Full text of Facts on Women Workers : February 28, 1949

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OF LABOR

FEBRUARY

28,

1949

BoPLOYMENT OF TOBN IN JANUARY 19A9

From January 1948 to January 1949 the number of women in the labor force
increased by more than l/2 million according to the U.S. Bureau of the Census.
Women’s employraent ,rose by more than 1/3 of a million, practically all of which
was in nonagricultural industries. Unemployment rose from 3 percent of all
women in the labor force to nearly 4 percent. The reduction in employment
from December 1948 to January 1949, however, exceeded seasonal expectations.
•

Population (14 years
and over)

Civilian labor force
Employed
Unemployed
Armed forces
Nonworkers

January 1949

Number of
women

Change since
December 1948

55,459,000
16,917,000
16,264,000
653,000
15,000
38,527,000

♦
47,000
885,000
- 1,008,000
♦
123,000
♦
1,000
♦
931,000

Total persons
Number Percent women

109,117,000
60,078,000
$7,414,000
2,664,000
1,468.000
47,571,000

$0.8
28.2
28.3
24.5
1.0
81.0

(U. S. Bureau of the Census)
INCCMB OF MEN AND VfCMBN
The Census report on money income of the people of the United States for the
year 1947 shows that in the population 14 years of age and over about 40 percent
of the women and 90 percent of the men had incomes. Of those with incomes, about
80 percent of each sex received wages or salaries. (Information from an
analysis published by the Bureau of the Census February 1949, based on
information collected April 1948.)

For those with money income (from any source) the median income was $1,017 for
the women, $2,230 for the men. Half the women and a fifth of the men received
less thar. $1,000 in the year. At the other end of the scale, $ percent of the
women and over 30 percent of the men received $3,000 or more.

COST OF LIVING
Two repriced budgets, each reflecting the mi nimum amounts needed by a selfsupporting woman without dependents to maintain herself on a healthful
standard of living, were recently issued by separate agencies. As of
September I948 New York State determined the total annual cost of its budget
for a woman living as a member of a family group to be $2,087, $492 being for
taxes and savings. The Heller Committee for Research in Social Economics,
whose survey is confined to one city, San Francisco, reports a budget for a
woman living in a boarding house and eating some meals in restaurants. As
of September 1948 its total annual cost was $2,218, $363 of which is allocated
to taxes and savings.



MINIMUM WAGE LEGISLATION

New Jersey’s Retail Trade order, digest of which appeared in the December
Fact Sheet, will become effective June 6, 1949.
National Parks Regulations Affecting Minimum Wage - An important develop­
ment in the field of minimum wage administration is embodied in the
recently amended ’’Regulations Governing Standards Applicable to Employees
of National Park Concessioners,” issued by the National Park Service,
U. S. Department of the Interior, and effective January 1, 1949. The
principle underlying the regulations is that:

“The public using the national parks is better
served when the employees of the concessioners
enjoy the benefits of fair labor standards and
when, in this respect, they are treated at least
as well as those employed in similar occupations
outside such areas, but within the same State.”
Concessioners must comply with the standards established by, or pursuant to,
the labor laws of the State in question (which would apply to the employees
of the concessioner if his establishment were not located in a national
park). Minimum wages, child labor, hours of work, and safety laws may
be involved.

The regulations establish an hourly minimum of 40 cents unless a higher
minimum has been fixed for the occupation or industry by the labor laws
of the State of employment, in which case the State law prevails.
Overtime provisions require that: (1) During the year 1949, at least lj
times employee’s regular rate be paid for hours over 48 a week; (2) during
1950 and 1951, at least lj times such rate must be paid for hours over 44
a week; and (3) on and after January 1, 1952, at least lj times such
rate must be paid for hours over 40 a week.

For board or lodging furnished to an employee, charges may not exceed
the reasonable cost thereof. Employer is required to provide tools,
equipment, uniforms, etc., without charge to employees.
Types of employment exempted from the labor standards are listed.
LABOR DEPArtikENT’S IEGISLATIVE PROGRAM

The Department of Labor, in discharging its duties to ’’foster, promote,
and develop the welfare” of American wage earners, is sponsoring a
15-point legislative program. Many of these measures are of direct
importance to women workers. Among the points of special interest to
women are: Point 7, ”bo end wage discrimination against women workers;”
Point 12, to "create a commission to investigate the legal status of
women and to recommend means of wiping out unfair laws and practices
operating against them.”




FSWAL BILLS IN CONGRESS

Equal Pay

Three bills on equal pay have been introduced in the 81st Congress — S. 706
by Senators Pepper and Morse, H. R. 1584 by Mrs. Woodhouse, and H. R. 2438 by
Mrs. Douglas. These bills propose to eliminate wage discriminations against
women by prohibiting the payment of a lesser wage rate to women than to man
for ’’work of comparable character on jobs the performance of which requires
comparable skills.” The bills also grant investigatory and enforcement powers
to the Secretary of Labor.

