Full text of Fact Book on Manpower: September, 1954 : Bulletin of the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, No. 1171

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B u lletin No. 1171

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
James P. Mitchell, Secretary

BU REA U OF L A B O R S T A T IS T IC S
A r y n e s s Jo y W ic k e n s , Acting C o m m is s io n e r

Fact Book on
MANPOWER

Bulletin No. 1171.

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
James P. Mitchell, Secretary

BU REAU OF LA BO R S T A T IS T IC S
A r y n e s s J o y W ic k e n s , Acting C o m m i s s i o n e r

For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U. S. Government Printing Office, Washington 25, D. C.

Price 50 cents

FOREWORD

The Fact Book on Manpower was prepared to provide basic back
ground information on the size and characteristics of the Nation* s
work force needed in appraising manpower supply in relation to re
quirements. This publication presents significant facts relating to
current and prospective manpower resources, both civilian and mili
tary, The data were selected from a wide variety of sources, high
lights of the data are summarized in brief textual sections.
The data were obtained entirely from Federal Government sources,
including the Bureau of the Census, the National Office of Vital
Statistics, the Office of Education, the Veterans Administration,
the Department of Defense and the various Bureaus of the Department
of Labor.
Much of the information in this report was originally compiled
at the request of the Office of Defense Mobilization, for the use of
its Committee on Manpower Resources for National Security. The Com
mittee was established to advise the Director of the OEM in the pre
paration of a report for the President on national policy with re
spect to military service and training. Some of the data furnished
by the Bureau were used in the Committee^ report. Manpower Resources
for National Security, issued in January 1954.
The information originally supplied to the OEM was brought up
to date and supplemented with additional material for this Fact Book.
The present report also supersedes a compilation under the same
title published in 1951*
The report was prepared in the Bureau*s
and Employment Statistics. Sophia Cooper and
pervised its preparation tinder the direction of
Margaret Thompson compiled many of the tables

Division of Manpower
Stuart Garfinkle su
Caiman R. Winegarden.
and charts.

CONTENTS

Page
Population .................................................

Labor force ................................................

W o m e n .....................................

Nonwhites ................................

Employment ......................................

34-

Employment trends in selected
defense-related industries .........................

Occupations ................

Education and training ...............

Labor mobility-.............................................

Military m a n p o w e r ..........................................

iii

TABLES

Population

Number
1.

2.
3.

Page

Population of the United States, by age,
April 1940 and 1950, July 1953 > and
July I960 p r o j e c t e d ..........................
Marriage and birth statistics for the
..................
United States, 1930-53 ......... '
Estimated male population 18 years of age,
July 1 of selected years, 1 9 4 0 - 7 0 .... ............

3
5
6

Labor Force
4«
5.
6.
7o

Total labor force, by employment status,
selected periods, 1 9 2 9 - 5 4 .........................
Population and labor force, by age and sex,
December 1953 • • •...................................
Excess of wartime labor force over "normal,"
by age and sex, April 1 9 4 5 ....................... .
Percent of population in the labor force,
by age and sex, annual averages 1953 and 1944 ....

H
13
15
16

Women
8.
9.

10.
11.
12.

15*

Labor force status of women by marital status,
April 1953 and 1944, and March 1940 ...............
Number of married women, 15 to 49 years old,
with and without children under 5,
April 1952 and 1940 ................................
Labor force status of married women, with and
without children under 5, April 1952 ............. .
Work experience of persons in the labor
reserve in March 1951, by age and s e x .............
Enployed women classified by major occupation
group, April 1954, 1950, 1945, and
March 1940 ......... ...............................
Employment of women in manufacturing industries,
December and June 1953 and June 1950 ..............

23
25
26

27
28

Number

Page
Nonwhites

lk.

Percent distribution of employed men and women
by major industry group, by color, April 1950
and March 1 9 k 0 ..... .............................. .
Percent distribution of employed men and women
by major occupation group, b y color, April 1950
and March 19k0 ............................ .........

15•

Employment
16.

Employees in nonagricultural establishments, by
industry division, selected periods 1 9 k l - 5 k ......
Labor turnover rates per 1000 employees in
manufacturing, March 1 9 k O - 5 k ......................
Average weekly hours of production workers in
manufacturing industries, 1939-5k ..............
Employees in nonagricultural establishments,
by geographic region, annual averages
1952 and 1939 ......................................
Classification of major labor market areas,
according to relative adequacy of labor
supply, selected months 1 9 5 3 - 5 k ...................
Agricultural employment, selected periods,
1 9 2 9 - 5 k ..........
Indexes of production, employment, and output
per worker in agriculture, selected years,
1909-50 ............................................

17*
18.
19•

20.

21.
22.

37
39
40

43
45

Employment Trends in Selected Defense-Related Industries
23.

Number of employees in selected key industries,
July 1950-February 195k ............................

Occupations
2k»
25.
26.

Employed persons classified by major occupation
group, April 195k» 1950, 19k5*and March 19k0 ......
Major occupation group of employed persons, by
age, April 1 9 5 k ....................................
List of Critical Occupations, as of
August 26, 1952 .................. ................ .

54
55
57

Number

Page
Education and Training

2?•
28.
29.

30.

Median years of school completed by persons
25 years old and over, b y age, 1950 and 191+0 ......
College enrollments and graduations, selected
fields, academic years, 1929-30 to 1953-51+ ...... .
Number of students registered for first time
in any college, academic years 1931-32 to
1953-51+............................................
Number of registered apprentices in training,
191+1-53 ..................................

60
61

Labor Mobility
31.

Wartime and postwar shifts in industry
and occupation of employed workers ............. .
32. Civilian migration between regions,
December 191+1 to March 191+5 ..................... »
33• Civilian migration, by type of migration,
1952 to 1953 and 191+1 to 191+5.....................
3U* Workers covered by pension plans under
collective barganing agreements, b y major
industry group, mid-1950 ...........................
35• Distribution of tool and die makers by number
of job changes, 191+0-51 ........................ .
36. Distribution of molders and coremakers by
number of job changes, 191+0-52..... ..............
37. Job changes made between January 191+0
and
1952 by men who were electronic
technicians in May 1952 ............................

67
68
70

71
72
73

74.

Military Manpower
38.
39 •
1+0.

1+1.
1+2.
1+3*

Net strength of the Armed Forces, selected
months, 1939-5k ........
R0TC enrollment by branch of service
and by class, October 1953 .........................
Estimated yields to the Selective Service
manpower pool, by Selective Service
. classification, as of July 1, 1953 ................
Projections of the Selective Service
manpower pool, fiscal years 1951+-60 ...............
Estimated age of World War II and Korean
veterans in civilian life, December 31* 1953 ••••••
Military reserve forces not on active duty,
November 30, 1953 • • • •...... ........... *...... ....

^
^

60
81
62
63

CHARTS

Population
Number
1.
2.
3.

Page

Population changes, by age group, 191+0-1960 ........
Male population 18 years of age, selected
years, 191+0-1970 ................ ..................
Male population of military age, 191+0-1970 ....... .•

4
7
8

Labor Force
i+.
5«

Labor force, selected years, 1 9 2 9 - 1 9 5 2 ..............
Population and labor force, by age and sex,
December 1953 ..........................
Unemployment rate, 1929-1953 ...... . .............. • •
Insured unemployment, State programs ...............

6.
7.

1
17
18

Women
8.

Female population and labor force, li+ years
and over, by marital status, 19i+0 and 1953 .......
Percent of married women 15 to 1+9 years old
with children under 5> 191+0 and 1952 ............. .

22
24

Nonwhites
10.

Percent distribution of employed men and women
by major occupation group, by color, 1950 .........

Employment
11.
12.
13.

ll+.

Employees in nonagricultural establishments,
by industry, June 191+1, 191+3, 1950,and 1953 ......
Average weekly hours .................................
Classification of ll+9 labor market areas
according to relative adequacy of labor
supply, March 1951+.... ............... ...... .
Indexes of production, employment and output
per worker in agriculture ..........................

38
41

44
47

Employment Trends in Selected Defense-Related Industries
15.

Employment in selected key industries
c/uly 1950 - February 1951+ ..........................

VX1

Number

Page
Occupations

16.

Occupations of men of military ages total
employed and number of employed men
aged 18-31+, by major occupation group,
April 1 9 5 h ................... ............ .........

Education and Training
17.

Number of college graduates: bachelor's
and first professional degrees granted,
1930-1955 ...........................................

Labor Mobility
18.

Civilian migration during

thewar ....................

Military Manpower
19*

Armed Forces,selectedmonths,1 9 3 9 - 1 9 5 U ...............

viii

POPULATION

Changes in the size and composition of the United States p o p
ulation have far-reaching implications for this Nation*s potential
defensive power* These changes greatly affect the number of young
men available for military service, the labor supply for munitions
production and essential civilian activities, and the size of the
dependent population that must be supplied with necessary goods
and services*
Between 1940 and 1950, the total United States population in
creased by about 20 million, to 151 million* However, as shown in
table 1 and chart 1, the greatest relative increases were among
the very young (under 10 years) and the very old (65 years and
over). The adult population, 20 to 64 years of age, increased by
about 10 million, but in 1950 this age group constituted a slightly
smaller proportion of the total population than in 1940*
The age
group 10-19 years, source of new entrants into the population of
military and working age in the current decade, actually declined
over 2 million during the 1940*s*
The drop in the teen-age population and the sharp increase in
numbers of younger children resulted from the sharp
fluctuations
in births over the past two decades* Marriages and births, which
had slumped during the depression of the 1930* s, rose sharply after
the outbreak of World War II (table 2). After a brief drop toward
the end of the war, when millions of servicemen were
overseas,
births rose to and remained at record and near-record annual totals.
The movements in the birth rate are clearly reflected in the
changing size of the 18-yeaivold male population— one of the pri
mary factors affecting our ability to maintain a large peacetime
military establishment* The estimated number of 18-year-old youths
in 1952 totaled about 1,040,000— 200,000 loiter than in 1940 (table
3 and chart 2).
The number of boys attaining age 18 each year is
expected to increase gradually from the 1952 low point, and will
exceed the 1940 level only after 1959, when those born during and
after World War II will begin to move into this age class. In the
decade of the 1960*s, the 18-year-old male population will rise to
nearly 2 million*
The changing military potential of the population under full
mobilization conditions is broadly illustrated in chart 3. I n 1940,
shortly before our entry into World War H , there were almost
22
million men in the 18-37 age group— representing the draft ages in
effect throughout most of the war* In 1950, this group was over a
million larger, but the increase occurred entirely in the 26-37

•2-

age span* Sizable gains in the "military age" male population will
not be forthcoming until the decade of the 1960’s*
By I960, some of the population trends of the past decaae will
have been modified or even reversed, according to the latest avail
able Census Bureau projections. The wartime and postwar upsurge in
the birth rate will be reflected in a sharply increased population
in the 10-19 age bracket. Even if births are maintained at current
high rates for the rest of this decade, the relative increase in
the population under age 10 will be smaller than the 1940-50 rela
tive gain. Similarly, the aged population— 65 and over— will grow
somewhat more slowly, although still at a rate greater than that
of the entire population. On the other hand, the population in
the 20-64 age span, from which nearly all of the labor force is
drawn, will show an even smaller relative increase than in the
preceding decade.
In summary, the increase in recent years in the age groups
which are the primary source of manpower for military service and
civilian work has been relatively small compared with the phenome
nal growth in the population as a whole.
The increase in births
over the past decade will greatly enhance our military and produc
tive potential during the 1960’s. But meanwhile we have many more
youngsters who must be fed, clothed, sheltered, and trained, and
relatively fewer young women who would be available for defense
jobs, if needed.

Table 1,— Population of the United States by age,
April 19A0 and 1950, July 1953, and July I960 projected

Age

1940

1950

Percent change

I960,, projected 1/

1953
I

III

(Thousands)
Total, all ages....

131,669

151,132

159,629

177,426

176,126

Under 10...........

21,226

29,364

32,991

^36,690

35,390

173,847
33,111 j

1940-50

1950-60 (I)

14.8

17.4

38.3

24.9

- 9.4

40.1

10-19..............

24,079

21,819

23,251

-r
30,566

2CV-64........... .

