View original document

The full text on this page is automatically extracted from the file linked above and may contain errors and inconsistencies.

Labor Supply and Mobility
in a Newly Industrialized Area




B u lle tin

No.

1261

UNITED STA TES DEPARTM ENT O F LABOR
James P. Mitchell, Secretary
BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS
Ewan Clague. Commissioner




Labor Supply and Mobility
in a Newly Industrialized Area

B u lle tin No. 1 2 6 1
February 1960

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
James P. Mitchell, Secretary
BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS
Ewan Clague, Commissioner
For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington 25, D.C. - Price 35 cents










PR EFA TO RY NOTE
T h is
d u c te d

s u r v e y o f e m p l o y e e s and jo b a p p lic a n t s w a s c o n ­
by

G e r a ld

G.

S om ers

fo r

th e

B u rea u

of Labor

S t a t is t i c s , w h ile h e w a s a s s o c i a t e d w ith th e W e s t V ir g i n i a
U n i v e r s i t y . He i s n o w a t th e U n i v e r s i t y o f W is c o n s i n . B o th
M r . S o m e r s a n d th e B u r e a u w is h to e x p r e s s t h e i r a p p r e c i a ­
t io n

of

th e

c o o r d in a t in g
K a is e r

h e lp g iv e n b y C a r l E . W ad e f o r a s s i s t a n c e in
th e

fie ld

C o r p o r a tio n

fo r

in te r v ie w s ,
t h e ir

p e r i o d o f th e s u r v e y .

iii

and to o f f i c i a l s

o f th e

c o o p e r a t i o n th ro u g h o u t th e

CONTENTS
Page

I n t r o d u c t io n ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------T h e a r e a ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------I m p a c t o f th e p l a n t -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------S u r v e y m e t h o d s -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------C h a r a c t e r i s t i c s o f th e l a b o r s u p p l y ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------H ir in g n e e d s -----------------------------------------------H ir in g s t a n d a r d s --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------H ir in g p r o c e d u r e s -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------P e r s o n a l c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------B ir t h p l a c e and p r e - K a i s e r r e s i d e n c e -------------------------------------------------------------------------------I n d u s t r ia l e x p e r i e n c e -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------F a r m o w n e r s h ip and f a r m w o r k ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------O c c u p a t io n a l e x p e r i e n c e ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------W o r k in g w i v e s ------------------------------------------------------------------------------E s t im a t e s o f th e v a lu e o f t r a i n i n g -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------S u m m a r y -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------P a t t e r n s o f l a b o r m o b i l i t y ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -— C h a n g e s o f i n d u s t r y --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------C h a n g e s o f o c c u p a t i o n -------------------------------------------------------------G e o g r a p h ic m o v e m e n t -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------L o n g - d i s t a n c e c o m m u t e r s ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------S u m m a r y ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------T h e r e a s o n s f o r m o b i l i t y --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------U n e m p lo y m e n t and u n d e r e m p l o y m e n t -------------------------------------------------------------------------------A r e a a t t a c h m e n t -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------W a g e s and s a l a r i e s -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------S u b je c t iv e e v a lu a tio n o f m o t i v e s ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------S u m m a r y and C o n c l u s i o n s -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

1
2
3
3
4
4
4
5
6
10
10
13
13
13
15
16
16
16
17
17
20
21
22
22
24
28
30
35

L IS T O F T A B L E S
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

7.

8.
9.
10.

S e l e c t e d c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s o f p o p u la t io n and in d u s t r y d a ta f o r J a c k s o n C o u n ty ,
W . V a . and a d jo in in g c o u n t i e s ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------E m p lo y e e s at th e R a v e n s w o o d p la n t, by o c c u p a t i o n and s e x , s u m m e r 195 7 --------A p p lic a n t s u n a c c e p t e d by th e R a v e n s w o o d p la n t, b y l e v e l o f s k i l l and s e x ,
s u m m e r 1 9 5 7 --------------------------------------------E m p lo y e e s at th e R a v e n s w o o d p la n t, b y a g e , e d u c a t io n , b ir t h p l a c e , a d d r e s s o n
a p p lic a t io n f o r m , and o c c u p a t i o n a l g r o u p , s u m m e r 1 957 ---------------------------------------------A p p lic a n t s u n a c c e p t e d by th e R a v e n s w o o d p la n t, b y a g e , e d u c a t io n , b ir t h p l a c e ,
a d d r e s s o n a p p lic a t io n f o r m , and o c c u p a t i o n a l g r o u p , s u m m e r 1 9 5 7 -----------------------E m p lo y e e s at th e R a v e n s w o o d p la n t, b y p r i n c i p a l in d u s t r i a l c l a s s i f i c a t i o n s i n c e
1 9 5 0 , and la s t i n d u s t r ia l c l a s s i f i c a t i o n p r e c e d i n g R a v e n s w o o d p la n t e m p lo y m e n t ,
b y o c c u p a t i o n a l g r o u p , s u m m e r 1 95 7 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------U n a c c e p t e d a p p lic a n t s , b y p r i n c i p a l in d u s t r ia l c l a s s i f i c a t i o n s in c e 1 9 5 0 , and l a s t
i n d u s t r i a l c l a s s i f i c a t i o n p r e c e d i n g R a v e n s w o o d p la n t a p p li c a t i o n , by o c c u p a t i o n a l
g r o u p , s u m m e r 1 9 5 7 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------C u r r e n t o c c u p a t i o n a l g r o u p o f e m p l o y e e s , b y t h e i r la s t o c c u p a t i o n a l g r o u p p r i o r
to R a v e n s w o o d p la n t e m p lo y m e n t , s u m m e r 1 9 5 7 ------------------------------------------------------------W iv e s w h o w e r e w o r k in g w h en h u sb a n d a p p lie d f o r R a v e n s w o o d p la n t jo b , b y c u r ­
r e n t e m p lo y m e n t s ta tu s and b y h u s b a n d 's a p p lic a t io n a d d r e s s , s u m m e r 1 9 5 7 -----E m p l o y e e s ’ e s t im a t e o f v a lu e o f e d u c a t io n and tr a in in g in o b ta in in g R a v e n s w o o d
p la n t j o b , by o c c u p a t i o n a l g r o u p , s u m m e r 1957 ------------------------------------------------------------




IV

2
4
6
8
9

11

12
14
15
15

TABLES- - CONTINUED
Page
11.
1 2.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.

20.
21.
22.
23.
24.
25.
26.
27.
28.
29.
30.

M o s t d is ta n t r e s i d e n c e and c h a n g e s o f r e s i d e n c e o f e m p lo y e e s in 5 y e a r s p r e ­
c e d in g R a v e n s w o o d p la n t e m p lo y m e n t , by o c c u p a t io n a l g r o u p , s u m m e r 1 9 5 7 -----A g e o f e m p l o y e e s , b y m o s t d is ta n t r e s i d e n c e and c h a n g e s o f r e s i d e n c e in 5
y e a r s p r e c e d i n g R a v e n s w o o d p la n t e m p lo y m e n t , s u m m e r 1957 -------------------------------E m p lo y e e s a p p ly in g f r o m w ith in th e R a v e n s w o o d a r e a , by le n g th o f r e s i d e n c e in
th at a r e a , b y o c c u p a t io n a l g r o u p , s u m m e r 1 95 7 -----------------------------------------------------------D a te s o f p r e v i o u s r e s i d e n c e in R a v e n s w o o d o f e m p lo y e e s w h o a p p lie d f r o m o u t ­
s id e th is a r e a , b y o c c u p a t io n a l g r o u p , s u m m e r 1 9 5 7 --------------------------------------------------E m p lo y e e s * c o m m u t in g d is t a n c e to R a v e n s w o o d p la n t, b y o c c u p a t io n a l g r o u p ,
s u m m e r 1 9 5 7 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ---------------------P la n n e d r e s i d e n c e c h a n g e o f e m p l o y e e s , by o c c u p a t i o n a l g r o u p , s u m m e r 1 9 5 7 - D u r a tio n o f u n e m p lo y m e n t o f e m p lo y e e s in 3 y e a r s p r i o r to R a v e n s w o o d p la n t
jo b , by l o c a t i o n and r e c e i p t o f u n e m p lo y m e n t c o m p e n s a t io n , s u m m e r 195 7 --------C u m u la tiv e u n e m p lo y m e n t o f a l l e m p lo y e e s in 3 y e a r s p r i o r to R a v e n s w o o d p la n t
jo b , b y l o c a t i o n o f u n e m p lo y m e n t and o c c u p a t io n a l g r o u p , s u m m e r 1 957 -----------P e r s o n s n ot w o r k in g f u ll t i m e in y e a r b e f o r e e m p lo y m e n t at R a v e n s w o o d p la n t,
and r e a s o n s f o r p a r t t im e w o r k , b y o c c u p a t io n a l g r o u p , s e x and r e c e i p t o f u n e m ­
p lo y m e n t c o m p e n s a t i o n --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------E m p lo y e e s w o r k in g l e s s th an th e f u ll y e a r p r e c e d i n g R a v e n s w o o d p la n t e m p l o y ­
m e n t , by n u m b e r o f w e e k s w o r k e d ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------R e t u r n e d m i g r a n t s , b y r e a s o n s f o r le a v in g th e R a v e n s w o o d a r e a p r i o r to p la n t
e m p lo y m e n t , b y o c c u p a t i o n a l g r o u p and a g e , s u m m e r 1 9 5 7 ---------------------------------R e tu r n e d m i g r a n t s , b y r e a s o n s f o r r e t u r n in g to th e R a v e n s w o o d a r e a , b y o c c u ­
p a tio n a l g r o u p and a g e , s u m m e r 1 9 5 7 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------C o m m u tin g d is t a n c e o f e m p lo y e e s in R a v e n s w o o d a r e a d u r in g 5 y e a r s p r i o r to
K a i s e r p la n t e m p lo y m e n t , b y o c c u p a t i o n a l g r o u p , s u m m e r 195 7 ----------------------------W a g e s r e c e i v e d b y h o u r ly r a t e d e m p lo y e e s b e f o r e and a f t e r R a v e n s w o o d p la n t
e m p lo y m e n t , b y o c c u p a t io n a l g r o u p ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------E a r n in g s o f w h ite c o l l a r and s u p e r v i s o r y e m p lo y e e s and u n a c c e p t e d a p p lic a n t s
o n jo b p r i o r to R a v e n s w o o d p la n t a p p l i c a t i o n ----------------------------------------------------------------E a r n in g s l e v e l s o f e m p lo y e e s o n p r e c e d i n g jo b , b y e m p lo y m e n t s ta tu s in p r e c e d ­
in g j o b --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------L o w e s t a c c e p t a b l e e a r n in g s a s in d ic a t e d b y e m p l o y e e s and u n a c c e p t e d a p p lic a n t s ,
b y o c c u p a t i o n a l g r o u p , s u m m e r 1 95 7 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------W a y s in w h ic h e m p lo y e e s at th e R a v e n s w o o d p la n t l e a r n e d a b o u t th e jo b o p e n in g ,
b y o c c u p a t i o n a l g r o u p , s u m m e r 1 95 7 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------R e a s o n s g iv e n b y e m p lo y e e s and u n a c c e p t e d a p p lic a n t s f o r le a v in g l a s t jo b p r i o r
to R a v e n s w o o d p la n t a p p lic a t io n , b y o c c u p a t io n a l g r o u p ------ ---------------------------------------E m p lo y e e s * r e a s o n s f o r c h o o s i n g to w o r k at th e R a v e n s w o o d p la n t, by o c c u p a t i o n a l
g r o u p , s u m m e r 1 957 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

18
19
19
20
21
21
22
23

25
25
26
27
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34

A P P E N D IC E S
I.
II.

S u r v e y m e t h o d s ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------E m p lo y m e n t a p p lic a t io n f o r m s and in t e r v ie w q u e s t i o n n a i r e ------------------------------------




v

38
39




Labor Supply and Mobility
in a Newly Industrialized Area
INTRODUCTION
A r e a s o f c h r o n i c a l l y l im i t e d e m p lo y m e n t
o p p o r t u n it ie s h a v e b e e n a s o u r c e o f stu d y
a n d l e g i s l a t i v e c o n c e r n f o r m a n y y e a r s . In
p e r i o d s o f n a t io n a l fu ll e m p lo y m e n t t h e s e
a r e a s s ta n d ou t a s c o n tin u in g s o r e s p o t s in
an o t h e r w is e h e a lth y e c o n o m y . In p e r i o d s
of
r is in g
n a t io n a l
u n e m p lo y m e n t t h e i r
c h r o n ic d is t r e s s is a g g ra v a te d th rou g h a
fu r t h e r d e c l i n e in l o c a l o p p o r t u n it ie s and
th e d i s c o u r a g e m e n t o f o u tw a r d m i g r a t i o n .
P r i m a r y a tte n tio n h a s b e e n g iv e n to m a jo r
d e p r e s s e d a r e a s a n d to th o s e w ith s u b ­
s ta n tia l, m e a s u r a b le l a b o r s u r p lu s c a u s e d
b y d r a m a t i c d e c l in e s in s u c h i n d u s t r i e s a s
t e x t il e s o r c o a l , o r b y th e c l o s i n g o f a
d o m in a n t i n d u s t r i a l f a c i l i t y . M a n y s m a l l e r
r u r a l a r e a s , h o w e v e r , a r e k n ow n to h a v e
l o n g e r s ta n d in g p r o b l e m s o f u n e m p lo y m e n t
and u n d e r e m p lo y m e n t e v e n th o u g h th e y c a n ­
n o t r e a d il y b e m e a s u r e d o r d o c u m e n t e d .
M a n y s u c h a r e a s h a v e n e v e r d e v e lo p e d a s u f ­
f i c i e n t e c o n o m i c b a s e to s u p p o r t n a t u r a l
p o p u la tio n i n c r e a s e . A r e c e n t r e p o r t c i t e d
s o m e 315 c o u n t ie s in th e U n ite d S ta te s w h ic h
it m a y b e a s s u m e d c o n s t it u t e the c o r e o f
th e l o w e s t i n c o m e r u r a l a r e a s . 1 M o s t o f t h e s e
r u r a l d e p r e s s e d a r e a s a r e in th e S o u th e a s t,
w ith 17 in W e s t V ir g i n i a , r e p r e s e n t i n g 5. 4
p e r c e n t o f th e n a t io n a l t o t a l o f s u c h a r e a s . 2
L it t le is k n ow n o f th e d e t a ils o f u n e m p lo y ­
m e n t , u n d e r e m p lo y m e n t , a n d l a b o r m o b i l i t y
in th e s e s e c t o r s o f t r a d it i o n a l ly l im i t e d e m ­
p lo y m e n t o p p o r t u n it i e s .

w h a t e v e r a c t i o n m a y b e ta k e n t o a t t r a c t
n e w in d u s t r y . F r o m th e s ta n d p o in t o f the
l o c a l c o m m u n i t i e s , h o w e v e r , th e s e c o n d
a lt e r n a t iv e i s m o r e o ft e n v ie w e d a s th e o n ly
v ia b le lo n g ru n
s o lu t i o n . M u c h t im e and
e f f o r t h a v e b e e n d e v o t e d to th e a t t r a c t i o n o f
in d u s t r y to d e p r e s s e d a r e a s , and t h e r e h a s
b e e n c o n s i d e r a b l e s tu d y o f th e f a c t o r s e n ­
c o u r a g in g a n d in h ib itin g s u c h m o v e m e n t .
T h e s e s t u d ie s s h o w th a t o n e d o m in a n t c o n ­
s id e r a t i o n i s the q u a n tity a n d q u a lity o f th e
l a b o r f o r c e a w a itin g a p r o s p e c t i v e e m ­
p l o y e r . W h ile th e c h r o n i c l a c k o f l o c a l e m ­
p lo y m e n t
o p p o r t u n it ie s
m ig h t s e r v e to
a s s u r e a m a n u fa c t u r in g f i r m o f th e q u a n ti­
ta tiv e a d e q u a c y o f p o t e n t ia l l a b o r s u p p ly ,
t h e r e m ig h t b e g r o u n d s f o r s e r i o u s c o n c e r n
r e g a r d i n g q u a lit a t iv e a d e q u a c y . B e c a u s e o f
a d e p r e s s e d r u r a l a r e a ’ s l im i t e d i n d u s t r ia l
b a s 4 and th e o u tw a r d m i g r a t i o n o f y o u n g
w o r k e r s ^ a s h o r t a g e o f q u a lif ie d , e x p e r i e n c e d
a p p lic a n t s m ig h t b e a n t ic ip a t e d .

A lth o u g h n u m e r o u s s u g g e s t io n s h a v e b e e n
m a d e f o r th e a ll e v ia t i o n o f d i s t r e s s in t h e s e
a r e a s , p o s s i b l e s o lu t io n s e s s e n t i a l l y n a r r o w
d o w n t o tw o : th e o u tw a r d m i g r a t i o n o f
s u r p lu s l a b o r a n d / o r th e l o c a l a t t r a c t i o n o f
n e w i n d u s t r y . In p r a c t i c e th e f i r s t a l t e r n a ­
t iv e i s l i k e l y to b e f o l l o w e d , r e g a r d l e s s o f

T h e p r e s e n t stu d y w a s d e s ig n e d to p r o ­
v id e a d d it io n a l i n f o r m a t i o n o n th e c h a r a c t e r
o f th e l a b o r s u p p ly a t t r a c t e d to m a n u ­
f a c t u r in g e m p lo y m e n t in a c h r o n i c a l l y d e ­
p r e s s e d r u r a l a r e a a n d , b y a n a ly s is o f th e
p r io r w o r k h is t o r ie s o f th e s e e m p lo y e e s ,
to g a in in s ig h t in t o th e p r o b l e m s o f u n e m ­
p lo y m e n t , u n d e r e m p lo y m e n t , a n d m o b il it y
e x p e r i e n c e d in s u c h an a r e a . s T h e o c c a s i o n
f o r th e stu d y w a s th e e s t a b lis h m e n t o f th e
K a i s e r A lu m in u m and C h e m ic a l C o r p . s h e e t
and f o i l r o l l i n g m i l l on th e O h io R i v e r n e a r
the to w n o f R a v e n s w o o d , W . V a . T h e m i l l
b e g a n p r o d u c t io n in 1 9 5 6 . W h en th e p la n t is
c o m p l e t e d a s a fu lly in t e g r a t e d r o l l in g m ill,
its a n n u a l c a p a c it y w ill be 2 5 0 m i l l i o n p ou n d s
o f s h e e t and f o i l p r o d u c t i o n . E m p lo y m e n t in
the p la n t n u m b e r e d a p p r o x im a t e ly 900 at th e
t i m e o f th e s u r v e y in m i d - 1957 and w a s e x ­
p e c t e d to r e a c h o v e r 3 ,0 0 0 b y 1 9 5 9 .

1Sar A. Levitan. Federal Assistance to Labor Surplus Areas,
(Committee on Banking and Currency, U.S. House of Representa­
tives, 85th Cong., 1st sess.) Committee Print, April 15, 1957,
pp, 29-35.
2 Ibid., p. 32.

* See Gerald G. Somers, Labor Supply for Manufacturing in a
Coal Area (in Monthly Labor Review, December 1954, pp. 13271330); and Mobility of Chemical Workers in a Coal-Mining Area
(in West Virginia University Business and Economic Studies,
Morgantown, W. Va., June 1954,)




-

1 -

ca n be se e n in the fa c t that the co u n ty ’ s
p op u la tion d e c lin e d an e s tim a te d 16 p e r ­
ce n t b e tw een 1940 and 1 9 5 6 --a p e r io d in
w h ich the co u n try a s a w h ole e x p e r ie n c e d
su b sta n tia l p op u la tion g a in s . P op u la tion
a ls o d e c lin e d in tw o a d join in g co u n tie s
d u rin g th is p e r io d . J a ck so n C ounty and fo u r
a d jo in in g W est V ir g in ia co u n tie s w e r e lis te d
by the S e c r e t a r y o f A g r ic u lt u r e as am on g
the 500 co u n tie s in the U nited States having
the la r g e s t p e r c e n ta g e o f c o m m e r c ia l fa r m s
e a ch p ro d u cin g l e s s than $ 2 ,5 0 0 w o rth o f
p r o d u cts f o r sa le in 1 9 5 4 --a c r it e r i o n e s t a b ­
lis h e d f o r d e s ig n a tio n a s r u r a l “ p r o b l e m ”
a r e a s .4

The A rea

A t the tim e o f the p la n t’ s estab lish m en t*
R a v e n sw o o d w as a s m a ll, r u r a l co m m u n ity
o f 1,175 p e o p le in J a ck so n C ou n ty, w h ich
had a w h o lly r u r a l p o p u la tio n o f 13,900
(table 1)
T h e p re d o m in a n tly r u r a l c h a r ­
a c t e r o f the a r e a ex ten d s to a d jo in in g
co u n tie s w ith the e x c e p t io n o f Kanawha in
w h ich C h a r le s to n , the State c a p ita l, is
lo c a te d 55 m ile s f r o m R a v e n sw o o d , and
W ood C ou n ty, con ta in in g P a r k e r s b u r g , 39
m ile s f r o m R a v e n s w o o d . T h e o n ly o th er
s iz a b le W e st V ir g in ia co m m u n ity w ithin a
5 0 - m ile
ra d iu s
o f R a v e n sw o o d is P t.
P le a s a n t (M a so n C ou n ty ), 20 m ile s d ista n t,
w ith a p o p u la tio n o f 4 ,5 0 0 . O n the O h io
sid e o f the O h io R iv e r , P o m e r o y and
M id d le p o r t, 25 m ile s d ista n t, had a c o m ­
b in ed p o p u la tio n o f 7 ,0 0 0 , and G a llip o lis , a
p op u la tio n o f 8 ,3 0 0 . E v en in the u rb a n
c e n t e r s , the n u m b e r o f e m p lo y e e s en g a ged
in m a n u fa ctu rin g i s r e la t iv e ly s m a ll. W ith
the e x c e p tio n o f Kanawha C ou n ty, c o a l
m in in g is e ith e r n o n e x iste n t o r in s ig n ifica n t
in the a r e a . A s id e f r o m a g r ic u lt u r e , the
bu lk o f e m p lo y m e n t is d is tr ib u te d a m on g a
v a r ie ty o f o th e r s m a ll n on m a n u fa ctu rin g
e s t a b lis h m e n t s .
The
C ounty

T he im p a c t o f the plan t m u st a ls o be
v ie w e d in the lig h t o f the e m p lo y m e n t
situ a tion in W est V ir g in ia a s a w h ole d u r ­
ing the p e r io d s in c e 1950. In th o se y e a r s
W est
V ir g in ia
c o m m u n itie s
a p p e a re d
p ro m in e n tly in the lis t s o f a r e a s w ith
s e r io u s le v e ls o f u n e m p lo y m e n t. T he d i f f i ­
c u ltie s ste m m e d not on ly f r o m the d e p r e s ­
sio n in the S ta te’ s a g r ic u ltu r a l s e c t o r s ,
but a ls o f r o m the con tin uin g d e c lin e in
c o a l-m in in g e m p lo y m e n t. F r o m A p r il 1*
1950, to July 1, 1954, the p op u la tion o f W est
V ir g in ia d e c r e a s e d by an e s tim a te d 1 p e r ­
ce n t, w h ile the p op u la tion o f the U nited
S tates in c r e a s e d by an e s tim a te d 6.3 p e r -

dep ressed
c o n d itio n
o f J a ck so n
p r i o r to the p la n t’ s e s ta b lis h m e n t

TABLE 1 .

4L e v ita n ,

op . c it . p. 8 5.

S e le c t e d c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s o f p o p u la t io n and in d u s tr y d ata f o r Jackson County,
W. V a.? and a d jo in in g c o u n tie s
P o p u la tio n
1950

County
19-40
T ota l
J a ck son --------------------------------Kanawha--------------------------------Mason------------------------------------M eigs (O h io )----------------------Putnam----------------------------------Roane------------------------------------W ir t--------------------------------------Wood---------------------------------------

1 6 ,5 9 8
195,619
2 2,2 70

2-4,104
1 9 ,5 1 1
2 0,7 87
6 ,4 7 5
6 2,3 99

Urban

1 5,2 99
239,629 1 35 ,51 4
4 ,5 9 6
2 3,5 37
7 ,1 0 2
2 3,2 27
2 1,0 2 1
1 ,3 9 1
1 8,4 08
2 ,58 7
—
5 ,11 9
6 6 ,5 4 0 4 6 ,5 1 2

R u ral
1 5,299
104,115
1 8 ,9 4 1
1 6,1 25
1 9 ,6 3 0
1 5 ,8 2 1
5 ,1 1 9
2 0 ,0 2 8

J u ly
19561

Number
of
fa rm s,
1954

Employees
i n manu­
fa c tu r­
in g , 1954

1 3 ,9 0 0
254,000
23,5 00
3 1 ,8 0 0
2 1,0 00
1 6,3 00
4 ,2 0 0
6 6 ,3 0 0

1 ,7 5 1
1 ,73 5
1 ,6 4 8
1 ,7 5 7
1 ,5 3 7
1 ,9 0 4
604
1 ,6 9 8

107
2 1,2 2 2
1 ,0 8 7
535
2 ,5 1 8
365
32
7 ,9 1 9

1 E stim a ted .
S o u rc e : F or p o p u la t io n ; U .S . Department o f Commerce, Bureau o f th e Census, D e ce n n ia l
Census 1940, 1950; and f o r 1956, C urrent P o p u la tio n R e p o r ts , June 1958, S e r ie s P -2 5 ,
No. 1 78 . F or rem ain in g ite m s ; Bureau o f th e Census, County and C ity Data Book, 1956.




-

2

-

ce n t.* In M a r c h 1957, the C h a r le s to n a r e a
w as lis t e d a m on g 19 m a jo r la b o r m a rk e t
a r e a s in the U n ited S tates a s having a
con tin u ou s h is t o r y o f “ su b sta n tia l la b o r
s u r p l u s " ; 6 a d d itio n a l s m a lle r a r e a s w ithin
the State w e r e a ls o in c lu d e d a m on g th o se
“ p r o b a b ly e l i g i b l e " f o r F e d e r a l a s s is t a n c e
b e c a u s e o f con tin u in g h igh u n e m p lo y m en t
l e v e l s ; and 17 c o u n tie s , r e p r e s e n t in g about
25 p e r c e n t o f the S ta te 's to ta l p op u la tion ,
w e r e lis t e d a m on g 315 “ p r o b l e m " c o u n tie s
w ith the lo w e s t f a r m in c o m e s and le v e ls
o f liv in g in the c o u n tr y . •

I m p a c t o f th e P la n t

A t the tim e o f the s u r v e y in the s u m m e r
o f 1957, the p la n t's e s ta b lis h m e n t had not
y e t had a m a r k e d ta n g ib le e f f e c t u pon the
a r e a . T h e p o p u la tio n o f R a v e n s w o o d , 7
m ile s aw ay f r o m the plan t, had in c r e a s e d
to 2 ,5 0 0 , and the tow n c o u ld b o a s t o f tw o
n ew m o t e ls , a n ew r e s ta u r a n t, and a ren ta l
h ou sin g d e v e lo p m e n t f o r s u p e r v is o r y p e r ­
s o n n e l. A h o u sin g p r o je c t f o r h o u r ly ra te d
e m p lo y e e s
w as in the planning s ta g e .
A lth ou gh h ou sin g w a s in s h o r t su p p ly , the
sh o r ta g e had not y e t b e c o m e c r it ic a l b e ­
ca u s e o f the co m m u tin g p a tte rn s o f e m ­
p lo y e e s . A s y e t th e r e w e r e n o b u s , r a i l,
o r a ir c o n n e c tio n s b e tw e e n R a v e n sw o o d
and o th e r c o m m u n itie s , but the e x te n s io n
o f a bu s ro u te w as p e n d in g . In the a b s e n c e
o f cou n ty a c t io n , the co m p a n y had a ls o
a r r a n g e d f o r the c o n s t r u c t io n o f a new
e le m e n ta r y s c h o o l. W hile m o s t o f the b u s i ­
n e s s p r o p r ie t o r s and y o u n g e r R a v e n sw o o d
r e s id e n ts w e lc o m e d the c h a n g e s b ro u g h t by
the plan t, in fo r m a l d is c u s s io n s w ith a n u m ­
b e r o f r e s id e n t s in d ic a te d that s o m e o f the
o ld e r p e r s o n s d e p lo r e d the im p a c t on th e ir
tra d itio n a l r u r a l w a y s .
In sp ite o f the w id e s p r e a d a ttr a c tio n o f
w o r k e r s f r o m o th e r a r e a e s ta b lis h m e n t^
the e x is t e n c e o f a la r g e su rp lu s o f la b o r
so fte n e d the im p a c t o f the plan t on la b o r
su p ply in o th e r c o m p a n ie s . C o m p la in ts f r o m
o th e r e m p lo y e r s w e r e r a is e d o n ly in c o n ­
n e c tio n
w ith
c o m p e titio n f o r
c le r ic a l
e m p lo y e e s and s k ille d m a in ten a n ce w o r k ­
e r s . B ut, e v e n h e r e , r e c o g n it io n o f the
is o la t e d lo c a t io n o f the plan t and it s c o n s e ­
quent sta ffin g p r o b le m s s e r v e d to m o d e r a te
c r i t i c i s m o f its p o lic y o f r e c r u it in g s k ille d
*U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census, Series
P-25, No. 124.
• Levitan, op. cit., pp. 12-13, and 26.




e m p lo y e e s
m e n ts .

fr o m

o th e r

area

e s t a b lis h ­

The f i r s t m a jo r e ffe c t o f the p la n t's e s t a b ­
lis h m e n t w as the h ope that w as s t ir r e d
am on g the u n e m p lo y e d , the u n d e re m p lo y e d ,
and the lo w -w a g e w o r k e r s in d e p r e s s e d
c o m m u n itie s in the a r e a . In W est V ir g in ia 's
ca m p a ig n f o r in d u s tria l d e v e lo p m e n t the
an n ou n ced e s ta b lis h m e n t o f th is la r g e m a n u ­
fa ctu rin g fa c ilit y w a s h ea d lin e n e w s . Job
a p p lic a tio n s b eg a n p o u rin g in lon g b e fo r e
c o n s tr u c tio n and h irin g b e g a n in 1955 and
1956. The n u m b er o f a p p lic a tio n s had
d ro p p e d by January 1957 to ab ou t 50 o r 60
a day w hen the c o m p a n y 's n a tion a l t e l e ­
v is io n p r o g r a m p r e s e n te d a fe a tu re on the
n ew plant w h ich in clu d e d a " M e n W a n te d "
s ig n . In the fo llo w in g w e e k s ,d a ily a p p lic a ­
tio n s a v e r a g e d 200 to 300, and b y the
s u m m e r o f 1957; tota l a p p lic a tio n s on file
e x c e e d e d 25*000.

