Full text of Facts on Women Workers : July 31, 1950

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on Women Workers
U. S. Department of Labor

Maurice J. Tobin,

Women's Bureau

Frieda S. Miller,

Secretary

Director

WASHINGTON 25, D. C.

July 31, 1950

LIBRARY

A. & M. COLLEGE OF TEXAS
EMPLOYMENT OF WOMEN IN JUNE 1250
Nearly 900,000 woman were added to the civilian labor force between June 1949
and June 1950, according to monthly reports of the U. S. Department of Commerce,
Bureau of the Census* Nearly three—fourths of the increase was Among women
45 years old and over. The number of girls under 20 in the labor force had
declined slightly from June of last year. There were nearly one-fourth min inn
fewer women nonworkers than in 1949.

In June 1950 there were nearly a million more women in the labor force than in
May 1950. Some of these represented girls leaving school, there being half a
million more girls under 20 in the labor force in June than in May. Girls of
this age also added 200,000 to the increase in unemployment of woman in the
month1s time.

June 1950

Number of
women
Population (14 years
and over)
Civilian labor force
Employed
In agriculture
In nonagricultural
industries
Unemployed
Armed forces
Nonworkers

Percent women
of all persons

Change since
May 1950

Change since
June 1949

56,353,000
19,437,000
18,253,000
2,033,000

50.9
30.0
29.7
22.5

♦ 53,000
♦ 965,000
♦ 708,000
* 560,000

♦
♦
♦
-

16,220,000
1,184,000
22,000
36,894,000

30.9
35.0
1.7
82.9

* 148,000
♦ 257,000
No change
- 912,000

*1,092,000
♦
4,000
♦
4,000
- 232,000

643,000
871,000
867,000
225,000

(U. S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census)
MINIMUM WA(B
Massachusetts has revised its 1947 nclerical, technical, and similar occupations"
order, setting the minimum rate for experienced employees at 65 cents an hour
(had been 60 cents) and for inexperienced at 60 cents (had been 55 cents). The
order, which became mandatory June 16, 1950, covers women, minorand men.
*

Washington revised its 1942 order for minors under 18 years of age who are not
expressly covered by another minimum-wage order. Agricultural labor, domestic
service, or chores in or about a private residence, and employment directly by
telephone or telegraph companies are among the occupations excepted by the order.
The revision, effective July 10, 1950, fixes the minimum hourly rate for minora
3 si 4 at 50 cents (formerly 25 cents).

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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

MINIMUM WAGE

The Senate Committee on the District of Columbia on June 26 reported favorahly
on a bin to amend the District’s minimum-wage law by extending application to
male workers 18 years of age and over. The law now covers only women and minors.
If passed by Congress, the amendment win prohibit the employment of males in the
District of Columbia at a ”rate less than or under conditions and standards of
employment less favorable than the rates fixed or conditions and standards
prescribed for women and minors ... by an applicable minimunwwage order.»
Five States in the past 10 years have amended their women’s minimum-wage laws
to apply to men.

IMMIGRATION AND NATURALIZATION

The Senate Committee on the Judiciary issued in April its findings from a study
of immigration and naturalization laws and practices. Recommendations for
revision and codification of these laws have been introduced in Congress as
S.3455 by Senator McCarran. "One basic principle incorporated in the bill is
that which eli rainates inequalities between the sexes in all rights and privileges
extended to aliens or to citizens from whom such aliens may claim special con­
sideration based on family relationship,” says the Report. All of the
suggestions the Women’s Bureau presented in 1948 for changes in the Immigration
laws are included in the McCarran bill.

WOMEN’S ROLE IN AN INTERNATIONAL EMERGENCY
Plans for mobilisation in case of emergency would have to include participation
ty women, according to Miss Frieda S. Miller, Director of the Women’s Bureau.
”They constitute the only sizeable labor reservoir for industrial production,
for essential volunteer work, and they have an established position in the armed
services,” Miss Miller said.
Those who are responsible for planning ”will need to let women know that there
is full respect and recognition of their potential contribution and that they
are equal partners in the undertaking. Any plan for women* s participation in
a mpbi Used economy must recognize and make provision for their other essential
contributions to the life of the Nation. Mothers of young children and other
women who have full-time family responsibilities must have these basic
obligations honored.”

The task of disaster work in civilian defense would fall mainly on women,
Miss Miller pointed out. Homemakers, with their skills and experience in
housekeeping, have invaluable preparation for the provision of feeding, shelter,
nursing aid, and other essentials to the maintenance of national morale, she
said. ”My experience convinces me that American women will rise fully to whatever
they might need to do. The big job is to develop channels and an understanding
of how they can best prepare and organize themselves for responsible
participation.”
WOMEN RESERVISTS WED TO VOLUNTEER
Women reservists in the Navy and Marine Corps have been called to volunteer for
active duty. The Navy especially needs women in these grades: teleman, radio­
man, communications technician, yeoman, personnelman, machine accountant,
storekeeper, aerographer, trademan, aviation storekeeper, hospitalman, and
dental technician.



EMPWYMENT OUTLOOK FOR SOCIAL WORKERS
Opportunities for employment in social work are very good for trained men and
women, according to an occupational guide, "Social Worker" prepared recently
by the New Jersey Department of Labor and Industry. In New Jersey the demand
for trained social workers far surpasses the supply, and it is expected that
employment opportunities will be exceptionally good for at least the next
10 years. However, persons without graduate training will probably encounter
growing competition for jobs.

