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MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
U.3. Department of Labor
Bureau of Labor Statistics
April 1982
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In this issue:
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r
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Washington
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
APRIL 1982
VOLUME 105, NUMBER 4
Henry Lowenstern, Editor-in-Chief
Robert W. Fisher, Executive Editor
LIBR A R Y
Mir ?
*
C. Howell, J. Thomas
3
Price changes in 1981: widespread slowing of inflation
Price increases slowed to their lowest rates since 1977, reflecting favorable
developments in food and energy, as well as the impact of recession
FOUR REPORTS ON EARNINGS DIFFERENCES AND TRENDS
E. F. Mellor, G. D. Stamas
15
Usual weekly earnings: intergroup differences and basic trends
Inflation and recession have generally held real earnings below 1973 levels;
the racial pay gap has narrowed, but the wide earnings disparity by sex remains
Nancy F. Rytina
25
Earnings of men and women: a look at specific occupations
Occupations in which women workers dominate tend to rank lower
in terms of earnings; men dominate higher paid jobs
Nancy F. Rytina
32
Tenure as a factor in the male-female earnings gap
New CPS data show that women have fewer years in their current
occupations than men, a factor which affects the earnings disparity
Sylvia L. Terry
35
Unemployment and its effect on family income in 1980
According to work experience data, the median income of families with an unemployed
member is 21 percent below that of families without unemployment
IRRA PAPERS
Rudolph Oswald
Richard Block, Myron Roomkin
David Lewin, Richard Peterson
Winn Newman
Why wages should not be blamed for the inflation problem
Determinants of voter participation in union certification elections
A model for measuring effectiveness of the grievance process
Pay equity emerges as a top labor issue in the 1980’s
REPORTS
Anne McDougall Young
Elizabeth G. Maret
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Educational attainment of workers, March 1981
How women’s health affects labor force attachment
DEPARTMENTS
Labor month in review
Conference papers
Special labor force reports— summaries
Research summaries
Major agreements expiring next month
Developments in industrial relations
Book reviews
Current labor statistics
Labor M onth
In Review
KLEIN AWARD. A governm ent
economist and a private research analyst
share the 13th annual Lawrence R. Klein
award for the best original articles
published in the Monthly Labor Review
in 1981. The winners, selected by the
Klein Fund trustees, are:
George Stamas, formerly with the
Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Division of
Labor Force Studies (but now with the
Bureau’s Division of Occupational and
Administrative Statistics) for “ The
puzzling lag in southern earnings,” in
the June issue, and
Peter Finn of Abt Associates, Inc.,
Cambridge, Mass., for “ The effects of
shift work on the lives of employees,”
in the October issue.
The awards were announced at the an
nual BLS Awards ceremony, April 6, by
Charles Stewart, chairman, and Ben
Burdetsky, secretary-treasurer of the
Klein Fund. In addition to selecting the
award winners, the Klein Fund trustees
commended three other BLS authors:
Norman Bowers, economist in the Divi
sion of Employment and Unemploy
ment Analysis, for “ Youth labor force
activity: alternative surveys compared,”
in the March issue; Philip L. Rones,
economist in the Division of Employ
ment and Unemployment Analysis, for
“ Response to recession: reduce hours or
jobs?” in the October issue; and Jack E.
Triplett, assistant commissioner, Office
of Research and Evaluation, for
“ R econciling the CPI and PCE
Deflator,” in the September issue.
Bowers and Rones each received a
Klein award last year: Bowers for “ Pro
bing the issues of unemployment dura
tion” in the July 1980 issue and Rones
for “ Moving to the sun: regional job
growth, 1968 to 1978,” in the March
1980 issue.
The Stamas article investigates the
17-percent wage differential (in May
1978) between the South and the rest of
the Nation. He finds that such variables
2
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as industry group, occupation, age,
race, sex, education, city size, and union
status account for three-fifths of the dif
ferential. A major factor explaining the
remaining two-fifths “ may be regional
differences in price levels and living costs
that go beyond those associated with the
simple city-size variable.. . . evidence in
dicate^] that living costs, including price
levels, are lower in the South.”
But, Stamas says that, “ even if
regional differences in the cost of living
play no role, and if all other compen
sating differentials have been con
sidered, the remaining differential
between standardized nominal wages in
the South and those elsewhere could per
sist because neither individuals nor firms
find the difference in wages sufficient to
warrant a move.”
Stamas explains further that “ firms
move to take advantage of things other
than lower labor costs, such as State and
local tax concessions” and that in
dividuals who move may do so “ to take
a different job, for career advancement,
or to change from nonunion to union
status” and, hence, are not moving to a
higher paying region, but rather to a
higher paying job.
The Finn article summarizes both the
beneficial and deleterious features of
shift work (employment between 7 p.m.
and 7 a.m.), with special emphasis on
the harmful consequences. The author
uses original research studies of shift
work as well as anecdotal evidence based
on personal experiences.
According to Finn, shift work’s most
alluring feature appears to be its wage
differential—shift premiums average 10
to 13 cents an hour. Also, shift work
enables workers to increase their in
comes by moonlighting on a day time
job. There are nonpecuniary advantages
as well: many shift workers have less
tension and a more relaxed pace on the
night shift because of less supervision or
fewer interruptions from clerical or
management personnel. And then there
is the camaraderie and sense of loyalty
that is a feature of certain evening or
nighttime occupations.
A major complaint of shift workers is
that such work puts them “ out of
rhythm with their minds and bodies,
families and social lives, and routines of
the com m unity.” Finn says that
although there is no concrete evidence,
“ there are sound physiological grounds
for presuming an increased rate of ac
cidents at night based on laboratory
studies of efficiency and errors related
to circadian rhythms. Laboratory
studies . . . show demonstrable deficien
cy after the evening hours begin.”
The author cautions that the article
paints only a partial picture of the ef
fects of shift work on employees, and
that “ more effort needs to be devoted
now by government, industry, organized
labor, the local community, and shift
workers themselves toward ameliorating
these widespread, harmful consequences
of evening and nighttime employment.”
Purpose of the award. The Klein Award
Fund was established by Lawrence R.
Klein, editor-in-chief of the Review for
22 years until his retirement in 1968. In
stead of accepting a retirement gift,
Klein donated it and matched the
amount collected to initiate the fund.
Since then, he has contributed regularly
as have others. The purpose of the fund
is to encourage Review articles that (1)
exhibit originality of ideas or method of
analysis, (2) adhere to the principles of
scientific inquiry, and (3) are well writ
ten. Since 1969, fund trustees have
presented awards to authors of 24
Review articles. Awards carry cash
prizes of $200 for each winning article.
Tax-deductible contributions to
the Klein Fund may be sent to Ben
B u rd e tsk y , S e c re ta ry -T re a s u re r,
Lawrence R. Klein Fund, c/o School of
Government and Business Administra
tion, The George Washington Universi
ty, Washington, D.C. 20052.
□
Price changes in 1981:
widespread slowing of inflation
Consumer and producer price increases
slowed to their lowest rate since 1977;
major reasons for the moderation include
favorable developments affecting food and energy
as well as the impact o f the recession
C r a ig H
ow ell a n d
Je sse T h o m a s
During 1981, inflation in both retail and primary mar
kets slowed to the lowest pace since 1977. The Con
sumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers ( c p i -u )
moved up 8.9 percent, following increases of 13.3 and
12.4 percent in 1979 and 1980. All major categories of
consumer spending, except medical care, registered
s m a lle r in c r e a se s in 1981 than in the p r e v io u s y ea r. The
moderation in the housing and transportation compo
nents, along with a sharp deceleration in the food and
beverage index, were largely responsible for the slow
down in the overall CPI in 1981. (See table 1.)
The deceleration was especially apparent in prices for
consumer goods, which rose only 6.0 percent, following
an 11.1-percent advance in 1980. The slowdown was
less dramatic for consumer services, from 14.2 percent
in 1980 to 13.0 percent in 1981. Mortgage interest costs
slowed to 20.0 percent, after a 27.8-percent surge in
1980, but the index for services less mortgage interest
costs rose almost 11 percent, virtually the same as in
1980. Because services are generally more labor-inten
sive than commodities, service charges tend to be
slower to react to shifts in the general economy. The ex
perimental CPI-U-Xl, which incorporates the rental
equivalence approach to homeownership costs instead
of mortgage interest rates and home purchase prices,
Craig Howell and Jesse Thomas are economists in the Office of Prices
and Living Conditions, Bureau of Labor Statistics. They were assisted
by William Thomas, David Callahan, John Wetmore, Andrew Clem,
Mary Burns, and Eddie Lamb, economists in the same office.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
moved up 8.5 percent, compared with a 10.8-percent in
crease in 1980. Thus, the 1981 deceleration was greater
for the official CPI than for the CPI-U -Xl.1
At the primary market level, the Producer Price In
dex ( p p i ) for Finished Goods moved up 7.0 percent dur
ing 1981, considerably less than the 11.8-percent jump
in 1980. L ik e th e CPI, th e PPI d e c e le r a tio n was b r o a d .
Although the 14.3-percent climb in the finished energy
goods index was much larger than the increases for oth
er major categories of finished goods in 1981, it was
only about half as large as the surge this index recorded
in 1980. Consumer food prices rose only 1.5 percent in
1981, following a 7.5-percent advance during the previ
ous year. The upward movement in the index for fin
ished consumer goods other than foods and energy
slowed from 10.4 percent in 1980, to 6.9 percent in
1981. The deceleration in the capital equipment index
was less pronounced than those of other major catego
ries of finished goods— 9.2 percent, following an
11.4-percent climb in 1980. Prices for intermediate ma
terials rose about half as much in 1981 (6.1 percent) as
in the preceding year. Following a 12.8-percent climb in
1980, crude material prices dropped by 3.7 percent, the
first decrease in more than a decade. The steep advance
in crude energy prices was more than offset by falling
prices for foodstuffs and for a range of raw industrial
materials.
The widespread slowdown in inflation in 1981 reflect
ed generally favorable developments in factors influ
encing food and energy prices, expectations of reduced
3
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW April 1982 • Price Changes in 1981
inflation rates in the next few years, and the impact of a
recession that spread from the automotive and construc
tion sectors to the rest of the economy around midyear.
While the gross national product increased about 2 per
cent for the year, most of that gain occurred in the first
quarter. The particular weakness of the residential con
struction and automotive markets throughout 1981 was
indicated by the lowest rate of private housing unit
starts in 35 years and the worst level of domestic new
car sales since 1961. The rate of capacity utilization in
the manufacturing sector and the unemployment rate
both reached levels associated with severe recessions by
the end of the year. Inventory accumulations by many
firms unable to cut back orders to match the drop in
Table 1. Changes in selected components of the Consumer and Producer Price Indexes, 1980-61
Percent change
Grouping
Relative
importance,
Dec. 1980
Compound annual rate, seasonally adjusted
except as noted, for 3 months ended —
Contribution1
Dec. 1979
to
Dec. 1980
Dec. 1980
to
Dec. 1981
Dec. 1979
to
Dec. 1980
12.4
10.1
10.6
9.6
7.6
13.7
100.0
15.3
10.4
4.2
.6
49.7
Dec. 1980
to
Dec. 1981
1981
March
June
9.6
5.6
3.8
9.0
9.2
7.7
3.9
7.0
2.9
-8.8
11.4
11.8
26.1
9.2
4.9
3.7
11.4
19.2
19.1
21.2
11.9
12.1
12.1
9.5
8.8
9.6
5.3
3.5
49.1
10.6
9.6
10.9
8.8
8.1
2.3
0.3
6.6
5.6
13.0
3.9
33.2
9.5
20.5
3.1
7.1
5.0
2.8
2.1
.7
22.0
19.8
2.2
3.9
.6
3.3
2.9
3.3
100.0
14.6
27.7
15.1
42.6
100.0
47.0
53.0
100.0
8.9
4.0
4.3
.6
51.9
35.0
4.8
29.1
1.4
24.0
3.7
10.6
6.3
2.0
1.3
.7
23.3
20.8
2.6
6.6
1.0
5.6
2.9
4.4
100.0
8.2
22.2
14.5
55.1
100.0
60.8
39.2
Sept.
Dec.
Consumer Price Index for All
Urban Consumers (CPI-U)2
All Items .........................................................
Food and beverages....................................
Food at hom e..........................................
Food away from home..............................
Alcoholic beverages ................................
Housing .......................................................
Shelter............................ , ......................
Rent, residential3 ..................................
Homeownership....................................
Home purchase3 ..............................
Financing, taxes and insurance3 ..........
Maintenance and repairs....................
Fuel and other utilities ..............................
Household furnishings and operation..........
Apparel and upkeep ....................................
Apparel commodities................................
Apparel services......................................
Transportation ............................................
Private transportation................................
Public transportation3 ................................
Medical care.................................................
Medical care commodities ........................
Medical care services ..............................
Entertainment...............................................
Other goods and services ............................
All items.......................................................
Food .......................................................
Commodities less food and energy............
Energy3 ...................................................
Services less energy................................
Ail items.......................................................
Services...................................................
Commodities............................................
All Items less food, energy, and mortgage
interest costs ..........................................
All items (X-1 approach)..............................
100.0
18.3
12.0
5.3
1.0
45.5
31.6
15.1
5.1
25.8
10.3
12.0
3.5
6.5
7.3
4.9
4.2
0.7
19.0
17.8
1.2
4.7
0.8
3.9
3.6
4.0
100.0
17.3
33.7
10.8
38.1
100.0
41.6
58.4
9.1
16.5
11.4
23.3
10.6
13.6
8.1
6.8
6.0
12.4
14.7
14.0
25.6
10.0
10.0
10.0
9.6
10.1
12.4
10.2
9.9
18.1
14.1
12.4
14.2
11.1
8.9
4.3
3.0
7.2
5.8
10.2
9.9
8.5
10.1
1.2
17.9
9.2
14.5
7.6
3.6
2.7
9.4
11.0
10.4
19.2
12.5
11.3
12.7
7.2
9.8
8.9
4.3
5.9
11.9
12.9
8.9
13.0
6.0
62.0
—
9.9
10.8
8.0
8.5
51.0
—
55.3
—
6.7
10.7
8.6
5.9
11.4
10.1
5.2
7.5
100.0
12.1
23.1
76.9
65.0
56.6
11.8
27.8
7.5
13.3
10.7
14.2
7.0
14.3
1.5
8.7
7.6
8.4
100.0
26.9
16.1
83.9
57.0
62.2
100.0
24.4
5.0
95.0
70.6
68.0
12.8
56.6
5.1
15.3
8.8
16.5
7.1
3.5
3.5
8.1
9.0
7.6
3.4
-3.6
1.6
4.0
5.6
3.2
5.2
9.7
-3.7
7.7
7.4
7.2
44.6
20.3
10.4
11.4
6.9
9.2
35.5
21.5
43.6
27.1
7.4
11.6
8.8
10.0
5.4
5.7
6.4
9.7
100.0
16.2
6.5
93.6
77.3
100.0
26.8
57.7
42.3
15.5
12.6
25.4
16.1
12.4
10.1
12.8
26.9
8.6
19.1
7.5
6.1
11.1
-12.4
7.4
6.7
-3.7
22.9
-14.0
10.4
-11.3
100.0
28.5
7.5
92.5
64.0
100.0
46.4
43.1
56.5
10.3
100.0
29.2
-9.0
109.0
79.8
100.0
-166.8
219.8
-119.8
47.0
11.5
47.0
-17.2
13.8
8.3
3.4
110.0
-15.6
34.3
-44.5
7.4
1.9
-.3
8.0
8.8
10.8
4.3
6.4
16.1
47.7
3.8
-2.1
-18.3
5.2
7.1
-9.7
1.1
-18.2
1.1
1.2
2.0
4.2
-12.9
2.8
2.4
-16.6
2.9
-25.5
-5.6
-22.5
37.6
7.7
16.9
8.7
25.9
10.7
8.6
7.8
2.6
1.8
8.9
2.3
1.6
14.3
11.8
12.3
11.6
5.1
11.3
8.1
2.2
8.7
4.7
14.8
8.1
14.8
3.2
12.8
7.6
7.8
7.1
7.0
16.9
19.8
10.2
21.5
12.4
33.1
8.9
14.8
6.9
6.4
5.5
9.8
11.6
10.0
37.5
14.4
11.9
14.9
6.9
10.8
12.8
7.7
9.5
3.0
19.1
12.8
19.2
8.5
9.0
0.3
-5.7
3.6
5.6
9.3
6.8
0.8
-0.2
7.7
11.6
12.0
5.8
11.7
9.1
12.3
7.3
8.4
5.4
1.7
2.2
-2.4
7.6
5.4
7.8
3.6
15.1
5.4
1.8
-0.3
6.1
1.4
3.6
1.8
Producer Price Index (PPI) by
stage of processing2
Finished goods ............................................
Finished energy goods..............................
Consumer foods ......................................
Finished goods less food ..........................
Finished goods less food and energy ........
Finished consumer goods less food ..........
Finished consumer goods less food and
energy ................................................
Capital equipment....................................
Intermediate materials, supplies, and
components .............................................
Intermediate energy goods........................
Intermediate food and feeds......................
Intermediate materials less foods, feeds . . .
Intermediate materials less food, energy . . .
Crude materials ..........................................
Crude energy materials3 ..........................
Crude foodstuffs and feedstuffs ................
Crude nonfood materials ..........................
Crude nonfood materials less energy ........
'Percent of overall change attributable to each specific Item.
2See "Definitions'' and “ Notes” preceding tables 22-30 of Current Labor Statistics in this Re-
view.
3Not seasonally adjusted.
Digitized 4
for FRASER
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Note: Data shown above and elsewhere In this article may differ from those previously reported because seasonal adjustment factors have been recalculated to reflect developments
during 1981. In addition, PPI data through September 1981 have been revised to reflect the
availability of late reports and corrections by respondents.
sales kept industrial production from falling more. Ex
port markets, an increasingly important sector in recent
years, were badly depressed for many products in 1981,
partly because of economic weakness abroad.
The unusually high interest rates which prevailed
during much of the year played a complex role, both di
rectly and indirectly, in many price movements. With
interest rates so high in spite of lower inflation, real
(that is, inflation-adjusted) interest costs reached virtu
ally unprecedented levels. On the one hand, interest
rates aggravated inflation in that mortgage interest rates
at or near record-high levels served to raise the reported
inflation rate for the CPI; in addition, soaring financing
costs were sometimes passed through to buyers in in
creased prices charged by businesses trying to protect
their profits or to minimize their losses. On the other
hand, high interest rates helped to restrain inflation by
reducing demand for inventories, discouraging commod
ity speculation, depressing residential construction ac
tivity, forcing the postponement of some long-term
investment projects, making personal savings more re
warding and consumer credit more expensive, and rais
ing imports and cutting exports through their effect on
improving the value of the American dollar in foreign
exchange markets.
Consumer goods, except food and energy
Retail prices for consumer goods other than food and
energy increased about 6 percent in 1981, after rising
about 10 percent in 1980. Price increases for houses
slowed as the housing industry experienced its worst
year since 1946, mainly because of continued high inter
est rates for mortgages and construction loans. Sales of
both new and existing houses fell almost 20 percent
from 1980 levels, and the number of new private hous
ing unit starts dropped to the lowest figure in 35 years.
(See table 2.)
The Producer Price Index for finished consumer
goods other than foods and energy rose 6.9 percent in
1981, down from a 10.4-percent increase in the preced
ing year. Unlike 1980, when the indexes for both dura
bles and nondurables other than foods and energy
climbed at virtually the same rate, the nondurables in
dex moved up considerably more in 1981 (8.0 percent)
than did the durables index (5.4 percent). Demand for
consumer durables was hard hit by the recession, while
demand for nondurables held relatively steady. The
greater deceleration in the durables index partly reflect
ed a dramatic downturn in prices for items made from
precious metals: gold jewelry prices dropped 20 percent
after soaring nearly 32 percent in 1980, and sterling sil
ver flatware prices were cut 45 percent following a
19-percent advance. The 1981 increase in the nondur
ables index was also propped by the indexes for news
papers, periodicals, and books, all of which rose at or
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close to double-digit rates; because these categories were
first introduced into the PPI in December 1980, they had
no impact on 1980 index movements. Aside from these
special cases, primary market prices for a range of
consumer goods rose 3 or more percentage points less
in 1981 than they did in 1980.
Retail prices for passenger cars moved up 6.8 per
cent, somewhat less than the 1980 advance of 7.5 per
cent. Prices received by producers of automobiles also
increased somewhat less than in the preceding year (8.7
versus 9.4 percent). Domestic new car sales totaled only
about 6.2 million units for the entire year, the lowest
since 1961. A variety of rebate programs offered for
1981 model cars did stimulate sales from time to time,
but generally, demand remained sluggish. When an an
ticipated rebound in sales concurrent with the introduc
tion of 1982 models failed to materialize, many of the
announced price increases for the new model-year cars
had to be discounted almost immediately. Demand for
larger cars recovered, at least relatively, in part because
of recent improvements in mileage performance, com
bined with a gradual decline in gasoline prices after a
sharp jump early in the year. Sales of imported cars fell,
but much less than did sales of domestic autos. Thus,
imports accounted for a record 27 percent of total new
car sales in this country. Both retail and producer tire
prices rose about 5 percent, far less than in other recent
years, as reduced automobile production depressed de
mand for tires, forced many promotional sales, and
lowered prices for crude natural rubber.
As an alternative to higher priced new cars, consumer
demand remained strong for used cars, and that index
registered an even larger increase in 1981 (20.3 percent)
than in the preceding year (18.9 percent). Consumers
were less reluctant to buy larger used cars as gasoline
prices stabilized. In addition, dealer sales of used cars,
although improved from 1980, remained at low levels
because of a shortage of trade-ins for new cars.
Retail prices for apparel commodities other than
footwear rose 2.4 percent, compared with a 5.8-percent
increase in 1980. Synthetic fiber prices had climbed
sharply in 1980 and early in 1981; consequently, the ap
parel industry used more natural fiber in its blends.
Synthetic fiber prices slowed in the remaining months of
1981 as petroleum prices stabilized; and, after rising
sharply in 1980, cotton prices declined in 1981. Price
increases for footwear slowed to 4.6 percent, as produc
er prices for leather dropped considerably.
On the other hand, prices accelerated for prescription
and nonprescription drugs. This acceleration can be at
tributed to a number of factors, including: (1) a signifi
cant increase in the incidence of flu-type ailments early
in the year that caused a surge in demand for drugs for
treatment; (2) higher costs for plastic packaging; (3)
higher costs for research and certification of new drugs;
5
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW April 1982 • Price Changes in 1981
Table 2.
Changes in retail prices for selected commodities less food and energy, 1980-81
Compound annual rate, seasonally adjusted
except as noted, for 3 months ended —
Percent change
CPI grouping
Relative
importance,
Dec. 1980
Dec. 1979
to
Dec. 1980
Dec. 1980
to
Dec. 1981
1981
Mar.
June
Sept.
Dec.
Commodities less food and energy........................................
100.0
9.9
5.9
3.5
8.7
9.5
2.2
Alcoholic beverages .................................................................
2.9
7.6
5.8
9.2
5.6
7.0
1.4
Home purchase1 .....................................................................
Maintenance and repair commodities' ......................................
Textile housefurnishing., ...........................................................
Furniture and bedding . ...........................................................
Appliances, including radio and TV1 ..........................................
Other household equipment1 .....................................................
Housekeeping supplies1 ...........................................................
30.5
2.4
3.5
4.1
2.6
4.3
11.4
10.4
8.2
7.8
3.6
10.4
12.4
1.2
4.7
9.3
6.4
3.9
7.4
7.6
-8.8
8.3
7.2
8.8
5.2
14.5
10.5
8.7
6.2
8.4
3.2
6.0
6.0
8.8
12.4
1.8
10.3
9.0
3.9
6.6
5.3
-5.7
2.6
11.7
5.1
.5
2.7
6.1
Apparel commodities less footwear ..........................................
Footwear.................................................................................
10.5
1.9
5.8
6.7
2.4
4.6
3.6
4.4
1.2
5.2
6.1
3.9
-1.4
5.0
New ca rs.................................................................................
Used cars ...............................................................................
Auto parts and equipment1 .......................................................
10.6
8.8
1.8
7.5
18.3
8.6
6.8
20.3
5.1
-0.9
8.0
4.7
20.9
8.5
-4.0
3.6
44.2
8.0
5.0
22.7
3.6
Medical care commodities.........................................................
2.3
10.0
11.3
12.1
12.3
11.9
9.1
Entertainment comnfodities .......................................................
6.4
10.3
7.1
9.0
6.3
6.2
7.0
Tobacco products1 ...................................................................
Toilet goods and personal care appliances1 ..............................
School books and supplies .......................................................
3.1
2.1
0.5
9.7
9.9
9.7
7.6
9.1
14.6
3.3
14.1
14.0
13.0
11.6
9.2
4.8
4.6
35.8
9.5
6.2
2.1
1.5
1Not seasonally adjusted.
and (4) a high level of advertising expenses required by
intensified competition within the industry. Prices for
school books and supplies rose sharply, reflecting higher
costs of production of textbooks. Price increases for tex
tile housefurnishings accelerated somewhat, augmented
by sharply increased costs of synthetic fibers in early
1981.
Energy reacts to weakened demand
Prices for nearly all types of energy rose considerably
less in 1981 than in either of the previous 2 years. This
reflected reduced world demand associated with reces
sionary conditions and the continued excess supplies of
crude petroleum. Energy prices surged during the first
quarter of the year following the decontrol of domestic
oil prices and another round of price hikes announced
by the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries
(OPEC) at the end of 1980. After this initial surge, most
energy prices either remained stable or edged downward
as demand weakened. (See table 3.)
Consumer energy items. Retail motor fuel prices2
followed the same pattern as other refined petroleum
products. The decontrol of prices for domestic crude oil
and gasoline announced on January 28, together with
the OPEC price hikes established in December 1980,
caused the average retail price per gallon of gasoline to
increase 15.7 cents during the first quarter. But gasoline
stocks reached a record level in March and remained
relatively high throughout the year as demand weak
6 FRASER
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
ened. In response to higher prices and the threat of re
cession, American motorists generally curtailed summer
driving; as a result, the traditional peak period of gaso
line demand did not occur.3 Consequently, retail gaso
line prices declined (before seasonal adjustment) for the
9 successive months of April through December. The
resulting price competition pressures squeezed retailer’s
profit margins. Gasoline prices increased 9.4 percent
over the year, after jumping 52.2 percent in 1979 and
18.9 percent in 1980.
Fuel oil prices in the CPI increased 17.0 percent in
1981, a somewhat slower rise than the 20.2-percent ad
vance in 1980. The deregulation of the crude petroleum
industry coupled with seasonally strong demand led to
huge increases in the first quarter, which were followed
by 7 months of declines attributed to abundant sup
plies. The increased number of passenger cars using die
sel fuel helped raise fuel oil prices; as gasoline demand
slumped, petroleum refiners attempted to maintain pro
fit levels by raising prices of distillate fuels.
Consumer prices for natural gas rose 14.9 percent in
1981, compared with 20.1 percent in 1979 and 14.7 per
cent in 1980. Purchased gas adjustments and rates
showed moderate but steady increases throughout the
year. Electricity prices increased 14.5 percent in 1981, a
slight moderation from the previous year. Utilities de
pendent upon petroleum-fueled power generating plants
raised fuel adjustment charges during the early part of
the year, and sizable increases in coal prices were
passed on to electricity consumers during the summer.
preceding year. The slowdown was the result of deceler
ated increases for residual fuel and natural gas, which
are used in power-generating plants. However, there
were large increases during the second half, coinciding
with steep hikes in coal prices. Utilities continued to
switch from petroleum to coal as a generating fuel dur
ing 1981 as an economy measure and in compliance
with Federal energy policy. The proportion of total
electricity output produced in coal-fired facilities rose to
52 percent, compared with 44 percent in 1978; during
the same period, the proportion generated using petro
leum (residual fuels) dropped to 9 percent, from 16 per
cent.
Industrial fuels. Prices of energy goods used by
businesses and industries also soared during the first
quarter of 1981. The fastest rate of advance was for die
sel fuel; however, diesel prices turned downward during
the second quarter and continued to recede for the re
mainder of the year, as the weak economy caused re
duced shipments by motor trucks. Similarly, commercial
jet fuel prices surged and then began to fall; however,
the downturn was somewhat later than that for diesel
fuel. This is typical, because jet fuel is sold largely on a
contractual basis and its price is less flexible than that of
diesel fuel. Demand for jet fuel was held down by the
cutback in flights attributed to the strike and subsequent
firing of some air controllers. Over the year, both diesel
fuel and commercial jet fuel prices rose less than in ei
ther 1979 or 1980.
After rising rapidly from November 1980 through
March 1981, prices for residual fuel fell sharply for the
rest of the year. These prices are especially sensitive to
short-term market changes because most sales are
transacted at spot prices. In late 1980, fears of short
ages arising from the Iran-Iraq war led to sharp in
creases; when it became apparent that supplies would
exceed demand, prices began to plummet during the
spring of 1981.
The PPI for electric power (which includes sales to
commercial and industrial users, but not sales to resi
dential customers) rose somewhat less than during the
Table 3.
Crude energy. On January 28, 1981, the Administration
announced the immediate decontrol of prices for crude
petroleum; previously, a phased decontrol program had
been set for completion at the end of September 1981.
Domestic oil prices quickly rose to about the world lev
el, jumping nearly 20 percent between January and Feb
ruary. Thereafter, domestic crude oil prices became
responsive to world market conditions, which were
characterized by excess supplies. After the early surge,
prices fell about 7 percent through the end of the year.
After Iran and Iraq partially resumed crude oil ship
ments around the end of 1980, world supplies again
exceeded demand. Saudi Arabia, which had raised its
production to more than 10 million barrels per day to
Changes in consumer and producer prices for energy items, 198(F81
Compound annual rate, seasonally adjusted
except as noted, for 3 months ended —
Percent change
Grouping
Index
Relative
importance,
Dec. 1980
Dec. 1979
to
Dec. 1980
Dec. 1980
to
Dec. 1981
1981
March
June
Sept.
Dec.
Finished items (sold to consumers)
Energy items1 .........................................................
Finished energy goods............................................
Motor fuels, motor oil, coolants, etc.2 ..................
Gasoline .........................................................
Household fuels...................................................
Fuel oil13.........................................................
Gas (piped) .....................................................
Electricity.........................................................
CPI
PPI
CPI
CPI
PPI
CPI
CPI
PPI
CPI
PPI
CPI
100.0
100.0
55.7
54.9
56.8
44.3
12.0
14.1
13.0
18.2
19.3
18.1
27.8
18.9
18.9
29.5
17.0
19.9
23.9
14.7
29.9
16.7
11.9
14.3
9.4
9.4
10.8
15.2
16.6
19.5
14.9
26.8
14.5
49.1
56.6
49.6
50.4
59.5
33.1
97.0
107.7
16.6
28.6
12.2
4.7
3.5
-15.7
-16.1
-8.9
9.1
-6.4
3.8
17.5
47.0
15.5
3.0
-3.6
1.9
1.8
-8.4
11.3
-4.9
-5.8
15.6
18.0
20.6
-2.4
9.7
12.1
12.3
14.7
9.1
5.5
1.2
9.9
16.0
9.9
PPI
PPI
PPI
PPI
PPI
PPI
100.0
9.0
8.3
15.6
4.8
29.9
25.4
23.7
29.9
39.8
22.1
17.6
11.1
17.4
12.9
.8
1.7
13.7
47.0
106.8
60.3
56.1
11.8
11.5
1.9
4.9
19.0
-9.1
1.3
11.5
-2.1
-10.5
-10.9
-12.5
-6.5
19,6
4.2
-2.1
-4.6
-17.2
.9
12.2
PPI
PPI
PPI
PPI
100.0
30.6
54.7
14.6
26.9
29.9
34.4
3.6
22.9
26.8
24.4
8.5
110.0
28.6
214.6
5.0
4.3
47.0
-12.2
9.1
1.1
18.0
-9.0
15.9
2.9
16.0
-4.6
4.3
Intermediate materials (sold to businesses)
Intermediate energy goods......................................
Diesel fuel''4 .......................................................
Commercial jet fuel1-4 .........................................
Residual fuel4 .....................................................
Liquefied petroleum gas1 .....................................
Electric power4 ...................................................
Crude materials
Crude energy materials ......................................
Natural gas14 .................................................
Crude petroleum1 ..........................................
Coal1 .............................................................
1Not seasonally adjusted.
2"Motor fuels” replaces “ gasoline” to reflect the inclusion of direct pricing of gasohol and
diesel fuel.
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4Includes coal and bottled gas in the CPI.
Prices are lagged 1 month in the PPI.
7
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW April 1982 • Price Changes in 1981
compensate for the shortfall caused by the outbreak of
the war between Iraq and Iran, maintained this rate for
most of 1981, thereby creating the worldwide glut of
petroleum. Some individual oil-exporting countries be
gan discounting their prices by April in order to boost
sales in a sagging market. The fact that price reductions
by oil exporting countries outside of OPEC (such as
Mexico) induced OPEC members to alter their price and
output levels indicated that OPEC was losing its ability
to manipulate the world market. Those countries with
the highest prices (Libya, Algeria, and Nigeria) were
forced to cut their output drastically because of a lack
of buyers. In October, members of OPEC finally resolved
their policy differences and agreed on a uniform bench
mark price of $34 per barrel; price reductions by most
OPEC members were coupled with a price increase and
output cutback by Saudi Arabia.
The PPI for natural gas rose more than 25 percent for
the third consecutive year, although the 1981 increase
was somewhat less than in 1979 or 1980. Part of the in
crease was the result of the scheduled phasing out of
some price controls under the provisions of the Natural
Gas Policy Act of 1978. However, a large part of the
Table 4.
price hikes was due to the producers’ practice of chang
ing to more advantageous price categories by drilling
old gas wells deeper or by drilling new wells in old gas
fields.
Coal prices were raised substantially during the third
quarter, following 3 years of relatively little movement.
The increase reflected higher labor costs in the wake of
a new wage settlement negotiated with the United Mine
Workers. Export demand for coal, while strong, did not
grow as much in 1981 as had been expected, and some
coal producers were constrained by their inability to
maintain profit margins as costs rose.
Food price increases— 5-year low
Retail food prices, showing their smallest increase
since 1976, rose 4.3 percent in 1981, following a 10.2percent advance in 1980. At the producer level, finished
consumer food prices increased 1.5 percent, after ad
vancing 7.5 percent in 1980. (See table 4.) The PPI for
crude foodstuffs and feedstuff's fell 14.0 percent in 1981,
compared with an 8.6-percent increase in 1980. This
moderation in price increases was largely the result of
improved supplies, as the United States increased
Changes in retail and producer prices for selected foods, 1980-81
Percent change
Commodity
Index
Relative
importance,
Dec. 1980
Dec. 1979
to
Dec. 1980
Compound annual rate, seasonally adjusted
except as noted, for 3 months ended —
Dec. 1980
to
Dec. 1981
1981
Mar.
June
Sept.
Dec.
Consumer food1
CPI
PPI
100.0
100.0
10.2
7.5
4.3
1.5
5.3
5.1
2.2
3.5
7.7
1.6
1.7
-3.7
Beef and veal ..............................................
CPI
PPI
9.8
12.1
5.0
-1.8
-1.7
-8.0
-14.1
-24.1
-1.6
13.4
19.2
5.1
-7.8
-21.0
P o rk............................................................
CPI
PPI
4.7
6.5
11.8
8.8
2.3
-3.5
-12.9
-12.6
13.2
36.0
20.6
7.6
-9.5
-31.7
Poultry .........................................................
CPI
PPI
2.3
3.3
15.0
6.8
-5.4
-17.5
-9.6
-11.9
-4.9
-5.4
2.9
-26.8
-10.6
-24.9
Cereal and bakery products2 ........................
CPI
PPI
8.7
13.1
11.6
11.2
7.4
2.9
13.3
5.6
7.4
10.7
4.2
2.2
5.1
-6.3
Dairy products2 ............................................
CPI
PPI
9.3
13.6
9.7
10.2
3.2
2.0
8.0
8.9
2.0
1.0
0.8
-1.6
0.0
Fresh fruits and vegetables ..........................
CPI
PPI
5.2
5.2
13.9
16.3
4.9
14.2
35.9
67.4
-24.5
-27.2
16.8
-0.8
1.3
38.7
Processed fruits and vegetables2 ..................
CPI
PPI
4.5
6.4
8.0
6.3
11.8
14.7
21.3
36.0
15.2
11.9
8.3
10.9
3.3
3.0
Eggs.............................................................
CPI
PPI
1.3
2.0
11.1
9.6
-4.2
-10.1
-24.1
-32.3
29.0
61.3
-7.6
-9.8
-7.1
-33.8
Sugar and sweets3 ......................................
CPI
PPI
2.9
4.8
35.7
45.0
-7.0
-26.2
-3.2
-37.6
-21.0
-31.4
0.1
-34.9
-2.3
6.8
Roasted coffee2 ............................................
CPI
PPI
0.8
3.6
-11.6
-14.7
-11.6
-3.5
-27.7
-1.8
-6.8
-21.1
-8.8
-0.6
-0.8
12.5
Fats and oil products24 ................................
CPI
PPI
1.9
1.6
8.1
2.6
3.7
0.4
29.9
2.7
1.0
-7.4
-1.6
-4.5
-10.6
12.0
Food away from home5 ................................
CPI
30.7
9.6
7.2
9.0
6.6
7.1
6.1
11ncludes items not listed.
2Not seasonally adjusted in the CPI.
3“ Sugar and confectionery” in the PPI. Not seasonally adjusted In the CPI or PPI.
8
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
2.0
“ “ Shortening and cooking oils” in the PPI effective January 1982, formerly “ vegetable oil
end products.”
5The PPI does not reflect restaurant prices.
its crop production 14 percent and its livestock produc
tion 2 percent. Processing, transportation, and market
ing charges constitute a large share of total costs, as
foodstuffs move from the crude stage to the finished
goods stage, and account for an even larger share at the
retail level. Continued increases in costs for energy, la
bor, and other inputs, therefore, prevented the drop in
farm prices from being fully reflected in grocery stores
and restaurants.
The CPI for food rose only slightly in the first half of
the year before accelerating in the third quarter to a
7.7-percent annual rate of increase. In contrast, the PPI
for foods showed progressively smaller increases over
the same period. During the fourth quarter, retail prices
rose at a more moderate pace, and the PPI for finished
consumer foods declined. The CPI for food away from
home rose 7.2 percent over the year, somewhat less
than the 9.6-percent increase in 1980.4
Meats. The CPI for beef and veal fell 1.7 percent in
1981, after a rise of 5.0 percent in 1980 and increases of
more than 20 percent in each of the previous 2 years.
This index declined in the first 6 months of 1981,
turned up significantly by the end of the third quarter
as processor prices surged, and then fell again in the
fourth quarter when processor prices weakened. At the
processor level, generally declining prices resulted from
large-scale slaughtering of breeding stock.
Pork prices in the CPI rose 2.3 percent in 1981, after
rising 11.8 percent in 1980. At the processor level, pork
prices declined 3.5 percent, after rising 8.8 percent in
the previous year. The moderation was attributed to
sharp price declines early in 1981 when pork supplies
were abundant, even though consumers substituted
pork for more costly beef.
Both retail and processor prices for poultry fell in
1981, following a rapid increase in the summer of 1980
when intense heat killed millions of chickens. The de
cline in 1981 retail prices occurred in the first half of
the year when poultry supplies were abundant; retail
prices turned up slightly in the third quarter when
supplies tightened again, only to fall again in the fourth
quarter. Despite generally tight supplies, egg prices de
clined, after rising in 1980. Although production costs,
particularly energy, rose rapidly, egg price increases
were limited both by plentiful supplies of other high
protein foods and by tight consumer budgets as a result
of the recession.
Dairy products. Prices for dairy products were relatively
stable in 1981, compared with earlier years, because of
both large supplies and the lack of any permanent in
crease in the support price of milk since October 1980.5
U.S. Department of Agriculture purchases under the
price support program during 1981 totaled 12.6 billion
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
pounds (milk equivalent fat basis), compared with 8.6
billion during 1980. The Agriculture Department now
purchases over a tenth of total farm marketings. Be
cause of such large government purchases, the price of
milk is effectively determined by the support price pro
gram.
Milk production was estimated at about 3 percent
more in 1981 than in 1980. The large number of young
replacement heifers available to enter the milking herd
allowed the number of milk cows to continue to in
crease. In addition, lower cow prices throughout 1981
led to a reduced slaughter rate for older, less productive
cows. Relatively favorable income for dairy farming,
compared with other farm enterprises and other em
ployment opportunities, contributed to the cow popula
tion. Cows numbered 10.94 million in October, the
largest count since May 1977. Milk production in 1981
also rose because of continued increases in productivity:
output per cow advanced (even with relatively little
change in feeding rates) because of genetic improve
ments through selective breeding. In addition, the labor
productivity of dairy farming has increased significantly
in recent years because of technological advances. In
creases in retail prices for butter (3.2 percent), ice cream
(6.3 percent), and milk (2.3 percent) were much less
than in 1980.
Crops. Prices for grains and feeds turned downward in
1981, following 3 years of generally rising prices. This
easing reflected large domestic harvests and weak ex
port demand for corn. Soybean prices, which had
displayed no clear trend in recent years, began to fall
sharply in late 1980 and continued downward in most
subsequent months. The 1981 peanut harvest was sub
stantially larger than the drought-ravaged 1980 crop;
after soaring in 1980, retail peanut butter prices fell
each month from June 1981 to December.
Cereal and bakery products. Price increases for cereal
and bakery products slowed considerably during the
second half of 1981, leading to smaller increases than in
1980. The moderation was greater at the producer level,
where materials form a larger fraction of costs. Al
though many production costs continued to rise, prices
of several key ingredients fell, in particular, flour, re
flecting lower wheat prices; sugar, reflecting improved
world supplies; and rice, reflecting improved harvests in
many foreign producing countries and large domestic
supplies after a record U.S. harvest.
Fruits and vegetables. Volatility was the hallmark of
fresh fruit and vegetable prices in 1981, as often hap
pens. Adverse weather conditions are frequently the
cause of small harvests and higher prices. A freeze in
Florida in January struck hard at tomatoes, as well as
9
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW April 1982 • Price Changes in 1981
some other winter vegetables. This was followed by rain
damage in Florida and in Mexico, the largest supplier
of U.S. tomato imports. With supplies short, prices
soared in the first quarter, only to fall in the second, as
tomatoes planted after the frost were marketed. Potato
prices rose in the first quarter, as the small stocks left
after the poor harvest of 1980 were depleted. However,
later in the year, the new crop came to market and
prices for potatoes fell sharply. Lettuce prices showed
their usual volatility in response to supply changes as
growing areas shifted. The CPI for lettuce rose or fell
more than 5 percent in 8 of the 12 months; the net in
crease for the year was 34.4 percent. The freeze in Flori
da also damaged orange trees, but an unusually large
supply of fresh oranges from California kept consumer
price increases small. In the third quarter, both orange
and apple prices rose us stockpiles were diminished. Ap
ple prices continued upward in the fourth quarter be
cause of a smaller harvest than in the previous year.
Higher processing costs and smaller supplies for most
processed fruits and vegetables led to their relatively
large price increases. Among the largest increases in
1981 were the PPI for frozen orange juice concentrate
(32.7 percent) and the CPI for frozen fruits and fruit
juices (18.0 percent). These indexes rose sharply after
the January freeze. Unlike fresh oranges which come
largely from California, orange juice is more dependent
on the Florida crop. Increased imports of frozen orange
juice concentrate from Brazil did not make up the
shortfall.
end. Roasted coffee prices declined 11.6 percent for the
second consecutive year, as world supplies remained
abundant.
Services, excluding energy
The index for services less energy advanced 12.9 per
cent, compared with a 14.1-percent climb in the preced
ing year. Many major components within this area
continued to climb at double-digit rates, although usu
ally somewhat less than in 1980. However, the medical
care services index accelerated, and in 1981 it registered
one of the largest advances ever. (See table 5.)
Contracted mortgage interest costs rose 20.0 percent
in 1981, following advances of 34.7 percent in 1979 and
27.6 percent in 1980. In 1979 and 1980, this index re
flected sharp increases in house prices and in mortgage
interest rates; in 1981, with home prices rising only 1.2
percent, the increase was primarily attributable to mort
gage interest rates. The index for mortgage interest rates
(up 15.0 percent in 1980 and 16.1 percent in 1979) rose
18.9 percent in 1981, reflecting the behavior of long
term interest rates. The persistent slowdown in money
growth from 1977 to 1981 (8.2 percent in 1977 and
1978, 7.6 percent in 1979, 7.3 percent in 1980, and
about 4.0 percent in 1981) rendered loanable funds
scarce and expensive.
The residential rent index moved up 8.5 percent, a
slightly slower rate than the 9.1 percent of the previous
year. This slowdown mainly reflected moderating fuel
costs.
The transportation services index rose 11.1 percent, a
slower rate than the 14.1 percent advance in 1980. The
public transportation index (which includes intracity
mass transit and intercity bus, train, and airline fares)
advanced 19.2 percent, considerably less than the 25.6percent jump in 1980, but much more than the in-
Sugar and coffee. World sugar prices dropped through
out 1981, after undergoing sharp increases in 1980. Do
mestic producer prices for sugar fell until September,
when import fees were restored. Because of time lags,
consumer sugar prices continued declining until year-
Table 5. Changes in consumer services less energy prices, 1980-81
Compound annual rate, seasonally adjusted
except as noted, for 3 months ended —
Percent change
CPI grouping
Services less energy .................................................................
Rent, residential1 .....................................................................
Household, less rent and energy'2 ............................................
Home financing, taxes and Insurance1 ....................................
Mortgage interest costs' .....................................................
Home maintenance and repairs..............................................
Housekeeping services' ........................................................
Transportation services .............................................................
Auto maintenance and repairs.................................................
Other private transportation services' ....................................
Public transportation' .............................................................
Medical care services ............................................................
Entertainment services' .............................................................
Personal care services' .........................................................
Apparel services .......................................................................
Personal and educational services ............................................
' Not seasonally adjusted.
10
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Relative
importance,
Dec. 1980
100.0
13.4
50.1
31.4
25.8
7.2
5.1
15.1
3.8
8.2
3.1
10.3
3.9
2.3
1.7
3.1
Dec. 1979
to
Dec. 1980
Dec. 1980
to
Dec. 1981
Mar.
June
Sept.
Dec.
14.1
9.1
17.2
23.3
27.6
10.7
7.4
14.1
10.9
11.8
25.6
10.0
8.7
8.0
12.4
12.3
12.9
8.5
15.5
17.9
20.0
10.5
10.8
11.1
8.6
9.1
19.2
12.7
7.3
7.5
9.4
13.2
10.6
7.0
12.1
11.4
11.6
12.7
11.6
10.2
8.8
6.8
21.2
12.1
10.4
8.9
11.4
9.9
14.8
7.7
20.4
25.9
30.7
12.2
11.9
11.6
7.0
12.7
14.3
11.6
3.2
7.6
8.9
12.8
19.1
10.2
26.0
33.1
38.3
10.9
7.6
12.6
10.1
4.8
37.5
14.9
8.1
9.7
9.8
17.7
7.6
9.0
4.7
3.6
2.8
6.5
12.0
10.0
8.3
12.5
5.8
12.3
7.7
4.0
7.7
12.5
2Includes Items not listed.
1981
creases for auto maintenance and for other private
transportation services. These increases partly reflected
higher wage rates because of cost-of-living adjustment
clauses in contracts. Airline fares accounted for much of
the deceleration in the public transportation sector, as
some airlines were able to restrain fare boosts because
of moderating fuel costs and intensified competition.
The medical care services index climbed 12.7 percent,
following a 10-percent rise in 1980. The index for physi
cian services advanced 11.7 percent, slightly more than
in 1980, reflecting increases for a range of services. The
dental services index moved up 10.2 percent, roughly
the same as in the previous year. Charges for the more
difficult dental services did not increase to the same ex
tent as the more routine services, such as fillings and
teeth cleaning. Traditionally, use of dental services has
fluctuated with the business cycle. However, this is no
longer the case, partly because of the increased extent of
third-party dental coverage; the share of total expendi
tures for dental services assumed by private health in
surance expanded from 2 to 21 percent between 1965
and 1980. The index for other professional services rose
9.2 percent, with optometrists and ophthalmologists
leading the increases.
The cost of hospital rooms, particularly semi-private
rooms, continued to rise at a double-digit rate. Some of
the factors affecting hospital charges included higher in
terest costs, increased labor costs attributable, in part,
to a shortage of professional nurses, and rising demand
associated with the larger proportion of elderly in the
general population.
Price increases for most other types of services, in
cluding entertainment, personal care, and apparel, rose
less than in the previous year. However, the personal
and educational services index increased more, reflecting
higher college tuition costs.
Capital equipment
The Producer Price Index for capital equipment
moved up 9.2 percent, a moderate slowdown from the
11.4-percent advance registered in 1980. The slowdown
was broad based; double-digit rates of inflation, ex
tremely common among various kinds of capital goods
in the previous year, were far less so in 1981. At the
same time, however, few kinds of capital equipment
rose less than 8 percent in either 1980 or 1981; in
creases of this size were common for consumer goods in
1981.
The relatively high rate of inflation in capital goods
prices in both 1980 and 1981 could only be partly at
tributed to a passthrough of increased material costs. In
fact, the index for durable manufacturing materials had
already slowed from a 17.2-percent surge in 1979 to a
5.9-percent rise in 1980, before decelerating even further
to a 3.3-percent increase in 1981. However, prices for
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steel—a major material in many kinds of capital goods
— did rise faster in 1981 than in other recent years. One
crucial factor might be the fact that the real (inflationadjusted) level of capital expenditures was maintained
in both 1980 and 1981, despite a sluggish economy. The
Commerce Department estimates that real spending by
businesses on new plants and equipment increased 0.8
percent in 1980 and 0.3 percent in 1981. However, the
1981 strength in capital spending, as with the economy
as a whole, was concentrated in the first quarter; by the
end of the year, real business investment was dropping
at a double-digit rate.
One of the largest price increases recorded for capital
goods was the 17.7-percent climb for oilfield and gasfield machinery for the second consecutive year. The
longstanding boom in energy exploration, development,
and production activities, which was further stimulated
by the total deregulation of domestic crude oil prices in
early 1981, once again proved to be largely independent
of the economy. However, prices for mining machinery,
which had risen 14.0 percent in 1980, slowed to an
8.1-percent increase in 1981—even though coal prices
rose more in 1981 (8.5 percent) than in the preceding 2
years combined (7.1 percent). Mining activity and,
hence, demand for mining machinery, were held down
by excess inventories of many minerals because of the
recession.