77,400

87,755

90,064

94,469

13.4

7.7

32,927
18,333
15,512
10,628

35,544
21,491
17,349
13,371

35,371
22,360
18,238
14,095

33,932
23,948
20,908
15,681

7.9
17.2
11.8
25.8

- 4.5
11.4
20.5
17.3

8,964

12,194

13,324

15,701

36.0

28.8

20-34............
35-44............
45-54............
55-64............

and over........

1/ I960 population projections are based on the following assumptions as to fertility: (i) 1950-53 age
specific birth rates will continue through 1960 j (II) 1950-53 age specific rates will decline linearly after
1953 to the 19A0 levels by 1975; (III) 1950-53 age specific rates will decline linearly after 1953 to the
1940 levels by I960.
Source:

U. S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census

-4Chart I.

P O P U L A T IO N C H A N G E S
By Age Group

TOTAL
POPULATION
(In millions)
65 Years
and over
5 5 -6 4
Years
45- 54
Years

35-44
Years

20- 34
Years

10- 19
Years

Under
10

April I, 1940

UNTIED
STATES DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
BUREAU O F LAB
http://fraser.stlouisfed.org/ O R STATISTICS
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

April I, 1950

July I, I960
Projected*

^Assumes continuation of 1950-53
birth rates

SOURCE* U. S. BUREAU OF THE CENSUS

Table 2.— -Marriage and birth statistics for the United States*
1930-53

Births y

Marriages
Year

Number
(thousands)

1930.......
1931.......
1932........
1933........
1934-........
1935........
1936........
1937........
1938........
1939........
19-40........
1941........
1942........
1943........
1944........
1945........
1946........
1947........
1948........
1949........
1950........
1951........
1952........
1953........

1,127
1,061
982
1,098
1,302
1,327
1,369
1,451
1,331
1,404
1,596
1,696
1,772
1,577
1,452
1,613
2,291
1,992
1,811
1,580
1,667
1,595
7j 1,528
y 1,533

Rate
(per 1,000
population)

Number
(thousands)

9,2
8.6
7,9

8.7
10.3
10.4
10.7
11.3
10.3
10.7
12.1
12.7
13.2
11.8
11.0
12.2
16.4
13.9
12.4
10.6
11.1
10.4
2 / 9.8
y
9.7

2,618
2,506
2,440
2,307
2,396
2,377
2,355
2,413
2,496
2,466
2,559
2,703
2,989
3,104
2,939
2,858
3,411
3,817
3,637
3,649
3,632
3,833
3,889
3,971

Rate
(per 1,000
population)

21.3
20.2
19.5
18,4
19.0
18.7
18.4
18.7
19.2
18.8
19.4
20.3
22.2
22.7
21.2
20.4
24.1
26.6
24.9
24.5
24.1
25.0
25.0
25.1

Corrected for underregistration,

2/ Estimated by theu. S, Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics
from data on marriage licenses,
Provisional.

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

Table 3 •■Estimated male population 18 years of age,
July 1 of selected years, 19-40-70

(Thousands)
Tear

Number

194-0.............
19A5.
1950.^...........
1951..........
1952............
1953.............
1954.............
1955.............
1956.............
1957.............

1,24-0
1,170
1,090
1,050
1,04.0
1,090
1,100
1,100

Source:

1,150

Tear

1958.............
1959.... .
I960............ .
1961.............
1962............
1963...........
1964.............
1965.0..........
1970............

Number

1,160
1,220
1,300
1,4.80
1,400
1,390
1,410
1,950
1,910

1,170

U. S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census.

Chert 2.

MALE POPULATION 18 YEARS OF AGE
MILLIONS

Selected Years, 1940-1970
MILLIONS
2.0

\'/A

1.8

V'\
f

\'/A

1.6

lx/
/
;
i

1.4

i /A
H

1.2

Y:
-/A

//
t I
'/
/
i r
\//J
'
\"
//

1.0

)

i
v
r

iy
V/
y',
,/
p
i
\

I
i

\ZA

YZZ\

Jul
1970

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
BUREAU O F LA B O R STATISTICS

SOURCE ! U.S. BUREAU OF THE CENSUS

Chart 3.

MALE POPULATION OF MILITARY AG E*
1 9 4 0 -1 9 7 0
In Millions

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
bureau of labor statistics

^ > 8 through 3 7 — draff age» in affect
throughout most of World War I I

28.4

Source:

U.S. Bureau of the Census and
Bureau of Labor Statistics

9—

LABOR FORCE

From the standpoint of current manpower resources, the most
important overall measure is the size of the labor force*
The
Bureau of the Census officially defines the labor force as including
those persons aged 14 years and over who have a job or who are
looking for work at the time Census surveys are made. In 1953* the
labor force (including the Armed Forces) totaled 67 million, of whom
about 63-1/2 million were in the civilian labor force. Of the latter
group, almost 62 million were employed and 1-1/2 million were un
employed (table A and chart A)*
There are wide differences in the extent to which men
and
women of different age groups x/ere in the labor force in December
1953, and the principal activity of those who were not (table 5
and chart 5). Characteristically, nearly all the men between ages
25 and 6A were in the labor force, except for a small proportion
who were disabled or in institutions. Most of the males under age
25 not in the labor force were in school, whereas in the older age
groups the nonworkers were mainly retired or disabled. Among the
women, only a minority in each age group was in the labor force.
Labor force participation among women reaches its initial peak in
their late teens and early 20* s and then drops off sharply as
marriage and the rearing of children bring withdrawals from employ
ment.
Above age 35, the proportion of women employed outside the
home rises again, as children reach school age and home responsi
bilities are diminished.
After 55, however, labor force partici
pation by women tends to drop off sharply.
Under the pressure of World War II mobilization, large numbers
of ’extra” workers were recruited into the labor force. In
’
April
19A5 the labor force— at 66.2 million— included about 8 million
more workers than would have been expected on the basis of growth
in the population of working age and prewar trends in labor force
participation (table 6).
Women accounted for A million, or about
half of the ”extra” workers. About 2 million were teen-age boys,
reflecting the movement of youth into the Armed Forces or into
civilian jobs. The remainder, about 1.8 million, consisted of adult
men who, under prewar conditions, would have been regarded generally
as ’unable to work" or "too old to work."
’
Rates of labor force participation, by age and sex, for 19AA,
the peak year of the World War II mobilization, are compared with
1953 rates.
(See table 7.)
The far lower level of Armed Forces
strength maintained today is reflected in t h e .sharply reduced pro
portion of young men in the labor force. _A less intense demand for
labor and other factors such as increased Social Security benefits

10-

are evidenced by the lower rates of labor force participation among
older men#
The high marriage and birth rates of recent years have
contributed to the reductions in labor force participation among
women under age 35# On the other hand, the proportion of women aged
35 and over in the labor force has tended to rise throughout most
of the postwar period. This is particularly true among women 45-64,
for whom the rates in 1953 were well above wartime levels (seep# 19).
The proportion of the civilian labor force that is unemployed
serves as an overall measure of the extent to which available man
power is being utilized.
This proportion has fluctuated
widely
during the past two decades, it dropped to a low point of 1.2 per
cent in 1944, at the peak of the World War II movilization effort
(chart 6). In the years between the end of World War II and the
onset of the Korean emergency, the unemployment rate ranged between
3-1/2 and 5-1/2 percent of the labor force. An almost uninterrupted
downtrend in unemployment was maintained until late 1953, reflecting
not only the buildup of the Armed Forces and the expansion of defense
production, but also continued growth of the civilian economy. As
a result, unemployment 'for the year 1953 averaged lower than in any
year since the end of World War II. In the latter part of 1953 and
early 1954 unemployment began to rise appreciably.
Statistics reported by State unemployment insurance programs
gage , the extent of new and insured unemployment among workers cov
ered by unemployment insurance— roughly 60 percent of the working
population.
The weekly volume of insured unemployment represents
the number of persons reporting a week of unemployment under the
insurance system.
The figures include some persons who are only
partially unemployed, and exclude persons such as those who have
exhausted their benefit rights, new workers who have not earned
rights to unemployment insurance and persons losing jobs not covered
by the insurance systems (agriculture, government, domestic service,
self-employment, unpaid family work, nonprofit organizations, firms
below a minimum size). State insured unemployment data also ex
clude unemployed veterans claiming Servicemen’s Readjustment Allow
ances and unemployed railroad workers who are covered by the Rail
road Unemployment Insurance Act,
The sensitivity of the series to
change in industrial activity is illustrated by the sharp decline
in insured unemployment in 1950 and by the uptrend beginning in
late 1953 (chart 7).

Table 4..— Total labor force, by employment status,
selected periods, 1929-54

l
Civilian ! abor force
Period

Total
labor
force

Unemployed
Total

Employed
Number

(Thousands)
Annual average:
1929.............
1933.............
1939.............

Percent of
civilian
labor force

1947.............
1948.............
1949.............
1950.............
1951.............
1952.............
1953 1 / ..........
1953 2/..........

49,44-0
51,840
55,600
66,040
61,758
62,898
62,721
64,749
65,982
66,560
66,590
66,965

49,180
51,590
55,230
54,630
60,168
61,442
62,105
63,099
62,884
62,966
63,042
63,417

47,630
38,760
45,750
53,960
58,027
59,378
58,710
59,957
61,005
61,293
61,519
61,894

1,550
12,830
9,480
670
2,142
2,064
3,395
3,142
1,879
1,673
1,523
1,523

3.2
24.9
17.2
1.2
3.6
3.4
5.5
5.0
3.0
2.7
2.4
2.4

1954: 2 /
January..........
February.••••••••
March,...........
April............

66,292
67,139
67,218
67,438

62,840
63,725
63,825
64,063

59,753
60,055
60,100
60,598

3,087
3,671
3,725
3,465

4.9
5.8
5.8
5.4

1/ Adjusted for comparability with earlier data according to
footnote 2/.
2/ As published b y the Bureau of the Census. Labor force and
employment figures for 1953 are not comparable with those for previous
years as a result of the introduction of material from the 1950 Census
into the estimating procedure. Unemployment figures were unaffected by
these changes.

y
Beginning with January 1954, data are based upon a new 230area Census sample and are therefore not comparable with earlier data
which were based upon a 68-area sample.
Source: U. S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census, and
the U. S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics.

LA BO R FORCE
Selected Years, 1929-1952
MILLIONS OF WORKERS

MILLIONS OF WORKERS
80

- 10

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

BUREAU O F LABO R

STATISTICS

SOURCE : BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS
AND BUREAU OF THE CENSUS

Table 5.— Population and labor force, by age and sex,
December 1953

(Thousands)

Age and sex

Population

In
labor
force
1/

Not in labor force
Keeping
house

In
school

Other

Total, 14 and over,,.

117,100

66,110

34.620

7.970

8,380

Mala, 14 and over.,,.
14-24..............
14-15............
16-17............
18-19............
20-24............
25-34..............
35-44..............
45-54..............
55-64..............
65 and over........

57,660
12,240
2,320
2,220
2,150
5,550
11,920
11,050
9,110
6,970
6,370

47,010
7,910
340
970
1,600
5,000
11,510
10,670
8,650
5,910
2,360

140
(1/)
(2/)
2/
2/
2/)
(2/)
(2/)
(2/)
(2/)
(2/)

4,010
3,930
1,930
1,160
480
350

6,500

Female, 14 and over,.
14-24..............
14-15............
16-17............
18-19............
20-24............
25-34..............
35-44..............
45-54..............
55-64..............
65 and over.

59,430
11,960
2,240
2,150
2,110
5,470
12,320
11,430
9,270
7,180
7,270

19,090
4,010
160
560
1,000
2,290
4,020
4,760
3,680
2,020
580

34,490

3,840
(2/)

250
630
2,920
8,240
6,500
5,430
4,950

5,640

(2/)
2/)
(2/0
(2/)
(2/)
3,960
3,920
2,000

1,300
440
180
(2/)
(2/
2/
(2/)
(2/)

400

(2/)
(2/)
( /)
2
200
320
350
460
1,030
3,940
1,880
190

WX
(So
2/

(y )
130
150
150
210
1,050

Includes Armed Forces,
g/ Includes persons in institutions, disabled and retired persons, etc,
2/ Numbers under 100,000 are not shown because they are subject to
relatively large sampling variation.
Note:
Source:

Figures may not add to totals because of rounding.
U, S, Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census

-1 4 -

Chart 5.