The U. S. Department of Labor* s Bureau of Labor Statistics is making a Nation­
wide survey of working conditions and salaries of social workers. Information
on current salaries, hours on duty, retirement, vacation, and sick leave benefits,
education and experience will be collected for use in preparing a comprehensive
report on earnings and working conditions in the social service profession.
Federal and private agencies in the field of social service are cooperating in
the survey.
The current Women’s Bureau study of the employment outlook for women in social
work will cover the following: social case work in a medical setting; social
case work in a psychiatric setting; social case work with families; social case
work with children; social group work; community organization; research, teach­
ing, and administration in social work.
WOMAN HEADS PUBLIC WELFARE ASSOCIATION
Recently named director of the American Public Welfare Association is
Miss Loula F. Dunn, former Welfare Commissioner for the State of Alabama.
Miss Dunn is the first woman to head, the Association, which represents some
5,000 State, local and Federal officials, individuals, and private agencies
interested in welfare work.

WOMEN IN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT

Latest figures released by the U. S. Civil Service Commission on employment in
the Federal Government show that on March 31$ 1950, there were 493,459 women
Federal workers in the continental United States. They were 26 percent of the
total (1,939,825) employed. In the Washington, D. C. Metropolitan area,
93,649 women were employed—48 percent of all Federal workers there.

At the wartime peak for all Federal employment at home and abroad, there were
1,078,883 woiasn working for the Government in the continental United States;
women were 40 percent of total employment. Their numbers, however, dropped
below 450,000 during 1947 and 1948.
Women in "Super-Grade" Jobs — In April 400 Government officials were advanced
to newly created salary grades ranging from $11,200 to $14,000 yearly. Until
these new grades were created, $10,330 had been the ceiling for officials in
the classified Federal service. No women were named to the top of the three
new grades—GS 18 ($14,000), GS 17 ($12,200 to $13,000), and GS 16 ($11,200 to
$12,000). Two women were advanced to GS 17—the Deputy Commissioner of Labor
Statistics, U. S. Department of Labor, and the Director of the Bureau of the
Mi nt. j u. S. Department of the Treasury. Four women were named to GS 16—one
from the Department of Agriculture, 2 from Federal Security Agency, and one
from the Department of the Treasury.



HO MEETING CONSIDERS EQUAL PAY ISSUE

The 33rd Conference of the International Labor Organization met in Geneva
f rom June 7 to July 1. The Conference considered, for the first time -in its
history, drafting of international regulations for effecting equal pay for men
and women workers* Although this principle has been incorporated in the Tin
constitution since its earliest days, the Organization has only now come to
consider means of implementing the equal-pay principle. Workers as a group,
U. S. employers, and representatives from some Governments expressed their
belief that there was experience sufficient to serve as a basis for formulating
effective regulations, but there was emphatic objection from other sources.
However, a first draft of possible regulations was adopted by the fan
Conference and will be finally considered—as is the regular HO procedure__
at the succeeding conference in 1951.
At the Governing Body meeting, held concurrently, final action was taken for
the establishment of an Expert Committee which will begin a study of the whole
area of domestic employment-—still one of the largest employers of women and
one of vital importance in the world.
WOMEN AROUND THE WOISB
Women in Government - Women1 s advance into politics continues as a world-wide
movement. Recent news items tell of progress on many fronts: Colombia —
Appointed head of the Latin American bureau of the Colombian Foreign Ministry
was Miss Maritza de la Vega, a newspaper woman who is well known as a commentator
on European affairs in El Siglo. Denmark — The Danish Parliament has elected
a woman as its President, Mrs. Ingeborg Hansen. According to the International
*
Alliance of Women, this is the first time in Parliament’s century of history
that a woman has been elected. Panama — Senora Maria Santa Domingo de Miranda
was appointed on June 22 as the first woman Cabinet Minister of the Republic
of Panama. She will serve as Minister of Labor, Social Welfare, and Public
Health. Thailand — Thailand now has its first woman member of Pari n Ament,
Mrs. Orphin Chayakam.

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Women’s Bureau Trainees - Miss Felina Reyes of the Philippines and
Miss Lelia Arosemena of Panama recently completed training programs in labor
problems at the Women’s Bureau and were awarded certificates on June 30 by
the Undersecretary of Labor. Miss Marina Prats of the Dominican Republic and
Miss Otilia Velasco of Peru, who began their training programs in May, have
worked for three weeks in the Rhode Island Department of Labor and are now
attending the Kentucky Labor School. They will later work in Milwaukee with
the Woman and Child Labor Department, Industrial Commission of Wisconsin.

WOMEN IN THE FEDERAL SERVICE, PART II: Occupational Information. U. S. Department
of Labor, Women’s Bureau Bulletin 230-H.
Statement of Frieda S. Miller, Director, Women’s Bureau, U. S. Department of Labor,
before a Subcommittee of the House Committee on Education and Labor on HR 1584
and HR 2438, to Provide Equal Pay for Equal Work for Women. May 19, 1950.
Statement of Frieda S. Miller, Director, Women’s Bureau, U. S. Department of Labor,
before a Subcommittee of the House Committee on the Judiciary, on HR 2051,
Regarding Uniform Qualifications for Jurors in Federal Courts. May 17, 1950.
THE WOMEN’S BUREAU: ITS PURPOSE AND FUNCTIONS. (Leaflet) U. S. Department of Labor,
Women’s Bureau. 1950.




(The printing of this publication has been approved by
the Director of the Bureau of the Budget, March 9, 1950.)