S u rvey M e th o d s T

D ata on the c h a r a c t e r is t i c s o f la b o r su p ­
p ly and the p r e v io u s w o r k e x p e r ie n c e o f
e m p lo y e e s at the R a v e n sw o o d w o r k s w e r e
ob ta in e d th rou gh tw o p r in c ip a l s o u r c e s
d u rin g the s u m m e r o f 1957: f i r s t , the c o m ­
pany m a d e a v a ila b le the jo b a p p lica tio n
f o r m s o f the a p p r o x im a te ly 900 e m p lo y e e s
who had b e e n h ir e d by the c l o s e o f the
s u r v e y on A u g u st 1. T h e s e w e r e v e r ifa x e d
and the in fo rm a tio n on th e m c o d e d . The
f o r m s w e r e c o m p le te f o r a lm o s t a ll h o u rly
ra te d e m p lo y e e s , but w e r e la ck in g in a
n u m b e r o f ite m s o f in fo r m a tio n f o r m any
o f the s a la r ie d p e r s o n n e l. S e co n d , p e r ­
son a l in te r v ie w s w e r e co n d u cte d w ith 894
o f the p la n t's e m p lo y e e s , in clu d in g top
m a n a g em en t, on the b a s is o f a s tru ctu re d
q u e s tio n n a ire f o r m . In te rv ie w q u e stio n s
su p p lem en ted a p p lic a tio n f o r m data.
In o r d e r to ev a lu a te the c o m p a n y 's h irin g
p o l i c ie s and g a in a fu lle r p ic tu r e o f the
c h a r a c t e r is t i c s o f p oten tia l la b o r su p ply
522 a p p lic a tio n fo r m s w e r e s e le c t e d f r o m
a p p lica n ts
d e e m e d u n a cce p ta b le by the
com pan y. 8
tMethods and forms employed in the survey are discussed in
greater detail in appendices I and II.
8 A 3-percent random sample was drawn from each of the occu­
pational groups except the unskilled. Because of the large num­
ber of application forms in this group, a 1-percent random sample
was drawn. These forms were verifaxed and coded and compared
with the application form data of the employees.

- 3 -

C H A R A C T E R I S T IC S O F T H E L A B O R S U P P L Y

T h e a d e q u a cy o f the la b o r su pply a v a il­
a b le to the co m p a n y in the R a v en s w ood
a r e a is o b v io u s ly r e la t e d to the p la n t’ s
h ir in g n e e d s and sta n d a rd s b oth at the tim e
o f the s u r v e y and in the fu tu r e . T h e l o c a l
su p ply o f w o r k e r s m u st a ls o be e v a lu a ted
in c o n ju n c tio n w ith o th e r s o u r c e s o f p e r ­
son n e l a v a ila b le th rou gh t r a n s fe r by the
co m p a n y . F in a lly , the c o m p a n y ’ s a b ility to
a c h ie v e a su ita b le fu ll c o m p le m e n t o f e m ­
p lo y e e s b y 1959 ca n b e e s tim a te d th rou g h
e x a m in a tio n o f the q u a lific a tio n s o f a p p li­
ca n ts w ho w e r e n ot h ir e d at the tim e o f
the s u r v e y , in a d d itio n to th o s e w ho w e r e
h ir e d .

H ir in g N e e d s

F e w e r p r o d u c t io n e m p lo y e e s w e r e r e ­
q u ir e d at the tim e o f the s u r v e y , r e la tiv e
to o th e r o c c u p a t io n s , than w ill b e r e q u ir e d
a s fu ll c a p a c ity i s a p p r o a c h e d . A t an e a r ly
sta g e in the p la n t’ s d e v e lo p m e n t the n u m ­
ber
of
p r o f e s s io n a l,
t e c h n ic a l,
and
m a n a g e r ia l e m p lo y e e s and f o r e m e n w as
d is p r o p o r t io n a t e ly la r g e (ta b le 2 ). A t the
tim e o f the survey* e m p lo y e e s in th e s e c a t e ­
g o r ie s c o n stitu te d 27 p e r c e n t o f the w o r k
f o r c e , w h e r e a s o p e r a t iv e s r e p r e s e n t e d on ly

TABLE 2 .

18 p e r c e n t o f the to ta l. T h e s e d i s p r o p o r ­
tio n s r e s u lte d f r o m the p la n t’ s lim ite d
p r o d u ctiv e c a p a c ity d u rin g the c o n s tr u c tio n
p h ase and f r o m the e x te n s iv e tra in in g
p r o g r a m s r e q u ir e d f o r the r e la t iv e ly i n ­
e x p e r ie n c e d w o r k f o r c e . P lan t a c tiv ity d u r ­
in g the s u m m e r o f 1957 w as s t ill d ir e c t e d
la r g e ly
to w a rd p r e p a r a tio n s f o r fu tu re
p r o d u ctio n n e e d s ra th e r than to w a rd th ose
o f c u r r e n t p r o d u ctio n .
A s in o th e r b a s ic m e ta l p r o d u ctio n ,
w o m e n e m p lo y e e s a r e r e q u ir e d p r im a r ily
in c l e r i c a l w o r k and in a fe w te c h n ic a l
o c c u p a t io n s . C l e r ic a l e m p lo y e e s c o n s t i ­
tuted 87 p e r c e n t o f to ta l fe m a le e m p lo y ­
m en t in m i d - 1957, and 65 p e r c e n t o f a ll
c l e r i c a l e m p lo y e e s w e r e w o m e n .

H ir in g S ta n d a r d s

T h e com p a n y w ish e d to fin d w o r k e r s in
an ag e g ro u p w h ich co m b in e d p h y s ic a l
v ig o r , e x p e r ie n c e , and in te llig e n c e w ith the
r e q u is ite s k ills and w ith the h ig h e s t p o s ­
s ib le le v e ls o f e d u ca tio n . In p r a c t i c e , it
w a s r e c o g n iz e d that the o p tim u m c o m b in a ­
tio n o f th e se q u a litie s w ou ld n ot be found
in m an y c a s e s , and that c o n c e s s io n s w ou ld

Employees a t th e Ravenswood p la n t , by o c c u p a tio n and s e x , summer 1957
T ota l

Male

Female

O c cu p a tio n a l grou p s1
Number

P e rce n t

Number

P e rce n t

Number

A l l o c c u p a t io n s -------------------------------------

888

100

780

100

108

P r o f e s s io n a l, t e c h n i c a l , and
m a n a g eria l-----------------------— ------------C l e r i c a l -------------------------------------------------Foremen---------------------------------------------------C raftsm en---------------------------------------- -----O p e r a tiv e s ---------------------------------------------S e r v ic e 2-------------------------------------------------L a b o r-------------------------------------------------------T r a in e e s 3- ----------------------------------------------

174
145
67
103
160
51
156
32

20
16
7
12
18
6
17
4

164
51
67
103
157
50
156
32

21
7
9
13
20
6
20
4

10
94
—
—

P e r ce n t
100

9v
87
——
—

3
1

3
1

—
—

1 S ix male em ployees whose o c c u p a t io n a l d a ta were n o t a v a i la b le a re e x clu d e d from th in
t a b l e and a n a ly s e s in v o lv in g o c c u p a t io n a l g r o u p s . The p r o f e s s i o n a l , t e c h n i c a l , and man­
a g e r i a l , and c l e r i c a l em p loyees, and forem en and t r a in e e s are s a l a r ie d p e r s o n n e l. The
rem ain in g o c c u p a tio n s a re h o u r ly r a t e d .
2 In c lu d e s watchmen, j a n i t o r s , s torero o m a tte n d a n ts , e t c .
3 Management t r a i n e e s .




- 4 -

have to b e m a d e w h ich , in the in itia l s ta g e s ,
w ou ld take the f o r m o f r e la x in g sta n d a rd s
f o r the l e s s e s s e n t ia l o c c u p a t io n s . It w as
fu r th e r r e a liz e d that a b r o a d e r r e la x a t io n
o f sta n d a rd s m igh t b e c o m e n e c e s s a r y as
fu ll e m p lo y m e n t w a s a p p r o a c h e d . F o r th is
r e a s o n ,m a n y th ou sa n d s o f a p p lic a tio n f o r m s
w e r e file d and d e s ig n a te d a s “ t e m p o r a r ily
u n a c c e p t e d " r a th e r than “ r e j e c t e d . "

6. P e r s o n s w ith p r e v io u s m ilita r y s e r v ­
i c e w e r e a c c o r d e d p r e fe r e n c e o v e r th o se
w h o se s e r v i c e w a s p en d in g . T h o s e v e te r a n s
w ithout
an
h o n o ra b le
d is c h a r g e
w e re
s c r e e n e d by the e m p lo y m e n t s u p e r v is o r
b e fo r e h ir in g . A lie n s and a p p lica n ts d e ­
c la r e d unfit f o r m ilit a r y s e r v i c e w e r e a ls o
g iv e n s p e c ia l s c r e e n in g .

7 . No p r e fe r e n c e w as e s ta b lis h e d r e l a ­
tiv e to s in g le and m a r r ie d a p p lica n ts e x c e p t
that the h irin g o f s p o u s e s o f e m p lo y e e s
r e q u ir e d s p e c ia l a p p r o v a l. A m a x im u m o f
th re e a p p lica n ts co u ld b e s e le c t e d f r o m
1
• T h e c o m p le t io n o f the a p p lic a tio n
the sa m e fa m ily .
f o r m had to d e m o n s tr a te n e a tn e ss and
a b ility to c o m p r e h e n d and fo llo w i n s t r u c ­
8. In re v ie w in g the a p p lic a n t's p r e v io u s
tio n s .
e m p lo y m e n t r e c o r d* r e f e r e n c e s w e r e to be
ch e c k e d at the d i s c r e t io n o f the e m p lo y ­
2 . P r e f e r e n c e w a s to b e g iv e n to a p p li­
m en t s u p e r v is o r ,
reason s
fo r
le a v in g
ca n ts w h o se c o m m u tin g tim e f r o m the
p r e v io u s jo b s w e r e to b e a p p r a is e d , and
plant d id n ot e x c e e d a 3 0 -m in u te d r iv e . (It
p r e fe r e n c e w as g iv e n to th o s e w h ose e m ­
b e c a m e n e c e s s a r y to aban don th is sta n d ard
p lo y m e n t h is t o r y sh ow ed r e a s o n a b le jo b
in m an y in s t a n c e s . )
s ta b ility , w ith p r o g r e s s i o n and g ro w th .
F i r s t p r e fe r e n c e w as a c c o r d e d to a p p li­
3. T h e m in im u m h ir in g a g e w a s 18 y e a r s .
ca n ts w ith e m p lo y m e n t e x p e r ie n c e in a lu m i­
T he m a x im u m h ir in g a g e d ep en d ed on the
n u m m a n u fa ctu rin g , and then, to th ose
ap p lica n ts* p h y s ic a l and m en ta l co n d itio n ,
w ith e x p e r ie n c e in o th e r lig h t-m e ta l m a n u ­
but in n o c a s e w a a it to e x c e e d 65. P r e f ­
fa c tu r in g , and fin a lly , to th o se w ho had
e r e n c e w a s to b e g iv e n a p p lic a n ts b e tw e e n
w o rk e d in h ea v y in d u s tr y . B e c a u s e o f the
the a g e s o f 25 and 35, and p la n s w e r e m ad e
e x te n s iv e tra in in g n e e d s a n ticip a ted and
to s e le c t a p p r o x im a te ly 55 p e r c e n t o f the
the e x p e c ta tio n that m any o f the e m ­
plant*s e m p lo y e e s w ith in th is a g e c a t e g o r y .
p lo y e e s f i r s t h ir e d f o r h o u r ly ra te d jo b s
It w a s e x p e c te d that 20 p e r c e n t o f the e m ­
w ou ld end up in s u p e r v is o r y p o s it io n s , the
p lo y e e s w ou ld b e in the 18 to 25 y e a r
b r a c k e t and an a d d itio n a l 20 p e r c e n t in the
p e r s o n n e l o ffic e g a ve p r e fe r e n c e to a p p li­
ca n ts
w ith
p r e v io u s
s u p e r v is o r y
or
35 to 50 y e a r c a t e g o r y . T h e n u m b e r o v e r
m a n a g e r ia l e x p e r ie n c e and to th o s e w h ose
50 y e a r s o f a g e w a s n ot to e x c e e d 5 p e r c e n t
b a ck g ro u n d and g e n e r a l e x p e r ie n c e in d i­
o f the t o ta l.
ca te d p o te n tia lity f o r tr a in in g .
4 . T h e com p a n y *s in itia l p o lic y w as to
den y e m p lo y m e n t to a ll a p p lic a n ts w ith
s e r io u s s ig h t d e fe c t s o r c h r o n ic d i s e a s e .
H ir in g P r o c e d u r e s
T h o s e w ith o th e r p h y s ic a l d e f e c t s w e r e to
T h e com p a n y e x p e r ie n c e d its g r e a t e s t
b e r e f e r r e d to the e m p lo y m e n t s u p e r v is o r
d iffic u lt ie s in fin d in g l o c a l e m p lo y e e s w ith
f o r h is d is c r e t io n a r y a c t io n . A t the tim e
te c h n ic a l s k ill and s u p e r v is o r y e x p e r ie n c e
o f the s u r v e y , s e r io u s p h y s ic a l h a n d ica p s
p r e c lu d e d
e m p lo y m e n t, but o f f i c i a l s o f
in a lu m in u m m a n u fa ctu rin g , but w as a b le
to t r a n s fe r a n u cle u s o f s u ch k ey p e r s o n ­
State a g e n c ie s w e r e d is c u s s in g w ith the
n e l f r o m it s o th e r e s ta b lis h m e n ts , p r i ­
c o m p a n y the p o s s ib ilit ie s o f i n c r e a s e d e m ­
m a r ily f r o m the W est C o a s t. S e v e n ty -tw o
p lo y m e n t o f h a n d ica p p ed p e r s o n s .
o f the s u r v e y e d e m p lo y e e s , r e p r e s e n tin g 8
5. N o m in im u m e d u c a tio n a l l e v e l w as
p e r c e n t o f th e to ta l, had b e e n e m p lo y e d by
the co m p a n y e ls e w h e r e p r i o r to th e ir e m ­
p r e s c r i b e d , but a h igh s c h o o l e d u c a tio n w as
p lo y m e n t in the R a v en s w ood w o r k s . M o re
p r e f e r r e d f o r h o u r ly ra te d and c l e r i c a l
than 80 p e r c e n t o f the t r a n s fe r r e d e m ­
e m p lo y e e s . A c o lle g e o r u n iv e r s it y d e g r e e
p lo y e e s w e r e in the p r o fe s s io n a l, t e c h n i­
w a s r e q u ir e d f o r a lm o s t a ll t e c h n ic a l and
c a l, m a n a g e r ia l, o r s u p e r v is o r y o c c u p a ­
p r o fe s s io n a l o c c u p a tio n s and, u s u a lly , f o r
in c lu s io n in the m a n a g e m e n t-tr a in in g p r o ­
tio n s , r e p r e s e n tin g about 25 p e r c e n t o f a ll
e m p lo y e e s in th e s e e s s e n t ia l o c c u p a tio n s .
gram .
E m p lo y m e n t o f f i c i a l s a ttem p ted to f o l ­
lo w
a p r e s c r i b e d s e t o f sta n d a rd s in
s e le c t in g e m p lo y e e s :




- 5 -

A p p lic a tio n f o r m s o f l o c a l a p p lica n ts
w e r e f i r s t e x a m in e d in the lig h t o f the
e s t a b lis h e d
s e le c t io n
sta n d a r d s . W here
q u a lific a t io n s w e r e found to b e in adequ ate
u n d e r th o s e sta n d a rd s, the fo r m s w e r e
s e t a s id e f o r p o s s ib le u se at a la t e r date
w h en r e la x a t io n o f the in itia l sta n d ard s
m ig h t b e c o m e n e c e s s a r y . A p p lic a n ts who
a p p e a r e d a c c e p ta b le w e r e in t e r v ie w e d and
t e s t e d . T h e t e s t s in clu d e d an o r a l a b ility
t e s t d e s ig n e d to d e te r m in e g e n e r a l i n t e l l i ­
g e n c e and a m e c h a n ic a l aptitude t e s t . A n
a p p lic a n t w ho p e r fo r m e d s a t is f a c t o r ily in
th e s e t e s t s w a s g iv e n a m e d ic a l e x a m in a ­
tio n , and i f th is t o o w a s s a t is fa c t o r y , he
w a s o ff e r e d a jo b w ith in a 6 -w e e k s p e r io d .
O th e r a p p lica n ts w e r e g iv e n v a r y in g d e g r e e s
o f e n c o u r a g e m e n t o r d is c o u r a g e m e n t but
w e r e s e ld o m r e je c t e d o u trig h t.

d is c u s s e d in t e r m s o f fiv e o ccu p a tio n a l
c a t e g o r ie s in to w h ich th ey w e r e p la c e d by
the p e r s o n n e l o f f i c e on the b a s is o f p r i o r
e x p e r ie n c e d i s c l o s e d in th e ir a p p lic a tio n
fo r m s (table 3). T h e p r o f e s s i o n a l, t e c h n i­
c a l, and m a n a g e r ia l c l a s s ific a t io n and the
c l e r i c a l c la s s i fi c a t io n a m on g u n a cce p te d
a p p lica n ts a r e g e n e r a lly c o m p a r a b le w ith
the s im ila r ly d e s ig n a te d c a t e g o r ie s am on g
e m p lo y e e s (ta b le 2 ). T h e s ld lle d , s e m i ­
s k ille d , and u n s k ille d c a t e g o r ie s a m on g
u n a cce p te d a p p lica n ts a r e g e n e r a lly c o m ­
p a r a b le w ith c r a ft s m e n , o p e r a t iv e s , and
s e r v i c e and la b o r c a t e g o r ie s , r e s p e c t iv e l y .
F o r e m e n and tr a in e e s in the e m p lo y e e
g ro u p ca n m o s t lo g i c a l ly b e c la s s e d w ith
m a n a g e r ia l p e r s o n n e l f o r p u r p o s e s o f c o m ­
p a r is o n w ith the u n a cce p te d a p p lic a n ts .
W om en a r e p r im a r ily c o n c e n tr a te d in the
c l e r i c a l fie ld in b oth g r o u p s , but th ey r e p r e ­
sen t a s m a lle r p r o p o r t io n o f the to ta l u n ­
a c c e p t e d a p p lic a n ts .

In a p p r a is in g m an y o f the c h a r a c t e r is t i c s
o f the la b o r su p ply a v a ila b le to the flrxi^
it w a s p o s s ib le to c o m p a r e the q u a lific a tio n s
o f a p p lic a n ts w ho w e r e h ir e d w ith th o s e o f
a p p lic a n ts n ot a c c e p t e d . W h ile to ta l i n f o r ­
m a tio n f r o m a p p lic a tio n f o r m s and i n t e r ­
v ie w q u e s tio n n a ir e s w a s u t iliz e d in d e s c r i b ­
in g e m p lo y e e s , i t w a s n e c e s s a r y to r e ly
w h o lly on a p p lic a tio n f o r m data f o r u n ­
a c c e p t e d a p p lic a n ts . T h e la tte r g ro u p is
TABLE 3 .

P e r s o n a l C h a r a c te r is t ic s

T h e co m p a n y w a s a b le on the w h ole to
a c h ie v e its p r e s c r i b e d sta n d a rd s w ith r e ­
g a r d to a g e and e d u ca tio n o f its e m p lo y e e s .
The p r o p o r t io n o f e m p lo y e e s in e a c h o f the

A p p lic a n ts u n a ccep ted b y th e Ravenswood p la n t , b y l e v e l o f s k i l l and s e x ,
summer 1937
Male

T o ta l

Female

O ccu p a tio n a l grou p 1
Number

P e rce n t

Number

P e rce n t

Number

P e rce n t

A l l g rou p s------------------------------------------------

522

100

486

100

36

100

P r o f e s s i o n a l , t e c h n i c a l , and
m a n a g eria l2 -----------------------------------------C l e r i c a l ---------------------------------------------------S k i l l e d 3..............................................................
S e m is k ille d 4- ................................................ U n s k ille d 5— .............................................. —

48
67
124
100
183

9
13
24
19
35

48
35
121
100
182

10
7
25
21
37

—

—

89
8

32
3
—

—

1

3

1 A p p lic a t io n form s w hich la c k e d d a ta on th e item s under a n a ly s is were o m itte d from th e
t o t a l i n d eterm in in g p e r c e n t a g e s .
2 In c lu d e s a few a p p lic a n t s who m ight a ls o q u a l i f y f o r s u p e r v is o r y p o s i t i o n s . Management
t r a in e e s w ere n o t in c lu d e d among u n accep ted a p p lic a n t s .
3 In c lu d e s m aintenance o c c u p a t io n s : b o ile r m a k e r s , b r ic k m a s o n s , c a r p e n t e r s , e l e c t r i c i a n s ,
m a c h in is t s , p a i n t e r s , and p i p e f i t t e r s .
4 C l a s s i f i e d b y th e company as p r o d u c tio n o c c u p a t io n s , in c lu d in g r o l l e r s , o p e r a t o r s ,
s h ip p e r s , potm en, and rodmen.
5 In c lu d e s la b o r e r s and such s e r v i c e o c c u p a tio n s as j a n i t o r s , guards and s to re ro o m
a tt e n d a n t s .




-

6

-

a g e c a t e g o r ie s c o r r e s p o n d e d g e n e r a lly with
that s p e c ifie d a s a gu id e to e m p lo y m e n t
o f f i c i a l s (ta b le 4 ) . Such d e p a r t u r e s as
e x is te d a p p e a re d to be p r im a r ily in the
d ir e c t io n o f a g r e a t e r r e lia n c e on young
w o r k e r s than had b een o r ig in a lly in ten d ed .
T h e la r g e s t p r o p o r t io n s o f you n g e m ­
p lo y e e s w e r e c o n c e n tr a te d in the c l e r i c a l
and la b o r c l a s s i f i c a t io n . W ith a ll but 3
p e r c e n t o f the t e c h n ic a l-m a n a g e r ia l e m ­
p lo y e e s b etw een 20 and 44 y e a r s o f a g e ,
the co m p a n y w as a b le to c o m e c l o s e s t to
its e s ta b lis h e d a g e sta n d a rd s in th is g ro u p
o f p e r s o n n e l, m o s t o f w h om w e r e t r a n s ­
f e r r e d . T h e a v e r a g e a g e o f the fo r e m e n
and c r a ft s m e n w a s n ota b ly h ig h e r than that
o f the o th e r c a t e g o r ie s w ith 45 and 46 p e r ­
ce n t, r e s p e c t iv e ly , 35 th rou gh 44 y e a r s o f
a g e , and 9 and 12 p e r c e n t , r e s p e c t iv e ly , 45
o r o v e r . F o r the e m p lo y e e s as a w h o le ,
h o w e v e r , the co m p a n y w a s a b le to o b ta in
a lm o s t 50 p e r c e n t o f its p e r s o n n e l w ithin
its d e s ir e d a g e ra n g e o f 25 th rou g h 34.
It is in s t r u c t iv e to c o m p a r e th e s e r e ­
su lts w ith the a g e d is tr ib u tio n o f u n a c c e p te d
a p p lic a n ts . T h e 25 th rou g h 34 a g e c a t e g o r y
(ta b le 5) w a s a ls o h e a v ily r e p r e s e n t e d in
the sa m p le o f u n a c c e p te d a p p lic a n ts . But
in c o m p a r is o n w ith the s e le c t e d e m p lo y e e s ,
a l a r g e r p r o p o r t io n w a s iii the lo w e s t and
h ig h e st a g e c a t e g o r ie s (9 and I I p e r c e n t,
r e s p e c t iv e l y ) . In c o n tr a s t w ith the u n s k ille d
e m p lo y e e s , an e s p e c ia lly la r g e p r o p o r t io n o f
u n sk ille d a p p lica n ts w a s in th e s e tw o age
grou ps.
O nly 4 p e r c e n t o f the p la n t’ s r e c r u it s had
ended th e ir fo r m a l ed u ca tio n in e le m e n ta r y
s c h o o l. T h e r e m a in d e r , in k eep in g w ith the
c o m p a n y ’ s h ir in g s p e c if ic a t io n s , had at
le a s t s o m e h igh s c h o o l e d u ca tio n , and
m o r e than 33 p e r c e n t had atten ded a c o l le g e
o r u n iv e r s it y . T h o s e who had attended
c o l le g e o r u n iv e r s ity in clu d e d 88 p e r c e n t o f
the p r o f e s s io n a l, t e c h n ic a l, and m a n a g e r ia l
e m p lo y e e s , and 49 p e r c e n t o f the fo r e m e n .
E ven 13 and 12 p e r c e n t , r e s p e c t iv e ly , o f
the c r a ft s m e n and l a b o r e r s w e r e in th is
e d u ca tio n a l c l a s s i f i c a t io n . T h e r e la t iv e ly
h igh e d u ca tio n a l le v e l o f th e s e h o u r ly ra te d
e m p lo y e e s r e f l e c t s the co m p a n y p o lic y o f
h ir in g w ith an ey e to the fu tu re su p ply o f
s u p e r v is o r y p e r s o n n e l. T h e s e e d u ca tio n a l
l e v e ls w e r e su b s ta n tia lly h ig h e r than th o s e
atta in ed by a c r o s s s e c t io n o f the adult
p op u la tio n in the cou n ty and S t a t e .9
91950 Census of Population, VoL n. Characteristics of the
Population, pt. 49 (West Virginia), (U.S. Bureau of the Census),
tables 20 and 42.




M any o f the e m p lo y e e s had su p p lem en ted
th e ir fo r m a l e d u ca tio n w ith b u s in e s s , t r a d e ,
o r t e c h n ic a l tr a in in g . A lm o s t o n e -fo u r t h o f
the c l e r i c a l e m p lo y e e s had atten d ed b u s i­
n e s s s c h o o l; and 28 p e r c e n t o f the c r a f t s ­
m e n and 18 p e r c e n t o f the o p e r a t iv e s had
atten ded tr a d e s c h o o l.
T h e c o n tr a s t in e d u ca tion a l attain m en t
b etw een e m p lo y e e s and u n a cce p te d a p p li­
ca n ts is e s p e c ia lly s tr ik in g . W h e re a s , on ly
4 p e r c e n t o f the o p e r a tiv e e m p lo y e e s and
10 p e r c e n t o f the e m p lo y e d l a b o r e r s had
ended th e ir e d u ca tion in e le m e n ta r y s c h o o l,
about 33 p e r c e n t o f the u n a cce p te d a p p li­
ca n ts f o r u n s k ille d and s e m is k ille d jo b s
w e r e at th is le v e l . A s id e f r o m th o s e in the
p r o fe s s io n a l, t e c h n ic a l, m a n a g eria l^ and
c l e r i c a l g r o u p s , o n ly a handful o f u n a cce p te d
a p p lica n ts had atten d ed c o l le g e o r u n iv e r s ity
and, ev en in th e s e o c c u p a tio n s , the n u m b er
w ith a h ig h e r ed u ca tion w as su b s ta n tia lly
b e lo w that in the c o m p a r a b le o c c u p a tio n a l
g r o u p s o f e m p lo y e e s . G iven th e s e sh a rp
d i ffe r e n c e s in r e p r e s e n ta tio n at the lo w e s t
and h ig h e s t le v e ls o f ed u ca tio n a l a tta in ­
m en t, it is in te re s tin g to note that the p r o ­
p o r tio n s w ho had ended th e ir fo r m a l e d u ­
c a tio n in h igh s c h o o l w e r e rou g h ly the sa m e
am on g e m p lo y e e s and u n a cce p te d a p p li­
c a n ts . It is a ls o s ig n ific a n t that a s lig h tly
h ig h e r p r o p o r t io n o f u n a cce p te d a p p lica n ts
had su p p lem en ted th e ir fo r m a l e d u ca tion
w ith tr a d e , b u s in e s s , o r te c h n ic a l tr a in in g .
T h is p r o v id e d s o m e co m p e n s a tio n f o r th e ir
d e f i c ie n c ie s in fo r m a l s c h o o lin g but a p p a r ­
ently w as in s u ffic ie n t to ju s tify th e ir e m ­
p lo y m e n t.
In c o m p a r in g the e d u ca tio n a l l e v e ls o f
e m p lo y e e s and u n a cce p te d a p p lica n ts , it
should be r e c a lle d that a r e la t iv e ly la r g e
p r o p o r t io n o f e m p lo y e e s with h ig h e r e d u ­
c a tio n w e r e in the p r o fe s s io n a l, te c h n ic a l,
m a n a g e r ia l, and s u p e r v is o r y c a t e g o r ie s
and that about o n e -fo u r t h o f the e m p lo y e e s
in th e s e c a t e g o r ie s had been t r a n s fe r r e d
to R a v e n sw o o d f r o m the c o m p a n y ’ s o th e r
e s ta b lis h m e n ts . It sh ou ld a ls o be n oted that
the data on a g e and ed u ca tion f o r o th e r e m ­
p lo y e e s a s w e ll a s the u n a cce p te d a p p li­
ca n ts w e r e not r e s t r i c t e d to r e s id e n ts o f
the R a v e n sw o o d a r e a . A s in d ica te d la t e r , a
la r g e p r o p o r t io n o f e m p lo y e e s and u n ­
a c c e p te d a p p lica n ts w e r e liv in g beyon d a
5 0 - m ile ra d iu s o f R a v e n sw o o d at the tim e
th e ir a p p lic a tio n s w e r e su b m itte d .
A lth ou gh th e r e w e r e la r g e r p e r c e n ta g e s
o f e m p lo y e e s than u n a cce p te d a p p lica n ts
in the p r e f e r r e d a g e and e d u ca tion c a t e -

- 7 -

TABLE 4 .