POPULATION AND LABOR FORCE
BY AGE AND SEX
December 1953

Females
14

MILLIONS

Males
10

Other

I In School
BUREAU“ OF LABOR STATISTICS!

In Housework I

I In the Labor Force

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OP LABOR

N u m b er* u n d e r .1 m illio n no t sh o w n

S o u rce : UNITED STATES BUREAU OF THE CENSUS

15-

Table 6*-—Excess of wartime labor force over "normal,"
by age and sex, April 1945

(Thousands)
Labor force 1/
Age and sex
Actual

"Normal"
2/

Excess of
actual
over normal

Total, 14 and over.

66,250

58,120

8,130

Male, 14 and over...•••••••.•••
14-19........................
20-34................... .
35-54........................
55 and over

46,410
4,740
16,400
17,470
7,800

42,510
2,620
15,950
16,880
7,060

3,900
2,120
450
590
740

Female, 14 and over..
14-19........................
20-34........................
35-54........................
55 and over..................

19,840
2,720
7,960
7,050
2,110

15,600
1,270
7,460
5,440
1,430

4,240
1,450
500
1,610
680

1/ Labor force estimates include Armed Forces*
2/ "Normal" labor force assumes a continuation of prewar trends
in age-sex labor force participation rates.
Note:

Figures may not add to totals because of rounding.

Source: U, S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census, and
U. S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics.

-16-

Table 7,— Percent of population in the labor force,
by age and sex,
annual averages 1953 and 1944

Age and sex

1953

1944

Total, 14 and over******

57.4

62*3

Male, 14 and over...*..*
14-19.................
20-24.................
25-34.................
35-44.................
45-54.................
55-64.................
65 and over.•...••••••

82.8

40.0

88.3
69.1
97.1
96.2
99.1
97.7
87.7
50.9

32.8
29.8
44.1
33.5
40.2
39.6
28.8
9.2

36.5
41.7
54.7
37.6
41.7
35.6
25.0
9.6

Female, 14 and over.**.*
14-19.................
20-24.................
25-34.................
35-44.................
45-54.................
55-64.............. .
65 and over..••••*..••

Source:

50.1
91.3
96.3
96.3
94.7
86.1

U. S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census*

-17Chort 6 .

UNEM PLOYM ENT
1929

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

LABOR STATISTICS
BUREAU OF

RATE

1953

SOURCE: BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS AND U. S.
8UREAU O F THE CENSUS

-18
Chart 7.

INSURED UNEMPLOYMENT, STATE PROGRAMS
Thousands

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

BUREAU
http://fraser.stlouisfed.org/ OF LABOR STATISTICS
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

Thousands
2 ,5 0 0

2,000

1,500

1,000

500

Source: Bureau of Employment Security

19-

WQMEN

World War II experience showed that women are the Nation* s
greatest single labor reserve under conditions of national emer
gency. Although the increases in marriages and births during the
past decade have tended to restrict the availability of women for
work outside the home, this tendency has been more than offset by
the sharp uptrend in the number and proportion of working wives.
Between 194-0 and 1953, the number of married women in the pop
ulation rose by nearly 8-1/2 million; the number who were widowed,
divorced, or separated increased by 3 million; while the number of
single women declined by 3 million (table 8 and chart 8). More
over, among the married women aged 15 to 4-9, the proportion with
young children (under 5) increased from one-third in 194-0 to twofifths in 1952 (table 9 and chart 9)* The
relationship
between
marital status and availability for work is illustrated by these
facts: in 1953, only one-fourth of the married women were in the
labor force as contrasted with nearly half of the single women aged
14 years and over. Among the married women aged 15 to 49 years,
in 1952, only one-eighth of those with very young children were in
the labor force, compared with almost two-fifths of those without
young children (table 10).
Despite the increase in marriages and births during the past
decade, the overall proportion of women in the labor force actually
increased from 27-1/2 percent in 194-0 to 32 percent in April 1953*
This was due largely to the sharp increase in the proportion
of
married women in the labor force-— from about 15 percent in 1940 to
26 percent in 1953. The long-run tendency for a higher proportion
of married women in the population to engage in gainful employment
was greatly accelerated in this period by such factors as the mil
lions of additional women who gained work experience during World
War II and the very high levels of labor demand in the postwar
years. Most of the relative increase in the number of married
women workers has occurred in the age group 35 years and
over,
when most women no longer have responsibility for care of very
young children.
Furthermore, this group comprises the largest potential la
bor reserve. In March 1951, there were 32-1/2 million women, 20
years and over, outside the labor force, excluding those permanent
ly unable to work (table 11). Women in this age group comprised
about 90 percent of the total labor reserve. Over 17-1/2 m i l l i o n

■20-

were in the age group 20 to 64 and did not have young children. Of
this number 5-1/4 million had some work experience since the begin
ning of World War II.
A large proportion of these experienced
women workers are over age 35j the traditional preference of en>ployers for women under 35 continues to limit the employment oppor
tunities for women above that age.
The changes in occupational distribution of employed women re
sulting from wartime mobilization and the shift to postwar civilian
production are shown in table 12. Between 1940 and 1945, the pro
portion of women employed as operatives, farm workers, and clerical
workers rose sharply, while declines occurred in the professional
group and among domestic-service and other service occupations.
These shifts were partially reversed in the postwar period.
Wa r
time mobilization might again require sharp increases in the number
of women in factory j obs and on the farm, as men are drawn into the
armed services.
In manufacturing industries, the greatest number and propor
tion of women are employed in "light” manufacturing activities—
including such fields as apparel, textiles, and electrical equip
ment (table 13). During the period of industrial expansion a c c o m
panying the Korean conflict the employment of women in manufactur
ing increased from 3.8 million to 4.6 million (June 1950 to June
1953). Although the proportion of women employed in most manufac
turing industries increased in this period, the relatively greater
expansion in heavy industries, where few women are employed, re
sulted in virtually no change in the overall proportion of women
manufacturing employees.

Table 8.— Labor force status of women by marital status,
April 1953 and 1944, and March 1940

Year and marital status

In labor force

Civilian
population

Number

Percent
of
population

(Thousands)
1953:
Total, 14 and over.........a
Single••••••••••••••••••••
Married, husband present.#
Other marital status l/...

58,940
10,774
37,106
11,060

18,920
.5,140
9,588
4,192

32.1
47.7
25.8
37.9

52,759
12,875
28,667
11,217

18,449
7,542

4,681

35.0
58.6
21.7
41.7

50,549
13,936
28,517
8,096

13,840
6,710
4,200
2,930

27.4
48.1
14.7
36.2

1944:
Total, 14 and over..........
Single. ..••••.... .
Married, husband present..
Other marital status l/.«.

6,226

1940:
Total, 14 and over..........
Single.
Married, husband present.*
Other marital status %/•••

Includes widowed, separated ^and divorced#
Source:

U. S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census.

Table 9*— Number of married women, 15 to 4.9 years old,
with and without children under 5,
April 1952 and 1940

Married women, husband present
Year and age
Total

Without
children
under 5

With children
Tinder 5
Number

(Thousands)

Percent
of
total

1952:
Total, 15-49.......
15-19.............
20-24.............
25-29.............
30-39.............
40-49.............

26,660
700
3,540
4,900
9,660
7,850

15,970
370
1,210
1,680
5,670
7,040

10,690
330
2,330
3,230
3,990
810

40.1
47.1
65.8
65.9
41.3
10.3

21,300

14,220
380
1,290
1,880
5,010
5,650

7,080
270
1,550
2,070
2,600
600

33.2
41.3
54.5
52.3
34.2
9.6

1940:
Total, 15-49,........
15-19............ .
20-24.............
25-29.............
30-39.............
40-49.............

Note:
Source:

650
2,840
3,950
7,610
6,250

Figures may not add to totals because of rounding*
U* S, Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census*

Chart 9.

PERCENT OF MARRIED WOMEN 15 TO 49 YEARS OLD WITH CHILDREN UNDER 5
1940 and 1952

AGE-

15 to 49

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
BUREAU O f LA B O R STATISTICS

15-19

20-24

25 -2 9

30-39

4 0 -4 9

Source: U. S. Bureau of the Census

25-

Table 10,— Labor force status of married women,
with and without children under 5,
April 1952

Married women, husband present
Presence of
children under 5

In labor force
Population

Number

(Thousands)

Percent
of
population

Total, 15 to 49 years.....

26,658

7,522

28.2

Without children under 5*

15,958

6,158

38.6

With children under 5**«*

10,700

1,364

12.7

Source:

U* S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census*

—2 (> -

Table 11.— Work experience of persons in the labor reserve 1/
in March 1951, by age and sex

Age and sex

Total
persons
in labor
reserve

With work experience
since beginning of
World War II

Number

Percent of
total in

With no work
experience
since
beginning
of World
War II

labor
reserve
(Thousands)
Total, 20 and over.

Male, 20 and over.
Female, 20 and over.......
Married, with children.;
under 6 years old....
Other...... .
20 to 4 4 ..............
45 to 64..............
65 and over...........

(Thousands)

36,394

13,284

36.5

23,110

3,866

2,328

60.2

1,538

32,528

10,956

33.7

21,572

9,822
22,706
7,752
10,038
4,916

5,120
5,836
3,278
2,012
546

52.1
25.7
42.3
20.0
11.1

4,702
16,870
4,474
8,026
4,370

l/ Consists of the noninstitutional population outside the labor
force, excluding those permanently unable to work.
Source:

U. S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census.

Table 12.— Employed women classified by major occupation group,
April 1954, 1950, 1945, and March 1940

Major occupation group

1954

1950

1945

1940

Number (thousands)

Total employed
Professional, technical, and kindred
workers..
Managers, officials, and proprietors,
except farm..•••••.<>••••...•••••••••••••••
Farmers, farm managers, foremen, and
l
a
b
o
r
e
r
s
.
.
Clerical and kindred workers.,.,•••.••......
Sales workers.
Craftsmen, foremen, and kindred workers.....
Operatives and kindred workers•••••.
Service workers, except private household...
Private household workers.......••••••••••.»
Laborers, except farm and mine....

18.600

17.180

19,310

11.920

2,230

1,860

1,510

1,570

960

940

800

450

720
5,120
1,480
270
3,460
2,490
1,770

920
4,540
1,520
180
3,210
2,170
1,770
70

1,930
4,900
1,440
300
4,610
1,980
1,670
170

690
2,530
830

no
2,190
1,350
2,100
100

Percent distribution

Total employed
Professional, technical, and kindred
w
o
r
k
e
r
s
.
•
Managers, officials, and proprietors,
except farm..... .
Farmers, farm managers, foremen, and
laborers. ......... ................. .
Clerical and kindred workers.......••••••,••
Sales workers.«•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Craftsmen, foremen, and kindred workers..*..
Operatives and kindred workers..............
Service workers, except private household...
Private household workers.,..•••••••••......
Laborers, except farm and mine.,

Note:

100.0

12.0

10.8

7.8

13.3

5.2

5.5

4.1

3.8

3.9
27.5
8.0
1.5
18.6
13.4
9.5
.6

5.4
26.4
8.8

10.0
25.4
7.5
1.5
23.9
10.3
8.6
.9

5.7
21.2
7.0
.9
18.4

1.0
18.7
12.6
10.3
•4

n .3
17.6
.8

Figures may not add to totals because of rounding.

Source: U. S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census, and tfre
U. FRASER
S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Digitized for

Table 13•-— Employment of women in manufacturing industries,
December and June 1953 and June 1950

December 1953
Industry-

Number
(thou
sands)

June 1953

Percent
of women
employees

Number
(thou
sands)

Percent
of all
employees

June 1950
Number
(thou
sands)

Percent
of a n
employees

Manufacturing ........................

Ij+X
+II

100.0

4,587

3,762

Durable goods........... .......... ............ .
Ordnance and accessories..... .
Lumber and wood products (except furniture)..
Furniture and fixtures...... ....... ••••••.••
Stone, clay, and glass products.......... .
Primary metal products......................
Fabricated metal products (except ordnance,
machinery, and transportation equipment)....
Machinery (except electrical)
Electrical machinery.........................
Transportation equipment..•
Instruments and related products•••••••••••••
Miscellaneous manufacturing industries.......