Heavy motor trucks, transformers and power regula
tors, and packaging machinery were among the relative
ly few capital goods categories to register an even larger
price increase in 1981, after climbing at a double-digit
rate in 1980. Strong demand often was a major contrib
uting factor. On the other hand, some of the categories
with the most marked decelerations included machine
tools, fixed-wing utility aircraft, railroad equipment,
plastic and rubber industry machinery, printing trades
machinery, and woodworking machinery.
Intermediate materials, except foods and energy
The Producer Price Index for intermediate materials
other than foods and energy rose 6.7 percent during
1981, following 2 years of double-digit increases. Most
of the advances took place early in the year, as manu
facturers felt the impact of the decontrol of domestic
crude oil prices. The upward movement of prices gener
ally eased during the latter part of the year in response
to deteriorating economic conditions. (See table 6.)
American industry displayed greater caution in inven
tory management in recent years, compared to the 1974
-75 recession. During 1973 and early 1974, fears of
shortages induced manufacturers to purchase materials
in great quantities, creating an artificial boom. But
when the recession became apparent, excess stocks were
quickly liquidated, thereby intensifying the drop in ag
gregate demand. Because adjustments in stocks of man11
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW April 1982 • Price Changes in 1981
ufacturers’ materials and supplies during the 1980 re
cession were less severe than in 1974-75, there was a
correspondingly smaller buildup of stocks during the
subsequent upturn. Continued high interest rates dis
couraged firms from holding more than minimal inven
tories. Thus, demand for materials and supplies was
rather flat in 1981, even before business turned down
ward again during the summer.
cient fiber-producing factories, as demand for textile
products remained relatively weak during most of the
year. However, prices for gray fabrics and finished fab
rics rose much less than in most recent years, largely
because of weak apparel markets and declining raw cot
ton prices.
The surge in petrochemical prices also had a strong
impact on synthetic rubber prices, which rose sharply in
the early months of 1981 and were up about 15 percent
for the full year, an even sharper increase than in 1980.
Plastic resin prices remained relatively flat during most
of 1981 in spite of increased petrochemical costs. A
long-term excess capacity problem emerged over the
past 2 years. New plants were built in anticipation of
continued strong growth in plastic sales which did not
materialize.
Woodpulp prices moved up much less in 1981 than
in either 1979 or 1980, reflecting the weak state of
world pulp and paper markets. The indexes for paper
and paperboard registered smaller increases compared
with the previous year, as wastepaper prices continued
to fall. Strikes in Canadian paper mills led to fears of
shortages and, thus, higher prices during the summer;
prices eased later in the year because of the economic
slowdown.
For the third consecutive year, prices for inedible fats
and oils moved down. This reflected slow demand and
Nondurable manufacturing materials. The rapid climb in
crude oil prices early in the year quickly resulted in
steep hikes for many items in the nondurable manufac
turing materials category. Prices rose rapidly during the
first few months of 1981 for such industrial chemicals
as benzene and butadiene, partly because feedstock
prices jumped and partly because the reduction in oper
ating levels of petroleum refineries created temporary
shortages of certain chemicals. Prices for industrial
chemicals tended to stabilize after May, and some
prices declined in response to weakened demand. In
1981, the index for industrial chemicals climbed 9.0 per
cent, following 2 years of much sharper increases.
Higher prices for chemicals, in turn, led to large in
creases in synthetic fiber prices during the first half of
the year. Fiber price increases were further aided by the
producers’ curtailment of output to restrain inventory
buildups and by the shutdown of a number of less effi
Table 6.
Changes in producer prices for selected materials other than foods and energy, 1980-81
Compound annual rate, seasonally adjusted
except as noted, for 3 months ended —
Percent change
PPI grouping
Relative
importance,
Dec. 1980
Dec. 1979
to
Dec. 1980
Dec. 1980
to
Dec. 1981
1981
Mar.
June
Sept.
Dec.
Intermediate materials, except foods and energy
Materials for nondurable m anufacturing.....................................
Materials for durable m anufacturing............................................
Components for manufacturing1 .................................................
Materials and components for construction
100.0
21.3
20.1
20.9
19.9
10.1
12.3
5.9
13.5
9.0
6.7
7.8
3.3
8.7
5.1
8.3
13.1
-.9
13.5
5.3
8.8
9.3
10.6
5.0
10.6
7.1
7.9
8.0
10.5
1.0
2.4
1.7
-4.2
6.0
3.9
Synthetic fibers .....................................................................
Finished fabrics .....................................................................
Leather.................................................................................
Industrial chemicals1 2 .............................................................
Plastic resins and materials....................................................
Synthetic rubber.....................................................................
Softwood lumber ...................................................................
Paperboard..........................................................................
Finished steel mill products....................................................
Foundry and forge shop products ..........................................
Nonferrous mill shapes..........................................................
Fabricated structural metal products ......................................
Electronic components and accessories..................................
Concrete products.................................................................
Motor vehicle parts.................................................................
.9
2.2
.4
5.6
1.7
.4
2.2
.9
7.9
2.5
2.2
4.2
2.0
2.3
5.0
12.9
9.3
2.3
14.5
4.4
13.8
-1.3
11.2
8.0
8.3
3.0
8.4
14.0
9.6
27.2
15.3
4.7
-6.2
9.0
8.4
15.0
-9.6
8.2
11.6
6.1
3.2
8.4
5.9
5.7
11.6
24.2
11.1
-29.6
26.0
6.6
36.6
-14.6
22.8
17.7
3.7
-2.1
12.0
10.0
3.6
14.9
21.6
6.3
4.9
18.3
7.1
15.0
22.3
2.0
6.9
8.7
9.9
8.0
2.4
9.9
8.7
7.6
5.2
-3.3
2.3
14.7
8.2
-33.9
6.2
16.8
10.0
6.2
7.8
8.1
2.9
20.1
9.8
-.9
8.1
-7.5
5.6
7.6
-11.1
2.9
4.9
1.9
-4.3
6.1
3.8
6.7
2.9
100.0
7.5
-11.3
-44.5
47.7
1.2
-22.5
11.2
3.1
2.5
2.5
20.9
8.3
5.9
35.5
-14.2
5.6
-13.4
7.6
-4.7
-10.7
-384
-7.2
-33.3
-25.1
-24.1
-14.7
-26.6
-30.5
-42.2
-41.5
-18.2
-44.1
-40.8
-32.0
-15.5
-14.3
-34.6
7.5
16.2
68.5
-48.6
-63.3
191
-36.1
-4.1
4.9
-8.5
6.7
-33.2
-14.6
-28.8
-62.7
-60.2
-42.3
-22.1
Crude nonfood materials, except energy
Raw cotton1 ...........................................................................
Cattle hides...........................................................................
Crude natural rubber ............................................................
Wastepaper...........................................................................
Iron and steel scra p ...............................................................
Copper base scrap ...............................................................
Aluminum base scrap.............................................................
1Not seasonally adjusted.
Digitized 12
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2Some prices are lagged 1 month.
large levels of livestock slaughter. Leather prices were
also down for basically the same reasons and also be
cause of an influx of imported leather.
Durable manufacturing materials. The durable manufac
turing materials index recorded a comparatively small
rate of increase for the second consecutive year. Part of
this moderation was due to the downward trend in pre
cious metals prices. In addition, weak demand for many
durable consumer goods led to reduced demand for ma
terials, thereby inhibiting price rises.
The index for nonferrous mill shapes (which includes
such items as sheets, tubes, rods, and extrusions) was
up only about 3 percent for the second consecutive
year, following a big jump in 1979. The moderation was
due to weak industrial demand and the prevalence of
flat or declining prices for primary nonferrous metals.
Copper and lead prices moved down 12.2 and 24.4 per
cent during 1981, reflecting poor demand in the housing
construction and automotive industries. The price of tin
tumbled about 16 percent during the first half of the
year, as demand in industrialized countries fell short of
the steady rise in world output over recent years. How
ever, massive purchases of tin during the second half by
an unidentified group raised tin prices by the end of
1981 to a level even higher than that of a year earlier.
Zinc prices rose as producers curtailed output levels
and supplies dwindled. The aluminum industry suffered
a sharp decline in demand from the construction and
durable goods sectors as well as the export sector. This
was reflected in the 18-percent drop in the index for
secondary aluminum, and in sharp cutbacks in produc
tion by primary aluminum producers.
Prices for precious metals declined steadily through
out 1981, after experiencing extreme turbulence in the
previous year. Speculative and precautionary demand
for such metals eroded when investors regained con
fidence in the American dollar as inflation eased
somewhat and high interest rates boosted the dollar’s
exchange value. Commodity speculators were also dis
couraged by soaring interest costs which boosted the
cost of borrowing, making financial investments more
attractive. Over the year, gold prices fell almost 30 per
cent and silver prices were nearly halved.
The finished steel mill products index advanced 11.6
percent during 1981, more than in any other year since
1974. Most of the increases took place during the first 7
months of the year, and represented an attempt by pro
ducing firms to regain historical profit margins in the
wake of widespread losses in 1980. Demand for steel, as
indicated by domestic shipments, improved in early
1981. The area of greatest demand continued to be steel
tubes and pipes used by the petroleum industry; prices
for these products were sharply higher over the year.
Because of the increased exchange value of the U.S. dol
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
lar, the relative price of foreign-made steel fell during
the first half of 1981. As a result, import levels surged,
even though the “trigger price” was adjusted upward
considerably by the U.S. Commerce Department at the
beginning of the fourth quarter of 1980 and the second
quarter of 1981.6Prices remained fairly stable after July,
as demand for steel began to wane when the economy
turned downward after midyear.
Among other durable manufacturing materials, flat
glass prices rose 7.6 percent in 1981, as higher energy
costs offset the impact of weak demand from the auto
motive and construction sectors. Jewelers’ materials and
findings fell about 25 percent in response to lower pre
cious metals prices.
Components for manufacturing. The PPI for manufac
turing components was up 8.7 percent, following 2
years of double-digit increases. Weak demand was a
major influence in moderating rates of price increase for
a number of components, such as foundry and forge
shop products, plastic parts and components, refriger
ant compressors, and electronic components other than
tubes and relays. A large part of the increase which did
occur for the manufacturing components index was due
to higher prices for motor vehicle parts, attributed to
increases in steel prices. Sharp increases also occurred
for ball and roller bearings; demand for these items typ
ically strengthens during recessions, as businesses post
pone new equipment purchases and install replacement
parts in old equipment instead. Likewise, advances at or
near double-digit rates were registered for electric mo
tors, internal combustion engines, tractor parts, and
metal cutting machine tool parts.
Construction materials. The index for construction mate
rials and components moved up 5.1 percent in 1981, the
smallest increase since 1972. Although the pace of resi
dential construction had staged a brief recovery after
mid-1980, it turned down sharply in early 1981 after
mortgage interest rates surged to record levels. As a re
sult, demand for nearly all types of construction materi
als was exceptionally poor during 1981, and financial
losses induced many material manufacturers to cut out
put. Reduced output and tight inventory controls made
possible sporadic price increases during the year, such
as occurred for plywood and softwood lumber during
the spring. However, both these indexes showed large
declines for the year. Prices for millwork moved down
steadily during the first two quarters, but these losses
were recouped after midyear, and that index showed
virtually no change for the year. The relative strength in
the millwork market was attributable to its wider usage
in home renovation, often undertaken as an alternative
to new home purchase during economic stringency.
Most other types of materials used in construction ei13
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW April 1982 • Price Changes in 1981
ther declined or rose slightly over the year. There were
large increases during the first half for several products
either composed of petroleum derivatives or which re
quire large amounts of energy in the production pro
cess. These included concrete products, structural clay
products, refractories, asphalt roofing, and asphalt pav
ing mixtures. The index for fabricated structural metal
products rose just as much as in the previous year,
partly because of higher steel prices. In addition, de
mand was not as weak as for other construction materi
als because these products are mainly used for largescale commercial construction, which was not as badly
affected as was the single-family residential construction
market. Prices for copper wire and cable moved down
over the year, a result of weak demand and lower pri
mary copper prices.
Crude nonfood materials, except energy
Producer prices for crude nonfood materials exclud
ing energy, which tend to be highly responsive to shifts
in general economic conditions, fell during most of
1981. The weakness in sensitive raw industrial prices
was pervasive. Prices for ferrous scrap, raw cotton, and
crude natural rubber tumbled after rising in 1980.
Prices for nonferrous scrap and wastepaper declined
more than in the previous year, and cattle hide prices
fell for the second consecutive year. Although prices for
potash and for sand and gravel continued to move up
in 1981, neither rise was as large as in the preceding
year.
After climbing at an unusually fast pace in the last
half of 1980, iron and steel scrap prices began to drop
dramatically in early 1981 and continued to decline
during most of the year. The downturn was attribut
able, in part, to much weaker export markets in both
Europe and the Far East, coupled with sluggish domes
tic demand associated with a hard-hit steel industry. In
1The rental equivalence approach to measuring homeownership
costs will be incorporated into the official CPI beginning in January
1983. See Robert Gillingham and Walter Lane, “Changing the treat
ment of shelter costs for homeowners in the Consumer Price Index,”
S ta tis tic a l R e p o r te r, December 1981, pp. 62-69, and “CPI Changes,”
M o n th ly L a b o r R e v ie w , November 1981, p. 2.
2The CPI for “motor fuel” reflects the newly-added direct pricing
of gasohol and diesel fuel, in addition to gasoline.
Because of the atypical seasonal pattern of gasoline demand dur
ing 1981, seasonally adjusted data (which are based on historical pat
terns) may be misleading; that is, the absence of price increases in the
summer resulted in declines in seasonally adjusted indexes, whereas
the corresponding absence of the usual decreases during the later
months caused seasonally adjusted data to indicate an “artificial” up
turn.
Digitized14
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
addition, high interest rates induced scrap buyers to
purchase only what was required for immediate needs.
After surging in 1980 when a severe drought cut pro
duction drastically, raw cotton prices retreated through
out 1981. Output recovered to a new record which was
40 percent larger than the crop of the previous year.
Textile mills tended to minimize their cotton purchases
in the hope of buying at lower prices later. Export de
mand dropped more than domestic consumption.
Crude natural rubber prices, which had turned down
in late 1980, continued to fall through most of 1981.
The principal influence was the weakness in the auto
motive and tire industries, which typically account for
almost three-quarters of domestic consumption of crude
natural rubber.
Nonferrous scrap prices fell during most of the year,
partly because of weak demand from the construction
and transportation equipment industries. High interest
rates and lower prices for primary copper and alumi
num also served to depress nonferrous scrap prices.
Wastepaper prices, which had decreased through
most of 1980, dropped even more rapidly during 1981.
Expanded exports of wastepaper were unable to com
pensate for the decrease in domestic consumption by
paper and board mills. A drop in consumer demand for
recycled products, such as gypsum wallboard facing
and panelboard (both are made from recycled wastepa
per) further contributed to falling prices for wastepaper.
Cattle hide prices also continued their downward
trend through the year. Abundant supplies associated
with a high cattle slaughter rate, together with low de
mand from domestic and foreign tanners, generally kept
cattle hide prices down.
Potash prices continued to rise, although not as much
as in the preceding year, reacting to weakened domestic
demand for potash as a fertilizer material. Increased en
ergy costs helped to raise sand and gravel prices.
□
4For more detailed discussion of selected food prices during 1980
and 1981, particularly for meats, grains, and sugar, see William
Thomas and others, “Large meat, grain supplies cut recent food price
increases,” M o n th ly L a b o r R e v ie w , January 1982, pp. 10-15.
A law enacted in December 1981 extends the $13.10 milk support
price, in effect since October 1980, through October 1982. For the
next 3 years, the minimum prices are set at $13.25, $14.00, and
$14.60 per hundredweight of raw milk.
11The trigger price mechanism is a system designed to monitor
prices of imported steel so as to minimize “dumping,” that is, selling
at below-cost prices. The setting of the trigger price and the imple
mentation of the system was begun in 1978 under the auspices of the
U.S. Treasury Department, but has since been shifted to the U.S.
Commerce Department.
Usual weekly earnings: another look at
intergroup differences and basic trends
Recent years o f inflation and recession
held real earnings o f wage and salary workers
below 1973 levels; the pay gap
between black and white full-time employees
narrowed after 1967,
but the wide earnings disparity by sex remains
Earl
F.
M
ellor a n d
G
eorge
D.
St a m a s
Interest in earnings differences among various popula
tion groups—men and women, blacks and whites,
young and old— has grown over the years since data on
usual weekly earnings were first published in the Review
a decade ago. Because of this, the Bureau of Labor Sta
tistics has expanded the collection and publication of
the demographically oriented data on weekly and hour
ly earnings from the Current Population Survey ( c p s ).
Previously collected only in May of each year, these
data are now obtained monthly from one-fourth of the
CPS sample and are published on a quarterly basis.1
Aggregation of the new data into annual averages
yields the most reliable measures of the earnings dif
ferences among the various population groups. At the
same time, the quarterly data, although subject to lower
statistical reliability,2 give at least a broad indication of
how the earnings of the various demographic groups are
affected by cyclical (or short-term) changes in economic
conditions. This article focuses first on the annual aver
age data for 1981 to re-examine the intergroup dif
ferences in earnings among both full- and part-time
workers and then looks at some of the quarterly data to
see how the earnings of the various groups have been
Earl F. Mellor and George D. Stamas are economists in the Division
of Labor Force Studies, Bureau of Labor Statistics. Annice Tyler
Mee, of the same division, provided statistical assistance.
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changing over time. Other articles in this issue, by Nan
cy F. Rytina and Sylvia Lazos Terry, deal more speci
fically with the relationship of pay to race, sex, occupa
tional tenure, and work experience.
Major differences among full-time workers
Of all persons employed as wage and salary workers
in 1981, about 72 million usually worked full time—
that is, 35 or more hours a week— and 16 million usu
ally worked part time. On an annual average basis, the
median weekly earnings for full-time workers were
$289, but this average masked very wide differences
among the various population groups.
Disparities in earnings among groups are largely a re
flection of differences in the amount, type, and location
of work performed. If the number of hours worked by
each group were the same, and if each group were
equally distributed among the various occupations, in
dustries, and geographic areas, the inter-group differ
ences in earnings would probably not be very large.
But, in reality, there are differences among the various
population groups in terms of hours worked—even
within the full-time universe—and in terms of the spe
cific occupations and industries in which the work is
performed. And, in the case of the principal racial and
ethnic groups, there are also wide differences in terms of
geographic concentration, which are known to have a
15
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW April 1982 • Usual Weekly Earnings
further effect on earnings. Other factors, such as differ
ences in age, education, job tenure, and the subtle and
not so subtle effects of discrimination may also have
some impact on a group’s earnings, but it is not the
purpose of this article to identify all such factors, and
even less to attempt to quantify their effects. Neverthe
less, the most obvious are cited when comparing widely
different levels of earnings.
Men and women. For men working full time, median
weekly earnings in 1981 were $347. For women, the
median was $224, or 65 percent of that for men. With
out searching for all the factors which produce this ra
tio—a most difficult task even when carried out
through a complex econometric model—it can be
pointed out that men worked more hours than women
even within the full-time universe3and, more important
ly, were generally more concentrated within high-pay
occupations in such fields as management and adminis
tration, professional and technical work, and the vari
ous crafts. Women, on the other hand, tend to be more
concentrated in such lower-paying fields as clerical and
service jobs.
Male-female gaps in earnings prevail even within each
occupation, but they are generally smaller than at ag
gregate levels. To take an extreme example, the median
weekly earnings for women in sales were only 52 per
cent of those for men in the same field (table 1). How
ever, a further look at this broad occupational group
shows women to be largely concentrated in retail sales,
where median weekly earnings for all full-time workers
were only $197. By contrast, men were more heavily
grouped in “other sales,” where the overall weekly me
dian was $382. Within each of these two fields, sex
earnings ratios were significantly higher than the 52 per
cent average for all salesworkers. Specifically, the ratio
was 61 percent in retail sales and 66 percent for “other”
sales work. Needless to say, this was still far below par
ity, and one would have to dig much deeper for the
causes of the remaining gap. Unfortunately, it has not
been possible to explain all of the male-female disparity
in earnings even when more detailed data on the work
roles of men and women are available.4
Among some of the personal characteristics which
are difficult to quantify but which may have a signifi
cant effect on the male-female earnings ratio is the dis
continuous work experience of many women. Although
this practice has changed considerably in recent years, it
Table 1. Median weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers, by selected demographic characteristics, annual
averages, 1981
Age, major occupational
group, and years of
school completed
White
All races
Both
sexes
Women
Both
sexes
Men
Men
$289
204
163
219
316
302
335
329
317
227
$347
225
173
241
378
346
406
408
386
270
$224
184
150
193
237
242
241
231
227
190
$296
206
164
222
325
310
345
340
326
228
289
377
407
306
233
352
242
303
238
192
179
347
439
466
366
328
360
298
307
244
238
183
224
316
283
190
220
239
187
237
193
165
148
316
242
227
256
333
291
334
417
393
443
378
290
259
314
402
363
398
482
459
507
237
180
169
187
249
222
259
325
299
362
Black
Women
Both
sexes
Men
$356
227
174
244
389
354
416
417
396
275
$226
185
151
195
239
245
243
234
231
189
$238
185
148
192
251
248
267
248
243
216
296
381
410
311
233
356
246
314
241
195
181
356
443
471
372
335
364
304
319
247
245
185
226
315
282
191
219
239
189
237
193
165
148
325
249
232
268
341
298
342
422
402
445
389
301
268
326
409
372
405
490
471
510
239
182
171
190
251
224
261
326
301
359
Hispanic
Women
Both
sexes
Men
Women
$271
196
150
207
290
280
311
295
281
233
$210
174
145
179
220
223
227
213
198
(’ )
$229
187
$252
197
$192
172
-
-
-
-
238
324
347
221
230
309
222
257
217
182
147
271
352
391
249
286
314
267
258
220
214
154
210
308
303
182
220
239
179
(’ )
( ')
166
(’ )
251
211
203
217
273
243
283
350
321
416
290
241
225
257
317
294
325
396
354
449
220
172
160
177
237
209
246
326
296
384
Age
Total, 16 years and over ..............................
16 to 24 years..........................................
16 to 19 years ......................................
20 to 24 years ......................................
25 years and over ....................................
25 to 34 years ......................................
35 to 44 years ......................................
45 to 54 years ......................................
55 to 64 years ......................................
65 years and over ................................
-
-
-
-
-
246
282
-
-
-
201
-
229
336
347
240
226
296
199
261
222
173
185
252
386
381
286
280
304
231
261
225
190
191
192
285
271
( ')
214
n
169
(’ )
( 1)
147
( ')
246
210
199
235
293
264
316
371
340
421
282
232
221
266
349
319
370
414
384
446
201
167
158
185
234
211
258
308
285
(’ >
Occupation
Total, 16 years and over ..............................
Professional and technical workers ............
Managers and administrators, except farm ..
Salesworkers............................................
Clerical workers........................................
Craft and kindred workers ........................
Operatives, except transport......................
Transport equipment operatives ................
Nonfarm laborers......................................
Service workers........................................
Farmworkers............................................
Years of school completed
Total, 25 years and over ..............................
Less than 4 years of high school................
8 years of school or less........................
1 to 3 years of high school ....................
4 years of high school or more ..................
4 years of high school............................
1 to 3 years of college ..........................
4 years of college or more ....................
4 years of college..............................
5 years of college or more..................
1 Median not shown where base is less than 50,000.
Digitized for
16FRASER
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N ote:
Dashes indicate data not available.
used to be customary for women to leave the job mar
ket for many years in order to bear and rear their chil
dren. This affected not only their accumulation of
seniority, but also the advancement of their skills.5
An age-earnings profile of CPS data clearly shows
that, for one or a number of reasons, the average week
ly earnings of women reach a peak at a younger age
than do the earnings of men. As shown in chart 1, me
dian weekly earnings of women show no further rise af
ter reaching a peak of about $240 at ages 25 to 34. For
men, however, the peak value of about $410 reported
for the 35-to-44 and the 45-to-54 age groups was con
siderably higher than the median for the 25-to-34 age
group.
One question raised by the chart is whether the rela
tively narrow earnings gap which now exists between
younger men and women will widen as these workers
age, or whether the disparity exhibited by older workers
merely reflects wage and employment patterns by sex
that are gradually being eroded. Only time can answer
this question, but it should be noted that, over the past
14 years, the overall sex-earnings ratio has not changed
much. It was 62 percent in May 1967 and had risen
only to 64 percent by the second quarter of 1981.
Blacks and Hispanics. The earnings differences among
whites, blacks, and Hispanics are shown in table 1 in
terms of age, sex, occupation, and education. The tabu
lation below summarizes the usual weekly earnings of
full-time workers by racial and ethnic origin and major
age-sex groups based on annual averages for 1981.
White
Black
Hispanic
Level Level Percent Level Percent
of white
of white
earnings
earnings
Total ............
$296
$238
80
$229
77
Men:
16 to 24 years old .
25 years and over . .
227
389
196
290
86
75
197
282
87
72
Women:
16 to 24 years old .
25 years and over . .
185
239
174
220
94
92
172
201
93
84
As shown above, the overall median weekly earnings
of blacks were 80 percent of the overall median for
whites, and the median for Hispanics was 77 percent of
that for whites. The greatest racial and ethnic differ
ences in earnings, both in absolute and relative terms,
were among men 25 years and over. Within this group,
the medians for blacks and Hispanics were about 75
percent of that for whites. Among women, the racialethnic differences were much smaller.
But even among men, the racial-ethnic differences in
earnings were significantly smaller when examined by
occupation. Whereas the overall black-to-white ratio for
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Chart 1. Earnings profile of full-time wage and
salary workers, by sex and age, 1981
Usual weekly earnings
S500
16
to
19
20
to
24
25
to
34
35
to
44
45
to
54
55
to
64
65
and
over
AGE
men was 76 percent, the ratios for most of the occupa
tional groups exceeded 80 percent for men and were
much higher for women. (See table 1.) The reason the
overall ratios are so much lower, particularly for men,
is because of the relatively high concentration of blacks
in low-skill, low-pay occupations, which could, in turn,
reflect differences in education or training, or the linger
ing effects of discrimination. That the racial-ethnic earn
ings gaps are very small among young workers, both
male and female, probably reflects the fact that there is,
as yet, little difference among these groups in terms of
educational attainment, skills, and general experience on
the job.
Regional differences in earnings, coupled with the un
equal geographical distribution of the various racial-eth
nic groups, also contribute to the earnings variation
among these groups. In the South, which employs more
than half of all black men with jobs, but less than a
third of all white men, workers of each race earned less
than their counterparts in the other regions.6 And, at
$237 per week, the earnings of black men in the South
were 71 percent of those for white men ($332), a ratio
lower than in any other region.
Hispanic men as a group earned $252 per week,
about 93 percent as much as black men and 71 percent
17
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW April 1982 • Usual Weekly Earnings
as much as white men. A comparison of the earnings of
Hispanic men with the earnings of all white men shows
a pattern similar to that for blacks— that is, more fa
vorable earnings ratios within individual occupational
groups than overall.
The lower earnings figure for Hispanic men also re
flects the fact that a relatively large proportion of them
are under 25 years of age. Within age categories, black
and Hispanic men earned about the same per week.
Men in the major Hispanic ethnic groups— Mexicans,
Puerto Ricans, and Cubans— had roughly similar earn
ings.
For women, there were generally smaller differences
among the median weekly earnings of whites, blacks,
and Hispanics. Black teenage women had earnings
equal to those of their white counterparts. In the older
age groups the black-white earnings ratios were about
90 perceAt. Differences within specific occupational
groups were generally small between white and Hispan
ic women. Hispanic women earned about the same as
white women in clerical jobs and as managers and ad
ministrators working full time. But they earned less
than their white counterparts— and still less than black
women—in factory operative and service jobs.7
Education. Earnings are closely related to education, as
better educated workers generally have access to higher
paying jobs. For full-time workers over age 24 (most of
whom had completed their education), median usual
earnings in 1981 ranged from $242 for those with less
than 4 years of high school to $443 for those with 5
years of college or more. (See table 1.)
Among the highly educated workers, earnings of
women and minority men compared more favorably
with those of white men than among the less educated.
On the average, women with 4 years of college earned
65 percent as much as men with the same attainment,
and those with 5 or more years of college earned 71
percent as much as men at the same level of education.
On the other hand, among workers with only a high
school education, the median weekly earnings of women
were only 61 percent of those of men. Working women
with any college education are, on the average, younger
than men with the same educational attainment, and so
have less work experience in their chosen vocation. This
may explain, in part, apparent earnings disparities by
educational attainment.
Earnings of black men generally hovered around 80
percent those of white men with the same level of edu
cation, but blacks with 5 or more years of college
earned about 90 percent as much. Relatively fewer
black men fit this category, however; 5 percent had 5 or
more years of college compared to 12 percent of white
men. Several researchers have found that, after
standardizing for work experience, returns to education
for black men equal or exceed those of white men.8 At
higher levels of educational attainment, black men are,
on the average, younger than white men with similar
education.
As can be seen in table 1, younger black men had a
more favorable earnings ratio relative to white men
their age than did older black men. This is at least part
ly because, relative to the white counterparts of each
group, younger blacks have received more and better
quality schooling than did older blacks. It remains to
be seen whether young blacks can carry with them this
improvement in relative earning power throughout their
lives.9
Table 2. Percent distribution of full-time wage and salary workers, by usual weekly earnings for major industry groups,
annual averages, 1981
Industry group
Total ............................................................
Private sector..........................................
Goods-producing industries....................
Agriculture........................................
Mining ..............................................
Construction......................................
Manufacturing ..................................
Durable goods ................................
Nondurable goods............................
Service-producing Industries..................
Transportation and public utilities........
Trade ..............................................
Finance, insurance, and real estate . . .
Private households............................
Miscellaneous services......................
Public sector ..........................................
Federal................................................
State ..................................................
Local ..................................................
Number
of
workers
Percent distribution by weekly earnings
(in
thousands)
Total
Under
$150
$150
to
$199
$200
to
$249
$250
to
$299
$300
to
$349
$350
to
$399
$400
to
$499
$500
or
more
72,491
59,112
25,813
1,050
1,055
3,658
20,050
12,300
7,750
33,299
5,033
11,593
4,645
369
11,660
13,379
2,929
3,162
7,162
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
9.8
10.6
7.1
29.1
1.3
4.0
6.8
4.3
10.9
13.3
2.5
17.7
7.8
70.7
13.9
6.1
2.7
6.5
7.3
14.5
15.4
12.9
26.3
3.7
9.4
13.4
10.6
17.8
17.4
6.8
20.0
19.8
14.6
18.4
10.6
6.2
12.1
11.8
15.9
16.2
15.6
19.9
7.5
15.9
15.7
15.2
16.6
16.6
11.3
16.7
19.4
10.0
17.8
15.0
10.9
16.3
16.2
12.3
11.8
11.9
9.5
8.8
10.8
12.4
12.8
11.8
11.8
10.2
11.2
13.3
2.4
12.8
14.6
12.1
15.4
15.3
11.2
10.7
11.4
5.2
10.9
11.6
11.8
12.2
11.0
10.2
12.3
9.6
9.6
1.1
10.5
12.9
11.4
12.9
13.6
8.3
7.9
9.1
3.8
10.6
8.7
9.3
10.2
7.9
7.0
10.8
6.2
6.2
0.2
6.5
10.1
12.2
9.0
9.7
13.3
12.8
15.6
3.2
24.5
17.4
15.4
17.7
11.7
10.7
22.9
8.6
8.0
0.8
8.9
15.2
22.2
12.6
13.6
14.7
14.6
16.4
3.0
32.7
22.3
15.2
17.1
12.3
13.1
23.1
10.0
16.0
0.5
11.2
15.3
22.4
15.3
12.5
Median
$289
282
310
189
423
342
306
329
269
261
381
236
261
114
249
313
377
298
297
Note: Small values in the percent distributions are subject to relatively large sampling errors and should be Interpreted with caution. Specifically, values of less than 1 percent are subject to rela
tive errors of 25 percent or more.
18
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Occupation and industry. Workers in managerial or ad
ministrative jobs had the highest median weekly
earnings ($407) among the major occupational groups.
Professional and technical workers were the second
highest-paid group. These two groups included all but
one of the eight specific occupations with median week
ly earnings of $500 or more in 1981: lawyers, sales
managers other than retail trade, engineers, economists,
stock and bond sales agents, airplane pilots, computer
systems analysts, and physicians.10The same two groups
included most of the specific occupations with medians
between $450 and $499: school administrators, opera
tions and systems reseachers and analysts, chemists,
and pharmacists. (There also was one blue-collar occu
pation— structural metal workers.)
Lowest median earnings among the major occupa
tional groups were reported for farmworkers, $179, and
service workers, $192. The services field included all of
the specific occupations with median weekly earnings
below $150.
It is generally recognized that the most precise data
on earnings patterns by industry are those collected not
through a household survey such as the CPS, but
through a survey of establishments such as the “790”
survey conducted monthly by the b l s . 11 Nevertheless,
data from the CPS are still a valuable complement to the
establishment-based earnings data, as the latter cannot
generally be crosstabulated with any of the characteris
tics of the earners, such as sex and full- or part-time
status. The CPS data can be disaggregated by these char
acteristics and, at least until 1980, could also be
crosstabulated with union membership.12
In 1981, full-time workers in the private sector had
median weekly earnings of $282, with respective medi
ans of $310 in goods-producing industries and $261 in
the service sector. (See table 2.) In the public sector,
full-time workers had median weekly earnings of $313,
with Federal employees reporting higher average earn
ings than employees of State or local governments.
From an all-inclusive list of 46 industry groups in the
private sector, the six with the highest reported earnings
for full-time workers—medians of $400 or more—in
cluded four in manufacturing (petroleum and coal prod
ucts, motor vehicle and equipment manufacture, aircraft
and parts manufacture, and ordnance), mining, and one
in the service-producing sector (railroad transportation).
These industries typically have higher than average pro
portions of professional and technical workers, manag
ers and administrators, and craftworkers. They also
have above-average proportions of workers who are
covered by union agreements and below-average pro
portions of women employees. This is clearly illustrated
in the following tabulation which, in addition to the
median weekly earnings for full-time workers in the six
highest- and lowest-paying industries, also shows the
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percentage of wage and salary workers who were repre
sented by a union as of May 1980 and the percentage
who are women.
Median
weekly
earnings
Percent
represented
by a union
Percent
who are
women
$289
29
39
433
423
422
36
36
82
20
15
7
414
410
50
37
23
22
407
63
15
114
170
1
27
90
79
174
8
55
185
188
189
24
18
4
61
59
16
All full-time workers.
Highest-paying industries:
Petroleum and coal
p roducts......................... . .
M in in g ............................. . .
Railroad transportation . . . .
Aircraft and parts
manufacture ................. . .
Ordnance ......................... . .
Motor vehicle and
equipment manufacture . . .
Lowest-paying industries:
Private households.......... . .
Apparel manufacture. . . . . .
Eating and drinking
places .............................. . .
Leather and leather
products........................... . .
Personal services............... • •
Agriculture......................... • •
Low earners and high earners. Medians are probably the
most useful measure of earnings one can use for inter
group comparison. However, information on the distri
bution of earnings within groups— that is, the propor
tion of workers at given levels of earnings—show more
fully the extent of differences in earnings. For example,
while the median earnings of two groups of workers
might be about the same, one group could have a larger
proportion of very low earners than the other.
From the distribution of earnings in table 3, we see
that about 7 million full-time wage and salary workers,
or 10 percent of the total, were reported as earning un
der $150 a week in 1981. About 600,000 of them were
earning under $100 a week, or considerably less than
they could earn if they received the minimum wage
($3.35 per hour at the time) and worked a 40-hour
week.
Earnings below $150 a week were most common
among youth, women, and minority employees. The ex
tent to which these groups were overrepresented among
low earners in 1981 can be seen by comparing their
share of the full-time work force with their share of the
low-earning universe:
Workers 16 to 24 years . . .
Women ................................
Blacks ..................................
H ispanics.............................
Percent of
full-time
workers
Percent
earning
under $150
19
39
10
5
41
66
17
10
19
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW April 1982 • Usual Weekly Earnings
Some occupations and industries have a substantially
higher share of low earners than others. About 40 per
cent of service workers and 34 percent of farmworkers,
compared to about 3 percent of professional and techni
cal workers, managers and administrators, and craftworkers were reported as earning under $ 150 for full-time
work in 1981.
Among the major industry groups, private house
holds, agriculture, and trade had the highest proportion
of workers reporting less than $150 for full-time work.
Mining, transportation and public utilities, and the Fed
eral Government had the lowest proportions in this lowearning bracket.
At the upper end of the earnings spectrum, 11 mil
lion full-time employees reported weekly earnings of
$500 or more per week. They constituted about 15 per
cent of all full-time workers. An overwhelming majority
of the high earners (86 percent) were white males age
25 and over, most of them married. Men with 4 or
more years of college— 13 percent of all full-time em
ployees—made up 41 percent of the workers with $500
or more in weekly earnings, while women with the same
level of education were underrepresented among these
high earners. Three occupational groups—professional
and technical, managerial and administrative, and craft
— accounted for 76 percent of the high earners, but
only 43 percent of all full-time workers.
Part-time workers
For the 16 million persons who were reported as usu
ally working part time, median weekly earnings were
$82 in 1981. This was equivalent to 28 percent of the
median for full-time workers, for workweeks that were
almost half as long.13
In addition to the shorter workweek, the occupation
al distribution and demographic composition of parttime workers figured in their lower earnings. For exam
ple, part-time workers include a higher proportion of
women and of persons outside the prime earning ages
(25 to 54 years). The following tabulation shows the per
centages of the part-time and full-time work forces
accounted for by various demographic groups in 1981.
Table 3. Percent distribution of full-time wage and salary workers, by usual weekly earnings and selected demographic
characteristics, annual averages, 1981
Characteristic
Number
of
workers
(in
thousands)
Percent distribution by weekly earnings
Total
Under
$150
$150
to
$199
$200
to
$249
$250
to
$299
$300
to
$349
$350
to
$399
$400
to
$499
$500
or
more
Median
Sex and age
Total, 16 years and o ver................................
16 to 24 years ......................................
25 years and over..................................
72,491
13,702
58,789
100.0
100.0
100.0
9.8
21.2
7.1
14.5
26.6
11.7
15.9
21.2
14.7
12.3
11.9
12.5
11.2
7.6
12.0
8.3
4.4
9.2
13.3
4.7
15.2
14.7
2.4
17.6
$289
204
316
Men, 16 years and over..............................
16 to 24 years ......................................
25 years and o ver..................................
43,888
7,672
36,216
100.0
100.0
100.0
5.4
10.4
3.1
9.0
22.3
6.2
12.7
21.7
10.7
11.3
13.1
10.9
12.1
9.6
12.6
10.0
6.0
10.9
17.8
7.1
20.0
21.7
3.7
25.5
347
225
378
Women, 16 years and over ........................
16 to 24 years ......................................
25 years and over..................................
28,603
6,030
22,573
100.0
100.0
100.0
16.4
27.4
13.4
23.0
32.0
20.5
21.0
20.5
21.1
14.0
10.2
15.0
9.7
5.1
10.9
5.6
2.3
6.5
6.3
1.7
7.6
4.1
0.8
4.9
224
184
237
White........................................................
M e n ......................................................
Women..................................................
63,241
38,874
24,367
100.0
100.0
100.0
9.0
4.8
15.6
14.0
8.4
22.8
15.6
12.1
21.1
12.2
11.0
14.2
11.3
12.1
10.0
8.5
10.2
5.8
13.7
18.2
6.4
15.8
23.1
4.1
296
356
226
Black........................................................
M e n ......................................................
Women........................................ ..........
7,499
4,023
3,477
100.0
100.0
100.0
16.0
11.2
21.6
19.3
15.1
24.1
18.9
17.9
20.2
13.0
13.4
12.6
10.2
12.1
8.0
6.8
8.5
4.8
9.7
13.5
5.3
6.1
8.4
3.4
238
271
210
Hispanic....................................................
M e n ......................................................
Women..................................................
4,284
2,759
1,525
100.0
100.0
100.0
16.9
11.8
26.1
21.2
17.7
27.5
19.7
19.7
19.7
12.0
12.5
11.3
8.7
10.1
6.0
6.3
7.6
3.9
8.8
11.5
4.0
6.4
9.0
1.5
229
252
192
12,870
7,864
3,601
14,066
10,558
9,440
2,792
3,227
7,305
766
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
2.5
2.8
13.1
10.2
2.9
13.6
5.5
15.2
29.3
33.6
4.7
5.9
13.4
23.6
7.3
20.5
12.3
19.7
24.1
27.7
9.6
9.2
12.1
24.2
13.4
18.6
17.6
19.3
18.2
19.6
13.0
10.5
9.9
14.8
12.1
12.5
13.7
12.1
9.8
8.1
14.1
11.0
11.3
9.8
13.5
10.3
12.6
10.3
6.8
4.2
10.9
9.1
6.8
6.2
11.4
7.8
9.5
8.2
3.9
3.2
18.4
15.2
11.3
7.4
22.0
11.8
15.8
10.7
4.8
1.6
26.8
36.4
22.2
3.7
17.3
4.8
13.0
4.6
3.2
2.1
377
407
306
233
352
242
303
238
192
179
Race, Hispanic origin, and sex
Occupation
Professional and technical workers..............
Managers and administrators, except farm ..
Salesworkers............................................
Clerical workers ........................................
Craft and kindred workers..........................
Operatives, except transport ......................
Transport equipment operatives..................
Nonfarm laborers ......................................
Service workers ........................................
Farmworkers ............................................
Note: Small values in the percent distributions are subject to relatively large sampling errors and should be interpreted with caution. Specifically, values of less than 1 percent are subject to rela
tive errors of 25 percent or more.
20
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Part time
Full time
69
43
15
39
19
12
W om en..........................................
Persons under 25y e a r s .................
Persons 55 years andolder . . . .
Table 5. Weekly earnings and hours of part-time workers
and as a percent of those of full-time workers, by
occupation, annual averages, 1981___________________
Median weekly earnings
Occupation group
W h ite ............................................
B la c k ............................................
H ispanic.......................................
89
9
4
87
10
5
The unique industry composition of the part-time
work force also contributed to its lower earnings. Al
most nine-tenths of all part-time employment, com
pared with about two-thirds of full-time employment, is
in the service-producing sector, where pay scales are rel
atively low.
Women as a group earned slightly more per week
than men for part-time work in 1981 ($84 versus $78).
However, this is largely because one-half the women
but only one-sixth the men in part-time work are age 25
to 54. Within each age group, women earned less than
men for part-time work. (See table 4.) The gap was
least for workers under 25 years and widest for those
age 35 to 44.
Median weekly earnings of part-time workers by oc
cupation ranged from $32 for private household work
and $59 for farmwork to $123 for professional and
technical jobs. In each occupation, the ratio of median
weekly earnings, part time to full time, was lower than
the ratio of mean hours between the two groups. (See
table 5.)
Trends in weekly earnings
An examination of the broad earnings trends for the
period beginning with May 1967 and ending with the
second quarter of 1981 reveals significant gains in con
stant dollars (current dollars deflated by the CPl-w) up
to 1973 and some erosion thereafter.14 The erosion re
flects both the effects of the recession of 1974-75 and of
the slowdown that began in 1980, as well as the acceler
ation in prices over this period. For 1981 no group
shown in table 6 had constant-dollar earnings exceeding
their 1973 level.
Overall, the median earnings for all full-time workers
Table 4. Median weekly earnings of part-time workers, by
age and sex, annual averages, 1981___________ ________
Median weekly earnings
Age
Women’s
earnings
as a
percent
of men’s
Both
sexes
Men
Women
Total, 16 years and o ver........
$82
$78
$84
108
16 to 19 years ..................
20 to 24 years ..................
25 to 34 years ..................
35 to 44 years ..................
45 to 54 years ..................
55 to 64 years ..................
65 years and over..............
61
84
103
104
99
91
71
62
86
119
150
119
105
78
59
83
100
101
97
88
65
95
97
84
67
82
84
83
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Total ....................................
Professional and technical
workers..........................
Managers and administrators,
except farm ....................
Salesworkers ....................
Clerical workers ................
Craft and kindred workers . .
Operatives, except transport .
Transport equipment
operatives......................
Nonfarm laborers ..............
Service workers ................
Private household workers
Other service workers . . .
Farmworkers ....................
Mean hours'
Part-time
workers
As a percent
of full-time
earnings
Part-time
workers
As a percent
of full-time
hours
$82
28
>9.0
46
123
33
19.1
45
108
73
88
105
91
27
24
38
30
38
20.7
19.1
19.7
20.1
20.4
46
44
50
48
50
93
70
69
32
73
59
31
29
36
30
37
33
19.1
17.8
18.2
13.5
18 9
16.5
43
44
44
31
46
33
'Hours are for wage and salary workers who usually work part time for non-economlc
reasons and for wage and salary workers on full-time schedules.
were about 4 percent lower in real terms in 1981 than
in 1967. This overall decline, however, was partly a
function of changes in the demographic composition of
the work force. Most of the gains in employment over
the 1967-81 period were made by women and very
young workers, whose earnings are generally much low
er than those of adult men. Thus, the increase in the
youth and female proportions of the work force had a
depressing effect on the earnings average for all full
time workers.
As shown in table 6, the inflation-adjusted earnings
of men 25 and over were still 5 percent higher in
mid-1981 than in 1967, while those of women 25 and
over were 9 percent higher. It was only the earnings of
young workers 16 to 24 that were lower in real terms in
mid-1981 than in 1967, a phenomenon that has been
widely attributed to the very rapid increase in the num
ber of youth entering the labor force over this period.15
A more encouraging development was the relatively
sizable gain in the earnings of blacks. During 1967-73,
black men and women experienced gains in earnings ad
justed for inflation about twice as large, in percentage
terms, as those of their white counterparts. Moreover,
subsequent periods of recession and spiraling prices
eroded the gains of black workers much less. After al
lowance for inflation, median weekly earnings were 12
percent greater for black men and 24 percent greater for
black women in 1981 than in 1967. In contrast, white
men had real earnings equal to their 1967 level, while
white women had earnings only 4 percent higher than
their 1967 level. Thus, there was significant narrowing
in the racial earnings gap over this period.
The disparity between the earnings of men and wom
en also narrowed slightly, but continued to be large.
The tabulation below shows the earnings of women
21
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW April 1982 • Usual Weekly Earnings
working full time as a percentage of the earnings of
men of comparable age for 1967 and 1981.
1967
(May)
16 years and o v e r ...............
16 to 24 years .................
25 years and o v e r ............
61.9
76.8
60.5
1981
(Second
quarter)
64.2
80.4
62.6
More recently, over the 2-year period ended with the
fourth quarter of 1981, median weekly earnings of full
time workers rose by 19.1 percent, while consumer
prices rose by 23.1 percent. This resulted in a 3.3-per
cent decline in constant-dollar earnings, most of which
occurred during 1980. For most of the major groups,
the changes between the fourth quarters of 1980 and
1981 were not statistically significant. The fact that
there was no further erosion of real earnings over this
period reflects a slowdown in the increase in the CPI-W
(from 12.6 to 9.4 percent annually) rather than an ac
celeration in current-dollar earnings.
Although the recession which began in the latter part
of 1981 had a negative impact on the number of full
time workers, it did not have a noticeable effect on the
average weekly earnings of this group. This reflects con
tractual and other factors working against reducing
wage increases (for example, cost-of-living adjustments).
Also, during a production cutback, workers with the
least seniority on the job are generally laid off first, and
this may result in a smaller but higher-tenured and
higher-paid workforce.
A look at hourly earnings
Of all wage and salary workers, about three-fifths, or
a little under 52 million, were paid by the hour in 1981.
The data on the hourly earnings of these workers, when
crossed with their demographic characteristics, provide
some additional insight on the earnings distribution,
particularly in terms of those who are at the lower end.
Workers paid by the hour are highly concentrated in
lower skilled occupations. Those most likely to be paid
hourly rates in 1981 were factory operatives and non
farm laborers; the least likely were professional and
technical workers and managers and administrators. In
terms of industries, hourly wage workers accounted for
more than two-thirds of construction, manufacturing,
and trade employees, but for only one-fourth of those in
finance, insurance, and real estate.
Within the hourly earnings universe—which, to a
certain extent, tends to group workers according to
skills and education— the inter-group differences in
earnings are not as large relatively as they are for all
wage and salary workers. For example, as shown in ta
ble 7, the median hourly earnings for black men were
$5.93 in 1981. This was 87 percent of the median for
white men paid by the hour, compared with a 76 per
22
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cent ratio of the weekly medians for the two groups.
The median hourly earnings of black women ($4.27)
were only slightly lower than those of white women
($4.36).
Men had much higher hourly earnings than women
at every age. And, as in the case of weekly earnings,
women reached a peak in hourly earnings at an earlier
age than did men. According to the cross-sectional data
for 1981, women reached a peak in median hourly earn
ings at ages 25 to 34, whereas the median for men con
tinued to rise through the 35-to-44 age group and
remained about the same for men age 45 to 54.
In terms of distribution, about 6.8 million workers
paid by the hour, or 13 percent, made $10 or more in
1981. An overwhelming majority of them, 80 percent,
Table 6. Median weekly earnings of wage and salary
workers who usually work full time, by selected
characteristics, 1967, 1973, and 1981
Median weekly earnings
Index of constant
dollars
(May 1967=100.0)
Characteristic
1967
(May)
1973
(May)
1981
(Second
quarter)
1973
(May)
1981
(Second
quarter)
$109
84
115
$159
119
170
$285
202
312
110.1
107.1
111.3
96.3
89.3
100.0
125
97
131
188
136
203
344
225
374
113.6
106.2
116.8
101.6
85.6
105.3
78
74
79
116
103
121
221
181
234
112.8
105.4
115.2
105.1
90.5
108.9
113
130
79
162
193
117
293
353
223
108.0
112.3
111.4
95.6
100.0
103.8
79
90
63
129
149
107
238
274
210
124.1
125.6
128.6
111.4
112.2
123.8
Other marital status ..........
95
131
113
134
200
171
238
377
344
106.3
115.3
114.2
92.6
106.1
112.4
Women, 16 years and over:
Never married ..............
Married, spouse present . . . .
Other marital status ..........