Employees at th e Ravenswood p la n t , b y a g e , e d u c a t io n , b i r t h p l a c e , address on
a p p li c a t i o n form , and o c c u p a t io n a l g ro u p , summer 1957
(P ercen ta g e d i s t r i b u t i o n )

Item

P r o fe s ­
s io n a l,
te c h n i­
A ll
C l e r i ­ F o r e ­ C r a ft s ­ Opera­ S e r v ­
T r a in ­
Labor
ca l,
occu p a ­
tiv e s
cal
men
men
ice
ees
t i o n s 1 and
manage­
ria l

Number o f em p loyees------------

888

Age-----------------------------------------Under 20 y e a r s -------------2 0 -2 4 y e a r s -------------------2 5 -3 4 y e a r s -------------------3 5 -4 4 y e a r s -------------------4 5 -6 4 y e a r s --------------------

100
6
20
48
22
4

E d u ca tion 2----------------------------E lem entary s c h o o l -------High s c h o o l -------------------C o lle g e o r
u n i v e r s i t y -----------------E lem entary p lu s
tr a d e s c h o o l 3-----------High s c h o o l p lu s
tr a d e s c h o o l 3-----------C o lle g e p lu s
tr a d e s c h o o l 3------------

100
4
49

100

B ir t h p l a c e --------------------------Ravenswood a rea 4---------O ther West V ir g i n i a
l o c a t i o n s 5-----------------C on tiguou s S t a t e 5--------N oncontiguous S t a t e 5—
F o r e ig n --------------------------A ddress on a p p li c a t i o n
form ------------------------------------Ravenswood a rea 4---------O ther West V ir g i n i a
l o c a t i o n s 5-----------------C on tiguous S t a t e 5 --------N oncontiguous S t a t e 5—

174

145

67

103

160

100

100
19
32
39
9
1

100

100

—

—

42
46
12

100
4
26
54
15
1

9

100
1
56

100
—
43

100
10
51

30

81

20

39

1

1

2

12

2

18

4

7

100
40

51

156

32

100
20
55
23
2

100
8
24
44
19
5

100
4
44
52

100
4
69

100
6
74

100
10
68

100

11

9

8

11

94

4

1

8

22

14

3

10

2

3

100
17

100
52

100
2

100
31

100
54

100
57

100
56

100
9

29
13
17
1

18
22
41
2

33
9
6

21
20
56
2

43
12
14

28
14
4

33
8
2

31
10
3

31
4
52
4

100
48

100
12

100
74

17
13
22

16
13
59

16
7
3

—

18
57
22
3

—

—

4
42
45
9

—

—

—
—

—

3

3
10

12

1

—

—

—

—

—

—

100
3

100
49

100
66

100
76

100
70

100
3

9
19
69

22
17
12

16
12
6

14
6
4

20
8
2

38
12
47

1 See f o o t n o t e 1, t a b l e 3 .
2 C l a s s i f i c a t i o n s in c lu d e th o s e who b egan , b u t d id n o t n e c e s s a r i l y co m p le te , e d u c a tio n
a t th e s p e c i f i e d l e v e l .
3 In c lu d e s v o c a t i o n a l , b u s in e s s , and t e c h n i c a l s c h o o l s .
4 W ith in a 5 0 -m ile ra d iu s o f Ravenswood.
5 Beyond a 5 0 -m ile ra d iu s o f Ravenswood.




-

8

-

g o r i e s , it ca n be in fe r r e d that the c o m ­
pany w ill be f o r c e d to r e v is e its h irin g
sta n d a rd s som ew h a t a s it expan ds e m p lo y ­
m e n t. E ven in the u n a cce p te d g ro u p f r o m
34 to 48 p e r c e n t o f the a p p lica n ts in the
v a r io u s o c c u p a tio n a l c a t e g o r ie s w e r e in the
p r e f e r r e d 25 th rou g h 34 age r a n g e . (See
ta b le 5 .) M o r e than 60 p e r c e n t o f th e p o te n ­
tia l p r o f e s s io n a l, t e c h n ic a l, and m a n a g e r ia l
p e r s o n n e l had atten ded c o l le g e o r u n i­
TABLE 5 .

v e r s it y , and f r o m 60 to 72 p e r c e n t o f the
o th e r o c c u p a tio n a l g ro u p s had attended h igh
s c h o o l. A lth ou gh it can n ot be e x p e c te d that
a ll o f the th ou san d s o f a p p lica n ts fr o m
w h om th is s a m p le w as draw n w ou ld re s p o n d
to a fu tu re co m p a n y c a ll, it is r e a s o n a b le
to a s s u m e that an adeq u ate w o r k f o r c e can
be s e c u r e d w h ich w ill m e e t the sta n d a rd s
o f a g e and ed u ca tion w ithout s e r io u s ly
r e d u cin g the qu ality o f the w o r k f o r c e .

A p p lic a n ts u n a ccep ted by th e Ravenswood p la n t , by a ge, e d u c a t io n , b i r t h p l a c e ,
add ress on a p p li c a t i o n fo rm , and o c c u p a t io n a l g ro u p , summer 1957
(P e rc e n ta g e d i s t r i b u t i o n )

Item

A ll
occu p a ­
tio n s 1

P r o fe s ­
s io n a l,
C le r ­
te c h n ic a l,
ic a l
and
m a n ageria l

S k il le d

Semi­
U n s k ille d
s k ille d

Number o f u n a ccep ted a p p lic a n t s -----

522

48

67

124

100

183

Age---------------------------------------------------------Under 20 y e a r s ----------------------------20-24- y e a r s ----------------------------------2 5 -3 4 y e a r s ----------------------------------3 5 -4 4 y e a r s ----------------------------------4 5 -6 4 y e a r s -----------------------------------

100
9
16
39
25
11

100
4
48
40
8

100
18
24
34
18
6

100
2
10
42
32
14

100
4
16
44
24
12

100
16
20
35
18
11

E d u ca tion ---------------------------------------------Elem entary s c h o o l -----------------------High s c h o o l ----------------------------------C o lle g e o r u n i v e r s i t y ---------------E lem entary s c h o o l p lu s tra d e
s c h o o l 2--------------------------------------High s c h o o l p lu s tr a d e s c h o o l 2
C o lle g e p lu s tr a d e s c h o o l 2-------

100
23
48
10

100
2
21
52

100
2
46
24

100
21
46
2

100
34
50
4

100
33
55
3

2
15
2

15
10

2
19
7

4
26
1

1
10
1

1
8

B ir t h p la c e -------------------------------------------Ravenswood a rea 3------------------------Other West V ir g i n i a l o c a t i o n s 4
C ontiguous S t a t e 4 -----------------------N oncontiguous S t a t e 4 -----------------F o r e ig n -------------------------------------------

100
29
50
16
5

100
15
41
23
19
2

100
41
42
11
6

100
15
57
23
5

100
24
53
19
4

100
40
49
10
1

—

—

—

—

A ddress on a p p li c a t i o n form -----------Ravenswood a rea 3-------------------------Other West V ir g i n i a l o c a t i o n s 4
C ontiguous S t a t e 4 -----------------------N oncontiguous S t a t e 4 ------------------

100
37
43
16
4

100
31
29
29
11

100
57
30
7
6

100
33
46
18
3

100
27
46
23
4

100
41
48
10
1

1
2
3
4

—

—

See f o o t n o t e 1 , t a b le 3 .
In c lu d e s v o c a t i o n a l , b u s in e s s , and t e c h n i c a l s c h o o ls *
See f o o t n o t e 4 , t a b le 4 .
See f o o t n o t e 5 , t a b le 4*




- 9 -

—

B irth p lace and P r e - K a is e r R esid en ce

e m p l o y e e s ; on ly 17 p e r c e n t had a p p lie d
fr o m b ey on d a 5 0 -m ile ra d iu s in W est
V ir g in ia . T h e c o m p a r is o n in d ic a te s the
im p o r ta n c e a c c o r d e d plant p r o x im it y f o r
h o u r ly ra te d e m p lo y e e s in the c o m p a n y ’ s
h irin g p o l i c i e s .

W h ile the co m p a n y w as g e n e r a lly a b le to
m a in ta in p r e c o n c e iv e d sta n d a rd s o f a g e
and e d u ca tio n in s e le c t in g e m p lo y e e s , it
did so o n ly at the c o s t o f aban don in g its
p r e f e r e n c e f o r plant p r o x im it y . F ift y -tw o
p e r c e n t o f the e m p lo y e e s liv e d b ey on d a
5 0 - m i le ra d iu s o f R a v e n sw o o d at the tim e
o f th e ir a p p lic a tio n , (See ta b le 4 .) S e v en teen
p e r c e n t liv e d in W e st V ir g in ia b eyon d the
5 0 - m i le ra d iu s and o v e r 20 p e r c e n t liv e d
in a n o n co n tig u o u s sta te .

T h e c o n t r a s t b etw een e m p lo y e e s and u n ­
a c c e p te d a p p lica n ts is e s p e c ia lly sh a rp f o r
the p r o fe s s io n a l, m a n a g e r ia l, and s u p e r ­
v i s o r y o c c u p a t io n s . F r o m 59 to 69 p e r c e n t
o f the e m p lo y e e s in th e s e o c c u p a tio n s
c a m e f r o m n o n con tig u ou s s ta t e s , and on ly
12 p e r c e n t o f the a c c e p te d fo r e m e n c a m e
f r o m the R a v e n sw o o d a r e a and o th e r W est
V ir g in ia l o c a l i t i e s . T h e p r o p o r t io n s o f u n ­
a c c e p te d a p p lica n ts w e r e a lm o s t c o m p le t e ly
r e v e r s e d , w ith 60 p e r c e n t o f th e p r o f e s ­
s io n a l, t e c h n ic a l, m a n a g e r ia l, and s u p e r ­
v is o r y w o r k e r s a p p lyin g f r o m the R a v e n s ­
w o o d and o th e r W e st V ir g in ia a r e a s , and
o n ly 11 p e r c e n t ap p lyin g f r o m n on con tig u ou s
s ta t e s . In th e s e in s ta n c e s , p r i o r in d u s tria l
e x p e r ie n c e and p e r s o n a l c h a r a c t e r is t i c s
ou tw eig h ed plant p r o x im ity a s d e c is iv e
f a c t o r s in co m p a n y s e le c t io n .

In g e n e r a l, d is ta n c e fr o m the plant i m m e ­
d ia te ly p r i o r to th e ir e m p lo y m e n t at the
R a v e n sw o o d w o r k s in c r e a s e d w ith the a p p li­
c a n t 's l e v e l o f s k ill. O nly 12 p e r c e n t o f the
p r o f e s s io n a l, t e c h n ic a l, and m a n a g e r ia l
g ro u p w e r e w ith in 50 m ile s o f the p lan t,
and o n ly 3 p e r c e n t o f the fo r e m e n liv e d
w ith in th is a r e a . A b ou t 25 p e r c e n t o f the
e m p lo y e e s in th e s e o c c u p a tio n a l g r o u p s
had b een t r a n s f e r r e d f r o m the c o m p a n y ’ s
o th e r p la n ts. On the o t h e r hand, 49 p e r ­
cen t o f the c r a ft s m e n , 66 p e r c e n t o f the
o p e r a tiv e s ,* and 70 p e r c e n t o f the la b o r e r s
e m p lo y e d a p p lie d fr o m w ith in the R a v e n s ­
w o o d a r e a . T h e g e o g r a p h ic d is tr ib u tio n o f
the m a n a g e m e n t t r a in e e s w a s s im ila r to
that o f the m a n a g e r ia l and s u p e r v is o r y
p e r s o n n e l, e x c e p t that a l a r g e r p r o p o r t io n
o f t r a in e e s l iv e d in o th e r W est V ir g in ia
lo c a t io n s at the tim e o f t h e ir a p p lic a t io n s .
T h e g r o u p w ith the g r e a t e s t p r o x im it y to
the plan t w a s that o f 145 c l e r i c a l e m p lo y e e s
o f w h o m 74 p e r c e n t a p p lie d f r o m w ith in the
R a v e n sw o o d a r e a .

In d u strial E xp erien ce
W h ile the co m p a n y w a s g e n e r a lly a b le to
m e e t its r e q u ir e m e n ts w ith r e s p e c t to a g e
and e d u ca tio n , p r o b le m s a r o s e in fin d in g
l o c a l w o r k e r s w ith the d e s ir e d s k ills and
in d u s tr ia l e x p e r ie n c e . E m p lo y e e s* p r in c ip a l
in d u s tr ia l c l a s s i fi c a t io n s s in c e 1950 g e n ­
e r a lly w e r e the s a m e as th e ir la s t in d u s tr ia l
c l a s s ific a t io n s p r i o r to e m p lo y m e n t at the
R a v e n sw o o d plant (ta b le 6 ). O nly 1 0 p e r c e n t
o f the e m p lo y e e s had b een p r im a r ily e n ­
g a g ed in alu m in u m m a n u fa ctu rin g in the 7
y e a r s p r e c e d in g th e ir m o v e to the plant and
o v e r fo u r -fift h s o f th e s e w e r e p r o fe s s io n a l,
te c h n ic a l, m a n a g e r ia l, o r s u p e r v is o r y p e r ­
so n n e l. S in ce m o r e than 80 p e r c e n t o f th o s e
w ith p r e v io u s a lu m in u m e x p e r ie n c e had
b een t r a n s fe r r e d
fr o m
o th e r co m p a n y
p la n ts, it ca n o n ly be c o n c lu d e d that l o c a l
r e s o u r c e s w e r e h ig h ly lim ite d in th is r e ­
g a r d . In a d d ition to th o s e w ith a lu m in u m
m a n u fa ctu rin g e x p e r ie n c e , 28 p e r c e n t o f
the e m p lo y e e s had b een p r im a r ily en gaged
in o th e r m a n u fa ctu rin g in d u s tr ie s b e fo r e
th ey c a m e to the p la n t. T h e r e la t iv e ly le s s
s k ille d e m p l o y e e s - - o p e r a t i v e s and th o s e
w o rk in g in s e r v i c e and l a b o r e r j o b s - - w e r e
e s p e c ia lly la ck in g in p r e v io u s alu m in u m
and o th e r m a n u fa ctu rin g e x p e r ie n c e . It w as
a p p a ren t that the co m p a n y w ou ld h ave to
u n d erta k e a v e r y c o n s id e r a b le tra in in g

E v en though the c o m p a n y a c c e p t e d m any
a p p lic a n ts w ho liv e d su b sta n tia l d is t a n c e s
f r o m th e pla n t, e x a m in a tio n o f the b a c k ­
g rou n d o f u n a cc e p te d a p p lica n ts r e v e a ls the
e x e r c i s e o f c o n s id e r a b le co m p a n y d i s c r e ­
tio n in th is m a t t e r . A m a jo r d is t in c tio n
b etw e e n a c c e p t e d and u n a c c e p te d a p p li­
ca n ts w a s t h e ir d is ta n c e f r o m the plant at
the t im e o f a p p lic a tio n (ta b le 5 ). In e v e r y
o c c u p a tio n a l c a t e g o r y e x c e p t p r o f e s s io n a l,
t e c h n ic a l, and m a n a g e r ia l, the p r o p o r t io n
o f u n a cce p te d a p p lica n ts a p p lyin g f r o m
w ith in the R a v e n sw o o d a r e a w a s s m a lle r ,
and the p r o p o r t io n o f u n a cce p te d a p p lica n ts
a p p lyin g f r o m o th e r W e st V ir g in ia l o c a l i ­
t ie s w a s l a r g e r . T h e fa c t that 43 p e r c e n t
o f a ll the u n a c c e p te d a p p lica n ts liv e d in
W e st V ir g in ia b ey on d a 5 0 - m i le ra d iu s o f
the plan t is an in d ic a tio n o f the a ttr a c tio n
the plan t had f o r w o r k e r s in the S ta te’ s
d e p r e s s e d a r e a s . But a m on g the a c c e p te d




-

1 0

-

program .
C o n se q u e n tly ,
e m p h a s is w as
p la c e d on the e d u c a b ilit y o f th e s e e m p lo y e e s a s in d ic a te d by th e ir a g e , e d u c a tio n , and t e s t r e s u lt s . D u rin g the p e r io d o f
the s u r v e y , the p r in c ip a l r e s p o n s ib ilit y in

s u p e r v is io n and tra in in g p r o g r a m s w as
a s s u m e d by the e x p e r ie n c e d co m p a n y t r a n s f e r e e s . Indeed, it w as the c o m p a n y 's in ten tion to tr a in m a n y o f the in itia lly h ir e d
h o u r ly ra te d e m p lo y e e s a s s u p e r v is o r s by

TABLE 6 . Employees a t th e Ravenswood p la n t , b y p r i n c i p a l i n d u s t r i a l c l a s s i f i c a t i o n s in c e
1 95 0, and l a s t i n d u s t r i a l c l a s s i f i c a t i o n p r e c e d in g Ravenswood p la n t employment, by
o c c u p a t io n a l g ro u p , summer 1957
C urrent o c c u p a tio n a t Ravenswood p la n t (p e r c e n ta g e d i s t r i b u t i o n )

P rev iou s
in d u s tr ia l
c la s s ific a tio n

P r in c ip a l i n d u s t r i a l
c la s s ific a tio n
s in c e 1950-------------M a n u fa ctu rin g :
Aluminum:
K a is e r —
O th er—
O ther manu­
fa c tu r in g Nonmanufac­
t u r in g :
A g r ic u l t u r e Mining.---------Other n o n manufac­
tu rin g —
L ast i n d u s t r i a l
c l a s s i f i c a t i o n ------Manuf a c t u r in g :
Aluminum:
K a is e r 3O th er----Other manuf a c t u r in g Nonmanufac­
t u r in g :
A g r ic u l t u r e M in in g---------Other n o n m anufac­
tu rin g —

1
th e
2
3

Num­
ber
of
A ll
emo ccu p a ­
p lo y tio n s
ees1

P r o fe s ­
s io n a l,
te ch ­
C le r ­ F ore­ C r a ft s ­ Opera­ S e rv ­
n ic a l,
ic a l
men
men
tiv e s
ic e
and
mana­
g e r ia l

Labor

T ra in ­
ees

839

100

100

100

100

100

100

69
18

8
2

28
2

1
-—

29
9

1
4

1
1

233

28

22

17

31

47

29

13
3

( 2)

503

60

48

82

31

47

67

67

64

72

836

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

68
15

8
2

27
1

1

27
8

2
5

1
1

2
---

1
1

232

28

22

31

51

28

27

27

2

3
1

2

9

1

2

( 2)

510

61

100

—

1

—

—
16

—

—

50

—

83

3 4

1

28

2

5
1

—

41

—

—

68

6
1

29

2
—

100

2
—

2
—

100

69

67

—

22

—

6
—

17

—

77

Does n o t in c lu d e 30 em ployees whose r e c o r d s in d i c a t e no employment p r i o r t o th a t in
Ravenswood p la n t and o th e r s f o r whom r e le v a n t d a ta were n o t a v a i la b le .
Less than 1 p e r c e n t .
T r a n s fe rs from o t h e r K a is e r p la n t s .




-

1 1

-

K a is e r jo b , and l e s s than 1 p e r c e n t had
b een p r im a r ily e m p lo y e d in m in in g , the
S ta te’ s m a jo r in d u s try . F u rth e r d e ta il on
fa r m o w n e r s h ip and fa r m w o r k am on g e m ­
p lo y e e s is p r e s e n te d b e lo w .

the tim e the fu ll e m p lo y m e n t c o m p le m e n t
w as rea ch ed .
A s id e f r o m the p r o f e s s io n a l, te c h n ic a l,
m a n a g e r ia l and s u p e r v is o r y f o r c e , and
c r a ft s m e n , o v e r t w o -t h ir d s o f the w o r k e r s
had b een p r im a r ily en ga ged in n o n m a n u ­
fa c tu r in g in d u s tr ie s in the y e a r s p r i o r to
th e ir e m p lo y m e n t in the p la n t. T h e s e in ­
d u s t r ie s w e r e la r g e ly tr a d e and s e r v i c e ,
t r a n s p o r ta tio n , g o v e r n m e n t a g e n c ie s , and
p u b lic u t ilit ie s . S ig n ific a n tly , o n ly 2 p e r ­
ce n t o f th e s e e m p lo y e e s had b e e n p r im a r ily
e m p lo y e d in a g r ic u lt u r e , the a r e a ’ s d o m i ­
nant in d u stry in the 7 y e a r s p r i o r to th e ir

A d d itio n a l lig h t on the r e a s o n s f o r the
s p a r s e r e p r e s e n ta tio n o f c o a l m i n e r s am on g
the e m p lo y e e s ca n be found in the in d u stria l
e x p e r ie n c e o f the u n a cce p te d a p p lica n ts
(ta b le 7). T h is g ro u p , lik e the e m p lo y e e s
(e x c e p t f o r th o s e tra n s fe rre d )^ had a lm o s t
no p r e v io u s e x p e r ie n c e in alu m in u m m a n u ­
fa c tu r in g and l e s s to ta l m a n u fa ctu rin g e x p e ­
r ie n c e than th o s e s e le c t e d . It fo llo w s that

TABLE

in d u s t r ia l

7 .

la s t

U n a c ce p te d

in d u s t r ia l

g ro u p ,

sum m er

a p p lic a n ts ,

c la s s if ic a t io n

b y

p r in c ip a l

p r e c e d in g

R aven sw ood

c la s s if ic a t io n

p la n t

s in c e

a p p lic a tio n ,

b y

19 5 0 ,

and

o c c u p a tio n a l

19 5 7

O c c u p a tio n

a p p lie d

fo r

(p e rc e n ta g e

a t

R aven sw ood

p la n t

d is tr ib u tio n )

P r o fe s ­
N um ber

P r e v io u s

o f

in d u s t r ia l

s io n a l,

em ­

p lo y e e s 1

c la s s if ic a t io n

te c h ­

A ll
o cc u p a ­

C le r ­

n ic a l,

i c a l

and

tio n s

S k ille d

S e m i­

Un­

s k ille d

s k ille d

m ana­
g e r ia l

P r in c ip a l
t io n

in d u s t r ia l

s in c e

c l a s s i f i e s -

1 9 5 0 -----------------------------------------

4 79

100

—

—

100

100

100

100

100

—

—

—

—

M anuf a c tu r in g :
A lu m in u m :
K a i s e r --------------------------------------

8

2

2

13 8

29

21

O t h e r --------- ------------------------------O th e r

m a n u f a c t u r i n g ---------------

—

19

2

4

1

29

40

2 7

N o n m a n u fa c tu r in g :
1 7

3

U

3

2

302

63

75

4 72

100

100

—

—

—

O th e r

L a s t

—

A g r i c u l t u r e ----------------------------------M i n i n g -----------------------------------------------n o n m a n u f a c t u r i n g -------

in d u s t r ia l

c l a s s i f i c a t i o n -------

3

1

7

4

2

4

79

62

53

6 1

100

100

100

100

—

—

—

—

2
—

M anuf a c tu r in g :
A lu m in u m :
K a i s e r ------------------------------------O t h e r ---------------------------------------O th e r

8

m a n u f a c t u r i n g --------------

2
28

13 3

—

2

2

4

1
26

1 7

23

3 1

3 7

N o n m a n u fa c tu r in g :
13

3

2

2

2

5

17

4

4

2

2

5

4

3 0 1

63

77

73

63

52

65

O th e r

1
to

D oes
t h e ir

—

A g r i c u l t u r e ----------------------------------M i n i n g -----------------------------------------------n o n m a n u f a c t u r i n g -------

n o t

in c lu d e

a lu m in u m

35

a p p lic a n ts

a p p lic a tio n

and

w h ose

o th e r s

a p p lic a tio n

fo r

w hom

a v a ila b le .




-

12

-

fo rm s

r e le v a n t

in d ic a te d

in d u s t r ia l

n o
d a ta

e m p lo y m e n t
w ere

n o t

p r io r

g r e a t e r p r o p o r t io n s o f u n a c c e p te d a p p li­
ca n ts had b e e n p r im a r ily e m p lo y e d in
n on m a n u fa ctu rin g in d u s t r ie s . A s in the
c a s e o f the e m p lo y e e s , th is in d u s tr ia l d i s ­
trib u tio n co n tin u e d up to the tim e o f a p p li­
c a tio n at the R a v e n sw o o d plan t. U n a ccep ted
a p p lica n ts w e r e som ew h a t m o r e h e a v ily
r e p r e s e n t e d in a g r ic u lt u r e and m in in g than
the s e le c t e d e m p lo y e e s . T h e a r e a s u r r o u n d ­
ing the R a v e n sw o o d plant is not a c o a l
m in in g s e c t o r . T h u s, m in e r s w e r e in that
g ro u p a pp lyin g f r o m beyon d a 5 0 - m i le
ra d iu s w h o se a g e , e d u ca tio n , and s k ills
w e r e in s u ffic ie n tly a t t r a c t iv e to c o m p e n s a te
f o r g e o g r a p h ic d is t a n c e . S om e e m p lo y e r s
w e r e c o n v in c e d that m in e r s w ou ld a lw a y s
re tu r n to the m in e s w hen an o p p o rtu n ity
a r o s e . A t the sa m e t im e , the r e la t iv e ly
s m a ll n u m b e r o f a p p lica n ts w ith a m in in g
b a ck g ro u n d s u g g e s ts that th e m in e r s t h e m ­
s e lv e s m a y h ave b e e n re lu cta n t to ch an ge
in d u s tr ie s d e s p it e the lo n g -r u n d e c lin e in
c o a l m in in g e m p lo y m e n t.

Farm Ownership and Farm Work
E ven though fe w e m p lo y e e s had been
p r im a r ily en g a ged in a g r ic u lt u r e in the 6
o r 7 y e a r s p r i o r to t h e ir e m p lo y m e n t at the
a lu m in u m pla n t, the im p o r ta n c e o f a g r i ­
c u ltu re in the b a ck g ro u n d o f the p la n t’ s
w o r k f o r c e ca n be se e n f r o m the fa c t that
a lm o s t 40 p e r c e n t o f the e m p lo y e e s had
w o r k e d on a fa r m at s o m e t im e d u rin g th e ir
p r e v io u s e m p lo y m e n t h i s t o r i e s , and m o r e
than 15 p e r c e n t w e r e liv in g on a fa r m w h ile
w o rk in g at the a lu m in u m plan t.
O f the 351 e m p lo y e e s w ho had p r e v io u s ly
don e fa r m w o r k , 31 p e r c e n t had fa r m e d fu ll
t im e , 66 p e r c e n t had fa r m e d p a rt tim e , and
abou t 3 p e r c e n t had en ga ged in v a ry in g
p e r io d s o f fu ll- t im e and p a r t -t im e fa r m
w o r k . T h e p r o p o r t io n o f e m p lo y e e s w ho had
b een e m p lo y e d in fa r m w o rk w as r e la t iv e ly
high f o r o p e r a t iv e s and l a b o r e r s and r e l a ­
t iv e ly lo w fo r p r o f e s s io n a l, m a n a g e r ia l, and
s u p e r v is o r y p e r s o n n e l, and f o r c r a ft s m e n .
T h is
d is tr ib u tio n
la r g e ly
fo llo w e d the
g e o g r a p h ic b a ck g ro u n d o f the e m p lo y e e s ,
w ith lo c a l r e s id e n c e and p r e v io u s fa r m
w o rk bein g c l o s e l y r e la t e d .
A lm o s t o n e -t h ir d o f th o se liv in g on a
fa r m at the t im e o f the s u r v e y w e r e o p ­
e r a t iv e s and m o r e than o n e -fo u r t h w e r e
l a b o r e r s ; but o n ly 20 p e r c e n t o f the fa r m
r e s id e n t s w e r e in the p r o f e s s io n a l, t e c h ­
n ic a l; and m a n a g e r ia l c l a s s i f i c a t io n s . H e re




a g a in , the p a tte rn o f p r e v io u s r e s id e n c e
w as s ig n ific a n t in c u r r e n t fa r m sta tu s.
S ligh tly o v e r o n e -h a lf o f the 137 e m p lo y e e s
who liv e d on a fa r m w e r e fa r m o w n e r s ,
and a lm o s t 70 p e r c e n t o f the fa r m r e s id e n ts
did s o m e fa r m w o rk in a d d ition to th e ir
w o rk at the a lu m in u m p la n t. A s in fa r m
r e s id e n c e , th o s e en gaged in s o m e fa r m
w o r k w e r e h e a v ily co n c e n tr a te d in the o p ­
e r a tiv e and la b o r c l a s s i f i c a t io n s .

