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Q0-5 Facts onWorl,jng Women U.S. Department of Labor Women's Bureau ST. LOUIS COUNTY LIBRARY DEPOSITORY MAR 121991 No . 90-5 January 1991 WOMEN IN THE SKILLED TRADES AND IN OTHER MANUAL OCCUPATIONS WOMEN IN THE TRADES--A FIVE-YEAR REVIEW. The number of women in the skilled trades rose only modestly in the 5-year period ending in 1988. The 1. 2 million women employed as precision production, craft, and repair workers represented only 8. 7 percent of such workers compared with 8 .1 percent in 1983 (1.0 million). (See Table I.) Women were 26 percent of other manual workers--operators, fabricators, and laborers, about the same proportion they were 5 years before (27 percent). Within these broad occupational groups, women remain concentrated in a few "traditionally female" categories such as dressmakers, textile sewing machine operators, and electrical and electronic equipment assemblers in which women use their homemaking skills or which require hand or finger dexterity. In 1988 only 2 percent of all employed women were in the skilled trades--precision production, craft, and repair occupations--the same proportion as in 1983. About 9 percent of employed women were in other manual jobs-operators, fabricators, and laborers--edging slightly downward from 1983 when 10 percent were so employed. More than 40 percent of employed men worked in these two major occupational groupings. https://fraser.stlouisfed.org Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis WOMEN IN THE SKILLED TRADES-PRECISION PRODUCTION, CRAFf, AND REPAIR. The skilled trades--precision production, craft and repair--include mechanics and repairers; the construction trades and extractive occupations; and precision production occupations. (See Table II.) Mechanics and Repairers--Women represented 3 percent of mechanics and repairers in 1988, the same proportion as in 1983. The largest proportion of women was among telephone installers and repairers (12 percent). Women were also 10 percent of telephone line installers and repairers and 9 percent of data processing equipment repairers. Women were in smaller proportions in other mechanic and repairer jobs. Construction Trades and Extractive Occupations--Of persons in the construction trades in 1988, 2 percent were women--about the same as in 1983. Women were 6 percent of painters, construction and maintenance workers and 5 percent of insulation workers but in much smaller proportions in other construction trade occupations. Women were also only 2 percent of persons in extractive occupations. Precision Production Occupations--Precision production occupations include those requiring a packagers but only 3 percent of construction laborers. high degree of precision in the tasks performed, for the attainment of standards. These occupations in many cases require an ability to interpret detailed instructions and specifications. The amount of time spent in training for the exercise of these occupations is substantial, in most cases at least 6 months to a year and in many cases several years. EMPLOYED WOMEN TRADES WORKERS, BY INDUSTRY. Manufacturing industries had the highest proportions of women in the skilled trades. About 18 percent of skilled trades workers _in nondurable goods manufacturing and 16 percent of similar workers in durable goods manufacturing were women. In contrast, only 2 percent of skilled trades workers in mining and 2 percent of those in construction were women, in 1988. Women held nearly 24 percent of precision production occupations in 1988, up slightly from nearly 22 percent in 1983. Women accounted for 94 percent of dressmakers--a case of women's traditional skills being transferred from the home to the workplace--and 70 percent of electrical and electronic equipment assemblers, an occupation that requires great finger and hand dexterity. On the other hand, women were only 2 percent of tool and die makers. Women were more likely to work as operators, fabricators, and laborers in the professional services industries, where they represented half of the persons employed in such occupations. Nearly half (47 percent) of similar workers in nondurable goods manufacturing were women. On the other hand, only 3 percent of operators, fabricators, and laborers in the construction industry and 4 percent of similar workers in the mining industry were women. WOMEN IN OTHER MANUAL OCCUPATIONS--OPERATORS, FABRICATORS, AND LABORERS. Operators, fabricators, and laborers make up other manual workers. (See Table II.) These workers include: machine operators, assemblers and inspectors; transportation and material moving occupations; and handlers, equipment cleaners, helpers, and laborers. Women represented 41 percent of machine operators, assemblers and inspectors in 1988, about the same as in 1983 (42 percent). About 90 percent of textile sewing machine operators were women. On the other hand, only 5 percent of welders and cutters were women. EARNINGS OF TRADES WORKERS. The proportion of transportation and material moving jobs held by women edged up from 8 percent in 1983 to 9 percent in 1988, with