79
79
75
114
117
115
206
226
225
108.9
111.4
116.0
96.2
105.1
110.7
Sex and age
Both sexes, 16 years and over . . . .
16 to 24 years ......................
25 years and over ..................
Men, 16 years and over ............
16 to 24 years ..............
25 years and over....................
Women, 16 years and o v e r..........
16 to 24 years ................
25 years and over........................
Race
White......................
M en....................
Women ..................
Black and other races1 ..........
M en........................
Women ........................
Marital status
Men, 16 years and over:
Never married ................
Married, spouse present ..........
Occupation
Professional and technical workers ..
Managers and administrators, except
farm ........................
Salesworkers....................
Clerical workers............
Craft and kindred workers . . .
Operatives, except transport2 ............
Transport equipment operatives2 .
Nonfarm laborers..........
Service workers............
Farmworkers ............
145
212
368
110.3
93.8
164
113
91
131
238
163
130
195
132
169
138
107
96
409
301
230
347
243
299
236
189
179
109.8
108.8
107.7
112.2
_
92.1
98.2
93.4
97.7
111.8
115.7
125.9
93.5
100.0
113.8
-
_
93
70
58
1Data for blacks (exclusive of other races) are not available prior to 1978.
2Data not available prior to 1972.
Table 7. Median hourly earnings of wage and salary workers paid hourly rates, by selected demographic characteristics,
annual averages, 1981
Age and years of school completed
Hispanic
Black
White
Total
Both
sexes
Both
sexes
Men
Women
Both
sexes
Men
Women
Both
sexes
Men
Women
$5.27
4.04
3.47
4.68
6.13
6.24
6.38
6.18
5.88
3.98
$6.72
4.41
3.61
5.25
7.92
7.53
8.49
8.65
8.05
4.35
$4.35
3.75
3.39
4.17
4.74
4.98
4.84
4.63
4.45
3.76
$5.30
4.06
3.48
4.75
6.25
6.36
6.51
6.35
5.99
4.03
$6.84
4.44
3.64
5.31
8.14
7.69
8.77
8.96
8.26
4.41
$4.36
3.76
3.39
4.19
4.77
4.99
4.85
4.68
4.49
3.79
$5.01
3.88
3.39
4.24
5.43
5.56
5.64
5.32
5.26
3.53
$5.93
4.11
3.40
4.58
6.64
6.50
6.98
6.77
6.67
3.75
$4.27
3.70
3.38
3.93
4.51
4.81
4.63
4.35
4.09
3.41
$4.90
4.08
6.13
5.30
5.06
5.50
6.47
6.19
6.91
7.21
6.93
7.92
7.92
6.77
6.09
7.40
8.45
8.43
8.60
8.22
8.09
8.53
4.74
4.05
3.88
4.18
5.03
4.71
5.49
6.36
5.97
7.40
6.25
5.43
5.17
5.79
6.53
6.28
6.96
7.22
6.95
7.88
8.14
7.00
6.29
7.65
8.62
8.61
8.78
8.31
8.21
8.51
4.77
4.10
3.92
4.24
5.02
4.71
5.47
6.29
5.92
7.28
5.43
4.71
4.44
4.90
6.03
5.65
6.69
7.03
6.86
7.95
6.64
5.65
5.19
6.16
7.27
7.05
7.74
7.56
7.58
4.51
3.86
3.63
3.98
5.03
4.71
5.70
6.46
6.22
5.35
4.82
4.53
5.44
6.32
6.07
7.09
6.55
6.36
Men
Women
$5.45
4.34
-
$4.15
3.80
Age
Total, 16 years and over ..................
16 to 24 years..............................
16 to 19 years ..........................
20 to 24 years ..........................
25 years and over ........................
25 to 34 years ..........................
35 to 44 years ..........................
45 to 54 years ..........................
55 to 64 years ..........................
65 years and over ....................
-
5.35
-
6.38
-
4.37
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Years of school completed
Total, 25 years and over ..................
Less than 4 years of high school . . .
8 years of school or less............
1 to 3 years of high school ....
4 years of high school or more
4 years of high school................
1 to 3 years of college ..............
4 years of college or more ........
4 years of college..................
5 years of college or more
1Median not shown where base is less than 50,000.
Note:
(’ )
H
(’)
6.38
5.45
5.19
6.59
7.77
7.54
8.48
7.05
4.15
3.80
3.73
3.92
4.60
4.46
4.73
(1)
(’)
(’)
n
( 1)
Dashes indicate data not available.
were white men. Only 12 percent of the high wage earn
ers were women, 8 percent were black, and 5 percent
were Hispanic.
At the low end of the earnings scale, about 1.4 mil
lion of the workers paid an hourly wage earned less
than $3 an hour in 1981, when the prevailing minimum
wage under the Fair Labor Standards Act was $3.35.
Of course, the Act exempts certain types of workers
from the minimum wage provisions and permits a lower
minimum for others.16 About half of the workers who
earned less than the prevailing minimum were employed
in retail trade— two-thirds of them in eating and drink
ing places, where exemptions from the minimum are
very prevalent. One-tenth worked in private households.
Workers who reported that they earned less than the
minimum wage were predominently young (57 percent
were under 25 years of age), and female. Among both
whites and blacks, about 7 percent of the hourly em
ployees reported earnings below the prevailing mini
mum.
□
' Quarterly data on weekly earnings from the CPS have been
available since early 1979 and are published in a press release entitled
“Weekly Earnings of Workers and Their Families.” The release is
available free of charge from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
$179.50 on the basis of the employer reports, for a difference of $9.26
or 5 percent. See Larry Carstensen and Henry Woltman, “Comparing
Earnings Data From the CPS and Employer Records,” P ro c ee d in g s o f
th e S o c ia l S ta tis tic s S e c tio n , 1 9 7 9 (Washington, American Statistical
Association, 1979), pp. 168-74.
2 For detailed information with regard to the reliability and other
technical aspects of the quarterly earnings data from the CPS, see
Earl F. Mellor, T e c h n ic a l D e sc rip tio n o f th e Q u a r te r ly D a ta on W e e k ly
E a rn in g s F ro m th e C u r r e n t P o p u la tio n S u rv e y , Bulletin 2113 (Bureau
of Labor Statistics, 1982).
3During 1981, women on full-time schedules worked an average of
39.5 hours per week, compared to 43.1 hours for men.
4The usual method for measuring intragroup wage differences is to
estimate wage equations for each group through regression techniques
which adjust for productivity-related personal characteristics. For ex
ample, see Burton G. Malkiel and Judith A. Malkiel, Male-female
pay differentials in professional employment,” A m e r ic a n E c o n o m ic R e
view , September 1973, pp. 693-705.
This analysis rests in part on the foundation of human capital theo
ry, which views schooling and training as investments increasing
worker productivity and so future earnings. This theory is presented
by Gary Becker in H u m a n C a p ita l (New York, Columbia University
Press, 1964) and by Jacob Mincer in S ch o o lin g , E x p erie n c e , a n d E a r n
in g s (New York, Columbia University Press, 1974), probably the two
names most associated with the theory. In addition to variables mea-
Before 1979, roughly comparable data on weekly earnings by demo
graphic group were collected each May from 1967 to 1978, except for
1968. The data were published in press releases and occasional articles
in the M o n th ly L a b o r R e v ie w . The first such article was Paul O. Flaim
and Nicholas I. Peters, “Usual weekly earnings of American work
ers,” M o n th ly L a b o r R e v ie w , March 1972, pp. 28-38. The most recent
was Janice N. Hedges and Earl F. Mellor, “Weekly and hourly earn
ings of U.S. workers, 1967-78,” M o n th ly L a b o r R e v ie w , August 1979,
pp. 31-41.
The switch from annual to more frequent collection of earnings
data in the CPS was made after two methodological tests indicated it
was feasible to collect these data more often and that they would
meet BLS standards of statistical reliability. The most important test
was conducted in January 1977, when information on the earnings of
about 4,000 workers was obtained directly from them or from mem
bers of their households and was then compared with information
from their respective employers. Median hourly earnings for workers
paid at hourly rates were $3.53 on the basis of the household reports
and $3.64 on the basis of the employer reports— a difference of 11
cents or 3 percent. Median weekly earnings (excluding tips or com
missions) were $170.24 on the basis of the household reports and
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23
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW April 1982 • Usual weekly earnings
suring human capital accumulation, wage equations typically include
other variables thought to have a role in the wage determining pro
cess. Estimates of coefficients in wage equations, including any residu
al difference in earnings levels that remain after controlling for levels
of the determining variables, are sensitive to the variables included in
the equation as well as relevant variables that have been left out. The
difference in earnings that remains may be due to discrimination but
could also be due to variables not considered.
There are economists who view the science’s understanding of wage
determination as seriously incomplete, and who question the relevance
of human capital theory and wage regressions. For examples, see Les
ter C. Thurow, G e n e ra tin g I n e q u a lity (New York, Basic Books, Inc.,
1975); and Michael J. Piore, “The importance of human capital theo
ry to labor economics: a dissenting view,” I n d u s tr ia l R e la tio n s R e
sea rc h A s s o c ia tio n 's 2 6 th A n n u a l W in te r P ro ceed in g s.
The discontinuous work experience of many women may depress
their earnings, in at least two ways. First, for periods when a woman
does not have a job she is not accumulating work experience. Second,
her skills accumulated in previous periods may depreciate. Women’s
fewer years of employment overall and at their current job lead to
less on-the-job training. In addition, as suggested by Steven H.
Sandell and David Shapiro, receipt of on-the-job training may in
crease with preferences for future labor force attachment and women
may underestimate their future attachment and so underinvest in
training. See “Work expectations, human capital accumulation, and
the wages of young women,” J o u r n a l o f H u m a n R eso u rc es, Summer
1980, pp. 335-53.
Mary Corcoran and Greg J. Duncan observed more likely and fre
quent interruption of work experience among women with the Panel
Study on Income Dynamics. They found years of training completed
on the current job explained 11 percent of the difference in earnings
of white men and women while other work history explained 28 per
cent. After controlling for the levels of a long list of personal charac
teristics their technique left more than half of the wage differential
unexplained. Results of their analysis suggest continuity of work expe
rience had limited impact on earnings, implying that the impact of
human capital depreciation during labor force withdrawal on earnings
is minimal if it exists at all. See “Work history, labor force attach
ment and earnings differences between the races and the sexes,” T h e
J o u r n a l o f H u m a n R eso u rc es, Winter 1979, pp. 3-20. This evidence
conflicts with that of Jacob Mincer and Solomon Polochek. See
“Fgmily investments in human capital: Earnings of women,” J o u r n a l
o f P o litic a l E c o n o m y , Vol. 82, no. 2, part 2, March/April 1974, pp.
S76-S108.
Bureau of Labor Statistics data from the CPS show that in January
1978, the average length of time at the current job (job tenure) was
4.5 years for men and 2.6 years for women. See Edward S.
Sekscenski, “Job tenure declines as work force changes,” M o n th ly L a
b o r R e v ie w , December 1979, pp. 48-50, reprinted with additional data
as S p e c ia l L a b o r F o rce R e p o r t No. 235.
”The South includes the South Atlantic (Delaware, the District of
Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Maryland, North Carolina, South Caroli
na, Virginia, and West Virginia), the East South Central (Alabama,
Kentucky, Mississippi, and Tennessee), and the West South Central
(Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, and Texas) divisions. Using CPS
data from May 1978, George D. Stamas estimated hourly earnings in
the South 10 percent lower for blacks, and 4 percent lower for whites,
compared to workers with similar characteristics in the rest of the
country. See “The puzzling lag in southern earnings,” M o n th ly L a b o r
R e v ie w , June 1981, pp. 27-36.
Some comparisons of earnings by occupation could not be made
because there were not enough minority women in some occupations
to provide reliable estimates of their median earnings. This was the
case for black women employed as transport equipment operatives
and farmworkers, and for Hispanic women employed as salesworkers,
24
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craftworkers, transport equipment operatives, nonfarm laborers, and
farmworkers.
BFor an analysis of recent differences in the earnings of black men
and white men, see Daniel E. Taylor, “Education, on-the-job training,
and the black-white pay gap,” M o n th ly L a b o r R ev ie w , April 1981, pp.
28-34. Corcoran and Duncan used a more precise measure of on-thejob training and work experience and found returns for blacks and
whites to be similar. See Corcoran and Duncan, “Work history.”
James P. Smith and Finis Welch espouse this view in their “vin
tage ’ cohort improvement hypothesis. See “Race differences in earn
ings: a survey and new evidence,” in Peter Mieszkowski and Mahlon
Straszheim, eds., C u r r e n t Issu e s in U rb a n E c o n o m ic s (Baltimore, Johns
Hopkins University Press, 1979), pp. 40-73. An alternative hypothesis
is that this pattern of race-earnings ratios by age represents the life
cycle and that as cohorts age, earnings of black men will fall relative
to those of white men.
10There are additional occupations in this Bureau of the Census list
of 428 for which the data indicate that earnings may be at least as
high as those listed. However, the estimated number of full-time wage
and salary workers in these jobs was less than the 50,000 required to
provide reasonably reliable estimates of median earnings. Examples
are physicists and astronomers, geologists, judges, and air traffic con
trollers.
The Current Employment Statistics Survey, also known as the
“establishment” survey or the “790” survey (collected via BLS Form
790) is conducted monthly by the Bureau of Labor Statistics to gather
information on employment and earnings for detailed industries. Data
from this survey are published in E m p lo y m e n t a n d E a rn in g s.
12 Employment and earnings data on workers by union status are
published in E a rn in g s a n d O th e r C h a r a c te r istic s o f O r g a n iz e d W orkers,
M a y 1 9 8 0 , Bulletin 2105 (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 1981).
11Comparisons of weekly hours in 1981 represent mean hours re
ported by workers at work in the reference weeks: 41.7 hours for
those at work full time and 19.0 hours for those at work part time
who usually work part time.
14 Data from the quarterly series are not strictly comparable to
those collected in May of prior years. See Earl F. Mellor, T e c h n ic a l
D esc rip tio n . The earnings data are not seasonally adjusted, and only
second quarter data from the quarterly series may be used in any
comparisons with earlier figures. The extent of seasonal fluctuations
cannot be accurately determined, and adjustments cannot be made
until the data have been collected for at least 5 years. Hence, the
quarterly series should not be used at this time to track quarter-toquarter changes.
15For several summaries of research on the subject of generational
crowding see P ro c ee d in g s o f th e S o c ia l S ta tis tic s S e c tio n , 1 9 7 9 (Wash
ington, American Statistical Association, 1979), pp. 37-56.
In a separate paper, James P. Smith and Finis Welch reported that
the difference in lifetime earnings between the smallest and the largest
cohort entering the labor market since 1940 may be 4 percent for high
school graduates and 10 percent for college graduates, with most of
the impact on employment and earnings occurring during the early
stages of work careers. See “No Time to be Young: The Economic
Prospects for Large Cohorts in the United States,” P o p u la tio n a n d D e
v e lo p m e n t R e v ie w , March 1981, pp. 71-83.
' Examples of such workers are those in small retail and service es
tablishments, persons employed as outside salesworkers, many
agricultural workers, part-time workers attending school full time,
and employees who earn tips. Tips also can be credited up to 40 per
cent of the minimum wage. The Fair Labor Standards Act and its
coverage is outlined in M in im u m W a g e a n d M a x im u m H o u r s U n d e r
th e F a ir L a b o r S ta n d a r d s A ct, A n E c o n o m ic E ffe c ts S tu d y S u b m itte d to
C on gress, 1 9 8 1 (U.S. Department of Labor, Employment Standards
Administration, 1981).
Earnings of men and women:
a look at specific occupations
Occupations in which women workers dominate
tend to rank lower in terms of earnings;
men dominate higher paid occupations
N a n c y F. R y t in a
As a result of growing concern over the persistence of
earnings differences between men and women, policy
makers, researchers, and others have become increasing
ly interested in obtaining earnings data by sex at the
finest level of occupational detail possible. Wide-ranging
information of this nature can generally be collected
only through a household survey such as the Current
Population Survey ( c p s ). Until 1978, reliable estimates
of earnings from the CPS could generally be presented
only for aggregated groupings of occupations because of
the limited number of sample observations in many oc
cupations. However, changes in the collection of the CPS
earnings data since 1979 have made it possible to con
struct annual average estimates to examine the earnings
for a much larger number of detailed occupations.1
This report presents 1981 annual average data on the
number of men and women working full time in each
occupation and on their usual weekly earnings. Earn
ings data are shown only where wage and salary em
ployment is at least 50,000, because estimates of
earnings derived from a smaller base are considered too
unreliable to publish. For the most part, this allows
earnings comparisons at the Census Bureau’s “threedigit” level of classification of occupations.2 However,
Nancy F. Rytina is a demographer in the Division of Labor Force
Studies, Bureau of Labor Statistics. Francis W. Horvath of the same
division was responsible for the development of the tables, and Muriel
K. Nelson, also of that division, assisted in the preparation of the
data.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
for occupational groupings which did not contain any
three-digit occupation with a sufficiently large employ
ment base, the data are shown for the two-digit occupa
tions, the next higher level of aggregation. The use of
two- as well as three-digit occupations increases the
number of occupations among which earnings can be
compared and also makes possible some comparisons
between men and women that would otherwise have
had to be ignored because there were either too few
men or too few women employed in the occupation.
For example, there are almost no male registered nurses
(a three-digit occupational category), but the earnings of
the sexes can be compared in the two-digit category—
nurses, dieticians, and therapists—because the number
of male workers exceeded 50,000 in the larger grouping.
The data in table 1 show the employment and medi
an earnings for 250 two- and three-digit occupations.
These accounted for about 95 percent of the total full
time wage and salary work force in 1981. There are
more occupations where men’s earnings are shown than
is the case for women (192 for men versus 129 for
women). This occurs because the number of women
working full time is lower than that of men and they
are more concentrated in fewer occupations.
The 91 occupations for which both men’s and wom
en’s earnings are shown are predominantly white collar,
the field which employed the majority of full-time
working men and women in 1981. Forty of these occu
pations are professional or managerial, and 24 are sales
or clerical. In contrast, just 2 of the 91 occupations are
25
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW April 1982 • Occupational Earnings o f Men and Women
Table 1. Median weekly earnings of wage and salary workers employed full time in occupations with total employment of
50,000 or more, by sex,1 1981 annual averages
[Numbers in thousands]
Total,
both sexes
Men
Women
Occupation
Ratio
female /
male
earnings
times 100
Percent
female
workers
Total
employed
Weekly
earnings
Total
employed
Weekly
earnings
Total
employed
Total2 ...................................................................................................
72,491
$289
43,888
$347
28,603
$224
64.7
39.5
Professional, technical, and kindred workers.......................................................
Accountants.................................................................................................
Architects.....................................................................................................
Computer specialists.....................................................................................
Computer programmers.............................................................................
Computer systems analysts.......................................................................
Engineers.....................................................................................................
Aeronautical and astronautical engineers.....................................................
Chemical engineers...................................................................................
Civil engineers...........................................................................................
Electrical and electronic engineers .............................................................
Industrial engineers ...................................................................................
Mechanical engineers ...............................................................................
Engineers, n.e.c..........................................................................................
12,870
960
60
583
345
199
1,459
83
64
186
368
222
239
226
377
379
428
454
422
519
540
614
575
505
549
530
540
527
7,358
579
57
429
247
149
1,392
81
59
182
355
194
233
219
439
433
432
488
447
546
547
619
583
507
555
549
547
530
5,512
381
3
154
98
50
68
1
5
4
13
28
6
7
316
308
71.8
71.2
42.8
39.7
5.0
26.4
28.4
25.1
4.7
1.2
7.8
2.1
3.5
12.6
2.5
3.1
Foresters and conservationists.......................................................................
Lawyers and judges .....................................................................................
Lawyers...................................................................................................
Librarians, archivists, and curators .................................................................
Librarians .................................................................................................
Life and physical scientists.............................................................................
Biological scientists ...................................................................................
Chemists .................................................................................................
Operations and systems researchers and analysts ........................................
Personnel and labor relations workers ...........................................................
60
299
279
146
136
277
53
132
212
419
331
550
546
323
320
474
423
467
485
402
53
237
219
25
20
219
33
104
160
215
341
579
574
7
62
60
121
115
58
19
28
52
204
Physicians, dentists, and related practitioners .................................................
Pharmacists .............................................................................................
Physicians, medical and osteopathic...........................................................
Nurses, dieticians, and therapists ...................................................................
Registered nurses.....................................................................................
Therapists.................................................................................................
Health technologists and technicians .............................................................
Clinical laboratory technologists and technicians .........................................
Radiologic technologists and technicians.....................................................
Health technologists, n.e.c...........................................................................
314
98
189
1,168
924
199
511
232
82
155
468
463
501
327
332
305
287
295
290
268
242
74
148
106
39
65
161
55
31
72
Religious workers.........................................................................................
Clergy .....................................................................................................
Social scientists ...........................................................................................
Economists...............................................................................................
Psychologists ...........................................................................................
Social and recreation workers .......................................................................
Social workers .........................................................................................
Recreation workers...................................................................................
Teachers, college and university......................................................................
Teachers, except college and university .........................................................
Adult education teachers ...........................................................................
Elementary schoolteachers .......................................................................
Prekindergarten and kindergarten teachers .................................................
Secondary schoolteachers.........................................................................
Teachers, except college and university, n.e.c...............................................
268
231
238
133
77
454
357
97
438
2,624
54
1,244
143
1,115
69
284
284
461
536
394
295
309
226
444
333
394
322
262
351
312
244
220
158
98
38
185
141
44
310
864
38
221
4
571
29
Engineering and science technicians...............................................................
Chemical technicians.................................................................................
Drafters ...................................................................................................
Electrical and electronic engineering technicians .........................................
Surveyors.................................................................................................
Engineering and science technicians, n.e.c....................................................
Technicians, except health, engineering, science .............................................
Airplane pilots...........................................................................................
Radio operators .......................................................................................
Vocational and educational counselors...........................................................
1,056
106
319
259
80
224
172
53
56
156
348
352
343
387
310
344
375
530
233
388
868
76
259
235
80
174
128
53
23
77
371
384
364
397
311
383
437
530
Writers, artists, and entertainers.....................................................................
Athletes and kindred workers.....................................................................
Designers.................................................................................................
Editors and reporters.................................................................................
Painters and sculptors...............................................................................
Photographers .........................................................................................
Public relations men and publicity writers.....................................................
Writers, artists, and entertainers, n.e.c..........................................................
Research workers, not specified.....................................................................
791
59
176
158
100
52
100
66
157
350
254
421
351
297
309
402
363
362
525
44
134
86
55
47
56
42
96
387
Managers and administrators, except fa rm .........................................................
Bank officers and financial managers .............................................................
Buyers, wholesale and retail trade .................................................................
7,864
658
139
407
411
316
5,630
417
73
See footnotes at end of table.
26
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
—
—
512
—
492
515
514
495
471
561
344
—
335
324
324
—
317
286
285
522
580
—
339
358
—
485
384
—
379
—
387
—
—
451
73
25
41
1,062
885
134
350
177
52
83
25
10
81
36
40
269
216
52
128
1,760
15
1,022
138
545
40
188
29
60
25
0
50
43
0
33
79
Weekly
earnings
—
355
329
420
371
—
72.8
73.6
76.9
67.8
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
410
407
319
318
363
—
—
70.7
71.0
—
—
70.9
—
—
422
330
82.0
64.3
401
80.9
—
—
326
331
293
273
286
268
240
—
—
94.7
—
87.5
84.2
88.1
—
75.7
_
—
—
—
391
—
—
273
286
186
389
311
—
311
264
321
—
279
—
277
74.9
—
—
80.4
79.9
—
80.3
80.9
—
82.2
—
82.9
—
75.3
—
76.2
—
—
—
—
277
—
72.2
—
—
—
—
—
336
74.5
302
78.2
11.7
20.7
21.5
82.9
84.6
20.9
35.8
21.2
24.5
48.7
23.2
25.5
21.7
90.9
95.8
67.3
68.5
76.3
63.4
53.5
9.3
4.3
34.0
27.1
51.9
59.3
60.5
53.6
29.2
67.1
27.8
82,2
96.5
48.9
58.0
17.8
27.4
18.8
9.7
.0
22.3
25.0
.0
58.9
50.6
437
266
15
42
72
45
6
44
23
61
307
70.3
33.6
25.4
23.9
45.6
45.0
11.5
44.0
34.8
38.9
466
514
400
2,235
240
66
283
310
250
60.8
60.2
62.3
28.4
36.5
47.5
—
448
382
329
—
465
—
—
—
324
—
—
—
—
85.0
—
—
—
—
—
—
Table 1. Continued— Median weekly earnings of wage and salary workers employed full time in occupations with total
employment of 50,000 or more, by sex,1 1981 annual averages
[Numbers in thousands]
Total,
both sexes
Men
Women
Occupation
Total
employed
Weekly
earnings
Total
employed
Weekly
earnings
Total
employed
Credit and collection managers .....................................................................
Health administrators ...................................................................................
Inspectors, except construction, public administration......................................
Managers and superintendents, building .........................................................
Office managers, n.e.c....................................................................................
Officials and administrators; public administration, n.e.c.....................................
Officials of lodges, societies, and unions.........................................................
Purchasing agents and buyers, n.e.c................................................................
Restaurant, cafeteria, and bar managers .......................................................
Sales managers and department heads, retail trade ......................................
Sales managers, except retail tra d e ...............................................................
School administrators, college .......................................................................
School administrators, elementary and secondary...........................................
Managers and administrators, n.e.c..................................................................
60
200
104
96
444
443
106
260
393
330
353
129
262
3,713
351
431
380
278
313
441
429
390
275
300
540
491
475
431
36
102
93
46
140
324
79
182
227
204
307
88
176
2,984
423
484
501
453
312
380
566
552
520
481
24
98
10
50
304
120
27
78
166
126
46
41
85
729
Salesworkers...................................................................................................
Advertising agents and salesworkers .............................................................
Insurance agents, brokers, and underwriters..................................................
Real estate agents and brokers.....................................................................
Stock and bond sales agents.........................................................................
Sales representatives, manufacturing industries..............................................
Sales representatives, wholesale trade...........................................................
Salesclerks, retail trade.................................................................................
Salesworkers except clerks, retail trade .........................................................
Salesworkers, services and construction.........................................................
3,601
100
399
218
123
369
768
1,032
379
169
306
334
341
326
535
434
396
178
288
332
2,412
50
285
100
101
310
686
410
334
112
366
418
402
390
589
473
407
229
305
397
Clerical and kindred workers.............................................................................
Bank tellers .................................................................................................
Billing clerks.................................................................................................
Bookkeepers ...............................................................................................
Cashiers .....................................................................................................
Clerical supervisors, n.e.c................................................................................
Collectors, billing and accounting ...................................................................
Counter clerks, except food...........................................................................
Dispatchers and starters, vehicle ...................................................................
Estimators and investigators, n.e.c...................................................................
14,066
464
123
1,290
712
227
76
252
106
477
233
189
216
227
168
331
233
201
327
319
3,032
28
19
121
106
71
26
59
65
219
Expediters and production controllers.............................................................
File clerks ...................................................................................................
Insurance adjusters, examiners, and investigators ..........................................
Library attendants and assistants...................................................................
Mail carriers, post office ...............................................................................
Mail handlers, except post office ...................................................................
Messengers and office helpers.......................................................................
Office machine operators .............................................................................
Computer and peripheral equipment operators ..........................................
Keypunch operators .................................................................................
248
230
183
61
222
138
60
844
506
212
328
192
270
203
406
222
198
238
260
223
148
37
75
9
196
70
47
227
185
11
Payroll and timekeeping clerks.......................................................................
Postal clerks.................................................................................................
Receptionists ...............................................................................................
Secretaries...................................................................................................
Secretaries, legal .....................................................................................
Secretaries, medical .................................................................................
Secretaries, n.e.c........................................................................................
Shipping and receiving clerks.........................................................................
Statistical clerks...........................................................................................
Stenographers .............................................................................................
203
256
458
3,199
159
71
2,969
480
333
55
247
400
200
230
260
218
229
247
242
275
40
172
9
21
1
0
20
376
71
7
Stock clerks and storekeepers.......................................................................
Teacher aides, except school monitors...........................................................
Telephone operators.....................................................................................
Ticket, station, and express agents.................................................................
Typists.........................................................................................................
Miscellaneous clerical workers.......................................................................
Not specified clerical workers .......................................................................
461
168
261
132
801
997
336
264
167
240
407
213
233
227
305
6
20
78
29
184
70
Craft and kindred workers.................................................................................
Bakers.....................................................................................................
Brickmasons and stonemasons .................................................................
Bulldozer operators...................................................................................
Carpenters...............................................................................................
Compositors and typesetters .....................................................................
Crane, derrick, and hoist operators.............................................................
Decorators and window dressers ...............................................................
Electricians...............................................................................................
Electric power line and cable installers and repairers..................................
Excavating, grading, road machine operators; except bulldozer....................
Blue-collar work supervisors, n.e.c...............................................................
Inspectors, n.e.c..........................................................................................
10,558
76
87
90
699
142
136
66
591
122
269
1,772
131
352
234
401
327
325
274
402
210
419
409
337
394
370
9,963
56
87
90
689
98
136
22
581
121
268
1,587
119
Weekly
earnings
Ratio
female /
male
earnings
times 100
_
_
357
—
226
277
337
—
285
223
216
65.5
—
Percent
female
workers
—
363
281
62.9
71.6
57.0
—
—
69.9
58.5
40.0
49.0
9.6
52.1
68.5
27.1
25.5
30.0
42.2
38.2
13.0
31.8
32.4
19.6
1,189
50
115
118
21
59
82
622
44
56
190
258
270
277
—
306
303
154
—
235
52.0
61.7
67.1
70.9
—
64.7
74.3
67.4
—
59.1
33.0
50.0
28.8
54.1
17.1
16.0
10.7
60.3
11.6
33.1
328
—
—
320
180
460
—
240
385
394
11,034
436
105
1,169
606
156
50
192
41
258
220
188
209
222
166
291
215
195
—
256
67.0
—
—
69.4
92.0
63.4
—
81.3
—
65.0
78.4
94.0
85.4
90.6
85.1
68.7
65.8
76.2
38.7
54.1
366
—
356
—
408
245
—
324
342
—
100
192
107
52
26
67
13
616
320
201
275
189
230
197
—
202
—
223
232
222
75.2
—
64.7
—
—
82.3
—
68.8
67.8
—
40.3
83.5
58.5
85.2
11.7
48.5
21.7
73.0
63.2
94.8
163
84
449
3,178
158
71
2,949
104
261
48
237
382
199
229
260
218
228
205
227
—
—
156
163
241
54
772
813
267
217
166
239
370
211
222
217
71.6
68.3
74.6
595
20
0
1
10
44
0
43
10
1
2
186
12
239
66.5
545
388
—
—
407
—
—
—
—
—
263
326
—
304
—
—
419
—
325
292
360
264
401
329
326
311
402
—
420
410
337
409
383
—
—
65.5
69.6
—
—
93.9
—
—
—
—
—
78.2
69.7
—
—
88.3
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
262
—
64.2
80.3
32.8
98.0
99.3
99.4
100.0
99.3
21.7
78.4
87.3
33.8
97.0
92.3
40.9
96.4
81.5
79.5
5.6
26.3
.0
1.1
1.4
31.0
.0
65.2
1.7
.8
.7
10.5
9.2
See footnotes at end of table.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
27
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW April 1982 • Occupational Earnings o f Men and Women
Table 1. Continued— Median weekly earnings of wage and salary workers employed full time in occupations with total
employment of 50,000 or more, by sex,1 1981 annual averages
[Numbers in thousands]
Total,
both sexes
Weekly
earnings
Ratio
female /
male
earnings
times 100
Women
Men
Occupation
Total
employed
Weekly
earnings
Total
employed
Weekly
earnings
Total
employed
_
_
—
—
60
1
5
1
6
7
16
5
4
4
1
6
275
83.9
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
443
—
275
404
329
266
385
375
455
417
384
436
5,775
515
31
358
20
180
50
73
60
204
298
297
166
316
251
413
283
204
269
230
301
267
312
322
258
105
118
734
71
82
261
83
123
678
56
1,261
328
724
150
Transport equipment operatives.........................................................................
Bus drivers...................................................................................................
Delivery and route workers ...........................................................................
Forklift and tow motor operatives .................................................................
Taxicab drivers and chauffeurs.......................................................................
Truckdrivers.................................................................................................
Nonfarm laborers.............................................................................................
Carpenters' helpers .....................................................................................
Construction laborers, except carpenters’ helpers ..........................................
Job and die setters, metal .........................................................................
Machinists.................................................................................................
95
532
358
356
92
512
360
360
4
19
Mechanics and repairers...............................................................................
Air conditioning, heating and refrigeration mechanics ..................................
Aircraft mechanics.....................................................................................
Automobile body repairers.........................................................................
Automobile mechanics...............................................................................
Data processing machine repairers.............................................................
Heavy equipment mechanics, including diesel............................................
Household appliance, accessory installers and mechanics ..........................
Office machine repairers ...........................................................................
Radio and television repairers.....................................................................
Railroad and car shop mechanics...............................................................
Miscellaneous mechanics and repairers .....................................................
2,888
166
121
137
813
95
958
96
71
83
57
193
326
335
427
295
285
395
346
309
327
336
405
323
2,827
166
116
136
808
88
942
90
66
80
56
187
328
335
429
294
286
401
348
315
331
344
405
325
Millwrights ...................................................................................................
Molders, metal .............................................................................................
Painters, construction and maintenance .........................................................
Plumbers and pipe fitters...............................................................................
Printing press operators.................................................................................
Roofers and slaters.......................................................................................
Sheetmetal workers and tinsmiths .................................................................
Stationary engineers.....................................................................................
Structural metal craftworkers.........................................................................
Telephone installers and repairers .................................................................
Telephone line installers and repairers ...........................................................
Tool and die makers.....................................................................................
105
52
258
377
156
78
140
180
77
316
75
164
443
253
271
404
320
267
381
375
455
412
387
433
105
42
248
376
139
77
135
178
77
284
71
159
Operatives, except transport.............................................................................
Assemblers .................................................................................................
Bottling and canning operatives .....................................................................
Checkers, examiners, and inspectors; manufacturing......................................
Clothing ironers and pressers .......................................................................
Cutting operatives, n.e.c..................................................................................
Drillers, earth ...............................................................................................
Filers, polishers, sanders, and buffers.............................................................
Furnace tenders, smelters, and pourers .........................................................
Garage workers and gas station attendants ...................................................
9,440
1,088
51
782
87
259
51
111
62
217
242
236
279
265
164
226
393
223
374
179
Laundry and dry cleaning operatives, n.e.c.......................................................
Meat cutters and butchers, except manufacturing ..........................................
Meat cutters and butchers, manufacturing.......................................................
Mine operatives, n.e.c.....................................................................................
Mixing operatives .........................................................................................
Packers and wrappers, except meat and produce..........................................
Painters, manufactured articles .....................................................................
Photographic process workers.......................................................................
Precision machine operatives.........................................................................
Drill press operatives.................................................................................
Grinding machine operatives.......................................................................
Lathe and milling machine operatives .........................................................
Precision machine operatives, n.e.c..............................................................
126
150
88
265
79
493
146
69
339
56
129
100
54
Punch and stamping press operatives.............................................................
Sawyers.......................................................................................................
Sewers and stitchers.....................................................................................
Shoemaking machine operatives ...................................................................
Furnace tenders and stokers, except metal.....................................................
Textile operatives .........................................................................................
Spinners, twisters, and winders...................................................................
Textile operatives, n.e.c...............................................................................
Welders and flame cutters.............................................................................
Winding operatives, n.e.c.................................................................................
Machine operatives, miscellaneous specified...................................................
Machine operatives, not specified...................................................................
Miscellaneous operatives...............................................................................
Not specified operatives ...............................................................................
See footnotes at end of table.
Digitized for
28FRASER
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
—
—
—
—
Percent
female
workers
4.2
3.6
2.1
.6
4.1
.7
.7
7.4
1.7
5.2
5.6
4.8
1.8
3.1
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
0
10
10
0
17
1
5
3
0
32
4
5
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
.0
19.2
3.9
.0
10.9
1.3
3.6
1.7
.0
10.1
5.3
3.0
348
—
252
393
246
376
181
3,664
573
20
423
67
79
0
38
2
12
$187
205
—
219
153
185
—
—
—
62.9
69.0
—
63.1
—
73.3
—
—
—
38.8
52.7
39.2
54.1
77.0
30.5
.0
34.2
3.2
5.5
38
141
62
260
77
190
124
33
296
44
115
95
43
325
287
413
287
226
282
—
317
—
325
327
—
88
10
26
5
3
303
22
36
42
12
14
5
11
151
—
—
—
—
193
—
—
—
—
—
—
-
69.8
6.7
29.5
1.9
3.8
61.5
15.1
52.2
12.4
21.4
10.9
5.0
20.4
292
204
157
154
342
200
207
194
334
237
273
251
232
271
72
107
24
20
81
101
26
54
643
31
908
241
480
101
316
208
—
—
342
229
—
219
338
—
309
281
262
311
33
10
710
52
1
161
57
69
35
25
353
87
244
48
—
156
147
—
186
189
180
~
—
206
202
185
—
—
—
—
81.3
—
82.1
—
—
66.8
71.9
70.5
31.4
8.5
96.7
73.2
1.2
61.7
68.7
56.1
5.2
44.6
28.0
26.5
33.7
32.0
2,792
173
446
373
112
1,560
303
298
274
284
240
314
2,656
124
421
352
104
1,528
307
331
280
284
246
315
136
48
25
21
8
32
237
—
—
—
—
—
77.2
—
—
—
—
—
4.9
27.7
5.6
5.6
7.1
2.1
3,227
50
654
238
223
250
2,893
50
642
244
223
252
335
0
11
193
—
79.3
—
10.4
.0
1.7
—
—
—
—
85.4
—
—
—
—
—
Table 1. Continued— Median weekly earnings of wage and salary workers employed full time in occupations with total
employment of 50,000 or more, by sex,1 1981 annual averages
[Numbers in thousands]
Total,
both sexes
Occupation
Total
employed
Freight and material handlers...............................................
Garbage collectors ...................................................................
Gardeners and groundskeepers, except farm ....................................
Timber cutting and logging workers ......................................
Stock handlers...................................................
Vehicle washers and equipment cleaners ..........................................
Warehouse laborers, n.e.c..................................................
Miscellaneous laborers ......................................................
Not specified laborers.............. ....................................
Weekly
earnings
Men
Total
employed
Weekly
earnings
Ratio
female /
male
earnings
times 100
Women
Weekly
earnings
Total
employed
641
62
349
55
522
124
267
168
241
259
189
200
246
212
220
267
297
245
579
60
332
55
372
103
253
155
215
266
189
202
246
228
220
270
308
246
62
2
16
0
149
21
15
12
26
207
78.0
_
_
_
185
81.2
_
_
_
-
-
Farmworkers.............................................................
Farm laborers, wage workers ..........................................
Service workers, except private household..........................................
Cleaning service workers............................................
Lodging quarters cleaners, except private..........................................
Building interior cleaners, n.e.c...............................................
Janitors and sextons .............................................................
Food service workers ......................................................
Bartenders .........................................................
Waiters’ assistants ...........................................................
Cooks, except private household .................................................
Dishwashers.............................................................
Food counter and fountain workers...............................................
Waiters.....................................................
Food service workers, n.e.c., except private household....................
729
701
6,990
1,651
99
559
993
1,987
170
70
764
105
107
532
239
176
174
196
200
142
184
219
162
195
143
171
135
141
150
165
641
614
3,475
1,106
5
253
848
770
94
57
375
73
15
79
76
180
178
238
222
—
213
225
186
212
144
202
136
—
200
178
88
86
3,515
544
94
306
145
1,216
76
13
389
32
91
453
163
146
146
170
168
141
168
188
148
179
81.1
82.3
71.3
75.6
79.2
83.6
79.7
84.4
Health service workers ......................................................
Dental assistants.............................................................
Health aides, except nursing.......................................................
Nursing aides, orderlies and attendants............................................
Practical nurses ..................................................
Personal service workers........................................
Attendants, recreation and amusement..................................
Child-care workers, except private household ..................................
Hairdressers and cosmetologists ..........................................
Housekeepers, except private household......................................
1,415
97
220
832
263
624
88
83
191
96
188
183
209
172
227
191
182
151
179
219
178
216
38
130
6
207
49
11
29
32
—
203
—
224
1,237
95
182
701
256
417
39
72
163
64
145
172
205
-
1,313
218
500
508
70
315
148
110
315
362
232
363
324
107
80
126
1,214
216
436
481
66
17
4
9
322
364
236
368
325
100
226
70.3
214
90.7
_
_
_
_
Protective service workers....................................
Firefighters ..........................................
Guards..................................................
Police and detectives...................................................
Sheriffs and bailiffs ..............................................
Private household workers ......................
Child-care workers, private household....................................
Maids and servants, private household ....................
'Excludes any earnings from self-employment.
2Data for "total” refer to all full-time workers, Including those in occupations not shown.
in the crafts category, largely because men made up the
overwhelming majority (95 percent) of all full-time
craftworkers.
Ranking occupations
To illustrate the occupational earnings differences be
tween men and women, the occupations in table 1 were
ranked from high to low on the basis of male earnings,
female earnings, the ratio of women’s to men’s earnings,
and the percentage of female workers in each occupa
tion. (See tables 2 to 5.) For each criterion the top 20
occupations are ranked. The rankings by male and fe
male earnings are approximate because the earnings in
very closely ranked occupations are often not statistical
ly different.3 In addition, the occupations appearing in
the female earnings ranking contain more two-digit oc
cupations than the male earnings ranking because wom
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
3
—
_
_
—
-
_
—
_
_
_
148
73.4
140
144
160
_
72.0
90.0
185
182
201
167
227
179
85.4
_
82.2
80.0
_
_
3
64
27
4
298
144
101
104
79
124
—
Percent
female
workers
9.7
3.2
4.6
.0
28.5
16.9
5.6
7.1
10.8
12.1
12.3
50.3
32.9
94 9
54.7
14.6
61.2
44.7
18.6
50.9
30.5
85.0
85.1
68.2
87.4
97.9
82.7
84.3
97.3
66.8
44 3
86.7
85.3
66.7
7.6
1.4
12.8
5.3
5.7
94.6
97.3
91.8
N ote: Not elsewhere classified is abbreviated n.e.c. Dashes Indicate earnings not shown
where base Is less than 50,000.
en are concentrated in fewer occupations, and in many
occupations their number is less than 50,000. Of course,
the ranking by the sex-earnings ratio includes just those
occupations in which both men’s and women’s earnings
are reported in table 1. Lastly, the occupations ranked
by the percent of females employed are based on all oc
cupations in table 1.
Male earnings ranks. Not surprisingly, the most highly
paid occupations for men are from the professional and
managerial groups. (See table 2.) Nineteen of the 20 are
in one of these groupings. The only exception is “stock
and bonds, sales agents,’’ which is classified in the sales
category.
Within the professional group, engineering specialties
clearly stand out in the ranking, accounting for 7 of the
top 20 occupations. The median usual weekly earnings
29
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW April 1982 • Occupational Earnings of Men and Women
T a b le 2 . O c c u p a t io n s w it h h ig h e s t m e d ia n w e e k ly
e a r n in g s f o r m e n e m p lo y e d f u l l t i m e in w a g e a n d s a la r y
w o r k , 1 198 1 a n n u a l a v e r a g e s
Occupational title2
Table 3. Occupations with highest median weekly
earnings for women employed full time in wage
and salary work,1 1981 annual averages
2
Male earnings
Occupational title
Female earnings
\
Aerospace and astronautical engineers ..........................................
Stock and bond sales agents ....................................
Chemical engineers ........................................
Economists ................................................
Lawyers............................................................
Sales managers, except retail trade................................................
Physicians, medical and osteopathic..............................................
Electrical and electronics engineers....................................
School administrators, college and university ..................................
Industrial engineers..................................................
$619
589
583
580
574
566
561
555
552
549
Operations and systems researchers and analysts ............................
Computer systems analysts..............................................................
Lawyers...........................................................................................
Physicians, dentists, and related practitioners ....................................
Social scientists ..............................................................................
Teachers, college and university ......................................................
Postal clerks.....................................................................................
Engineers.........................................................................................
Ticket, station, and express agents....................................................
School administrators, elementary and secondary..............................
$422
420
407
401
391
389
382
371
370
363
Mechanical engineers......................................................
Computer systems analysts ..............................................
Health administrators ........................................
Engineers, not elsewhere classified .................................................
Airplane pilots .............................................................................
School administrators, elementary and secondary............................
Operations and systems researchers and analysts ..........................
Bank officers and financial managers..............................................
Personnel and labor relations workers ............................................
Civil engineers ......................................................
547
546
545
530
530
520
515
514
514
507
Life and physical scientists................................................................
Health administrators .......................................................................
Public administration officials and administrators, not elsewhere classified
Vocational and educational counselors..............................................
Registered nurses.............................................................................
Personnel and labor relations workers ..............................................
Computer programmers ..................................................................
Editors and reporters........................................................................
Secondary schoolteachers................................................................
Librarians...................................................................................
357
357
337
336
331
330
329
324
321
318
'Excludes any earnings from self-employment.
Occupations listed are those in which male employment was 50,000 or more in 1981.
'Excludes any earnings from self-employment.
"Occupations listed are those in which female employment was 50,000 or more in 1981.
of men in those specialties ranged from $619 for aero
space and astronautical engineers to $507 for civil engi
neers. The high ranking of engineers occurs partly
because the data are restricted to wage and salary
workers and exclude some of the most highly paid
workers in occupations where self-employment is quite
common, for example, lawyers and physicians. None
theless, although restricted only to the wage and salary
portion, the median usual weekly earnings of lawyers
($574) and physicians ($561) were in the upper half of
the ranking.
The top 20 also included a number of technical and
administrative occupations. Among the former are econ
omists, airplane pilots, and two very high growth occu
pations, computer systems analysts, and operations and
systems researchers and analysts. Among the latter oc
cupations are school administrators at the college, sec
ondary, and elementary levels; health administrators;
and bank officers and financial managers.
workers. This suggests that the most highly paid occu
pations for women are about the same as those for men.
However, the earnings of women in these occupations
do not approach the earnings of men. The $422 median
usual weekly earnings of female operations and systems
researchers and analysts, for example, would place just
above the pay of electricians for men, an occupation
which is well below the top 20 on the male ranking.
The pay for women librarians is just above that of men
working as precision machine operatives, a classification
which is in the bottom third of the male earnings rank
ing.
Female earnings ranks. Much like the situation for men,
the most highly paid occupations for women are in the
professional and managerial categories. (See table 3.)
The median usual weekly earnings in the top 20 occupa
tions for women ranged from a high of $422 for opera
tions and systems researchers and analysts to $318 for
librarians. Many of the occupations appearing in the fe
male ranking are the same or similar to those which ap
pear in the male ranking. Among these (in addition to
operations and systems researchers and analysts) are
lawyers, engineers, physicians, dentists and related prac
titioners, social scientists, health administrators, elemen
tary and secondary school administrators, computer
systems analysts, and personnel and labor relations
30
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Table 4. Occupations of full-time wage and salary
workers with highest ratios of women’s to men’s median
weekly earnings,1 1981 annual averages
Occupational title2
Ratio fem ale/m ale
earnings times 100
Postal clerks...................................................................
Cashiers .........................................................................
Guards and watchmen ....................................................
Food service workers, not elsewhere classified, excluding
private household ............................................................
Ticket, station, and express agents......................................
Clinical laboratory technologists and technicians ......................
Therapists ......................................................
Packers and wrappers, except meat and produce....................
Editors and reporters..................................................
93.9
92.0
90.7
90.0
88.3
88.1
87.5
85.4
85.0
Bartenders............................................................
Mechanics and repairers..........................................
Janitors and sextons....................................................
Secondary schoolteachers..................................
Mail handlers, except post office ................................
Farm laborers, wage workers ............................................
Elementary schoolteachers ..............................
Nursing aides, orderlies, and attendants ................................
Textile operatives, not elsewhere classified........................
Operations and systems researchers and analysts ..................
Counter clerks, except food........................
84.4
83.9
83.6
82.9
82.3
82.3
82.2
82.2
82.1
82.0
81.3
'Excludes any earnings from self-employment.
"Occupations listed are those in which both male and female employment was 50,000 or
more in 1981.
Table 5. Occupations with highest percentage of female
workers in full-time wage and salary work,1 1981 annual
averages
Occupational title2
Percent female
Secretaries, medical.......................................................................
Secretaries, legal .........................................................................
Secretaries, not elsewhere classified ..............................................
Receptionists.................................................................................
Dental assistants ...........................................................................
Practical nurses .............................................................................
Child-care workers, private household ............................................
Teachers aides, except school monitors..........................................
Sewers and stitchers .....................................................................
Prekindergarten and kindergarten teachers......................................
100.0
99.4
99.3
98.0
97.9
97.3
97.3
97.0
96.7
96.5
Typists...........................................................................................
Registered nurses .........................................................................
Lodging quarters cleaners, except private household........................
Keypunch operators .......................................................................
Bank tellers ...................................................................................
Telephone operators.......................................................................
Maids and servants, private household............................................
Bookkeepers .................................................................................
Stenographers...............................................................................
Child-care workers, except private household..................................
96.4
95.8
94.9
94.8
94.0
92.3
91.8
90.6
87.3
86.7
’ Excludes self-employed workers.
Occupations listed are those in which female employment was 50,000 or more in 1981.
Occupations which do not appear in the top male
earnings rankings but appear in the top female rankings
highlight other aspects of variation between men’s and
women’s occupational earnings. Public sector employ
ment is typical of several of the occupations which rank
high in terms of female earnings. These include postal
clerks, public administration officials and administrators
1See Earl F. Mellor, Technical Description of the Quarterly Data on
Weekly Earnings from the Current Population Survey, Bulletin 2113,
Bureau of Labor Statistics, January 1982.
2The Census Bureau classifies occupations on the basis of one-,
two-, and three-digit groupings. The one-digit classification is the least
detailed and consists of the major occupation groups, for example,
professional, technical, and kindred workers; managers and adminis
trators, except farm; and salesworkers. The three-digit classification is
the most detailed. It includes specific occupations such as account
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(not elsewhere classified), vocational and educational
counselors, and secondary schoolteachers. Elementary
and secondary school administrators is the only public
sector occupation which also appears in the top 20 oc
cupations in terms of men’s earnings. Postal clerks
ranked well below the top 20 for men. And as indicated
in table 4, some of the highly paid public sector occupa
tions for women are characterized by relatively high ra
tios of women’s to men’s earnings. Among postal
clerks, women’s earnings averaged almost 94 percent of
men’s. And a sex-earnings ratio of more than 80 per
cent is reported for secondary schoolteachers. This sug
gests that while the public sector may not offer the
most highly paid employment, it may well afford wom
en more equal opportunities than are found elsewhere.