Occupational E xperience
T h e o c c u p a tio n a l b a ck g rou n d o f the p la n t’ s
e m p lo y e e s w as som ew h a t m o r e d iffic u lt to
d e te r m in e than th e ir in d u s tria l e x p e r ie n c e .
F r o m the s p e c if i c o c c u p a tio n s lis t e d on
th e ir a p p lic a tio n f o r m s , an e ffo r t w a s m ad e
to p la c e e a ch e m p lo y e e in on e o f the m a jo r
o c c u p a tio n a l c a t e g o r ie s lis te d by the B u ­
rea u o f the C en su s w ith r e s p e c t to both
the o c c u p a tio n ju st p r i o r to e m p lo y m e n t at
the R a v e n sw o o d plant and the o c c u p a tio n
in w h ich th e r e had b een the lo n g e s t p e r io d
o f te n u re s in c e 1950. T h e s e p r i o r o c c u p a ­
tio n a l g ro u p s a r e c o m p a r e d w ith o c c u p a ­
tio n a l c a t e g o r ie s a s s ig n e d to e m p lo y e e s
in the a lu m in u m plant a fte r a 3 -m o n th p e r io d
(ta b le 8).
It a p p e a re d that the o c c u p a tio n a l l e v e l o f
m o s t o f the h o u r ly ra te d e m p lo y e e s had
been h ig h e r in th e ir p r e v io u s e m p lo y m e n t.
T h r e e -fo u r t h s
o f th o s e a s s ig n e d to a
la b o r e r p o s itio n by the co m p a n y had b e e n
in a m o r e h ig h ly s k ille d o c c u p a tio n a l c a t e ­
g o r y ju s t p r i o r to th e ir e m p lo y m e n t at the
alu m in u m w o r k s . A lth ou gh a r e la t iv e ly
la r g e p r o p o r t io n o f f o r m e r l a b o r e r s , s e r v ­
i c e w o r k e r s , and o p e r a t iv e s con tin u ed in
th e s e c a t e g o r ie s in the R a v e n s w o o d plan t,
a la r g e p e r c e n ta g e had b een f o r m e r ly in a
m o r e s k ille d o c c u p a tio n a l c a t e g o r y . T h e
s m a lle s t m o v e m e n t b etw een o c c u p a tio n a l
c a t e g o r ie s w a s in the s a la r ie d and s k ille d
o c c u p a tio n s .

Working W ives
F o r t y - t h r e e o f the 10^ w o m e n e m p lo y e d
in the plan t w e r e m a r r ie d at the tim e o f
the s u r v e y . A l l but s ix o f th e m w e r e in the
c l e r i c a l o c c u p a tio n a l c a t e g o r y . O v e r 50
p e r c e n t o f the w o rk in g w iv e s w e r e u n d er 25
y e a r s o f a g e , and 12 p e r c e n t w e r e 35 o r
o v e r . A lm o s t 90 p e r c e n t o f the w iv e s who
a p p lied f o r a lu m in u m co m p a n y jo b s w e r e
fr o m w ith in the R a v e n sw o o d a r e a , a m u ch

- 13 -

TABLE

8 .

C u rre n t

o c c u p a tio n a l
p r io r

to

g ro u p

o f

R aven sw ood

e m p lo y e e s ,

p la n t

(P e rc e n ta g e

b y

e m p lo y m e n t,

t h e ir

la s t

su m m er

o c c u p a tio n a l

g ro u p

19 5 7

d is tr ib u tio n )

P r o fe s ­
s io n a l,
E m p lo y e e s 1
p a tio n a l
to

la s t

p r io r

o c c u p a ­

e m p lo y m e n t

t io n s 1

g ro u p

p la n t

A ll

o c c u ­

te c h ­

S e r v ­

F o re . m en

m en

t iv e s

16 6

13 3

63

10 3

15 3

4 7

100

“ " 10 0

100

100

100

100

and

C r a fts ­

O p era­

C le r ­
i c a l

n ic a l,

T r a in ­

L a b o r

ic e

e e s

m ana­
g e r ia l

N um ber

A ll

o f

e m p l o y e e s --------------

o c c u p a t i o n s -------------------------"

P r o fe s s io n a l,

833
'

10 0

"

14 9
''

10 0

8

m a n a g e r i a l ----------------------

22

79

4

3 1

21

9

79

5

F o r e m e n ---------------------------------------------

7

2

1

38

6

3

C r a f t s m e n ----------------------------------------

13

2

2

5

74

6

13

7

O p e r a t i v e s --------------------------------------

24

5

16

2 3

2

1

S e r v i c e ---------------------------------------------

10

L a b o r --------------------------------------------------F arm

la b o r

o r

"

100

te c h n ic a l,

C l e r i c a l -------------------------------------------

and

19

fa r m

1

o w n er-

12
—

2

16

—

2
1

—

5
—

5
—

-

—

6
15

6

3

26

13

21
5

7
—

45

32

42

1

1

17

2

1

20

9

23

11

1

2

3

5

32
—

1____________
1 See

fo o tn o te

1 ,

ta b le

6•

h ig h e r p r o p o r t io n than th e a v e r a g e f o r a ll
plant e m p lo y e e s . A lth ou gh th ey g e n e r a lly
liv e d w ith in th e 5 0 - m i le ra d iu s at the tim e
o f the a p p lic a tio n , m a n y o f th e m w e r e
co m m u tin g c o n s id e r a b le d is t a n c e s to the
p la n t. T h ir ty p e r c e n t t r a v e le d 30 m ile s
o r m o r e e a ch w a y , and 7 p e r c e n t t r a v e le d
at le a s t 40 m i l e s . O v e r t h r e e -fo u r t h s o f the
w o rk in g w i v e s ’ h u sban d s w o r k e d s o m e ­
w h e r e o th e r than the R a v e n sw o o d p la n t.
A d d itio n a l in sig h t into the p r o b le m s o f
w o r k in g w iv e s in the R a v e n sw o o d a r e a w as
g a in ed f r o m the r e c o r d s and r e s p o n s e s o f
the 169 plan t e m p lo y e e s w ho in d ic a te d that
th e ir w iv e s had b e e n w o rk in g at the tim e
th ey (the h u sb a n d s) le ft th e ir p r e v io u s jo b s
(ta b le 9 ). A ft e r the h u sban d s r e c e iv e d jo b s
at the a lu m in u m pla n t, s lig h tly o v e r 50
p e r c e n t o f the w iv e s w e r e s t ill e m p lo y e d ,
5 p e r c e n t w e r e lo o k in g f o r w o r k , and the
r e m a in d e r w e r e no lo n g e r in the la b o r
fo r c e .
It w ou ld a p p e a r that o n e o f the p r i c e s
f o r m ig r a t io n to w o r k in the R a v e n sw o o d
plant w as the p o s s ib le l o s s o f e m p lo y m e n t
o f o n e ’ s w ife , a ss u m in g that m a n y o f the
w iv e s no lo n g e r in the la b o r f o r c e w ith d rew




b e c a u s e o f th e ir fe e lin g that su ita b le e m ­
p lo y m e n t o p p o r tu n itie s w e r e u n a v a ila b le .
C om pa ny p o l i c y , a s s e e n in p r a c t i c e , did
n ot r e a d ily w e lc o m e husband and w ife
te a m s in the p la n t. M any o f the w iv e s m a y
h a v e w ith draw n f r o m the la b o r f o r c e b e ­
c a u s e th e ir h usbands im p r o v e d th e ir e a r n ­
in g s at the a lu m in u m p la n t. H o w e v e r , s o m e
c o n fir m a tio n that the w i v e s ’ w ith d ra w a l
f r o m e m p lo y m e n t w a s at le a s t p a r t ia lly i n ­
v o lu n ta ry and lin k ed to in w a rd m ig r a tio n
is found in the c r o s s - c l a s s i f i c a t i o n in ta b le
9. Seven ty p e r c e n t o f the w iv e s w h o se
h u sb a n d s’ jo b a p p lic a tio n s c a m e fr o m w ithin
the R a v e n sw o o d a r e a con tin u ed to w o rk
a fte r t h e ir h u sban d s had t r a n s fe r r e d to the
n ew p la n t. But o n ly 44 p e r c e n t o f the w iv e s
w h o se h u sban d s a p p lie d fr o m W est V ir g in ia
l o c a li t i e s o u ts id e the R a v e n sw o o d a r e a
con tin u ed to w o r k a fte r th e ir h usbands
m o v e d to the plan t; and th e p r o p o r t io n w as
o n ly 15 and 21 p e r c e n t , r e s p e c t iv e ly , f o r
w iv e s w h o se husbands a p p lie d f r o m c o n ­
tig u ou s and n on con tig u ou s s ta t e s . In c o n ­
t r a s t w ith the n u m b e r o f w iv e s w ho w ith ­
d r e w f r o m e m p lo y m e n t w hen th e ir h u sban d s
m o v e d to the new R a v e n sw o o d p la n t, on ly
13 w iv e s not w o rk in g at the tim e o f th e ir
h u sb a n d s' p r e v io u s jo b s w e r e r e p o r t e d as

- 14 -

TABLE

9 .

W iv e s

w ho

w ere

e m p lo y m e n t

A d d re ss

on

w o r k in g

s ta tu s

h u sb an d

b y

h u sb an d *s

C u rre n t

N um ber

h u sb an d *s

a p p lic a tio n

w hen

and

A ll
w iv e s

on

R aven sw ood

a r e a 1 -------------------

O th e r

V ir g in ia

W est

l o c a t i o n s 2 -----------------------------C o n tig u o u s

S t a t e 2 -----------------

N o n c o n tig u o u s

S t a t e 2 ---------

1 See

fo o tn o te

4 ,

ta b le

4 .

2 See

fo o tn o te

5 ,

ta b le

4 .

E m p lo y e e s *

e s tim a te
p la n t

(p e rc e n ta g e

b y

c u r r e n t

d is tr ib u tio n )

E m p lo y e d

E m p lo y e d

L o o k in g

N ot

a t

e ls e w h e r e

f o r

la b o r

p la n t

w o rk

in

th e
fo r c e

100

2

50

5

43

2

68

2

28

39

100

13

100

28

100

jo b ,

o f

v a lu e

b y

44
—

o f

O c c u p a tio n a l

gro u p

N um ber

o f

e m p lo y e e s

A ll

o c c u p a t i o n s -------------- —

P r o fe s s io n a l,

e d u c a tio n

o f

6 1

18

O f th o s e who g a v e a s p e c if i c r e p ly , the
s a la r ie d p e r s o n n e l fa v o r e d fo r m a l e d u c a ­
tio n , w h ile the h o u rly ra ted e m p lo y e e s
ten d ed to s t r e s s o n - t h e - jo b tra in in g . S ig n if­
ica n t n u m b e rs o f c l e r i c a l e m p lo y e e s and
c r a ft s m e n a ls o m en tio n e d b u s in e s s , t e c h ­
n ic a l, o r tr a d e s c h o o l as m o s t h e lp fu l.

o f

v a lu e

18

85

d e s ig n a te d o n - t h e - jo b tra in in g a n d /o r e x p e ­
r i e n c e ; and the r e m a in d e r s p e c ifie d b u s i­
n e s s , te c h n ic a l, o r tr a d e s c h o o l, o r s o m e
o th e r ty p e o f tra in in g , o r fe lt u n able to
s p e c ify any p a r tic u la r tra in in g as m o s t
h e lp fu l (ta b le 10).

e s t i ­

m a te s

5 1

5
—

15
3

o c c u p a tio n a l

T yp es

and

jo b ,
19 5 7

100

In co n c lu d in g th is s e c t io n on the c h a r ­
a c t e r i s t i c s o f the p la n t's la b o r su p p ly ,
the e m p lo y e e s s u b je c tiv e ev a lu a tio n o f the
ty p e o f e d u ca tio n o r tra in in g w h ich h e lp e d
th e m m o s t in ob ta in in g e m p lo y m e n t at the
alu m in u m plant is o f in t e r e s t . O n e -th ird
lis t e d th e ir f o r m a l ed u ca tio n in h igh s c h o o l
o r c o l le g e a s the m o s t h e lp fu l; 3 out o f 10

c a l,

s ta tu s

p la n t
sum m er

89

E stim a tes of the Value of Training

A ll

e m p lo y m e n t

a d d r e s s ,

16 9

e m p lo y e d a ft e r the m en to o k th e a lu m in u m
plan t jo b s .

1 0 .

R aven sw ood

a p p lic a tio n

f o r m --------------------------------------------------------

TABLE

fo r

a p p lic a tio n

o f

fo rm

w iv e s

A d d re ss

a p p lie d

and

g ro u p ,

v a lu a b le

N one

o f

s p e c ia l
v a lu e

tr a in in g
su m m er

in

o b ta in in g

tr a in in g

(p e rc e n ta g e

O n -th e -jo b

H ig h

tr a in in g

s c h o o l

and
e x p e r ie n c e

o r
c o lle g e

888

100

17 4

100

2

14

80

14 5

100

14

27

3 7

27

30

R aven sw ood

19 5 7

d is tr ib u tio n )

B u s in e s s ,
te c h n ic a l,
o r

tr a d e

O th e r

s c h o o l

6

33

4

te c h n i­

m a n a g e r ia l—

C l e r i c a l --------------------------------------

2

2

18

3

6

F o r e m e n ----------------------------------------

67

100

3

52

34

5

C r a f t s m e n ------------ -----------------------

10 3

100

12

64

4

12

8

O p e r a t i v e s - --------------------------- --

160

100

52

27

16

3

2

S e r v i c e ----------------------------------------

5 1

100

23

57

10

4

6

L a b o r ---------------------------------------------

15 6

100

69

22

7

1

T r a i n e e s -------------------------------------

32

100




—

- 15 -

—

9 7

—

1
3

plan ts and i f s o m e e m p lo y e e s had not been
a ttra cte d to the plant f r o m c o n s id e r a b le
d is t a n c e s . One o f the r e s u lt s o f the t r a n s fe r
o f e m p lo y e e s into th is a r e a o f lim ite d e m ­
p loy m en t o p p o rtu n itie s m a y h av e b een s o m e
l o s s o f em p lo y m e n t by m a r r ie d w o m e n .

R e la t iv e ly la r g e p r o p o r t io n s o f e m p lo y e e s
in the le a s t s k ille d c a t e g o r ie s w e r e u nable
o r u n w illin g to d e s ig n a te a s p e c if ic ty p e o f
tra in in g o r ed u ca tio n as h e lp fu l. T h is m ay
h ave r e fle c t e d th e ir r e a liz a t io n o f la c k o f
e x p e r ie n c e in alu m in u m m a n u fa ctu rin g , but
sh ow ed a la c k o f a w a r e n e s s o f the w eigh t
g iv e n by the co m p a n y to g e n e r a l e d u c a ­
tio n a l b a ck g ro u n d .

U n a cce p te d a p p lica n ts had l e s s e d u c a ­
tio n than e m p lo y e e s and w e r e co n c e n tr a te d
in l e s s p r e f e r r e d a g e g r o u p s . A p p lica n ts
w ith s e r io u s p h y s ic a l h a n d ica p s w e r e not
h ir e d . On the a v e r a g e , the u n a cce p te d a p p li­
ca n ts liv e d fa r th e r f r o m the plant at the
tim e o f a p p lic a tio n . T h ey had ev en le s s
p r e v io u s e x p e r ie n c e in a lu m in u m and o th e r
m a n u fa ctu rin g ,
but had b een som ew h a t
m o r e g e n e r a lly en gaged in a g r ic u lt u r e and
m in in g . F a r m r e s id e n c e and fa r m w o rk
p la y e d a s ig n ifica n t r o l e in the b a ck g rou n d
o f e m p lo y e e s , but v e r y few w e r e p r im a r ily
en gaged in fa rm in g ju st p r i o r to bein g h ir e d
by the alu m in u m co m p a n y . A lth ou gh the
e m p lo y m e n t q u a lific a tio n s o f the u n a cce p te d
a p p lica n ts w e r e g e n e r a lly b e lo w th o s e o f
the a c c e p te d e m p lo y e e s , a s u ffic ie n t n u m ­
b e r in th is g ro u p w ith the r e q u is ite q u a lifi­
c a tio n s w ou ld p e r m it su b sta n tia l ex p a n sion
bey on d the p la n t’ s in itia l 900 e m p lo y e e s
w ithout a s e r io u s r e d u c tio n in the qu ality
o f the w o rk f o r c e .

Summary
A lth ou gh co m p a n y o f f i c i a l s w e r e u nable
to m a in ta in a ll the h ir in g sta n d a rd s se t up
as an id e a l g u id e , th ey a ttra cte d a h igh ly
s a t is fa c t o r y in itia l la b o r su p p ly . T h e r e l a ­
tiv e la c k o f a lu m in u m and o th e r m a n u ­
fa c tu r in g e x p e r ie n c e a m on g a r e a r e s id e n ts
w a s at le a s t p a r t ia lly o ffs e t by a p p lica n ts
at the p r e f e r r e d a ge and e d u ca tio n a l l e v e l s .
B a s ic s k ills g a in ed at r e la t iv e ly h igh o c c u ­
p a tio n a l le v e ls co n trib u te d to the g e n e r a l
e d u c a b ility o f e m p lo y e e s .
E ven s o , the la c k o f l o c a l w o r k e r s w ith
a lu m in u m o r o th e r m a n u fa ctu rin g e x p e ­
r ie n c e w ou ld h ave co n stitu te d a s e r io u s
p r o b le m i f it had not b een f o r the t r a n s fe r
o f k e y p e r s o n n e l fr o m the c o m p a n y ’ s o th e r

PATTERNS OF LABOR MOBILITY
Changes of Industry

T h e p r o c e s s by w h ich a la b o r su pply w as
m a d e a v a ila b le to the R a v e n sw o o d plant
can n ot be fu lly u n d e r sto o d w ithout k n o w led g e
o f the c a u s e s and p a tte rn s o f la b o r m o b ility
in th is f o r m e r ly d e p r e s s e d a r e a . The
p a tte rn s o f m o b ilit y in the y e a r s p r i o r to
the m o v e to the new a lu m in u m plant h elp
ex p la in that m o v e , and the n a tu re o f the
m o v e to the a lu m in u m plant h e lp s e x p la in
the c h a r a c t e r is t ic s o f the la b o r supply
d e s c r ib e d in the p r e c e d in g s e c t io n . S om e
o f the m o s t in te r e s tin g v a r ia t io n s in m o b ility
o c c u r a lon g o c c u p a tio n a l lin e s ; t h e r e fo r e ,
m u ch o f the fo llo w in g d is c u s s io n co n tin u es
the in te r o c c u p a tio n a l a n a ly s is . S in ce age
d iff e r e n c e s h ave a ls o b een found d e c is iv e
in in flu e n cin g m o b ilit y , a n a ly s is by age
g ro u p s is u s e d in s o m e in s ta n c e s to s u p p le ­
m en t that o f the o c c u p a tio n a l c l a s s i f i c a t io n s .
P a tte r n s o f m o b ilit y a r e d is c u s s e d in t e r m s
o f m o v e m e n t b etw een in d u s tr ie s , o c c u p a ­
tio n s , and g e o g r a p h ic a r e a s . B e c a u s e o f
the e n v ir o n m e n ta l co n d itio n s in the p r e s e n t
study, g e o g r a p h ic m o v e m e n t w as the m o s t
s ig n ific a n t.




-

It is the n a tu re o f d e p r e s s e d a r e a s that
th ey a r e c u s t o m a r ily d om in a ted by a sin g le
d e c lin in g in d u s try . If e m p lo y m e n t p r o b le m s
in an a r e a a r e to be s o lv e d by the in t r o ­
d u ctio n o f d i v e r s ific a t io n in the in d u stria l
b a s e , it w ill n e c e s s a r i l y in v o lv e a sh ift o f
m an y
e m p lo y e e s
fro m
on e in d u stria l
c l a s s ific a t io n to a n o th e r. In the R a v e n sw o o d
a r e a , the dom in an t in d u stry w as a g r ic u lt u r e ,
and 40 p e r c e n t o f the s u r v e y e d e m p lo y e e s
had been en g a ged in fa r m w o r k d u rin g s o m e
p e r io d p r i o r to th e ir jo b s w ith the alu m in u m
c o m p a n y . A su b sta n tia l sh ift out o f a g r i ­
cu ltu re had o c c u r r e d b e fo r e the e s t a b lis h ­
m en t o f the R a v e n sw o o d plant, h o w e v e r , as
w a s show n by the v e r y s m a ll p e r c e n ta g e o f
a p p lica n ts w ho had b een p r im a r ily en gaged
in fa r m w o r k in the p r e v io u s 6 o r 7 y e a r s
(ta b le 6 ). A lth ou gh s o m e t ie s to a g r ic u ltu r e
w e r e m a in ta in ed , o n ly 15 p e r c e n t o f the
c o m p a n y ’ s e m p lo y e e s s t ill liv e d on a fa r m ,
and o n ly 10 p e r c e n t w e r e s t ill en gaged in
p a r t -t im e fa r m w o r k .
16

-

T h e l o c a l e m p lo y e e s ’ m o b ilit y h is to r y
sh ow ed little m a n u fa ctu rin g in d u stry a tta c h ­
m en t p r i o r to o r at the t im e o f the m o v e to
the p la n t. W ith the m o v e m e n t out o f a g r i ­
c u ltu r e , m o r e than 60 p e r c e n t o f the e m ­
p lo y e e s
had b e c o m e a tta ch ed to o th e r
n on m a n u fa ctu rin g in d u s t r ie s , la r g e ly b e ­
c a u s e o f the la c k o f in d u s tr ia l a lt e r n a t iv e s .
W hen o p p o rtu n ity f o r m o v e m e n t into m a n u ­
fa c tu r in g p r e s e n te d i t s e l f in the fo r m o f the
new alu m in u m plan t, the e m p lo y e e s and
th ou sa n d s o f u n a c c e p te d a p p lica n ts w e r e
p r e p a r e d to m a k e a n o th e r in d u s tr ia l t r a n s i ­
tio n . One d iv e r g e n t n ote in th is p ic t u r e o f
re a d y in te r in d u s tr y m o b ilit y w as the lim ite d
t r a n s fe r o f c o a l m in e r s f r o m the d e p r e s s e d
a r e a s o f W est V ir g in ia b eyon d the R a v e n s w ood a r e a . A n a ly s is o f th e r e c o r d s o f the
sa m p le o f u n a c c e p te d a p p lica n ts in d ica te d
that th is lim ita tio n w as c a u s e d a s m u ch
by the m in e rs* u n w illin g n e s s to m o v e as it
w as by c o m p a n y h irin g sta n d a rd s (ta b le 7).
In te rin d u stry m o b ilit y a s a so lu tio n to
the p r o b le m s o f th is d e p r e s s e d r u r a l a r e a
is se e n , then, to be p r im a r ily a r e s u lt o f
the c o m p a n y ’ s a b ility and w illin g n e s s to
h ir e l o c a l a p p lic a n ts f r o m a lie n in d u stria l
b a ck g ro u n d s and tra in th em in a lu m in u m
p r o d u c t io n .

Changes of Occupation
T h e sh ift to the a lu m in u m plant fu r th e r
d e m o n s tr a te d the o c c u p a tio n a l a d a p ta b ility
o f the lo c a l w o r k f o r c e . T h o s e who w e r e
t r a n s fe r r e d f r o m the c o m p a n y ’ s o th e r f a ­
c i li t i e s o r a ttr a c te d f r o m c o n s id e r a b le
d is ta n c e s
la r g e ly m a in ta in ed the s a m e
o c c u p a tio n a l p o s it io n b e fo r e and a ft e r th e ir
jo b sh ift (ta b le 8 ). T h e s e w e r e te c h n ic a lly
tra in e d p e r s o n s w ho had a c q u ir e d a v e s te d
in t e r e s t in a p a r t ic u la r ty p e o f s k ill. F o r
the l o c a l a p p lic a n ts , h o w e v e r , the o p p o r ­
tunity f o r a g o o d jo b ou tw eigh ed any c o n ­
s id e r a tio n o f o c c u p a tio n a l a tta ch m e n t. O p ­
e r a t iv e s b e c a m e la b o r e r s and l a b o r e r s
b e c a m e o p e r a t iv e s in a r e a d y tr a n s itio n .
T h e o n ly e x c e p tio n to th is p a tte rn w a s the
lo c a lly r e c r u it e d c l e r i c a l w o r k e r s , w h o, lik e
the t e c h n ic a lly tr a in e d , had a v e s te d in t e r e s t
in a p a r t ic u la r s k ill and, f o r the m o s t p a rt,
m a in ta in ed th e ir p r e v io u s o c c u p a tio n a l s t a ­
tus a ft e r m o v in g to the R a v e n sw o o d p la n t.

o c c u p a tio n m o v e m e n t .10 A s has b een n oted ,
n e ith e r in d u s tria l n o r o c c u p a tio n a l a tta c h ­
m en t p r o v e d to be o b s t a c le s to m o b ilit y in
the fa c e o f the ou tstan d in g e m p loy m e n t
o p p ortu n ity p r o v id e d by the n ew ly e s t a b ­
lis h e d R a v e n sw o o d w o r k s . And y e t, w ithout
an unusual am ount o f g e o g r a p h ic m o v e m e n t
on the p a rt o f
in m ig r a n ts ,
re tu rn e d
m ig r a n ts , and c o m m u te r s the plant co u ld
h a rd ly h ave begun o p e r a t io n s .
P e rh a p s the m o s t n ota b le fin din g o f the
s u r v e y is that the co m p a n y , d e s p ite its
e x p r e s s e d p r e fe r e n c e f o r plant p r o x im ity
in c h o o s in g e m p lo y e e s , w as f o r c e d to a c c e p t
e m p lo y e e s liv in g at c o n s id e r a b le d is ta n c e s
to ob ta in its w o rk f o r c e . M o re than h a lf o f
the e m p lo y e e s liv e d beyond a 5 0 -m i le ra d iu s
o f the plant at the tim e o f th e ir a p p lic a tio n
(ta b le 4 ). M o r e o v e r , even m any o f th o s e
w ho had a p p lied fr o m w ithin th is ra d iu s had
a p p a re n tly m o v e d to the a r e a on ly r e c e n t ly ,
s in c e a little le s s than t w o -fift h s o f the
e m p lo y e e s had b een liv in g w ith in 50 m ile s
o f R a v e n sw o o d f o r 5 y e a r s b e fo r e th e ir
a p p lic a tio n (ta b le 11). An a d d ition a l o n e -fift h
o f the e m p lo y e e s had liv e d in o th e r W est
V ir g in ia a r e a s in the 5 -y e a r p e r io d , but
o v e r o n e -fo u r t h o f the p la n t’ s to ta l w o r k
f o r c e had been liv in g in n o n con tig u ou s
s ta t e s . A s in the c a s e o f the a d d r e s s e s
g iv e n in the a p p lic a tio n s , the la r g e s t p r o ­
p o r tio n s o f p e r s o n s liv in g in d ista n t p la c e s
b e fo r e th e ir e m p lo y m e n t in the alu m in u m
plant w e r e in the p r o fe s s io n a l, m a n a g e r ia l,
and s u p e r v is o r y o c c u p a tio n a l g r o u p s .
A d d itio n a l in d ica tio n o f m o v e m e n t in and
out o f the R a v e n sw o o d a r e a b e fo r e a p p lic a ­
tio n s w e r e file d w ith the co m p a n y ca n be
s e e n in a c o m p a r is o n o f the b ir th p la c e s o f
e m p lo y e e s (ta b le 4 ), th e ir r e s id e n c e f o r 5
y e a r s b e fo r e th e ir a p p lica tio n (ta b le 11), and
the a d d r e s s on th e ir a p p lica tio n fo r m s (ta b le
4 ). E x a m in a tion o f the p r o f e s s i o n a l- m a n a ­
g e r ia l g ro u p is e s p e c ia lly in s tr u c tiv e in th is
r e g a r d . A lth ou gh 17 p e r c e n t o f th e s e e m ­
p lo y e e s w e r e b o rn in the R a v e n s w o o d a r e a ,
o n ly 9 p e r c e n t w e r e s t ill liv in g in the a r e a
5 y e a r s b e fo r e th e ir a p p lic a tio n s w e r e s u b ­
m itte d , but the p r o p o r t io n had in c r e a s e d to
12 p e r c e n t by the tim e o f the a p p lic a tio n s .