1,798
50
50
66
88
75

40.8
1.1
1.1
1.5
2.0
1.7

1,922
56
53
70
93
84

19
27
7
19
17
6

1,309
5
51
57
84
62

16
18
6
16
16
5

213
234
45 8
248
122
195

4.8
5.3
10.4
5.6
2.8
4*4

237
244
495
262
125
204

20
14
41
14
37
41

180
177
323
124
81
167

19
13
38
10
34
39

Nondurable goods..... .
Food and kindred products............. .
Tobacco manufactures....... .
Textile-mill products................ ........
Apparel and other finished textile products..
Paper and allied products........ ...........
Printing, publishing, and allied industries..
Chemicals and allied p r o d u c t s ......
Products of petroleum and coal.... ••••• ••••<>
Rubber products............ .......... ........
Leather and leather products......... .......

2,613
364
68
494
924
127
224
141
16
69
187

59.2
8.3
1.5
11.2
20.9
2.9
5.1
3.2
.4
1.6
4.2

2,666
370
54
540
925
127
215
148
16
75
196

38
24
58
44
77
24
28
20
6
27
50

2,453
363
51
534
840

n6
n

37
24
56
42
75
23
26
18
5

62
173

Note:

Figures may not add to totals because of rounding

no
192

29-

NCKWHITES y

The problem of increased manpower utilization among nonwhites
is primarily one of occupational upgrading and expanding employment
opportunities in certain industries, rather than increased partici
pation in the labor force.
The proportion of all nonwhite men in
the labor force has been for some years the same as that for whites,
except during periods of severe unemployment.
The proportion of
nonwhite women in the labor force has been consistently higher than
that for white women,'
In 1953, more than 50 percent of nonwhite
women aged 25 to 54 years were in the labor force, compared with
less than 40 percent of white women in the same age group.
In the period between the decennial censuses of 1940 and 1950
important shifts occurred in the industrial and occupational dis
tribution of Negro workers. During the same decade the movement of
Negroes from farms to urban areas was greatly accelerated. The 1950
census, for the first time, recorded a larger proportion of Negroes
in urban areas than in rural areas, whereas the white population had
become predominantly urban by 1920, Many Negroes migrated from the
more agricultural South to urban areas, particularly to cities in
the Northern, Central, and Western States,
Changes in the distribution-of employed Negro and white workers
among the major industries in 1940 and 1950 are shown in table 14,
Comparison with the changes among white workers shows some signifi
cant differences.
During this wartime decade employment of Negro men in the con
struction and manufacturing industries as a proportion of all employ
ed Negro men increased appreciably. In 1950,8 percent of the total
3*7 million employed Negro men were working in the construction in
dustry, almost equal to the proportion of all white workers so em
ployed. The 23 percent of all employed Negro men in manufacturing*
in 1950 compared with 27 percent of all employed white men.
Over
the decade there was a greater decline among Negroes, in comparison
with whites, in the proportion employed in agriculture.
Among almost 2 million Negro women working in 1950, employment
continued to be largely concentrated in the service industries, in
cluding private households, although the percentage decreased from
74 percent in 1940 to 65 percent in 1950,
The proportion of
all
Negro women employed in manufacturing and wholesale and retail trade

y
Data for nonwhite persons as a whole reflect predominantly
the employment characteristics of Negroes, who comprise more than
95 percent of the nonwhite group.

■30-

more than doubled* However, in 1950, only about a tenth of employed
Negro women, compared with a fourth of employed white women, were
working in each of these sectors.
The occupational distribution of employed Negro and xAiite men
and women for the two decennial censuses of 1940 and 1950 are shown
in table 15 and chart 10* Comparison of changes among Negroes and
whites reveals significant shifts which occurred during this period*
Among employed Negro men, the most appreciable increases were in 3
occupation groups— clerical workers, craftsmen, and operatives. In
1950, 20 percent of employed Negro and white men were working as
operatives, with a significantly greater increase since 1940 in the
proportion of Negroes so employed. Although the proportion of Negroes
employed as craftsmen almost doubled from 1940 to 1950, less than 8
percent were employed in this skilled occupation group in 1950, sub
stantially below the 20 percent of employed white men who were crafts
men. The 3 percent of Negro men in clerical work in 1950 was less
than half the proportion of white men in this occupation group. The
proportion of Negro men in professional occupations in 1950 was low—
about 2 percent compared with 8 percent for whites. Although appre
ciable advances have been made during the last decade, Negroes still
are predominantly employed in the lover paying and less-skilled op
erative, laborer, and service worker categories.
The majority of employed Negro women worked in private house
holds in 1950— although the proportion had declined to 41 percent
from the 59 percent in this occupation group in 1940. The propor
tion of Negro women employed as clerical workers and semiskilled
operatives increased between 1940 and 1950. However, in 1950:only
4 percent were in clerical occupations compared with 30 percent of
all employed white women. About 15 percent of Negro women workers
were semiskilled operatives in 1950— more than double the proportion
in 1940, but the proportion was below the 20 percent of white women
in this occupation.
In 1950, the 6 percent of Negro women in pro
fessional occupations was less than half the proportion of white
women in this occupation group.

2/ More complete information on the status of Negroes in the
labor force is given in Bureau of Labor Statistics Bulletin No. 1119,
Negroes in the United States:
Their Employment and Economic Status.
(1952).

31-

Table 14.— -Percent distribution of employed men and women
by major industry group, by color,

April 1950 and March 1940

Nonwhite

White

Sex and major industry group
1950

Total employed men.
Agriculture.........................
Mining..............................
Construction......................•••
Manufacturing
Transportation, communication,
and other public utilities........
Wholesale and retail trade...*.....*
Service industries.......... .
A H other industries....•••••.••••••
Industry not reported........ ••••••
Total employed women..

Mining................
Construction*.......................
Transportation, communication,
and other public utilities.•••••••
Wholesale and retail trade...•••••••
All other industries....•••••••..«••
Industry not reported.•••••••......

1940

1950

1940

100.0

24.8
1.2
8.0
22.9

41.7
1.7
4.7
15.4

14.6
2.3
8.3
27.4

21.5
2.8
6.1
25.4

8.7
12.6
15.9
4.4
1.6

6.5
10.4
15.9
2.2
1.5

9.1
17.7
14.4
4.9
1.2

8.3
16.9
13.9
3.8
1.3

100.0

9.4
.1
.3
9.5

16.1
.1
3.5

2.9
.2
.7
25.1

2.4
.1
.3
23.7

.9
10.5
65.2
2.4
1.8

.2
4.2
74.3
.6
.9

4.8
24.3
35.5
4.4
2.1

3.5
20.5
43# 8
3 *2
2.3

(A/)

Less than 0.05> percent,.

Note:

Figures may not add to totals because of rounding*

Source:

U. S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census*

32.

Table 15•— Percent distribution of employed men and women
by major occupation group, by color,
April 1950 and March 1940

Nonwhite

White

Sex and major occupation group
1950
Total employed men................... .

1940

1950

1940

100.0

2.3
13.3

1.9
21.1

7.8
10.0

6.6
14.2

2.3
3.0
1.2

1.6
1.2

1.0

11.6
6.8
6.9

10.6
6.5
6.8

Professional, technical, and
kindred workers.•.•••«••..•••«••••*•
Farmers and fairo 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.*......
Occupation not reported.....••.••••••«

7.6
20.6
1.1

4.4
12.4
2.3

19.7
20.0
.1

15.9
18.7
.1

13.3
10.7
23.0
1.4

12.3
20.0
21.3
•6

5.1
4.2
6.6
1.1

5.2
7.0
7.6
.7

Total employed women....•••••••••.••••

100.0

5.7
1.7

4.3
3.0

13.3
.6

14.8
1.1

1.4
4.3
1.5

1.0
.6

4.7
30.5
9.4

4.3
24.5
8.1

40.6

•2
6.6
58.6

1.6
19.8
4.0

20.3

18.6
7.6
1.5
1.7

10.4
12.9
.8
.7

11.3
2.2
.7
1.8

Professional, technical, and
kindred workers.••••••••••••••••••*•
Farmers and farm managers..
Managers, officials, and
proprietors, except farm..••.*••••••
Clerical and kindred workers••*.••••••
Craftsmen, foremen, and
kindred workers••••••••••••••••..*..
Operatives and kindred workers*.•••••*

•6
14.8

1.1
10.9

Service workers, except private
Farm laborers and foremen......•••••••
Laborers, except farm and mine•••«••••
Occupation not reported.

Note:
Source:

Figures may not add to totals because of rounding*
U* S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census*

11.5
1.2
.9

C hart 10-

PERCENT DISTRIBUTION OF EMPLOYED MEN AND WOMEN
BY MAJOR OCCUPATION GROUP, BY COLOR
April 1950

MEN

OCCUPATION GROUP

i
Professional, Technical

___________________

and Managerial Workers

WOMEN

PERCENT
10

PERCENT
30

I7777//////M
1

Farmers and Farm
Laborers

Clerical and Sales
Workers

777777777777777/7/7777///T\
E

Craftsmen and
Foremen

I7ZZZZZZZZZZZX

O peratives

Private Houshold
Workers

l _ l ...................

Other Service Workers,
Except Private Household

Laborers, Except Farm
and Mine

BUREAU O F LA B O R STATISTICS

7 7 7 7 7 7 X

7ZZZ
i

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

50
------------------- j

Source:

U.S. Bureau of the Census

EMPLOYMENT

Sharp increases in labor requirements, together with some
major shifts in the industry distribution of employment, are likely
in the event of full mobilization. Some idea of the nature of the
change that might occur is provided by the experience in World War
II (table 16 and chart 11). Between June 1941 and June 1943, about
6 million workers were added to payrolls of all types of employers
other than farmers.
Fully two-thirds of the increase occurred in
metals and metal-products manufacturing industries. Sizable gains
were recorded also in the war-related petroleum, chemicals, and
rubber products industries, as well as in transportation and pub
lic utilities.
The Department of Defense also hired relatively
large numbers of additional civilian workers.
On the other hand,
employment actually declined in mining, contract construction,
trade, finance, and State and local governments, reflecting re
strictions on nonessential activities as well as manpower shortages
induced by the shift of workers to higher paying war?industries.
The pattern of employment changes associated with partial mobi
lization is illustrated by the experience during the Korean emer
gency period (table 16 and chart 11). Industry, business, and gov
ernment employed 49*4 million workers in June 1953, almost 5 mil
lion more than at the time of the Korean outbreak in June 1950.
This increase reflected the expanded demand for civilian goods and
services, as well as the requirements of the national defense pro
gram.
Comparison of the industry distribution of employment in mid-1953
with that of mid-1950 shows an increase in the relative importance
of durable goods manufacturing* These industries added more than
2 million workers, and the proportion of all nonfarm employees in
these industries rose from IB percent to 21 percent. Gains in non
durable goods manufacturing were much more modest— totaling about
300,000 workers.
The increase occurred principally in industries
affected by expanding business and government demand, particularly
chemicals, petroleum, and rubber.
Among nonmanufacturing industries, the largest employment
gains during the Korean period occurred in wholesale and retail
trade, reflecting a greatly increased volume of consumer buying.
Employment in contract construction in June 1953, a t 2.6 million,
was above the pre-Korean level.
However, construction industry
employment was somewhat below the record for the month reached in
1951.