Another characteristic of occupations ranking high in
terms of female earnings is that they typically do not
rank among those with the largest percentages of female
workers. (See table 5.) The occupation of registered
nurse, for example, is the only one which had both a
high percentage of female workers (96 percent) and also
ranked among the most highly paid occupations for
women. (Compare table 3 with table 5.) Most of the oc
cupations in which 90 percent of the workers or more
are women are in the clerical category. By contrast, the
very highly paid occupations, professional and manage
rial, are male-dominated. Women’s earnings, much like
men’s, are highest in these occupations.
□
ants, architects, aerospace and astronautical engineers, and civil engi
neers, all of whom come under the one-digit professional grouping.
The two-digit classification is more detailed than the one-digit scheme
and contains a number of broad occupations such as engineers and
secretaries, under which are found such three-digit occupations as
aerospace and astronautical engineers, or civil engineers, and legal
secretaries, medical secretaries, and so forth.
'The magnitude of the standard errors on occupational earnings
ranged from roughly $10 to $30 at the .10 significance level.
31
Tenure as a factor in the
male-female earnings gap
New data from the CPS indicate that women
have fewer years in their current occupations
than men, a factor which affects
the earnings disparity
N a n c y F. R y t in a
While numerous studies have attempted to account for
the male-female earnings differential, results generally
show that a substantial portion of the disparity remains
after controlling for sex differences in education, job ex
perience, and other factors affecting productivity.
Among the reasons cited for the inability to explain
more of the differential are inadequate data and other
problems in measuring the variables selected for analy
sis.
One controversial measurement issue pertains to the
effects of work experience on pay. The fact that women
average fewer years in the work force than men is con
sidered by many researchers to be an important factor
in the wage gap between the sexes. However, reliable
measures of work experience are not often available.
The Current Population Survey (cps ) — the principal
source of demographically oriented earnings data— does
not elicit information from individuals regarding the
number of years they have worked, the various jobs
they have held, or the amount of time they held those
jobs. Although questions on job tenure have been asked
at least every 5 years as part of special CPS supplements,
these questions have traditionally referred only to the
length of tenure in one’s current job. They have provid
ed no information on the total number of years spent in
the labor force or in one’s current occupation.
Nancy F. Rytina is a demographer in the Division of Labor Force
Studies, Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Digitized 32
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It has therefore become common practice to use an
indirect estimate of general experience, defined by: years
of age minus years of school completed minus 6.1This
yields a measure of a worker’s potential years of work
experience. It is considered a reliable estimate of the ac
tual number of years of experience for workers who
have been employed continuously in each year since
leaving school. And this is generally the case for men.
But, because women typically spend some time out of
the labor force, an estimate of their potential years of
experience will tend to overstate actual years of experi
ence and understate the impact of work experience on
earnings.2 Thus, potential experience is not very useful
for studies of male-female earnings differences.
Occasionally information is obtained in the CPS which
may be used to improve the measurement of work expe
rience, especially for women. In the January 1981 CPS
supplement, data were obtained for the first time on
“occupational” tenure.3 Workers employed in the same
3-digit census occupation in both January 1980 and
January 1981 were asked to report the total number of
years they had spent in that occupation, net of any in
tervening years spent in another occupation or not
working. For one-quarter of the January sample, infor
mation was also obtained from workers on hours
worked per week and usual weekly earnings, making it
possible to examine the influence of occupational tenure
on hourly earnings.
A year of experience in the current job or line of
work should generally have more effect on current earn-
ings than a year of experience et other jobs. For work
ers who switch fields entirely, experience in the previous
field would very often have no bearing on current earn
ings. Accordingly, compared to potential experience,
tenure in the current occupation should provide a much
better indication of the portion of total work experience
which is relevant to the current job and the earnings
from that job. This is particularly true for women, who
generally have fewer years of experience than men in
the same occupation, as indicated by the distribution of
tenure shown in table 1.
Method of the study. The new occupational tenure data
from the January 1981 CPS were used in regression anal
yses, and the results were compared with those based
on potential experience as a measure of the effect of
work experience on men’s and women’s earnings.
For wage and salary workers age 25 and over, the
following model was estimated by sex:
(1) LnHE = a + b2Educ + b2Black + b3GExp
+ b4GExp2 + b5Occten
+ i b OPers Char + e
i= 6
LnHE is the natural logarithm of hourly earnings. For
workers paid by the hour it is the reported hourly
wage. For other workers, usual weekly earnings were
divided by usual weekly hours. Education (Educ) is sin
gle years of school completed, and Black is a dummy
variable for non white races. Two experience measures
were included in the analysis.4 General experience
(GExp) is years of potential labor market exposure and
is defined as age minus years of education minus 6. Its
square (GExp2) was included to allow for nonlinear ef
fects. A second experience measure is the “years in the
current occupation” variable, Occten. Because occupa
tional tenure was coded as a categorical variable in the
CPS, dummy variables were constructed for each catego
ry, excluding that for less than 1 year of tenure. Other
personal characteristics (OPersChar) that influence earn
Table 1. Distribution of wage and salary workers by sex
and tenure in current occupation, January 1981
[In percent]
Years of tenure
Total .......................................................................
Less than 1 year1 ..............................................
1 to 1.9 years....................................................
2 to 2.9 years.....................................................
3 to 3.9 years.....................................................
4 to 4.9 years.....................................................
5 to 9.9 years....................................................
10 to 24.9 years................................................
25 years or more ..............................................
Men
100.0
13.2
7.8
8.0
6.1
6.8
20.4
28.7
9.3
Women
100.0
17.9
10.6
9.9
7.0
7.5
20.5
22.0
4.6
11ncludes workers whose detailed occupation in January 1980 differed from their current
occupation in January 1981 as well as those who were unemployed or not in the labor force
in January 1980.
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ings include dummy variables for marital status, parttime employment, metropolitan residence, region, occu
pation, and industry.
Regression estimates of equation 1 using unweighted
data are presented in table 2. For each sex, two specifi
cations of the earnings equation were estimated. In the
first, potential experience and its square were the only
experience measures (column 1). The second specifica
tion added occupational tenure to the set of explanatory
variables (column 2).5 Comparisons between the two
specifications were used to examine the effects of occu
pational tenure on men’s and women’s earnings.
An overview of the results. The estimates in column 1 of
table 2 indicate that an additional year of potential ex
perience (evaluated at the mean) increases men’s earn
ings by 2 percent, and women’s, by 1 percent. However,
one should not conclude from these results that the re
turn to potential work experience is greater for men
than for women. The estimate for women is subject to a
great deal of measurement error associated with using
potential experience to approximate actual experience.
Column 1 estimates also indicate that for both sexes a
year of potential experience has a smaller effect on earn
ings than education. While race does not significantly af
fect women’s earnings, black men’s earnings are 8.9 per
cent below those of white men.6
When years spent in the current occupation are in
cluded as a measure of work experience, the results
demonstrate a number of important points. First, tenure
in the occupation affects both men’s and women’s earn
ings over and above potential experience and all other
personal characteristics. The rise in R2’s between col
umns 1 and 2 of .317 to .352 for men and .326 to .353
for women are both statistically significant.
Second, earnings of both sexes rise with occupational
tenure. Relative to the earnings of workers with less
than a year in the occupation, the earnings of men are
4.9 percent greater after 1 to 2 years in the occupation,
and 21.7 percent more after 25 years. Similarly, for
women, 1 to 2 years in the occupation is associated
with a 6.9-percent increase in earnings and 25 years or
more yields a 24.5-percent premium.
Third, with the addition of occupational tenure to the
regression specification in column 2, the effects of po
tential experience are reduced, while race and education
coefficients remain virtually unchanged.7 Measurement
error in using potential for actual experience partially
accounts for the reduced effects. Compared with the
larger increases in earnings associated with additional
years actually spent in the current occupation, an extra
year of potential experience (at the mean) increases
men’s earnings just 0.4 percent and leaves women’s
earnings unchanged. For men, therefore, potential expe
rience retains an effect on earnings apart from the larger
33
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW April 1982 • Tenure and the Male-Female Earnings Gap
Table 2. Regression estimates of the determinants of the
log of hourly earnings, by sex, January 1981
Men
Women
Explanatory variable1
0)
(2)
(1)
(2)
Education..................................
Black........................................
.043
-.086
.041
-.084
.028
2.015
.026
2.009
Potential experience..................
(Potential experience)2/ 100 . . . .
.021
-.032
.016
-.027
.011
-.020
.006
-.016
Tenure in current occupation:
1 to 1.9 years......................
2 to 2.9 years......................
3 to 3.9 years......................
4 to 4.9 years......................
5 to 9.9 years......................
10 to 24.9 years ..................
25 years or more ................
R2 ............................................
Sample size..............................
—
—
—
—
—
—
.317
6,679
.046
.061
.099
.100
.146
.185
.196
.352
6,679
—
—
—
—
—
—
.326
5,263
.067
.072
.117
.124
.178
.229
.219
.353
5,263
1Also included in regressions were dummy variables for marital status, part-time employ
ment, metropolitan residence, region, and major occupation and industry.
2Not significant at the .05 level.
N ote: Unless otherwise indicated, entries were significant at the .01 level.
effects of occupational tenure. But for women, actual
tenure in the occupation emerges as a stronger predictor
of earnings.
Fourth, part of the wage gap between the sexes is due
to the lower occupational tenure of women. Average
hourly earnings were $8.00 for men and $5.29 for wom
en, a difference of $2.71. Women’s hourly earnings
would be $5.39 if they had the same distribution of oc
cupational tenure as men.8 Thus, 4 percent of the earn
ings gap reflects sex differences in the distribution of
occupational tenure. However, it should also be noted
that, even if women had the same mean levels on all
variables in the column 2 regressions as men, their earn
ings would rise to only $5.98, leaving 75 percent of the
wage gap to be explained.
Two BASIC CONCLUSIONS may be drawn from this anal
ysis. First, when occupational tenure is included along
with potential experience as a measure of work experi
ence, not surprisingly some of the earnings differential
between men and women reflects the lower tenure of
women. Second, and consistent with past research, a
substantial portion of the total wage gap remains unac
counted for.9 Whether this remainder may be attributed
to worker and job characteristics not included in this
analysis, or simply to pay discrimination, is a subject
for further research.
□
FOOTNOTES
1See Jacob Mincer, S ch o o lin g , E x p erie n c e , a n d E a rn in g s (New York,
Columbia University Press, 1974).
2 See exchange in J o u r n a l o f H u m a n R eso u rc es, Winter 1976, by
Mark R. Rosenzweig and Jack Morgan, “Wage Discrimination: A
Comment,” pp. 1-7, and Alan S. Blinder, “On Dogmatism in Human
Capital Theory,” pp. 8-22.
3Data were also collected on years with current employer during
the May 1979 and the January 1981 CPS. The influence of this tenure
variable on earnings has been examined in a number of other studies.
See, for example, Wesley S. Mellow, “Employer Size and Wages,” R e
vie w o f E c o n o m ic s a n d S ta tistic s , forthcoming.
4 Specialized experience is skills and knowledge accumulated in a
particular line of work and useful only in that job. General experience
includes nonspecific or other experience acquired during employment.
5Because experience includes both specialized and other experience,
potential experience and its square are included as estimates of other
experience in the second regression to avoid specification bias. Howev
er, the inclusion of these variables introduces measurement bias in the
regression for women.
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6
For dummy variables, the proportionate impact on log earnings is
computed by taking the antilog of the coefficient and subtracting 1.
7Estimates for occupation and industry variables declined.
8From column 2 regressions, $5.39 is women’s expected earnings if
they had the same mean values as men for the occupational tenure
categories, but retained the female intercept and female means and
coefficients on all other independent variables. Computation is based
on regression standardization. See, for example, Otis Dudley Duncan,
“The Inheritance of Poverty or the Inheritance of Race,” in Daniel P.
Moynihan, ed., O n U n d e r s ta n d in g P o v e r ty (New York, Basic Books,
1967), pp. 85-110.
’ See, for example, Mary Corcoran and Greg J. Duncan, “Work His
tory: Labor Force Attachment, and Earnings Differences Between the
Races and Sexes,” J o u r n a l o f H u m a n R eso u rc es, Vol. 1, 1979, pp. 120. Using data from the Panel Study of Income Dynamics, which in
cluded detailed work history and labor force attachment variables,
they were able to account for less than half of the earnings differential
between white men and black and white women.
Unemployment and its effect
on family income in 1980
Survey on work experience of the population
shows that the median income
of families with an umemployed member
was 21 percent lower than that
o f families without unemployment
Sy l v ia L a z o s T e r r y
Data from the “work experience” survey conducted in
March 1981 show that, with the weakening of the econ
omy in 1980, the total number of persons who were un
employed for at least 1 week during the year rose to
21.4 million, nearly 3 million more than in 1979. This
represented 18.1 percent of all persons who were in the
labor force for any part of 1980, well above the compa
rable proportion for 1979— 15.8 percent— but still be
low the 1975 high of 20.2 percent. Also reflecting the
impact of the 1980 recession was the relatively small in
crease recorded in the number of persons with jobs.
About 115.8 million were employed during all or part
of 1980, an increase of less than 800,000 over 1979 and
the smallest annual increase since 1975.1
The work experience survey is conducted each March
as a supplement to the monthly Current Population
Survey ( c p s ). In this supplement, respondents are que
ried concerning their employment and unemployment
experiences, personal earnings, and family income for
the preceding year.
Because of the dynamic nature of the labor force, the
total number of persons with jobs or those engaged in
job-seeking during the year, as obtained retrospectively
through the work experience survey, is far higher than
the “average” number employed or unemployed in any
given month. Therefore, the survey data provide a much
Sylvia Lazos Terry is a labor economist in the Division of Labor
Force Studies, Bureau of Labor Statistics. Bernard Altschuler, a stat
istician in the Data Services Group, assisted in the preparation of ta
bles.
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more complete picture of the extent to which all
persons of working age have engaged in employment or
job search during the year.2 In addition, the linkage of
these data with the information on income obtained
through the same survey provides valuable insights as
to how employment and unemployment affect the eco
nomic welfare of individuals and of families.
The data show, for example, that the median income
of families with one unemployed member or more dur
ing 1980 was 21 percent below the median for families
not affected by unemployment ($19,076 compared with
$24,020). Primarily because of lower earnings, 15 per
cent of the families affected by unemployment were in
poverty in 1980. By contrast, among families where no
working members experienced unemployment, only 6
percent had incomes which fell below the poverty level.
Job growth is slow
During the 4 years of economic recovery since the
1974—75 recession, the annual increases in the number
of persons who worked during all or part of the year
had averaged close to 3 million with more than half of
the year-to-year gains being in year-round, full-time
jobs. The 1979-80 increase of 759,000 in the number of
persons with full- or part-year jobs represented only
one-quarter of the average gain for the previous 4 years.
Of this gain, only 230,000 were in full-time, year-round
jobs, slightly more than one-tenth of the average in
crease in this category over the last 4 years.3
Since job growth in 1980 did not keep pace with pop
ulation growth, the proportion of the working age
35
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW April 1982 • Unemployment in 1980
population with some employment— 68.3 percent— was
slightly lower than in 1979. (See table 1.) The slow
Table 1. Work experience during the year of persons
16 years and over by extent of employment, race,
and sex, 1979 and 1980
[In percent]
Both sexes
Men
Women
Extent of employment
19791
1980
19791
1980
19791
166,953 169,452
79,014
80,193
87,939
89,259
114,993 115,752
68.3
68.9
64,063
81.1
64,260
80.1
50,929
57.9
51,492
57.7
1980
All persons
Population (in thousands)2 . . .
Worked during the year:3
Number (in thousands)..
Percent of the population
Persons who worked during
the y e a r..........................
Full time4 ........................
50 to 52 weeks............
27 to 49 weeks............
1 to 26 weeks..............
Part time5 ........................
50 to 52 weeks............
27 to 49 weeks............
1 to 26 weeks..............
100.0
79.0
56.3
13.0
9.7
21.0
7.1
5.5
8.5
100.0
78.5
56.1
12.5
10.0
21.5
7.7
5.2
8.5
100.0
87.5
66.3
12.9
8.4
12.5
4.2
3.1
5.1
100.0
87.2
65.2
12.9
9.1
12.8
4.4
3.0
5.5
100.0
68.2
43.7
13.0
11.4
31.8
10.8
8.4
12.6
100.0
67.8
44.7
12.0
11.0
32.2
11.9
8.0
12.3
145,671
147,371
69,439
70,154
76,232
77,217
101,407 101,904
69.6
69.1
57,084
82.2
57,122
81.4
44,323
58.1
44,782
58.0
100.0
87.7
67.1
12.7
8.0
12.3
4.3
3.1
4.8
100.0
87.5
66.2
12.7
8.5
12.5
4.4
3.0
5.1
100.0
67.2
43.3
12.8
11.1
32.8
11.1
8.8
12.9
100.0
66.9
44.1
12.0
10.8
33.1
12.2
8.4
12.6
Whites
Population (in thousands)2 . . .
Worked during the year:3
Number (in thousands) ..
Percent of the population
Persons who worked during
the y e a r..........................
Full time4 ........................
50 to 52 weeks............
27 to 49 weeks............
1 to 26 weeks..............
Part time5 ......................
50 to 52 weeks............
27 to 49 weeks............
1 to 26 weeks..............
100.0
78.8
56.7
12.7
9.4
21.2
7.3
5.6
8.3
100.0
78.4
56.5
12.4
9.5
21.6
7.8
5.4
8.4
Blacks
Population (in thousands)2 . . .
Worked during the year:3
Number (in thousands)..
Percent of the population
Persons who worked during
the year ..........................
Full time4 ........................
50 to 52 weeks............
27 to 49 weeks............
1 to 26 weeks..............
Part time5 ........................
50 to 52 weeks............
27 to 49 weeks............
1 to 26 weeks..............
17,701
18,105
7,884
8,065
9,817
10,039
11,114
62.8
11,153
61.6
5,638
71.5
5,652
70.1
5,476
55.8
5,502
54.8
100.0
80.3
53.0
14.8
12.5
19.7
5.9
4.3
9.5
100.0
78.9
52.7
13.1
13.1
21.1
6.9
4.3
9.9
100.0
85.4
59.0
15.1
11.4
14.6
3.6
3.0
7.9
100.0
84.5
56.4
14.3
13.9
15.5
3.8
2.8
8.9
100.0
75.0
46.8
14.6
13.5
25.0
8.3
5.6
11.2
100.0
73.1
49.0
11.9
12.2
26.9
10.0
5.9
11.0
8,394
8,862
4,043
4,255
4,351
4,607
5,732
68.3
5,914
66.7
3,369
83.3
3,484
81.9
2,363
34.3
2,430
52.7
100.0
82.8
53.2
16.9
12.7
17.2
5.0
4.4
7.8
100.0
82.4
53.1
15.2
14.1
17.6
5.9
4.2
7.6
100.0
87.5
60.1
17.4
10.0
12.5
3.6
2.9
5.9
100.0
88.3
61.1
15.7
11.5
11.7
4.0
2.4
5.4
100.0
76.0
43.3
16.2
16.5
24.0
7.0
6.4
10.6
100.0
73.9
41.6
14.4
17.8
26.1
8.6
6.7
10.8
Híspanles6
Population (in thousands)2 . . .
Worked during the year:3
Number (in thousands)..
Percent of the population
Persons who worked during
the year ..........................
Full time4 ........................
50 to 52 weeks............
27 to 49 weeks............
1 to 26 weeks..............
Part time5 ........................
50 to 52 weeks............
27 to 49 weeks............
1 to 26 weeks..............
1Data for 1979 reflect updated weights based on the 1980 Census of the Population;
therefore, these differ from 1979 data previously published in the June 1981 Monthly Labor
Review.
2Unadjusted population as of the survey date.
3Weeks worked includes paid vacation and sick leave.
4Usually worked 35 hours or more per week.
5Usually worked 1 to 34 hours per week.
6Persons of Hispanic origin may be of any race.
Digitized 36
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growth in employment for 1980 was evident among all
major demographic groups. For example, after increas
ing steadily since 1976, the proportion of women 16
years old and over who worked during the year re
mained largely unchanged from 1979 to 1980, at 58
percent. For men, the job gain was only 300,000. This
was considerably less than the increase in their popula
tion, so that the proportion with employment declined
from 81 percent in 1979 to 80 percent in 1980. For
black men, the proportion who worked during the year
declined from 72 percent to 70 percent in 1980,
reaching the lowest level since 1950, the starting point
for this data series.
The proportion of workers employed at full-time jobs
(35 hours or more per week) all year long remained at
56 percent in 1980. This was in line with the pattern
observed over most of the last decade and significantly
higher than the low (54 percent) registered during
1974—75. Among women with jobs, the proportion em
ployed full-time, year-round continued to increase as it
has since 1976. It rose slightly from 44 to 45 percent,
but the comparable proportion for men edged down,
from 66 to 65 percent.
Among blacks with jobs during the year, the propor
tion employed full-time, year-round continued to drop
for men (from 59 to 56 percent), but rose further for
women (from 47 to 49 percent). Black men remain less
likely to be employed full-time, year-round than their
white or Hispanic counterparts, while black women re
main more likely to be employed full-time, year-round
than white or Hispanic women.
Reflecting the deterioration in labor market condi
tions, more workers were apt to be employed only part
time in 1980. The 25 million who usually worked part
time represented 22 percent of all workers, a high
previously reached in 1975, another recession year. The
increase in part-time work during a recession reflects
both cutbacks in hours among the employees on board,
as well as the hiring of part-timers to fill jobs that nor
mally would be for full-time workers.4In addition to the
25 million usually employed part time in 1980, another
18 million workers reported that they were confined to
part-time work for at least 1 week, although they were
usually employed full time. Of the 43 million workers
with some part-time work, 31 percent of them attribut
ed it to unfavorable economic conditions— that is, slack
work or being unable to find full-time jobs. This pro
portion was significantly higher than the 26 percent av
erage for the previous 4 years.
A rise in unemployment
A total of 21.4 million persons experienced some
unemployment during 1980. This figure is 2.7 times
higher than the average number unemployed during any
given month of 1980. In addition, it represents an in-
crease of 3 million over 1979, a year-to-year jump sur
passed only once before in the history of the series—in
1974, also a recession year.5
In contrast to the usual patterns, a higher proportion
Table 2.
of men than women who were in the labor force en
countered some unemployment during 1980 (19 versus
18 percent). (See table 2.) Since 1965, only in 1972 and
1973 had men been more likely to encounter unemploy-
Persons 16 years and over who experienced some unemployment, by race and sex, 1979 and 1980
[Numbers in thousands]
Men
Both sexes
Women
Extent of unemployment
19791
1979’
1980
1979'
1980
118,348
18.1
21,410
2,597
1,434
1,163
18,813
12.5
64,739
15.5
10,042
675
351
324
9,367
65,277
18.5
12,072
1,018
416
602
11,054
13.2
52,244
16.1
8,426
1,315
949
365
7,111
53,071
17.6
9,338
1,579
1,018
561
7,759
10.7
1980
All Persons
Employed or looked for work during the year....................................
Percent unemployed.................................................................
Persons unemployed ...................................................................
Did not work but looked for work ..........................................
1 to 14 weeks...................................................................
15 to 52 weeks.................................................................
With work experience ...........................................................
Median weeks unemployed ..................................................
116,983
15.8
18,468
1,990
1,300
690
16,478
Unemployed persons with work experience......................................
Year-round workers unemployed 1 or 2 weeks..............................
Part-year workers unemployed ....................................................
1 to 4 weeks.....................................................................
5 to 14 weeks...................................................................
15 weeks or m ore.............................................................
With 2 spells or more of unemployment........................................
100.0
5.2
94.8
25.9
35.7
33.3
32.2
100.0
4.9
95.1
20.8
33.1
41.2
31.7
100.0
6.4
93.6
21.2
37.4
35.0
35.7
100.0
6.1
93.9
16.6
33.7
43.6
34.5
100.0
3.6
96.4
32.0
33.4
31.0
27.7
100.0
3.3
96.7
26.7
32.4
37.7
27.7
Employed or looked for work during the year....................................
Percent unemployed.................................................................
Persons unemployed ...................................................................
Did not work but looked for w o rk ..........................................
1 to 14 weeks...................................................................
15 to 52 weeks.................................................................
With work experience ...........................................................
Median weeks unemployed ..................................................
102,761
14.8
15,168
1,354
906
448
13,814
103,608
16.9
17,506
1,704
956
748
15,802
12.3
57,548
14.6
8,426
464
245
219
7,962
57,791
17.3
10,005
668
275
393
9,336
12.9
45,214
14.9
6,742
891
661
229
5,851
45,817
16.4
7,501
1,035
681
354
6,465
10.3
Unemployed persons with work experience......................................
Year-round workers unemployed 1 or 2 weeks..............................
Part-year workers unemployed ....................................................
1 to 4 weeks.....................................................................
5 to 14 weeks...................................................................
15 weeks or m ore.............................................................
With 2 spells or more of unemployment........................................
100.0
5.5
94.5
26.9
36.4
31.1
31.9
100.0
5.2
94.8
21.7
33.2
39.9
31.5
100.0
6.8
93.2
21.9
38.4
33.0
35.4
100.0
6.5
93.5
17.1
34.1
41.3
34.8
100.0
3.8
96.2
33.8
33.8
28.5
27.0
100.0
3.4
96.6
28.3
31.8
36.4
26.9
Employed or looked for work during the year....................................
Percent unemployed.................................................................
Persons unemployed ...................................................................
Did not work but looked for w o rk ..........................................
1 to 14 weeks...................................................................
15 to 52 weeks.................................................................
With work experience ...........................................................
Median weeks unemployed ..................................................
11,702
24.6
2,880
588
362
226
2,292
11,980
28.0
3,352
826
434
392
2,526
13.9
5,837
24.2
1,412
198
99
99
1,213
5,865
25.0
1,468
390
263
126
1,079
—
5,972
29.4
1,755
321
125
196
1,435
17.4
—
6,007
26.6
1,596
505
309
197
1,091
12.9
Unemployed persons with work experience......................................
Year-round workers unemployed 1 or 2 weeks..............................
Part-year workers unemployed ....................................................
1 to 4 weeks.....................................................................
5 to 14 weeks...................................................................
15 weeks or m ore............................................................
With 2 spells or more of unemployment........................................
100.0
3.5
96.5
19.0
30.8
46.7
35.0
100.0
3.2
96.8
14.2
33.1
49.5
31.9
100.0
4.5
95.5
16.0
30.8
48.7
37.7
100.0
3.6
96.4
12.9
31.1
52.4
31.9
100.0
2.4
97.6
22.3
31.0
44.4
31.9
100.0
2.6
97.4
16.0
35.8
55.7
31.9
5,872
22.4
1,314
140
1,174
6,069
23.0
1,396
155
1,240
13.0
3,416
22.2
757
47
709
3,547
23.2
822
63
759
13.7
2,456
22.6
556
93
463
—
2,522
22.7
574
93
481
12.1
100.0
3.5
96.5
15.8
34.9
45.8
37.2
100.0
2.8
97.2
26.0
35.1
36.1
29.6
100.0
1.4
98.6
25.4
33.8
39.3
32.9
—
—
—
Whites
—
—
—
Blacks
—
Hispanics
Employed or looked for work during the year....................................
Percent unemployed.................................................................
Persons unemployed ...................................................................
Did not work but looked for work ..........................................
With work experience ...........................................................
Median weeks unemployed ..................................................
Unemployed persons with work experience......................................
Year-round workers unemployed 1 or 2 weeks..............................
Part-year workers unemployed ....................................................
1 to 4 weeks.....................................................................
5 to 14 weeks...................................................................
15 weeks or m ore.............................................................
With 2 spells or more of unemployment........................................
—
100.0
3.9
96.1
22.4
36.9
36.9
33.9
'Data for 1979 reflect updated weights based on the 1980 Census of the Population;
therefore these data differ from 1979 data previously published in the June 1981
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—
100.0
2.7
97.3
19.5
34.5
43.3
35.6
100.0
4.6
95.4
20.1
38.0
37.4
36.8
Monthly Labor Review.
Note:
Dashes indicate data not available.
37
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW April 1982 • Unemployment in 1980
ment during the year than women were. Men and wom
en are not equally distributed among the various
occupations and industries, and this affects their vulner
ability to unemployment when the economy slows
down.6 Relative to women, men are much more concen
trated in blue-collar occupations and in goods-producing industries, which are very sensitive to economic
fluctuations. In 1980, for example, one-fourth of all
workers in blue-collar occupations were unemployed for
at least 1 week. In contrast, only one-tenth of white-col
lar workers encountered some unemployment during
the year.7
Because jobs are not readily available during reces
sionary periods, the duration of unemployment also
rose in 1980. Of all the persons who encountered unem
ployment during the year, the proportion that was job
less for 15 weeks or more was 41 percent, up from 33
percent in 1979. The median duration of unemployment
in 1980 was 12 weeks. Of course, ending a period of un
employment does not necessarily mean that a person
found a job. Many who are unable to find work become
discouraged over their prospects and simply stop
looking.8
As in past years, men experienced more weeks of un
employment in 1980 than women. The median duration
of unemployment in 1980 was 13 weeks for men and 11
weeks for women. One of four jobless women was un
employed only 1 to 4 weeks during the year compared
with 1 of 6 men.
Race. Blacks and other minorities have traditionally ex
perienced unemployment more often and for longer pe
riods than whites and this was again the case in 1980.
About 28 percent of all blacks who were in the labor
force experienced some unemployment compared with
17 percent of all whites. And blacks remained unem
ployed longer than whites. Their median duration of
unemployment was 14 weeks compared with 12 weeks
for whites.
The differences in the incidence and the duration of
unemployment between blacks and whites remained
large, both among men and women. Over 29 percent of
black men, who were in the labor force during the year,
encountered some unemployment in 1980, and the me
dian duration of their joblessness was 17 weeks. By
comparison, 17 percent of all white men experienced
some unemployment during the year; their median du
ration was 13 weeks. The incidence of unemployment
for black women was 27 percent, compared with 16
percent for white women, and black women remained
unemployed roughly 3 weeks longer than white women
(a median 13 weeks versus 10 weeks).
The proportion of Hispanics who were unemployed
at some time during 1980 was largely unchanged from
the 1979 level, remaining at approximately 23 percent.
Digitized 38
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However, as for other demographic groups, the dura
tion of unemployment for Hispanics rose in 1980, and
at 13 weeks, was 1 week higher than the median for
whites.
Age. Teenagers are much more likely to experience un
employment during the year than older workers. How
ever, teenagers also spend less time looking for work. In
1980, 30 percent of all teenagers with labor force expe
rience encountered some unemployment during the
year, but their median duration of unemployment was
only 10 weeks. (See table 3.)
Older persons are the least likely to experience a spell
of joblessness during the year. However, when they do
they tend to remain jobless longer. Both in 1980 and
1979 the median number weeks of unemployment for
workers age 55 and over was 13 weeks, exceeding all
other age categories.
Occupations. The 9.2 million blue-collar workers with
some unemployment in 1980 represented one-fourth of
all persons who worked at such jobs during all or part
of 1980, the highest among all occupational groups. By
comparison, 19 percent of all serviceworkers and only
13 percent of all farmworkers encountered some unem
ployment during the year. However, farmworkers were
even more likely than blue-collar workers to experience
more than one jobless period.
Workers employed in white-collar occupations experi
enced the smallest year-to-year increase in the propor
tion encountering unemployment, from 9 to 10 percent
in 1980. They were also the least likely among all occu
pational groups to experience two periods or more of
unemployment during the year. Managers and adminis
trators, although having the lowest incidence of unem
ployment, experienced the sharpest year-to-year increase
in the median duration of unemployment among all
worker groups (from 9 weeks in 1979 to 12 weeks in
1980). (See table 3.)
Unemployment and annual earnings
Economically, unemployment represents a loss of
earning power. Table 4 shows that the median annual
earnings of persons who encountered some unemploy
ment in 1980 was $4,046 or only 38 percent as much as
the median earnings of workers with no unemployment,
$10,760.9 However, this wide earnings gap also stems
from unemployment often being symptomatic of other
labor market problems. For example, at least 40 percent
of all persons who encountered some unemployment in
1980 also dropped out of the labor force at some time
during the year.10In addition, the workers who are most
prone to joblessness during the year have a different oc
cupational and demographic mix than workers who do
not experience unemployment. Persons who encounter
unemployment are more likely to be women, youths,
blacks, and Hispanics, who, even when employed, tend
to be concentrated in low-skill, low-paying occupations.11
Unemployment had a particularly hard impact on
blacks’ earnings. The median annual earnings of blacks
with some unemployment in 1980 was $1,990 or only
one-fifth that of blacks who did not encounter any un
employment. By comparison, whites and Hispanics with
some unemployment earned at least two-fifths as much
as their counterparts who were never unemployed. The
median for blacks with unemployment is so low partly
because a very high proportion of them never worked at
all during the year. About one-quarter of all unemployed
blacks were nonworkers who looked for work, compared
to only one-tenth of whites and of Hispanics.12
Married men who experienced unemployment earned
$9,514 in 1980 or about half as much as those who
were not unemployed. On the other hand, among wom
en who maintained families, those who encountered un
employment during the year had median earnings of
only $2,097, less then one-fourth that of those who
were never unemployed during the year.
Unemployment and the family
Unemployment affects the economic well-being of the
family unit as well as that of the individual. However,
the impact on the family is often cushioned by the pres
ence of other earners or of other sources of income.13
As shown in table 5, the 14.6 million families14 in
which at least one member was unemployed had a me
dian income of $19,076— 21 percent less than the medi
an income of families where none of the working
members were unemployed in 1980. And the likelihood
of falling below the poverty level was 15 percent for
families with unemployment compared with 6 percent
for those who were free of unemployment.15In addition,
there were 3.5 million unrelated men and women who
experienced some unemployment in 1980 and their me-
Table 3. Selected characteristics of persons who were unemployed during the year by percent with unemployment, percent
with 2 spells or more of unemployment, and median number of weeks unemployed, 1979-80
1979'
1980
Persons unemployed
Characteristic
Number
(in thousands)
All persons ..............................................
Men.....................................................................
Women ...............................................................
Percent
of the
labor force
Persons unemployed
Percent of
unemployed
workers with
2 spells or
more of
unemployment
Median
number
of weeks
unemployed
Number
(in thousands)
Percent
of the
labor force
Median
number
of weeks
unemployed
21,410
12,072
9,338
18.1
18.5
17.6
31.7
34.5
27.7
13
13
11
18,468
10,042
8,426
15.8
15.5
16.1
10
11
9
3,235
5,197
11,415
1,563
29.5
28.8
15.9
8.9
36.1
33.2
30.2
30.1
10
12
13
13
3,085
4,523
9,566
1,295
26.5
25.4
13.7
7.4
8
9
11
13
6,060
1,458
867
827
2,907
9,194
2,959
3,520
894
1,821
3,149
162
2,987
410
34
376
10.3
8.2
7.0
11.4
13.4
25.1
20.6
28.6
22.4
30.8
18.5
11.5
19.1
13.2
(3)
22.1
25.0
20.9
25.7
24.3
26.9
34.8
36.7
31.0
33.7
39.8
33.4
42.0
32.9
48.8
(3)
49.2
11
10
12
10
11
13
13
13
13
14
13
14
13
14
(3)
16
5,444
1,341
740
771
2,592
7,835
2,486
2,852
798
1,699
2,847
137
2,710
352
15
337
9.4
7.7
6.3
10.8
12.1
21.1
17.3
22.7
19.8
27.4
16.8
10.6
17.3
11.0
(3)
19.7
9
9
9
9
8
11
10
11
10
12
11
12
11
14
(3)
14
5,397
4,226
4,214
1,406
1,889
315
435
2,162
1,366
13.3
14.6
26.1
22.3
34.1
20.3
30.5
22.4
16.9
32.4
25.6
33.1
26.9
36.7
38.4
35.4
35.2
32.4
13
11
11
12
14
14
14
14
10
4,279
3,835
3,895
1,228
1,499
211
339
1,914
1,268
10.5
13.3
23.6
20.5
28.4
15.6
25.4
20.6
16.5
11
9
9
10
12
12
12
12
8
Age
16 to 1 9 ...............................................................
20 to 2 4 ...............................................................
25 to 5 4 ...............................................................
55 and over .........................................................
Occupation2
White-collar.........................................................
Professional, technical......................................
Managers, administrators..................................
Salesworkers..................................................
Clerical ...........................................................
Blue-collar...........................................................
Craftsmen .......................................................
Operatives, except transport ............................
Transport equipment operatives........................
Nonfarm laborers ............................................
Serviceworkers ..................................................
Private household workers................................
Other serviceworkers ......................................
Farmworkers .......................................................
Farmers and farm managers............................
Farm laborers and supervisors..........................
Marital and family status4
Flusbands ...........................................................
Wives .................................................................
Others in married-couple families......................
Women who maintain families alone......................
Others in such families ....................................
Men who maintain families alone..........................
Others In such families ....................................
Unrelated m e n .....................................................
Unrelated women................................................
’ Data for 1979 reflect updated weights based on the 1980 Census of the Population;
therefore, these data differ from 1979 data previously published in June 1981 Monthly Labor
Review.
2 Only persons who worked during the year are asked to report their occupation; there
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
fore, the percent of the labor force with unemployment represents the percent of workers with
unemployment.
3 Percentages and medians are not shown when base is less than 75,000.
4 Includes secondary families.
39
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW April 1982 • Unemployment in 1980
Table 4. Median annual earnings by whether persons did
or did not encounter some unemployment during 1980,
and by race, sex, and marital and family status
Persons with unem
Ratio of me
ployment
dian
earnings for
Number
Number
Median
Median the two cat
(in
(in
earnings
earnings
egories
thousands)
thousands)
Persons with no
unemployment
Characteristic
More relevant in terms of the true impact of unem
ployment on income is the position occupied within the
family by the members affected by unemployment and
the type of family to which they belong. A closer exam
ination of the data for 1980 provides some interesting
insights.
A closer look
All persons ..........
M en............................
Women ......................
96,939
53,206
43,733
$10,760
15,491
7,198
21,410
12,072
9,338
$4,046
5,724
2,636
0.38
.37
.37
86,102
47,786
38,316
8,628
4,217
4,411
4,674
2,725
1,949
11,036
16,077
7,131
9,250
10,997
7,696
8,932
11,193
6,369
17,506
10,005
7,501
3,352
1,755
1,596
1,396
822
574
4,508
6,251
2,919
1,990
2,963
1,024
3,956
5,347
2,599
.41
.39
.41
.22
.27
.13
.44
.48
.41
35,227
24,807
18,708
7,183
5,397
4,226
9,514
3,218
.51
.45
11,949
3,076
4,214
1,970
.64
4,888
3,648
9,288
5,085
1,406
1,889
2,097
1,572
.23
.31
1,239
989
7,476
6,716
15,243
6,908
14,031
9,689
315
435
2,162
1,366
6,385
2,568
6,070
4,157
.42
.37
.43
.43
Race and sex
Whites........................
Men ........................
Women....................
Blacks ........................
M e n ........................
Women....................
Híspanles ..................
M e n ........................
Women....................
Marital and family status
Husbands ....................
Wives..........................
Others in marriedcouple families. . . .
Women who maintain
families alone ..........
Others in such families
Men who maintain families alone ................
Others in such families
Unrelated men ............
Unrelated women........
dian personal income was only half that of those not
experiencing any unemployment.
The median income of black families in which at least
one member was unemployed at some time in 1980 was
$12,880 compared with $19,959 for white families. Be
cause the income of black families is one-third lower
than that of white families even when no members expe
rience unemployment, the proportion whose incomes
fell below the poverty line when affected by unemploy
ment was 2.7 times higher for black families than for
white ones (33 percent versus 12 percent). The median
income of Hispanic families who experienced some un
employment ($14,338) fell between that of black fami
lies and white families. Over one-fifth of all Hispanic
families with unemployment had incomes which fell be
low the poverty line.
Of all the families with some unemployment in 1980,
the vast majority, or 83 percent, had only one unem
ployed member, 15 percent had two members, and 2
percent had three members or more unemployed. Inter
estingly, the median income of the latter families was
higher than that of families where only one or two
members experienced unemployment. The reason is that
the unemployment of three members or more is indica
tive of at least that many members actively participat
ing in the labor market. Even with some unemploy
ment, their combined earnings tend to boost the
family’s income.
40FRASER
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Husband-wife families constitute the majority of all
families in the labor force. This is also the case among
families in which at least one member was unemployed
in 1980. (See table 5.) About 78 percent were husbandwife families, 18 percent were families maintained by
women, and 4 percent were families maintained by men.
Mainly because there are more members participating
in the labor force in husband-wife families, their in
comes are higher than those of other family groups. The
11.3 million husband-wife families with at least one
member unemployed in 1980 had the highest median in
come, $21,448, and lowest incidence of poverty, 9 per
cent.
Unemployment has its greatest financial impact on
husband-wife families when husbands are affected. For
example, in the 4 million families in which only hus
bands encountered unemployment during the year the
median income was $17,432, about 19 percent below
the median income of $21,448 for all husband-wife fam
ilies with any unemployed members. The incidence of
poverty of families in which only the husband encoun
tered unemployment was 14 percent compared with 9
percent for all husband-wife families. When both hus
band and wife experience some joblessness during the
year, family income drops even more dramatically. In
1980 there were 925,000 such families. Their median in
come was $14,840 and 16 percent had incomes which
fell below the poverty level.
Husband-wife families were least affected by unem
ployment when the family member who experienced un
employment was not one of the spouses. In such cases,
the median income of husband-wife families was more
than $30,000. Close to 80 percent of family members
experiencing unemployment in these instances were
youths from 16 to 24 years old. Their earnings often go
to meet personal expenses rather than family expenses.
Regardless of labor force status, families headed by
women are the least well-off financially of all family
groups. According to the Bureau of the Census, in 1980
the poverty rate for the 9 million families headed by
women was 33 percent, compared with 6 percent for
husband-wife families.16 When a member of a family
headed by a woman experienced unemployment, the in
cidence of poverty increased to 39 percent. (See table 5.)
In 1980, 2.6 million female-headed families were af
fected by joblessness. In roughly half of these families
the individual who experienced unemployment was not
the householder but a related member—usually a
young son or daughter. As in husband-wife families, un
employment had a very small impact on the family’s
economic welfare when only the young members experi
enced joblessness.
The economic impact of unemployment greatly in
creases when the female householder is out of work.
There were 1.2 million families in 1980 in which only
the female householder was unemployed, and for 60
percent of them, family incomes fell below the poverty
line. For the 430,000 black families where only the
woman householder was unemployed, the poverty rate
was 76 percent.
Aside from those who live in a family environment,
there are millions who either live alone or with other
persons to whom they are not related. In 1981, there
were 18 million such individuals who participated in the
labor market and, as could be expected, unemployment
has a great impact on their personal iftcomes. For the
2.2 million such men who were unemployed at some
time during 1980, personal median income was $7,459.
For the 1.4 million such women with some unemploy-
Table 5. Unemployment of families and unrelated individuals in 1980 by family relationship, member experiencing
unemployment, income, and percent below poverty level
[Numbers in thousands]
Extent of unemployment
Number
Median
family
income
All families in the labor fo rce ....................................
All unrelated individuals in the labor force..................
53,048
17,720
$22,700
11,090
Families with no members unemployed..................
Unrelated individuals with no unemployment ..........
38,455
14,192
Families with at least one member unemployed . . . .
Unrelated individuals with some unemployment . . . .
Percent
below
poverty
level
Family income
Below
$5,000
$5,000
to
$9,999
8.0
13.6
2,153
2,919
5,143
4,547
24,020
12,333
5.5
9.2
1,038
1,612
14,592
3,528
19,076
6,616
14.7
31.2
Flusband-wife families with at least one member
unemployed ...................... , ..............................
One member unemployed ................................
Husband unemployed....................................
Wife unemployed..........................................
Other related family member ........................
16 to 19 years old ....................................
20 to 24 years old ....................................
25 years or o ld e r......................................
11,344
9,357
4,023
2,980
2,353
1,140
825
389
21,448
21,555
17,432
21,455
32,039
32,083
32,651
30,247
Two members unemployed ..............................
Husband and wife only..................................
Wife and other related family member............
Husband and other related family member. . . .
Two related family members unemployed . . . .
Three members or more unemployed................
1,770
925
210
316
320
217
Families maintained by women with at least one
member unemployed..........................................
One member unemployed ................................
Householder unemployed..............................
Other related family member ........................
16 to 19 years old ....................................
20 to 24 years old ....................................
25 years or o ld e r......................................
$15,000
to
$19,999
$20,000
to
$24,999
$25,000
to
$49,999
$50,000
and
over
6,932
4,109
7,708
2,729
7,900
1,597
19,273
1,489
3,938
206
3,114
3,354
4,700
3,521
5,423
2,483
5,934
1,477
14,994
1,417
3,251
204
1,115
1,306
2,029
1,193
2,232
588
2,285
245
1,967
120
4,278
73
686
3
9.0
8.3
14.0
4.3
3.7
2.8
3.8
6.1
387
297
219
58
20
9
7
4
1,171
941
630
213
98
36
32
30
1,703
1,376
759
460
157
83
42
32
1,862
1,570
787
578
204
80
85
39
1,661
1,423
594
566
262
139
88
35
3,900
3,231
968
1,008
1,255
653
415
188
660
519
66
97
356
141
155
60
19,900
14,840
28,505
23,021
35,050
29,854
12.6
15.9
7.3
13.8
5.7
9.3
85
73
4
9
0
5
220
177
7
23
13
10
302
222
19
47
15
25
275
179
16
54
26
16
207
112
32
34
29
32
568
147
121
129
171
102
113
17
11
20
66
28
2,648
2,249
1,196
1,053
383
343
326
9,157
8,681
5,527
14,670
13,040
15,532
15,483
39.1
40.5
60.1
18.2
25.9
14.3
13.2
672
627
523
103
48
30
25
743
619
378
241
98
65
78
418
338
153
184
63
68
53
340
285
75
210
74
76
60
223
179
48
132
45
35
51
241
192
19
174
53
64
57
10
9
1
8
1
5
2
338
185
153
61
11,522
9,334
15,579
(’ )
30.9
34.1
27.1
( 1)
41
29
12
(’ )
106
73
32
( 1)
72
41
31
( ')
44
15
29
<1)
39
19
21
(’ )
35
8
27
(')
2
0
2
( ')
600
504
244
260
79
94
87
15,649
15,511
11,656
19,852
17,838
19,190
21,720
15.0
14.7
24.6
5.4
7.6
5.8
3.1
56
42
36
6
1
2
3
114
99
64
35
9
14
13
111
97
48
49
19
15
15
84
76
35
40
14
18
9
82
61
24
38
7
20
11
137
117
38
79
26
20
33
16
13
0
12
4
5
3
Two members unemployed ..............................
Householder and other related family member .
Two related family members unemployed . . . .
Three members or more unemployed................
82
61
21
15
19,245
18.6
(’ )
10
(’ )
20
(’ )
(’ )
14
V)
6
(’ )
(’ )
( ')
n
3
(’ )
( 1)
( ')
Unrelated men with some unemployment2 ............
Unrelated women with some unemployment2 ........
2,162
1,366
7,459
5,674
185
61
102
17
64
9
2
1
Two members unemployed ..............................
Householder and other related family member .
Two related family members unemployed . . . .
Three members or more unemployed................
Families maintained by men with at least one
member unemployed..........................................
One member unemployed ................................
Householder unemployed..............................
Other related family member ........................
16 to 19 years old ....................................
20 to 24 years old ....................................
25 years or o ld e r......................................
’ Data not shown when base is less than 75,000.
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n
n
14
13
n
n
n
r)
n
n
28.4
35.5
701
605
692
501
416
172
n
n
n
$10,000
to
$14,999
n
(')
n
2The income figures for unrelated individuals represent personal income.
41
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW April 1982 • Unemployment in 1980
ment, median income was $5,674. The incidence of income
below the poverty level for these individuals who ex
perienced some unemployment in 1980 was approximately 33
percent.
n u m b e r o f p e r s o n s who encountered some un
employment in 1980— when the Nation experienced
a moderate recession— was 21.4 million. On the aver
age, these persons earned only 38 percent as much as
those who did not experience any unemployment. The
median income of families in which at least one member
The
was unemployed was 20 percent lower than that of fam
ilies with no unemployed members. For unrelated indi
viduals with some unemployment, median personal
income was only half that of those who did not experi
ence any unemployment during the year.
With the labor market deteriorating further in the
last half of 1981, the total numbers of persons affected
by unemployment during the year is expected to show a
further increase. The exact numbers will not be known
until the work experience data to be collected in March
1982 are tabulated and analyzed.
□
FOOTNOTES
1The work experience numbers reported here have been inflated us
ing population weights based on results from the 1980 Census of the
Population. The previously published 1979 work experience data, as
they appeared in the June 1981 Monthly Labor Review, reflected popu
lation weights projected forward from the 1970 Census of the Popula
tion. The revision of the 1979 data raised the number of persons who
worked or looked for work by 2.3 million and the number experienc
ing some unemployment by 500,000. Despite these significant changes
in the data for 1979, the various relationships and rates based on the
new estimates are nearly the same as those based on the previously
published estimates. For example, the percent of the population with
some unemployment in 1979 was estimated at 15.7 percent using the
1970 population weights and 15.8 percent using the 1980 weights. For
further comparisons see Press Release USDL 81—413.
Because the numbers in this report are based on a sample they are
subject to sampling error. Standard error tables, which estimate the
magnitude of sampling errors, are available upon request. As in any
survey, the results are also subject to errors in response and reporting.
These may be relatively large in the case of persons with irregular at
tachment to the labor force.
2 For a review of the employment and unemployment situation in
1980 based on the monthly CPS labor force data, see Diane N.
Westcott and Robert W. Bednarzik, “Employment and unemploy
ment: a report on 1980,” Monthly Labor Review, February 1981, pp.
4-14.
’ Historical work experience data are published in the Handbook of
Labor Statistics, Bulletin 2070, Bureau of Labor Statistics, December
1980, as well as in the Employment and Training Report of the Presi
dent, U.S. Department of Labor and U.S. Department of Health and
Human Services, 1980.