Geographic Movement

T h e fa c t that 29 p e r c e n t o f a ll plant e m ­
p lo y e e s w e r e b o rn in m o r e d ista n t W est
V ir g in ia l o c a li t i e s sh ow s the im p o r ta n c e o f
th e s e a r e a s in the p a tte rn s o f g e o g r a p h ic
m o b ilit y . But 5 y e a r s b e fo r e a p p lic a tio n s

M o b ility
g e o g r a p h ic
r e s t r ic t e d

losee the summary of research findings on this point discussed
by Herbert S. Parnes, Research on Labor Mobility (Social Science
Research Council, Bull. No. 54, 1954), pp. 73-80.

stu d ie s g e n e r a lly sh ow that
m o b ilit y o f la b o r is m o r e
than in te r in d u s tr y o r i n t e r ­




- 17 -

TABLE

11.

M o st

p r e c e d in g

d ista n t

R av e n sw o o d

r e sid e n c e
p la n t

and

changes

e m p lo y m e n t,
C u rren t

re sid e n c e

o c c u p a tio n
(p e rc e n ta g e

Num ber

o f

a t

e m p lo y e e s

gro u p ,

in

su m m er

R av e n sw o o d

5

y ears

1957

p la n t

d istr ib u tio n )

P ro fe s­

o f

R e sid e n c e

o f

"b y o c c u p a t i o n a l

A ll

em -

o c­

p lo y -

cupa­

ees

tio n s

sio n a l,
te c h n i­

C le r ­

F o re­

C ra fts­

c a l, and

ic a l

m en

m en

tiv e s

ic e

100

100

100

100

100

100

39

52

61

54

3

O p era­

S erv ­

Labor

T r a in ­
ees

m an a­
g e r ia l

M o st

d ista n t

dence

in

r e s i­

p r io r

5

y e a r s 1 -------------------------

888

100

100

100

335

38

9

55

117

20

U

21

10

24

23

14

24

31

140

16

15

14

21

20

17

12

14

6

236

26

62

10

69

17

8

14

8

60

y e a r s 4 -------------------------

888

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

N o n e ------------------------O n e ---------------------------

678

76

56

82

84

74

78

84

88

78

147

17

25

13

16

18

18

12

10

13

T w o ---------------------------

40

4

12

3

—

5

3

2

1

3

T h r e e -----------------------

16

2

6

1

—

1

2

1

Four

17

1

1

1

—

2

R av e n sw o o d
O th e r

a re a 2

—

W est

V ir g in ia

lo c a -

t i o n s 3 ---------------C o n tig u o u s
S t a t e 3 ---------------N o n c o n tig u o u s
S t a t e 3 ---------------N um ber o f

changes

r e sid e n c e
w o rk

in

to

p r io r

or

1 E x c lu d e s

o f

fin d
5

m o r e --------

r e sid e n c e

2

See

fo o tn o te

3

See

fo o tn o te

4

E x c lu d e s

th e

w h ile

4 ,

ta b le

5 ,

ta b le

m ove

to

in

A rm ed

F o rces

e d u c a tio n a l

—

1

—

6
—

in stitu tio n .

4 .
4 .
th e

R av e n sw o o d

p la n t

w e r e file d o n ly 20 p e r c e n t o f the e m p lo y e e s
w e r e s t ill r e s id e n t s in th o s e l o c a li t i e s ,
and the n u m b e r w a s fu r th e r r e d u c e d to 17
p e r c e n t by the tim e o f the a p p lic a t io n s .

T h e a g e s o f the e m p lo y e e s w e r e a ls o
sig n ific a n t a s an in flu e n c e on g e o g r a p h ic
m o v e m e n t. T h e y o u n g e st and o ld e s t e m ­
p lo y e e s w e r e m o s t lik e ly to be found in the
R a v e n sw o o d a r e a 5 y e a r s b e fo r e a p p lic a ­
tion fo r m s w e r e file d (ta b le 12 ). In c o n ­
tr a s t w ith 72 p e r c e n t o f the e m p lo y e e s u n d er
20 y e a r s o f a g e and 50 p e r c e n t o f t h o s e 45
o r o v e r , o n ly b etw een 35 and 38 p e r c e n t o f
th o s e in the m id d le -a g e g r o u p s r e s id e d in
the R a v e n sw o o d a r e a .




or

—

and

m oves

w h ile

in

th e

A rm ed

F o rces.

F u rth e r in sigh t into the p a tte rn s o f g e o ­
g ra p h ic m o v e m e n t w as ob ta in ed by e x a m in ­
ing the len gth o f r e s id e n c e in the R a v e n sw o o d
a r e a o f th o s e e m p lo y e e s who a p p lie d fr o m
w ithin the a r e a (ta b le 1 3 ). M o r e than 70
p e r c e n t o f t h e s e a p p lica n ts had r e s id e d in
the a r e a f o r at le a s t 10 y e a r s , w h ile 42
p e r c e n t o f th is g ro u p had liv e d in the a r e a
s in c e b ir th ; 10 p e r c e n t had liv e d in the a r e a
l e s s than 2 y e a r s and 18 p e r c e n t m o r e than
2 but l e s s than 10 y e a r s . T h e len g th o f
r e s id e n c e in R a v e n sw o o d d iffe r e d by o c c u ­
pa tion a l g r o u p s , with m o s t o f the h o u rly
ra te d and c l e r i c a l e m p lo y e e s r e p o r tin g a
lo n g ten u re in the a r e a and the p r o f e s s i o n a lm a n a g e r ia l g ro u p h avin g a s h o r t e r p e r io d o f
r e s id e n c e .

- 18 -

TA BLE

12.

A ge

o f
5

e m p lo y e e s ,1 b y

y ears

m o st

p r e c e d in g

d ista n t

R av e n sw o o d

U nder
20

r e s id e n c e

p la n t

y ears

and

changes

e m p lo y m e n t,

o f

su m m er

r e sid e n c e

in

1957

2 0 -2 4

2 5 -3 4

3 5 -4 4

4 5 -6 4

y ears

y ears

y ears

y ears

R e sid e n c e
N um ber

M o st

d ista n t

p r io r

5

r e sid e n c e

cen t

N um ber

P er­

N um ber

cent

P er­

P er­

N um ber

cent

cent

49

100

175

100

406

100

188

100

36

100

35

72

62

35

147

36

72

38

18

50

3

6

44

25

91

22

33

17

15

14

7

14

37

21

63

16

28

15

4

11

4

8

32

18

105

26

55

30

9

25

y e a r s 5 ----------------------------------------

49

175
134

406

100

306

188
143

36

77

100
76

100

43

100
88

100

N o n e --------------------------------------------

76

33

92

O n e ----------------------------------------------

5

10

32

18

67

16

31

16

2

T w o ---------------------- ------------------------

1

2

6

3

21

5

11

6

R av e n sw o o d

a r e a 3 ------------------

O th e r W est

V irg in ia

l o c a t i o n s 4 --------------------------S t a t e 4 ----------------

N o n c o n tig u o u s
N um ber

o f

dence

1

P er­

N um ber

cent

in

y e a r s 2 ---------------------------

C o n tig u o u s

5

P er­

S t a t e 4 ----------

changes

to

fin d

o f

r e s i­

w ork

in

p r io r

T h r e e ------------------------------------------

—

—

2

1

7

2

2

1

Four

—

- —

1

1

5

1

1

1

or

m o re—

E x c lu d e s

---------------------

e m p lo y e e s

fo r

w hom

2 See

fo o tn o te

1,

ta b le

11.

3

fo o tn o te

4 ,

ta b le

4 .

See

TA BLE

13.

E m p lo y e e s

a p p ly in g
th a t

age

fro m

are a,

by

d a ta

w ere

w ith in

u n a v a ila b le .

th e

R av e n sw o o d

o c c u p a tio n a l
L e n g th

4

grou p ,

o f

in

—

1

3

—

—

See

fo o tn o te

5 ,

ta b le

4 .

fo o tn o te

4 ,

ta b le

11.

a re a,

r e sid e n c e

5

_

5 See

by

su m m e r

(p e rc e n ta g e

—

le n g th

o f

re sid e n c e

in

1957
R av e n sw o o d

area1

d istr ib u tio n )

N um ber
O c c u p a tio n a l

o f

gro u p

A ll

em ­

1

p e rio d s

p lo y e e s

o f

U nder
1

r e s i­

y ear

th a n

o c c u p a tio n s - -

P ro fe ssio n a l,
te c h n ic a l,

434

100

5

2

y ears

but

le ss

dence

A ll

y ear
but
2

le ss

th a n

5

5

y ears

but

10

y ears

o r

m o re

th a n

10

S in c e

but

le ss
not

s in c e

b ir th

b ir th

*

10

5

8

30

10

15

25

25

25

3

7

12

32

41

42

,
and

m a n a g e r i a l ----------

20

100

C l e r i c a l ------------------

107

100

F o r e m e n ---------------------

2

5

2

100

C r a f t s m e n ----------------

50

100

6

8

6

10

38

32

O p e r a t i v e s --------------

106

100

3

4

8

5

33

47
44

—

—

—

—

—

S e r v i c e --------------------

39

100

8

8

3

8

29

L a b o r -------------------------

109

100

6

2

8

11

27

T r a i n e e s -------------- —

2

100

1

In c lu d e s

R av e n sw o o d
2

a

area

N um ber t o o




r a d iu s
fo r

1
o f

50

b r ie f

sm a ll to

m ile s

—

aro u n d

in te r v a ls

p e rm it

—

R av e n sw o o d .

d u r in g

c a lc u la tio n

—

In c lu d e s

th e

in d ic a te d

o f

p e rc e n ta g e .

- 19 -

—

e m p lo y e e s

p e r io d s.

—

46
—

—

w ho

le ft

th e

to w o rk ; 11 p e r c e n t w e r e tr a v e lin g fr o m
40 to 50 m ile s , and 6 p e r c e n t w e r e c o m ­
m uting 50 m i le s o r m o r e e a ch w ay to the
plant (ta b le 15). C ra ftsm e n and l a b o r e r s
w e r e am on g the m o s t dista n t c o m m u t e r s ,
but the o th e r h o u rly ra te d e m p lo y e e g ro u p s
a ls o had a r e la t iv e ly la r g e p r o p o r t io n o f
lo n g -d is t a n c e c o m m u t e r s . T h e p r o fe s s io n a l,
m a n a g e r ia l, and s u p e r v is o r y e m p lo y e e s ,
on the o th e r hand, w ho c a m e la r g e ly fr o m
o u tsid e the R a v e n sw o o d a r e a , ten d ed to
s e ttle dow n c l o s e r to the plan t.

T h e a lu m in u m plant b e n e fite d not on ly
f r o m the e x te n s iv e m o v e m e n t into R a v en s w oo d o f f i r s t - t i m e a r r iv a ls but a ls o took
advan tage o f the r e tu r n m ig r a t io n o f f o r m e r
r e s id e n t s (ta b le 14). F ift y -e ig h t o f the n o n R a v e n sw o o d
a p p lica n ts
had p r e v io u s ly
r e s id e d in the R a v e n sw o o d a r e a . Six o f
th em had not liv e d in the a r e a s in c e p r i o r
to 1940, w h ile a lm o s t o n e -t h ir d had liv e d
in the a r e a d u rin g the y e a r s 1 9 4 0 -4 9 . A ll
o c c u p a tio n a l
g ro u p s
w ere
r e p r e s e n te d
am on g th e s e re tu rn e d m ig r a n ts e x ce p t
m a n a g em en t t r a in e e s .

D e sp ite the g re a t co m m u tin g d is t a n c e s
o n ly 22 p e r c e n t o f the e m p lo y e e s who liv e a
beyond 5 m ile s o f the plant e x p r e s s e d an
in ten tion o f m o v in g c l o s e r to it in the
fu tu re (ta b le 16). A la r g e p r o p o r tio n o f the
c r a ft s m e n w e r e in clu d ed in th is g ro u p . But
the l a b o r e r s , w h o se co m m u tin g d is ta n c e s
1e x c e e d e d th o s e o f the o th e r e m p lo y e e s and
who had m a d e fe w e r m o v e s to w a rd the
plant a fte r th e ir e m p lo y m e n t, in d ica te d an
in ten tion to ch an g e r e s id e n c e in the fu tu re
in o n ly s lig h tly g r e a t e r n u m b e rs than the
average.

Long-D istance C om m uters
E v en the e m p lo y e e s ’ e x te n s iv e w illin g ­
n e s s to ch a n g e r e s id e n c e w ou ld not h ave
s o lv e d the p la n t’ s la b o r su p ply p r o b le m s
w ithout a n oth er kind o f g e o g r a p h ic m o v e ­
m e n t. M any e m p lo y e e s w e r e w illin g to
c o m m u te c o n s id e r a b le d is ta n c e s in o r d e r
to w o r k at the p la n t. In v ie w o f the s c a r c it y
o f h ou sin g in R a v e n sw o o d in the e a r ly
p h a se o f the p la n t’ s o p era tion s* th is w as a
p e c u lia r ly fo rtu n a te ty p e o f m o b ilit y . A t the
tim e o f the s u r v e y , 33 p e r c e n t o f the e m ­
p lo y e e s w e r e tr a v e lin g fr o m 5 to 10 m ile s
TA BLE

14.

D a te s

o f

p r e v io u s
th is

re sid e n c e

are a,

N um ber o f

by

in

R av e n sw o o d

o c c u p a tio n a l

e m p lo y e e s

r e p o r tin g

T o ta l
e m p lo y e e s

A ll

o c c u p a t i o n s ----- .—

P r o fe s s io n a l,
n ic a l,

and

e m p lo y e e s
su m m e r

d a te s

R av e n sw o o d

O c c u p a tio n a l
gro u p

o f

gro u p ,

o f

w ho

a p p lie d

fro m

m o st

recen t

:r e s i d e n c e

in

1 9 5 6 -5 7

1 9 5 3 -5 5

1 9 5 0 -5 2

1 9 4 -0 -4 9

R a v e n sw o o d

4-54-

396

in

th e

area

No p r e v i o u s
re sid e n c e

o u ts id e

1957

6

16

B e fo re
1940

20

10

6

te c h ­
m an 154

145

C l e r i c a l -------------------------

38

25

a g e r i a l ----------------------

—

3

2

3

1

4

2

5

2

F o r e m e n ---------------------------

65

63

1

C r a f t s m e n -----------------------

53

45

1

1

2

3

1

O p e r a t i v e s --------------------

54

40

2

6

2

3

1

2

3

S e r v i c e ---------------------------

12

10

L a b o r -------------------------------

47

37

2

T r a i n e e s -------------------------

31

31

---




—

- 20

-

—

—

—

1

—

2
- ——

—

2
—

—

—

1
—

TABLE

15.

E m p lo y e e s'

c o m m u tin g

d ista n c e

to

su m m e r

o f

gro u p

A ll

n ic a l,

p la n t,

by

o c c u p a tio n a l

gro u p

1957

d ista n c e

to

(p e rc e n ta g e

p la n t1

d istr ib u tio n )

e m p lo y e e s
i

A ll

U nder

5 -9

1 0 -1 9

2 0 -2 9

3 0 -3 9

4 0 -4 9

50

d ista n c e s

5 m ile s

m ile s

m ile s

m ile s

m ile s

m ile s

and

888

100

2

33

14

20

14

11

6

62
26

7
11

15
27

7
18

5
11

4

o c c u p a t i o n s --------------

P ro fe s s io n a l,

C o m m u tin g

!
S N u m b er*

O c c u p a tio n a l

R av e n sw o o d

m ile s
over

te c h ­

and

m a n a g e r i a l ----------------------C l e r i c a l -----------------------------

174

100

1

145

100

3

F o r e m e n — *---------------------------

67

100

C r a f t s m e n ---------------------------

103

100

—

5

3

73

6

10

7

2

2

22

16

22

12

13

10

O p e r a t i v e s -------------------------

160

100

3

14

21

25

15

16

6

S e r v i c e -------------------------------

51

100

2

24

24

17

10

17

6

L a b o r ------------------------------------

156

100

1

12

16

19

T r a i n e e s -----------------------------

32

100

3

72

3

22

1

D is ta n c e ,

TA BLE

16.

one

w ay,

P la n n e d

fro m

re sid e n c e

r e sid e n c e

change

to

th e

o f

e m p lo y e e s ,

by

o c c u p a tio n a l
p la n s

(p e rc e n ta g e

N um ber
gro u p

o f
A ll

p la n s

liv in g

o c c u p a t i o n s -------------------------

P r o fe s s io n a l,

888

w ith in

100

3

grou p ,

o f

su m m e r 1 9 5 7

e m p lo y e e s

P la n

5 m ile s1

A ll

12
—

d istr ib u tio n )

C u r r e n tly

e m p lo y e e s

16
—

p la n t.

R e sid e n c e

O c c u p a tio n a l

24
—

to

m ove

c lo s e r

No p l a n s
m ove

75

22

te c h n ic a l,

m a n a g e r i a l -----------------------

174

100

2

13

85

C l e r i c a l ----------------------------------------

145

100

6

14

80

F o r e m e n ------------------------------------------

67

100

1

103

100

2

24
40

75

C r a f t s m e n -------------------------------------O p e r a t i v e s ------------------------------------

160

100

4

25

71

and

58

S e r v i c e ------------------------------- ----------

51

100

25

75

L a b o r ----------------------------------------------

156

100

1

27

72

32

100

12

13

75

T r a i n e e s -----------------------------------------

1 T h o se

liv in g

w ith in

5

m ile s

o f

th e

p la n t

—

w ere

Summary
In r e c r u it in g a w o r k f o r c e ,t h e a lu m in u m
plant w a s a b le to tak e advan tage o f an
a b s e n c e o f in d u s tr ia l and o c c u p a tio n a l
atta ch m en t on the p a rt o f the l o c a l w o rk
f o r c e . But, g iv e n the c h r o n ic a lly d e p r e s s e d
n a tu re o f the a r e a , ev en th is d e g r e e o f
fle x ib ilit y w ou ld not have s u ffic e d w ithout
su b sta n tia l g e o g r a p h ic
m o v e m e n t. T h is




to

c lo s e r

- 21

not

ask e d

i f

th e y

p la n n e d

to

m ove.

m o v e m e n t took the f o r m o f co m p a n y t r a n s ­
fe r s o f k e y e m p lo y e e s fr o m d ista n t s ta te s ,
in itia l in w ard m ig r a tio n f r o m su rrou n d in g
a r e a s , and re tu rn m ig r a tio n o f f o r m e r
r e s id e n t s .
Just as im p o rta n t as th e s e
m o d e s o f g e o g r a p h ic m o b ility , h o w e v e r ,
w as the w illin g n e s s o f r e s id e n ts in the
su rrou n d in g
a r e a to
c o m m u te
great
d is ta n c e s in o r d e r to ob ta in e m p lo y m e n t
in the plan t.
-

THE REASONS FOR MOBILITY
It r e m a in s to be a sk ed “ What p r o m p te d
the p a tte rn s o f p r i o r m o b ilit y ? What m o t i ­
v a te d w o r k e r s to m o v e to the new a lu m in u m
p la n t? *• In a n sw e rin g th e s e questions^under standing is g a in ed o f the b a s ic p r o b le m s o f
e m p lo y m e n t and in c o m e in a r u r a l a r e a
c h r o n ic a lly lim ite d in jo b o p p o r tu n itie s , and
fu r th e r lig h t is th ro w n on s o u r c e s o f la b o r
su p ply f o r new in d u s tr ia liz a tio n in su ch an
area.
In th is s e c t io n , an o b je c t iv e a p p r a is a l o f
the c ir c u m s t a n c e s p ro m p tin g m o b ilit y is
c o m p a r e d w ith the w o r k e r s * s u b je c tiv e
e v a lu a tio n s o f p a st e x p e r ie n c e and fu tu re
p rosp ects.
TABLE 1 7 .

Unemployment and Underem ploym ent
A s ig n ifica n t p o r tio n o f the la b o r m o b ility
in the a r e a ca n be ex p la in ed in t e r m s o f the
la c k o f a lte rn a tiv e em p lo y m e n t o p p o r tu n i­
t i e s . T h e attitude o f m an y a r e a w o r k e r s
to w a rd e m p lo y m e n t in the a lu m in u m plant
ca n b e s t be u n d e r s to o d in the lig h t o f th e ir
e m p lo y m e n t status in the p r e c e d in g y e a r s .
T w en ty p e r c e n t o f the p la n t’ s e m p lo y e e s
had been to ta lly u n e m p lo y e d at s o m e tim e
in the 3 y e a r s p r e c e d in g th e ir jo b w ith the
alu m in u m co m p a n y . F o r 49 p e r c e n t o f th e s e
u n e m p lo y e d w o r k e r s ;the to ta l u n em p loy m en t
e x p e r ie n c e d d u rin g th is p e r io d had been 1 but
l e s s than 3 m on th s (ta b le 1 7). E ig h teen p e r -

D u ra tion o f unemployment o f em ployees i n 3 ye a rs p r i o r t o Ravenswood p la n t jo b ,
b y l o c a t i o n and r e c e i p t o f unemployment com p en sation , summer 1957
(P e rce n ta g e d i s t r i b u t i o n )
T o t a l unemployment i n 3 y e a rs p r i o r t o p la n t jo b

L o c a t io n o f
unemployment
and r e c e i p t
of
unemployment
com pen sation

A ll
unem ployed1

A l l unem ployed----------------

100

6

100
52
27
14

L o c a t io n o f lo n g e s t
p e r io d o f unem ployment------------------------------Ravenswood a re a 2----O ther West V ir g i n i a
l o c a t i o n s 3-------------C on tiguous S t a t e 3—
N oncontiguous
S t a t e 3-------------------Number o f tim es r e ­
c e iv e d unemployment
com pen sation ---------------None--------------------------One----------------------------Two----------------------------T h ree-------------------------

7

100
45
47
7
1

1 bu t
le s s
than
3 months

3 but
le s s
than
6 months

6 months
bu t le s s
th an
1 year

11

49

18

11

5

100
80

100
32

100
50

100
53

100
58

100
78

10
10

37
10

30
12

19
25

26
16

21

8

3

100
47
53

100
50
47
3
—

100
47
47
3
3

Under
2 weeks

2 -4
weeks

—

100
70
30
—

—

---

—

1 year
and
over

22
—

—

—

100
10
53
32
5

100
22
56
22
—

1 T o t a ls 175 em ployees who were unemployed i n th e p r e c e d in g 3 y e a r s , n o t a l l o f whom
were n e c e s s a r i l y i n co v e re d employment.
2 See f o o t n o t e 4 , t a b l e 4 .
3 See f o o t n o t e 5 , t a b l e 4 .




-

22

-

p e r c e n t o f the u n em p loy ed o p e r a t iv e s had
b een w ithout e m p lo y m e n t f o r a to ta l p e r io d
e x c e e d in g 3 m o n th s. S ig n ifica n tly , th e s e
o c c u p a tio n a l g r o u p s w e r e the o n e s r e ­
c r u ite d p r im a r ily fr o m the R a v en s w ood
and o th e r W est V ir g in ia a r e a s . T h e r e l a ­
tio n sh ip b etw een u n em p loy m en t and lo c a t io n
is e m p h a s iz e d in the c r o s s c l a s s ific a t io n
co n ta in e d in ta b le 17. M o re than 50 p e r c e n t
o f the u n e m p lo y e d had s u ffe r e d th e ir lo n g e s t
p e r io d o f u n em p loy m en t w h ile liv in g w ith in a
5 0 - m i le ra d iu s o f R a v e n sw o o d and 27 p e r ­
ce n t e x p e r ie n c e d th e ir lo n g e s t p e r io d o f

ce n t w e r e u n e m p lo y e d f o r a to ta l o f 3 but
u n d er 6 m o n th s; 11 p e r c e n t f o r 6 up to 12
m o n th s; and 5 p e r c e n t f o r a y e a r o r m o r e .
L engthy p e r io d s o f c u m u la tiv e u n e m ­
p lo y m e n t w e r e e s p e c ia lly p r e v a le n t a m on g
the h o u r ly ra te d e m p lo y e e s . A bou t 33 p e r ­
cen t o f the la b o r e r s and a lm o s t 30 p e r c e n t
o f the o p e r a t iv e s who had b een u n e m p loy ed
had b een w ithout w o r k f o r a to ta l p e r io d o f
1 o r m o r e m on th s du rin g the 3 y e a r s (ta b le
18). A bou t 10 p e r c e n t o f the u n e m p lo y e d
c l e r i c a l , s e r v i c e , and la b o r g r o u p s and 15
TABLE 18.

Cum ulative unemployment o f a l l em ployees i n 3 y e a rs p r i o r t o Ravenswood p la n t
j o b , b y l o c a t i o n o f unemployment,* and o c c u p a t io n a l g ro u p , summer 1957
(P e rce n ta g e d i s t r i b u t i o n )

D u ra tion and l o c a t i o n
o f unemployment

P r o fe s ­
s io n a l,
te c h n ic a l,
and
m a n ageria l

A l l em p loyees---------------Cum ulative unem ploy­
ment in 3 y ea rs
p r i o r t o Ravenswood
p la n t j o b -------------------No unemployment—
Under 2 w eeks-------2 -4 weeks---------------1 bu t l e s s than
3 months-------------3 bu t l e s s than
6 months-------------6 months b u t l e s s
th an 1 y e a r -------1 y e a r and o v e r ----L o c a tio n o f lo n g e s t
p e r io d o f unem ployment----------------------------No unemployment----Ravenswood area1 —
O ther West
V ir g i n i a l o c a t io n s 2-----------------C ontiguous S t a t e 2N oncontiguous
S t a t e 2------------------

C le r i­
ca l

F ore­
men

Opera­
S e r v ic e
tiv e s

Labor

T r a in ­
ees

174

145

67

103

160

51

156

32

100
98
—
1

100
82
2
1

100
96
—
—

100
85
—
4

100
67
3
1

100
86
—
—

100
59
2
6

100
91
—
—

1

8

1

8

14

4

22

9

3

3

3

8

4

6

MM
—

100
98
—

—
2

3
1

...
—

...
—

4
3

2
4

4
1

100
82
12

100
96
—

100
85
4

100
67
17

100
86
8

100
59
24

4
1

3
1

6
2

8
6

6
—

10
6

3

2

—

1

1

—

1 See f o o t n o t e 4 , t a b le 4 .
2 See fo o t n o t e 5, t a b le 4 .




C r a ft s ­
men

- 23 -

—

100
91
—

6
—
3

u n e m p lo y m e n t w h ile liv in g in o th e r W est
V ir g in ia l o c a l i t i e s . T h e s e p r o p o r t io n s a r e
g r e a t e r than the p e r c e n t a g e s o f e m p lo y e e s
who w e r e r e s id e n t s in th e s e a r e a s e ith e r at
the tim e o f t h e ir a p p lic a tio n s o r 5 y e a r s
e a r l ie r (ta b le s 4 and 11).

c l e r i c a l e m p lo y e e s had c ite d h o u se h o ld o r
fa m ily r e a s o n s f o r p a r t -t im e w o r k ; and
la r g e p r o p o r t io n s o f the c l e r i c a l w o r k e r s ,
t r a in e e s , and p r o f e s s i o n a l- m a n a g e r i a lp e r ­
so n n e l in d ica te d that th ey had b een c o m ­
p letin g th e ir ed u ca tio n d u rin g the y e a r .

A fu r th e r in d ic a tio n o f the r e la tio n s h ip
betw een lo c a t io n and l o n g - t e r m u n e m p lo y ­
m en t is d is c lo s e d in ta b le 17. M o r e than
70 p e r c e n t o f th o se w ho w e r e u n e m p lo y e d
f o r a to ta l o f 3 but le s s than 6 m onths
s u ffe r e d th e ir lo n g e s t p e r io d o f u n e m p lo y ­
m en t in the R a v e n sw o o d and o th e r W est
V ir g in ia a r e a s . And th is r a tio in c r e a s e d to
84 p e r c e n t f o r th o s e u n e m p lo y e d f o r 6 up
to 12 m o n th s; and to 100 p e r c e n t o f th o s e
w ith cu m u la tiv e u n e m p lo y m e n t o f 1 y e a r
or m ore.

F o u r -fift h s o f th o s e who w o rk e d le s s
than a fu ll y e a r w e r e w o rk in g fu ll tim e
p a rt o f the y e a r ra th e r than p a rt tim e p a rt
o f the y e a r (ta b le 2 0 ). F o r ty p e r c e n t o f a ll
the e m p lo y e e s who w o rk e d l e s s than a fu ll
y e a r had w o rk e d 39 o r m o r e w e e k s , but 23
p e r c e n t had w o rk e d le s s than 13 w e e k s , and
12 p e r c e n t fr o m 13 to 26 w e e k s . F o r t y -s e v e n
p e r c e n t o f the g ro u p that w o rk e d fu ll tim e
p a rt o f the y e a r had w o rk e d 39 w e e k s o r
m o r e in the y e a r ; and 28 p e r c e n t o f th is
g ro u p had w o rk e d 25 w e e k s o r l e s s .