-35-

The only major nonmanufacturing industry reporting a reduction
in its work force during the period of the Korean conflict was bi
tuminous-coal mining, which has experienced a long-continuing down
trend in employment.
At 300,000 in June 1953, employment in this
industry was one— fourth below the June 1950 level.
Practically all of the increases in employment during the
Korean emergency occurred in the first 2 years after the start of
the conflict.
During the first half of 1953, employment leveled
off, and then began to decline.
The drop occurred primarily in
manufacturing, mining, transportation, and in the Federal Govern
ment,
By April 195A, nonfarm employment was significantly below
that of a year earlier.
This decline was reflected in labor turnover rates, which not
only measure the ebb and flow of factory hiring, but also gage the
tightness of the labor market.
Thus, the recent drop in factory
employment is evidenced by the low hiring rate in March 195A (table
17); the March 195 A quit rate, which was far below World War II
levels, also reflected the eased labor market situation.
The labor supply available for production can be expanded
sharply, when necessary, by increasing the length of the workweek.
Widespread overtime work wias characteristic of many manufac tu r ing
industries during the Korean emergency. However, the average work
week of about A1 hours that was maintained during most of this par
tial mobilization period is far below that which could be attained
in the event of full mobilization (table 18 and chart 12)• In 19AA,
the factory workweek averaged over A5 hours and in the durable
goods industries the average was about A6-1/2 hours,
A significant change in the geographic distribution of nonfarm
employment has occurred since 1939, reflecting both the developments
of World War II and long-term locational trends.
Relative gains
were the sharpest in the South and West, with the Pacific States
leading the Nation in the rate of employment growth (table 19)*
One of the problems to be considered in the efficient utili
zation of available manpower is the presence of areas of substan
tial labor surplus. Despite a generally favorable employment sit
uation in March 1953, 17 major labor market areas were classed as
having substantial manpower surpluses,
A year later, twice as
many areas were included in this category (table 20 and chart 13),
The agricultural work force has experienced a long-term de
cline, In 1953, according to Census Bureau estimates, agricultural
employment averaged 6,5 million, or about 11 percent of total civ

-36-

ilian employment (table 21).
This was 3«4 million less than the
level in prewar 1939 when the Nation’s farms accounted for onefifth of total employment. Despite this reduction in the farm work
force, total farm output has increased because of gains in agri
cultural productivity (table 22 and chart Li)•

Table 16.— •Employees in nonagricultural establishments, by industry division,
selected periods 1941-54

(Thousands)
April
Industry

1954 y

June
1953

June
1950

June
1943

June
1941

44,510

42,365

36,283
960
1,803
12,967
5,525

Total*......... ••••••••••.......

47,925

49,904

Mining............................
Contract construction..
Manufacturing. .............. •••..
Metals and metal products.... .
Petroleum, chemicals and
rubber........................
All other manufacturing..,,..,.
Transportation and public
utilities....... .
Trade....... .............. .
Finance..........................
Service.............. .••••••••••
Government.... .
Department of Defense.....,.,.,
Other Federal Government,••••••
State and local....••••••••••••

747
2,512
15,965
7,676

2,711
17,416
8,568

929
2,430
14,733
6,342

915
1,669
17,431
9,717

1,289
7,000

1,352
7,496

1,142
7,249

1,051

873

6,663

6,569

4,006
10,422
2,073
5,501
6,699
1,036
1,132
4,531

4,260
10,473
2,037
5,576
6,585
1,138
1,165
4,282

3,984
9,534
1,807
5,185
5,908
666
1,164
4,078

3,656
7,157
1,436
3,980
6,121
1/ 1,983
954
3,184

3,287
7,402
1,482
3,760
4,622
2/
502
783
3,337

1/
2/

846

Preliminary.
Represents employment in War and Navy Departments.

Chart I.
I

EMPLOYEES IN NONAGRICULTURAL ESTABLISHMENTS, BY INDUSTRY
June 1941, 1943, 1950 and 1953

MILLIONS

Selected Years

EZ3
1
(22

1941
1943
1950
1953

15 -

10 -

0 L_

. E M
Manufacturing

Trade

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
BUREAU O F LA B O R STATISTICS

Government

Service

Transportation
and
Public Utilities

Contract
Construction

Finance

Mining

Table 17#— Labor turnover rates
per 1,000 employees in manufacturing,
March 194-0-54

Separations
Year

Hires
Total

1940.....
1941......
1942.....
1943.....
1944.....
1945......
1946.....
1947.... .
1948.....
1949.....
1950.....
1951.....
1952.....
1953.....
1954.....

29
56
70
83
58
49
71
51
40
30
36
46
39
44
28

35
34
53
77
74
68
66
49
45
48
29
41
37
41
37

Layoffs
25
11
12
5
9
7
18
9
12
28
14
8
11
8
23

Quits
7
17
30
54
50
50
42
35
28
16
12
25
20
25
10

Other 1/
3
6
11
18
15
11
6
5
5
4
3
8
6
7
4

1 / Includes military separations, discharges, and
miscellaneous separations.

Table 18.— Average weekly hours of production workers
in manufacturing industries,
1939-54-

Period

All manu
facturing

Durable

Nondurable

Annual average:
1939................
1940................
1941................
1942................
1943................
1944................
1945.... ...........
1946................
1947................
1948................
1949................
1950................
1951................
1952................
1953............... .

37.7
38.1

40.6

38.0
39.3
42.1
45.1

42.9
44.9
45.2
43.4
40.4
40.4
40.1
39.2
40.5
40.7
40.7
40.5

44.1
40.2
40.6
40.5
39.5
41.2
41.6
41.5
41.3

40.8

41.7

46.6
46.6

37.4
37.0
38.9
40.3
42.5
43.1
42.3
40.5
40.1
39.6
38.8
39.7
39.5
39.6
39.5

1953:

September...•••«••••
November.•••••••••••
December.•••••••••••

40.7
40.7
40.3
40.5
39.9
40.3
40.0

40.2

41.5
41.4

40.8
41.1
40.6
41.0
40.6
40.8

39.5
39.5
39.7
39.6
39.6
39.0
39.3
39.1
39.3

1954:
January.••.•••••••••
February l/........o
April 1/............

Preliminary.

39.4
39.6
39.5
39.0

40.1

40.2
40.0
39.7

38.5
38.8
38.8
38.1

-4 1 Chart 12.

AVERAGE WEEKLY HOURS
HOURS

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

O f LABO R STATISTICS
BUREAU

HOURS

PRODUCTION WORKERS
IN MANUFACTURING INDUSTRIES

Table 19.— Employees in nonagricultural establishments,
b y geographic region, annual averages 1952 and 1939

Change, 1939-52
Geographic region

1952

1939
Number
Percent
(Thousands)

4-7,990

30,290

17,700

3,480

2,580

900

Middle Atlantic......

11,320

8,090

3,230

East North Central....

10,900

6,870

4,030

West North Central.,..

3,840

2,460

1,380

South Atlantic.•.•••••

5,990

3,600

2,390

East South Central....

2,400

1,440

960

West South Central....

3,720

1,980

1,740

Mountain.

1,430

790

640

Pacific,•

4,850

2,490

2,360

United States l/......
New England.

1/ There is a small discrepancy between the regional and U. S.
totals resulting from the use of different benchmark adjustments in
some States.

Table 20*— Classification of major labor market areas,
according to relative adequacy of labor supply,
selected months, 1953-54.

Classification

Total, all groups.....
Group
Group
Group
Group

I***.***...*.*
II.*..**..*.*.
III...........
I V ............

Mar.
1954

Jan.
1954

Nov.
1953

Sept.
1953

149
0
20
95
34

149

1
49
79
20

2
63
66
18

3
64
64
18

5
67
60
17

Mar.
1953

Explanation of Classification Codes
Group I— Areas of labor shortage* Areas in which labor shortages exist
or are expected to occur in the near future which will impede "essential
activities."
Group TT— Areas of balanced labor supply. Areas in which current and
prospective labor demand and supply are approximately in balance*
Group III— Areas of moderate labor surplus. Areas in which current and
prospective labor supply moderately exceeds labor requirements *
Group IV— Areas of substantial labor surplus. Areas in which current
and prospective labor supply substantially exceeds labor requirements.

Source:

U. S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Employment Security

-45-

Table 21. — Agricultural employment,
selected periods, 1929-54

Period

Annual average:
1929..................
1933..................
1939..................
1944..................
1947..................
1948..................
1949..................
1950..................
1951..................
1952..................
1953 y ...............
1953 2/...............
1954: y
January........ ••••••
February..............
March•••••.•••••••••••
April.................

Number
(thousands)

10,450
10,090
9,610
8,950
8,266
7,973

Percent
of total
employment

7,507
7,054
6,805
6,228
6,528

21.9
26.0
21.0
16.6
14.2
13.4
13.7
12.5
11.6
11.1
10.1
10.5

5,284
5,704
5,875
6,076

8.8
9.5
9.8
10.0

8,026

1 / Adjusted for comparability with earlier data, accord
ing to footnote 2/,
2/ As published by the Bureau of the Census. The 1953
data are not comparable with those for previous periods as a
result of the introduction of material from the 1950 Census
into the estimating procedure.
2 / Beginning with January 1954# data are based upon a
new 230-urea Census sample and are therefore not comparable
with earlier data which were based on a 68-area sample.
Note: These estimates are not comparable with the indexes
of employment shown in the following tables and chart on agri
cultural activity.
Source: U. S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of the
Census, and the U. S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor
Statistics.

“4.6“

Table 22.—-Indexes of production, employment, and output
per worker in agriculture, selected years, 1909-50

(1939 = 100)

Year

1909..........
1 9 U ..........
1919..........
1924..........
1929..........
1934..........
1939..........
1940..........
1941..........
1942..........
1943..........
1944..........
1945..........
1946..........
1947..........
1948..........
1949..........
1950..........

Production

75.5
88.7
84.0
88.7
96.3
77.4
100.0
102.1
103.7
115.1
111.6
115.6
110.7
113.7
110.3
122.9
122.9
115.7

Employment

113.7
111.7
103.4
105.8
105.1
101.0
100.0
99.6
97.4
97.7
96.6
94.3
92.2
94.6
95.2
94.5
91.8
88.3

Output
per worker

66.4
79.4
81.2
83.8
91.6
76.6
100.0
102.5
106.5
117.8
115.5
122.6
120.1
120.2
115.9
130.1
133.9
131.0

Chart 14.

INDEXES OF PRODUCTION. EMPLOYMENT AND OUTPUT PER WORKER IN AGRICULTURE
IN D IX

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
BUREAU O F LABOR STA TISTICS

(1939-100)

INDKX

-48-

EMPLOYMENT TRENDS IN SELECTED
DEFENSE-RELATED INDUSTRIES

The sharp expansion in defense production after the outbreak
of hostilities in Korea in June 1950 had a varied impact upon em
ployment in different segments of the economy.
Some industries,
especially those connected directly with the defense program, ex
perienced a sharp rise in employment, whereas others lagged (table
23 and chart 15),
The greatest relative rise between July 1950 and July 1953
occurred in ordnance plants (these data reflect employment in pri
vately operated plants and do not include Federal arsenals).
By
July 1953, ordnance employment was more than seven times its rela
tively small peacetime base of about 28,000 workers in July 1950,
Employment in the aircraft and parts industry increased steadily
during the 3-year period, reflecting its key importance in the de
fense production program.
By mid-1953> employment in the industry
totaled almost three quarters of a million, nearly three times the
pre-Korean level.
The leveling off of employment in the first
half of 1953 indicated that activity in the industry was approach
ing established production goals which had been revised downward
as a result of stretchouts of previous delivery schedules. Employ
ment in private shipyards rose during the second half of 1950 and
through 1951, but leveled off in the second half of 1952 and de
clined somewhat in the first half of 1953*
Employment in the basic steel industry (blast furnaces,steel
works, and rolling mills) increased by only about 7 percent in the
period under review despite the substantial expansion in capacity
which had been initiated to provide additional steel for defense
purposes. Most of the employment increase in metalworking machinery
after July 1950 occurred by July 1951, because the defense program
quickly affected machine tool production.
Since then, employment
in the industry has stabilized at a level 40 or 50 percent higher
than that of July 1950,
The automobile industry also experienced
an early, but slight rise in employment, largely as a result of
stepped-up production of passenger cars in anticipation of possible
future curtailment.
The imposition of materials controls in 1951
and 1952 brought employment in this industry below the July 1950
level. By the latter part of 1952 an improvement in the available
supplies of metals for civilian use,
coupled with the industry’s
increased participation in direct defense production, brought the
employment level in this industry to an alltime high in April 1953,
Despite this rise, employment was only about 14 percent above the
July 1950 figure.

Employment in the communication equipment industry climbed
rapidly in the first 6 months after hostilities began in Korea#(The
bulk of employment in this industry is in the production of tele
vision sets, radios, and other electronics equipment including ra
dar and fire control devices#) After a dip in the summer of 1951,
reflecting mainly a drop in the output of television sets, the ris
ing production of military and electronics equipment pushed employ
ment upward to an all time employment peak for this industry in March
1953, but a decline in civilian output reduced employment slightly
by July 1953.
After July 1953, cutbacks in many items of military procure
ment and a general easing off from the high levels of economic, ac
tivity caused employment in most of these industries to drop. Only
in the aircraft and parts industry was the February 1954 figure
higher than in July 1953#
The automobile industry and the basic
steel industry suffered substantial declines in employment during
this period, from 966,000 to 821,000 and 665,000 to 603,000, re
spectively#
Sharp percentage declines also occurred in the ord
nance and accessories industry, the communication equipment indus
try, and the shipbuilding industry# Only a slight decrease
oc
curred in the metalworking machinery industry#

Table 23.— dumber of employees in selected key industries,
July 1950 - February 1954
(Thousands)
Year
and
month

Aircraft
and
parts

Private
shipbuilding
and
repairing

Private
ordnance
and
accessories

Automobiles

Metal
working
machinery

Blast
furnaces,
steelworks,
and rolling
mills

Communication
equipment

618
629

338
403

409
409
375
414

1950:
July. ........
October......