women representing 49 percent of bus drivers but less than 1 percent of workers in locomotive operating occupations. Women in the trades--both in the skilled trades and other manual occupations--earned 68 percent of the earnings of similarly employed men in 1988. (Among all workers, women earned 70 percent of men's earnings.) Women who usually work full time in the skilled trades-precision production, craft, and repair--had median weekly earnings in 1988 of $302 compared with $446 for men. Women in the skilled trades had weekly earnings slightly less than the median of all women workers ($315). In fact, median earnings of women skilled trades workers were slightly below those of women in administrative support occupations ($305) but exceeded those of all other major groups except managerial, professional, and technical. Women's representation among handlers, equipment cleaners, helpers, and laborers was the same in 1988 as in 1983 (17 percent). Women were 65 percent of hand packers and In some individual skilled trades, workers earned well above the median weekly earnings of all women workers ($315). For example, tool and die makers earned $575, telephone 2 https://fraser.stlouisfed.org Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis equipment assemblers. Another 16,000 were supervisors in production occupations and 11,000 were dressmakers. installers and repairers earned $573, and electrical power installers and repairers earned $554. Workers in extractive occupations had ยท median weekly earnings of $504. There were no black or Hispanic women employees reported in extractive occupations, in many mechanic and repairer jobs, or in most construction trades. CHARACTERISTICS OF WOMEN IN THE TRADES--AGE, MARITAL STATUS, AND RACE/ETHNIC GROUP Other Manual Occupations--As in the case for all women workers, black and Hispanic origin women were more likely to hold manual occupations other than in the skilled trades. Black women represented 4 percent of all persons employed in other manual occupations, i.e., as operators, fabricators, and laborers. These 765,000 black women were nearly 17 percent of all women employed in these occupations. Black women employed in these occupations worked primarily as machine operators, assorted materials (160,000), and as textile sewing machine operators (121,000). Age and Marital Status Most women in precision production, craft, and repair work were age 35 and over (58 percent) compared with 53 percent for all women workers. Most were married, husband present (55 percent); 21 percent had never married; 14 percent were divorced; and 5 percent each were separated or widowed. Among all women in the work force, 56 percent were married, husband present; 12 percent were divorced; 4 percent each were separated or widowed; and 24 percent had never married. Hispanic women represented 3 percent of all persons employed as operators, fabricators, and laborers and 12 percent of all women employed in these occupations. Hispanic women employed in these manual occupations were also more likely to be machine operators, with 135,000 employed as textile sewing machine operators and 128,000 as machine operators, assorted materials. Race and Ethnic Origin The Skilled Trades--Black and Hispanic origin women hold very small proportions of all skilled trades jobs but were one-fifth of women employed in the skilled trades. Black women represented only 1 percent of all persons in the skilled trades--precision production, craft, and repair occupations--but were 11 percent of all women skilled trades workers. As was the pattern of all women skilled trades workers, black women employed in those occupations were more likely to work as electrical and electronic equipment assemblers (24,000). Another 23,000 were supervisors in production occupations and another 19,000 were butchers and meat cutters. APPRENTICESIDPS AND OTHER TRAINING. Apprenticeship is a prescribed paid learning experience during which an individual, called an apprentice, learns a trade through several years of on-the-job training and related instruction. It offers the opportunity to pursue progressively more complex on-the-job work under the tutelage of a master craft worker which, when combined with supplemental instruction, leads to a highly skilled job, and a recognized certificate of completion of the prescribed apprenticeship program. Apprenticeship programs are commonly registered with the Federal Government or a federally approved State apprenticeship agency. Registered programs offer apprenticeships in The 104,000 women of Hispanic origin who worked in the skilled trades represented less than 1 percent of all persons in precision production, craft, and repair occupations and about 9 percent of all women employed in those trades. Hispanic women were also most likely to be employed in precision production jobs with 28,000 employed as electrical and electronic 3 https://fraser.stlouisfed.org Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis Another form of training for entry into the trades is vocational education. In October 1982, 2 million women, representing 54.8 percent of all