Discriminations Against Women
Six bills have been introduced in the House of Representatives (by Mrs. Helen
Gahagan Douglas, Mrs. Norton, Messrs. CeLler, Burke, Wadsworth, Young) to
establish a commission on the legal status of women to study and report on the
economic, civil, social, and political status of women and the nature and
extent of discriminations practiced against them, and to report its recommenda­
tions for remedial legislation to the President by March 1950. The M11« also
direct Federal agencies to bring their practices into conformity with the policy
of the Act, and urge the States to adopt similar policies.
Social Security
A large number of bills have been introduced in the 81st Congress proposing
amendments to the Social Security Act, the majority in the House of
Representatives. Notable are bills which propose to lower age of eligibility
for benefits and others to extend coverage under the Act. Bills proposing
lower age of eligibility apply in some cases to women only, in others to both
men and women. The lowest beneficiary age proposed is 55 for women. Other
proposals are for 60 years either for women or for both men and women. Extension
of coverage is proposed to include Federal, State, and local government employees,
self-employed persons, employees of non-profit organizations, and agricultural
workers. Bills have also been introduced which provide for a liberalization
of benefits payments.

Maternity Leave

Senator Langer has again introduced a bill (S. 85) to provide maternity leave
for Government employees. This bill would entitle a married woman,, who has
been in the employ of the United States or the Government of the District of
Columbia for not less than 10 months, to maternity leave with pay up to 60 days.
WOMEN DOCTORS IN THE ARMY AND NAVY

The Navy now admits civilian women doctors to the Medical Corps of the regular
Navy for the first time in history. Qualified women graduates of medical
schools are eligible for appointment as lieutenants (junior grade) in the
Medical Corps, U. S. Naval Reserve, under the Navy interne program.

Women physicians are not accepted in the Medical Corps of the Regular Army.
The Women’s Medical Specialist Corps of the Regular Army, created by Act of
Congress in 1947, admits dietitians, physical therapists, and occupational
therapists.



INTERNATIONAL MEETINGS
The UN Commission on the Status of Women is holding its third session in
Beirut, Lebanon, from March 21 to April 4. The United States win be
represented on the Conmission by Judge Dorothy Kenyon of New York City.
Australia, China, Costa Rica, Denmark, France, Greece, Haiti, India, Mexico,
Syria, Turkey, U.5.S.R., United Kingdom, and Venezuela will also be
represented.
The Inter-American Commission of Women will hold its sixth meeting in Buenos
Aires, Argentina, on May 15. Each of the 21 American Republics is represented
on the Commission by a delegate appointed by the respective governments. The
U. S. Delegate is Miss Mary M. Cannon, of Washington, D. C.

SWEDEN - WOMEN IN GOVERNMENT
Karin Kock, recently named Minister of Food, holds the honor of having been,
as Minister of Commerce, the first woman Cabinet Member of Sweden. She has
had a distinguished career as an economist, and has served as a member of
several government committees on economic and labor questions. Her special
responsibilities in the government were the control of cartel arrangements
and in general to guard against monopolistic tendencies, and the control of
investments.

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Barbaro Sellden, 25-year old graduate of Stockholm University, bachelor of
law and specialist in commercial and economic affairs, has become Sweden’s
first woman attach^ and the only woman in its foreign office. After getting
her degree, Miss Sellden spent some time at the Consulate in Brussels, and
on her return to Sweden obtained valuable commercial experience in the
Swedish Export Association. To obtain the post required passing the Swedish
Foreign Office examinations, which are among the most difficult given.

Women in the United States - In Jobs - Under Law - In Organizations;
material prepared at request of State Department for use at the
meeting of Commission on Status of Women, to be held in Beirut.
Available on request. Women’s Bureau, U. S. Department of Labor.

The Outlook for Women in Science: A summary report of job oppor­
tunities in scientific fields, now available. Completes series
of 8 bulletins. Available separately is a mimeographed excerpt
from this pamphlet on Opportunities for Negro Women in Science.
Available for more than a year has been a similar mimeographed
statement on Opportunities for Negro Women in the Medical and
Other Health Services. Women’s Bureau, U. S. Department of Labor.
Thirty-sixth Annual Report of the Secretary of Labor, Fiscal Year 1948.
United States Department of Labor.

Women and Their Money, by Maxwell S. Stewart. Public Affairs Pamphlet
No. 146, published by Public Affairs Committee, Inc.
22 East 38th
Street, New York 16, New York.