4 See Robert W. Bednarzik, “Involuntary part-time work: a cyclical
analysis,” Monthly Labor Review, September 1975, pp. 12-18.
5The work experience figures may underestimate the number of per
sons who are unemployed during the year. Studies comparing the
work experience and the monthly survey unemployment numbers esti
mate the degree of underreporting to be between 15 and 25 percent.
Groups which are more likely to be in and out of the labor force dur
ing the year, such as teenagers and adult women, have a greater de
gree of underreporting. For further discussion see Richard
Morgenstern and Nancy Barrett, “The Retrospective Bias in Unem
ployment Reporting by Sex, Race and Age,” Journal of the American
Statistical Association, June 1974, pp. 355-57; Wayne Vroman, “Meas
uring Annual Unemployment,” Working Paper 1280-01, The Urban
Institute, Washington, D.C., February 1979; and Francis W. Horvath,
“Forgotten unemployment: recall bias in retrospective data,” Monthly
Labor Review, March 1982, pp. 40-43.
6 Women tend to find employment in a small selected number of oc
cupations. Both in 1969 and 1979, about one-half of all working
women were employed in fewer than 30 of the detailed census occupa
tions, such as nurses, secretaries, and elementary schoolteachers. For
further discussion of this issue and the related earnings issue, see
Nancy F. Rytina, “Occupational segregation and earnings differences
by sex,” Monthly Labor Review, January 1981, pp. 49-53, and
Francine Blau, “Women’s Place in the Labor Market,” American Eco
Digitized for42
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nomic Review, May 1972, pp. 161-66.
7With the major exception of the 1980 recession, women employed
in manufacturing and in blue-collar occupations have in past reces
sions tended to lose their jobs more readily than men. For further dis
cussion, see Norman Bowers, “Have employment patterns in reces
sions changed?” Monthly Labor Review, February 1981, pp. 15-28.
8Unemployment and discouragement are directly related. The
number of persons who become discouraged over their job prospects
increases as the unemployment rate rises. See Paul O. Flaim, “Dis
couraged workers and changes in unemployment,” Monthly Labor Re
view, March 1973, pp. 8-16. Also, see Carol M. Ondeck,
“Discouraged workers’ link to jobless rate reaffirmed,” Monthly Labor
Review, October 1978, pp. 40-42.
9 The medians as shown in this report are calculated from the corre
sponding distributions by linear interpolation within the interval in
which the median falls. Therefore, because of this interpolation, the
median value depends not only on the distribution of income but also
on the income intervals used in calculating the median.
'“Only 14 million of the 21 million who were unemployed in 1980
indicated that looking for a job was their major activity when not
working. For the remaining 7 million unemployed, activities such as
keeping house, going to school, retirement, represented their major
activity when not employed. Data on monthly labor force movements
for 1980 show that, on average, 21 percent of persons who were un
employed in a given month dropped out of the labor force in the sub
sequent month.
11 See Paul O. Flaim, “The effect of demographic changes on the
Nation’s unemployment rate,” Monthly Labor Review, March 1979,
pp. 13-23.
12When unemployed nonworkers are excluded from these computa
tions, the median annual earnings for persons who were unemployed
increased to $4,886 from $4,046. For blacks, the median annual earn
ings of the unemployed increased to $3,658 from $1,990 when exclud
ing nonworkers.
13Other Bureau of Labor Statistics studies which link individual
labor force status to family income include “Linking Employment
Problems to Economic Status,” Report 2123, b l s , January 1982; and
Howard Hayghe, “The effect of unemployment on family income in
1977,” Monthly Labor Review, December 1979, pp. 42—44.
14The term family is used broadly in this report. The count of 14.6
million includes 14.3 million primary families (a group of two persons
or more residing together by blood, marriage, or adoption), and
.3 million secondary families (a married couple or parent-child group
sharing the living quarters of the married couple or persons
maintaining the household).
15 Data on income are limited to money income received before per
sonal income taxes and payroll deductions. Money income is the sum
of the amounts received from earnings (hourly wages, salaries, or
profits or losses of self-employed operations); social security or rail
road retirement; public assistance or welfare payments; supplemental
security income; dividends, interest, and rent (including losses); unem
ployment, veterans’, and workers’ compensation; government and pri
vate employee pensions; alimony, child support, or regular
contributions from persons not living in the household; and other pe
riodic income. In the March 1981 c p s , income did not reflect
nonmoney transfers, such as: food stamps; subsidized housing; goods
produced on a farm or in a home; employer-financed fringe benefits,
such as retirement, stock options, or health insurance.
Poverty statistics presented in this report are based on a definition
developed by the Social Security Administration in 1964 and revised
by a Federal Interagency Committee in 1969. These indexes are based
on the Department of Agriculture’s Economy Food Plan and reflect
the different consumption requirements of families based on their size
and composition, sex and age of the family head, and farm-nonfarm
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residence. The poverty thresholds are updated each year to reflect
changes in the Consumer Price Index. For more information on the
income and poverty population in 1980, see the advance report Money
Income and Poverty Status of Families and Persons in the United States:
1980, advance report, Series P-60, No. 127, Bureau of the Census, Au
gust 1981. For a technical description of the income data, see Money
Income of Families and Persons in the United States: 1979, Series P-60,
No. 129, Bureau of the Census, November 1981, pp. 282-302.
16 Money Income and Poverty Status of Families and Persons in the
United States: 1980, advance report, Series P-60, No. 127, Bureau of
the Census, August 1981.
A note on communications
The Monthly Labor Review welcomes communications that supple
ment, challenge, or expand on research published in its pages. To be
considered for publication, communications should be factual and an
alytical, not polemical in tone. Communications should be addressed
to the Editor-in-Chief, Monthly Labor Review, Bureau of Labor Statis
tics, U.S. Department of Labor, Washington, D.C. 20212.
43
Conference Papers
The following excerpts are adapted from papers present
ed at the Thirty-Fourth Annual Meeting of the Indus
trial Relations Research Association, December 1981,
in Washington, D.C.
Papers prepared for the meetings of the IRRA are ex
cerpted by special permission and may not be repro
duced without the express permission of the IRRA, which
holds the copyright.
The full text of all papers appears in the IRRA publi
cation, Proceedings of the Thirty-Fourth Annual Meeting,
available from IRRA, Social Science Building, Madison,
Wis. 53706.
Why wages should not be blamed
for the inflation problem
R u d o lph A . O sw ald
The food, energy, and housing sectors in the United
States—all with insignificant increases in labor costs
and rather negligible overall labor costs—make up
nearly two-thirds of the Consumer Price Index (63 per
cent). Increases in the prices of these items have been
the real engine of inflation. These increases have not
been determined by developments in collective bar
gaining.
The traditional two-factor production function focus
es solely upon capital and labor inputs. The large vol
ume of purchases of energy and intermediate materials
are netted out, leaving capital and labor as the basic
factors of production. Therefore, tremendous cost
surges in energy—in no way determined by labor costs
— are not directly incorporated in this approach. Using
this two-factor model to evaluate inflationary trends, la
bor costs are weighted 65 percent. However, the rate of
inflation has not been determined by trends in the costs
of labor and capital—because the key role in the prices
of these inputs was not related to the price of either la
bor or returns on new investment capital. In fact, indusRudolph A. Oswald is Director of Economic Research, a f l -C IO . The
title of his full IRRA paper is, “Wages, Inflation, and Collective
Bargaining.”
44
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try paid 19 cents of every sales dollar for labor costs in
1980, the lowest amount in 26 years, according to a re
cent survey by Standard and Poor’s Corporation.1
Because prices have risen more rapidly than wages,
workers’ real earnings have declined and the distribu
tion of income has become less equitable. Not only
have workers’ wages not been the initial source of infla
tion, but the lagged response of wages to price increases
has failed to restore lost buying power.
While union compensation increases have exceeded
rises in nonunion compensation over the past five years,
union increases have lagged behind the CPI. In 1979, for
example, the average union wage adjustment was 9.1
percent, while the CPI rose 11.5 percent, and during
1980, union settlements averaged 9.9 percent while
prices rose 13.5 percent.2
Some have tried to divert attention from the decline
in the real spendable earnings of the average production
worker by arguing that this decline has been offset by
the increased number of earners in most households.
This sidesteps the reality that workers’ real wages have
declined. Furthermore, 1980 U.S. Census data reveal
that even with the increased incidence of multiple earn
er households, median household earnings adjusted for
inflation actually declined 5.5 percent from the 1979
level. While real average family income declined in all
quintiles of the income distribution, the decline for the
bottom fifth was more than twice as great as for the top
fifth.
According to U.S. Bureau of the Census data, the
trend toward greater equality in the distribution of in
come came to an abrupt halt in 1968. The wealthiest
quintile increased its share of income from 40.5 percent
in 1968 to 41.6 percent in 1980. The 20 percent of
American families in the next to the lowest quintile of
income receivers has suffered the greatest loss. These
families, with incomes of $10,300 to $17,400 a year in
1980, saw their slice of the pie drop from 12.4 percent
in 1968 to 11.6 percent in 1980. This group includes
many of the Nation’s semi-skilled and unskilled workers,
those who work in low-wage industries and generally
the families who are the first to be victimized by infla
tion and recession.
The linkage between wage increases and price in
creases (or inflation) is not a simple or easy correlation.
Prices are determined by a variety of factors, including
monopoly power, target-profit pricing, so-called market
or competitive pricing, and cost-based pricing. In theo
ry, it is only the cost-based pricing strategies that will
be affected in the short run by changes in labor costs.
Even the linkage between labor costs and wage
changes is tenuous. As a matter of fact, the biggest fac
tor increasing labor costs in 1982, particularly in manu
facturing, will not be union-negotiated wage increases
but rather recession-induced productivity losses.
High wage rates do not necessarily mean high labor
costs. A number of studies have found that higher-paid
unionized workers were more productive than lowerpaid nonunion workers.3 Various explanations include
the attraction of a union environment and union pay for
higher quality workers, lower turnover and lower train
ing costs, and consequently better personal relationships
and worker morale.
Is it true that American workers are pricing them
selves out of the market, relative to workers in other in
dustrialized countries of the world? The fact is that the
wages of American manufacturing workers have in
creased slower in the 1970’s than in other major west
ern countries. In terms of American dollars, between
1970 and 1980 hourly compensation increased 489 per
cent in Japan and 464 percent in Germany, compared
with 128 percent in the United States. Even though
these countries experienced faster productivity growth,
their unit labor costs still rose faster than in the United
States, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
During the 1970’s, unit labor costs rose 192 percent in
Japan, 252 percent in Germany, but only 78 percent in
the United States.
Thus, U.S. firms should be in a more advantageous
labor cost position vis-a-vis major foreign counterparts
in 1980 than in 1970. And while productivity rose faster
in various other countries, the statistics indicate that the
U.S. worker is still the most productive in the world.
Some point a finger at cost-of-living adjustments
( c o l a s ) in union contracts as a cause of inflation. But
c o l a s affect wages only after prices have increased, and
the typical cost-of-living clause only recaptures 50 per
cent of the purchasing power lost to inflation. In fact, a
Federal study revealed that between 1968 and 1974, es
calator clauses in major agreements recouped only 49
percent of the CPI increase because of caps, corridors,
inadequate COLA formulas, and so forth. And this esti
mate doesn’t include the lag between price changes and
wage adjustments. Three factors cause this lag: the de
lay between actual price changes and the date the BLS
publishes them; the contractual delay in paying cost-ofliving adjustments; and the administrative delay be
tween the date the CPI is available and the date the
worker actually receives the wage adjustment.
Escalator clauses are typically a quid pro quo for
long-term agreements, which promote stability, and
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thus help in the fight against inflation.
Today’s inflation problem will not be solved by sup
pressing wages. Any “devil” theory of inflation that
establishes wage increases as the “devil” is clearly
unwarranted.
Today’s inflation fight should deal with the factors
responsible for inflation. Wages are not the villain. In
deed, workers are the victims of the current inflation.
Unless workers’ real earnings increase, they and their
families will not be able to buy the goods and services
that the economy is capable of producing. The danger
for the 1980’s may well be the lag in real wage income
and purchasing power for most Americans while a
small elite continue to prosper. In such a two-tier econ
omy characterized by massive inequality in income dis
tribution, the lack of balance assures continued troubles
for the economy.
□
------- FOOTNOTES------1“Labor Cost Decline Seen,” New York Times, Dec. 16, 1981, p.
D-5.
2Current Wage Developments (Bureau of Labor Statistics, Oct.
1981), pp. 42-44.
3Charles Brown and James Medoff, “Trade Unions in the Produc
tion Process,” Journal of Political Economy, Vol. 86 (1978), p. 368;
Kim B. Clark, “Unionization and Productivity: Microeconomic Evi
dence,” NBER Working Paper Series # 3 3 0 (March 1979); and Steven
G. Allen, Unionized Construction Workers Are More Productive (Wash
ington, Center to Protect Worker Rights, 1979), p. ii.
Determinants of voter participation
in union certification elections
R ic h a r d N . B lo c k
and
M y r o n R o o m k in
The rate of voter participation in National Labor Rela
tions Board ( n l r b ) representation elections has been
considered one of the strongest and most successful as
pects of the National Labor Relations Act. Typically,
about 90 percent of eligible employees vote in NLRB
elections,1as compared to a participation rate of rough
ly 50 percent in major political elections. It is not sur
prising, therefore, that the participation rate in NLRB
elections is seen as strong evidence of the acceptability
of the process by which representation disputes are re
solved. However, in work recently completed, we found
Richard N. Block is an associate professor and associate director for
the Academic Program, School of Labor and Industrial Relations,
Michigan State University. Myron Roomkin is an associate professor
of Industrial Relations and Urban Affairs at the J.L. Kellogg Gradu
ate School of Management and assistant director of the Center for
Urban Affairs and Policy Research, Northwestern University. Their
full IRRA paper is entitled, “A Preliminary Analysis of the Participa
tion Rate and the Margin of Victory in n l r b Elections.”
45
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW April 1982 • IRRA Papers
that this seemingly satisfactory situation may obscure
some disturbing characteristics of the participation rate.
Our evidence suggests that variations in the participa
tion rate across NLRB elections may not be random, and
may possibly be linked to the outcome of some elec
tions.2
A theory of voter behavior
The general model of voter participation was devel
oped by Anthony Downs.3 Using a utility maximizing
framework, he hypothesized that a person would vote in
an election when the benefits of voting exceeded the
costs. According to Downs, the benefits of voting to an
individual are a function of (1) the party differential, or
the difference in utility to the individual if one party
wins as opposed to the other; (2) the extent to which
the individual’s vote will make a difference in the elec
tion; and (3) the utility to the individual from partici
pating in the democratic process. The primary cost of
voting is time— in this case, the time it takes to obtain
information about the opposing parties and the time it
takes to vote.
In view of this, it is not surprising that voter partici
pation in NLRB representation elections is high. To be
gin with, workers have strongly held views on the
question of unionization, which should motivate people
to participate in the decisionmaking process. Second,
the difference in the bundle of economic and noneco
nomic terms and conditions of employment with and
without collective bargaining might be so large that all
workers are likely to perceive a positive differential be
tween the union winning and the employer winning.
Third, any individual employee’s vote is important.
Elsewhere, we found that, for the period July 1972
through September 1978, a shift of 7.8 votes would
have changed the outcome of the average single-union
election.4 In addition, a marginal voter might still be in
fluenced to participate in the election by a strong sense
of obligation to his employer, fellow workers, and the
election process itself.5
Apart from the benefits, the costs of voting are mini
mal. Voting occurs at the workplace; thus, no time need
be allocated to it that is not already allocated to work.
Moreover, the costs of acquiring information are mini
mized because NLRB and court decisions have given the
parties the right to campaign at the workplace.6
Why some workers don’t vote
Although the above-mentioned forces work to en
courage voter participation, our earlier study found that
voter participation in NLRB elections tended to decline
the longer it took to conduct the election. Furthermore,
this decline was asymmetrical between union wins and
employer wins, the decline being less pronounced in the
latter case. Voting abstentions are important because
46
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NLRB representation elections tend to be close enough,
and are decided by a sufficiently small number of vot
ers, that the number of nonvoters could make a differ
ence in the outcome. For example, during the period
July 1972 through September 1978, an average 89.9 per
cent of all eligible workers voted in n l r b single-union,
nondecertification elections. The average election unit
size during this time period was 56.1 employees. This
means, then, that in the average election, roughly 5.6
employees did not vote. As noted earlier, a change of
only 7.8 votes would have altered the outcome of the
average election.7Variations around these means strong
ly suggest that nonparticipation affected the outcome of
many elections. For example, assuming that all non
voters would have voted against the winner, union vic
tories would have been reversed to losses in those elec
tions in our sample which took place after 3 to 4
months of campaign activity.8
Why might employees, in spite of the obvious impor
tance of the outcome of the election, choose to refrain
from voting? Four nonmutually exclusive reasons
should be considered. First, turnover during the cam
paign might result in some new employees’ being un
aware of the costs and benefits of collectivizing the
employment relationship with their (new) employer.
Second, some employees might be truly disinterested.
We believe that nonvoting for these two reasons is like
ly to be minimal and, more important, unlikely to be al
tered by Board policy.9
Other causes of nonparticipation seem more crucial.
Delay might cause uncertainty in the minds of the vot
ers. This may be a result of the parties’ campaign. Be
cause the union is associated with change, and change
implies risk, some employers might stand to benefit
from nonvoting that occurred for this reason. It would
be expected that the uncertainty would be concentrated
disproportionately among nominal union supporters.
Generally, the results discussed earlier suggest that this
factor is operating.
Also, some employees may be fearful of the enmity of
one party should they be identified with the other.
Thus, an employee who supports the union might be
concerned that, if the union loses, the employer will
take some retaliatory action against him or her. Similar
ly, a pro-employer employee may have similar fears
about retaliation from fellow employees or the union if
the union wins.
Still, it is reasonable to believe that these employees
are interested in the outcome of the election. Such
non voters could constitute free-riders,10 who abstain
from voting only if they believe that their vote will not
alter the outcome of the election, and that by voting
they may bear a cost. Consistent with Downs, the costs
of voting in terms of the risk of retaliation are so great
as to offset the small benefits from voting in an election
which is not perceived to be close. Thus, a nominal sup
porter of one party will not vote if he or she believes
that the opposition will win in any case. Analogously, a
union or employer supporter who believes the union
(employer) will win without the extra vote will also ab
stain. In distinction from the previous case, the benefits
of voting in this case and the risk of retaliation are both
low. However, the costs or risks are still greater than
zero because, even in the presence or absence of a
union, the employer on one hand or the union or fellow
employees on the other may still perceive that the ab
staining voter can be harassed. In general, if prior to
the election an employee is known to be a supporter of
the (ultimately) losing side, that employee, by not vot
ing, can at least claim that he or she did not participate
in the decision.
There are two assumptions underlying the free-rider
hypotheses: (1) the individual employee-voter can accu
rately “handicap” the outcome of the election; and (2)
other employees and the employer know the pre-elec
tion preferences of the individual employee-voter. These
strike us as reasonable assumptions. The average elec
tion unit is small (56.1 employees between July 1972
and September 1978). Considering the intensity of many
election campaigns, the length of the average campaign
(approximately 2 months after a petition is filed), and
the amount of employee interaction that is likely to oc
cur in small units, it is reasonable to believe that these
assumptions will hold. Although an employee’s actual
vote is secret, other employees and the employer will
perceive an employee who votes as voting in accordance
with his or her (known) pre-election preference.
Statistical results indicated, as expected, that voter
participation declined as the margin of victory in
creased. This is what would be anticipated if nonvoters
were risk averse, handicapped the outcome of the elec
tion, perceived that their preferences were known, and
deduced that their votes would not make a difference.
O b v i o u s l y , n o g o v e r n m e n t a g e n c y can require all
employees to vote, nor should it interfere with a work
er’s right to abstain. But, if employees are not partici
pating in union elections because of fear of retaliation
from the loser, and if the nonparticipation influences the
outcome of elections, then it might be necessary to re
evaluate existing rules governing the campaign and the
election to see how they actually encourage or discour
age participation.
□
dence,” University of Illinois Law Review, Vol. 1, 1981, pp. 75-99.
3Anthony Downs, An Economic Theory of Democracy (New York,
Harper & Row, Publishers, 1957), pp. 36-50, 260-76. For some other
work in this area, see William H. Riker and Peter Ordeshook, “A
Theory of the Calculus of Voting,” American Political Science Review,
March 1968, pp. 25^-2; and John A. Ferejohn and Morris P. Fiorina,
“The Paradox of Not Voting: A Decision Theoretic Analysis,” Ameri
can Political Science Review, June 1974, pp. 525-36.
4 Roomkin and Block, “Case Processing Time.” This was the aver
age for all (45,115) single-union nondecertificated representation cases
closed between July 1972 and September 1978.
5See Downs, An Economic Theory; Riker and Ordeshook, “A Theo
ry of the Calculus”; and Ferejohn and Fiorina, “The Paradox.”
6 See, for example, Livingston Shirt Corp., 107 NLRB 400 (1953);
General Knit of California, 239 NLRB 619 (1968); and Republic Avia
tion vs. NLRB, 324 U.S. 793 (1945). Unions may have access to the
employer’s premises only if there are not other reasonable means to
reach the employees. See NLRB vs Babcock and Wilcox Co., 351 U.S.
105 (1956).
7 Roomkin and Block, “Case Processing Time.”
8Ibid.
9 Ibid.
10See Robert Abrams, Foundations of Political Analysis (New York,
Columbia University Press, 1980), for a discussion of free-riders in po
litical elections.
A model for measuring effectiveness
of the grievance process
D
a v id
L e w in
and
R ic h a r d
B.
Peter so n
How important is the grievance procedure within the
broader framework of the labor-management relation
ship? In the day-to-day management of labor relations,
the majority of time and effort is spent on grievance
handling, and a recent study found that more than nine
working hours, on average, were devoted to the formal
meetings required to process a typical grievance.1 This
did not include the investigation and preparation of
each side’s case, which is especially time consuming,
even in those cases that do not reach arbitration.
Given the importance of the grievance process, one
would expect to find a large amount of research on the
subject. Unfortunately, this is not the case. Most re
search on the grievance procedure has been disjointed
in the sense that there has been a lack of an overall
framework or direction across the various studies.
Moreover, in many of the studies, the findings are not
linked to those of earlier research even when similar
variables have been examined. Nevertheless, it is possi
ble to assign most of the studies to five major groups,
which reflect certain underlying themes. These include
------- FOOTNOTES------1These and other data on NLRB elections have been taken from
computer files of the agency’s administrative records for fiscal years
1973-78.
2 Myron Roomkin and Richard N. Block, “Case Processing Time
and the Outcome of Representation Elections: Some Empirical Evi
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David Lewin is a professor at the Graduate School of Business, Co
lumbia University, and Richard B. Peterson is a professor at the
Graduate School of Business Administration, University of Washing
ton. The title of their full i r r a paper is “A Model for Research and
Analysis of the Grievance Process.”
47
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW April 1982 • IRRA Papers
(1) demographic differences between grievants and nongrievants; (2) effects of management and union leader
ship patterns on grievance incidence rates; (3) organiza
tional characteristics and grievance activity; (4)
personality traits and grievance behavior; and (5) com
parison and contrast of grievance activity within and
between sectors and industries.2
Some important gaps need to be filled before it is
possible to draw any firm or broad conclusions about
the grievance process itself. First, there is an apparent
need for a conceptual framework to identify the key fac
tors affecting grievance activity and to derive hypothe
ses concerning relationships among independent, in
tervening, and dependent variables in the grievance
process. Where there is theoretical support for a specific
relationship, this needs to be clearly identified. Such
identification would help us to gain a better apprecia
tion of the multivariate nature of the grievance proce
dure.
Second, we need to redirect our energies toward mea
suring grievance effectiveness as an outcome of the
grievance process. The vast majority of research on this
subject has used the grievance rate as the dependent
variable. Numerous writers have commented on the lim
itations of this variable as a valid measure of effective
ness. In particular, the filing of grievances may be a
pressure tactic in negotiations; the union may be so
weak that employees rarely consider filing grievances;
low grievance activity may be associated with high rates
of absenteeism and turnover; grievance activity may
represent a calculated political strategy of the union
leadership to support its continuation in office; and
grievances may emanate from a small number of em
ployees in a few departments, plants, or offices of a
large firm. Clearly, the number of grievances by itself is
a limited, perhaps even a poor, index of the effectiveness
of the grievance procedure.
What constitutes a satisfactory measure of effective
ness? This is an empirical question that needs to be an
swered by going into the field and questioning the
parties. What may be judged an effective grievance pro
cess by management may be viewed quite differently by
union leaders and members. The expectations and defi
nitions of an effective grievance process may vary
among unions and within the membership of a single
union. Even the grievance process itself can vary ac
cording to complexity, formality, and provisions for
skipping intermediate steps of (that is, expediting) the
process for certain types of grievances. Further, there
can also be variation in the ability of unions to strike if
the parties do not resolve a grievance at the final step.
Finally, it should be recognized that numerous fac
tors may influence grievance effectiveness in a given la
bor-management relationship. In this regard, future
studies might well include longitudinal designs to cap
48
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ture the effects of time, changes in union and manage
ment leadership, and changes in the characteristics of
the labor-management relationship on grievance effec
tiveness.
A model of the grievance process that may help to
guide future research on this subject follows below and
incorporates variables that interact to influence the out
comes of grievance processing.
1. Environmental forces include economic, political, le
gal and technical forces. For example, one might hy
pothesize that rapid technological change serves to
increase the number of grievances relating to work as
signments and that these grievances might be especially
severe and difficult to resolve because both union and
management officiais have very limited ability to predict
and plan for technological change.
2. Characteristics of the management and the union or
ganization include, but are not limited to, the degree of
centralization of the labor relations function, the extent
of internal management and union conflict, the nature
and characteristics of first line supervision, and the ratio
of union stewards to members.3
3. Management and union grievance policies include the
formality and consistency with which management poli
cies are applied, the union’s use of militant pressure tac
tics during grievance processing, and union and
management policies to file and challenge certain types
of grievances.
4. Characteristics of the labor-management relationship
include variables such as trust, respect, legitimacy, and
cooperative orientation, which are presumed to aid in
resolving grievances. The absence of these characteris
tics or the presence of opposite ones will frustrate griev
ance resolution and, more generally, grievance process
effectiveness.
5. Characteristics of the grievance process encompass
such factors as the age of the grievance process, the
functions which the process is designed to serve, the
formality and structure of the process, including provi
sions for expedited procedures, and the volume and
types of grievances filed.
6. Grievance resolution measures can include the fre
quency with which management’s or the union’s posi
tion is upheld (or compromise solutions are reached),
the reinstatement of workers to their jobs or other
“original positions,” the awarding of backpay and other
monetary benefits, the grievance rate, speed of settle
ment (measured by time), and the level of settlement,
including the percentage of grievances settled at the
lowest formal step of the procedure.
We recognize that union members’ satisfaction with
the grievance process and grievance resolution do not
appear in this model. These are not minor matters, be-
cause the long-run viability of a given union (and the
union movement itself) is based, in part, on whether
union members view the union as performing effectively
in representing the members’ interest in contract admin
istration. Similarly, management’s satisfaction with the
grievance process and grievance resolution are absent
from the model. While satisfaction of both union and
management with the grievance process conceivably
could be added to the model, data concerning such
variables (1) are not easily obtained, (2) present sub
stantial problems of index construction, and (3) provide
attitudinal rather than behavioral measures. In our
judgment, behavioral measures are more germane than
attitudinal measures to assessing grievance process ef
fectiveness.4
□
--------- F O O T N O T E S ---------1D.R. Dalton and W.D. Todor, “Win, Lose, Draw: The Grievance
Process in Practice,” P e r so n n e l A d m in is tr a tio n , March 1981, pp. 2529.
2The first four categories are based on those of D.R. Dalton and
W.D. Todor, “Manifest Needs of Stewards: Propensity to File a
Grievance,” J o u r n a l o f A p p lie d P sy ch o lo g y , December 1979, pp. 65459.
3The union variable can include such characteristics of the member
ship as size, occupational composition, age, sex, race, and work expe
rience.
4This is not to say that both types of data cannot be obtained and
combined for analysis in a single study.
Pay equity emerges as a
top labor issue in the 1980’s
W in n N
ew m an
Although the Civil Rights Act has prohibited discrimi
nation in compensation since 1964, and lawsuits attack
ing discrimination of this kind have been filed since at
least 1970, the issue has until recent years attracted lit
tle attention. “Pay equity,” “comparable worth,” or
“equal pay for work of equal value” has now apparent
ly become the women’s economic issue of the 1980’s. It
appears that the general populace— women as well as
men— are just beginning to understand that there is
more to discrimination in compensation than “equal
pay for equal work” and that this is just the
tip of the iceberg.
Winn Newman, now a private attorney specializing in minority and
women’s rights, is General Counsel, Coalition of Labor Union Wom
en and formerly General Counsel, American Federation of State,
County and Municipal Employees and the International Union of
Electrical, Radio and Machine Workers. His full i r r a paper is enti
tled “Pay Equity: An Emerging Labor Issue.”
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The Equal Pay Act generally offers little protection
to women workers because most jobs continue to be il
legally segregated by sex. This is because the act applies
only to those job classifications in which men as well as
women are employed and to employees in a so-called
“female” job who are performing essentially the same
work as employees in a historically segregated male
classification. Therefore, women in sex-segregated jobs
are rarely able to obtain relief under the act.
The average full-time female worker earns less than
60 percent of the average male’s wage.1 Economic re
search and a growing line of pay equity lawsuits indi
cate that the denial of equal pay for equal work
explains little of this differential and that a significant
part of the earnings gap can only be explained by the
perpetuation of job segregation and pay discrimination
between “men’s” and “women’s” jobs which are differ
ent in job content} Such discrimination would occur if
the lower-paid “women’s job” is of equal or greater val
ue to the employer, when measured under standard job
analysis in terms of skill, effort, responsibility, and
working conditions.
The basic thrust of this article is:
First, that the issue of discrimination in compensation
is “old hat” to the industrial relations scene.3 In its
most obvious form it is little more than a job rate ineq
uity problem common to the world of industrial rela
tions which is frequently resolved through collective
bargaining, including arbitration.
Second, that, unlike the concept of equal pay for
equal work, the pay equity issue exists only where there
has been a history of a sex (or sometimes race) segre
gated work force, and that the passage of the Equal Pay
Act may have had the unintended effect of providing an
incentive to employers to segregate by sex in order to
avoid violating the act.
Third, the push for future action can be expected to
come from unions, women’s organizations, or both, and
not from government.
Initial assignment discrimination
The most blatant form of systemic wage discrimina
tion becomes apparent when sex-based wage disparities
result from initial assignment discrimination. This oc
curs when women and men arrive at the workplace with
equivalent education, training, and ability— or an
equivalent lack thereof—and the employer assigns them
on the basis of sex to predominantly female or male
jobs. Experience in electrical, glass, restaurant, and
many other industries shows that a consistent effect of
initial assignment discrimination is that women not
only regularly get assigned to the lower paying job— a
discriminatory assignment violation of the Civil Rights
Act in its own right— but that the rate for the work
49
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW April 1982 • IRRA Papers
performed is also discriminatory because the job fre
quently requires equal or greater skill, effort, and re
sponsibility than the “men’s” job.
The recent pay equity rulings in County of Washing
ton v. Gunther4 and International Union o f Electrical,
Radio and Machine Workers (iu e ) v. Westinghouse5
established that sex-based wage discrimination violates
Title VII of the Civil Rights Act. In the Gunther case,
the matrons guarded fewer prisoners than the male
guards, but, unlike the latter, also performed clerical
work. The record indicated that the matrons, who re
ceived 70 percent of what the guards were paid, would
— but for sex— have been classified in a labor grade
higher than that of matrons but lower than that of the
male guards.
In the IUE case, the record indicated that Westinghouse had properly evaluated men’s and women’s jobs
irrespective of sex, but thereafter established a rate for
the women’s jobs which was less than the “men’s” jobs
which had been given an equal number of job evalua
tion points on the basis of the company’s evaluation
plan. This resulted, for example, in female assemblers
ultimately being placed three to four labor grades below
that of janitors and other unskilled common jobs which
were awarded the same number of points.
While it is still unknown what kinds of evidence will
be required to show that a wage disparity is illegal un
der the Gunther test, it is important to recall that the is
sue of wage inequities resulting from sex-segregated
jobs is not new to the industrial relations world. During
World War II, the War Labor Board applied standard
job evaluation techniques to resolve “intraplant inequi
ty” cases— those involving disputes over the correctness
of rates paid for jobs in relation to rates for other jobs
in the same plant, whether occupied by men or women.6
The same standard was applied in comparing “female”
to “male” jobs.
The decisions of the War Labor Board make clear
that third-party resolution of disputes relating to the
proper rate for a job has been a standard industrial re
lations technique for more than 40 years and judges in
equal pay cases routinely determine on the basis of job
content, with and without the assistance of expert testi
mony, whether two jobs which are not identical are
nevertheless substantially equal and, therefore, should
be paid the same rate.7
Moreover, as previously stated, the correction of job
inequities through arbitration is “old hat” to the indus
trial relations scene. Unions have regularly grieved and
arbitrated the proper rate for a job, and arbitrators
have been called upon to resolve the dispute by estab
lishing the proper wage rates for a particular classifica
tion, frequently by comparing the grieved rate with
rates paid for different jobs requiring equal skill, effort,
and responsibility.8
Digitized50
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Unfortunately, however, studies of arbitration deci
sions since the days of the War Labor Board show that
the male-dominated world of industrial relations and ar
bitration wore “blinders” when women’s jobs were
compared with men’s jobs.9These intraplant wage ineq
uity cases present the clearest examples of what will not
pass muster under the Gunther and IUE cases.
Unions to lead way
Management and union representatives agree that im
mediate comparable worth initiatives “will not come
from the Government,” but rather from “private plain
tiffs and predominantly labor unions in the public sec
tor.” 10 Indeed, in predicting that the American
Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees
( a f s c m e ) would be taking the initiative in future pay
equity litigation, Bruce Nelson, a leading Title VII de
fense lawyer, stated that “public employers seem to be
more vulnerable to the equity argument than private
employers.” He also said that “the most horrendous
fact situations arise in the public sector” and that “if I
were going to prove this legal theory, I would sue mu
nicipalities all the time.” 11
In bringing pay equity and other discrimination law
suits, unions have a distinct advantage over private
plaintiffs and can be expected to take greater advantage
of the available financial and legal resources. Through
their knowledge of employer practices, and their access
to civil rights-related information from employers,
unions are in an excellent position to identify discrimi
natory practices which might otherwise have gone un
recognized by the affected employees.
Unions are also able to inform affected workers about
their rights and to assist them in bringing their com
plaints before the proper authorities. Moreover, as a
number of courts have recognized, through their exper
tise, their ability to offer financial and legal resources,
and their knowledge of the plant or employer, unions
can and should contribute immeasurably to the effec
tiveness of fair employment litigation.12
In a series of IUE cases,13which may prove in the long
run to be more significant than Gunther or IUE v. West
inghouse, the National Labor Relations Board and the
Court of Appeals of the District of Columbia have re
cently affirmed that litigation is an integral part o f the
collective bargaining process, and that an employer there
fore must supply information dealing with race and sex
data even where the union has said that, if necessary, it
would use the information to file suit against the very
same employer. IUE and AFSCME have frequently used
litigation to compel compliance with equal employment
opportunity laws.
While the litigative route is an essential backstop, the
more traditional collective bargaining approach offers a
far more effective method of handling the present mas-
sive amount of pay discrimination. The concept of joint
employer-union committees which study job rates, with
or without the assistance of a job evaluator, could play
a major role in correcting the pay of historically
undervalued female jobs.
Disputes that cannot be resolved by the joint com
mittee may be submitted to arbitration and may be
handled in the same manner as any wage rate dispute is
now handled by an arbitrator. If the wage rate properly
reflects the skill, effort, and responsibility of the tradi
tional women’s job when contrasted with the rate of
men’s jobs of comparable skill, effort, and responsibili
ty, there would probably be no violation of the collec
tive bargaining agreement or the civil rights laws.
While treating pay equity issues as a mere job
inequity would take much of the mystery out of this is
sue in unionized establishments, such action would not
fully resolve the myriad of problems which result when
job comparisons cross bargaining unit lines. This is no
reason not to utilize fully the collective bargaining and
arbitration process in the first instance and to minimize
the use of administrative agencies and the courts. These
alternatives would still be available where the arbitra
tion process is unsuccessful.
On the other hand, if employers are to be encouraged
to employ more traditional collective bargaining mecha
nisms to resolve this issue, it is essential that unions
continue to assert the right to use Federal and State
antidiscrimination laws, the National Labor Relations
Act, and other collective bargaining laws. Where the is
sues are not resolved at the bargaining table, unions can
be expected to respond to their increasingly militant fe
male membership and to litigate more frequently when
collective bargaining fails.
Finally, the effect of a segregated job structure on
pay rates cannot be overemphasized. The Supreme
Court addressed this general issue in the landmark
school segregation case, Brown v. Board of Education.™
The Court stressed that “separating the races is usually
interpreted as denoting the inferiority of the Negro
group.” 15That holding has equal validity to sex segrega
tion in the workplace, that is, separating the sexes in
the workplace also denotes the inferiority of women and
results in inferior wages and other employment condi
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tions. It is apparent that this separation, which is fre
quently the result of illegal initial assignment discrimi
nation by employers, continues to be the linchpin for
occupational segregation and wage discrimination, and
results in the denial of better jobs for women.
Se x -based w a g e d is c r im in a t io n continues unabated.
Initial assignment discrimination or the channeling of
women into sex-segregated jobs is the heart of occupa
tional segregation, wage discrimination, and future pro
motional opportunity. The wage gap will continue as
long as women and minorities are shunted into the low
er paying jobs upon hiring and remain there, are denied
equal pay for work of equal value, and are denied ac
cess to higher paying jobs.
□
------- FOOTNOTES------1U.S. Department of Labor, The Earnings Gap Between Women and
Men (Washington, D. C., Government Printing Office, 1979).
2See Committee on Occupational Classification and Analysis, Na
tional Academy of Sciences, Women, Work and Wages: Equal Pay for
Jobs of Equal Value, eds. Don Treiman and Heidi Hartmann, 1981;
Taylor v. Charley Brothers, 25 FEP 602 (W.D. Pa., 1981).
3Winn Newman and Carole W. Wilson, “Job Segregation and
Wage Discrimination,” statement before the Equal Employment Op
portunity Commission, reprinted in Daily Labor Report, Apr. 28,
1980, p. E -l, at p. E—11.
4 101 Sup. Ct. 2242 (1981).
5631 F.2d 1094 (3d Cir., 1980), cert, denied, 49 U.S.L.W. 3954
(U.S., June 22, 1981).
6 Newman and Wilson, “Job Segregation,” pp. E -2-3.
7 Ibid., p. E - l 2.
8Ibid., p. E -l 1.
’ Jean McKelvey, “Sex and the Single Arbitrator,” 24 Industrial &
Labor Relations Review 335, 1971; Winn Newman, “Post-GardnerDenver Developments in the Arbitration of Discrimination Claims,”
Proceedings of Twenty-Eighth Annual Meeting, National Academy of
Arbitrators, 1975, pp. 36, 47.
10
Bruce Nelson, unedited speech, Fourth Annual Conference, Em
ployment Discrimination Law Update in Washington, D.C., Aug. 13,
1981. See also Carole W. Wilson, Breaching the Next Barricade: Pay
Equity for Women, Americans for Democratic Action, June 1981.
" Bruce Nelson, unedited speech.
12See Winn Newman and Carole W. Wilson, “The Union Role In
Affirmative Action,” Labor Law Journal, June 1981, pp. 334-36.
13IUE v. Westinghouse Electric Corporation, et al., 648 F.2d 18
(D.C. Cir., 1980).
14 347 U.S. 483 (1954).
15 Ibid., pp. 494-95.
51
Special
Labor Force
Reports—Summaries
Educational attainment
of workers, March 1981
A n n e M cD o u gall Y oung
Employers continue to use education as one of the basic
qualifications for hiring and promotion, and in recent
years the educational level of workers has increased dra
matically. In March 1981, there were almost as many
workers age 25 to 64 who had completed a year or more
of college as had ended their formal education with a
high school diploma. (See table 1.) Each of these two
groups accounted for about 40 percent of the work
force. As recently as 1970, only 26 percent of the work
ers had completed any college after high school.1(See ta
ble 2.) This change reflects primarily the coming of age
of the more highly educated baby boom generation,2
and, to a lesser extent, early retirement among older and
generally less educated workers.
To cope with the very large number of students who
reached college age between the mid-1960’s and early
1970’s, the education industry expanded both in physi
cal plant and staff. The number of institutions of higher
education increased by 47 percent from 1963 to 1978,
from 2,132 to 3,134, and the number of full-time
equivalent teaching staff rose from 242,000 to 597,000.3
Over half (55 percent) of the new institutions were
2-year public colleges. The relatively easy accessibility
of these colleges enabled many students to attend with
out leaving home and often while working at a full-time
job. Indeed, among persons under age 35, part-time stu
dents accounted for half of the growth in total college
enrollment during the 1970-80 decade.4
The relationship between men and women in terms of
educational attainment did not change over the decade,
except among the youngest group. The proportion of
men with a year or more of college continued to be al
most 6 percentage points above that of women, while
women remained less likely to be high school dropouts.
However, among workers 25 to 34— the age group
Anne McDougall Young is an economist in the Division of Labor
Force Studies, Bureau of Labor Statistics.
52
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comprising the largest part of the baby boom genera
tion— the male-female difference in the proportion with
some college narrowed substantially. Close to half of all
workers in that age group had completed some college.
Participation rates
More education has historically been associated with
higher rates of labor force participation, a pattern that
persisted in March 1981. College graduates had the
highest labor force participation rates, and high school
dropouts, the lowest. (See table 2.)
Participation rates for men have continued their his
torical drift downward among all age and educational
attainment groups except college graduates under age
55. This general trend among men has been observed
over the past 25 years.5 Accounting in part for this
trend are more widely available disability and pension
benefits, which have made early retirement possible.
Persons in poor health or who have been out of work
for a number of months, have been the most likely to
retire before age 65,6 and workers with less education
are in these circumstances more often than are persons
with extensive education.
While men have reduced their labor force participa-
Table 1. Labor force status of persons age 25-64, by sex
and years of school completed, March 1980 and March
1981
[Numbers in thousands]
Men
Years of school completed
Total population..........
Total labor fo rc e ............
High school:
Less than 4 years ..
4 years only............
College:
1 to 3 years............
4 years or more . . . .
Labor force participation rate
(in percent)....................
High school:
Less than 4 years ..
4 years only............
College:
1 to 3 years............
4 years or more . . . .
Women
1980
1980
Original
Revised
49,848
44,755
50,782
45,417
10,022
16,017
1981
1981
Original
Revised
51,840
46,363
53,664
32,010
54,777
32,593
55,813
33,910
10,103
16,232
9,963
16,917
5,885
14,586
5,999
14,801
5,889
15,635
7,880
10,837
8,042
11,040
8,083
11,402
5,566
5,974
5,686
6,106
6,086
6,300
89.8
89.4
89.4
59.6
59.5
60.8
79.4
92.2
78.8
91.9
79.3
91.2
43.9
61.4
43.7
61.2
44.2
62.4
92.7
95.5
92.4
95.3
92.0
95.4
66.5
73.6
66.4
73.4
68.0
74.3
N ote: See text footnote 1 regarding revised numbers. Due to rounding, sums of individu
al items may not equal totals.
tion, rates for women have increased at all levels of ed
ucational attainment and at all ages except among those
55-64 years of age. Among women age 25 to 34, the
sharp rise in participation rates between 1970 and 1981
reflected the trend toward delayed marriage and
childbearing. Increases in participation were also sub
stantial among women 35 to 54, although to a lesser de
gree than among younger women. Most of the women
over age 35 were married (72 percent), and such factors
as expanded job opportunities in the white-collar and
service sectors, as well as inflationary pressure on family
budgets, boosted their labor force activity.
Occupations
The increase in the proportion of more highly educat
ed workers was supported by growth in the demand for
a trained labor force. Computerized design and manu
facturing operations, word processing and other new
business machines, engineering development, biological
research, and changing medical care procedures all
needed personnel with sufficient education to use the
new technology which became available during the
1970’s.7Consequently, the proportion of workers in pro
fessional-technical and managerial occupations increased
from 26 percent in 1970 to 29 percent in 1981. (See ta
ble 3.)
The number of college graduates in the professions
increased substantially over the decade. But because
there were so many more graduates competing for avail
able positions, those finding professional-technical jobs
represented a smaller percentage of all graduates— 54
percent in 1981 compared with 67 percent in 1970. The
situation was intensified by the relative lack of growth
in the demand for teachers, as the baby boom genera
tion passed through the schools. This trend was espe
cially important for the greatly increased number of
women with college degrees. Whereas 50 percent of the
employed female graduates were teachers in 1970, that
proportion had declined to 29 percent in 1981.
A greater proportion of the college graduates were
managers in 1981. This was, in part, a response to the
growth of large scale enterprises, such as banking and
investment services, in which the increased quantity and
variety of transactions have created more complex man-
Table 2. Years of school completed by persons in the labor force, and labor force participation rates, by age and sex,
March 1970 and March 1981
25 to 64 years
25 to 34 years
35 to 44 years
45 to 54 years
55 to 64 years
Years of school completed
1970
1981
1970
1981
1970
1981
1970
1981
1970
1981
39,302
100.0
46,363
100.0
11,211
100.0
17,312
100.0
10,518
100.0
11,982
100.0
10,429
100.0
9,847
100.0
7,142
100.0
7,222
100.0
37.5
34.5
27.9
12.2
15.7
21.5
36.5
42.0
17.4
24.6
25.1
40.4
34.5
15.3
19.2
13.4
37.8
48.8
22.3
26.5
35.7
34.6
29.7
12.1
17.6
19.9
36.7
43.4
16.4
27.0
41.2
34.0
24.8
11.4
13.4
29.2
35.2
35.6
13.4
22.2
54.5
25.9
19.6
8.8
10.8
33.3
34.6
32.1
12.9
19.2
22,458
100.0
33,910
100.0
5,735
100.0
12,945
100.0
6,014
100.0
8,904
100.0
6,516
100.0
7,189
100.0
4,198
100.0
4,872
100.0
33.5
44.3
22.1
10.9
11.2
17.4
46.1
36.5
17.9
18.6
23.6
48.2
28.3
13.1
15.2
10.5
43.6
46.0
22.2
23.8
32.5
47.2
20.3
10.5
9.8
16.7
47.0
36.2
17.3
18.9
35.5
45.6
18.9
9.8
9.1
23.0
49.2
27.8
13.8
14.0
45.6
33.0
21.5
10.3
11.2
28.6
46.7
24.7
13.9
10.8
93.5
89.4
96.5
94.7
97.1
95.0
94.6
91.0
83.4
71.3
89.3
96.3
95.6
96.3
79.3
91.2
92.0
95.4
95.1
98.2
95.7
95.4
89.3
96.1
94.2
96.1
94.7
98.2
98.7
98.8
89.0
95.8
96.0
98.3
91.5
96.3
97.5
97.4
83.7
92.7
92.8
98.2
79.4
88.8
87.5
90.0
62.1
73.6
76.8
84.3
LABOR FORCE
Men
Total:
Number (thousands) ................................
Percent ..................................................
High school:
College:
Less than 4 years ..................
4 years only ..........................
1 year or more ......................
1 to 3 years ......................
4 years or more ................
Women
Total:
Number (thousands) ................................
Percent ..................................................
High school:
College:
Less than 4 years ..................
4 years only ..........................
1 year or more ......................
1 to 3 years ......................
4 years or more ................
LABOR FORCE PARTICIPATION RATES
Men
Total ...................................................................
High school:
College:
Less than 4 years ..................
4 years only ..........................
1 to 3 years............................
4 years or more......................
Women
Total ...................................................................
High school:
College:
Note:
Less than 4 years ..................
4 years only ..........................
1 to 3 years............................
4 years or more......................
48.9
60.8
45.6
67.4
51.3
66.5
54.4
61.7
43.7
42.1
42.9
51.3
50.8
60.9
44.2
62.4
68.0
74.3
40.3
45.5
45.5
57.6
47.4
66.9
71.6
78.7
47.6
52.7
52.7
57.7
52.9
67.9
72.8
74.0
47.9
57.8
57.0
67.5
48.5
65.0
66.9
76.3
36.7
49.4
50.6
64.1
32.7
45.3
50.7
54.7
The labor force participation rate is the percent of the civilian population in the labor force. Due to rounding, sums of individual items may not equal totals.
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53
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW April 1982 • Special Labor Force Reports— Summaries
ment in professional-technical and managerial occupa
tions. The proportion of male high school graduates
with no college who were blue-collar workers rose from
52 to 57 percent over the decade. The proportion of
women with no education beyond high school who were
in clerical jobs dropped from 50 to 46 percent—with
some shifting to managerial jobs and some to service
jobs.
In March 1981, most high school dropouts were
employed as operatives, nonfarm laborers, and service
workers. These occupations frequently do not require a
high school diploma as a condition of employment.
However, the average educational attainment has risen
substantially in these jobs, and is now well over 12
years. Thus, even for these relatively unskilled occupa
tions, dropouts faced increased competition from work
ers with more education.
The educational composition of the labor force may
undergo several changes in the near future. First, the
baby boom generation will have worked its way
through the educational system by the mid-1980’s, put
ting an end to the bulge in the number of workers in
entry level jobs. Second, the next wave of labor force
agement situations.8 College graduates were also more
likely to be salesworkers, often as specialists in technical
services and equipment, and small but growing propor
tions were in blue-collar and service occupations.
Many workers who had completed their formal
education with 1 to 3 years of college had earned certif
icates and other awards of achievement. During 197071 to 1977-78, the number of associate degrees con
ferred increased by 63 percent.9Among the recipients in
1977-78, 59 percent had been in occupational curricula
such as science or engineering, data processing, or
health sciences. Nevertheless, between 1970 and 1981,
the proportion of workers with only 1 to 3 years of col
lege who held white-collar jobs decreased 12 percentage
points among men and almost 3 percentage points
among women. Increased employment in craft and ser
vice work accounted for most of the change among
men. The relatively smaller change among women re
flected their continuing concentration in clerical occupa
tions and their modest gain in the management field.