265
311

68
76

28
34

869
908

191
219

1951:
January.... .
April........
July...•••••.
October......

361
422
479
504

84
96
103
108

40
54
77
no

890
896
814
797

243
259
267
266

634
638
651
648

1952:
January......
April........
July.........
October......

576
610
652
684

119
129
134
134

141
162
170
176

767
799
1/662
850

280
283
276
278

648
637
1/207
643

1953:
January.....
April.......
July.... .
October.....•

721
727
741
756

134
130
126
121

181
196
205

925
993
966
897

284
285
282
283

653
657
665
650

1954*
January.....•
February 2/..

771
763

117
116

189
175

851
821

279
275

614
603

211

Data reflect the effect of work stoppages in the steel industry,
Preliminary.

436
439
439
501

535
543
519
541

488
479

- s i -

EMPLOYMENT IN SELECTED KEY INDUSTRIES
July 1950-February 1954
July 1950 * 100
INDEX

1950

1951

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

BUREAU OF LAB O R STATISTICS

1952

1953
* Data reflect

work stoppages

1954

52-

OCCUPATIONS
Our Nation’s strength rests on our expanding industrial tech
nology and on the skills of our people* In a technical age and in
an era of international tension, mere numbers of workers are an in
adequate measure of manpower resources; our Armed Forces must be
highly skilled in the use of complex equipment, the civilian work
force must be able to meet industry’s varied needs, and new and
better equipment must be invented and manufactured constantly.
Over 2 million more professionalaand semiprofessional workers
and over 3 million more craftsmen, foremen, and kindred workers are
employed now than immediately before the outbreak of World War II.
Together, the professions and crafts include close to one-fourth
of all employed workers in the United States, compared with about
one-fifth in 194-0. Our stock of skills has been greatly increased
by the training of vast numbers of workers to meet the expanded
employment requirements in major industries during and since World
War II, and also by the recent boom in college enrollments and ex
pansion in apprenticeship programs.
(See data in section on Edu
cation and Training.) The distribution and trend of employment
among major occupation groups are shown in table 24..
Since 1940,
the number of people employed has expanded by 14-1/2 million.
Greatest concern in manpower planning for full
mobilization
centers on the extent to which young men, in the age groups most
liable for military service, are employed in important occupations
requiring long training periods0 As shown in table 25 and chart 16
one-third of all craftsmen, foremen, and kindred workers are men
aged 18 to 34. Among professional and kindred workers as a group,
about one out of every four is a man in this age range.
The professions which would be of most immediate
importance
in a defense emergency— — engineering, the sciences, and the major
health professions— are (with the single exception of nursing)
staffed predominantly by men, and to a great extent by young men.
In physics and chemistry, for example, men under 35 years of age
make up -well over one-third of our total resources of trained per
sonnel. Clearly, the indiscriminate withdrawal of skilled and pro
fessional workers into the Armed Forces could create serious prob
lems affecting defense production and related research programs.
As a step toward more effective utilization of manpower re
sources during the Korean partial mobilization period, a List of
Critical Occupations was published by the Department of Labor on
August 3, 1950, and amended through August 26, 1952 (table 26).

-53-

This List is used by the Defense Department in considering requests
made by members of the Armed Forces Reserves or their employers far
delays in reporting for duty; it is used also by local Selective
Service boards in considering occupational deferments. To be con
sidered for a delay in Reserve callup or for occupational deferment
by Selective Service,a person employed in a listed, critical occu
pation must be engaged in an essential activity.
Detailed defini
tions of the critical occupations, a statement of the Defense De
partment’s deferment policies for Reservists, and the Commerce De
partment’s List of Essential Activities are available on request
from the U. S. Department of Labor, Washington 25# D. C.
The List is now being extensively revised. The manpower situ
ation in the professional and skilled occupations has eased consid
erably since the termination of hostilities. Currently at least
as many men are being released from the Armed Forces as are enter
ing. Moreover, in certain occupations such as airplane pilot and
electrician, which were affected more by Reserve than
Selective
Service callups, the numbers coming out of the Service are much
greater than the numbers going in. These and other factors are be
ing considered in the revision of the List.

Table 24.— -Employed persons classified by major occupation group,
April 1954, 1950, 1945 and March 1940

Major occupation group

1950

1954

1945

1940

Number (thousands)
Total employed.... ........ .•••••••••
Professional, technical, and kindred
workers**••••••••••••••••••••••••.•
Managers, officials, and proprietors,
except farm***•*..•••••••••••••••••
Farmers, farm managers, foremen, and
laborers
Clerical and kindred workers**...***.
Sales workers*.....***........ ••••••
Craftsmen, foremen, and kindred
workers•••••••••••••.•••••••••••*••
Operatives and kindred workers*...*.*
Service workers, except private
household..........
Private household workers.•••••••••••
Laborers, except farm and mine*•*.•••

60,600

58,670

53,650

46,100

5,690

4,460

3,250

3,460

6,050

6,380

4,590

3,840

5,920
7,890
3,960

7,020
7,660
3,890

8,620
6,970
2,660

8,610
4,810
2,980

8,250
12,360

7,500
11,930

6,820
12,050

5,150
8,520

5,230
1,830
3,430

4,770
1,920
3,140

4,140
1,780
2,770

3,370
2,240
3,120

Percent distribution
Total employed*.•••••••••••••••••••••
Professional, technical, and kindred
workers*.•••.*••••••••••••*••••••••
Managers, officials, and proprietors,
except farm*.«••••*•••*••••••••••••
Farmers, farm managers, foremen, and
laborers...•••••••••••••••••••••••*
Clerical and kindred workers*•••.*•••
Sales workers*..... •..*•••••••••••••
Craftsmen, foremen, and kindred
workers***•••••••••••••••••••••••••
Operatives- and kindred workers****.**
Service workers, except private
household*.•••••••*••••••••••••••••
Private household workers•••.*•••••••
Laborers, except farm and mine**...**

Note:
Source:

100.0

100*0

100.0

9.4

7.6

6.1

7.5

10.0

10.9

8.6

8.3

9.8
13.0
6.5

12.0
13.1
6.6

16.0
13.0
5.0

18.6
10.4
6.5

13.6
20.4

12.8
20.3

12.7
22.4

11.2
18.5

8.6
3.0
5.7

8.1
3.3
5.4

7.7
3.3
5.2

7.3
4.9
6.8

Figures may not add to totals because of rounding*
U. S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census, and the

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

Table 25.— Major occupation group of employed persons, b y age,
April 1954-

Total..................................................

60,600

Professional, technical, and kindred workers..,....,.
Managers, officials, and proprietors, except farm....
Farmers, farm managers, foremen, and laborers.......
Clerical and kindred w o r k e r s . ..........
Sales workers....
Craftsmen, foremen, and kindred workers.
Operatives and kindred workers .................. .
Service workers, except private household....••••••••
Private household workers............••••............
Laborers, except farm and m i n e . . . •...••••••••

5,690
6,050
5,920
7,890
3,960
8,250
12,360
5,230
1,830
3,430
41,990

Professional, technical, and kindred workers.........
Manager's, officials, and proprietors, except farm....
Farmers, farm managers, foremen, and laborers........
Clerical and kindred workers........ ••••••••••••••••
Sales workers..... .
Craftsmen, foremen, and kindred workers..•••••••••••»
Operatives and kindred workers...••••••••••••••••••..
Service workers, except private household
Private household workers....••••••....
Laborers, except farm and mine.......................

3,460
5,080
5,200
2,770
2,480
7,980
8,900
2,740
60
3,320

55 years
and over

14-17
years

18-24
years

25-34
years

35-54
years

1,980

6,880

14,420

26,340

10,980

10
450
200
370
30
230
300
180
200

520
130
570
1,790
450
540
1,620
520
200
530

1,690
1,000
1,010
2,160
890
2,200
3,580
960
240
700

2,640
3,460
2,250
2,880
1,590
4,000
5,360
2,170
690
1,310

830
1,450
1,640
870
660
1,470
1,580
1,290
510
690

1,290

3,810

10,270

18,370

8,250

200
100
520
330
240
530
1,170
200
10
510

1,150
830
890
840
650
2,130
2,660
450

1,610
2,930
1,910
1,090
910
3,870
3,700
1,080
20
1,260

500
1,220
1,490
450
440
1,420
1,190
840
10
670

W )

OQ
Q)
/
380
70
240
30
180
180
10
200

(n
i
&$0

Less than 10,000.
Note: Estimates are subject to sampling variation which may be large in cases where the quantities shown
are relatively small. Therefore, the smaller estimates should be used with caution. Figures may not add to
totals because of rounding.
Source: U. S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census.

-S£-

Major occupation group

imoi isanas)
Total,
14- years
and over

Cha r t 16*

OCCUPATIONS OF MEN OF MILITARY AGE
Total Employed and Number of Employed Men Aged 18-34
By Major Occupation Group, April 1954
0

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
BUREAU O F LA B O R STATISTICS

MILLIONS OF WORKERS
1
4
1
2

source : u .s . bureau of the census

Table

26,— -List

of Critical Occupations,
as of August 26, 1952

Agronomist
Aircraft and engine mechanics
(Air trans* & mfg.)
Airplane navigator, commercial
Airplane pilot
Airways operations specialist
Apprentice (Critical occupations
only)
Blacksmiths and hammersmiths
Boilermaker
Cable splicer, power
Chemist
Clinical psychologist
Dentist
Die setter
Driller, petroleum
Electrician, airplane
Electronic technician
Engineer draftsman, design
Engineers, marine, chiefs
and assistants
Engineer, professional (All
branches)
Entomologist
Farm operators and assistants
Foreman (Critical occupations
only)
Fourdrinier wire weaver
Geologist
Geophysicist
Glass blower, laboratory apparatus
Heat treater, all around
Instrument repairman
Licensed mates
Lineman, power

Source:

Loftsman
Machinist
Maintenance mechanic, industrial
Masters and pilots
Mathematician
Metal miner, underground, all around
Metal spinner
Microbiologist (Includes
bacteriologist)
Millwright
Model maker
Molder and coremaker
Nurse, professional
Oil well servicing technician
Orthopedic appliance and limb
technician
Osteopath
Parasitologist (Plant or animal)
Patternmaker
Pharmacologist
Physician and surgeon
Physicist
Physiologist (Plant or animal)
Plant pathologist
Precision lens grinders and
polishers
Roller, iron and steel
Sawsmith
Shipfitter
Stillman
Teacher, college and vocational
(Critical occupations only)
Tool and die designer
Tool and die maker
Veterinarian

U. S. Department of Labor.

-58-

education

AND TRAINING

The increased demand for many types of highly trained profess
sional aid skilled workers which resulted from the full mobilization
program during World War II focused attention on the importance to
the national security of maintaining an adequate flow of trainees
in educational institutions and apprenticeship training programs*
The level of education of the Nation*s working force is one of
the best measures of its capabilities. The trend toward more school
ing, which had been evident for many years, continued during the
1940-50 decade (table 27),
The median number of years of school
completed rose in nearly everyage group, with the greatest increases
occurring in the ages under 35 years.
This is especially notable
because the education of so many men had been interrupted by military
service.
College enrollments and graduations also expanded greatly during
the late 1940's.
The peak in college graduations was reached in
the academic year 1949-50, when about 434,000 bachelor's and first
professional degrees (such as M.D., D.D.S., LL.B., and B.D.) were
conferred— half again as many as in 1947-48 and nearly 2-1/2 times
the prewar peak figure of 187,000 graduations (table 28 and chart
17). The record graduating classes of the late 1940*s, which were
due mainly to the great numbers of veterans enrolled under
the
GI Bill of Rights, more than offset the drop in graduations during
World War II, The increase in enrollments was sharpest in technical
fields such as engineering, in which practically all students are
men and in which interest was stimulated by the war and postwar em
phasis on scientific and technological developments. Thus, the en
gineering schools* 1949-50 graduating class of 52,000 was more than
three times greater than the largest prewar graduating class.
Since the 1950 peak, college graduations have declined^ owing
to decreasing veteran enrollments and a temporary drop in population
of college age, as well as withdrawals for military service. The
number of students entering college dropped steadily from 1946-47
(when the number of veterans registering for the first time was at
the peak) through 1951-52 (table 29). In the fall of 1952 and again
in the fall of 1953, the number of new students increased, rising by
nearly 15 percent the first year and more than 10 percent in the
second year. Total college enrollments also continued to rise until
1949-50, then declined in the next 2 years. With the sharp increases
in first year students in 1952-53 and 1953-54, total college enroll
ments also increased by 2. 5 and 1 percent, respectively. Enrollments