In sp ite o f len gth y cu m u la tiv e p e r io d s o f
u n e m p lo y m e n t in the 3 y e a r s p r e c e d in g th e ir
jo b s w ith th e a lu m in u m co m p a n y , m any
e m p lo y e e s had r e c e iv e d no u n e m p lo y m en t
co m p e n s a tio n . No b e n e fits had b een r e ­
c e iv e d by 50 p e r c e n t o f th o s e w ho w e r e
u n e m p lo y e d f o r a to ta l p e r io d o f 1 m onth
but l e s s than 3 m o n th s. E ven 4 7 p e r c e n t o f
th o s e w ho w e r e u n e m p lo y e d f r o m 3 up to 6
m on th s r e c e iv e d no b e n e fit s . T h is w as a ls o
tru e in the c a s e o f s e v e r a l e m p lo y e e s who
s u ffe r e d c u m u la tiv e u n e m p lo y m e n t o f 6
m on th s o r m o r e . W id e s p r e a d in e lig ib ility
fo r u n e m p lo y m e n t c o m p e n s a tio n m a y be
t y p ic a l o f r u r a l a r e a s w ith on ly sm a ll
n on m a n u fa ctu rin g e sta b lis h m e n ts and m a y
c o n tr ib u te fu r th e r to the d i s t r e s s o f th e se
areas.

A fin a l in d ica tio n o f the im p o r ta n c e o f
u n em p loy m en t as a fa c t o r im p e llin g m o v e ­
m en t is the fa c t that 11 p e r c e n t o f the
p la n t’ s e m p lo y e e s had been u n em p loy ed
im m e d ia te ly p r i o r to th e ir K a is e r jo b .
(S ee ta b le 19). T h e le s s s k ille d and the
c le r ic a l
grou ps,
p r im a r ily
r e c r u it e d
l o c a lly , w e r e found to h ave had le a s t e m ­
p lo y m e n t s e c u r it y . Tw enty p e r c e n t o f the
l a b o r e r s w e r e w ithout w o r k ju st b e fo r e
th e ir plant e m p lo y m e n t w h ile 13 p e r c e n t o f
the c l e r i c a l e m p lo y e e s and 14 p e r c e n t o f the
o p e r a t iv e s w e r e in th is c a t e g o r y . In th e s e
o c c u p a tio n s , the u n em p loy m en t r a te w as
h ig h e r f o r m e n than fo r w o m e n .

U n em p loym en t
and
u n d e re m p lo y m e n t
w e r e e s p e c ia lly s e r io u s p r o b le m s f o r m any
e m p lo y e e s in the y e a r p r e c e d in g th e ir w o rk
at the K a is e r pla n t. O n e -fo u r th o f th e m had
w o r k e d le s s than fu ll tim e du rin g the y e a r .
T h r e e -fo u r t h s o f the m a n a g em en t t r a in e e s ,
o n e -t h ir d o f the l a b o r e r s , and abou t t w o fifth s o f the w o m e n t e c h n ic a l-m a n a g e r ia l
e m p lo y e e s and w o m e n c l e r i c a l w o r k e r s
w e r e in th is c a t e g o r y (ta b le 19).

L e s s than h a lf o f th o s e out o f w o r k ju s t
b e fo r e th e ir alu m in u m plant em p lo y m e n t
had r e c e iv e d u n em p loy m en t co m p e n s a tio n
(ta b le 19). A little o v e r th r e e -fifth s : o f the
c r a ft s m e n , la b o r , and o p e r a tiv e e m p lo y e e s
had r e c e iv e d su ch b e n e fits , c o m p a r e d w ith
s m a lle r p r o p o r tio n s in the s a la r ie d o c c u p a ­
t io n s . S in ce on ly a handful o f s a la r ie d e m ­
p lo y e e s w e r e am on g the u n e m p lo y e d , h o w ­
e v e r , the p e r c e n ta g e d is tr ib u tio n o f b en efit
r e c ip ie n t s has little s ig n ific a n c e .

A rea Attachment
T h e r e a s o n s f o r l e s s than f u ll-t im e
w o rk d iffe r e d a m on g the o c c u p a tio n a l g ro u p s
(ta b le 19 ). T h i r t y - s ix p e r c e n t o f a ll e m ­
p lo y e e s w ho had not b een fu lly e m p lo y e d
in d ic a te d u n a v a ila b ility o f w o rk a s the
r e a s o n f o r p a r t -t im e e m p lo y m e n t, w h ile
the p e r c e n t a g e o f p a r t -t im e w o r k e r s in the
fo u r h o u r ly r a te d g r o u p s w ho had b e e n i n ­
v o lu n ta r ily id le ra n g ed f r o m 56 to 68 p e r ­
c e n t. T w e n t y -fo u r p e r c e n t o f the p a r t -t im e




T he la c k o f em p lo y m e n t o p p o rtu n itie s as
a fa c t o r im p e llin g m o b ility in a d is t r e s s e d
a r e a b e c o m e s m o r e s ig n ifica n t w hen r e la te d
to w o r k e r s ’ attach m en t to p a r t ic u la r g e o ­
g ra p h ic a r e a s . S u rv ey s show that w o r k e r s
in s e a r c h o f e m p lo y m e n t ch an g e r e s id e n c e
o n ly as a la s t r e s o r t . 11 W hen fin a lly c o m -

- 24 -

nSee pp. 16-17.

TABLE 19, P erson s n ot w orkin g f u l l tim e i n y e a r b e fo r e employment a t Ravenswood p la n t ,
and rea son s f o r p a r t -t im e w ork, b y o c c u p a t io n a l grou p , s e x and r e c e i p t o f unemployment
com pen sation

Reasons f o r p a r t -t im e work
O c cu p a tio n a l group
and sex

A l l o c c u p a tio n s -------------M ale--------------------------Female-----------------------P r o f e s s io n a l, t e c h n i ­
c a l , and m a n a g eria l—
M ale--------------------------Female-----------------------C l e r i c a l --------------------------M ale--------------------------Female-----------------------Foremen, m ale3---------------C raftsm en, m ale3------------O p e ra tiv e s -----------------------M ale--------------------------Fem ale-----------------------S e r v ic e ----------------------------M ale-------------- ------------Female-----------------------L abor, m ale3---------------- T r a in e e s , m ale3--------------

Number P e rcen t
w orking
of
em ploy­ p a r t
Number
tim e
ees
w orking
p art
tim e

F u l l tim e
work n ot
a v a ila b le
(p e r c e n t)

Unemployed immedi­
a t e l y b e fo r e
Ravenswood p la n t
employment

V o lu n ta ry
Number
(p e r c e n t)

Number
drawing
unemployment
com pen sation

888
780
108

25
22
5

219
173
46

36
(x )
C1 )

64
c1 )
(M

98
86
12

46
44
2

174
164
10
145
51
94
67
103
160
157
3
51
50
1
156
32

11
10
40
38
27
44
13
12
24
25

20
16
4
55
14
41
9
13
39
39

______

100
(x)
(x)
2 89
(3)
( 3)
78
38
44
( X)
(x )
33
n
(x )
32
96

4
4

1
1

—

—
—

11
C1 )
( L)
22
62
56
( X)
0)
67
( X)
( X)
68
4

—

12
10
100
34
75

6
5
1
53
24

—

—

19
8
11
3
8
23
23

5
3
2
1
5
14

U

—

—

1
1

3
2
1
31
7

—

19
—

1 D i s t r i b u t i o n b y s e x n o t a v a i la b le .
2 In c lu d e s 24 p e r c e n t w orkin g p a r t tim e b eca u se o f h o u se h o ld o r fa m ily r e a s o n s .
3 No fem ale em ployees i n th e s e c l a s s i f i c a t i o n s .
TABLE 20.

Employees w orkin g l e s s than th e f u l l y e a r p r e c e d in g
b y number o f weeks worked
A l l em p loyees1
Number o f weeks
Number

P e rce n t

Ravenswood p la n t employment,

P a rt tim e p a r t o f
th e y e a r
Number

P e rce n t

F u ll tim e p a r t o f
th e y e a r
Number

P e rce n t

T o t a l --------------------------------------------

209

100

45

100

164

100

Under 13 w eeks--------------------------13 but under 26 weeks-------------26 bu t under 39 w eek s-------------39 bu t under 52 w eeks-------------Number o f weeks unknown----------

49
24
50
83
3

23
12
24
40
1

20
7
10
6
2

45
16
22
13
4

30
16
39
77
2

18
10
24
47
1

1 E xclu d es th o s e who worked p a r t tim e th rou gh ou t th e y e a r .




- 25 -

p e lle d to le a v e the h om e a r e a to fin d a
jo b , th e r e w ill o fte n be a str o n g r e tu rn
p u ll. W ith b e tte r h igh w ays and the g r o w ­
ing o w n e r s h ip o f a u to m o b ile s , lo n g -d is t a n c e
co m m u tin g has b e c o m e an in c r e a s in g ly
im p o rta n t a lte r n a tiv e to r e s id e n c e ch a n g e .
But co m m u tin g in v o lv e s h a rd s h ip and jo b
c h o ic e is in flu e n ce d by c o m m u tin g d is ta n c e
as w e ll a s by o th e r c o n s id e r a t io n s .
In the 5 y e a r s p r i o r to th e ir jo b s w ith the
a lu m in u m c o m p a n y o n e -fo u r t h o f the p la n t's
e m p lo y e e s had m a d e at le a s t on e ch a n g e o f
r e s id e n c e in o r d e r to fin d w o r k (ta b le 11).
U n der the n e e d to o b ta in e m p lo y m e n t, 4 p e r ­
cen t had ch a n ged r e s id e n c e t w ic e , 2 p e r c e n t
had m o v e d 3 t im e s , and 1 p e r c e n t had m o v e d
fo u r t i m e s . C h an ges o f r e s id e n c e w e r e
e s p e c ia lly n u m e ro u s a m on g the p r o f e s ­
s io n a l-m a n a g e r ia l e m p lo y e e s , the s k ille d
c r a ft s m e n , and the o p e r a t iv e s . C h anges
o f r e s id e n c e in s e a r c h o f e m p lo y m e n t w e r e
m o r e c o m m o n a m o n g e m p lo y e e s in the 20
th rou g h 44 a g e g r o u p s than a m on g th o s e
u n d er 20 o r 45 o r o v e r (ta b le 12).
O f 66 e m p lo y e e s who had o n c e liv e d in
the R a v e n sw o o d a r e a and le ft the a r e a
d u rin g the y e a r s b e fo r e the e sta b lish m e n t
o f th e a lu m in u m pla n t, a lm o s t o n e -h a lf
r e p o r t e d that th e y le ft b e c a u s e o f a la c k o f
l o c a l e m p lo y m e n t o p p o r tu n itie s (ta b le 2 1 ).
An a d d itio n a l o n e - f ift h m o v e d “ in o r d e r to
TABLE 2 1.

g e t a b e tte r j o b ” o r f o r s o m e o th e r j o b r e la te d r e a s o n . T h e o u tm ig ra tio n o f the
h o u r ly ra te d e m p lo y e e s had been m o tiv a te d
by la c k o f e m p lo y m e n t to a g r e a t e r d e g r e e
than that o f the p r o fe s s io n a l-m a n a g e r ia l o r
c l e r i c a l e m p lo y e e s . A l a r g e r p r o p o r t io n o f
the 2 5 -3 4 y e a r a g e g rou p had m ig r a te d f o r
e m p lo y m e n t r e a s o n s than had th o s e m o t h e r
a g e c a t e g o r ie s .
T h e r e tu r n p u ll on th e s e m ig r a n ts ca n
be s e e n in the fa c t that a lm o s t 60 p e r c e n t
r e p o r t e d that, in a d d ition to th e ir e m p lo y ­
m en t at the alu m in u m w o r k s , th ey re tu rn e d
to the R a v e n sw o o d a r e a in o r d e r to g et
“ c l o s e r to h o m e * ’ o r f o r fa m ily r e a s o n s ;
and an a d d itio n a l 26 p e r c e n t a ttrib u ted th e ir
re tu rn to t h e ir p r e v io u s r e s id e n c e in the
a r e a a n d /o r a g e n e r a l a r e a p r e fe r e n c e
(ta b le 2 2 ). H om e and a r e a attach m en t w e r e
c ite d m o r e fre q u e n tly by the c l e r i c a l and
h o u rly ra te d e m p lo y e e s than by the p r o ­
fe s s io n a l-m a n a g e r ia l o c c u p a tio n a l g r o u p .
H om e and a r e a attach m en t a ls o p la y e d a
m o r e im p o rta n t r o l e in the re tu rn m i g r a ­
tio n o f the y o u n g e s t and o ld e s t e m p lo y e e s
than o f th o s e in the 2 5 -4 4 a g e ra n g e .
W h ile s o m e sought to fin d w o rk by
ch an gin g
th e ir
re sid e n ce ^ m any o th e r
R a v e n sw o o d a r e a w o r k e r s , fa c e d by the
c h r o n ic s h o rta g e o f jo b o p p o r tu n itie s , had
b een com m u tin g c o n s id e r a b le d is ta n c e s in
o r d e r to o b ta in e m p lo y m e n t d u rin g the y e a r s

Returned m ig ra n ts , b y re a son s f o r le a v in g th e Ravenswood a re a p r i o r t o p la n t
employment, b y o c c u p a t io n a l group and a g e , summer .1957
Reasons f o r le a v in g a re a o r i g i n a l l y
(p e r ce n ta g e d i s t r i b u t i o n )

Number
of
re tu rn e d
m igran ts

A ll
re a so n s

Lack
of
em ploy­
ment

A l l re tu rn e d m ig ra n ts -----------------------------

66

100

4-8

21

14

17

P r o f e s s io n a l and m a n a g eria l-----------------C l e r i c a l -----------------------------------------------------H ou rly r a t e d ----------------------------------------------

12
14
40

100
100
100

42
29
57

25
29
18

8
28
10

25
14
15

Age ( a l l re tu rn e d m ig r a n ts )-----------------Under 24 y e a r s ----------------------------------2 5 -3 4 y e a r s ---------------------------------------3 5 -4 4 y e a r s ---------------------------------------

66
20
33
2 13

100
100
100
100

48
45
55
38

21
30
15
23

14
10
18
8

17
15
12
31

O c cu p a tio n a l group and age

Other
j o b - Fam ily
O ther1
r e la t e d rea son s
re a so n s

1 In c lu d e s a w ide v a r i e t y o f re a son s su ch as c lim a t e , h e a lt h , e t c .
2 In c lu d e s 2 p erson s 4 5 -6 5 y e a rs o f age.




- 26 -

TABLE 2 2 .

R e tu rn e d m ig r a n t s , b y re a s o n s f o r r e t u r n i n g t o th e Ravenswood a r e a , b y
o c c u p a t io n a l g ro u p and a g e , summer 1 9 5 7

O c c u p a tio n a l g ro u p
-a n d age

Number
of
re tu rn e d
m ig r a n ts

R easons f o r r e t u r n in g t o a r e a (p e r c e n ta g e
d is tr ib u tio n )
No re a s o n
o t h e r th a n
p l a n t jo b

A ll
re a s o n s

C lo s e r to
home o r
fa m ily
re a s o n s

P r e v io u s
r e s id e n c e
and a r e a
p re fe re n c e

A l l r e t u r n e d m ig r a n t s --------

66

100

14

59

26

P r o f e s s i o n a l and
m a n a g e r ia l--------------------------C l e r i c a l ------------------ ----------------H o u r ly r a t e d ---------------------------

12
14
40

100
100
100

25
14
10

33
72
62

33
14
28

Age ( a l l r e t u r n e d
m i g r a n t s ) ----------------------------U n d e r 2 4 y e a r s -------------2 5 - 3 4 y e a r s --------------------3 5 - 4 4 y e a r s ---------------------

66
20
33
1 13

100
10 0
100
100

14
10
18

59
70
55
54

26
20
24
38

S

O th e r

1
9
—
—

1
—

3
—

1 In c lu d e s 2 p e rs o n s 4 5 - 6 4 y e a r s o f a g e .
b e fo r e the e sta b lis h m e n t o f the R a v e n sw o o d
p la n t. In the 5 y e a r s b e fo r e th e ir K a is e r
e m p lo y m e n t, o v e r o n e -t h ir d o f the R a v e n s ­
w oo d a r e a e m p lo y e e s w e r e co m m u tin g 30
m i le s o r m o r e to w o r k , and 23 p e r c e n t o f
the to ta l w e r e d r iv in g 50 m ile s o r m o r e to
TABLE 2 3 .

th e ir p la c e o f e m p lo y m e n t (ta b le 2 3 ). T he
lon g -d is ta n c e c o m m u te r s w e r e m o s t h e a v ily
c o n c e n tr a te d am on g the h o u r ly ra ted e m ­
p l o y e e s , w ith 31 p e r c e n t o f the s e r v i c e
w o r k e r s and 29 p e r c e n t o f the c r a ft s m e n
co m m u tin g 50 m ile s o r m o r e to w o r k .

Com m uting d is t a n c e o f e m p lo yees i n Ravenswood a r e a d u r in g 5 y e a r s p r i o r t o
K a is e r p l a n t e m p lo y m e n t, b y o c c u p a t io n a l g r o u p , summer 1 9 5 7

O c c u p a t io n a l g ro u p

Number
of
e m p lo y e e s 2

Com m uting d is t a n c e t o a r e a 1
(p e r c e n ta g e d i s t r i b u t i o n )
A ll
U n d e r 10
d is ta n c e s
m ile s

1 0 -2 9
m ile s

3 0 -4 9
m ile s

50 m ile s
and o v e r

A l l o c c u p a tio n s ------------------------------------------

414

10 0

56

10

11

23

P r o f e s s i o n a l , t e c h n i c a l , and
m a n a g e r ia l---------------------------------------C l e r i c a l -----------------------------------------------F o rem en --------------------------------------------------C ra fts m e n ---------------------------------------------O p e r a t iv e s -------------------------------------------S e r v i c e --------------------------------------------------L a b o r------------------------------------------------------T r a in e e s ------------------------------------------------

21
97
3 1
49
107
35
104
—

100
100
100
100
100
100
1Q0
—

48
64
—
45
54
54
59
— -•

19
7
—
16
9
6
11
—

19
10
—
10
12
9
8
---

14
19
—
29
25
31
22
---

1
2
had
3

D is t a n c e , one w a y , fro m r e s id e n c e t o p la c e o f e m p lo y m e n t.
Does n o t in c lu d e p l a n t e m p lo y e e s who r e s id e d beyo nd a 5 0 - m ile r a d iu s o f Ravensw ood o r
no jo b d u r in g th e 5 y e a r s p r i o r t o p l a n t e m p lo ym en t.
Number to o s m a ll t o p e r m it c a l c u l a t i o n o f p e r c e n ta g e .




- 27 -

W a g e s a n d S a la r i e s

In v ie w o f the la c k o f e m p lo y m e n t o p p o r ­
tu n itie s and the n eed to ch a n ge r e s id e n c e
and co m m u te g r e a t d is t a n c e s in o r d e r to
find w o r k b e fo r e e sta b lis h m e n t o f the
alu m in u m pla n t, it is u n d e rsta n d a b le that
the plant w as v ie w e d a s an ou tstan d in g e m ­
p lo y m e n t op p o rtu n ity f o r R a v en s w o o d a r e a
r e s id e n t s . B ut, in a d d ition to th e s e f a c t o r s ,
the plant a ls o r e p r e s e n t e d a m e a n s o f w a g e
im p r o v e m e n t f o r m an y w o r k e r s in the
a rea.
In o r d e r to d e te r m in e w h eth er e m p lo y e e s
im p r o v e d th e ir e a rn in g s p o s it io n by a c c e p t ­
ing e m p lo y m e n t in the new plant^ a c o m ­
p a r is o n w as m a d e o f th e ir p r e s e n t plant
e a rn in g s and th o s e show n on t h e ir a p p li­
c a tio n fo r m s f o r the p r e v io u s jo b . A lth ou gh
the s p e c if i c plan t e a rn in g s data w e r e g e n ­
e r a lly c o m p le t e f o r the h o u r ly r a te d e m ­
p lo y e e s , th ey w e r e not a v a ila b le f o r m o s t
o f the s a la r ie d p e r s o n n e l. F o r th is la tte r
g ro u p , a b rea k d ow n o f e a rn in g s on the p r i o r
jo b w as p r o v id e d , and in fe r e n c e s w e r e
d ra w n f r o m a c o m p a r is o n w ith s a la r ie s
r e c e iv e d by s im ila r o c c u p a tio n a l g r o u p s in
the R a v e n s w o o d pla n t.
A s is s e e n in ta b le 24, 60 p e r c e n t o f the
h o u r ly ra te d e m p lo y e e s r e c e iv e d a h ig h e r
w a g e at the K a is e r plant (e it h e r upon in itia l
h ir in g o r a fte r a 3 -m o n th p e r io d i f th ey
TABLE 2 4 .

w e r e p r o m o te d ) than on th e ir p r e v io u s
jo b ; 38 p e r c e n t r e c e iv e d a lo w e r w a g e, and
2 p e r c e n t , the s a m e w a g e . T h e g r e a t e s t
w a g e im p r o v e m e n t w as e x p e r ie n c e d by the
s e r v i c e w o r k e r s and the c r a ft s m e n . O nly
s lig h tly m o r e than 50 p e r c e n t o f the e m ­
p lo y e e s who a c c e p te d u n s k ille d p o s itio n s in
the plant im p r o v e d th e ir e a r n in g s . A s
p r e v io u s ly n oted , m an y o f the e m p lo y e e s in
th is o c c u p a tio n a l g ro u p had e n jo y e d a h ig h e r
o c c u p a tio n a l status in th e ir p r i o r jo b s .
H o w e v e r , m an y o f th em w e r e sla te d fo r
h ig h e r o c c u p a tio n a l p o s it io n s , in clu d in g
s u p e r v is o r y w o r k , a s plant p r o d u ctio n and
em p lo y m e n t ex p an d ed .
T h e alu m in u m plant a p p a ren tly e s t a b ­
lis h e d o c c u p a tio n a l w a g e s c a le s s i g n if i ­
ca n tly a b o v e th o s e p r e v a ilin g in the R a v e n s w o o d a r e a . T h e s e s c a le s r e f le c t e d the
co m p a n y *s n a tion a l w a g e p o lic y and a r e c o g n itio n o f the n eed to a ttr a c t w o r k e r s fr o m
o th e r e s ta b lis h m e n ts . T h e plant r a is e d its
w a g e f o r s k ille d m a in ten a n ce c r a fts m e n
a ft e r fin din g that the in itia l w a g e w as not
h igh enough to a ttra ct a s u ffic ie n t su p ply
o f q u a lifie d w o r k e r s . S im ila r ly , it w as
fe lt n e c e s s a r y to se t the s a la r y f o r o f f i c e
w o r k e r s a b o v e the a r e a a v e r a g e b e c a u s e o f
a g e n e r a l s h o r ta g e in th is o c c u p a tio n a l
c a t e g o r y . T h e w age im p r o v e m e n t e x p e ­
r ie n c e d by s e r v i c e w o r k e r s p r o b a b ly r e ­
fle c t e d th e ir p r e v io u s c o n c e n tr a tio n in l o w p ay in g jo b s in the im m e d ia te R a v e n sw o o d

Wages r e c e iv e d b y h o u r ly r a t e d e m p lo yees b e f o r e and a f t e r Ravensw ood p l a n t
e m p lo y m e n t, b y o c c u p a t io n a l g ro u p

O c c u p a tio n a l g ro u p

Number
of
e m p lo y e e s 1

Wage l e v e l s a t Ravenswood p l a n t 2
(p e r c e n ta g e d i s t r i b u t i o n )
A ll
Ravenswood
Ravensw ood
Ravensw ood th e
h ig h e r th a n
lo w e r th a n
wage
same as p r e ­
l e v e l s p r e v io u s w age3 p r e v io u s w age3 v io u s w age3

A l l h o u r ly r a t e d
e m p lo y e e s ---------------------------

403

100

38

60

2

C ra fts m e n ------------------------------O p e r a t iv e s ----------------------------S e r v i c e -----------------------------------L a b o r----------------------------------------

97
137
41
1 28

10 0
100
100
100

33
37
27
46

66
61
71
51

1
2
2
3

1 E x c lu d e s e m p lo y e e s who had no jo b p r i o r t o Ravensw ood p l a n t em ploym ent and th o s e f o r
whom no a d e q u a te wage d a t a w e re r e c o r d e d .
2 W h e re v e r p o s s ib le ^ w ages a t th e Ravenswood p l a n t w e re th o s e e i t h e r upon i n i t i a l h i r i n g
o r 3 m onths l a t e r i f e m p lo y e e s w e re p ro m o te d i n th e i n t e r i m .
3 Wage on th e p r e c e d in g jo b d is r e g a r d in g an y i n t e r v a l o f u n e m p lo ym en t.




- 28 -

a r e a . A lth ou gh th e ir p r e v io u s e a r n in g s and
o c c u p a tio n a l b a ck g ro u n d w e r e s im ila r to
th o se o f the l a b o r e r s , s e r v i c e w o r k e r s
w e r e paid m o r e than l a b o r e r s at th e p la n t.
F o r t y - s i x p e r c e n t o f the s a la r ie d p e r ­
so n n e l, in clu d in g fo r e m e n , had e a rn e d $ 3 0 0
o r l e s s p e r m on th , and o v e r 40 p e r c e n t o f
the c l e r i c a l e m p lo y e e s had e a rn e d l e s s than
$ 2 0 0 p e r m on th on th e ir p r i o r jo b (ta b le
2 5 ). In c o n t r a s t , the fo llo w in g s a la r y r a n g e s
w e r e e s ta b lis h e d f o r th e se e m p lo y e e s in
the R a v e n sw o o d p la n t:
P r o f e s s io n a l and t e c h n i c a l -------- $ 5 5 5 - $ 850
C l e r i c a l ------------------- --------------------- $ 2 9 3 - $ 5 3 0
S u p e r v isio n ( f o r e m e n ) ---------------- $ 5 5 5 - $ 700
It ca n be in fe r r e d f r o m th is that m o s t o f
the c l e r i c a l e m p lo y e e s and a su b sta n tia l
n u m b e r o f o th e r s a la r ie d e m p lo y e e s i m ­
p r o v e d th e ir e a rn in g s by m o v in g to the
p la n t. On the o th e r hand, p r i o r e a rn in g s o f
u n a cce p te d a p p lica n ts had b een g e n e r a lly
h ig h e r than th o s e o f e m p lo y e e s (ta b le 2 5 ).
A m on g the h o u r ly r a te d e m p lo y e e s w h o se
K a is e r plant e a r n in g s w e r e lo w e r than
th o s e on th e ir la s t jo b , 29 p e r c e n t had b een
w o rk in g le s s than fu ll tim e in the y e a r
b e fo r e th e ir e m p lo y m e n t at the R a v e n sw o o d
pla n t, and 16 p e r c e n t w e r e u n e m p lo y e d
im m e d ia te ly b e fo r e th e ir K a is e r jo b (ta b le
2 6 ). S m a lle r p e r c e n t a g e s p r e v io u s ly w e r e
u n d e r e m p lo y e d
and u n e m p lo y e d
a m on g
TABLE 2 5 .

w o r k e r s who im p r o v e d th e ir e a rn in g s at
the R a v e n sw o o d plant o r w ho r e c e iv e d the
s a m e e a rn in g s as on th e ir la s t jo b . E le v e n
p e r c e n t o f th o s e
in th ese
c a t e g o r ie s
w ho r e c e iv e d lo w e r e a rn in g s r e la t iv e to
th e ir p r e v io u s jo b w e r e r e c e iv in g u n e m ­
p lo y m e n t c o m p e n s a tio n ju s t p r i o r to th e ir
plant e m p lo y m e n t c o m p a r e d w ith 8 p e r c e n t
o f th o s e who im p r o v e d th e ir e a rn in g s at the
a lu m in u m w o r k s . A m on g s a la r ie d p e r s o n ­
n e l, th o s e who had r e c e iv e d o v e r $ 3 0 0
p e r m on th on th e ir jo b p r i o r to K a is e r
e m p lo y m e n t had su b s ta n tia lly lo w e r r a te s
o f u n em p loy m en t and u n d e re m p lo y m e n t than
th o se w ho ea rn e d $ 3 0 0 o r l e s s p e r m on th .
A fu rth e r in d ica tio n o f the s ig n ific a n c e
o f w a g e s a s a fa c t o r in m o v e m e n t to the
R a v e n sw o o d plant is ob ta in ed in a c o m ­
p a r is o n o f e a rn in g s on the la s t p r i o r jo b
w ith the a p p lic a n t’ s statem en t on h is a p p li­
c a tio n f o r m o f the lo w e s t w a g e o r s a la r y
he w ou ld a c c e p t . U n fortu n a tely , h o w e v e r ,
m an y o f the a p p lica n ts d id not c o m p le te
th is s e c t io n o f the fo r m and o th e r s m e r e l y
in d ica te d that th ey w ould a c c e p t w h a te v e r
w age the co m p a n y e s ta b lis h e d f o r th e ir
g ra d e o f l a b o r . A s is s e e n in ta b le 27, 27
p e r c e n t o f the e m p lo y e e s in d ica te d a w a g e
equ al to o r h ig h e r than th e ir p r e v io u s e a r n ­
in g s . T h e s e w o r k e r s r e p r e s e n te d 63 p e r c e n t
o f a ll e m p lo y e e s who in d ica te d a lo w e s t
a c c e p ta b le w a g e . In g e n e r a l, the h o u r ly
ra te d e m p lo y e e s , e s p e c ia lly th o s e at the
lo w e r s k ill l e v e l s , ten d ed to in d ica te an

E a rn in g s o f w h i t e - c o l l a r and s u p e r v is o r y em p lo yees and u n a c c e p te d a p p lic a n t s
on jo b p r i o r t o Ravenswood p l a n t a p p l i c a t i o n

O c c u p a tio n a l g ro u p

Number
of
e m p lo y e e s 1

E a rn in g s on p r i o r jo b 2 (p e r c e n ta g e
d is tr ib u tio n )
A ll
e a r n in g s

U n d er $ 2 0 0
a m on th

$ 2 0 0 -3 0 0
a m onth

O ver $300
a m on th

E m p lo y e e s ----------------------------------------------------P r o f e s s i o n a l , t e c h n i c a l , and
m a n a g e r ia l-------------------------------------C l e r i c a l ---------------------------------------------F o rem en ------------------------------- -----------------

276

10 0

19

27

54

120
108
48

100
10 0
100

4
41
8

16
43
15

80
16
77

U n a c c e p te d a p p l i c a n t s --------------------------P r o f e s s i o n a l , t e c h n i c a l , and
m a n a g e ria l.3 ----------------------------------C l e r i c a l ----------------------------------------------

92

100

17

21

62

41
51

100
100

2
35

98
33

1 See f o o t n o t e 1 , t a b l e 24-.
2 See f o o t n o t e 3 , t a b l e 2 4 .
3 In c lu d e s some p o t e n t i a l s u p e r v is o r y e m p lo y e e s .