Workers with no formal education beyond high
school were at an increasing disadvantage, compared to
those with 1 to 3 years of college, in finding employ
Table 3. Occupation of employed persons age 18 and over, by years of school completed and by sex, March 1970 and
March 1981
[In percent]
Total
Years of school
completed
Both sexes:
1970 ................
1981 ................
Men:
1970 ................
1981................
Women:
1970 ................
1981 ................
High school:
Less than 4 years:
Men:
1970 ................
1981................
Women:
1970 ................
1981................
4 years only:
Men:
1970 ................
1981................
Women:
1970 ................
1981................
College:
1 to 3 years:
Men:
1970 ................
1981................
Women:
1970 ................
1981................
4 years or more:
Men:
1970 ................
1981................
Women:
1970 ................
1981................
Number
(in thousands)
Percent
Professionaltechnical
Managers
Sales
Clerical
Craft
Operatives
Nonfarm
laborers
Service
Farm
75,658
96,644
100.0
100.0
14.8
16.9
10.9
12.1
5.9
6.2
17.7
18.7
13.1
12.9
18.1
13.8
4.1
3.9
11.8
13.1
3.6
2.6
47,062
55,005
100.0
100.0
14.4
16.4
14.8
15.4
5.5
6.1
7.5
6.3
20.4
21.2
19.9
16.5
6.3
6.0
6.1
8.6
5.0
3.5
28,596
41,639
100.0
100.0
15.5
17.6
4.5
7.7
6.5
6.4
34.6
35.2
1.1
1.8
15.1
10.3
.4
1.1
21.0
19.2
1.4
.9
17,326
11,741
100.0
100.0
1.4
1.5
8.4
7.0
2.8
2.2
4.5
3.8
25.7
26.4
29.4
28.7
10.7
11.0
8.3
12.2
8.8
7.2
8,585
6,779
100.0
100.0
1.8
2.4
3.3
3.9
6.5
5.5
14.7
15.2
1.7
2.8
30.4
27.3
.8
2.1
37.9
39.0
2.8
1.9
16,563
20,966
100.0
100.0
6.9
5.7
15.5
12.7
5.9
5.3
9.9
6.9
25.0
29.1
21.5
21.0
5.4
6.9
6.2
9.0
3.7
3.5
13,053
19,556
100.0
100.0
6.7
6.0
4.7
7.1
7.3
6.9
50.0
45.5
1.1
2.0
12.0
10.9
.3
1.2
17.0
19.6
.9
.8
6,334
10,096
100.0
100.0
19.7
15.6
22.3
19.1
10.8
9.0
12.8
9.9
13.1
18.9
9.7
10.6
3.3
4.8
5.7
10.4
2.4
1.8
3,799
8,226
100.0
100.0
22.1
19.7
6.8
9.8
7.2
7.5
46.6
42.9
.6
1.3
2.9
2.7
.2
.8
13.0
14.9
.7
.5
6,837
12,200
100.0
100.0
60.6
50.0
22.4
25.4
6.8
8.7
4.3
4.5
2.5
4.7
1.4
1.8
.3
.8
.9
2.9
8
1.2
3,159
7,080
100.0
100.0
80.9
61.9
4.1
10.3
1.9
4.4
10.6
16.6
.3
.8
.5
1.3
.3
1.6
3.9
.2
.5
54 FRASER
Digitized for
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entrants will be smaller, and the relative shortage of
new high school and college graduates may lead to
more readily available entry level jobs. On the other
hand, these workers will face continuing competition for
advancement from the huge group which preceded
them. And third, modifications of national priorities
and possible changes in spending patterns in both the
private and public sectors may shift the demand for
more highly educated workers from one occupational
group to another.
□
FOOTNOTES
1Data in this report are based on tabulations from the March 1981
Current Population Survey (CPS), conducted for the Bureau of Labor
Statistics by the Bureau of the Census. The data relate to the labor
force 25 to 64 years of age, unless otherwise specified. The data have
been inflated using population weights based on results from the 1980
census. The March 1980 data in table 1 have also been revised to
bring them in line with the new population weights and to make them
comparable with the March 1981 data. Previously published data for
the years 1971 through 1980 reflected population weights projected
forward from the 1970 census.
As table 1 shows, the number of persons age 25 to 64 years old
was revised upward by 2 million, and the number in the labor force
was estimated to be 1.2 million greater than originally reported. De
spite these significant changes in the data for 1980, the various rela
tionships and percentages based on the new estimates are similar to
those based on the previously published estimates. For example, the
labor force participation rate for persons with 4 years of high school
was estimated at 74.4 percent using the 1970 weights and 74.2 percent
using the 1980 weights.
For a more complete description of changes in labor force data
stemming from the use of 1980 census population weights in the CPS,
see “Revisions in the Current Population Survey Beginning in January
1982,” Employment and Earnings, February 1982.
Because the March estimates are based on a sample, they may differ
from the figures that would have been obtained from a complete cen
sus. Sampling variability may be relatively large in cases where the
numbers are small. Small estimates, or small differences between esti
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mates, should be interpreted with caution. This report is the latest in
a series on this subject. The most recent was published in the Monthly
Labor Review, “Trends in educational attainment among workers in
the 1970’s,” July 1980, pp. 44-47. Data on the educational attainment
of the population are published by the Bureau of the Census in Cur
rent Population Reports, Series P-20.
2The expression “baby boom generation” usually refers to persons
born between 1946 and 1964. The rate of births to women 15 to 44
years of age rose to over 24 per 1,000 in 1946, over 25 per 1,000 in
1957, and remained over 21 per 1,000 through 1964. See Historical
Statistics of the United States, Colonial Times to 1970, Part 1 (Bureau
of the Census, 1975), table B 5-10.
' The Condition of Education, 1975 Edition (U.S. Department of Ed
ucation, National Center for Education Statistics), table 67; The Con
dition of Education, 1980 Edition, tables 3.7 and 3.10; and unpub
lished data from the National Center for Education Statistics.
4 Unpublished data from the October 1970 and 1980 supplements
to the Current Population Survey (CPS), Bureau of Labor Statistics.
5Employment and Training Report of the President, 1980, table A-4.
6 Karen Schwab, “Early Labor Force Withdrawal of Men: Partici
pants and Nonparticipants Aged 58-63,” Social Security Bulletin, Au
gust 1974, pp. 24-38.
7Occupational Outlook for College Graduates, 1978-79 Edition
(Bureau of Labor Statistics).
"Ibid.
' The Condition of Education, 1980 Edition, table 1.11.
55
Research
Summaries
How women’s health affects
labor force attachment
E liz a b e t h G. M a r e t
Most analysts would agree that a person’s health is a
major determinant of his or her labor force attachment.
However, there has been little systematic investigation
of the relationship between health and work in the
United States, and most of the reliable evidence pertains
only to male populations.
Preliminary findings based on the National Longitu
dinal Surveys suggest that health has “an important ef
fect on the labor force participation of women,” and
that this effect is more pronounced for black than for
white women. But authors of the final report on the
study cautioned that their results are ambiguous and
called for “more intensive examination” of the issue.1
The purpose of this analysis is to provide such exami
nation of the relationship between health and labor
force attachment for American women. More explicitly,
we will test the hypothesis that the overall lifetime sup
ply of labor provided by mature women is related to
their health, or their subjective assessment thereof, and
a corollary, that the supply of labor by black women is
more affected by self-rated health than that of whites
(although reported participation rates for black women
are consistently higher than those for whites).2 An at
tachment index which incorporates hours worked, rath
er than the mere fact of labor force participation, will
be used as the measure of labor force attachment.
The data base. Data from the National Longitudinal
Surveys of Work Experience (n ls ) for mature women
are the basis for this study. The NLS mature women co
hort file consists of a national probability sample of ap
proximately 5,000 women who were age 30 to 45 at the
Elizabeth G. Maret is associate professor of sociology at Texas A &
M University. Background research for this report was supported by
a grant from the Employment and Training Administration. U.S. De
partment of Labor.
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time of the initial survey in 1967.3 The same women
were interviewed in 1968, 1969, 1971, 1972, and 1974.
The n ls data are particularly appropriate for racial
comparisons of women’s work experience because of the
intentional oversampling of black women. For the pur
pose of this research, a subsample of the n ls was
drawn, which included those respondents identified as
“black” or as “white” at the time of the initial survey.
Women categorized as “other” were excluded from
analysis, yielding a total sample of 4,886 women, of
whom 1,352 were black and 3,534 were white.
The labor supply model. The measure of labor force at
tachment (l f a ) was originally defined and applied to
the 1967-71 mature women cohort file in an earlier arti
cle in the Review.4 The purpose of the original formula
tion was to incorporate important dimensions of labor
force participation into one longitudinal index of the
lifetime supply of labor provided by mature women.
More specifically, the measure included three dimen
sions of labor force participation: (1) continuity of work
experience, or the proportion of years worked at least 6
months since leaving regular school; (2) full-time as dis
tinguished from part-time employment, or hours
worked per week; and (3) year-round as opposed to
temporary or seasonal employment, or weeks worked
per year. The first dimension reflects the continuity of
work experience prior to the initial survey in 1967. The
second and third dimensions reflect the intensity of
work experience during the survey years.
For the following analysis of the expanded 1967-74
cohort file, the LFA formula was respecified to accom
modate data from additional survey years. This revised
formula is:
LFA = [(A/B) + C/36 + D/36] 50
where A is the number of years during which the re
spondent worked at least 6 months between leaving reg
ular school and 1967; B is the number of years since the
respondent left regular school and 1967; C is the num
ber of hours employed per week in a given survey year
(categorized into values ranging from 0 to 18); and D is
the number of weeks worked per year between 1967
Table 1. Women’s labor force attachment, by race and
health category
Sample distribution
Health
category
Total
Excellent . . .
Good ........
Fair ..........
P oor..........
Blacks
Whites
Measure of labor
force attachment
Number
Percent
Number
Percent
Blacks
1,352
404
617
242
89
100.0
29.9
45.6
17.9
6.6
3,534
1,620
1,422
407
85
100.0
45.8
40.2
11.5
2.4
40.9
47.9
43.6
31.2
17.5
Whites Difference
34.6
37.3
35.5
27.8
17.9
6.3
10.6
9.1
3.4
-.4
and 1974 (categorized into values ranging from 0 to
18).5
For the NLS mature women cohort, this formula
encompasses work experience both before and since
1967. The dimension of interyear continuity of work
prior to the 1967 survey is reflected in the expression
A/B, which can assume a maximum value of 1. The C
and D values represent the intensity of labor market ex
perience between 1967 and 1974. The dimensions of in
tensity are each divided by 36 to ensure that these
intrayear measures of recent labor market activity do
not “overshadow” the continuity dimension, which re
flects experience before the initial survey. When divided
by 36 (a constant representing twice the maximum pos
sible value), neither C nor D can be greater than 0.5,
and C + D cannot exceed 1. The sum of the dimen
sional values (A/B, C, D) is multiplied by 50 to yield
scores ranging from 0 (for no significant work experi
ence prior to the 1967 survey and no recent work expe
rience) to 100 (for continuous participation prior to
1967 and full-time, year-round participation after 1967).
Empirical results. The findings reported in table 1 are
based on simple analysis of variance. Mean levels of la
bor force attachment are presented for each health cate
gory within the subsamples of black and white women.
These results suggest that the labor supplied by women
is affected by conditions of health, particularly in the
case of blacks. Average LFA scores for black women
vary from 47.9 for those with excellent health to 17.5
for those whose health is poor. The simple correlation
coefficient (r,) between the labor force attachment and
health of black women is .259. In other words, the
health variable appears to explain almost 7 percent
(that is, r,2) of the variability in black women’s labor
force attachment.
Health is also significantly associated with the labor
force attachment of white women, although the rela
tionship is not as strong as that observed for blacks.
There is a 20-point range of LFA scores among health
categories, and the unadjusted correlation ratio indi
cates that health can explain about 2 percent of the
variability in the labor force attachment of white
women.
Interracial differences in the amount of labor supplied
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are greater among women whose health is excellent or
good, and smaller among those whose health is fair or
poor. The differential in labor force attachment is 10.6
points, or approximately 28 percent, for respondents
who claimed to be in excellent health, compared with
an observed difference of -0.4—about 2 percent—be
tween whites and blacks in poor health. The latter fig
ure suggests a slightly higher degree of labor force
attachment for white women than for black women, in
the poor health category.
To summarize, the findings presented in table 1 indi
cate that: (1) the supply of labor varies significantly
among health categories for both white and black wom
en; (2) although health is correlated with labor force at
tachment for both races, it is more important in the
labor supply of blacks than of whites; and, (3) differ
ences in the labor supplied by black and by white wom
en increase under conditions of excellent and good
health, but virtually disappear under conditions of poor
health. Because the proportion of black women in the
excellent and good health categories is lower than the
corresponding proportion of whites— 75 percent com
pared to 86 percent— one might expect the interracial
differential in labor force participation to be even great
er if the distributions of respondents among the catego
ries were more similar.
Of course, it is possible that the observed differentials
by race are due to other factors. However, the evidence
presented in table 2 suggests no marked change in the
relative importance of the health variable when other
selected demographic characteristics are controlled. The
effects of health appear greater for black than for white
women, even after adjustment for the effects of educa
tion, marital status, number of children, and age.6 The
unadjusted correlation coefficient between health and laTable 2. The differential labor force attachment of
women after adjustment for selected demographic
characteristics, by race and health category
Race and
health category
Unadjusted
deviation
Unadjusted
correlation
coefficient
Adjusted
deviation
Adjusted
correlation
coefficient1
( '* )
Black2
Excellent............
Good..................
Fair....................
Poor ..................
6.7
2.8
-9.9
-23.3
6.0
2.7
-8.8
-23.0
.24
.26
W h ite 3
Excellent............
Good..................
Fair....................
P o o r..................
2.7
-.3
-6.8
-15.6
1.9
.1
-4.9
-15.4
.13
.10
1The correlation coefficient after controlling for the effects of age, education, marital sta
tus, and children on the labor force attachment of sample members.
2The grand mean for LFA, upon which the unadjusted deviations are based, is 41.2.
3The grand mean for LFA is 34.7.
57
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW April 1982 • Research Summaries
bor force attachment (r,) for black women is .26, while
the adjusted coefficient (r2) is .24. For white women, the
unadjusted and adjusted coefficients are .13 and .10, re
spectively. The impact of the other variables is minimal
for black women; the greatest effect appears in the ta
pering of the reduction in labor force attachment
among blacks in fair health. This attenuation can also
be noted for white women in fair health, while there is a
slight decrease in the LFA score for whites in excellent
health.
support the conclusions
of other researchers that health variables should be in
cluded among the determinants of labor supply. For
both women and men, information on the health of
workers should increase the explanatory power of ana
lytic models; such data appear to be particularly impor
tant for studies of black workers.
The greater observed variability of self-rated health
conditions among blacks, and the greater impact of
health conditions on the amount of labor supplied by
black workers, also have implications for policy. Those
concerned with the socioeconomic effects of health pro
grams targeted at certain segments of the work force
might do well to include labor supply considerations in
their assessments of relative benefits and costs.
□
THE RESULTS OF THIS ANALYSIS
--------- F O O T N O T E S ---------1D u a l C a reers: A L o n g itu d in a l S tu d y o f L a b o r M a r k e t E x p e r ie n c e o f
W o m en , Vol. 1, Manpower Research Monograph 21 (U.S. Depart
ment of Labor, 1970).
William G. Bowen and T. Aldrich Finegan, T h e E c o n o m ic s o f L a
(Princeton, N.J., Princeton University Press,
1969).
' See Elizabeth Maret-Havens, “Developing an index to measure fe
male labor force participation,” M o n th ly L a b o r R ev ie w , May 1977, ap
pendix, p. 38, for a more detailed description of the NLS mature
women cohort file.
b o r F o rce P a r tic ip a tio n
4 See Maret-Havens, “Developing an index,” pp. 35-38.
For each of the 6 years (1967-69, 1971-72, and 1974), respon
dents were assigned a value of 3 if they worked the maximum period
of 50 to 52 weeks; a value of 2 if they worked 27 to 49 weeks; a value
of 1 if they worked 26 weeks or less; and a value of 0 if they did not
work. The results were then summed for the six periods to yield a val
ue ranging from 0 (for no weeks worked) to 18 (for consistent yearround employment). A similar procedure was followed for dimension
C. For each of the 6 years, a value of 3 was assigned to those who
worked 40 or more hours a week; a value of 2 was used for 21 to 39
hours; and a value of 1 was used for 1 to 20 hours. Summing the re
sults again yielded a value which could range from 0 to 18.
*The demographic variables used in this analysis are defined in ref
erence to the NLS mature women cohort as follows: R a c e -—identified
by respondents as “white” or “black” in 1967; h e a lth — rated by re
spondents in 1967 as “excellent,” “good,” “fair,” or “poor,” in rela
tion to others of about the same age; e d u c a tio n — the number of years
of school completed; m a r ita l s ta tu s — classified as married-spouse
present, married-spouse absent, separated, divorced, widowed, or nev
er married in 1967; c h ild r e n — the number of own and other children
who ever lived with the respondent as of the 1967 survey; and a g e —
divided into three subcohorts of those who were 37 to 41, 42 to 46,
and 47 to 51 at the time of the 1974 survey.
Digitized for58
FRASER
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Business studies views of managers and
workers on productivity and quality
A recent survey of business executives by the U.S.
Chamber of Commerce asked managers for their opin
ions on employees’ attitudes concerning productivity
and product quality. It compared the findings with those
of an earlier joint study by the Chamber of Commerce
and the Gallup polling organization, which surveyed
workers for their attitudes and their opinions of fellow
workers’ attitudes about productivity and quality.
Nine out of ten executives, and especially those in
large firms, believe that employees want the company’s
goods and services to be of high quality; 43 percent said
employees are “very concerned” about quality and 47
percent said “somewhat concerned.” Only 5 percent
said their employees are “not very much concerned.”
According to the earlier study, workers share this view
of themselves and their colleagues; 49 percent said they
are “very concerned” about quality of product and ser
vice and 37 percent said they are “somewhat con
cerned.” Only 11 percent said they and their coworkers
are “not very much concerned.”
In fact, the data show that executives believe their
workers are more concerned about quality of goods and
services than about company productivity. Twelve per
cent said that workers are very concerned about in
creasing productivity; 61 percent believed workers are
somewhat concerned; and 21 percent, not very con
cerned. This view also was held more by executives in
large companies than by those in small ones. Of the
workers themselves, 88 percent said it is important to
them to increase productivity, and 70 percent think this
factor is important to their coworkers.
A key finding of both surveys is that managers and
workers believe that worker involvement in the
decisionmaking process will improve both quantity and
quality of the finished product, if workers know it will
affect their jobs; 79 percent of managers held this view,
and 84 percent of workers.
Effective communication between management and
employees is seen as vital. Managers ranked communi
cation factors affecting employee productivity. Most im
portant was explaining to workers what increased
productivity can mean for both the company and the
employee; 63 percent believe this to be important. Sec
ond was asking employees for their ideas on productivi
ty, 45 percent. Third was indicating more clearly the
productivity expected of workers, 33 percent. Fourth
was conveying to workers the steps being taken by
management to increase company productivity, 16 per
cent. Fifth was making it known that management is
aware and concerned about the needs of workers, 14
percent. Sixth was conveying to employees exactly what
the company provides in the total wage and benefit
package, 12 percent.
Management and workers have markedly different
views on the most effective way of encouraging good
ideas to improve the performance of the company.
About 51 percent of the surveyed executives think per
sonal recognition is the most effective means. A third be
lieve monetary reward is the most effective. As for
workers, 42 percent said monetary reward is the most ef
fective means, and 26 percent cited personal recogni
tion. Only 6 percent of executives, but 26 percent of
workers, think promotion is the most effective method.
Executives assign top rank to workers’ attitudes and
abilities as a factor that could increase overall company
productivity. Among all firms surveyed, managers in 40
percent ranked this as the most important factor, even
above supervisor attitudes and abilities; 47 percent held
this view in small firms, 36 percent in large ones. How
ever, only 20 percent of executives believe that efforts at
a worker’s level can make the greatest contribution to
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
improved productivity. Most believe the greatest chanc
es for improvement are in the supervisory, middle exec
utive, and top executive levels. Among executives, the
most frequently cited incentive used to improve produc
tivity among employees at all levels is bonuses for out
standing work, 56 percent.
The survey was conducted during January and
February of 1981, as part of the quarterly survey of
business executives’ attitudes by the Chamber of Com
merce. Questionnaires were sent to 1,870 high-ranking
executives, representing a cross section of business by
type of industry, size of firm, and geographical region.
There were 1,083 respondent, or 58 percent. The earlier,
joint survey of employee attitudes was conducted in late
1979. Data for the survey of executives were compiled
by the Chamber of Commerce’ Survey Research Center
and its Productivity Center. Copies of the report, Man
agement Attitudes Toward Productivity, may be obtained
from the Economic Policy Division, Chamber of Com
merce of the United States, 1615 H Street, N.W., Wash
ington, D.C. 20062.
□
59
M ajor Agreements
Expiring Next M onth
This list of collective bargaining agreements expiring in May is based on contracts on file in the Bu
reau’s Office of Wages and Industrial Relations. The list includes agreements covering 1,000 workers
or more.
Employer and location
Industry
Affiliated Dress Manufacturers, Inc., and 2 others (Interstate)......................
Allied Construction Employers Association, Inc. (Wisconsin) ......................
American Standard, Inc., Chinaware Department (Interstate) ......................
Arkansas Power & Light Co. (Arkansas) ...........................................................
Associated Contractors of Ohio, Inc., Akron Division ...................................
Associated Contractors of Ohio, Inc., Cincinnati D iv isio n ..............................
Associated Tile Contractors of Southern California (Interstate) ...................
Avco Corp., Avco Lycoming Engineering Group (Stratford, C o n n .)...........
Associated General Contractors of America, Inc.:
Alabama C h ap ter.................................................................................................
U nion1
Number of
workers
Apparel ........................................
C onstruction................................
Stone, clay, and glass products .
Utilities ........................................
C onstruction................................
C onstruction................................
C onstruction................................
Transportation equipment . . . .
Ladies Garment W orkers........................
Carpenters...................................................
Pottery and Allied W o r k e rs...................
Electrical Workers (IBEW) ...................
Carpenters...................................................
Carpenters...................................................
Bricklayers ................................................
Auto Workers (I n d .) ................................
15,000
2,700
1,800
2,200
1,200
3,500
1,000
1,950
C onstruction................................
5,000
.................................................................................................
C onstruction ................................
Detroit Chapter, 2 agreements .........................................................................
Nevada Chapter, and 2 others .........................................................................
Ohio Building Chapter (Interstate) .................................................................
Ohio State Building Chapter ...........................................................................
C onstruction................................
C onstruction................................
C onstruction................................
C onstruction................................
Carpenters; Laborers; Operating
Engineers; Cement Masons;
Teamsters (Ind.)
Carpenters; Laborers; Operating
Engineers; Cement Masons;
Teamsters (Ind.)
Laborers; Cement Masons; Bricklayers .
Teamsters (I n d .) ........................................
L ab orers......................................................
Carpenters...................................................
Building Owners and Managers Association of San Francisco ......................
Boilermakers Employers of Western Pennsylvania Area (Interstate)2 ...........
Real estate ...................................
C onstruction................................
Service Employees ...................................
Boilermakers ..............................................
1,000
1,150
California & Hawaiian Sugar Co. (Crockett, Calif.) .........................................
California Brewers Association, and o th e r s .........................................................
Campbell Soup Co. (Sacramento, C a lif.)..............................................................
Carrier Air Conditioning Co. (McMinnville, T e n n .) .........................................
Connecticut Light & Power Co...........................................................................
Construction Employers Association, Inc. (Interstate) ...................................
Food produ cts..............................
Food produ cts..............................
Food p rod u cts..............................
M achinery......................................
Utilities ........................................
C onstruction................................
Seafarers ......................................................
Teamsters ( I n d .)........................................
Teamsters (I n d .) ........................................
Sheet Metal W orkers................................
Electrical Workers (IBEW) ...................
Carpenters...................................................
1,000
1,300
1,400
1,800
1,700
2,000
Del Monte Corp., Plants 126 & 127 (Oregon and Washington) ...................
Food p rod u cts..............................
Teamsters (I n d .) ........................................
1,700
Fashion Apparel Manufacturers’ Association (Interstate) ..............................
Food Industry (M issou ri).........................................................................................
Freuhauf Corp., Maryland Shipbuilding and Drydock Co. (Baltimore, Md.)
Apparel ........................................
Retail tr a d e ...................................
Transportation equipment . . . .
Ladies Garment W orkers........................
Food and Commercial Workers ...........
Marine and Shipbuilding Workers . . . .
8,000
8,500
1,500
Goodyear Atomic Corp. (Piketon, Ohio) ...........................................................
Grace, W. R. & Co., Agricultural Chemical Group (F lorida)........................
Greater Blouse, Skirt & Undergarment Association, Inc., 2 agreements
(Interstate)
C hem icals......................................
M in in g ...........................................
Apparel ........................................
Oil, Chemical and Atomic Workers . . .
Chemical Workers ...................................
Ladies Garment W orkers........................
1,600
1,350
21,000
Insurance ......................................
Hotels ...........................................
Office and Professional Employees . . .
Hotel and Restaurant Employees . . . .
1,400
1,450
10,000
Industrial Association of Juvenile Apparel Manufacturers, Inc.
(New York)
Industrial Employers and Distributors Association (California) ...................
International Paper Co., Androscoggin Mill (Jay, M a in e )..............................
Ironworkers Employers Association of Western Pennsylvania ......................
Apparel
........................................
Ladies Garment W orkers........................
6,000
Wholesale tr a d e ...........................
Lumber ........................................
Longshoremen and Warehousemen . . .
Paperworkers; Firemen and Oilers . . . .
3,500
1,000
2,400
Kerr-McGee Nuclear Corp. (New M e x ic o ).........................................................
Kimberly-Clark Corp., Neenah Mill, Lakeview and Badger Globe Divisions
(Neenah, Wis.)
Knitted Outerwear Manufacturers Association, Pennsylvania District
(Philadelphia, Pa.)
C hem icals......................................
Paper ..............................................
Oil, Chemical & Atomic Workers . . . .
Paperworkers..............................................
1,050
1,300
Apparel
Ladies Garment W orkers........................
5,000
Mason Contractors Association of Milwaukee, and 1 other (Wisconsin)
C onstruction................................
Bricklayers
1,500
Arizona Chapter
Homestake Mining Co. (Leed, S. Dak.) ...................................................
Hospital Service & Medical-Surgical Plans of New Jersey ..............................
Hotel Industry (H aw aii)...................................................................
See footnotes at end of table.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
. .
........................................
................................................
22,400
4,500
1,000
1,800
3,500
Continued— Major Agreements Expiring Next Month
Industry
Employer and location
Number of
workers
Union1
Master Builders Association of Western Pennsylvania, Inc., 3 agreements .
Mechanical Contractors Association of Central Ohio, Inc................................
Mechanical Contractors Association of Rochester, Inc., and 1 other
(New York)
Metropolitan Detroit Plumbing & Mechanical Contractors Association,
Inc., and 1 other (Michigan)
Millwright Conveyor & Machine Erector (Michigan)2 ...................................
C onstruction................................
C onstruction................................
C onstruction................................
Laborers; Carpenters; Teamsters (Ind.)
Plum bers......................................................
Plum bers......................................................
20,000
1,050
1,000
C onstruction................................
Plum bers......................................................
2,000
C onstruction................................
Carpenters...................................................
1,250
National Association of Blouse Manufacturers, Inc. (New York) ................
National Automobile Transporters Agreement (Interstate) ...........................
National Skirt & Sportswear Association, Inc. (Interstate)..............................
New England Apparel Manufacturers Association (Rhode Island and
Massachusetts)
Niagara Mohawk Power Corp. (New York) ......................................................
North American Royalties, Inc., The Wheland Foundry Division
(Chattanooga, Tenn.)
New York Coat & Suit Association (Interstate)................................................
National Electrical Contractors Association, 3 agreements (Interstate) . . .
Apparel ........................................
T rucking........................................
Apparel ........................................
Apparel ........................................
Ladies Garment W orkers........................
Teamsters ( I n d .)........................................
Ladies Garment W orkers........................
Ladies Garment W orkers........................
1,000
4,800
1,500
3,500
Utilities ........................................
Primary metals ...........................
Electrical Workers (IBEW) ...................
Steelworkers ..............................................
7,500
1,200
Apparel ........................................
C onstruction................................
Ladies Garment W orkers........................
Electrical Workers (IBEW) ...................
20,000
7,400
Painting and Decorating Contractors of America, Inc., Detroit and Wayne
Chapters (Michigan)
Pennsylvania Electric Co............................................................................................
Potomac Electric Power Co. (District of C o lu m b ia )........................................
Pennsylvania Power & Light Co......................... ................................................
C onstruction................................
Painters........................................................
2,400
Electrical Workers (IBEW)
Electrical Workers (IBEW)
Electrical Workers (IBEW)
...................
...................
...................
2,150
3,500
4,800
Republic Airlines, Mechanics (Interstate)3 ........................................................
Air transportation ......................
2,500
Roper Corp., Roper Eastern Group (Maryland)
..............................................
Furniture ......................................
M achinists...................................................
Hotel and Restaurant Employees . . . .
Furniture Workers ...................................
San Francisco Electrical Contractors Association, Inc. (California)..............
San Francisco Employers Council (California)...................................................
Southwestern Michigan Contractors Association, and 1 other ......................
Squibb, E. R. & Sons, Inc., Production and Maintenance (New Jersey) . . .
Stanley Works (C onnecticut)...................................................................................
Stayton Canning Co. Cooperative (O regon)........................................................
C onstruction................................
Wholesale tr a d e ...........................
C onstruction................................
C hem icals......................................
Fabricated metal products . . . .
Food produ cts..............................
Electrical Workers (IBEW) ...................
Teamsters (I n d .) ........................................
Carpenters...................................................
Oil, Chemical & Atomic Workers . . . .
M achinists...................’...................... ..
Teamsters (I n d .) ........................................
1,400
2,000
1,800
1,950
2,400
2,300
Television Videotape Agreement Syndication (Interstate)................................
Tri-State Contractors Association, Inc. (Kentucky) ........................................
Twin City Hospitals (Minnesota)2 .........................................................................
Motion p ictu res...........................
C onstruction................................
Hospitals ......................................
Musicians ...................................................
L ab orers......................................................
American Nurses ......................................
5,000
1,100
6,100
United Knitwear Manufacturers League, Inc. (New York)
...........................
T extiles...........................................
Ladies Garment W orkers........................
3,600
Whirlpool Corp., St. Joseph Michigan Division (M ich ig a n )...........................
Wisconsin Power & Light Co....................................................................................
Electrical p ro d u cts......................
Utilities ........................................
M achinists...................................................
Electrical Workers (IBEW) ...................
1,550
1,750
'Affiliated with AFL-CIO except where noted as independent (Ind.).
2Industry area (group of companies signing same contract).
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Utilities
Utilities
Utilities
........................................
........................................
........................................
1,500
1,200
3Information is from newspaper reports.
61
Developments in
Industrial Relations
UAW-Ford agreement
The Big Three domestic automobile manufacturers
moved closer to separate labor cost structures when
Ford Motor Co. and the Auto Workers negotiated a
new contract. According to union President Douglas
Fraser, Ford could save up to $1 billion over the con
tract’s term.
The first deviation from uniform labor costs that had
characterized the Ford, General Motors, and Chrysler
auto companies since the mid-1950’s was in October
1979, when u a w members at Chrysler Corp. agreed to
a less costly 3-year agreement than the virtually identi
cal agreements the union negotiated with Ford and GM.
Subsequently, in 1980 and in 1981, Chrysler employees
agreed to further reductions to aid Chrysler’s efforts to
win Federal loan guarantees. Combined, total conces
sions amounted to $1,068 billion. These concessions,
combined with the continuing slump in sales of domes
tic automobiles, led GM and Ford to press the UAW for
concessions during 1981. The UAW agreed to begin
bargaining with the two companies in January 1982;
normally, talks would have started in July on renewal
of the 1979 agreements, which were scheduled to expire
September 14.
At GM, talks started January 10, were broken off on
January 20, resumed on January 26, and were again
broken off 2 days later. Reportedly, the parties stopped
negotiating because they doubted that UAW members at
GM would agree to compensation concessions. A major
principle that did emerge from the talks was a GM com
mitment to allocate the entire value of any concessions
that would have been negotiated to reducing the prices
of its vehicles. However, after the talks were terminated,
a company official said that commitment would not
necessarily apply to concessions resulting from subse
quent negotiations.
Ford did not make the same commitment because it
was operating at a loss ($1.06 billion for 1981), unlike
“Developments in Industrial Relations” is prepared by George Ruben
and other members of the staff of the Division of Developments in
Labor-Management Relations, Bureau of Labor Statistics, and is
largely based on information from secondary sources.
Digitized62
for FRASER
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
which earned a profit o f $333 million in 1981. The
Ford talks started on January 10, the new agreement
was reached on February 15, and ratification by union
members was announced on February 28. The vote tally
was 43,683 to 15,933.
The new agreement, effective from March 1, 1982, to
September 14, 1984, did not provide for any specified
pay increases. (Under the 1979 accord, Ford workers
had received a specified increase of 3 percent plus 24
cents an hour in September of 1979, followed by 3 per
cent increases in September of 1980 and 1981.) It pro
vided for continuation of the cost-of-living pay adjust
ment formula (1 cent an hour for each 0.26-point move
ment in a composite 1967=100 price index derived
from the official United States and Canadian govern
ment indexes), but there were other changes that will
slow the rise in Ford’s labor costs. Ford gained some
immediate labor cost relief because each of the first
three quarterly cost-of-living adjustments will be re
duced by 2 cents an hour, and the effective dates de
ferred for 18 months. This means that the first adjust
ment, normally effective in March 1982, will be deferred
until September 1983, and then it will be combined
with the quarterly adjustment regularly scheduled at
that time. (If the calculated amounts of the first three
adjustments, after deduction of the 6 cents, exceeds 60
cents, the excess amount will be effective on the “nor
mal” date, rather than being deferred 18 months.)
Based on an assumed 7.5-percent annual rate of in
crease in the composite price index, the UAW estimated
that employees’ pay would increase $1.99 an hour over
the contract term, with the last of the 10 quarterly ad
justments in June 1984. This would bring hourly pay to
$13.66 for assemblers and $15.83 for toolmakers. Under
the 1979 agreement, u a w workers at Ford had received
$1.99 in cost-of-living adjustments during the period
ending with the December 1981 adjustment. This does
not include 10 cents that was diverted to help finance
benefit improvements.
Another wage provision calls for new employees to
start at 85 percent of the standard rate for their jobs
and progress to the standard rate in three equal steps
over an 18-month period. Previously, new employees
started 60 cents below the standard rate and progressed
GM,
to the standard rate within 90 days. New workers also
will have longer waits before they become eligible for
certain supplementary benefits.
A major change in benefits was the termination of
paid personal holidays. Under the previous agreement,
Ford workers had received 8 paid personal holidays in
calendar 1980, 9 in 1981, and had been scheduled to re
ceive 9 in 1982. There was no change in the provision for
regular paid holidays, except that the workers will no
longer receive an extra day of holiday pay in December.
In return for the UAW’s concession, Ford agreed to a
2-year moratorium on the closing of plants or other fa
cilities that would have occurred as the result of
“outsourcing,” that is, the purchase of parts from other
companies. Closings will be permitted in cases of inter
nal consolidations of operations or to balance produc
tion capacity with sales volume. Ford made several
commitments regarding outsourcing, including pledges
to (1) make every effort to maintain its current work;
(2) manage future employment reductions through attri
tion rather than layoffs; (3) experiment at two locations
with a pilot “employment guarantee” project based on
a “lifetime job security” concept that will apply to 80
percent of the employees at each of the locations; (4) re
view past outsourcing decisions and inform the union in
a timely manner of future decisions; and (5) join with
the u a w in pressing the Government to adopt the prin
ciple that foreign manufacturers should provide jobs,
pay taxes, and support the economy of the market in
which they sell.
Other changes intended to preserve jobs and aid laidoff workers included:
• New preferential placement opportunities for workers
who are affected by plant closing and do not already
have transfer or “bumping” rights.
• The principle of equality of sacrifice, under which
economic adjustments for hourly workers will be ap
plied in a similar manner to salaried employees. A
procedure also was adopted for resolving local union
claims that proportionally fewer supervisors than pro
duction workers are laid off.
• Company-managed counseling and placement assis
tance programs to aid workers laid off because of
plant closings, with the u a w to assist in developing
and executing the programs.
• Establishment of a Guaranteed Income Stream for
employees with at least 15 years of service who are
laid off after the effective date of the contract and
meet certain eligibility requirements. Payments will
be equal to 50 percent of pay for 15 years of service,
plus 1 percentage point for each additional year of
service, to a maximum payment of 75 percent of
gross weekly pay, or 95 percent of weekly after-tax
pay, minus $12.50, whichever is less. The payments,
will be reduced by the full amount of contractual or
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
•
•
•
•
•
•
government unemployment benefits and by 80 per
cent of earnings from other employment, and will
continue until the laid-off worker retires or reaches
age 62. The period during which the participants
draw guaranteed income payments will count as regu
lar active service for pension purposes; also, they will
be covered by health and life insurance during the pe
riod.
Establishment of a jointly-managed Training and
Retraining Program to upgrade and broaden the
skills of employees and displaced employees.
Establishment of Mutual Growth Forums to give em
ployees a voice in management decisions. The forums,
which will operate at the national and plant levels,
will undertake “advance discussion of certain busi
ness developments that are of material interest and
significance to the union, the employees, and the
company.” At the national level, the forum will ex
amine and discuss such things as Ford’s general oper
ations and certain business developments. The
director of the union’s National Ford Department
will be permitted to address Ford’s board of directors
twice a year. At the plant level, the forums will be
expected to meet at least quarterly to discuss such
things as “the plant’s general operation and certain
business developments.”
A $70-million Ford advance to the union’s Supple
mental Unemployment Benefits ( s u b ) plan to permit
the resumption of benefits to laid-off workers whose
payments had been terminated because the fund had
fallen below the minimum level. In addition, Ford’s
regular payment into the fund will be increased by 3
cents for every compensated hour. Workers with 10
years of service will be eligible to earn enough credits
to make them eligible for up to 104 weeks of SUB
payments, instead of the previous 52 weeks.
Provision for payment of an improvement in pension
benefit rates that had been scheduled for August 1,
1982, under the 1979 contract; a change in the special
early retirement benefit (which is added to regular
pensions and continues to age 62) permitting workers
to receive the $15-a-month for each year of service up
to 30 (was 25); and a change giving laid-off workers 5
years (was 2) to decide if they want to retire early.
Adoption of a profit-sharing plan, beginning with
1983 for production workers and salaried employees
who do not receive bonuses. The plan provides for
sharing that portion of Ford’s profits on U.S. opera
tions in excess of 2.3 percent of total sales. The distri
bution will equal 10 percent of that portion of the
profit between 2.3 and 4.6 percent, plus 12.5 percent
of the portion between 4.6 and 6.9 percent, plus 15
percent of profits over 6.9 percent.
An increase in Ford’s financing obligation for Part B
medicare benefits to $12.20, $13, and $13.50 a month
in August of 1982, 1983, and 1984.
63
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW April 1982 • Developments in Industrial Relations
The agreement, scheduled to expire on September 14,
1984, is subject to reopening on all economic terms af
ter December 31, 1982, if retail deliveries in the United
States of new cars and trucks produced or imported by
Ford exceeds 1,925,000 units in any 6 consecutive
months.
In the wake of the Ford settlement, u a w leaders indi
cated that there was a possibility that they would re
sume talks with General Motors if sufficient support
developed among the union’s members. UAW President
Douglas Fraser repeated his contention that it would be
better tactically to settle early, saying, “If GM doesn’t
get an agreement by September 1982, they could unilat
erally change the terms of the agreement, and then we’d
have the simple choice of working without an agree
ment under new economic dictates by the company or
going on strike when the company has big inventories.”
The UAW also was studying American Motors Corp’s.
proposal that its 15,000 production workers lend the
company $150 million from scheduled future pay in
creases, which the company would start repaying, with
interest, in 1984.
Trucking employees forgo wage increases
The economic plight of the organized trucking indus
try was reflected in a recent settlement between the
Teamsters and several employer associations that did
not provide for any guaranteed wage increases over the
38-month period. The settlement also called for workrule changes intended to reduce labor costs. The con
tract was effective March 1, 1982, and superseded the
remaining month of the 1979 agreement.
Union president Roy L. Williams said the contract
would “preserve the jobs of those now employed and
will help regain the thousands of jobs lost through lay
offs and business failures in the trucking industry.” Ar
thur H. Bunte, president of Trucking Management,
Inc., the industry’s main bargaining arm, added that the
agreement would “enhance our companies’ ability to
compete in a deregulated marketplace,” referring to the
influx of nonunion, lower-cost operators since passage
of the Motor Carrier Act of 1980,
The contract provided for revisions in the cost-of-liv
ing pay adjustment clause: adjustments will continue to
be at the rate of 1 cent an hour for each 0.3-point
movement in the CPI-W (1967=100), but will be made
annually (in April) instead of semiannually. During the
contract term, part or all of the cost-of-living adjust
ments will be diverted, if necessary, to meet cost in
Digitized for
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creases for maintaining existing health and welfare and
pension benefits. If diversion of the entire amount of the
adjustment is insufficient to cover benefit cost increases,
the employers are required to increase their current
$90.50-a-week payment into the two funds.
The first application of this diversion rule occurred
with the April 1, 1982, cost-of-living adjustment, as the
225,000 employees received only 47 cents of the 72
cent-increase they would otherwise have received. (This
adjustment—but not the diversion— actually resulted
from the 1979 contract, which provided for deferring to
April 1, 1982—a day after that contract was scheduled
to expire— the semiannual adjustment that would nor
mally have been effective in October 1981.) During the
term of the 1979 agreement, employees received a total
of $1.86 an hour in automatic cost-of-living pay in
creases, plus $1.50 in specified increases not contingent
on movement of a price index.
Some of the terms of the 1982 settlement were con
tained in 31 area agreements supplementing the Nation
al Master Freight Agreement, which presented the
general terms for all areas. The supplemental agree
ments, which varied somewhat among areas, generally
provided for new employees to start at 70 percent of
the pay rate for their job and move, in steps, to the
full rate after 3 years of service. Previously, new em
ployees generally received the full rate immediately.
Another gain for the industry was a relaxation of the
rules governing deliveries and pickups. In most areas,
over-the-road drivers will now be required to make one
delivery and pickup within a city area if they are in
route to their destination. The impact of this change
will not be uniform, because some supplements already
allowed this and because the change only applies to
“truckload” shipments.
Other provisions favorable to employers permit the
adoption of “nonstandard” workweeks that eliminate
premium pay for some weekend work; give individual
employers greater flexibility in negotiating with their
employees; and permit greater leeway in the determina
tion of seniority for probationary employees.
Provisions favorable to the union included a ban on
employers selling, leasing, transferring, or subcontract
ing part of their operations to evade the terms of the
agreement, and extension of recall rights for currently
laid-off employees. There also is a provision for reopen
ing bargaining after April 1, 1984, “if the parties agree
that the financial status of the industry has either sub
stantially increased or decreased compared to the date
of the ratification of this agreement.”
Q
Book Reviews
Behavioral analysis perspective
Macro Organizational Behavior. By Robert H. Miles.
Santa Monica, Calif. Goodyear Publishing Co.,
Inc., 1980. 542 pp. $19.95.
Resourcebook in Macro Organizational Behavior. Edited
by Robert H. Miles. Glenview, 111., Scott, Foresman
and Co., 1980. 478 pp.
In these companion books, Robert H. Miles has
attempted to establish a separate academic discipline
called “macro organizational behavior,” and in doing so
has put a new face on organizational theory. Most of
the ideas presented are organizational theory concepts.
Many of the authors cited are also cited in organiza
tional theory textbooks. Perhaps Miles’ penchant for
“application,” which goes beyond the limitations one
recognizes in theory, induces him to insist that the term
“behavior” is more appropriate.
Macro Organizational Behavior is proposed as a “be
ginning handbook for understanding, designing, and
managing macro organizational behavior.” “Macro” or
ganizational behavior takes a sociological view of orga
nizations, whereas “micro” organizational behavior is
oriented toward psychological perspectives. To study
the “macro” aspects, then, is to expand upon the
knowledge gained in the study of “micro” organization
al behavior in the same manner that students take sepa
rate courses in micro and macro economics.
The Resourcebook (a supplement to the “Handbook”)
contains 35 articles that have appeared in either schol
arly or practitioner journals. Miles describes the Re
sourcebook as a “beginning reader” for the field of mac
ro organizational behavior which attempts to bring
implications of macro organizational behavior concepts
and research findings “into focus for organizational de
signers and practicing managers.”
The Handbook is divided into three parts: “Organiza
tions— Structures and Processes”; “Organization-Envi
ronment Relations”; and “Emerging Perspectives and
New Frontiers in Macro Organizational Behavior.” As
indicated by its title, part 1 focuses on internal aspects
of organizations to deal with the usual organizational
theory subjects of organizational structure and structur
al accommodation to technology, then goes further to
include chapters on organizational conflict and politics.
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Part 2 deals with external concerns of organizations—
the environment and the boundary spanning subsystems
organizations develop to cope with the environment.
Part 3 curiously mixes a chapter attempting to come to
grips with organizational effectiveness with two chapters
describing new organizational designs both abroad and
in the United States.
The Resourcebook has four parts. Part 1, “The Na
ture of Organizations,” contains readings that serve to
introduce the reader to organizational theory and be
havior. Its other three parts parallel those of the Hand
book and contain readings in areas that further explain
the concepts advanced in the companion volume. Inter
estingly, of the 35 articles in the Resourcebook, only
four are listed in the bibliography for the Handbook.
In these two volumes, Miles has expertly presented a
new discipline, whether it was needed or not. The
Handbook is skillfully compiled with several wellplaced, current examples. It would appear to be appro
priate as a textbook for upper level undergraduate stu
dents or for graduate students.
The question to be answered then is, “What would
the course be called which uses Macro Organizational
BehaviorT’ My answer would be, “Organizational Theo
ry.” Yet, I have reservations about the book as an orga
nizational theory text. Rather than divorcing his presen
tation from organizational psychologists as he said was
his intention, Miles frequently delves into their work
concerning conflict, power, leadership, and motivation.
These subjects are treated in the traditional organiza
tional behavior courses, and although these factors are
endemic to the organization’s environment, they do not
require emphasis in an organizational theory course.
My other reservation about the Handbook is its ac
ceptance of some pioneering studies as gospel. If the
theories presented were universally accepted and ubiqui
tously applicable, the term “behavior” might be appro
priate. However, conflicting evidence brings into
question the universality of the findings of even such
well-known theorists as Joan Woodward, Paul R. Law
rence and Jay W. Lorsch, and E. L. Trist and L. W.
Bamforth. The conflicting evidence is ignored, perhaps
with the intent of increasing the acceptance of what is
presented as true organizational behavior.
For many years, a major complaint in the social sci
ences has been that everyone desires more precise defi65
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW April 1982 • Book Reviews
nitions in order to make the field more “scientific”.
Miles’ work, which adds another imprecise term to the
lexicon, has not aided the cause which asks for preci
sion.
— J a m es K. M c C o llu m
Assistant Professor
Auburn University
Equality is the goal
Working Women in Japan: Discrimination, Resistance,
and Reform.
By Alice H. Cook and Hiroko
Hayashi. Ithaca, N.Y., Cornell University, New
York State School of Industrial and Labor Rela
tions, 1980. 124 pp. $12.50, cloth; $7.95, paper.
Japanese men tend to think of women as children
and this view is prevalent among male coworkers. Even
though Japan’s female labor force participation rate is
very high, the employment system treats them unfairly
— exploiting female workers probably more than any
other industrialized country. Alice H. Cook and Hiroko
Hayashi describe the Japanese employment system as
being “at bottom paternalistic, indeed even feudalistic
in spirit and motivation.”
The Japanese government is also a party to sex dis
crimination. The following quotations taken from a
meeting one of the authors had with a group of female
civil servants from a government tax office illustrate the
attitudes and practices with which Japanese women
have to cope.
Husbands often put wives under considerable pressure
to quit work and remain at home because they think it
does not look well for them if they permit their wives to
work . . . .
In the tax office there is no clear policy on early retire
ment and no pressures from supervisors for women to
retire. But when women have children they have to take
more days off than men do and gradually they experi
ence the feeling that they are taking advantage of their
fellow workers and are regarded as failures within their
group. This sense of their own inadequacy is bad for
their work . . . .
Women do not yet have any clear sense of their right
to work and therefore little feeling that they can or
should defend their rights . . . .
Discrimination exists in a very fundamental form with
in the office. To obtain a job, candidates must pass a na
tional examination but there are two different exam
inations, one for men and one for women. The one for
women admits them only to general office work; the one
for men admits them to ‘tax work.’ As soon as they are
hired, men are sent to school. Women start work with
out special training. Men are thus in the mainstream,
women in subsidiary work. This division of assignments
is based on the belief that women are not fitted for re
search or for inspection outside the tax office, that they
can only work inside the office on routine assignments.
Women are only very exceptionally promoted to work
outside the office . . . .
Digitized 66
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The beginning wage for men and women differs, based
on different work content. Men are promoted rapidly,
women progress very slowly. As soon as men finish their 6
months of school, they get their first wage raise, women
have to wait a year, though the civil service law provides
only for annual increases . . . .
A large portion of this book focuses on legal discrim
ination cases, citing detailed accounts of the problems
encountered by Japanese women and how the court
ruled. Cases are grouped by the following subjects:
equal pay, early retirement, transfers, and maternity
and related leaves.
In the “equal pay” cases, the defendants complain of
low wages despite seniority, almost nonexistent promo
tional opportunities, and a low rating, in general, for
women’s jobs. Equal pay issues are up against strong
opposition—in at least one case, the employer refused
to accept judgment even though the lower court decid
ed in favor of the plaintiff. As of April 1980, resolution
of this particular case was still pending in the high
court. Hayashi sums it up by saying that “legislation is
only the beginning, and full implementation of this
principle is still a distant target.”