enrollees, were participants in post-secondary vocational education programs, in an occupational or technical field for the purpose of obtaining a vocational credential, such as a certificate, occupational license, or other diploma or degree. over 800 occupations such as carpenter, plumber, aircraft mechanic (electrical and radio), tool and die maker, T. V. and radio repairer, and others. Apprentices who successfully complete registered programs receive certificates of completion from the U.S. Department of Labor or a federally approved State apprenticeship agency. Most registered programs are sponsored jointly by employers and labor unions. The administrative body in such joint programs is called a Joint Apprenticeship Committee (JAC). Currently, there are approximately 44,000 program sponsors and more than 300,000 registered apprentices. In a 1984 report on how workers get their training, it was found that qualifying training was necessary for 65 percent of the 11. 7 million persons employed in precision production, craft, and repair occupations--somewhat greater than the average for all workers. Sources of training included school, informal on-the-job training, formal company programs, correspondence courses, the Armed Forces, or friends and relatives. Precision production and craft workers exceeded the average for all workers in all sources of training except school. On-the-job training was the predominant source of training for carpenters, plumbers, office machine repairers, and many other workers in precision production, craft, and repair work. Latest data indicate that women's participation in apprenticeable programs is growing. As indicated in Table III, the number and proportion of women apprentices have increased in recent years. From 1978 to 1988, the percentage of females registered as apprentices increased from 3.1 percent of the total to 7.0 percent for the first quarter of FY 1989. Women face unique obstacles to apprenticeship-traditionally a male domain. For example, women may have to contend with stereotypical attitudes concerning the kinds of work they can or should handle. Although more women are entering apprenticeship programs and being accepted by their male peers, many feel they need more self-confidence in addition to the abilities required of all apprentices. OUTLOOK TO THE 21ST CENTURY. The number of precision production, craft, and repair jobs is projected to grow more slowly than the average for total employment from 1988 to 2000, just as it did from 1976 to 1988. Nearly all of the 1.4 million total increase in jobs is expected to be in the construction and services industry division. In manufacturing, about 100,000 fewer workers in this major group are projected to be employed in 2000 than in 1988. Women are acquiring the necessary education and training to meet the skills requirements for entry into the trades. The minimum levels of education required for entry into apprenticeship programs vary. However, a high school education is usually required. Seven percent of women employed in precision production, craft, and repair jobs had completed 4 years of college or more compared with 5 percent of similarly employed men. About 51 percent of women so employed and 54 percent of men had completed 4 years of high school only. Both women and men employed in those occupations had completed a median of 12.5 years of schooling. Employment in the operators, fabricators, and laborers group, which grew by only 3 percent from 1976 to 1988 is projected to grow by about 1 percent through the year 2000. Although a large decline of nearly three-fourths of a million jobs is projected in manufacturing, job gains in services; wholesale and retail trade; construction; and transportation, communications, and public utilities should result in a net gain of 215,000 jobs by 2000. 4 https://fraser.stlouisfed.org Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis This major group is expected to have the largest change in the share of total employment, declining from 14 .4 percent in 1988 to 12. 6 percent by 2000. preemployment barriers to relevant job training such as age restrictions for apprenticeships, and factors such as work climate, harassment, and sponsorship. Still, new openings in these areas should provide increased opportunities for women, the major source of entrants into the labor force over the next 12 years. It is projected that women will account for 52 percent of the nearly 43 million workers who will enter the labor force between 1988 and the year 2000. Employment of women in the trades will increase as institutional change reflects reappraisal of sex segregation of jobs and as women continue to prepare for the highly skilled jobs of tomorrow. The U.S. Department of Labor is responsible for ensuring that regulations regarding equal employment opportunity are carried out and, led by the Bureau of Apprenticeship and Training, works to promote increased participation of women in apprenticeship programs. It is anticipated that the next century will provide improved opportunities for women in employment, particularly in nontraditional areas such