

l4 to 17 years - -

18 and 19 years -

20 to 24 years - -

838

638

124

76

1,370

968 166 236

20

19

18 28

31

17 27 32

16 14

14 24

31

14 14 22

13 12

11 20

19

_Jj

11 14 21

2 12 23

29

27 31 39

31

29

36

23

21 26 28

24

24 27 25

22

22 24 24

43	43	42	43	39
83	82	79	79	79
32	34	31	29	31
15	17	17	18	8

21

21

23

18

6 17 17

1/ Statistics are for October of each year except 1940 (April) .

Source: U. S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census, Current Population Reports,

109

Table 1^8. College Degrees Earned by Women: 189O-I952

	Total	Bachelor ' s	Master's	Doctor's
School	Number	Percent	Number	Percent	Number	Percent	Number	Percent
year	of	of all	of	of all	of	of all	of	of all
ending	women	graduates	women	graduates	women	graduates	women	graduates
1952	125,5^^3	31.1	104,895	31.6	19,93*^	31.4	7l4	9.3
1951	121^, ^Qk	27.3	105,009	27-3	18,901	29.0	674	9.2
1950	121,5^0	2k. k	103,915	24.0	16,982	29.2	643	9.7
191^9	118,537	28.0	102,1+66	27.9	15,549	30.6	522	9.9
19l^8	110,168	3*^.6	96,157	35.3	13,510	31.9	501	12.0
19lt6	87,621	55.7	77,510	56.9	9,725	50.6	386	19.6
19I+4	78,126	55.2	69,998	55.6	7,703	57.4	425	18.4
191^2	92,387	i^3.3	81,1+57	43.9	10,469	42.5	461	13-2
191^0	87,606	ifO.5	76,954	41.3	10,223	38.2	429	13.0
1938	75,923	1+0.1	67,265	40.8	8,228	38.0	430	14.7
1936	61^,257	39.1	57,058	39.9	6,799	37-1	400	14.4
193I+	60,966	38.8	53,815	39.5	6,777	37-0	374	13.2
1932	62,356	39.0	54,792	39.7	7,157	37.0	407	15.3
1930	55,266	39.5	1+8,869	39-9	6,044	40.4	353	15.4
1920	18,018	33-7	16,61+2	34.2	1,283	31-0	93	13.5
1910	9,170	22.2	8,437	22.7	680	18.0	53	12.4
1900	5,561	18.9	5,237	19-1	303	19.1	21	5.7
1890	2,882	17-3	2,682	17.3	193	19.1	7	5.6

Source: U. S. Department of Health, Education, and Welfare, Office of Education.

110

Table k9. College Degrees Earned by Women, by Field of Study: 1951-52

Field of study

Total women

1/

Agricvilture

Anatomy -------

Animal husbandry - - - Anthropology -----

Architecture -----

Astronomy ------

Bacteriology -----.

Biochemistry -----

Biology -------.

Biological sciences l/ • Botany --------.

Business and Commerce Chemistry ------.

Dentistry -_---_. Economics -------

Education -------

Engineering -----.

English --------

Entomology -------

Fine arts 1/ ----- -

Forestry --------

Geography -------

Geology --------

History --------

Home economics - - - - -

Industrial arts - - - -

International relations Journalism -------

Language, classical - - Lajiguage, modem - - - -

Law ----------

Library science - - - -

Number

of women

125,5^3

165 13 18

150

122 12

296

53

1,9^9

260

153

5,93^^

1,31'^

125

1,17^

^^6,935

81

9,208

8

3,3^3

1

153 93

3,327

8,286

81

136

667

260

2,899 Ifl6

1,273

Percent

of all

graduates

U.l

1.8

6.4

1.5

40.5

5.0

20.3

30.2

12.5

25.4

25.9

21.8

11.7

14.2

3.6

12.3

60.4

.2

56.

3-

56.

• 5 .6

.9

.1 17.0

27.8 98.8 2.5 18.2 28.0

31.3

61.2

3-2

74.0

Field of study

Mathematics -------

Medicine --------

Metallurgy -------

Meteorology -------

Military or naval science Music ----------

Natural science - - - - -

Nursing ---------

Occupational therapy - - Optometry --------

Osteopathy -------

Pharmacy --------

Philosophy -------

Physical education - - - Physics ---------

Physical sciences l/ - - Physiology -------

Political science - - - -

Psychology -------

Public administration - - Public health ------

Religion and theology - - Social sciences l/ - - - Social work -------

Sociology --------

Speech and dramatic arts Textiles --------

Veterinary medicine - - - Zoology ---------

Arts (without major) - - Sciences (without major) All other fields of study

Number )

of women

1,482 1,234

1

3

2

4,556

4,565

24 12

4o8

336 2,716

150 40

106

997 3,252

67 318

1,533 2,210 1,814 3,862 2,367

10

566

2,512

778

517

1/ Not elsewhere classified. Source: U. S. Department of Health, Education, and Welfare, Office of Education.

Ill

TECHNICAL NOTE

Data compiled ty the U. S. Bureau of the Census, which have been used in this report, relate to persons ik years aind over in the population and the labor force, unless other- wise indicated in the table.

Where long-term trends are shown (tables 1, 19, and 20), figxu-es for each year are from the decennial census of the United States. These data were obtained by a complete envuneration of the population, both civilian and military, once every 10 years. In all other tables showing census data, figures for each year are based on the monthly sample of the Bureau of the Census. These estimates are obtained by personal interview with individual members of a sample of households, and are designed to provide current infor- mation on the work status of the population, classified into broad social and economic groups. The estimates exclude inmates of institutions eind members of the Armed Forces.

The number of persons in the labor force as enumerated in the 1950 decennial census is generally considered to be an under-enumerated figiore, particularly with regard to teen-agers and women 25 years and over. In April 1950, the estimate of civilian persons, both men and women, in the labor force based on the monthly sample differed from the num- ber of civiliems enumerated in the 1950 census by some 3 millionj i.e., the decenniaJ. census figure was about 5 percent below that obtained from the sample. Greatest differ- ences were found in the numbers of women and of yovmg persons reported as in the labor force. For example, the sample survey estimated l8 million women in the labor force, whereas the decennial census enumerated only l6^ million women. Preliminary results of the analysis of these differences indicate that enumerators employed in obtaining the estimate for the sample survey reported more completely on the employment of all groups in the population. The estimated figure, therefore, is considered more accvirate than that obtained from the total enumeration. Where long-term trends are involved, how- ever, 1950 decennial census figures have been used in this report because they are considered more comparable with figures from earlier decennieil censuses than are the more accvirate figures obtained from the monthly sample of the labor force.

112

U. S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFHCE

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