Most Japanese employers believe that when a woman
becomes a homemaker she automatically becomes a less
efficient employee. Reflecting this, retirement discrimi
nation cases are placed into five categories depending
on individual employer practices. These categories are
“retirement on marriage, retirement at childbirth, dis
missal of ‘part time’ or ‘temporary’ employees, retire
ment at age 30, and different retirement ages for men
and women at career’s end.” Surprisingly, these policies
are public knowledge. For example, one Japanese
broadcasting firm referred to their retirement plan upon
marriage as “a gift from our company to the bride.”
The transfer system is often used by companies as a
roundabout way of dismissing female employees. One
such case involved a married teacher. When she reached
the age of 40, her employer informed her that she was
“no longer useful to the school.” She had an ill child
who needed her care. Her attendance record had
inconvenienced the school somewhat and therefore it
was expected that she would resign without any coerc
ing from her employer. She did not resign and was sub
sequently transferred to an island where transportation
was available to the mainland only on weekends. Thus,
she gave up her fight, although as the authors point
out, “She was a public employee and presumably espe
cially protected in her right to equal job opportunity.”
Other discrimination cases presented in court involved
using “transfer” as a punitive measure against union in
volvement. Fortunately, union-related cases are dealt
with fairly smoothly because the Japanese Trade Union
Act forbids this type of behavior on the part of the em
ployer.
Lastly, we are given a glimpse of the court cases con
cerning maternity and menstrual leave which is written
into Japanese law. Seldom are Japanese women allowed
to use these rights to their full advantage. A study in
1974 by the Women’s and Minor’s Bureau of the Japa
nese Ministry of Labor found that “about 74 percent of
the women took half or less of their legally prescribed
leave.’’ Also, if a pregnant woman feels overwhelmed by
her present duties, she will endeavor to continue her
normal work routine (even at the risk of miscarriage)
rather than request special permission to be placed on a
lighter job. This is done because of the woman’s fear of
being asked to resign. The core of this problem rests on
the fact that “no real provision is made to implement
these rights.’’
Cook and Hayashi conclude with a brief but skillful
analysis of the steps now being taken to improve work
ing conditions for Japanese women. These include dis
cussion of litigation, the role of unions, and government
plans. An appendix and tables describe the role of
women in the Japanese labor force from the 1960’s to
1978. The reader who is interested in this subject will
benefit greatly from the inclusion of a bibliography
which indicates indepth research on the part of these
well-versed authors.
Working Women in Japan raises important issues
which will be of interest to both men and women who
are concerned with today’s labor movement and its his
tory. Many readers will feel empathy, even outrage, but
more important, a sense of hope will be gained from this
book. In one case, women “not only regained their jobs
but got 6 years’ backpay to cover the long period of le
gal proceedings.” This shows remarkable progress, albeit
slow, in the Japanese women’s struggle toward equality
in the workplace.
— R o b in M
is n e r
Boatm an
Office of Publications
Bureau of Labor Statistics
Publications received
Agriculture and natural resources
Carew, Joy Gleason, “A Note on Women and Agricultural
Technology in the Third World,” Labour and Society,
July-September 1981, pp. 279-85.
Education
Leslie, David W., Samuel E. Kellams, G. Manny Gunne,
Part-time Faculty in American Higher Education. New
York, Praeger Publishers, 1982, 151 pp., bibliography.
$18.95.
Moe, Edward O., “Research and Education in the Public In
terest,” Rural Sociology, Winter 1981, pp. 561-81.
Health and safety
Alacchi, Georges and Constantin Todradze, “Safety in Mines
and the Role of Training,” International Labour Review,
September-October 1981, pp. 615-29.
Quenum, Comlan A. A., “Reflections on the Concept of Basic
Needs and Primary Health Care,” Labour and Society,
July-September 1981, pp. 287-92.
Industrial relations
Anderson, John and Morley Gunderson, Union-Management
Relations in Canada. Reading, Mass., Addison-Wesley
Publishers, 1982, 584 pp.
Freeman, Richard B. and James L. Medoff, The Impact of
Collective Bargaining: Illusion or Reality? Cambridge,
Mass., National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.,
1981, 64 pp. ( n b e r Working Paper Series, 735.) $1.50.
Gitt, Cynthia E., “The 1978 Amendments to the Age Dis
crimination in Employment Act— A Legal Overview,”
Marquette Law Review, Summer 1981, pp. 607-56.
Ichniowski, Casey, Collective Bargaining and Compulsory Arbi
tration: Prescriptions for the Blue Flu. Cambridge, Mass.,
National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc., 1981, 35
pp. ( n b e r Working Paper Series, 769.) $1.50.
Jain, Harish C. and Peter J. Sloane, Equal Employment Issues:
Race and Sex Discrimination in the United States, Cana
da, and Britain. New York, Praeger Publishers, 1981, 255
pp. $28.95.
Queen’s University, Labor Relations Law: Cases, Materials and
Commentary. 3d ed., Kingston, Ontario, Canada, Queen’s
University, Industrial Relations Center, 1981, 656 pp.
$27.50, paper.
International economics
Aaron, Henry J., ed., The Value-Added Tax: Lessons from Eu
rope. Washington, The Brookings Institution, 1981, 107
pp. $10.95, cloth; $4.95, paper.
Banks, Arthur S., Vivian Carlip, R. Peter Dewitt, Jr., William
Overstreet, Economic Handbook o f the World, 1981. New
York, McGraw-Hill Book Co., 1981, 585 pp. $39.95.
Freeman, Orville L., “A Global Strategy for Agriculture,”
The Journal I The Institute for Socioeconomic Studies,
Winter 1981-82, pp. 22-23.
Humphrey, Thomas M., “Adam Smith and the Monetary Ap
proach to the Balance of Payments,” Economic Review,
Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond, November-December 1981, pp. 3-10.
Selden, Richard T., “Inflation and Monetary Growth: Experi
ence in Fourteen Countries of Europe and North
America Since 1958,” Economic Review, November-De
cember 1981, pp. 19-31.
“Proceedings from the Annual Meeting of the American Agri
cultural Economics Association, Held July 26-29, 1981,
Clemson, S.C.,” American Journal o f Agricultural Eco
nomics, December 1981, pp. 767-1077.
Webb, James R. and Daniel A. Rivetti, “An Analysis of the
Two Sides of the Balance Sheet: An International Ap
proach,” Akron Business and Economic Review, Winter
1981, pp. 30-33.
Duncan, Marvin, “The Farm Outlook: Recovery in 1982,”
Economic Review, Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City,
December 1981, pp. 15-25.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
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67
M O N T H L Y LA B O R R EV IEW April 1982 • Book Reviews
Labor and economic history
Eggert, Gerald G., Steelmasters and Labor Reform, 1886-1923.
Pittsburgh, Pa., University of Pittsburgh Press, 1981, 212
pp. $17.95.
Reed, Merl E., Leslie S. Hough, Gary M Fink, eds., Southern
Workers and Their Unions, 1880-1975. Westport, Conn.,
Greenwood Press, 1981, 249 pp. (Contributions in Eco
nomics and Economic History, No. 39.) $29.95.
Robinson, Archie, George Meany and His Times: A Biography.
New York, Simon and Schuster, 1981, 445 pp. $18.75.
Single copy, $12.50, AFL-CIO Books, P.O. Box 37473,
Washington 20013.
Management and organization theory
Anderson, John C., George T. Milkovich, Anne Tsui, “A
Model of Intra-Organizational Mobility,” Academy of
Management Review, October 1981, pp. 529-38.
Biggadike, E. Ralph, “The Contributions of Marketing to
Strategic Management,” Academy o f Management Review,
October 1981, pp. 621-32.
Camden, Thomas M., “Using Outplacement as a Career De
velopment Tool,” Personnel Administrator, January 1982,
pp. 35-37.
Griffin, Ricky W., Ann Welsh, Gregory Moorhead, “Per
ceived Task Characteristics and Employee Performance:
A Literature Review,” Academy o f Management Review,
October 1981, pp. 655-64.
Hastings, Robert E., “No-fault Career Counseling Can Boost
Middle-and Upper-Management Productivity,” Personnel
Administrator, January 1982, pp. 22-27.
Jemison, David B., “The Importance of an Integrative Ap
proach to Strategic Management Research,” Academy of
Management Review, October 1981, pp. 601-08.
Moravec, Milan, “A Cost-Effective Career Planning Program
Requires a Strategy,” Personnel Administrator, January
1982, pp. 28-32.
Pesci, Michael, “Stress Management: Separating Myth from
Reality,” Personnel Administrator, January 1982, begin
ning on p. 57.
Porter, Michael E., “The Contributions of Industrial Organi
zation to Strategic Management,” Academy o f Manage
ment Review, October 1981, pp. 609-20.
Puritano, Vincent and Lawrence Korb, “Streamlining
Planning, Programming, and Budgeting System ( p p b s ) to
Better Manage National Defense,” Public Administration
Review, September-October 1981, pp. 569-74.
Schuler, Randall S., “Occupational Health in Organizations:
Strategies for Personnel Effectiveness,” Personnel Admin
istrator, January 1982, pp. 47-55.
Monetary and fiscal policy
Bernstein, Jeffrey I. and Douglas Fisher, “The Demand for
Money and the Term Structure of Interest Rates: A Port
folio Approach,” Southern Economic Journal, October
1981, pp. 400-11.
68
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Goodfriend, Marvin, “A Prescription for Monetary Policy,
1981,” Economic Review, Federal Reserve Bank of Rich
mond, November-December 1981, pp. 11-18.
Randall, Maury R., “Inflation, Taxes, and Financial Re
ports,” Akron Business and Economic Review, Winter
1981, pp. 7-11.
Prices and living conditions
American Enterprise Institute for Public Policy Research, A
Conversation with Dr. Ezra Sadan: Combating Inflation 'in
Israel. Washington, 1981, 18 pp. ( a e i Studies, 339.)
$2.25, paper.
U.S. Department of Agriculture, usda Estimates of the Cost of
Raising a Child: A Guide to Their Use and Interpretation.
Washington, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultur
al Research Service, 1981, 57 pp. (Miscellaneous Publica
tion, 1411.)
Productivity and technological change
Friedland, William H. and others, Manufacturing Green Gold:
Capital, Labor, and Technology in the Lettuce Industry.
New York, Cambridge University Press, 1981, 159 pp.,
bibliography. $24.95, cloth; $8.95, paper.
Moomaw, Ronald L., “Productive Efficiency and Region,”
Southern Economic Journal, October 1981, pp. 344-57.
Social institutions and social change
Akabas, Shelia H. and Paul A. Kurzman, eds., Work, Work
ers, and Work Organizations: A View from Social Work.
Englewood Cliffs, N.J., Prentice-Hall, Inc., 1982, 242 pp.
$18.95.
McAdoo, Harriette Pipes, ed., Black Families. Beverly Hills,
Calif., Sage Publications, 1981, 303 pp.
Schorr, Alvin L., “Single Parents, Women, and Public Poli
cy,” The Journal/The Institute for Socioeconomic Stud
ies, Winter 1981-82, pp. 100-13.
Timmermann, Sandra, “The Older Consumer in the 1980s:
Implications for the Private Sector,” The Journal/The In
stitute for Socioeconomic Studies, Winter 1981-82, pp.
61-75.
Welfare programs and social insurance
Cymrot, Donald J., “Tax Incentives, Turnover Costs and Pri
vate Pensions,” Southern Economic Journal, October
1981, pp. 365-76.
Jud, Robert, The Retirement Decision: How American Manag
ers View Their Prospects. New York, AMACOM, A division
of American Management Associations, 1981, 45 pp.
$7.50, a m a members; $10, nonmembers.
Mangum, Garth L., ed., CETA— Results and Redesign: Pro
ceedings o f a Conference Sponsored by the National Coun
cil on Employment Policy, Held June 23-24, 1981.
Washington, The National Council on Employment Poli
cy, 1981, 194 pp. Available from Olympus Publishing
Co., Salt Lake City, Utah.
Raskin, A. H., “Pension Power,” The Journal/The Institute
of Socioeconomic Studies, Winter 1981-82, pp. 76-99.
Current
Labor Statistics
Employment data from household survey. Definitions and notes ...........................................
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Employment status of noninstitutional population, selected years,1950-81
Employment status by sex, age, and race, seasonally adjusted ........................................................................................
Selected employment indicators, seasonally adjusted ........................................................................................................
Selected unemployment indicators, seasonally adjusted .....................................................................................................
Unemployment rates, by sex and age, seasonally adjusted ................................................................................................
Unemployed persons, by reason for unemployment, seasonally adjusted .....................................................................
Duration of unemployment, seasonally adjusted ................................................................................................................
Employment, hours, and earnings data from establishment surveys. Definitions and notes
8 . Employment by industry, selected years, 1950-81
9.
10.
11 .
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
Employment by State ...............................................................................................................................................................
Employment by industry division and major manufacturing group ................................................................................
Employment by industry division and major manufacturing group, seasonallyadjusted ..........................................
Labor turnover rates in manufacturing, 1977 to date ........................................................................................................
Labor turnover rates in manufacturing, by major industry group ..................................................................................
Hours and earnings, by industry division, selected years, 1950-81
Weekly hours, by industry division andmajor manufacturing g r o u p ...............................................................................
Weekly hours, by industry division andmajor manufacturing group, seasonally adjusted .......................................
Hourly earnings, by industry division and major manufacturing group ........................................................................
Hourly Earnings Index, by industry division, seasonally adjusted
..............................
Weekly earnings, by industry division and major manufacturing group ......................................................................
Gross and spendable weekly earnings, in current and 1967 dollars, 1961 todate .......................................................
Unemployment insurance data. Definitions .................................................................................
2 1 . Unemployment insurance and employment service operations
........................................................................................
71
71
72
73
74
75
75
75
76
77
77
78
79
80
80
81
82
83
84
84
85
86
87
87
Price data. Definitions and notes
22.
23.
24.
25.
26.
27.
28.
29.
30.
Consumer Price Index, 1967-80
Consumer Price Index, U.S. city average, general summary and selected items
.....................................................
Consumer Price Index, cross classification of region and population size class
.....................................................
Consumer Price Index, selected areas .....................................................................................................................................
Producer Price Indexes, by stage of processing ..................................................................................................................
Producer Price Indexes, by commodity groupings .............................................................................................................
Producer Price Indexes, for special commodity groupings ................................................................................................
Producer Price Indexes, by durability of product ................................................................................................................
Producer Price Indexes for the output of selected SIC industries
...........................................................................
100
Productivity data. D efinitions and notes ..............................................................................................
103
31.
32.
33.
34.
Annual indexes of productivity, hourly compensation, unit costs, and prices, selectedyears, 1950-81
Annual changes in productivity, hourly compensation, unit costs, and prices, 1971-81
Quarterly indexes of productivity, hourly compensation, unit costs, and prices,seasonally adjusted ......................
Percent change from preceding quarter and year in productivity, hourly compensation,unit costs, and prices . .
Labor-management data. D efinitions
89
95
96
97
98
100
100
103
104
104
105
....................................................................................................
106
35. Wage and benefit settlements in major collective bargaining units, 1976 to date ........................................................
36. Effective wage rate adjustments in major collective bargaining units, 1976 to date ..................................................
37. Work stoppages, 1947 to date ................................................................................................................................................
106
107
107
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69
NOTES ON CURRENT LABOR STATISTICS
This section of the R e v i e w presents the principal statistical se
ries collected and calculated by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
A brief introduction to each group of tables provides defi
nitions, notes on the data, sources, and other material usually
found in footnotes.
R eaders w ho need additional inform ation are invited to
consu lt the BLS regional offices listed on the inside front cov
er of this issue of the R e v i e w . Som e general notes applicable to
several series are given below.
Seasonal adjustment. Certain monthly and quarterly data are adjusted
to eliminate the effect of such factors as climatic conditions, industry
production schedules, opening and closing of schools, holiday buying
periods, and vacation practices, which might otherwise mask short
term movements of the statistical series. Tables containing these data
are identified as “seasonally adjusted.” Seasonal effects are estimated
on the basis of past experience. When new seasonal factors are com
puted each year, revisions may affect seasonally adjusted data for sev
eral preceding years.
Seasonally adjusted labor force data in tables 2-7 were revised in
the March 1982 issue of the Review to reflect experience through 1981.
The original estimates also were revised to 1970 to reflect 1980 census
population controls.
Beginning in January 1980, the BLS introduced two major modifi
cations in the seasonal adjustment methodology for labor force data.
First, the data are being seasonally adjusted with a new procedure
called X -ll/A R IM A , which was developed at Statistics Canada as an
extension of the standard X -ll method. A detailed description of the
procedure appears in The X -ll ARIMA Seasonal Adjustment Method
by Estela Bee Dagum (Statistics Canada Catalogue No. 12-564E, Feb
ruary 1980). The second change is that seasonal factors are now being
calculated for use during the first 6 months of the year, rather than for
the entire year, and then are calculated at mid-year for the July-December period. Revisions of historical data continue to be made only
at the end of each calendar year.
Annual revision of the seasonally adjusted payroll data in tables
11, 13, 16, and 18 begins with the August 1980 issue using the
X -ll ARIM A seasonal adjustment methodology. New seasonal fac
tors for productivity data in tables 33 and 34 are usually intro
duced in the September issue. Seasonally adjusted indexes and percent
changes from month to month and from quarter to quarter are
published for numerous Consumer and Producer Price Index series.
However, seasonally adjusted indexes are not published for the U.S.
average All Items CPI. Only seasonally adjusted percent changes are
available for this series.
Adjustments for price changes. Some data are adjusted to eliminate
the effect of changes in price. These adjustments are made by dividing
current dollar values by the Consumer Price Index or the appropriate
component of the index, then multiplying by 100. For example, given
a current hourly wage rate of $3 and a current price index number of
150, where 1967 = 100, the hourly rate expressed in 1967 dollars is
$2 ($3/150 X 100 = $2). The resulting values are described as
“real,” “constant,” or “ 1967” dollars.
Availability of information. Data that supplement the tables in this
section are published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics in a variety of
sources. Press releases provide the latest statistical information
published by the Bureau; the major recurring releases are published
according to the schedule given below. The BLS Handbook of Labor
Statistics, Bulletin 2070, provides more detailed data and greater his
torical coverage for most of the statistical series presented in the
Monthly Labor Review. More information from the household and es
tablishment surveys is provided in Employment and Earnings, a
monthly publication of the Bureau, and in two comprehensive data
books issued annually— Employment and Earnings, United States and
Employment and Earnings, States and Areas. More detailed informa
tion on wages and other aspects of collective bargaining appears in
the monthly periodical, Current Wage Developments. More detailed
price information is published each month in the periodicals, the CPI
Detailed Report and Producer Prices and Price Indexes.
Symbols
p = preliminary. To improve the timeliness of some series,
preliminary figures are issued based on representative
but incomplete returns.
r = revised. Generally this revision reflects the availability
of later data but may also reflect other adjustments,
n.e.c. = not elsewhere classified.
Schedule of release dates for major BLS statistical series
Series
Employment situation............................................................
Producer Price Index ............................................................
Consumer Price Index ...........................................................
Real earnings .....................................................................
Major collective bargaining settlements ....................................
Productivity and costs:
Nonfarm business and manufacturing ...................................
Nonfinancial corporations ...................................................
70
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Release
date
Period
covered
Release
date
Period
covered
MLR table
number
April 2
April 9
April 23
April 23
April 28
March
March
March
March
1st quarter
May 7
May 14
May 21
May 21
April
April
April
April
1-11
26-30
22-25
14-20
35-36
April 29
1st quarter
May 26
1st quarter
31-34
31-34
EMPLOYMENT DATA FROM THE HOUSEHOLD SURVEY
d a t a in this section are obtained from the
Current Population Survey, a program of personal interviews
conducted monthly by the Bureau of the Census for the Bureau
of Labor Statistics. The sample consists of about 60,000
households beginning in May 1981, selected to represent the
U.S. population 16 years of age and older. Households are
interviewed on a rotating basis, so that three-fourths of the
sample is the same for any 2 consecutive months.
E m plo ym ent
Definitions
Employed persons are (1) those who worked for pay any time
during the week which includes the 12 th day of the month or who
worked unpaid for 15 hours or more in a family-operated enterprise
and (2 ) those who were temporarily absent from their regular jobs
because of illness, vacation, industrial dispute, or similar reasons. A
person working at more than one job is counted only in the job at
which he or she worked the greatest number of hours.
Unemployed persons are those who did not work during the survey
week, but were available for work except for temporary illness and
had looked for jobs within the preceding 4 weeks. Persons who did
not look for work because they were on layoff or waiting to start new
jobs within the next 30 days are also counted among the unemployed.
The unemployment rate represents the number unemployed as a
percent of the civilian labor force.
The civilian labor force consists of all employed or unemployed
persons in the civilian noninstitutional population; the total labor
force includes military personnel. Persons not in the labor force are
1.
those not classified as employed or unemployed; this group includes
persons retired, those engaged in their own housework, those not
working while attending school, those unable to work because of
long-term illness, those discouraged from seeking work because of
personal or job market factors, and those who are voluntarily idle.
The noninstitutional population comprises all persons 16 years of age
and older who are not inmates of penal or mental institutions,
sanitariums, or homes for the aged, infirm, or needy.
Full-time workers are those employed at least 35 hours a week;
part-time workers are those who work fewer hours. Workers on parttime schedules for economic reasons (such as slack work, terminating
or starting a job during the week, material shortages, or inability to
find full-time work) are among those counted as being on full-time
status, under the assumption that they would be working full time if
conditions permitted. The survey classifies unemployed persons in
full-time or part-time status by their reported preferences for full-time
or part-time work.
Notes on the data
From time to time, and especially after a decennial census,
adjustments are made in the Current Population Survey figures to
correct for estimating errors during the preceding years. These
adjustments affect the comparability of historical data presented in
table 1. A description of these adjustments and their effect on the
various data series appear in the Explanatory Notes of E m p lo y m e n t
a n d E a rn in g s.
Data in tables 2-7 are seasonally adjusted, based on the seasonal
experience through December 1981.
Employment status of the noninstitutional population, 16 years and over, selected years, 1950-81
[Numbers in thousands]
Total labor force
Year
Total non
institutional
population
Civilian labor force
Employed
Number
Percent of
population
Total
Unemployed
Total
Agriculture
Nonagricultural
industries
Number
Percent of
labor
force
Not in
labor force
1950
1955
1960
1964
1965
.......................................................
.......................................................
.......................................................
.......................................................
.......................................................
106,645
112,732
119,759
127,224
129,236
63,858
68,072
72,142
75,830
77,178
59.9
60.4
60.2
59.6
59.7
62,208
65,023
69,628
73,091
74,455
58,918
62,170
65,778
69,305
71,088
7,160
6,450
5,458
4,523
4,361
51,758
55,722
60,318
64,782
66,726
3,288
2,852
3,852
3,786
3,366
5.3
4.4
5.5
5.2
4.5
42,787
44,660
47,617
51,394
52,058
1966
1967
1968
1969
1970
.......................................................
.......................................................
.......................................................
.......................................................
.......................................................
131,180
133,319
135,562
137,841
140,272
78,893
80,793
82,272
84,240
85,959
60.1
60.6
60.7
61.1
61.3
75,770
77,347
78,737
80,734
82,771
72,895
74,372
75,920
77,902
78,678
3,979
3,844
3,817
3,606
3,463
68,915
70,527
72,103
74,296
75,215
2,875
2,975
2,817
2,832
4,093
3.8
3.8
3.6
3.5
4.9
52,288
52,527
53,291
53,602
54,315
1971
1972
1973
1974
1975
.......................................................
.......................................................
.......................................................
..............................................
.......................................................
143,033
146,574
149,423
152,349
155,333
87,198
89,484
91,756
94,179
95,955
61.0
61.1
61.4
61.8
61.8
84,382
87,034
89,429
91,949
93,775
79,367
82,153
85,064
86,794
85,846
3,394
3,484
3,470
3,515
3,408
75,972
78,669
81,594
83,279
82,438
5,016
4,882
4,365
5,156
7,929
5.9
5.6
4.9
5.6
8.5
55,834
57,091
57,667
58,171
59,377
1976
1977
1978
1979
.......................................................
.....................................................
.......................................................
.......................................................
158,294
161,166
164,027
166,951
98,302
101,142
104,368
107,050
62.1
62.8
63.6
64.1
96,158
99,009
102,251
104,962
88,752
92,017
96,048
98,824
3,331
3,283
3,387
3,347
85,421
88,734
92,661
95,477
7,406
6,991
6,202
6,137
7.7
7.1
6.1
5.8
59,991
60,025
59,659
59,900
1980 .......................................................
1981 .......................................................
169,848
172,272
109,042
110,812
64.2
64.3
106,940
108,670
99,303
100,397
3,364
3,368
95,938
97,030
7,637
8,273
7.1
7.6
60,806
61,460
Note:
Data for 1970-81 have been revised to reflect 1980 census population controls.
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71
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW April 1982 • Current Labor Statistics: Household Data
2.
Employment status by sex, age, and race, seasonally adjusted
[Numbers in thousands]
19« 2
1981
Annual average
Employment status
1980
1981
Feb.
Mar.
Apr.
May
June
July
Aug.
Sept.
Oct.
Nov.
Dec.
Jan.
Feb.
169,848
109,042
167,745
106,940
99,303
3,364
95,938
7,637
7.1
60,806
172,272
110,812
170,130
108,670
100,397
3,368
97,030
8,273
7.6
61,460
171,400
110,155
169,280
108,034
100,069
3,346
96,723
7,965
7.4
61,246
171,581
110,492
169,453
108,364
100,406
3,343
97,063
7,958
7.3
61,089
171,770
110,906
169,641
108,777
100,878
3,470
97,408
7,899
7.3
60,864
171,956
111,420
169,829
109,293
101,045
3,405
97,640
8,248
7.5
60,536
172,172
110,565
170,042
108,434
100,430
3,348
97,082
8,004
7.4
61,608
172,385
110,827
170,246
108,688
100,864
3,342
97,522
7,824
7.2
61,558
172,559
110,978
170,399
108,818
100,840
3,404
97,436
7,978
7.3
61,581
172,758
110,659
170,593
108,494
100,258
3,358
96,900
8,236
7.6
62,099
172,966
111,170
170,809
109,012
100,343
3,378
96,965
8,669
8.0
61,797
173,155
111,430
170,996
109,272
100,172
3,372
96,800
9,100
8.3
61,724
173,330
111,348
171,166
109,184
99,613
3,209
96,404
9,571
8.8
61,982
173,495
111,038
171,335
108,879
99,581
3,411
96,170
9,298
8.5
62,456
173,657
111,333
171,489
109,165
99,590
3,373
96,217
9,575
8.8
62,324
71,138
56,455
53,101
2,396
50,706
3,353
5.9
14,683
72,419
57,197
53,582
2,384
51,199
3,615
6.3
15,222
71,951
56,816
53,383
2,349
51,034
3,433
6.0
15,135
72,037
57,028
53,618
2,352
51,266
3,410
6.0
15,009
72,142
57,157
53,820
2,419
51,401
3,337
5.8
14,985
72,251
57,479
53,884
2,390
51,494
3,595
6.3
14,772
72,359
57,094
53,597
2,379
51,218
3,497
6.1
15,265
72,472
57,172
53,874
2,383
51,491
3,298
5.8
15,300
72,559
57,250
53,791
2,422
51,369
3,459
6.0
15,309
72,670
57,262
53,693
2,383
51,310
3,569
6.2
15,408
72,795
57,355
53,504
2,413
51,091
3,851
6.7
15,440
72,921
57,459
53,354
2,382
50,972
4,105
7.1
15,462
73,020
57,665
53,122
2,311
50,811
4,543
7.9
15,355
73,120
57,368
53,047
2,390
50,657
4,322
7.5
15,752
73,209
57,448
53,097
2,386
50,711
4,351
7.6
15,761
80,065
41,106
38,492
584
37,907
2,615
6.4
38,959
81,497
42,485
39,590
604
38,986
2,895
6.8
39,012
80,966
41,974
39,211
616
38,595
2,763
6.6
38,992
81,076
42,152
39,365
610
38,755
2,787
6.6
38,924
81,193
42,332
39,536
609
38,927
2,796
6.6
38,861
81,308
42,608
39,737
605
39,132
2,871
6.7
38,700
81,434
42,581
39,757
585
39,172
2,824
6.6
38,853
81,561
42,682
39,810
590
39,220
2,872
6.7
38,879
81,671
42,666
39,841
609
39,232
2,825
6.6
39,005
81,792
42,344
39,426
608
38,818
2,918
6.9
39,448
81,920
42,831
39,814
596
39,218
3,017
7.0
39,089
82,038
42,987
39,878
635
39,243
3,109
7.2
39,051
82,151
42,888
39,713
572
39,141
3,175
7.4
39,263
82,260
42,868
39,764
649
39,115
3,104
7.2
39,392
82,367
43,031
39,744
628
39,116
3,286
7.6
39,336
16,543
9,378
7,710
385
7,325
1,669
17.8
7,165
16,214
8,988
7,225
380
6,845
1,763
19.6
7,226
16,363
9,244
7,475
381
7,094
1,769
19.1
7,119
16,341
9,184
7,423
381
7,042
1,761
19.2
7,157
16,305
9,288
7,522
442
7,080
1,766
19.0
7,017
16,270
9,206
7,424
410
7,014
1,782
19.4
7,064
16,249
8,759
7,076
384
6,692
1,683
19.2
7,490
16,213
8,834
7,180
369
6,811
1,654
18.7
7,379
16,169
8,902
7,208
373
6,835
1,694
19.0
7,267
16,131
8,888
7,139
367
6,772
1,749
19.7
7,243
16,093
8,826
7,025
369
6,656
1,801
204
7,267
16,037
8,826
6,940
355
6,585
1,886
21.4
7,211
15,995
8,631
6,778
326
6,452
1,853
21.5
7,364
15,955
8,643
6,771
373
6,398
1,872
21.7
7,312
15,913
8,686
6,748
359
6,389
1,938
22.3
7,227
147,539 147,670
95,199 95,666
89,080 89,237
6,429
6,119
6.4
6.7
52,340 52,004
147,804
94,887
88,799
6,088
6.4
52,917
18,170
11,126
9,460
1,666
15.0
7,044
18,206
11,033
9,310
1,723
15.6
7,173
TOTAL
Total noninstitutional population1 ........................
Civilian noninstitutional population’ ....................
Civilian labor force .............................
Employed ...................................
Agriculture ...........................
Nonagricultural industries .......
Unemployed ...............................
Unemployment rate ......................
Not in labor force ...............................
Men, 20 years and over
Civilian noninstitutional population’ ....................
Civilian labor force ...................................
Nonagricultural industries ..............
Unemployed ....................................
Not in labor force ....................................
Women, 20 years and over
Civilian noninstitutional population’ ....................
Civilian labor force ...................................
Nonagricultural industries ..............
Unemployed ....................................
Unemployment rate ...........................
Not in labor force ....................................
Both sexes, 16 to 19 years
Civilian noninstitutional population’ ....................
Nonagricultural industries ..............
Unemployed ....................................
Unemployment rate ...........................
Not in labor force ....................................
White
Civilian noninstitutional population’ ....................
Employed ........................................
Unemployed ....................................
Not in labor force ....................................
146,122 147,908
93,600 95,052
87,715 88,709
5,884
6,343
6.7
6.3
52,522 52,856
147,132 147,335
94,552 94,756
88,388 88,653
6,164
6,103
6.4
6.5
52,580 52,579
147,976 148,144 148,370 148,562 148,631 148,755 148,842 148,855
95,126 95,163 94,884 95,365 95,535 95,329 95,120 95,333
89,170 89,221 88,628 88,734 88,498 88,010 87,955 87,990
7,344
7,165
7,037
7,319
6,631
6,256
5,942
5,956
7.7
7.5
7.4
7.7
7.0
6.6
6.2
6.3
53,522
53,426
53,722
53,096
53,197
53,486
52,850 52,981
Black
Civilian noninstitutional population’ ....................
Civilian labor force ...................................
Employed ........................................
Unemployed ....................................
Unemployment rate ...........................
Not in labor force ....................................
17,824
10,865
9,313
1,553
14.3
6,959
18,219
11,086
9,355
1,731
15.6
7,133
18,076
10,951
9,350
1,601
14.6
7,125
18,105
11,036
9,383
1,653
15.0
7,069
18,137
11,126
9,488
1,638
14.7
7,011
’ As in table 1, population figures are not seasonally adjusted.
Effective with January 1982 data, population counts derived from the 1980 census are'
incorporated into the estimation procedures used in the Current Population Survey. Data for
Note:
72
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18,239
10,971
9,338
1,633
14.9
7,268
18,266
11,069
9,267
1,802
16.3
7,197
18,297
11,134
9,319
1,815
16.3
7,163
18,333
11,188
9,313
1,875
16.8
7,145
18,362
11,207
9,321
1,886
16.8
7,155
18,392
11,226
9,279
1,947
17.3
7,166
18,423
11,188
9,314
1,874
16.8
7,235
18,450
11,205
9,265
1,939
17.3
7,245
1970-81 have been revised. Also, seasonally adjusted data have been revised based on the seasonal
experience through December 1981.
3.
Selected employment Indicators, seasonally adjusted
[ Numbers in thousands]
Annual average
1981
Selected categories
1982
1980
1981
Feb.
Mar.
Apr.
May
June
July
99,303
57,186
42,117
39,004
23,532
100,397
57,397
43,000
38,882
23,915
100,069
57,331
42,738
38,944
23,824
100,406
57,531
42,875
39,036
23,920
100,878
57,792
43,086
39,186
23,979
101,045
57,793
43,252
39,120
24,192
100,430
57,279
43,151
38,930
24,106
100,864
57,640
43,224
38,961
24,159
51,882
15,968
52,949
16,420
52,739
16,185
52,860
16,219
52,855
16,178
53,016
16,093
52,957
16,410
52,907
16,364
53,141
16,621
52,908
16,598
53,199
16,681
11,138
6,303
18,473
31,452
12,787
10,565
3,531
4,567
13,228
2,741
11,540
6,425
18,564
31,261
12,662
10,540
3,476
4,583
13,438
2,749
11,629
6,397
18,528
31,193
12,684
10,618
3,446
4,445
13,347
2,728
11,725
6,372
18,544
31,288
12,826
10,464
3,447
4,551
13,478
2,730
11,616
6,290
18,771
31,685
12,825
10,691
3,483
4,686
13,468
2,826
11,488
6,562
18,873
31,796
12,911
10,716
3,466
4,703
13,470
2,748
11,411
6,513
18,623
31,538
12,749
10,703
3,493
4,593
13,214
2,710
11,578
6,373
18,592
31,580
12,787
10,719
3,526
4,548
13,526
2,727
11,460
6,490
18,570
31,611
12,724
10,658
3,530
4,699
13,282
2,753
11,533
6,441
18,336
31,266
12,514
10,524
3,506
4,722
13,391
2,743
1,425
1,642
297
1,464
1,638
266
1,389
1,637
306
1,391
1,638
299
1,560
1,661
286
1,499
1,654
235
1,437
1,664
263
1,495
1,593
244
1,501
1,638
256
88,525
15,912
72,612
1,192
71,420
7,000
413
89,543
15,689
73,853
1,208
72,645
7,097
390
89,104
15,875
73,229
1,190
72,039
7,080
384
89,592
15,930
73,662
1,242
72,420
7,065
374
89,913
15,885
74,028
1,249
72,779
7,150
325
90,402
15,776
74,626
1,192
73,434
6,966
356
89,508
15,707
73,801
1,177
72,624
7,128
376
89,971
15,637
74,334
1,216
73,118
7,071
389
90,209
73,590
4,064
1,714
2,350
12,555
91,377
74,339
4,499
1,738
2,761
12,539
91,287
74,482
4,227
1,650
2,577
12,578
91,405
74,453
4,290
1,660
2,630
12,662
91,094
74,259
4,200
1,593
2,607
12,635
91,745
74,871
4,264
1,657
2,607
12,610
91,500.
74,693
4,033
1,465
2,568
12,774
92,532
75,620
4,374
1,680
2,694
12,538
Aug.
Sept.
Oct.
Nov.
Dec.
Jan.
Feb.
99,613
56,725
42,888
38,342
23,691
99,581
56,629
42,952
38,234
23,744
99,590
56,658
42,932
38,255
23,727
53,086
16,657
53,084
16,774
52,836
16,803
52,841
16,612
11,616
6,400
18,502
30,953
12,446
10,410
3,580
4,517
13,525
2,770
11,461
6,418
18,550
30,683
12,411
10,220
3,438
4,614
13,670
2,802
11,424
6,450
18,436
30,344
12,446
10,169
3,368
4,361
13,639
2,660
11,091
6,520
18,423
30,203
12,370
9,966
3,415
4,451
13,709
2,817
11,253
6,544
18,432
30,309
12,454
9,955
3,503
4,397
13,612
2,787
1,461
1,643
256
1,502
1,631
261
1,436
1,641
321
1,352
1,602
228
1,377
1,674
380
1,426
1,596
359
89,995
15,526
74,469
1,259
73,210
7,103
387
89,376
15,475
73,901
1,102
72,799
7,217
399
89,460
15,491
73,969
1,162
72,807
7,152
451
89,238
15,397
73,841
1,204
72,637
7,141
425
88,991
15,585
73,406
1,291
72,115
7,057
410
88,759
15,578
73,181
1,248
71,932
6,971
410
88,586
15,527
73,059
1,761
71,898
7,055
408
91,569
74,467
4,350
1,729
2,621
12,752
90,878
73,794
4,656
1,759
2,897
12,428
91,384
73,886
5,009
2,006
3,003
12,489
91,323
73,915
5,026
1,945
3,081
12,382
90,922
73,360
5,288
2,121
3,167
12,274
90,125
72,803
5,071
1,783
3,287
12,251
90,892
73,028
5,563
2,193
3,370
12,300
CHARACTERISTIC
Total employed, 16 years and over ....................
Men .....................................................
Women........................................
Married men, spouse present ......................
Married women, spouse present..................
100,840 100,258
57,551 57,471
43,289 42,787
38,961 38,855
24,043 23,626
100,343 100,172
57,266 57,051
43,077 43,121
38,746 38,553
23,874 23,820
OCCUPATION
White-collar workers........................................
Professional and technical .........................
Managers and administrators, except
farm ...................................................
Salesworkers............................................
Clerical workers........................................
Blue-collar workers..........................................
Craft and kindred workers .........................
Operatives, except transport........................
Transport equipment operatives ..................
Nonfarm laborers......................................
Service workers ............................................
Farmworkers .................................................
MAJOR INDUSTRY AND CLASS
OF WORKER
Agriculture:
Wage and salary workers...........................
Self-employed workers...............................
Unpaid family workers ...............................
Nonagricultural industries:
Wage and salary workers...........................
Government ......................................
Private industries.................................
Private households ........................
Other industries ...........................
Self-employed workers...............................
Unpaid family workers ...............................
PERSONS AT WORK1
Nonagricultural industries .................................
Full-time schedules ...................................
Part time for economic reasons....................
Usually work full time...........................
Usually work part time.........................
Part time for noneconomic reasons..............
'Excludes persons “with a job but not at work” during the survey period for such reasons as
vacation, illness, or industrial disputes.
Note: Effective with January 1982 data, population counts derived from the 1980
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
census are incorporated into the estimation procedures used in the Current Population Survey. Data for
1970-81 have been revised. Also, seasonally adjusted data have been revised based on the seasonal
experience through December 1981.
73
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW April 1982 • Current Labor Statistics: Household Data
4.
Selected unemployment indicators, seasonally adjusted
[Unemployment rates]
1982
1981
Annual average
Selected categories
1980
1981
Feb.
Mar.
Apr.
May
June
July
Aug.
Sept.
Oct.
Nov.
Dec.
Jan.
Feb.
Total, 16 years and over...................................
Men, 20 years and over.............................
Women, 20 years and over.........................
Both sexes, 16 to 19 years.........................
7.1
5.9
6.4
17.8
7.6
6.3
6.8
19.6
7.4
6.0
6.6
19.1
7.3
6.0
6.6
19.2
7.3
5.8
6.6
19.0
7.5
6.3
6.7
19.4
7.4
6.1
6.6
19.2
7.2
5.8
6.7
18.7
7.3
6.0
6.6
19.0
7.6
6.2
6.9
19.7
8.0
6.7
7.0
20.4
8.3
7.1
7.2
21.4
8.8
7.9
7.4
21.5
8.5
7.5
7.2
21.7
8.8
7.6
7.6
22.3
White, total ..............................................
Men, 20 years and over........................
Women, 20 years and over ..................
Both sexes, 16 to 19 years ..................
6.3
5.3
5.6
15.5
6.7
5.6
5.9
17.3
6.5
5.4
5.7
17.2
6.4
5.3
5.7
16.8
6.4
5.2
5.7
17.0
6.7
5.6
5.9
17.5
6.4
5.3
5.7
16.8
6.3
5.0
5.8
16.4
6.2
5.2
5.5
16.1
6.6
5.5
5.9
17.2
7.0
5.9
6.1
17.7
7.4
6.4
6.3
19.0
7.7
6.9
6.4
19.0
7.5
6.6
6.3
19.6
7.7
6.7
6.6
20.0
Black, total ..............................................
Men, 20 years and over........................
Women, 20 years and over ..................
Both sexes, 16 to 19 years ..................
14.3
12.4
11.9
38.5
15.6
13.5
13.4
41.4
14.6
12.0
13.2
38.3
15.0
12.1
13.6
39.7
14.7
12.1
12.9
40.2
15.0
13.0
13.1
36.9
15.6
13.7
13.3
40.9
14.9
12.7
13.1
40.0
16.3
13.6
13.8
49.0
16.3
14.5
14.0
40.8
16.8
14.7
13.9
45.6
16.8
15.5
13.6
44.1
17.3
16.5
14.1
42.2
16.8
16.3
13.3
41.2
17.3
16.0
14.5
42.3
Married men, spouse present ......................
Married women, spouse present..................
Women who maintain families......................
Full-time workers......................................
Part-time workers......................................
Unemployed 15 weeks and over..................
Labor force time lost’ .................................
4.2
5.8
9.2
6.9
8.8
1.7
7.9
4.3
6.0
10.4
7.3
9.4
2.1
8.5
4.1
5.8
9.8
7.1
9.1
2.1
8.2
4.1
5.9
9.6
7.1
9.1
2.1
8.2
3.8
5.9
9.9
6.9
9.2
2.0
8.2
4.0
5.8
10.4
7.1
9.6
2.0
8.6
4.2
5.7
10.7
7.1
9.2
2.2
7.9
3.9
5.7
11.2
6.8
9.3
2.0
7.9
4.0
5.5
10.1
6.9
9.6
2.0
7.9
4.4
6.0
10.7
7.3
9.6
2.1
8.5
4.8
6.1
10.6
7.7
9.5
2.1
9.1
5.2
6.5
10.8
8.1
10.2
2.2
9.5
5.7
6.6
10.5
8.7
9.2
2.2
10.1
5.3
6.2
10.4
8.4
9.6
2.2
10.0
5.3
7.0
10.2
8.5
10.8
2.5
9.8
3.7
2.5
2.4
4.4
5.3
10.0
6.6
12.2
8.8
14.6
7.9
4.6
4.0
2.8
2.7
4.6
5.7
10.3
7.5
12.2
8.7
14.7
8.9
5.3
3.8
2.6
2.5
4.1
5.4
10.2
7.1
12.1
8.6
14.9
8.7
4.9
3.9
2.7
2.5
4.1
5.7
10.0
7.1
11.7
9.1
14.2
8.3
5.2
4.0
3.1
2.4
4.2
5.6
9.7
6.8
11.6
8.1
14.0
8.5
3.9
4.0
2.8
2.6
4.6
5.6
9.9
7.2
11.8
8.2
13.5
9.4
5.2
3.9
2.8
2.7
4.3
5.4
9.8
7.1
11.1
8.1
14.7
8.9
6.2
4.0
2.8
2.6
4.9
5.7
9.5
6.9
7.3
14.4
8.0
4.8
3.9
2.5
2.7
4.7
5.7
9.5
7.0
11.1
8.0
13.2
8.9
5.4
4.1
2.8
2.7
5.0
5.8
10.2
7.7
11.6
8.7
14.6
9.0
4.0
4.1
2.6
2.8
4.9
6.0
10.9
8.3
12.8
8.0
15.6
9.3
6.2
4.2
2.7
3.0
5.0
6.0
11.8
8.5
14.1
10.4
16.0
9.7
6.2
4.5
3.4
3.1
4.9
6.2
12.7
9.3
15.5
10.5
16.9
9.6
6.4
4.2
2.9
2.7
4.5
6.3
12.5
9.0
15.4
10.2
16.9
9.2
6.9
4.6
3.1
3.1
4.8
6.7
12.5
8.4
15.4
10.3
17.9
9.8
4.9
7.4
14.1
8.5
8.9
7.9
4.9
7.4
5.3
4.1
11.0
7.7
15.6
8.3
8.2
8.4
5.2
8.1
5.9
4.7
12.1
7.6
13.7
8.5
8.7
8.3
5.4
7.7
5.9
4.3
11.9
7.5
14.7
8.1
8.0
8.3
6.1
7.6
5.6
4.6
12.1
7.3
14.5
7.6
7.5
7.8
5.5
7.5
5.8
4.7
9.4
7.7
15.7
7.8
7.4
8.6
5.7
8.3
5.8
4.7
11.0
7.4
16.1
7.4
7.1
7.9
4.9
7.7
5.8
4.6
13.3
7.2
15.2
7.3
7.1
7.6
4.1
7.9
5.7
4.6
10.7
7.3
16.2
7.0
6.5
7.9
4.8
7.9
5.7
4.5
12.0
7.7
16.3
7.9
7.7
8.3
4.2
8.5
6.0
4.7
11.0
8.1
17.6
8.6
8.6
8.6
4.8
8.4
6.2
4.7
13.4
8.4
17.8
9.4
9.5
9.3
5.5
8.6
6.1
5.2
14.1
9.1
18.1
11.0
11.8
9.6
6.0
8.9
6.4
5.0
14.8
8.8
18.7
10.4
11.0
9.5
6.4
8.7
5.9
4.8
16.2
9.0
18.1
10.6
11.3
9.5
5.9
9.0
6.5
5.2
12.8
CHARACTERISTIC
OCCUPATION
White-collar workers........................................
Professional and technical ..........................
Managers and administrators, except farm . . . .
Salesworkers............................................
Clerical workers........................................
Blue-collar workers..........................................
Craft and kindred workers .........................
Operatives, except transport........................
Transport equipment operatives ..................
Nonfarm laborers......................................
Service workers ............................................
Farmworkers .................................................
11.1
INDUSTRY
Nonagricultural private wage and salary workers2
Construction ............................................
Manufacturing ..........................................
Durable goods ...................................
Nondurable goods...............................
Transportation and public utilities..................
Wholesale and retail trade ..........................
Finance and service Industries......................
Government workers ......................................
Agricultural wage and salary workers..................
' Aggregate hours lost by the unemployed and persons on part time for economic reasons as a
percent of potentially available labor force hours.
2Includes mining, not shown separately.
74 FRASER
Digitized for
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Note: Effective with January 1982 data, population counts derived from the 1980 census are
incorporated Into the estimation procedures used in the Current Population Survey. Data for 1970-81
have been revised. Also, seasonally adjusted data have been revised based on the seasonal experience
through December 1981.
5.
Unemployment rates, by sex and age, seasonally adjusted
Sex and age
Annual average
1981
1980
1981
Total, 16 years and over...................................
16 to 19 years......................................
16 to 17 years....................................
18 to 19 years....................................
20 to 24 years........................................
25 years and over .....................................
25 to 54 years ....................................
55 years and over...............................
7.1
17.8
20.0
16.2
11.5
5.1
5.5
3.3
7.6
19.6
21.4
18.4
12.3
5.4
5.8
3.6
7.4
19.1
21.3
17.7
11.9
5.2
5.6
3.5
7.3
19.2
21.4
17.6
11.8
5.2
5.6
3.6
7.3
19.0
21.6
17.2
12.0
5.1
5.4
3.4
7.5
19.4
21.3
17.7
12.6
5.2
5.6
3.4
7.4
19.2
22.6
17.5
12.1
5.3
5.6
3.5
7.2
18.7
19.8
17.8
11.5
5.2
5.5
3.5
Men, 16 years and over........................
16 to 19 years.................................
16 to 17 years ...........................
18 to 19 years .............................
20 to 24 years....................................
25 years and over...............................
25 to 54 years .............................
55 years and over.........................
6.9
18.3
20.4
16.7
12.5
4.8
5.1
3.3
7.4
20.1
22.0
18.8
13.2
5.1
5.5
3.5
7.2
20.0
22.1
18.5
12.9
4.9
5.2
3.3
7.1
19.8
21.7
18.5
13.0
4.8
5.1
3.3
6.9
19.5
22.5
17.4
13.0
4.6
4.9
3.2
7.3
20.0
22.3
18.0
13.8
4.7
5.1
3.4
7.2
20.0
24.0
18.2
12.9
5.0
5.2
3.4
Women, 16 years and over..........................
16 to 19 years.....................................
16 to 17 years .............................
18 to 19 years .............................
20 to 24 years.....................................
25 years and over...............................
25 to 54 years .............................
55 years and over.........................
7.4
17.2
19.6
15.6
10.4
5.5
6.0
3.2
7.9
19.0
20.7
17.9
11.2
5.9
6.3
3.8
7.7
18.2
20.3
16.8
10.9
5.6
6.0
3.8
7.7
18.5
21.2
16.6
10.5
5.8
6.2
4.2
7.7
18.4
20.5
17.1
10.9
5.7
6.1
3.7
7.8
18.7
20.2
17.4
11.2
5.8
6.4
3.4
7.7
18.4
21.1
16.8
11.2
5.7
6.1
3.5
6.
Feb.
Mar.
Apr.
May
June
July
1982
Aug.
Sept.
Oct.
Nov.
Dec.
Jan.
Feb.