as the trades. In a recent National Academy of Sciences study of job segregation, by sex, it was found that despite recent changes in attitudes and new challenges to old beliefs, a variety of barriers-legal, institutional and informal--still Hniit women's access to occupations in which men have customarily predominated. These include, for example, requirements for nonessential training or credentials that women often lack, TABLE I PERSONS EMPLOYED.IN THE TRADES, BY SEX 1983 AND 1988 (Numbers in thousands) Precision Production, Craft and Repair Total persons employed Total women employed Women as percent of total Operators, Fabricators, Laborers 13,664 1,190 8.7 17,814 4,580 25.7 12,328 1,000 8.1 16,091 4,282 26.6 1983 Total persons employed Total women employed Women as percent of total 5 https://fraser.stlouisfed.org Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis TABLE II PERSONS EMPLOYED IN THE TRADES, BY SEX AND DETAILED OCCUPATIONS, 1983 AND 1988 1983 1988 Total persons employed (in thousands) PRECISION PRODUCTION, CRAFf, AND REPAIR Mechanics and repairers Construction trades Supervisors https://fraser.stlouisfed.org Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis Total persons employed (in thousands) Women as percent of total 8.7 3.3 7.1 3.1 12,328 4,158 252 3,906 8.1 3.0 7.0 2.8 1,811 879 0.9 0.7 1,683 0.8 800 0.5 325 131 70 0.5 3.7 0.6 299 63 0.6 2.5 0.1 194 1.0 199 0.7 159 547 0.5 2.7 162 529 0.7 2.2 677 8.0 674 7.4 165 5.0 155 5.3 140 8.8 98 9.3 61 202 10.0 12.1 59 247 5.6 9.9 262 0.6 200 0.5 874 4.5 6.4 2.1 2.3 2.2 792 66 94 4,289 504 4.0 3.3 1.0 1.8 1.3 13,664 ; 4,454 Supervisors 256 Mechanics and repairers, except supervisors 4,198 Vehicle and mobile equipment mechanics and repairers Automobile mechanics Bus, truck, and stationery engine mechanics Aircraft engine mechanics Small engine repairers Automobile body and related repairers Heavy equipment mechanics Industrial machinery repairers Electrical and electronic equipment repairers Electronic repairers, communications, and industrial equipment Data processing equipment repairers Telephone line installers and repairers Telephone installers and repairers Heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics Miscellaneous mechanics and repairers Office machine repairers Millwrights Women as . percent of total 60 96 5,096 617 95 1988 thousands) Women as percent of total Total persons employed (in thousands) Women as percent of total 4,481 2.1 3,784 1.9 202 53 108 1,427 149 701 0.5 1.2 2.3 1.5 2.1 1.4 156 0.3 88 1,HiO (,()2 2.0 1.4 1.4 1.5 101 0.4 106 0.2 525 5.8 473 4.9 494 0.4 443 1.1 85 54 156 48 144 3,968 1,361 896 145 497 126 0.2 4.9 1.2 0.4 2.1 23.5 15.4 6.3 2.4 4.8 5.7 133 63 196 3,685 1,210 892 148 471 127 4.8 0.1 1.2 2.3 21.5 14.1 5.5 1.2 4.1 4.5 106 11.8 86 16 7 66 2.6 296 126 84 529 (,() 58.1 94.4 22.0 56.7 61.4 2(,() 111 67 452 56 58.9 96.1 20.2 56.9 41.5 49 32.9 50 41.1 305 70.0 246 74.2 418 258 32.4 21.2 408 276 25.5 15.6 Total persons employed (in Construction trades, except supervisors Brickmasons and stonemasons Tile setters, hard and soft Carpet installers Carpenters Drywall installers Electricians Electrical power installers and repairers Painters, constructions, and maintenance Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters Concrete and terrazo finishers Insulation workers Roofers Structural metal workers Extractive occupations Precision production occupations Supervisors Precision metal working Tool and die makers Machinists Sheet-metal workers Precision woodworking occupations Cabinet makers and bench carpenters Precision textile, apparel and furnishings machine workers Dressmakers Upholsterers Precision workers, assorted materials Optical goods workers Dental laboratory and medical appliance technicians Electrical and electronic equipment assemblers Pr~ision;food production occupations Butchers and meat cutters https://fraser.stlouisfed.org Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis 1983 95 64 56 1988 Total persons employed (in thousands) Bakers Precision inspectors, testers and related workers Inspectors, testers, and graders Plant and system operators Operators, fabricators, and laborers Machine operators, ~mblers, and inspectors Textile sewing machine operators Welders and cutters Transportation and material moving operations Bus drivers Locomotive operating occupations Handlers, equipment cleaners, h~lpers, and laborers Construction laborers Hand packers and packagers 1983 Women as percent of total Total persons employed (in thousands) 126 47.5 105 44.4 126 113 236 17,814 28.1 25.6 4.5 25.7 130 121 247 16,091 25.6 24.6 3.4 26.6 8,117 749 555 40.8 90.1 4.9 7,744 543 42.1 94.0 5.0 4,831 450 9.0 48.5 4,201 365 7.8 45.5 51 0.5 64 2.3 4,866 799 298 17.2 3.4 65.3 4,147 595 286 16.8 2.1 67.0 806 TABLE III WOMEN IN APPRENTICESHIPS, END OF PERIOD FY'S 1978, 1983, 1988, and 1st Qtr. FY 1989 . Number 1989 1988 1983 1978 https://fraser.stlouisfed.org Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis Women as percent of total 18,184 17,239 16,710 8,997 Percent of Total 7.0 6.B 6.6 3.1 .
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