-59-

in and graduations from higher educational institutions are expected
to continue to increase during the last half of the present decade
and into the 1960,s.
Workers qualify for most skilled occupations principally through
apprenticeship training* The number of registered apprentices has
increased sharply since 1941 (table 30) .3/ Wartime needs for skilled
labor caused a sharp upturn in the number of registered apprentices.
Apprenticeship training increased even more rapidly in the immediate
post-World War II years when many returning veterans availed them
selves of the benefits provided by the Servicemen's Readjustment
Act by registering in apprenticeship programs.
The peak number of
apprentices was reached in mid-1949 when about 235,000 persons were
receiving training under registered programs. This was more than 10
times as high as the 1941 total. Although the number of apprentices
in training declined during 1950, 1951, and 1952, it remained at a
level considerably higher than in the prewar years.
The number of
registered apprentices turned upward during the first half of 1953.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics has made intensive studies of
several skilled occupations which throw some light on the way workers
in these occupations were t r a i n e d . ^ Amongtool and die makers, 2
out of 3 entered the trade via apprenticeship} among molders,
57
percent entered in this way. The others had "picked up" their trades
while working} only a few of them had any kind of formal training.
In 1952 there were about 9 apprentices, both registered and unregis
tered, for every 100 journeymen tool and die makers employed in the
metalworking industries, and about 7 for &very 100 journeymen mold
ers and coremakers. On the other hand, in some skilled occupations
that have a relatively short history, apprenticeship has not been
very important as a method of training. Only 5 percent of electronic
technicians had received apprenticeship training.
The most common
type of training for electronic technicians was technical school
study in civilian or Armed Forces schools. Many of these workers
also acquired some of their skill through home study or hobby work.

Since registration of apprenticeship programs is entirely
voluntary there are a considerable number of apprentices who receive
training under unregistered programs and are not included in the
figures in table 30.
4 / Mobility of Tool and Die Makers. 194.0-1951.
Bulletin No.
1120 (1952T» Mobility of Electronic Technicians. 1940-52« Bulletin
No. 1150 (1954). Mobility of Molders and Coremakers. 19A&-52. Bul
letin H 6 2 (1954). U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Table 27.— M e d i a n years of school completed by persons
25 years old and over, by age,
1950 and 1940

Age

1950

1940

Increase,
1940-50

Total, 25 and over...

9.3

8.6

0.7

25-29..............
30-34..............
35-39..............
40-44..............
45-49..............
50-54..............
55-59..............
60-64..............
65-69..............
70-74............. .
75 and over........

12.1
11.6
10.7
9.8
8.9
8.7
8.5
8.4
8.2
8.2
8.1

10.3
9.5
8.8
8.6
8.5
8.4
8.3
8.3
8.2
8.1
8.0

1.8
2.1
1.9
1.2
*4
V3
.2
.1
.1
.1

Source:

U. S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census

Table 28.--College enrollments and graduations, selected fields,
academic years, 1929-30 to 1953-54

College enrollments
(regular session)
Academic year

1929-30...........
1931-32...........
1933-34-...........
1935-36...........
1937-38...........
1939-40...........
1941-42...........
1943-44...........
1945-46...........
1947-48...........
1949-50...........
1950-51...........
1951-52.......... *
1952-53...........
1953-54...........

JZ
2/

Male

Both sexes

y
y
y
V

1,101,000
1,154,000
1,055,000
1,208,000
1,351,000
1,494,000
1,404,000
1,155,000
1,677,000
2,616,000
2,659,000
2,560,000
2,340,000
2,400,000
2,420,000

College graduations (bachelor*s degrees 2/)
Total (all fields)
Male
Both sexes

620,000
667,000
616,000
710,000
804,000
893,000
819,000
3/ 579,000
928,000
1,836,000
1,853,000
u 1,750,000
1,550,000
1,550,000
1,560,000

y
y
y

122,000
138,000
136,000
143,000
165,000
187,000
185,000
126,000
136,000
272,000
434,000
384,000
332,000

305,000
{£/)

74,000
83,000
82,000
86,000
98,000
110,000
104,000
56,000
59,000
176,000
330,000
279,000
227,000
4/ 201,000

(I/)

Natural
sciences

■ Engineering
7,700
10,700
12,000
11,200
11,600
15,100
16,000
13,500
8,500
32,000
52,000
42,000
31,000
4 / 24,000
(2/)

CaO

(/
2)
()
y
WX
()
y
WX
WX
(2/)
(2/)

34,000
57,000
48,000
39,000

30,000
(2/)

Includes first professional degrees such as M.D., D.D.S.,
and B.D.
Not available,
Includes 270,000 full-time military students.
Estimated by Bureau of Labor Statistics on basis of enrollments of third week of fall term.

Source: U. S. Department of Health, Education, and Welfare, Office of Education, and the
Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics.

U. S.

- 6 2 -

Table 29.— Number of students registered for first time in any college,
academic years 1931-32 to 1953-54

Number of students
Academic year
Both sexes

1931-32...............
1933-34...............
1935-36...............
1937-38...............
1939-40...............
1941-42...............
1943-44...............
1945-46...............
1946-47...............
1947-48.............. .
1948-49...............
1949-50...............
1950-51...............
1951-52...............
1952-53...............
1953-54...............

336,997
307,690
366,734
367,983
417,539
379,070
2/ 314,311
474,894
1/ 717,000
620,000

y
y
y
y
y

595,000
594,000
535,000
492,000
560,000

620,000

Male

1/ 195,000

y 180,000
y 220,000
y 220,000
y 250,000
y 210,000

y 180,000
270,000

y
y
y
y
y
y
y
y

515,000
420,000
385,000

380,000
330,000
290,000
338,000
372,000

Tj Estimated by BLS on basis of sex distribution of total enrollment,
2/

Includes 63,240 regular-session military students,
Estimated by BLS on basis of enrollment of third week of fall

term.
Source: U, S, Department of Health, Education, and Welfare, Office
of Education, and the U, S, Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics

Table 3 0 o— Number of registered apprentices in training,
1941-53

Year

January 1

July 1

1941............
1942............
1943............
1944............
1945............
1946............
1947............
1948............
1949............
1950............
1951............
1952............
1953............

18,300
26,137
40,144
43,115
40,571
56,965
131,217
192,954
230,380
230,823
202,729
171,011
158,532

21,301
35,552
44,052
38,880
39,979
92,352
166,793
213,016
234,669
214,213
181,706
155,782
161,820

Source:

U. S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Apprenticeship,

-65-

LABOR MOBILITY

In the event of all-out mobilization, it would be necessary
for large numbers of workers to change their occupation, industry,
or place of residence.
Experience shows that American workers as
a group are very mobile.
The labor force, both in World War II and in the postwar per
iod, showed great flexibility in adapting itself to the changing
pattern of labor demand. About 1 out of every6 workers (7 million )
who had civilian jobs both in December 1941 and March 1944 was em
ployed in a different industry group in the latter period from the
one in which he had been employed in the week preceding the attack
on Pearl Harbor (table 31) • An equal proportion made similar changes
in their major occupation group over this period.
The return
to
a peacetime economy caused a new wave of industry and occupational
shifts, 5/
Widespread geographic shifts accompanied the war and postwar
changes in the economy.
During the war, vast numbers of workers
and their families moved into the shipbuilding and aircraft centers
of the West Coast and into the production areas of the Northern
industrial states.
The predominantly agricultural South, and the
Great Plains States, provided the bulk of the migrants into other
areas (table 32 and chart 18),
In March 1945, over 15 million persons in the civilian popula
tion were living in a different county from the one in which they
had lived in December 1941 (table 33)• Of these, 7.7 million were
living in a different State. In the postwar period, large popula
tion movements across State and county lines continued.
There are a number of influences, however, which hamper move
ments of workers. Home ownership and family ties, as well as lack
of adequate housing and community facilities, tend to restrict the
geographic mobility of labor. The great extension of pension and
seniority provisions in labor-management agreements in recentyears
also raises special problems affecting the transfer of workers from
nondefense to defense jobs. Over 5 million workers were covered
by pension plans under collective bargaining agreements in mid-1950,
a threefold increase over 1948 (table 34)•
An additional 2-1/ 2
million workers were covered bynegotiated health and welfare plans•

'These data refer only to shifts between broad industry or
occupational groups, e.g., between agriculture and manufacturing
or between sales work and the skilled trades.
If transfers among
individual industries and occupations within the major groups were
counted, the total number of employment changes shown would be far
greater.

■66-

Since mid-1950, there has been a further substantial increase in
the number of workers covered by pension and welfare programs.
Recent studies of the mobility of workers in three skilled oc
cupations— tool and die makers, molders and coremakers, and elec
tronic technicians— provide data on the kinds of job changes these
workers made and the factors affecting these movements. 6/
Tool
and die makers and molders were found to be relatively stable occu
pation groups. More than half of them did not change employers
during a work history period of more than a decade, which included
World War II (tables 35 and 36).
A sizable minority,
however,
changed jobs several times during this period. One out of 5 mold
ers and tool and die makers made three or more job shifts. Analy
sis of the work histories of those workers who had changed employ
ers showed they had no strong industry attachments and that they
were able to cross industry lines freely.
Another finding which
is important for mobilization manpower planning is that only a lim
ited number of these workers had moved from one geographic area to
another.
Electronic technicians, a rapidly growing occupation made up
of relatively young workers, showed a much higher rate of
job
changes than was found for tool makers or molders. Two out of five
of the respondents had held three or more jobs as an electronic
technician during the 12-year work history period (194-0-1952) cov
ered by the survey.
Over one-fourth of them held two such jobs,
and only one-third held only one job.
In the great majority of
cases in which workers left electronic technician jobs, they moved
to other electronic technician jobsj however, there was much move
ment among different industries utilizing different types of elec
tronic technician jobs (table 37).

’& /

See footnote £ / on p. 59.

Table 31•-— Wartime and postwar shifts in industry and
occupation of employed workers

Persons employed .on both
dates, whose major industry
or occupation group changed
Period and type of shifts
Number
(thousands)

Percent of
total employed
on both dates

Between December 194-1 1/
and March 1944-**•••••• •••••••

7,050

17.4

Between August 1945
'and August 1946,,.•••••••••••

5,540

12.5

Between December 1941 i/
and March 1944.... ........ .

7,310

1S.0

Between August 1945
and August 1946,,.«•••••••*•»

5,020

11.3

Industry shift

Occupation shift

Week before the attack on Pearl Harbor*

Source:

U« S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census,

68-

Table 32.-— Civilian migration between regions,
December 1941 to March 1945

(Thousands)
Total
migrants between regions

The North

The North..............

1,550

640

910

The South...........

1,630

980

650

400

260

140

Residence in 1941

The West....... .

Source:

Residence in 1945
The South

The West

U. S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census.

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
BUREAU OF LA B O R STATISTICS

MILLION PERSONS

Source/ U. S. BUREAU OF THE CENSUS

Table 33.-— Civilian migration, by type of migration,
1952 to 1953 and 1941 to 1945

April 1952 to
April 1953
Migration status

December 1941 to
March 1945

Number
(thousands)

Percent

Number
(thousands)

Percent

Total civilian population 1/..

153,038

100.0

116,860

100.0

Nonmigrants........

142,150

92.9

101,530

86.9

10,148

6.6

15,210

13.0

Within a State..... ....••••

4,626

3.0

7,540

6.4

Between States....