- 29 -

. . .

32

TABLE 2 6 i

E a rn in g s l e v e l s o f e m p lo yees on p r e c e d in g j o b , b y em ploym ent s t a t u s i n
p r e c e d in g jo b
Em ploym ent s t a t u s p r i o r t o R avensw ood p l a n t
em ploym ent (p e r c e n ta g e d i s t r i b u t i o n )
A l l e m p lo yees
D u rin g y e a r
b e fo re p la n t
em ploym ent

L e v e l o f e a r n in g s
ju s t p r io r to
p l a n t em ploym ent

Im m e d ia te ly p r e c e d in g
p l a n t em ploym ent
N o t em p lo yed

Number

W o rk in g
W o rk in g
le s s
th
an
f
u
l
l
P e rc e n t
fu ll
tim e
tim e

Em­
p lo y e d
Em­
and
p lo y e d
unem­
p lo y e d

N o t d ra w ­
D ra w in g
in g unem­
u n e m p lo y ­
p lo y m e n t
m ent com­
compen­
p e n s a t io n
s a tio n

H o u r ly r a t e d
e m p lo y e e s
H ig h e r th a n p l a n t
e a r n in g s ----------------------Low er t h a n p l a n t
e a r n in g s ----------------------Same as p l a n t
e a r n in g s -----------------------

161

100

71

29

100

84

11

5

258

100

79

21

100

88

8

4

11

100

82

18

100

82

U n d e r $ 2 0 0 a m o n th -----$ 2 0 0 -$ 3 0 0 a m o n t h - - —
O v e r $ 3 0 0 a m o n th --------

48
82
164

100
100
100

54
67
90

46
33
10

100
100
100

90
88
97

5
1

10
7
2

No e a r n in g s d a t a
a v a i l a b l e ---------------------

139

100

80

10

100

94

1

5

18

—

S a l a r i e d em p lo y e e s

a c c e p t a b le w a g e w h ich w as b e lo w that r e ­
c e iv e d on t h e ir p r i o r jo b . T h e s a la r ie d
p e r s o n n e l, on the o th e r hand, w e r e m o r e
in s is te n t on e a rn in g s in e x c e s s o f th e ir
p r e v io u s e a r n in g s .
In the sa m p le o f u n a c c e p te d a p p lic a n ts ,
the p r o p o r t io n o f th o s e r e q u e s tin g a w age
o r s a la r y the sa m e as o r h ig h e r than th e ir
p r e v io u s e a rn in g s w a s eq u a l to that o f the
e m p lo y e e s . But a som ew h a t l a r g e r p e r ­
ce n ta g e , r e la t iv e to the e m p lo y e d g ro u p ,
w e r e w illin g to a c c e p t e a rn in g s b e lo w th e ir
p r e v io u s le v e l . A s in the c a s e o f th e e m ­
p lo y e d a p p lic a n ts , the p r o p o r t io n s o f u n ­
a c c e p t e d a p p lica n ts w ho w e r e w illin g to
tak e a cu t in e a rn in g s w e r e m u ch lo w e r
a m on g the s a la r ie d p e r s o n n e l than a m on g
the h o u r ly r a te d e m p lo y e e s .




In g e n e r a l, it ca n be c o n c lu d e d that i m ­
p r o v e m e n t in e a rn in g s w as a s ig n ific a n t
m o tiv e f o r m o v e m e n t to the R a v e n sw o o d
plan t a m on g m an y o f the e m p lo y e e s . M ost
o f the h o u rly ra te d e m p lo y e e s im p r o v e d
th e ir e a rn in g s p o s itio n by a c c e p tin g K a is e r
e m p lo y m e n t, and it ca n be in fe r r e d that a
s im ila r im p r o v e m e n t w as e x p e r ie n c e d by a
la r g e p r o p o r t io n o f the s a la r ie d p e r s o n n e l.

S u b je c t iv e E v a lu a t io n o f M o t iv e s

In the p r e c e d in g d is c u s s io n ,th e o b je c t iv e
c ir c u m s t a n c e s w h ich p r o m p te d the e m ­
p lo y e e s to m o v e to the K a is e r plant a r e
in d ica te d a s fo llo w s : 1, the e x p e r ie n c e o f
e x te n s iv e u n em p loy m en t and u n d e r e m p lo y ­
m en t in the y e a r s p r i o r to the p la n t’ s

- 30 -

TABLE 2 7 .

L o w est a c c e p ta b le e a r n in g s as in d ic a t e d b y em p lo yees and u n a c c e p te d a p p li c a n t s ,
b y o c c u p a t io n a l g ro u p , slimmer 1 9 5 7
L o w e s t a c c e p ta b le e a r n in g s
(p e r c e n ta g e d i s t r i b u t i o n )

O c c u p a tio n a l g ro u p

E m p lo y e e s -------------------------------------P r o fe s s io n a l, te c h n i­
c a l , and m a n a g e r ia l—
C l e r i c a l — .--------------------------F o rem en --------------------------------C ra fts m e n ----------------------------O p e r a t iv e s --------------------------S e r v i c e --------------------------------L a b o r-------------------------------------T r a in e e s ------------------------------U n a c c e p te d a p p l i c a n t s -----------P r o fe s s io n a l, te c h n i­
c a l , and m a n a g e r ia l—
C l e r i c a l ------------------------------S k i l l e d --------------------------------S e m i s k i l l e d -------------------------.
U n s k i l l e d -----------------------------

Number
of
em p lo y e e s

A ll
a c c e p ta b le
e a r n in g s

E a rn in g s
b e lo w
l a s t jo b

E a rn in g s
equal to
o r above
l a s t jo b

L e ft to
company
p o lic y 1

Not
s ta te d

888

100

16

27

13

44

174
145
67
102
161
51
156
32

100
10 0
100
100
100
100
100
100

9
13
11
17
24
20
22
3

39
35
25
23
21
20
15
31

5
11
6
23
15
21
19
3

47
41
58
37
40
39
44
63

522

100

21

27

17

35

48
67
124
100
183

100
100
100
100
100

10
12
20
30
22

42
36
23
19
28

23
16
15
21
15

25
36
42
30
35

1
A p p lic a n t s i n t h i s c a te g o r y i n d i c a t e d t h a t t h e y w o u ld a c c e p t w h a te v e r wage t h e company
e s t a b lis h e d f o r t h e i r g ra d e o f l a b o r .
e sta b lish m e n t and im m e d ia te ly b e fo r e jo b
a p p lic a tio n s w e r e m a d e ; 2, m ig r a tio n fr o m
the a r e a , lo n g -d is t a n c e c o m m u tin g , and
fre q u e n t ch a n g e s o f r e s id e n c e in o r d e r to
find w o r k ; and
3 j an o p p o rtu n ity f o r i m ­
p r o v e m e n t o f e a r n in g s .
In d ica tio n s o f the e m p lo y e e s ’ ow n s u b ­
je c t iv e a p p r a is a l o f th e ir r e a s o n s f o r m o v ­
ing to the plant w e r e ob ta in e d f r o m th e ir
a p p lic a tio n f o r m s and w e r e c o m p a r e d w ith
th e ir r e s p o n s e to the in te r v ie w q u e s tio n ­
n a ir e s . T h e e m p lo y e e s ’ r e s p o n s e s a c c o r d e d
c l o s e l y w ith the r e a s o n s that e m e r g e d fr o m
the s u r v e y q u e s tio n s . T h e d e s ir e to r e ­
tu rn to the h o m e a r e a , the a c h ie v e m e n t o f
e m p lo y m e n t s e c u r it y , and the c h a n c e to
im p r o v e e a rn in g s w e r e a ll p r o m in e n t am on g
the r e a s o n s o ff e r e d w hen a sk e d w hy they
c h o s e to w o r k at the K a is e r p la n t. T h e ir
p r im a r y r e a s o n , h o w e v e r , is o n e w h ich
can n ot r e a d ily b e r e la te d to any s p e c ific
a s p e c t o f the e m p lo y e e s* e n v iro n m e n t o r




w o r k h is t o r y d is c u s s e d a b o v e and y e t it
r e f l e c t s a ll o f th e s e fa c t o r s , p lu s o th e r s .
T h e e m p lo y e e s w is h e d to w o r k at the a lu ­
m in u m plant b e c a u s e th ey fe lt that it c o n s t i ­
tuted an ‘ ’ o p p ortu n ity f o r a d v a n ce m e n t” in
a new and p r o g r e s s i v e co m p a n y ; it w as a
“ b e tte r j o b , ” not on ly f r o m any s in g le
stan d poin t o f e m p lo y m e n t s e c u r it y , g e o ­
g ra p h ic lo c a tio n , w a g e s o r w o rk in g c o n d i­
tio n s , but f r o m the standpoint o f a ll o f th e s e
c o n s id e r a t io n s and the a d d itio n a l in ta n g ib le
on e o f a d v a n ce m e n t, o f p r o g r e s s in the
w o r ld o f w o r k .
T h u s, in sp ite o f w id e s p r e a d u n e m p lo y ­
m en t in the R a v e n sw o o d a r e a and in W est
V ir g in ia p r i o r to th e ir alu m in u m plant
a p p lic a tio n s , the g r e a t m a jo r it y o f a p p li­
ca n ts w e r e s t ill e m p lo y e d at the tim e they
a p p lie d . N e v e r t h e le s s , the e sta b lish m e n t
o f the alu m in u m plant in the d e p r e s s e d
e n v iro n m e n t o f R a v e n sw o o d , W .V a ., w as
ban n er n e w s , ta lk ed about and know n by a ll

- 31 -

(ta b le 2 8 ). O u tsid e o f the co m p a n y t r a n s ­
f e r s , m o s t o f the e m p lo y e e s le a r n e d o f the
jo b o p e n in g s at the plant th rou g h m e d ia o f
m ass
c o m m u n ica tio n , w ith and w ithout
fu r th e r d is c u s s io n by th e ir fr ie n d s and r e l a ­
t iv e s . A la r g e g r o u p o f r e sp o n d e n ts ( i n ­
clu d e d in the “ O th e r ” c a t e g o r y in ta b le 28)
w e r e u nable to t e ll ju s t w hen and h ow th ey
had le a r n e d o f the o p p o r tu n itie s at the
p la n t. T h e n ew s w a s s im p ly “ in the a i r ”
fr o m
the tim e
c o n s t r u c t io n w a s fir s t
an n ou n ced .
T h e e s s e n t ia lly v o lu n ta ry n a tu re o f the
m o v e m e n t to the a lu m in u m plant ca n be
s e e n in the e m p lo y e e s ’ r e a s o n s f o r le a v in g
th e ir la s t jo b , as in d ica te d on th e ir a p p li­
c a tio n f o r m s (ta b le 2 9 ). O nly 15 p e r c e n t
o f the e m p lo y e e s in d ica te d s o m e su ch “ i n ­
v o lu n ta r y ” r e a s o n s a s la y o ff, d is c h a r g e ,
b u s in e s s c lo s e d , jo b fin is h e d , e t c . T he
p r o p o r t io n o f w o r k e r s in th is “ in v o lu n ta ry ”
g ro u p w as a s high a s 21 p e r c e n t , h o w e v e r ,
f o r the l e s s s k ille d o c c u p a t io n s . T h e r e ­
m a in d e r in d ic a te d e ith e r that they w e re
s t ill e m p lo y e d o r ga ve s o m e o th e r “ v o lu n ­
t a r y ” r e a s o n r e la te d to the jo b and its
c o n d it io n s . It is s ig n ific a n t that 8 p e r c e n t
TABLE 28.

Ways

o f the to ta l in d ica te d a lo c a tio n a l p r e fe r e n c e
in th e ir r e a s o n s f o r le a v in g .
A m a rk e d d iffe r e n c e is n oted in the
r e a s o n s g iv e n by the u n a cce p te d a p p lic a n ts .
In th is g ro u p , 42 p e r c e n t in d ica te d an i n ­
v o lu n ta ry r e a s o n f o r le a v in g th e ir la s t
jo b . A s in the c a s e o f the e m p lo y e e s , i n ­
v o lu n ta ry jo b s e p a ra tio n s w e r e e s p e c ia lly
s ig n ific a n t am on g the h o u r ly ra te d e m ­
p lo y e e s .
W hen a sk e d why th ey c h o s e to w o rk at
the a lu m in u m plan t, e m p lo y e e s w e r e u rg e d
to g iv e m o r e than on e r e a s o n , i f a p p lic a b le .
T h e ir r e s p o n s e s a r e p r e s e n te d in ta b le 30.
T h e fo r e m o s t r e a s o n , g iv e n by a lm o s t 33
p e r c e n t o f the e m p lo y e e s , w as the o p p o r ­
tunity f o r
a d v a n cem en t in a new and
p r o g r e s s i v e co m p a n y . T h e s e c o n d m a jo r
r e a s o n , g iv e n as m o s t im p orta n t by 18
p e r c e n t o f the r e s p o n d e n ts , w as the d e s ir e
to w o rk c l o s e r to h o m e o r the h o m e a r e a .
T h ir te e n p e r c e n t c ite d h ig h e r w a g e s , and
an equ al n u m b er in d ica te d p r e v io u s u n ­
e m p lo y m e n t, u n d e re m p lo y m e n t, o r the d e ­
s i r e to ob ta in m o r e jo b s e c u r ity as th e ir

i n which employees at the Ravenswood p la n t learned about the job
opening, by occupational group, summer 1957
Methods o f lea rning about jobs (percentage d is tr ib u tio n )

Occupational
group

Number
of
employees

A l l occupations---

888

P ro fe s s io n a l,
te c h n ic a l, and
managerial-------C le ric a l------------Foremen--------------Craftsmen-----------Operatives---------Se rv ic e --------------Labor----------------Tra in e e s-------------

174
145
67
103
160
51
156
32

1

A ll
methods

News­
paper,
ra d io ,
te le ­
v is io n

Combina­
t io n o f
communi­
cation
media
and
frie n d s

100

25

31

12

100
100

14
29

100

12

100

34
32
39
23
9

16
35
9
35
34
41
47
13

3
23
3
16

100
100
100
100

Less than 1 percent.




Frie n d s
or
re la ­
tiv e s

- 32 -

S ta te
employ­
ment
service

Company
tra n s ­
fe r

8

24

25

41

C1 )

1
1

Other

12

—

—

25

—

2

51
13

12

—

1

21

8

—

2

10

16
3

1

1

12

---

3

72

TABLE 29.

Reasons given by employees and unaccepted applicants f o r leaving la s t job p r io r
to Ravenswood p la n t a p p lic a tio n, by occupational group
Number
of
employees1

Occupational group

V oluntary reasons2 (percentage d is tr ib u tio n )
A ll
reasons

S till
employed

100

42

156

100

121

100

100

49
36
41
54
33
36
44
25

Employees------------------P ro fe ss io n a l, techn ic a l, and
managerial--------C le ric a l--------------Foreman---------------Craftsmen------------Operatives-----------Servic e---------------Labor------------------Tra in e e s---------------

786

Unaccepted a p plica nts—
P ro fe ss io n a l, tech­
n ic a l, and
managerial--------C le ric a l--------------S k ille d ---------------S e m isk ille d ---------U n s k ille d -------------

454

100

29

37
41

100
100

121

100

100

100

155

100

43
36
31
23
25

58
99
146
44
146
16

100
100
100
100
100

Loc a tiona l
p re f­
erence3

Other*

In v o lu n ta ry
reasons5

8

35

15

4
9
4

6

40
45
34
30
31
32
29
50

4

25

6

43
36
17
23
25

6

16
11

7

5
1

9
5

7
10
21
10
20
21
20

19
42

8
22

51
45
45

1 Excludes those who had no job p r io r to t h e ir p la n t a p p lic a tio n and those whose forms
were incomplete.
2 The c la s s ific a tio n i s based on statements made by applicants when asked to l i s t rea­
sons fo r leaving previous jobs on t h e ir a p p lic a tio n form s. Those who.simply stated " s t i l l
employed" opposite the la s t job are classed among the p o te n tia lly v o lunta ry tr a n s fe r s .
Those who gave other v o lu n ta ry reasons may o r may not have been s t i l l employed.
3 Includes such reasons as " to get c lo se r to home," "c lo se r to r e la t iv e s ," etc.
* Includes "to get b e tte r" wages, c o n d itio n s, advancement, etc.

5 In c lu d e s l a y o f f ,

d is c h a r g e ,

" p la n t c l o s e d , " e t c .

p r im a r y r e a s o n s . F o u r p e r c e n t s p e c ifie d
jo b r e la t io n s and co n d itio n s in the K a is e r
plan t. T h e s e fa c t o r s w e r e a ls o the m o s t
fre q u e n tly m e n tio n e d , u su a lly in the sa m e
o r d e r , by th o se who g a ve s e c o n d and th ird
r e a s o n s f o r c o m in g to the pla n t.
In te re stin g d if f e r e n c e s a p p e a re d a m on g
the o c c u p a tio n a l g ro u p s in th e s e s u b je c tiv e
e v a lu a tio n s . A lth ou gh the o p p o rtu n ity f o r
a d v a n ce m e n t w a s the fo r e m o s t r e a s o n
g iv e n by a ll o c c u p a tio n a l g r o u p s w ith the
e x c e p tio n o f the c l e r i c a l e m p lo y e e s , it
w as
p a r t ic u la r ly
dom in an t a m on g the
p r o fe s s io n a l-m a n a g e r ia l, s u p e r v is o r y , and
tr a in e e e m p lo y e e s . L o c a tio n a l r e a s o n s w e r e
e s p e c ia lly
im p o rta n t a m on g the h o u rly
ra te d and c l e r i c a l w o r k e r s . H ig h e r e a r n ­




in gs w e r e a ls o s t r e s s e d by the c l e r i c a l
sta ff, and jo b s e c u r it y a s w e ll a s h ig h e r
w a g e s w e r e e m p h a s iz e d by m an y o f the
c r a ft s m e n and o th e r h o u rly ra te d e m ­
p lo y e e s .
T he e m p lo y e e s ’ s u b je c tiv e e v a lu a tion o f
th e ir r e a s o n s f o r m o b ility a c c o r d e d c l o s e l y
w ith the o b je c t iv e c ir c u m s t a n c e s in w h ich
th ey found t h e m s e lv e s b e fo r e and at the
tim e o f the p la n t’ s e s ta b lis h m e n t. M o st le ft
th e ir p r e v io u s jo b s v o lu n ta r ily b e c a u s e they
c o n s id e r e d th is new p lan t, in an expanding
in d u stry , an ou tstan d in g o p p ortu n ity f o r
a d v a n ce m e n t. F o r m a n y , the plant o ffe r e d
an o p p ortu n ity to re tu rn to the h o m e a r e a
o r to end len gth y , d a ily t r a v e ls to n e ig h b o r ­
ing c i t i e s . O th e rs , in ou tlyin g p a r ts o f the

- 33 -

TABLE 30*

Employees* reasons f o r choosing to work at the Ravenswood p la n t,
by occupational group, summer 1957
Reasons f o r choosing to work at the Ravenswood p la n t
(percentage d is tr ib u tio n )

Occupational group

Number
o f em­
ployees

A ll
rea­
sons

Closer
Opportuni­
Wages
Other
to
Job re la ­
Employ­
t ie s f o r
and/or
reasons
estab­
ment
tio n s and
advance­
frin g e
o r not
lis h e d
s e c u rity cond itions
ment
b e n e fits
sta
te d 1
home
F i r s t stated reason

A ll occupations-------P ro fe s s io n a l, techn ic a l, managerial,
foremen, and
tra in e e s --------------C le ric a l----------------Craftsmen---------------Other h o u rly ra te d ---

13

13

4

20

6

10

37

31
15
9

3
9
15

2

24

4

11

6

21

5

15
13

6

5

54

11

1

17
5
9

4

3
9
9
4

60
54
61
50

1

2

91

92
87

888

100

32

273
145
103
367

100

42

100
100

21
28

100

29

23

18

21

Second stated reason
A l l occupations-------P ro fe s s io n a l, tech­
n ic a l, managerial,
foremen, and
tra in e e s --------------C le ric a l-----------------Craftsmen---------------Other h o u rly ra te d ---

888

273
145
103
367

100

19

6

100

22

100

16
19
17

3
7

100
100

10

—

9

6
11

T h ird stated reason
A l l occupations-------P ro fe s s io n a l, tech­
n ic a l, managerial,
foremen, and
tra in e e s --------------C le ric a l-----------------Craftsmen---------------Other h o u rly rate d --1

888

273
145
103
367

100

3

1

2

2

1

2

3

3
3

1

3

88

3

1

1

93

100

3

100

2

100

3

4
3

100

2

1

—

—

Includes company tr a n s fe r s .

a r e a , w e r e w illin g to len gth en th e ir d a ily
t r a v e l tim e in o r d e r to w o r k in the p lan t.
M o st o f the e m p lo y e e s im p r o v e d th e ir
e a rn in g s by m o v in g to the plant and, f o r
s o m e , th is w a s the p r im a r y r e a s o n fo r




t r a n s fe r r in g .
F in a lly , f o r a s ig n ific a n t
n u m b e r, the a lu m in u m plant o ffe r e d a jo b
w h e re b e fo r e th e r e had b een no jo b , and
th is c o m p e llin g r e a s o n o v e r r o d e a ll o th e r
c o n s id e r a t io n s .

- 34 -

SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS
T h e fin d in gs o f th is s u r v e y ca n be s u m ­
m a r iz e d as f o llo w s :
1. T h e K a is e r A lu m in u m and C h e m ic a l
C o r p .’ s R a v e n sw o o d W o rk s began p r o d u c ­
tio n in 1956. T h e a r e a in w h ich it had been
e s ta b lis h e d , J a ck so n C ounty, W .V a ., w as
d e p r e s s e d f r o m the stan dpoin t o f e m p lo y ­
m en t o p p o r tu n itie s , and the State co n ta in e d
a n u m b e r o f a r e a s w ith c h r o n ic a lly s e r io u s
l e v e ls o f u n e m p lo y m e n t.
2 . T h e s u r v e y o f th e p la n t’ s 894 e m ­
p lo y e e s w a s co n d u cte d in the s u m m e r o f
1957 b e fo r e fu ll p r o d u c t iv e c a p a c ity and
e m p lo y m e n t had b e e n r e a c h e d . In s e le c t in g
e m p lo y e e s , the co m p a n y a ttem p ted to fo llo w
a p r e s c r i b e d se t o f sta n d a rd s c o v e r in g
a g e , e d u ca tio n , r e s id e n c e , e x p e r ie n c e , and
p h y s ic a l fit n e s s .
3. T h e co m p a n y g e n e r a lly w a s a b le to
m e e t th e se sta n d a rd s w ith r e g a r d to a g e ,
ed u ca tion , and p h y s ic a l fit n e s s ; but in
o r d e r to do s o , it w as n e c e s s a r y to a c c e p t
a p p lica n ts who liv e d c o n s id e r a b le d is t a n c e s
fr o m the plan t. L o c a lly r e c r u it e d e m ­
p lo y e e s w e r e la ck in g in a lu m in u m m a n u ­
fa c tu r in g e x p e r ie n c e , and, f o r the m o s t
p a r t, in m a n u fa ctu rin g e x p e r ie n c e o f any
k in d . K ey p e r s o n n e l fo r p r o f e s s io n a l r e ­
s p o n s ib ilit ie s , s u p e r v is io n , and tra in in g
w e r e t r a n s fe r r e d f r o m o th e r K a is e r p la n ts.
4 . A s a m p le o f 522 u n a cce p te d a p p lica n ts
sh ow ed l e s s e r q u a lific a tio n s in m o s t k e y
r e q u ir e m e n t s , but th e ir n u m b e rs and q u a li­
fic a tio n s w e r e s u ffic ie n t to p r o m is e a
s u c c e s s f u l e x p a n sio n o f fu tu re e m p lo y ­
m en t w ithout s e r io u s ly lo w e r in g the qu ality
o f the la b o r f o r c e .
5. T h e p la n t’ s e m p lo y e e s had en g a ged in
e x te n s iv e g e o g r a p h ic m o v e m e n t p r i o r to
its e s ta b lis h m e n t, and m a n y con tin u ed to
co m m u te c o n s id e r a b le d is t a n c e s in o r d e r
to a v o id fu r th e r r e s id e n c e ch a n g e . In th e ir
m o v e to the p la n t>e m p lo y e e s d e m o n s tra te d
a m a r k e d w illin g n e s s to t r a n s fe r a c r o s s
in d u stry and o c c u p a tio n a l lin e s e s ta b lis h e d
in th e ir p r e v io u s e m p lo y m e n t.
6 . A su b sta n tia l n u m b e r o f the p la n t's
w o r k f o r c e , e s p e c ia lly in h o u r ly ra te d
o c c u p a t io n s , had e x p e r ie n c e d u n e m p lo y ­
m en t and u n d e r e m p lo y m e n t in the 3 y e a r s
b e fo r e th e ir e m p lo y m e n t at the R a v e n sw o o d
w o r k s as w e ll a s ju s t p r i o r to th e ir jo b at




the p la n t. O nly a p o r tio n o f th e ir u n e m ­
p lo y m e n t w as c o v e r e d by u n em p loy m en t
c o m p e n s a tio n . U n a ccep ted a p p lica n ts had
e x p e r ie n c e d ev en h ig h e r r a te s o f u n e m p lo y ­
m e n t. T h is p r e v io u s jo b in s e c u r it y w as a
p r in c ip a l fa c t o r in the m o v e m e n t o f w o r k ­
e r s to the plan t.
7. M any e m p lo y e e s m o v e d to th e plant
in o r d e r to be c l o s e r to th e ir h o m e o r h om e
a r e a . H o u rly ra te d e m p lo y e e s d e m o n s tra te d
g r e a t e r a r e a attach m en t than s a la r ie d p e r ­
so n n e l.
8. A m a jo r it y o f h o u rly ra te d e m p lo y e e s
im p r o v e d th e ir e a rn in g s p o s itio n in m o v in g
to the plant and m o s t o f the s a la r ie d p e r ­
s o n n e l lo o k e d upon th e ir w o rk w ith the
co m p a n y a s an op p ortu n ity to i n c r e a s e
e a r n in g s .
9. M o st o f the e m p lo y e e s m o v e d to the
plant v o lu n ta r ily ( i . e . , w ithout p r e c e d in g
u n e m p lo y m e n t), m o tiv a te d by a w is h f o r
a d v a n ce m e n t, a jo b c l o s e r to h o m e o r th e ir
h om e a r e a , h ig h e r w a g e s , and g r e a t e r
e m p lo y m e n t s e c u r it y .
T h e d e p r e s s e d r u r a l a r e a h as con tin u ed
to be a lm o s t e n tir e ly ig n o r e d in r e c e n t
stu d ies o f la b o r m o b ility . Y e t, a sig n ifica n t
fin din g o f the p r e s e n t s u r v e y is that the
a d e q u a cy o f the la b o r su p ply f o r a new
m a n u fa ctu rin g fa c ilit y in su ch an a r e a is
b a s ic a lly
d e te r m in e d
by the p r e c e d in g
p a ttern s o f m o b ilit y . S in ce m o b ility p a ttern s
o f d e p r e s s e d r u r a l a r e a s a r e lik e ly to d iffe r
m a r k e d ly
fr o m
th o s e o f m e tr o p o lita n
c e n t e r s and s in c e the a ttr a c tio n o f new
in d u stry is a con tin u in g o b je c t iv e in d e ­
p r e s s e d a r e a s , fu rth e r u n d ersta n d in g o f
m o b ility p a tte rn s in th e s e a r e a s is an
e s s e n tia l step to w a rd a lle v ia tio n o f th e ir
d e p r e s s e d c o n d itio n .
B e fo r e the c o m in g o f the alu m in u m plan t,
the m o s t s ig n ifica n t ty p e o f la b o r m o b ility
in the R a v e n sw o o d a r e a w as g e o g r a p h ic .
S e v e r e ly lim ite d e m p lo y m e n t o p p o rtu n itie s
set the sta g e f o r p e r s is te n t ou tw a rd m i g r a ­
tio n , as show n by the e x c e p tio n a l d e c lin e o f
the a r e a ’ s p op u la tion d u rin g the p e r io d
o f g r e a t n a tion a l p op u la tion g row th fr o m
1940 to 1956. P o te n tia l m a n u fa ctu rin g e m ­
p lo y e e s who con tin u ed to m a in tain a r e s i ­
d e n c e in the a r e a a p p e a r to h av e fo llo w e d
on e o f tw o a lte rn a tiv e c o u r s e s : they t r a n s ­
fe r r e d th e ir p r im a r y in d u s tria l attach m en t

- 35 -

fr o m a g r ic u lt u r e to lo c a l, r e la t iv e ly l o w payin g n on m a n u fa ctu rin g e s ta b lis h m e n ts , o r
th ey co m m u te d c o n s id e r a b le d is t a n c e s to
m o r e lu c r a t iv e e m p lo y m e n t in n e ig h b o rin g
u rban c e n t e r s . T he la tte r a lte r n a tiv e is
one w h ich has p r e s e n te d i t s e l f on ly r e c e n t ly
to w o r k e r s
con tin gen t upon expanding
o w n e r s h ip
o f a u t o m o b ile s .
W h ile th is
p ic t u r e o f m o b ilit y p a tte rn s b e fo r e the
e sta b lish m e n t o f the a lu m in u m plant is
b a se d upon the lim ite d in fo rm a tio n p r o ­
v id e d by the p o p u la tio n c e n s u s and the
e x p e r ie n c e o f w o r k e r s who la t e r b e c a m e
plant e m p lo y e e s , it a p p e a r s a v a lid i n ­
fe r e n c e f r o m th e s e data.
G iven the a r e a ’ s m o b ilit y d e s ig n , what
kind o f a la b o r su p ply c o u ld be a n ticip a ted
by an a lu m in u m m a n u fa c tu r e r w ho c h o s e
to lo c a t e h e r e ? A nd, by im p lic a t io n , what
kind o f la b o r su p ply ca n o th e r e m p lo y e r s
in the sa m e in d u stry , o r s im ila r e x p a n d ­
ing in d u s t r ie s , su ch a s c h e m ic a ls , a n t i c i ­
pate in a d e p r e s s e d r u r a l a r e a ?
T h e fin d in gs o f the p r e s e n t s u r v e y le a d
to the fo llo w in g c o n c lu s io n s r e g a r d in g the
s o u r c e s o f la b o r supply f o r a p r o s p e c t iv e
m a n u fa ctu rin g plant in a d e p r e s s e d r u r a l
area:
1. S in ce the m a n u fa c tu r e r can n ot r e a l i s ­
t ic a lly e x p e c t to fin d o r a ttr a c t a s u ffic ie n t
num ber
o f p r o f e s s io n a lly tr a in e d and
m a n a g e r ia l p e r s o n n e l in su ch an a r e a ,
t r a n s fe r o f a n u m b e r o f k ey e m p lo y e e s
fr o m o th e r p la n ts b e c o m e s n e c e s s a r y . T h is
fa c t, a lo n e , p o in ts up the p r o b le m s w h ich
su ch an a r e a w ou ld p r e s e n t f o r a s i n g le plant fir m .
2. T h e m a n u fa c tu r e r ca n e x p e c t s o m e
in c r e a s e in the l o c a l la b o r f o r c e to r e s u lt
fr o m the n ew dem and f o r la b o r . In a lu ­
m in u m , c h e m ic a l, and m o s t h ea v y m a n u ­
fa c tu r in g p lan ts w h e r e fe m a le e m p lo y m e n t
is
lim it e d , h o w e v e r , e m p lo y e r s can n ot
e x p e c t w o m e n to be a m a jo r s o u r c e o f r e ­
q u ire d la b o r su p p ly . M o r e o v e r , m e n who
e n te r the la b o r f o r c e o n ly b e c a u s e o f the
p la n t’ s e s ta b lish m e n t a r e not lik e ly to fu lfil
the m a n u fa c t u r e r ’ s h ir in g s p e c ific a t io n s
w ith r e g a r d to a g e , e d u ca tio n , e x p e r ie n c e ,
o r p h y s ic a l fit n e s s . T h e p r e s e n t s u r v e y
in d ic a te s that the w id e s p r e a d e s ta b lish m e n t
o f su ch pla n ts in r e m o t e a r e a s m a y even
s e r v e to l o w e r - - a t le a s t t e m p o r a r i l y - - t h e
la b o r f o r c e p a r tic ip a tio n r a t e s in su ch
a r e a s ; m a n y w iv e s who w o r k e d b e fo r e th e ir
h u sb a n d ’ s t r a n s fe r o r a ttr a c tio n to the new




plant m igh t be unable to fin d em p lo y m e n t
in the lim ite d in d u s tria l e n v iro n m e n t o f the
dep ressed area.
3. U n em p loy ed and u n d e re m p lo y e d w o r k ­
e r s ca n be e x p e c te d to co n stitu te an i m ­
p orta n t s o u r c e o f la b o r . Such w o r k e r s w ould
be p le n tifu l in a d e p r e s s e d a r e a , but th is
s u r v e y in d ic a te s that they w ou ld not c o n s t i ­
tute the m o s t im p o rta n t s o u r c e o f la b o r f o r
a h ig h -w a g e fir m w ith r ig o r o u s h irin g
sta n d a rd s. A s ca n be in fe r r e d fr o m the
l a r g e r p r o p o r t io n o f u n e m p lo y e d am on g
the u n a cce p te d a p p lica n ts than a m on g th o s e
h ir e d , the q u a lific a tio n s o f m an y o f the u n ­
e m p lo y e d w ou ld p r o b a b ly fa ll b e lo w s e l e c ­
tion s p e c ific a t io n s .
4 . M ost o f the p la n t’ s e m p lo y e e s w ou ld
c o m e to it v o lu n ta rily a fte r having quit
th e ir p r e v io u s j o b s . S om e w ould t r a n s fe r
fr o m the l o c a l n on m a n u fa ctu rin g e s t a b lis h ­
m e n ts in s e a r c h o f a d v a n cem en t and h ig h e r
e a r n in g s . O th e rs, in ou tlyin g s e c t io n s o f
the a r e a , w ou ld be w illin g to co m m u te
c o n s id e r a b le d is ta n c e s in o r d e r to im p r o v e
th e ir e m p lo y m e n t p o s itio n . S till o t h e r s ,
situ ated beyon d the co m m u tin g ra n g e , w ould
be w illin g to ch an ge th e ir r e s id e n c e in o r d e r
to w o r k at the plan t. But c o m p a r is o n o f
u n a cce p te d a p p lica n ts in the p r e s e n t s u r v e y
in d ica te s that the d isa d v a n ta g e o f a distant
a p p lica tio n a d d r e s s w ou ld h ave to be o ffs e t
by high q u a lific a tio n s i f the a p p lica n t w e r e
to be found a c c e p ta b le by the co m p a n y .
5. A m o s t s ig n ifica n t s o u r c e o f v olu n ta ry
t r a n s f e r - - t h e on e w h ich c l e a r ly r e f l e c t s the
p e c u lia r p a tte rn s o f m o b ility in a d e p r e s s e d
r u r a l a r e a - - w o u l d be the m o v e m e n t to the
plant m o tiv a te d by a r e a a tta ch m en t. M any
w o r k e r s who had b een fo r c e d out o f the
a r e a in a s e a r c h f o r e m p lo y m e n t w ould
re tu rn to th e ir h om etow n , to th e ir fr ie n d s
and r e la t iv e s , o r to the h om e th ey had le ft
beh in d. And m any o th e r s w h o se a r e a a tta c h ­
m en t w as su ch that th ey co m m u te d g re a t
d is ta n c e s ra th e r than m ig r a te w ou ld now
be e a g e r to take a jo b n e a r e r h o m e . Both
the re tu rn e d m ig ra n ts and the lo n g -d is ta n c e
c o m m u te r s a r e lik e ly to p o s s e s s m o r e
a c c e p ta b le s k ills than th o s e w o r k e r s who
a c c e p te d u n em p loy m en t o r lo w e r paying
l o c a l jo b s in the d e p r e s s e d a r e a ra th e r than
m ove.
T h e s e s u r v e y fin d in g s w ou ld not h old if
the c h a r a c t e r is t i c s o f m o b ility su rrou n d in g
a new plant in a d e p r e s s e d r u r a l a r e a
w e r e s im ila r to the c h a r a c t e r is t i c s d i s -

- 36 -

c l o s e d in stu d ie s o f la b o r m o b ility in
m e tr o p o lita n c e n t e r s . 12 If the e m p lo y m e n t
o p p o r tu n itie s in the new plant had not b een
w id e ly know n, i f the plan t had b e e n bound
by a “ n o -p ir a t in g ” a g r e e m e n t, o r i f the
w o r k e r s had b een con ten t w ith the w a g e s ,
12 Reynolds, op. cit., pp. 17-19; Parnes, op. cit., pp. 138-40;
Gladys L. Palmer and Carol P. Brainerd, Labor Mobility in Six
Cities (Social Science Research Council, 1954), pp. 13-20.




c o n d itio n s , and g e o g r a p h ic lo c a t io n s o f the
jo b s th ey a lr e a d y h e ld , then the p r in c ip a l
s o u r c e s o f la b o r su p ply f o r the plant w ou ld
have been fa r d iffe r e n t and p r o b a b ly not
n e a r ly so p r o d u c t iv e o f q u a lifie d e m p lo y e e s .
It is b e c a u s e the la b o r m o b ility su rrou n d in g
a new plant in a d e p r e s s e d r u r a l a r e a has
few ty p ic a l im p e r fe c t io n s that it b e c o m e s
an in te r e s tin g s u b je c t f o r a n a ly s is by
students o f the la b o r m a r k e t.

- 37 -

A P P E N D IX I.

SU R V E Y M E T H O D S

S u rv e y o f E m p lo y e e s
1. A p p lic a tio n f o r m d a ta . T h e co m p a n y
m a d e a v a ila b le v e r ifa x e d c o p ie s o f a ll
a p p lic a tio n f o r m s c o m p le t e d by A u gu st 1,
1957. T h e fo r m u s e d f o r h o u r ly ra te d e m ­
p lo y e e s d iffe r e d f r o m that u s e d f o r s a la r ie d
e m p lo y e e s , but both co n ta in e d su b sta n tia lly
the sa m e in fo r m a tio n . (S ee a p p en d ix II.)
S e v e r a l o f the f o r m s f o r m a n a g em en t
tr a in e e s and e m p lo y e e s t r a n s fe r r e d fr o m
o th e r K a is e r p lan ts w e r e in c o m p le t e , but
fr o m in te r v ie w s and data in the f i l e s o f
the t r a n s f e r r e d e m p lo y e e s it w a s o fte n
p o s s ib le to r e c o n s t r u c t the m is s in g it e m s .
S in ce th is w as not u n ifo r m ly p o s s i b le , h o w ­
e v e r , to ta l n u m b e r s o f e m p lo y e e s in clu d e d
in a n a ly s e s b a se d on a p p lic a tio n fo r m data
v a r y slig h tly a m on g ta b u la tio n s. A b s e n c e
o f c u r r e n t o c c u p a tio n a l data f o r s ix o f the
e m p lo y e e s w as an a d d itio n a l r e a s o n f o r
m in o r d iffe r e n c e s in to ta l e m p lo y e e s in ­
clu d e d in v a r io u s ta b u la tio n s.
A p p lic a tio n f o r m s o f the 894 e m p lo y e e s
in te r v ie w e d .w e r e v e r ifa x e d and m a tch ed
w ith the c o r r e s p o n d in g n a m e on the i n t e r ­
v ie w q u e s tio n n a ir e f o r m s . U tiliz a tio n o f
a p p lic a tio n f o r m data r e d u c e d the i n t e r ­
v ie w t im e . S in ce it w a s not a lw a y s p o s s ib le
to r e c o n s t r u c t the ite m s m is s in g f r o m the
in c o m p le te f o r m s o f s o m e t r a n s f e r e e s and
t r a in e e s , the to ta l in clu d e d fe w e r than 894
in m o s t o f the ta b u la tio n s b a se d on a p p li­
c a tio n f o r m d a ta . T h e to ta l w as fu rth e r
r e d u c e d by s ix in a ll ta b u la tio n s in v o lv in g
a n a ly s is by the to ta l e m p lo y m e n t in o c c u ­
p a tio n a l g r o u p s . U n le ss o t h e r w is e s p e c i ­
fie d , p e r c e n t a g e s in d ica te d in the ta b u la ­
tio n s e x c lu d e e m p lo y e e s f o r w h om the ite m
u n d e r a n a ly s is w a s u n r e p o r te d and co u ld
not be r e c o n s t r u c t e d f r o m o th e r da ta .
2. S ig n -o n and status ch a n g e d a ta . E m ­
p l o y e e s ’ o c c u p a tio n upon b ein g h ir e d and
ch a n g e in o c c u p a tio n a l status w e r e r e ­
c o r d e d fr o m s ig n -o n and status ch an g e
f o r m s in clu d e d in th e ir f i l e s . T h e s e f o r m s
a ls o
in clu d e d e a rn in g s in fo r m a tio n fo r
a lm o s t a ll h o u r ly ra te d e m p lo y e e s and f o r




som e
o f the
s a la r ie d
e m p lo y e e s . A ll
a n a ly s e s in v o lv in g o c c u p a tio n a l o r w age
in fo rm a tio n in clu d e d the p o s itio n f o r w h ich
the e m p lo y e e w a s h ir e d u n le s s a status
ch a n g e o c c u r r e d w ith in 3 m o n th s.
3.
In te r v ie w s . E ffo r t s w e r e m a d e to
in te r v ie w e v e r y e m p lo y e e (in clu d in g top
m a n a g em en t) o f the R a v e n sw o o d w o r k s as
o f A u gu st 1, 1957. A to ta l o f 894 e m p lo y e e s
w ere
in te r v ie w e d on the
b a s is
of a
s tr u c tu r e d
q u e stio n n a ire
fo r m.
(See
a p p en d ix II.) T h e r e w e r e 2 r e fu s a ls and 17
e m p lo y e e s who c o u ld not be in te rv ie w e d
b e c a u s e o f con tin u ed a b s e n c e f r o m th e ir
in d ica te d a d d r e s s . A lm o s t a ll o f the ta b u ­
la tio n s b a se d on in te rv ie w data in clu d e d
the to ta l o f 894 e m p lo y e e s , w ith the e x c e p ­
tio n o f the ta b u la tion s u sin g o c c u p a tio n a l
a n a ly s is , in w h ich the to ta l w as r e d u c e d to
888. T e n p e r c e n t o f the e m p lo y e e s w e r e
h ir e d b e fo r e June 30, 1956; 24 p e r c e n t
betw een July 1 and D e c e m b e r 31, 1956; and
66 p e r c e n t b etw een January 1 and A u gu st
1, 1957.
S u rv ey o f U n a cce p te d A p p lica n ts
The co m p a n y had file d the u n a cce p te d
a p p lic a tio n fo r m s in p o te n tia l o c c u p a tio n a l
g r o u p s . F p r p u r p o s e s o f c o m p a r is o n w ith
data o n e m p lo y e e s , the u n a cce p te d a p p li­
ca tio n s w e r e g ro u p e d in fiv e b ro a d c a t e ­
g o r ie s :
p r o fe s s io n a l, t e c h n i c a l ,
and
m a n a g e r ia l (in clu d in g s o m e s u p e r v is o r y
p e r s o n n e l), c l e r i c a l , s k ille d , s e m is k ille d ,
and u n s k ille d . A sa m p lin g p e r c e n ta g e w as
c h o s e n on the b a s is o f co m p a n y e s tim a te s
o f the n u m b e r o f a p p lica tio n s file d in e a ch
o c c u p a tio n a l c a t e g o r y . A 3 -p e r c e n t ra n d o m
sa m p le w a s d raw n fr o m e a ch o f the o c c u ­
p a tio n a l g ro u p s e x ce p t the u n s k ille d . B e ­
c a u s e o f the la r g e n u m b e r o f a p p lic a tio n
fo r m s in th is g r o u p , a 1 -p e r c e n t ra n d o m
s a m p le w a s d ra w n , to g iv e a to ta l o f 522
a p p lic a n ts . T h e n u m b e rs s e le c t e d in e a ch
o c c u p a tio n a l g rou p a r e in d ica te d in ta b le
2. T h e s e fo r m s w 6 r e v e r ifa x e d and co d e d
and c o m p a r e d w ith the a p p lic a tio n fo r m
data o f the e m p lo y e e s .

- 38 -




A P P E N D IX H.

A.
B.
C.

E M P L O Y M E N T A P P L IC A T IO N FO R M S AN D
IN T E R V IE W Q U ESTIO N N AIRE

A p p lic a tio n F o r m : S a la rie d E m p lo y e e s
A p p lic a tio n F o r m : H o u rly R ated E m p lo y e e s
In te rv ie w Q u e stio n n a ire

- 39 -

APPLI CATI ON

FORM

A:

SALARIED

EMPLOYEES

KAISER ALUMINUM AND CHEMICAL CORPORATION
1924 B R O A D W A Y
O A K L A N D , C A L IF O R N IA

C O N F ID E N T IA L E M P LO Y M E N T A P P L IC A T IO N
Date---------------------------------------------(FIRST)

(LAST)

(MIDDLE)

Sex_______________
Height

Present

AHHrecc
(STREET)

(CITY)

(STATE)

(STREET)

(CITY)

(STATE)

Permanent
AHrlrpcc

Weight
U.S.
Citizen?

Telephone No________________________________________________ Social SecurityNo.
Draft Classification^
GENERAL INFORMATION:
Single_______ Married_______ Times_______ Divorced.
Date of Birth____________________Placeof Birth------Name of Husbandor Wife (maiden)--------------------------Nameof Father________________________________
Father’s Birthplace--------------------------------------------Father’sOccupation--------------------------------------------Father’sAddress_______________________________
In Case of Emergency Call: Name----------------------------Address_________________________________

.Engaged_______ Widowed_______ No. of Dependents.
____________________Dateof Marriage_________
________ — Children&Ages--------------------------.Name of Mother (maiden)--------------------------------.Mother’s Birthplace---------------------------------------.Mother’sOccupation--------------------------------------.Mother’sAddress------------------------------------------_______________ Relationship________________
_______________ Telephone_________________

HEALTH: Explain fully any physical defects or disabilities and the degree, if any, to which they affect your work:.

EDUCATION: Years completed in Elementary______ High School_______ College or University______ Business or Trade Schoo
Undergraduate Degree----------------------------Name of College__________________________________________ YearGraduate Degree----------------------------------Name of College---------------------------------------------------------------- YearOther Degrees------------------------------------ Name of School___________________________________________ YearMajorSubjects
Scholastic Honors Received!
Grad.
Undergrad.
Clubs andSocieties:_____
ExtracurricularActivities:_
Athletic Participation!
Speak

Languages
Read

Write

PartTime Work_____________________
Highest ElectedorAppointed Office Held:____
State anyother Experience, Trainingor Hobbies!

What quarterof your class didyoustand, academically?-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------REFERENCES: Name S persons hot related to you who can attest to your Character, Experience and Qualifications:
Name
Address
Phone




Occupation

FORM 1R-SOO. BM

- 40

APPLI CATI ON

FORM

A:

SALARIED

E M P L 0 Y E E S (c o r ifd )

Branchof Service_______________________________ Lengthof Service___________From______________To.
Assignment within Branch___________________________________________________________________
Type of Discharge_____________________________________ Rankor Grade at Discharge--------------------------Highest Principal Duties and Responsibilities_______________________________________________________
Are youona Reserve Status?------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------ --- —
SERVICE SCHOOLS AND/OR EDUCATION:
Type of Course
Length of Course

CIVILIAN' EMPLOYMENT:
(Start with last job first. List only employment of 3 months or more. Be specific as to the kind of work you performed.)
IN C L U S IV E
DATES

NAME AN D ADDRESS OF
EM PLOYER

J O B D U T IE S
& T IT L E

WAGE

R EASO N FOR
L E A V IN G

FROM
TO

FROM
TO

FROM
TO

FROM
TO

FROM
TO

FROM
TO

FROM
TO

FROM
TO

InWhat Type of Work areyouPrimarily Interested?.

What Qualifications DoYou Possess for This Work?.
Machines OperatedSkillfully?________ ___________________________________________________________
ShorthandSpeed______
TypingSpeed___________________________ Read Blueprints?.
Why DoYou Desireto Affiliate With This Organization?_______ ;_________________________________ ____ ____

StateWhere You Prefer to Work: General Region________________State___________City__________ Willing to move?.
Reasonfor Your Preference_______________________________________________________ No Preference_____ :
What isLowest StartingSalaryAcceptable?____ 5___________________________._____ Date Available.
The answers I have made to each and all of the foregoing questions are true to the best of my knowledge.




Signature------------------------------ 41

APPLICATION

F O R M B:

HOURLY-RATED

EMPLOYEES

KAISER ALUMINUM AND CHEMICAL CORPORATION

RAVENSWOODWORKS, RAVENSWOOD. WESTVIRGINIA
CONFIDENTIAL EMPLOYMENT APPLICATION
on B o t h S i d e s o f F o r a in own H a n d w r i t i n g

A n s w e r A ll Q u e s t i o n s

N**5 (L est) _____________________
Present
Address

(No.A S t . ) ______________________

Permanent
Address (Ho.*

Male □
Female Q

(F irst) _______________ (Middle)________________

___

(C ity) _____________

(S ta te ) _____________

(C ity) ____________

(S ta te )j_____________

S t . ) ___________________________

Owi or
Social
Draft
Nearest Phone ____________________ Security No.______________ Classification_____________
GENERAL INFORMATION
Age_______ Date of Birth
Place of Birth

(Day)_____ (Ho.) ____________

(C ity ) ____________________

Height______Weight_______

(Y r.) _____

(S ta te ) ________________

U.S. Citizen? YesQ NoQ
(Country)______________

Single Q Divorced □ Widowed □
MarriedQ Separated□

IN CASE OF EMERGENCY NOTIFY
Name (F ir e t) ____________________

No. Dependents________

(L a st) _________________

Relationship_________________

Address_________________________________________________

Telephone No.____________ ____

PHYSICAL

Do you have any physical defects such as lameness, weak back, deafness, poor sight, high blood

pressure, rupture?

Yes! I NoI I

If yes, explain.___________________________________ _

Have you ever filed a claim for an industrial injury?

EDUCATION
Circle highest grade completed.
Grammar School
High School
12345678

REFERENCES

YesQ NoQ

If yes, explain.

Business or Trade School

1234

123 4

Give three. Name persons not related to you.
Address
Name

University
1234

Phone No.

Occupation

i_________________________
U.S. MILITARY SERVICE

Branch:

Date Entered_____________

Army Q
Navy □

Air Force Q
Marines O

Date Discharged___________ Type of Discharge:

Are you a member of any armed forces reserve organization?




Coast Guard
□
Merchant Marine (HU

(OVER)

- 42 -

Honorable I_I
Dishonorable I I

YesQ NoQ

IR-601 (11-15-55)

A P P L I C A T ! O N P O R M B:. H O D R L Y - R A T E D

E M P L O Y E E S (c o n f d)

EMPLOYMENT RECORD: Start with your la s t job f ir s t . L ist a ll employment for la s t 3 years.
Be s\tre to indicate any experience p articu larly related to the type of work you are
seeking no matter what date or how recent. For jobs held more than 3 years ago you need
only include employment of 3 months or more.
DATES
NAME AND ADDRESS
JOB TITLE
PAY
REASON FOR
(Mo. & Y r .)
OF EMPLOYER
AND DUTIES
RECEIVED
LEAVING
From:
To:
From:
To:
From:
To:
From:
To:
From:
To:
From:
To:
From:
To:
What kind of work do you wish to do?

■

What is the lowest wage you will accept?

When can you sta rt to work?

What means of transportation have vou?
Have you ever been arrested for other than minor tr a f fic violations?

Yes □

N oO

I f yes,

give date and place of each arrest, offense, and fin al action.
Have you ever been employed by th is Company?

Yes ^3 No

Do you have any friends or relativ e employed by th is Company?

I f yes, where and when?
YesQ3 NoQ3

I f yes, give

their names and job t i t l e s . _____________________________________________ ____________
I
authorize my former employers to furnish a ll information they may.have concerning me, whether on
record or^not, and I release them or th eir company from a l l li a b i l i t y for any damage a risin g from issuance
o f such information . I c e r tify the information on th is ap plication to be true and accurate and I understand
in ten tion al m isrepresentation may be cause fo r immediate d ism issal




SIGN HERE___________________________________
- 43 -

C* In te rv ie w Q u e stio n n a ire

RAVENSW OOD, W EST VIR G IN IA , M O B IL ITY S U R V E Y
Personal Interview Schedule
Any information given on this form will be kept in strict confi­
dence and will be seen only by staff members of the West Virginia
University and sworn employees of the Bureau of Labor Statistics
Name______

(last)

(first)

Soc. Sec. No.

(middle)

Current Address______________________________________________
(No. and Street)

1.

(City)

(State)

Telephone No._______________

Were you living in the Ravenswood area (within 50 miles) when you applied
for work at the Kaiser p la n t?..........................................................................

Y es___ , No_____

a. (If “ yes” ) How long have you lived here?________________________________________________
b. (If “ no”) i. Where did you live? Town and State___________________________________________
ii. Had you ever lived in the Ravenswood area before you came to work at the plant?_____ When?
From (mo., y r .)______________________ To (mo., y r .)____________________
(If employee had never lived in the Ravenswood area, omit 2a and 2b and move directly to 3.)
2. *a. If you had lived in the Ravenswood area and then moved away, why did you leave the Ravenswood
area? _______________________________________________________________________________

b.

3.

In addition to your job at Kaiser, why did you decide to return to the Ravenswood area?.

(For new arrivals only)
*Were there any reasons, in addition to your job at Kaiser, why you chose to live and work in the
Ravenswood area rather than some other area? _____________________________________ _____

♦ See instructions regarding positive and negative reasons.




- 44 -

Interview No.

4.

(For all employees) In what other areas have you lived in the last five years?
(If none, write “ none” across first column. List under indicated headings, beginning with last
area first. Moves within one town or contiguous area need not be recorded.)
(Where?)

(When?)

Area
(town and state)

Dates
(mo. and year)

*Why did you move?

From:
To:
From:
To:
From:
To:
From:
To:
5.

a. How did you learn about the job opening in the Kaiser plant?
Newspaper, radio, T.V......................................................
Friends or relatives..........................................................
State employment o f f ic e ...................................................
Other (specify)____________________________________

b.

6.

What educational courses or training programs, if any, helped you most in getting the job at the
plant?____________________________________________________________________________

Why did you choose to work at the Kaiser plant?




Higher w ages.............................................
Larger “ fringe” benefits...........................
More job security........................................
More desirable employer-employee relations
Better working conditions.........................
Closer to established home........................
Unemployed before coming to Kaiser.........
Underemployed before coming to Kaiser . . .
Other (specify)________________________

- 45 -

7.

8.

Is your wife (husband) working now?.................................................................

Y es___ , N o ___

a. If “ no” , is she (he) looking for work?............................................................

Y es___ , No___

b. If “ yes” , is she (he) working at Kaiser?........................................................

Y es___ , No___

c. Was she (he) working when you left your previous job to work at the Kaiser
plant?.................................................... .......................................................

Y es___ , N o ____

How far from the plant do you live? (m iles)........................................................

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

a. How do you get to work?_______________________________________________________________
b. (If over 5 miles) Do you plan to move closer to the plant?.............................

Y es___ , No___
Undecided______

c. Have you already moved closer to the plant since taking your Kaiser job? . . .

Y es___ , N o ____

d. Do you own your own home?............................................................................
(If “ no” ) Do you plan to buy or build in the next year or two?.......................

Y es___ , N o____
.............................

e. Do you live on a farm now ?............................................................................

Y es___ , N o ____

If “ yes” , do you own i t ? ................................................................................

Y es___ , N o____

If “ yes” , do you lease it ? ..............................................................................

Y es___ , N o ____

If both own and lease, indicate the larger item

Own______ L ease_________

If you live on a farm, (1) do you do some farm work yourself in addition to
your regular work at Kaiser?..................................

Y e s ___ , N o____

(2) do you operate the farm with hired or family
help? .....................................................................

Y e s___ , N o ____

f. Did you do farm work before taking your job with Kaiser?.............................
Y e s ___ , N o ____
If “ yes” , ................................................................................... full time?_______ Part time?_____
9.

During the entire year before you came to Kaiser, were you working full time? . .
(If “yes” , omit remainder of question 9.)

Y e s___ , N o ____

If you were not fully employed,
a. Were you working part time throughout the year?

Yes___ , No____ Hours per week _______

b. Did you work during only part of the year?...................................... ..............
Y e s ___ , N o ____
If “yes,” . . . part time______ How many weeks____
full time______ How many weeks_____
c. Why were you not working full time?______________________________________________________




- 46 -

10.

d. Were you not working (unemployed) but looking for work just before you
came to work at the plant?..............................................................................

Y es____ , No

e. Were you drawing unemployment compensation just before you took the job at
Kaiser?............................................................................................................

Yes____ , No

What periods of total unemployment (not working, but looking for work) if any, have you experienced
in the last 3 years?
(List first any unemployment indicated in Question 9, and work backwards, placing information
under indicated headings. If there has been no unemployment, write “ none” across the first
column.)
When?
(mo. and year)

Did you draw
unemployment
compensation?

Where?
(town and state)

Did you
use it up?

From:
To:
From:
To:
From:
To:
From:
To:
Location of interview: Employee's home.............................
At time of job interview ..
Plant:
Before or after work hours
Interviewer's name_________________________________________ Date of interview
Form reviewed b y __________________________________________




- 47 * U S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE : I960 0 — 543728