5,522

3.6

7,670

6.6

740

120

Migrants 2/....

Persons abroad 2/-••••••••••••

Born on or before beginning of period.

2/ A migrant is defined as a person who, at the end of the period, was
living in a different county from the one in which he had lived at the beginning
of the period.
2/ Persons whose place of residence at beginning of period was outside
continental United States.
Source:

U. S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census.

Table 34**— •
Workers covered by pension plans under collective
bargaining agreements, by major industry groups1/
mid-1950

Industry group

Number
of
workers

Total..................... ............... .

5,123,000

Food and tobacco........
Textile , apparel* and leather.
Lumber and furniture...........................
Paper and allied products......................
Printing and publishing........................
Petroleum, chemicals,and rubber................
Metal products.................................
Stone, clay,and glass..........................
Mining and quarrying...........................
Transportation, communication, and
other public utilities 2/*^ ^
Trade, finance, insurance,and services•••••••••
Unclassified...................................

87,000
654*000
14,000
140,000
17,000
361,000
2,011,000
66,000
466,000
1,024,000
71,000
212,000

1/ Based on data for unions having an estimated total
membership of slightly more than 13 million, exclusive of railroad
and government unions,
2/

Excludes railroads.

Source: U, S, Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics,
Bulletin No, 1017, Employee-Benefit Plans Under Collective Bargaining
Mid-1950, (1951), p. 5.

Table 3 5•—-Distribution of tool and die makers
by number of job changes, 19-40-51

Number of changes

Total tool and
die makers making
specified number
of job changes

Changes made

Number

All tool and die makers
in survey....
No change........
One change.................
Two changes.............. .
Three changes...
Four changes........
Five changes....•••••••••••
Six or more changes........

Percent

Number

Percent

1,712

100.0

2,127

100.0

979
216
193
95
83

57.2
12.6
11.3
5.5
4.8
3.6
5.0

8-4

,,
216
386
285
332
310
598

10.2
18.1
13.4
15.6
14.6
28.1

Source: U. S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics,
Bulletin No. 1120, The Mobility of Tool and Die Makers, 194-0-1951.
(1952), p. 32.

Table 36#-— Distribution of molders and coremakers
by number of job changes, 194-0-52

Number of changes

Total molders
and coremakers
making specified
number of job
changes

Number

All molders and coremakers
in survey...•.••••••«•••••••••

No changes.....................*
One change........•••••••••••••«
Two changes.....................
Three changes..,..••••••••••••••
Four changes,•••••••........... .
Five changes..
Six changes...
Seven changes...•••«.•..........
Eight changes••.•••••••••••.«•«•
Nine or more changes.

Changes made

Percent

Number

Percent

1,800

100.0

2,128

100.0

973
266

54.0
14.8
14.3
7.1
3.4
2.7
1.8
.7
.4
.8

266
514
381
244
240
198
84
64
137

12.5
24.2
17.9
11.5
11.3
9.3
3.9
3.0
6.4

257
127
61
48
33
12
8
15

Source: U. S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics,
Bulletin No. 1162, Mobility of Molders and Coremakers,
(1954), P. 95.

Table 37.— Job changes made between January 1940 and May 1952 by men who were
electronic technicians in May 1952

Job or other status moved into

Job or other status
moved out of

Total
Armed
Armed
Other
changes Electronic
Forces,
Forces,,
Unemploy Technical
technician civilian electronic
ment
other
school
technician
job
job
assignment
job

College

Total......................

7,261

4,049

1,200

472

393

398

668

Electronic technician job#
Other civilian job........
Armed Forces, electronic
technician••••••••••••.»
Armed Forces, other
assignment
Unemployment..... •••••••..
Civilian technical school#
College.

2,790
1,985

2,253
597

122
561

192
232

72
294

66
67

79
220

6
14

635

303

115

103

563

114
165
576
41

205
109
60
28

123
39
11

106
106
41
13

15
14

410
765
113

7
33
8

9
12
6

U
6

Source: U. S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Bulletin No. 1150, The Mobility of
Electronic Technicians, 194-0-52, (1954), p. 25 •

■75-

MI LITARY MANPOWER

The Armed Forces become a major claimant for manpower during
periods of national emergency, with high priority for the men in
the age groups and with the skills needed for military service*
During World War II, the Armed Forces expanded from a net strength
of only 3AO,000 in August 1939, and of 2.1 million in December
1941, to a peak level of 12*3 million in June 1945* By December
1946, rapid demobilization reduced the size of the Armed Forces
to the pre-Pearl Harbor level, and by June 1948, when the Selective
Service Act of 1948 was enacted, they had been further reduced to
1.4 million.
There was a moderate increase of about 200,000 in
the second half of 1948} by mid-1950, however, the Armed Forces*
net strength was again about 1,5 million (table 38 and chart 19),
In the first year of the Korean emergency net strength rose
by almost 2 million, followed h y a smaller increase of about 400,000
in the following year to reach a total of over 3,6 million men by
July 1, 1952. On July 1,1953, shortly before the cessation of the
Korean hostilities, net strength was still about 3*6 million, but
by the end of the year, the level had declined to about 3*4 million.
The President’s budget message for fiscal 1955 indicated that the
Armed Forces would be further reduced to about 3,3 million by July
1, 1954, and to slightly over 3.0 million men hy mid-1955.
The sources of manpower available to the Armed Forces under
current legislation consist essentially of (l) nonveterans aged
18-1/2 to 25 subject to induction under the Universal Military
Training and Service Act of 1951, (2) other physically qualified
men who may enlist, and (3) members of National Guard units and
Reserve components not on active duty. In addition, about 300,000
college students enrolled in ROTC programs will provide a source
of trained military specialists for future needs (table 39).
The Bureau of Labor Statistics recently prepared estimates of
the Selective Service Pool 7/ for 1953 to I960.
Table 40 shows
the derivation of the base period pool— — that is, the expected
yields to the pool from the Selective Service classifications as of
July 1953. The Department of Defense has prepared estimates of
military manpower requirements under certain assumptions of Armed
Forces net strength.
Their estimates include figures on future
enlistments and reenlistments as well as other sources of military
supply outside the UMTS Act.

7
/ The Selective Service Pool is the number of men who are
liable for the draft and who will not be exempt or deferred when
reached for induction.

-76-

The size of this pool op July 1 of each year from 1953 to
I960, as shown in table 41, has been estimated by adding inflows
each year to the base period pool and deducting the Armed Forces
requirements* The estimates are based on the assumption that Armed
Forces strength will decline from 3*4 million in January 1954 to
about 3 million by July 1, 1955> and will continue at that level
to July 1, I960. Under these conditions the pool is expected to
increase steadily from about 1/2 million on July 1, 1953, to al
most 1.7 million men by July 1, I960.
There were 17 million veterans of World War II and the Korean
conflict not on active duty as of December 31, 1953 (table 42).
Of these, 1.6 million were veterans of the Korean War who had had
no World War II service. Over 40 percent of the World War II vet
erans were 35 years of age or older— beyond the primary military
ages. Most of the Korean veterans were concentrated in the age
group 20-24. Because of the operation of the Aimed Forces Reserve
Act, most of the Korean veterans are members of the military re
serve forces. These reservists constitute a primary source
of
military manpower in the event of full mobilization.
Of the 2.2
million reservists not on active duty on November 30, 1953, over
40 percent were in the Army Reserve (table 43). This is at least
partially due to the short terms of service of inductees who entered
in recent years, primarily into the Army. Moreover, at least 85
percent of all reserves are in the group "ready reserves,"most of
whom have recently finished their active military duty and are
more likely to be called than other classes of reserves under mot>ilization conditions.

-77<

Table 38.--Net strength of the Armed Farces,
selected months, 1939-54

Year and month l/

1939:
194-0:
194-1:
1942:
1943:
1945:
1946:
1948:

1950:
1951:
1952:
1953:
1954:

August (beginning of
World War II)................
September (Selective Service Act of
World War II enacted).....
December............. .............. ..
December.......... ......... .
December. ........................ .••••
June (World War II peak).............
December.......... .
June (Selective Service Act
of 1948 enacted)........ ••••«•
December
June*.
July.............. ............... «...
July................ .................
July......... .
January.

Number
(thousands)

342
553
2,073
6,442
10,265
12,297
2,204
1,440
1,629
1,480
3,250
3,636
3,555
3,403

X/ Data are as of the first of the month.
Source: U. S. Department of Defense and the U. S. Department
of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics.

-78-

Table 39*— RCTC enrollment by branch of service and by class,
October 1953

Total
all branches

Class

Army

Air Force

Navy

Total...............

287,548

147,388

125,317

14,843

Basic course*.••*•••
1st year..... .
2nd year...••*..••

213,854
123,572
90,282

111,316
65,921
45,395

93,607
52,498
a , 109

8,931
5,153
3,778

Advanced course**.*.
3rd year•*....••••
4th year*......*••

73,694
35,006
38,688

36,072
17,947
18,125

31,710
13,769
17,941

5,912
3,290
2,622

Source:

U. S. Department of Defense*

Table 4.0.— Estimated yields to the Selective Service manpower pool,
by Selective Service classification,
as of July 1, 1953 i /

(Thousands)

Classification

Number
in
classification 2/

600

Total....................................
I-A Examined and Acceptable.... .
Less: Down-classified and rejected
at induction....... ...... .

270
20
250

Yield............... ..................
I-A Not Examined.....••................ .
Less:
Students, n.e.c..... .
Other deferments.............. .
Unfit for service.............

580
200
20
100

Yield..................................
Not Classified................ ....... .
Less: High school students..........
College students.
Other deferments...............
Unfit for service....... ......
Yield..................................

Estimated
yield to
pool

260
180
30
30
10
30
90

1/ As of July 1, 1953, 14^ million men were registered under the UMTS
Act. However, except for registrants in the classes shown, no significant
numbers are expected to become available for military service from the other
Selective Service categories.
2/ Adapted from Selective Service data.
Source: U. S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics Bulletin
No. 1161, Military Manpower Requirements and Supply. Fiscal Years 195Z.-60f
(1954).

Table 41» — Projections of Selective Service manpower pool,
fiscal years 1954-60

(Thousands)
Fiscal year
Pool
1954

1955

1956

1957

1958

1959

1960

550

740

890

970

1,090

1,300

1,440

Plus men becoming available for service, total.
18-J- years old........... .
Deferments expiring (largely students).......

660
420
240

670
430
240

690
440
250

710
460
250

720
460
260

740
480
260

770
510
260

Less men leaving to enter the armed services...

-470

-520

-610

-590

-510

-600

-540

740

890

970

1,090

1,300

1,440

1,670

Pool, start of year......... ...... ............. .

Pool, end of y

.............

Source: U. S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics Bulletin No. 1161, Military Manpower
Requirements and Supply. Fiscal Years 1954-60. (1954)•

Table 42 .— Estimated age of World War II
and Korean veterans li..
civilian life,
December 31, 1953

World War II

Korean service only

Age
Number
(thousands)

Percent

Total, all ages.####

1/ 15,432

100.0

Under 20##«###.##«
20-24.............
25-29.............
30-34.............
35-39.............
40-44*••••••••••••
45-64#••••••••••••
65 and over#.#####

274
3,876
4,987
3,231
1,685
1,369
10

1.8
25.1
32.3
20.9
10.9
8.9
.1

Average age#...#..

34*7 yrs.

Number
(thousands)

Percent

.1,603

100.0

35
1,088
455
21
3
1

2.2
67.9
28.4
1.3
.2
.1
-

(2/0

24.2 yrs.

\/ Includes 795,000 veterans who had served both in World
War II and the Korean Conflict#
7j Less than 500#
Source:

Veterans Administration

Table A3,— Military reserve forces not on active duty,
November 30, 1953

(Thousands)
Reserve categories
Components
Total
All reserves..............
National Guard of the
United States......•«••
Army. ...................
Navy......... .
Marine Corps.. «•••....••
Air National Guard of
the United States......
Air Force.... ..•••••••••

2,218

(1/)

29A
919
643
86

294852
4-60

(1/)

4-0
237

4-0
214

Not available.

Source:

Ready

U. S. Department of Defense.

Standby
(1/)

Retired
(1/)

—
37
8

29
175
(£/)

(1/)

—

84-

OF THE BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS
ON MANPOWER AND OCCUPATIONAL OUTLOOK

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-85-

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