7.3
19.0
20.8
17.6
12.1
5.2
5.5
3.5
7.6
19.7
21.4
18.5
12.3
5.4
5.8
3.8
8.0
20.4
21.5
20.0
12.7
5.7
6.2
3.8
8.3
21.4
22.6
20.5
13.0
6.0
6.5
3.8
8.8
21.5
21.9
21.2
13.5
6.5
6.9
4.1
8.5
21.7
21.9
21.3
13.5
6.3
6.7
4.2
8.8
22.3
22.7
22.0
14.1
6.4
6.8
4.3
6.7
18.8
19.9
17.9
11.6
4.7
5.0
3.4
7.1
19.8
21.5
18.3
12.9
4.9
5.2
3.4
7.3
19.9
21.5
18.7
13.1
5.0
5.5
3.5
7.7
20.1
21.1
19.3
13.8
5.5
5.9
3.7
8.3
21.8
22.7
21.0
14.4
5.8
6.3
3.7
9.0
22.3
22.6
22.2
14.8
6.5
6.9
4.4
8.6
22.1
23.0
21.4
14.9
6.3
6.7
4.3
8.7
22.5
23.0
22.1
15.4
6.3
6.7
4.2
7.8
18.6
19.7
17.7
11.3
5.8
6.1
3.7
7.7
18.2
20.0
16.9
11.1
5.6
6.0
3.7
8.0
19.5
21.2
18.3
11.4
6.0
6.3
4.3
8.2
20.7
21.9
20.6
11.5
6.1
6.5
4.0
8.4
20.9
22.5
19.9
11.3
6.4
6.8
3.8
8.5
20.5
21.1
20.0
12.0
6.4
6.9
3.7
8.4
21.2
20.6
21.1
11.9
6.3
6.7
4.1
8.9
22.1
22.5
21.9
12.7
6.5
7.0
4.3
Unemployed persons, by reason for unemployment, seasonally adjusted
[Numbers in thousands]
1981
Reason for unemployment
1982
Feb.
Mar.
Apr.
May
June
July
Aug.
Sept.
Oct.
Nov.
Dec.
Jan.
Feb.
4,050
1,312
2,738
911
2,020
943
3,989
1,323
2,666
901
2,069
988
3,958
1,303
2,655
903
2,044
988
4,032
1,357
2,675
1,004
2,106
956
4,173
1,302
2,871
896
2,039
973
3,867
1,225
2,642
926
2,078
940
4,106
1,276
2,830
879
2,034
971
4,426
1,452
2,974
921
2,058
977
4,573
1,631
2,942
976
2,178
1,002
4,905
1,826
3,079
916
2,339
996
5,343
2,042
3,301
923
2,244
1,021
5,205
1,860
3,345
835
2,079
1,055
5,153
1,740
3,413
964
2,277
1,100
100.0
51.1
16.6
34.6
11.5
25.5
11.9
100.0
50.2
16.6
33.5
11.3
26.0
12.4
100.0
50.1
16.5
33.6
11.4
25.9
12.5
100.0
49.8
16.8
33.0
12.4
26.0
11.8
100.0
51.6
16.1
35.5
11.1
25.2
12.0
100.0
49.5
15.7
33.8
11.9
26.6
12.0
100.0
51.4
16.0
35.4
11.0
25.5
12.2
100.0
52.8
17.3
35.5
11.0
24.6
11.7
100.0
52.4
18.7
33.7
11.2
25.0
11.5
100.0
53.6
19.9
33.6
10.0
25.5
10.9
100.0
56.1
21.4
34.6
9.7
23.5
10.7
100.0
56.7
20.3
36.5
9.1
22.7
11.5
100.0
54.3
18.3
35.9
10.2
24.0
11.6
3.7
.8
1.9
.9
3.7
.8
1.9
.9
3.7
.8
1.9
.9
3.7
.9
1.9
.9
3.8
.8
1.9
.9
3.6
.9
1.9
.9
3.8
.8
1.9
.9
4.1
.8
1.9
.9
4.2
.9
2.0
.9
4.5
.8
2.1
.9
4.9
.8
2.1
.9
4.8
.8
1.9
1.0
4.7
.9
2.1
1.0
NUMBER OF UNEMPLOYED
Lost last jo b ....................................................................
Or layoff...........................................................
Other job losers.....................................................
Left las: job ...................................................
Reentered labor force....................................
Seeking first jo b ............................................
PERCENT DISTRIBUTION
Total unemployed.................................................
Job losers ............................................
On layoff..............................................
Other job losers........................................
Job leavers ....................................
Reentrants.......................................................
New entrants ..............................................
UNEMPLOYED AS A PERCENT OF
THE CIVILIAN LABOR FORCE
Job losers ............................................
Job leavers .................................................
Reentrants.....................................................
New entrants ............................................
7.
Duration of unemployment, seasonally adjusted
[Numbers in thousands]
Weeks of unemployment
Less than 5 weeks ..........................................
5 to 14 weeks ............................................
15 weeks and over..........................................
15 to 26 weeks ........................................
27 weeks and over.....................................
Average (mean) duration, in weeks ....................
Annual average
1981
1982
1980
1981
Feb.
Mar.
Apr.
May
June
July
Aug.
Sept.
Oct.
Nov.
Dec.
Jan.
Feb.
3,295
2,470
1,871
1,052
820
11.9
3,449
2,539
2,285
1,122
1,162
13.7
3,267
2,379
2,322
1,072
1,250
14.1
3,277
2,408
2,269
1,057
1,212
13.9
3,189
2,472
2,187
1,048
1,139
13.7
3,378
2,606
2,231
1,061
1,170
13.3
3,303
2,423
2,363
1,227
1,136
14.3
3,323
2,312
2,170
1,096
1,074
14.1
3,326
2,469
2,217
1,078
1,139
14.3
3,529
2,585
2,248
1,146
1,102
13.7
3,707
2,686
2,292
1,166
1,126
13.6
3,852
2,882
2,364
1,229
1,135
13.1
4,037
3,016
2,372
1,189
1,183
12.8
3,852
3,068
2,399
1,210
1,190
13.5
3,789
3,052
2,724
1,445
1,278
14.1
Note: Effective with January 1982 data, population counts derived from the 1980 census are incorporated into the estimation procedures used in the Current Population Survey. Data for 1970-81 have been revised.
Also, seasonally adjusted data have been revised based on the seasonal experience through December 1981.
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75
EMPLOYMENT, HOURS, AND EARNINGS DATA FROM ESTABLISHMENT SURVEYS
E m p l o y m e n t , h o u r s , a n d e a r n in g s d a t a in this section are
compiled from payroll records reported monthly on a volun
tary basis to the Bureau of Labor Statistics and its cooperat
ing State agencies by 166,000 establishments representing all
industries except agriculture. In most industries, the sampling
probabilities are based on the size of the establishment; most
large establishments are therefore in the sample. (An estab
lishment is not necessarily a firm; it may be a branch plant,
for example, or warehouse.) Self-employed persons and others
not on a regular civilian payroll are outside the scope of the
survey because they are excluded from establishment records.
This largely accounts for the difference in employment figures
between the household and establishment surveys.
L a b o r t u r n o v e r d a t a in this section are compiled from per
sonnel records reported monthly on a voluntary basis to the
Bureau of Labor Statistics and its cooperating State agencies.
A sample of 40,000 establishments represents all industries in
the manufacturing and mining sectors of the economy.
Bureau of Labor Statistics computes spendable earnings from gross
weekly earnings for only two illustrative cases: ( 1) a worker with no
dependents and (2 ) a married worker with three dependents.
Hours represent the average weekly hours of production or
nonsupervisory workers for which pay was received and are different
from standard or scheduled hours. Overtime hours represent the por
tion of gross average weekly hours which were in excess of regular
hours and for which overtime premiums were paid.
Labor turnover is the movement of all wage and salary workers
from one employment status to another. Accession rates indicate the
average number of persons added to a payroll in a given period per
100 employees; separation rates indicate the average number dropped
from a payroll per 100 employees. Although month-to-month changes
in employment can be calculated from the labor turnover data, the re
sults are not comparable with employment data from the employment
and payroll survey. The labor turnover survey measures changes dur
ing the calendar month while the employment and payroll survey
measures changes from midmonth to midmonth.
Notes on the data
Definitions
Employed persons are all persons who received pay (including holi
day and sick pay) for any part of the payroll period including the
12th of the month. Persons holding more than one job (about 5 per
cent of all persons in the labor force) are counted in each establish
ment which reports them.
Production workers in manufacturing include blue-collar worker
supervisors and all nonsupervisory workers closely associated with
production operations. Those workers mentioned in tables 14-20 in
clude production workers in manufacturing and mining; construction
workers in construction; and nonsupervisory workers in transporta
tion and public utilities, in wholesale and retail trade, in finance, in
surance, and real estate, and in services industries. These groups
account for about four-fifths of the total employment on private
nonagricultural payrolls.
Earnings are the payments production or nonsupervisory workers
receive during the survey period, including premium pay for overtime
or late-shift work but excluding irregular bonuses and other special
payments. Real earnings are earnings adjusted to eliminate the effects
of price change. The Hourly Earnings Index is calculated from aver
age hourly earnings data adjusted to exclude the effects of two types
of changes that are unrelated to underlying wage-rate developments:
fluctuations in overtime premiums in manufacturing (the only sector
for which overtime data are available) and the effects of changes and
seasonal factors in the proportion of workers in high-wage and lowwage industries. Spendable earnings are earnings from which estimat
ed social security and Federal income taxes have been deducted. The
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Establishment data collected by the Bureau of Labor Statistics are
periodically adjusted to comprehensive counts of employment (called
“benchmarks”). The latest complete adjustment was made with the re
lease of June 1981 data, published in the August 1981 issue of the Re
view. Consequently, data published in the Review prior to that issue
are not necessarily comparable to current data. Complete comparable
historical unadjusted and seasonally adjusted data are published in a
Supplement to Employment and Earnings (unadjusted data from April
1977 through March 1981 and seasonally adjusted data from January
1974 through March 1981) and in Employment and Earnings, United
States, 1909-78, BLS Bulletin 1312-11 (for prior periods).
Data on recalls were shown for the first time in tables 12 and 13 in
the January 1978 issue of the Review. For a detailed discussion of the
recalls series, along with historical data, see “New Series on Recalls
from the Labor Turnover Survey,” Employment and Earnings, Decem
ber 1977, pp. 10-19.
A comprehensive discussion of the differences between household
and establishment data on employment appears in Gloria P. Green,
“Comparing employment estimates from household and payroll sur
veys,” Monthly Labor Review, December 1969, pp. 9-20. See also BLS
Handbook of Methods for Surveys and Studies, Bulletin 1910 (Bureau
of Labor Statistics, 1976).
The formulas used to construct the spendable average weekly earn
ings series reflect the latest provisions of the Federal income tax and
social security tax laws. For the spendable average weekly earnings
formulas for the years 1979-81, see Employment and Earnings,
November 1981, pp. 7-8. Real earnings data are adjusted using the
Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers
(CPI-W).
8.
Employment by industry, selected years, 1950-81
[Nonagricultural payroll data, in thousands]
Year
Total
Mining
1950 .....................................................
1955 .....................................................
I960' ...................................................
1964 .....................................................
1965 .....................................................
45,197
50,641
54,189
58,283
60,765
1966
1967
1968
1969
1970
.....................................................
.....................................................
.....................................................
.....................................................
.....................................................
1971
1972
1973
1974
1975
1976
1977
1978
1979
1980
Government
Transportation
and
public
utilities
Wholesale
and
retail
trade
Wholesale
trade
Retail
trade
Finance,
insurance,
and real
estate
Services
Total
Federal
State
and local
5,357
6,240
7,378
8,660
9,036
6,026
6,914
8,353
9,596
10,074
1,928
2,187
2,270
2,348
2,378
4,098
4,727
6,083
7,248
7,696
3,058
3,185
3,337
3,512
3,645
9,498
10,045
10,567
11,169
11,548
10,784
11,391
11,839
12,195
12,554
2,564
2,719
2,737
2,758
2,731
8,220
8,672
9,102
9,437
9,823
11,351
11,836
12,329
12,554
12,645
3,772
3,908
4,046
4,148
4,165
11,797
12,276
12,857
13,441
13,892
12,881
13,334
13,732
14,170
14,686
2,696
2,684
2,663
2,724
2,748
10,185
10,649
11,068
11,446
11,937
4,546
4,708
4,969
5,204
5,281
13,209
13,808
14,573
14,989
15,104
4,271
4,467
4,724
4,975
5,168
14,551
15,303
16,252
17,112
17,901
14,871
15,127
15,672
15,947
16,249
2,733
2,727
2,753
2,773
2,866
12,138
12,399
12,919
13,147
13,383
5,343
15,395
5,331
18,598
16,054
2,772
13,282
tion
turing
901
792
712
634
632
2,364
2,839
2,926
3,097
3,232
15,241
16,882
16,796
17,274
18,062
4,034
4,141
4,004
3,951
4,036
9,386
10,535
11,391
12,160
12,716
2,635
2,926
3,143
3,337
3,466
6,751
7,610
8,248
8,823
9,250
1,888
2,298
2,629
2,911
2,977
63,901
65,803
67,897
70,384
70,880
627
613
606
619
623
3,317
3,248
3,350
3,575
3,588
19,214
19,447
19,781
20,167
19,367
4,158
4,268
4,318
4,442
4,515
13,245
13,606
14,099
14,705
15,040
3,597
3,689
3,779
3,907
3,993
9,648
9,917
10,320
10,798
11,047
.....................................................
.....................................................
.....................................................
.....................................................
.....................................................
71,214
73,675
76,790
78,265
76,945
609
628
642
697
752
3,704
3,889
4,097
4,020
3,525
18,623
19,151
20,154
20,077
18,323
4,476
4,541
4,656
4,725
4,542
15,352
15,949
16,607
16,987
17,060
4,001
4,113
4,277
4,433
4,415
.....................................................
.....................................................
.....................................................
.....................................................
.....................................................
79,382
82,471
86,697
89,823
90,564
779
813
851
958
1,020
3,576
3,851
4,229
4,463
4,399
18,997
19,682
20,505
21,040
20,300
4,582
4,713
4,923
5,136
5,143
17,755
18,516
19,542
20,192
20,386
1981 .....................................................
91,543
1,104
4,307
20,261
5,151
20,738
’ Data Include Alaska and Hawaii beginning in 1959.
9.
E m p lo y m e n t b y S ta te
[Nonagricultural payroll data, in thousands]
State
Jan. 1981
Dec. 1981
Jan. 1982»
State
Jan. 1981
Dec. 1981
Jan. 1982»
Alabama ................................................................
Alaska....................................................................
Arizona ..................................................................
Arkansas ................................................................
California................................................................
1,343.0
161.1
1,024.4
739.8
9,884.6
1,352.8
176.0
1,060.4
735.0
10,167.6
1,336.1
171.2
1,040.1
713.6
10,005.1
Montara............................................................
Nebraska..........................................................
Nevada ............................................................
New Hampshire .................................................
New Jersey .......................................................
274.8
611.1
397.2
382.1
3,016.1
292.5
629.1
417.3
397.1
3,094.2
287.8
610.9
411.8
388.5
3,028.0
Colorado ................................................................
1,298.3
1,447.1
260.1
606.6
3,823.9
1,278.2
(’ )
244.3
6001
3,804.0
New Mexico.......................................................
Delaware................................................................
District of Columbia...................................................
Florida....................................................................
1,258.5
1 4184
251.8
608.8
3,697.6
North Carolina ...................................................
Nortn Daxota .....................................................
Ohio ................................................................
456.7
7,099.4
2,364.8
239.4
4,303.8
470.8
7,355.7
2,391.6
253.0
4,301.4
461.2
7,183.2
2,339.8
244.6
4,192.6
Georgia ..................................................................
Hawaii....................................................................
Idaho.....................................................................
Illinois ....................................................................
Indiana....................................................................
2,150.2
402.4
322.9
4,753.7
2,098.1
2,165.4
406.6
323.7
4,827.7
2,081.5
(’ )
397.3
313.7
4,718.0
2,033.1
Oklahoma ........................................................
Oregon ............................................................
Pennsylvania .....................................................
Rhode Island .....................................................
South Carolina ...................................................
1,151.7
1,006.1
4,653.7
391.6
1,175.8
1,221.9
989.1
4,703.7
402.2
1,195.1
1,203.9
965.9
4,569.8
388.1
1,171.5
Iowa .....................................................................
Kansas ..................................................................
Kentucky ................................................................
Louisiana................................................................
Maine ....................................................................
1,077.4
938.8
1,186.3
1,603.0
406.7
1,085.1
953.8
1,193.5
1,651.4
412.3
1,048.1
936.8
1,174.6
1,619.7
400.5
South Dakota.....................................................
Tennessee ........................................................
Texas ..............................................................
Utah ................................................................
Vermont............................................................
231.0
1,719.8
5,962.6
546.1
200.0
235.8
1,734.8
6,299.0
568.8
203.6
228.4
1,690.8
6,236.6
557.7
200.2
Maryland ................................................................
Massachusetts.........................................................
Michigan ................................................................
Minnesota ..............................................................
Mississippi ..............................................................
Missouri..................................................................
1,688.6
2,609.6
3,437.2
1,726.3
815.9
1,936.3
1,706.6
2,690.5
3,385.0
1,764.5
821.9
1,967.5
1,647.1
2,602.0
n
1,712.7
806.9
1,926.8
Virginia..............................................................
Washington .......................................................
West Virginia .....................................................
Wisconsin..........................................................
Wyoming ..........................................................
2,110.4
1,583.8
633.1
1,914.3
209.3
2,176.2
1,576.6
628.9
1,912.8
215.5
2,140.4
1,537.5
610.3
1,860.0
210.2
Virgin Islands .....................................................
36.3
35.7
(’ )
1Not available.
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77
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW April 1982 • Current Labor Statistics: Establishment Data
10.
Employment by industry division and major manufacturing group
[Nonagricultural payroll data, in thousands]
Annual average
1981
1982
Industry division and group
1980
1981
Feb.
Mar.
Apr.
May
June
July
Aug.
Sept
Oct.
Nov.
Dec.
Jan.»
Feb.»
TOTAL ..........................................................
90,564
91,543
90,138
90,720
91,337
91,848
92,481
91,600
91,598
92,159
92,424
92,293
91,932
89,760
89,863
MINING ..............................................................
1,020
1,104
1,071
1,084
941
957
1,132
1,155
1,169
1,169
1,164
1,170
1,166
1,150
1,141
CONSTRUCTION ................................................
4,399
4,307
3,901
4,048
4,246
4,356
4,477
4,554
4,579
4,516
4,493
4,369
4,155
3,706
3,686
20,300
14,223
20,261
14,083
20,065
13,971
20,160
14,049
20,253
14,127
20,342
14,195
20,531
14,325
20,337
14,108
20,473
14,230
20,600
14,376
20,368
14,147
20,122
13,904
19,804
13,583
19,440
13,267
19,385
13,260
Production workers...............................
12,181
8,438
12,136
8,316
12,042
8,279
12,120
8,345
12,197
8,412
12,235
8,438
12,334
8,500
12,198
8,347
12,188
8,323
12^292
8,440
12,163
8,313
11,999
8,153
11,786
7,941
11,572
7,754
11,531
7,738
Lumber and wood products .........................
Furniture and fixtures...................................
Stone, clay, and glass products ....................
Primary metal industries...............................
Fabricated metal products ...........................
Machinery, except electrical.........................
Electric and electronic equipment..................
Transportation equipment.............................
Instruments and related products ....... ...........
Miscellaneous manufacturing ........................
690.3
468.8
665.6
1,144.1
1,609.0
2,497.0
2,103.2
1,875.3
708.5
419.3
679.3
476.6
650.2
1,128.2
1,583.6
2,512.6
2,133.9
1,837.8
718.0
415.3
674.5
471.7
630.6
1,137.7
1,578.1
2,498.4
2,112.3
1,824.8
710.1
403.3
678.3
472.1
639.5
1,141.3
1,585.4
2,504.3
2,119.5
1,860.4
712.1
406.7
686.9
478.0
652.6
1,149.9
1,593.7
2,506.1
2,129.7
1,874.3
714.4
411.3
703.4
479.0
659.7
1,147.5
1,596.1
2,508.6
2,134.7
1,877.4
715.2
413.4
711.0
480.5
671.0
1,155.5
1,606.8
2,531.3
2,152.7
1,882.7
723.2
419.5
708.6
472.0
666.7
1,135.5
1,584.5
2,517.4
2,138.9
1,840.3
722.1
412.3
701.5
480.6
669.1
1,140.3
1,590.9
2,511.4
2,146.1
1,799.6
726.2
421.8
691.0
484.7
664.5
1,138.8
1,607.5
2,540.7
2,164.8
1,848.3
723.1
428.7
664.5
483.5
652.8
1,109.3
1,584.2
2,528.4
2,158.3
1,832.3
720.0
429.9
638.7
476.5
641.2
1,087.8
1,563.5
2,512.3
2,131.3
1,803.0
718.6
426.2
618.8
471.1
619.6
1,058.0
1,532.8
2,495.4
2,104.1
1,755.7
718.0
412.2
598.8
462.0
591.7
1,039.1
1,502.8
2,461.6
2,089.4
1,719.4
711.7
395.0
603.6
456.5
585.9
1,028.3
1,495.5
2,458.1
2,087.9
1,714.8
708.1
392.3
Nondurable goods ..........................................
Production workers...............................
8,118
5,786
8,125
5,766
8,023
5,692
8,040
5,704
8,056
5,715
8,107
5,757
8,197
5,825
8,139
5,761
8,285
5,907
8,308
5,936
8,205
5,834
8,123
5,751
8,018
5,642
7,868
5,513
7,854
5,522
Food and kindred products...........................
Tobacco manufactures ...............................
Textile mill products....................................
Apparel and other textile products ................
Paper and allied products ...........................
Printing and publishing.................................
Chemicals and allied products ......................
Petroleum and coal products ........................
Rubber and miscellaneous plastics products ...
Leather and leather products ........................
1,710.8
69.2
852.7
1,265.8
694.0
1,258.3
1,107.4
196.6
730.7
232.6
1,684.1
71.1
839.3
1,255.8
692.3
1,288.0
1,107.3
210.8
744.4
232.3
1,639.2
70.6
841.1
1,238.7
687.7
1,273.6
1,102.9
205.7
734.2
229.5
1,632.5
68.3
840.9
1,250.2
688.6
1,278.2
1,106.8
207.0
737.2
230.4
1,631.0
66.2
841.6
1,255.2
690.9
1,280.4
1,106.2
209.5
743.5
231.7
1,648.1
65.2
844.3
1,265.9
693.1
1,281.8
1,110.3
212.9
749.2
235.9
1,673.4
66.4
851.0
1,283.9
701.0
1,286.2
1,121.1
215.4
759.0
239.1
1,714.8
66.3
836.5
1,231.1
696.4
1,286.5
1,116.6
216.1
747.0
227.5
1,773.2
75.6
847.3
1,276.8
700.3
1,289.4
1,112.0
215.4
756.8
238.6
1,776.1
77.7
850.2
1,287.3
702.0
1,294.1
1,110.5
212.7
760.8
237.0
1,729.0
77.0
834.3
1,274.1
691.4
1,299.7
1,104.4
211.4
748.2
235.7
1,689.2
74.9
826.8
1,259.5
686.4
1,305.1
1,100.2
210.4
738.6
232.1
1,657.3
73.3
816.5
1,224.4
681.7
1,312.5
1,096.3
206.8
726.4
223.1
1,613.1
72.3
795.4
1,187.8
674.2
1,299.7
1,087.9
199.9
718.8
218.5
1,608.6
69.4
791.3
1,199.9
671.1
1,306.3
1,087.6
195.9
707.9
216.0
MANUFACTURING......................................
Production workers...............................
Durable goods ................................................
5,143
5,151
5,076
5,095
5,120
5,148
5,195
5,177
5,175
5,222
5,204
5,183
5,153
5,059
5,058
20,386
20,738
20,196
20,290
20,513
20,672
20,795
20,735
20,811
20,919
20,999
21,148
21,413
20,676
20,510
5,281
5,343
5,273
5,293
5,317
5,335
5,381
5,376
5,386
5,370
5,381
5,379
5,352
5,297
5,287
RETAIL TRADE....................................................
15,104
15,395
14,923
14,997
15,196
15,337
15,414
15,359
15,425
15,549
15,618
15,769
16,061
15,379
15,223
FINANCE, INSURANCE, AND REAL ESTATE . . . .
5,168
5,331
5,245
5,263
5,295
5,326
5,384
5,408
5,408
5,361
5,349
5,344
5,350
5,329
5,324
SERVICES ..........................................................
17,901
18,598
18,126
18,287
18,512
18,633
18,764
18,847
18,835
18,812
18,826
18,800
18,762
18,510
18,675
GOVERNMENT ....................................................
16,249
2,866
13,383
16,054
2,772
13,282
16,458
2,774
13,684
16,493
2,769
13,724
16,457
2,773
13,684
16,414
2,782
13,632
16,203
2,825
13,378
15,387
2,833
12,554
15,148
2,803
12,345
15,560
2,735
12,825
16,021
2,737
13,284
16,157
2,729
13,428
16,129
2,729
13,400
15,890
2,713
13,177
16,084
2,715
13,369
TRANSPORTATION AND PUBLIC UTILITIES
WHOLESALE AND RETAIL TRADE......................
WHOLESALE TRADE
Federal.....................................................
State and local ..........................................
78
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
11.
Employment by industry division and major manufacturing group, seasonally adjusted
[Nonagricultural payroll data, in thousands]
1981
1982
Industry division and group
TOTAL ........................................................................................
MINING..............................................................................
Feb.
Mar.
Apr.
May
June
July
Aug.
Sept.
Oct
Nov.
Dec.
Jan.p
Feb.p
91,258
91,347
91,458
91,564
91,615
91,880
91,901
92,033
91,832
91,522
91,113
90,839
90,936
1,091
1,098
950
957
1,110
1,132
1,151
1,162
1,162
1,172
1,175
1,168
1,161
CONSTRUCTION ..............................................................................
4,389
4,416
4,418
4,334
4,284
4,272
4,275
4,272
4,259
4,229
4,193
4,068
4,146
MANUFACTURING..............................................................................
20,177
14,053
20,191
14,074
20,332
14,187
20,414
14,247
20,424
14,245
20,535
14,327
20,505
14,294
20,496
14,281
20,241
14,030
20,017
13,797
19,736
13,514
19,528
13,334
19,482
13,332
Production workers ..........................................................
12,074
8,297
12,099
8,325
12,207
8,412
12,254
8,442
12,278
8,455
12,333
8,491
12,332
8,485
12,311
8,465
12,115
8,267
11,932
8,083
11,714
7,868
11,578
7,749
11,555
7,749
Lumber and wood products.......................................................
Furniture and fixtures ..............................................................
Stone, clay, and glass products.................................................
Primary metal industries ..........................................................
Fabricated metal products........................................................
Machinery, except electrical .....................................................
Electric and electronic equipment...............................................
Transportation equipment .........................................................
Instruments and related products................................................
Miscellaneous manufacturing.....................................................
691
466
654
1,140
1,577
2,481
2,110
1,833
711
411
692
467
651
1,141
1,581
2,480
2,117
1,849
712
409
702
478
656
1,145
1,595
2,491
2,134
1,878
714
414
710
484
658
1,142
1,604
2,511
2,143
1,872
716
414
699
486
658
1,144
1,604
2,521
2,148
1,886
717
415
702
488
658
1,140
1,614
2,533
2,163
1,886
723
426
686
487
660
1,148
1,610
2,542
2,166
1,889
727
417
677
485
655
1,139
1,606
2,551
2,163
1,889
727
419
652
480
644
1,114
1,575
2,549
2,150
1,811
723
417
634
470
634
1,090
1,546
2,522
2,119
1,783
719
415
619
464
622
1,058
1,516
2,488
2,089
1,725
717
416
612
457
609
1,039
1,501
2,452
2,083
1,706
712
407
618
451
607
1,030
1,494
2,441
2,084
1,722
709
399
Nondurable goods..........................................................................
Production workers ..........................................................
8,103
5,756
8,092
5,749
8,125
5,775
8,160
5,805
8,146
5,790
8,202
5,836
8,173
5,809
8,185
5,816
8,126
5,763
8,085
5,714
8,022
5,646
7,950
5,585
7,927
5,583
Food and kindred products .......................................................
Tobacco manufactures ............................................................
Textile mill products ................................................................
Apparel and other textile products ..............................................
Paper and allied products .........................................................
Printing and publishing..............................................................
Chemicals and allied products...................................................
Petroleum and coal products.....................................................
Rubber and miscellaneous plastics products.................................
Leather and leather products.....................................................
1,705
72
839
1,243
691
1,272
1,109
210
731
231
1,691
72
838
1,243
689
1,276
1,108
210
734
231
1,697
72
842
1,250
691
1,280
1,107
211
744
231
1,703
71
843
1,258
694
1,283
1,109
213
753
233
1,673
71
846
1,264
695
1,284
1,111
212
757
232
1,691
71
856
1,278
696
1,290
1,110
212
760
238
1,668
73
849
1,272
698
1,295
1,106
212
764
236
1,669
71
849
1,273
703
1,301
1,112
211
760
236
1,675
70
833
1,259
691
1,302
1,108
210
744
234
1,676
70
823
1,251
686
1,302
1,104
210
733
230
1,669
70
812
1,233
682
1,302
1,100
208
722
224
1,663
71
795
1,208
677
1,300
1,093
204
717
222
1,672
70
789
1,204
673
1,305
1,093
199
704
218
TRANSPORTATION AND PUBLIC UTILITIES ......................................
5,135
5,139
5,161
5,148
5,149
5,167
5,170
5,186
5,168
5,147
5,122
5,120
5,114
20,600
20,635
20,636
20,714
20,717
20,796
20,862
20,872
20,916
20,838
20,735
20,843
20,905
WHOLESALE TRADE..........................................................................
5,313
5,316
5,333
5,346
5,349
5,360
5,375
5,370
5,360
5,363
5,336
5,324
5,324
RETAIL TRADE ..................................................................................
15,287
15,319
15,303
15,368
15,368
15,436
15,487
15,502
15,556
15,475
15,399
15,519
15,581
FINANCE, INSURANCE, AND REAL ESTATE ......................................
5,283
5,293
5,316
5,326
5,331
5,344
5,354
5,366
5,360
5,355
5,366
5,361
5,362
SERVICES..........................................................................................
18,343
18,371
18,475
18,540
18,560
18,642
18,667
18,774
18,788
18,838
18,856
18,849
18,902
GOVERNMENT ........................................................
16,240
2,795
13,445
16,204
2,781
13,423
16,170
2,767
13,403
16,131
2,779
13,352
16,040
2,781
13,259
15,992
2,777
13,215
15,917
2,770
13,147
15,905
2,765
13,140
15,938
2,759
13,179
15,926
2,748
13,178
15,930
2,741
13,189
15,902
2,738
13,164
15,864
2,731
13,133
Production workers ...........................................................
Durable goods..............................................................................
WHOLESALE AND RETAIL TRADE
Federal ...........................................................................
State and local....................................................................
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
79
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW April 1982 • Current Labor Statistics: Establishment Data
12.
L a b o r t u r n o v e r r a t e s in m a n u f a c t u r in g , 1 9 7 7 t o d a t e
[Per 100 employees]
Year
Annual
average
Jan.
Apr.
Mar.
Feb.
June
May
July
Aug.
Sept.
Oct.
Nov.
Dec.
4.3
4.4
4.3
3.8
3.6
5.3
5.4
5.0
4,5
4.0
4.6
4.9
4.5
4.3
3.5
3.9
4.3
4.1
3.6
2.8
3.1
3.3
3.0
2.7
2.4
2.4
2.4
2.2
2.2
1.7
3.0
3.3
3.1
2.1
2.4
4.0
4.2
3.7
2.5
2.7
3.5
3.9
3.4
2.6
2.3
3.0
3.5
3.1
2.2
1.8
2.2
2.6
2.2
1.6
1.3
1.6
1.7
1.5
1.2
.9
.9
.8
.9
1.5
1.0
1.0
.9
.9
1.7
1.0
.8
.7
.8
1.4
.9
.6
.6
.7
1.1
.8
.6
.5
.6
.9
.9
.6
.5
.5
.8
.7
4.3
4.1
4.3
4.2
3.6
5.1
5.3
5.7
4.8
4.4
4.9
4.9
4.7
4.1
4.1
3.8
4.1
4.2
3.8
4.2
3.4
3.5
3.8
3.0
4.1
3.4
3.4
3.5
3.1
4.1
1.9
2.1
2.0
1.4
1.5
3.1
3.5
3.3
2.2
2.1
2.8
3.1
2.7
1.9
1.8
1.9
2.3
2.1
1.4
1.3
1.5
1.7
1.6
1.1
.9
1.2
1.3
1.1
.9
.7
1.5
1.1
1.4
2.0
1.3
1.0
.8
1.3
1.7
1.3
1.1
.8
1.1
1.4
1.5
1.1
.9
1.2
1.5
2.2
1.1
1.0
1.5
1.4
2.6
1.5
1.4
1.7
1.6
2.8
Total accessions
1977
1978
1979
1980
1981
..........................................
..........................................
..........................................
..........................................
..........................................
3.7
3.8
4.0
3.8
3.4
4.0
4.1
4.0
3.5
3.2
3.7
3.2
3.4
3.3
3.0
4.9
4.9
4.8
3.9
4.0
4.6
4.7
4.7
3.4
3.5
3.8
4.0
3.9
3.1
3.3
4.0
3.8
3.8
3.5
3.4
New hires
1977
1978
1979
1980
1981
..........................................
..........................................
..........................................
..........................................
..........................................
2.8
3.1
2.9
2.1
2.0
2.2
2.5
2.8
2.4
1.8
2.7
2.9
2.9
2.0
2.0
2.6
2.7
2.8
2.3
2.0
2.1
2.2
2.5
2.2
1.8
3.7
3.9
3.8
2.4
2.8
3.5
3.6
3.6
2.1
2.3
Recalls
1977
1978
1979
1980
1981
..........................................
..........................................
..........................................
..........................................
..........................................
1.2
1.0
.9
1.1
1.3
.9
.7
.7
1.1
1.0
1.1
.8
.7
.9
1.1
1.3
.7
.7
9
1.0
.8
.7
.7
1.2
.9
.8
.8
.8
1.0
1.0
.9
.8
.7
.8
1.1
Total separations
1977
1978
1979
1980
1981
..........................................
..........................................
..........................................
..........................................
..........................................
3.8
3.9
4.0
4.0
3.6
3.4
3.5
3.6
3.7
3.2
3.4
3.1
3.2
3.5
3.1
3.9
3.6
3.8
4.1
3.6
3.5
3.7
3.8
4.8
3.1
3.4
3.6
3.7
4.7
3.1
3.5
3.8
3.9
4.4
3.2
Quits
1977
1978
1979
1980
1981
..........................................
..........................................
..........................................
..........................................
..........................................
1.9
2.2
2.1
1.4
1.4
1.8
2.1
2.0
1.5
1.3
1.4
1.5
1.8
1.6
1.2
1.3
1.4
1.6
1.5
1.1
1.6
1.8
1.9
1.6
1.2
1.7
2.0
2.0
1.5
1.3
1.9
2.1
2.1
1.5
1.3
1.1
.9
1.1
1.7
1.6
1.7
1.2
1.1
1.6
1.6
1.4
.9
.8
1.2
1.2
1.0
.9
.8
1.3
1.2
.9
8
.9
2.3
1.0
.8
.7
.7
2.5
1.0
Layoffs
1977
1978
1979
1980
1981
13.
..........................................
..........................................
..........................................
..........................................
..........................................
.8
.7
.9
2.2
1.1
L a b o r t u r n o v e r r a t e s in m a n u f a c t u r in g , b y m a jo r in d u s t r y g r o u p
[Per 100 employees]
Separation rates
Accession rates
Major Industry group
Layoffs
Quits
Total
Dec.
Nov.
Dec.
Dec.
Nov.
Dec.
Dec.
Nov.
Dec.
Dec.
Nov.
Nov.
Dec.
1980
1981
1981
1980
1981
1981
1980
1981
1981
1980
1981
1981
1980
1981
1981
1980
1981
1981
2.2
3.5
2.4
3.1
1.7
1.2
0.8
0.9
0.7
1.2
1.0
4.1
4.0
0.9
1.5
1.1
1.1
1.6
1.2
2.6
1.1
4.1
4.1
0.7
1.6
3.1
3.5
0.9
21
1.3
1.6
0.9
2.7
2.8
2.2
Durable goods
Lumber and wood products.........
Furniture and fixtures ................
Stone, clay, and glass products . ..
Primary metal industries .............
Fabricated metal products...........
Machinery, except electrical.........
Electric and electronic equipment ..
Transportation equipment ...........
Instruments and related products ..
Miscellaneous manufacturing.......
2.0
2.8
2.8
2.0
2.1
2.8
1.5
2.7
1.0
.7
.9
2.3
1.8
1.7
2.0
1.5
1.1
2.7
1.8
.6
2.1
1.1
1.1
1.0
1.1
1.8
1.8
2.1
1.5
1.3
1.5
1.4
1.0
1.2
.6
.8
1.2
2.0
1.2
1.2
2.0
.9
1.4
.7
1.0
2.1
.8
.4
.5
1.2
.2
.8
4.7
2.5
2.9
1.7
2.0
2.5
1.4
5.9
4.2
7.6
4.5
4.8
5.4
4.7
2.7
3.4
4.9
1.9
6.1
6.6
.7
1,4
1.3
.8
.3
.8
.6
.7
.4
.7
1.1
.7
1.3
1.2
.7
.3
.7
.6
.7
.5
.7
1.3
Nondurable goods
Food and kindred products .........
Tobacco manufacturers..............
Textile mill products ..................
Apparel and other products.........
Paper and allied products ...........
Printing and publishing................
Chemicals and allied products . . . .
Petroleum and coal products.......
Rubber and miscellaneous
plastics products....................
Leather and leather products.......
2.5
3.4
4.8
2.0
1.5
1.6
2.9
3.0
1.5
1.8
2.0
1.1
.9
1.4
2.7
.4
1.4
.7
.5
.2
.2
.9
1.5
2.7
.8
1.3
.7
.5
.2
.2
.6
1.6
.8
.7
1.4
.6
.4
.4
.7
.1
.7
.7
4.2
6.3
4.0
6.5
5.5
4.4
2.5
3.3
5.8
2.1
1.5
.7
1.0
1.0
.8
1.5
.7
.5
.5
.6
.2
.8
2.6
4.9
2.3
1.9
1.7
1.0
13
1.5
.9
.4
3.8
6.3
3.7
2.6
5.3
2.5
3.0
1.4
2.0
4.0
5.9
6.5
3.7
5.6
2.6
2.8
1.5
1.7
4.0
5.4
3.5
3.6
5.9
2.9
2.6
1.5
3.1
1.1
1.5
.3
1.1
1.6
.5
1.5
.4
.4
1.2
1.4
.4
1.1
1.8
.5
1.5
.4
.4
4.3
9.1
1.0
MANUFACTURING
Seasonally adjusted
1.5
2.5
2.0
3.0
1.7
2.5
1.1
1.4
1.7
2.3
1.6
3.0
27
3.7
4.4
2.4
3.9
1.7
2.7
1.6
1.0
.8
1.5
1.4
1.5
.9
1.9
.8
1.1
1.2
1.1
2.6
1.2
2.2
1.4
2.3
.8
2.1
.7
.8
.9
6
.3
.7
.7
.7
.5
.9
1.2
1.1
1.6
1.0
.8
1.3
-.5
1.6
.5
.9
2.6
2.2
1.7
1.4
1.2
.8
1.0
3.4
3.4
2.6
2.2
2.1
1.2
1.0
N otic e : With publication of the final December 1981
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
.7
1.0
1.1
1.5
.7
1.2
.6
.4
.2
.2
3.3
3.3
6.0
4.8
5.5
Dec.
Dec.
Nov.
Dec.
Dec.
1.8
2.3
.6
1.4
2.8
1.0
2.8
.9
.6
.3
.6
.5
.5
.4
.9
.9
1.3
3.1
5.5
2.7
3.5
4.4
3.2
.6
.7
1.4
.3
4.0
1.6
2.0
3.7
.7
3.9
5.0
.7
5.0
2.5
3.5
2.5
1.6
1.6
.9
2.1
2.2
1.2
4.1
.5
.8
1.3
,4
1.3
.3
.4
2.8
3.8
5.3
1.9
3.1
1.7
.8
.7
.8
.7
1.4
1.7
3.5
.9
3.2
1.4
.9
.5
1.1
3.1
4.5
2.5
5.3
4.7
3.2
1.5
2.0
2.2
3.9
1.9
.8
.7
2.1
3.1
3.0
2.7
6.9
data in this Issue, the Bureau of Labor Statistics is discontinuing the labor turnover series shown in tables 12 and 13, because of budgetary constraints.
14.
Hours and earnings, by industry division, selected years, 1950-81
[Gross averages, production or nonsupervisory workers on nonagricultural payrolls]
Year
Average
weekly
earnings
Average
weekly
hours
Average
hourly
earnings
Average
weekly
earnings
Average
weekly
hours
Average
hourly
earnings
Average
weekly
earnings
Average
hourly
earnings
Average
weekly
earnings
Average
weekly
hours
Average
hourly
earnings
Manufacturing
Construction
Mining
Total private
Average
weekly
hours
$1.440
1950 ......................
$53.13
39.8
$1.335
$67.16
37.9
$1.772
$69.68
37.4
$1.863
$58.32
40.5
1955 ......................
67.72
396
1.71
89.54
40.7
2.20
90.90
37.1
2.45
75.30
40.7
1.85
I9 6 0 1 ...................
80.67
38.6
2.09
105.04
40.4
2.60
112.67
36.7
3.07
89.72
39.7
2.26
117.74
41.9
2.81
132.06
37.2
3.55
102.97
40.7
2.53
138.38
37.4
3.70
107.53
41.2
2.61
3.89
112.19
1964 ......................
91.33
38.7
2.36
1965 ......................
95.45
38.8
2.46
123.52
42.3
2.92
98.82
130.24
42.7
38.6
2.56
3.05
146.26
376
41.4
2.71
1967 ......................
101.84
38.0
2.68
135.89
42.6
3.19
154.95
37.7
4.11
114.49
40.6
2.82
1968 ......................
107.73
37.8
2.85
142.71
42.6
3.35
164.49
37.3
4.41
122.51
40.7
3.01
1969 ......................
114.61
37.7
3.04
154.80
43.0
3.60
181.54
37.9
4.79
129.51
40.6
3.19
1966 ......................
1970 ......................
119.83
37.1
3.23
164.40
42.7
3.85
195.45
37.3
5.24
133.33
39.8
3.35
1 9 7 1 ......................
127.31
36.9
3.45
172.14
42.4
4.06
211.67
37.2
5.69
142.44
39.9
3.57
1972 ......................
136.90
37.0
3.70
189.14
42.6
4.44
221.19
36.5
6.06
154.71
40.5
3.82
1973 ......................
145.39
36.9
3.94
201.40
42.4
4.75
235.89
36.8
6.41
166.46
40.7
4.09
4.42
483
1974 ......................
154.76
36.5
4.24
219.14
41.9
5.23
249.25
36.6
6.81
176.80
40.0
163.53
36.1
4.53
249.31
41.9
5.95
266.08
36.4
7.31
190.79
39.5
1975 ......................
175.45
36.1
42.4
6.46
209.32
40.1
5.22
1977 ......................
189.00
36.0
5.25
301.20
43.4
6.94
295.65
36.5
8.10
228.90
1978 ......................
203.70
35.8
5.69
332.88
43.4
7.67
318.69
36.8
8.66
249.27
40.3
40.4
6.17
1976 ......................
4.86
273.90
36.8
283.73
7.71
5.68
1979 ......................
219.91
35.7
6.16
365.07
43.0
8.49
342.99
37.0
9.27
269.34
40.2
6.70
1980 ......................
235.10
35.3
6.66
396.14
43.2
9.17
367.04
37.0
9.92
288.62
39.7
7.27
1 9 8 1 ......................
255.20
35.2
7.25
438.62
43.6
10.06
395.60
36.8
10.75
317.60
39.8
7.98
Transportation and public
utilities
Finance, insurance, and
real estate
Wholesale and retail trade
1950
$44.55
40.5
$1.100
$50.52
37.7
Services
$1.340
47.79
40.5
1.18
54.67
37.7
1.45
49.20
40.0
1.23
57.08
37.8
1.51
1953
51 35
39.5
1.30
59.57
37.7
1.58
1954
53 33
39.5
1.35
62.04
37.6
1.65
1955
55.16
39.4
1.40
63.92
37.6
1.70
1956
57 48
391
38.7
1.47
65.68
36.9
1.78
1.54
67.53
36.7
1.84
1.89
1951
59 60
1.60
70.12
37.1
19591
64 41
38 8
1.66
72.74
37.3
1.95
1960
6601
38 6
1.71
75.14
37.2
202
38.3
1.76
77.12
36.9
2.09
38.2
1.83
80.94
37.3
2.17
61 76
69.91
38 6
2.25
84.38
37.5
1964 ......................
$118.78
41.1
$2.89
74.66
37.9
1.97
85.79
37.3
2.30
$70.03
36.1
$1.94
1965 ......................
125.14
41.3
3.03
76.91
37.7
2.04
88.91
37.2
2.39
73.60
35.9
2.05
72 01
38 1
1.89
77.04
35.5
2.17
3.11
79.39
37.1
2.14
92.13
37.3
2.47
1967 ......................
130.82
40.5
3.23
82.35
36.6
37.1
2.58
80.38
35.1
2.29
138.85
40.6
3.42
87.00
36.1
2.25
2.41
95.72
1968 ......................
101.75
37.0
2.75
83.97
34.7
2.42
1966 ......................
128.13
41.2
1969 ......................
147.74
40.7
3.63
91.39
35.7
2.56
108.70
37.1
2.93
90.57
34.7
2.61
1970 ......................
155.93
40.5
3.85
96.02
35.3
2.72
112.67
36.7
3.07
96.66
34.4
2.81
1971 ......................
168.82
40.1
4.21
101.09
35.1
2.88
117.85
36.6
3.22
103.06
33.9
1972 ......................
187.86
40.4
4.65
106.45
34.9
3.05
122.98
36.6
3.36
110.85
33.9
3.27
3.04
1973 ......................
203.31
40.5
5.02
111.76
34.6
3.23
129.20
36.6
3.53
117.29
33.8
3.47
1974 ......................
217.48
40.2
5.41
119.02
34.2
348
137.61
36.5
3.77
126.00
33.6
3.75
1975 ......................
233.44
39.7
5.88
126.45
33.9
3.73
148.19
36.5
4.06
134.67
33.5
4.02
33.3
4.31
1976 ......................
256.71
39.8
6.45
133.79
33.7
3.97
155.43
36.4
4.27
143.52
1977 ......................
278.90
39.9
6.99
4.28
165.26
36.4
4.54
153.45
33.0
4.65
302.80
40.0
7.57
142.52
153.64
33.3
1978 ......................
32.9
4.67
178.00
36.4
4.89
163.67
32.8
4.99
1979 ......................
325.58
39.9
8.16
164.96
32.6
5.06
190.77
36.2
5.27
175.27
32.7
5.36
1980 ......................
351.25
39.6
8.87
176.46
32.2
5.48
209.24
36.2
5.78
190.71
32.6
5.85
1981 ......................
382.97
39.4
9.72
190.35
32.1
5.93
228.69
36.3
6.30
208.97
32.6
6.41
' Data Include Alaska and Hawaii beginning in 1959.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
81
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW April 1982 • Current Labor Statistics: Establishment Data
15.
Weekly hours, by industry division and major manufacturing group
[Gross averages, production or nonsupervisory workers on private nonagricultural payrolls]
Annual average
1981
1982
Industry division and group
1980
1981
Feb.
Mar.
Apr.
May
June
July
Aug.
Sept.
Oct.
Nov.
Dec.
Jan.p
Feb.p
35.6
35.6
35.0
35.1
35.1
35.2
33.8
34.6
35.3
35.2
35.0
35.2
35.2
35.2
35.4
MINING..............................................................
43.2
43.6
42.8
42.3
43.6
43.8
42.1
43.5
44.1
43.8
44.5
44.3
44.7
42.8
43.2
CONSTRUCTION................................................
37.0
36.8
35.0
37.2
36.9
36.9
37.2
37.7
37.3
35.7
37.5
37.0
37.0
33.2
35.3
MANUFACTURING ............................................
39.7
2.8
39.8
2.8
39.5
2.8
39.9
2.8
39.7
2.6
40.1
2.9
40.2
3.0
39.6
2.8
39.8
3.0
39.5
2.9
39.7
2.8
39.6
2.6
39.9
2.6
37.1
2.2
38.9
2.3
Overtime hours...................................
40.1
2.8
40.2
2.8
39.9
2.8
40.5
2.9
40.3
2.7
40.6
3.0
40.6
3.0
39.9
2.8
40.2
2.9
39.8
2.8
40.1
2.7
40.0
2.5
40.4
2.6
37.7
2.1
39.3
2.2
Lumber and wood products ........................
Furniture and fixtures .................................
Stone, clay, and glass products....................
Primary metal industries.............................
Fabricated metal products .........................
38.6
38.1
40.8
40.1
40.4
38.7
38.4
40.6
40.5
40.3
38.5
38.3
39.6
40.7
40.0
39.0
38.8
40.6
41.1
40.6
39.1
38.2
40.9
41.2
40.2
39.6
38.5
41.1
40.9
40.7
39.5
38.9
41.2
40.9
40.8
38.7
37.8
40.8
40.3
39.9
39.0
38.6
41.0
40.3
40.3
37.9
37.7
40.6
40.8
39.6
38.2
38.6
40.5
39.6
40.1
37.6
38.1
40.5
39.7
40.0
38.1
38.9
40.1
39.6
40.4
33.8
32.6
37.3
38.4
37.8
37.6
37.4
38.9
39.1
39.1
Machinery except electrical.........................
Electric and electronic equipment ................
Transportation equipment...........................
Instruments and related products ................
Miscellaneous manufacturing ......................
41.0
39.8
40.6
40.5
38.7
40.9
39.9
40.9
40.4
38.9
40.8
39.6
40.1
40.5
38.4
41.2
40.2
41.1
40.6
38.9
40.8
39.8
41.0
39.9
38.6
41.2
40.1
41.6
40.3
38.9
41.1
40.2
41.3
40.4
39.0
40.4
39.7
40.7
39.9
38.5
40.7
40.0
40.5
40.4
39.0
40.4
39.7
39.9
40.4
38.7
40.6
39.9
40.9
40.4
39.3
40.9
39.8
40.8
40.8
39.5
41.5
40.3
41.4
40.7
39.1
39.1
38.1
38.5
38.5
36.4
40.4
39.4
39.9
39.8
38.1
Nondurable goods ........................................
Overtime hours...................................
39.0
2.8
39.2
2.8
38.9
2.8
39.1
2.7
38.9
2.6
39.4
2.9
39.5
2.9
39.1
2.8
39.4
3.0
39.1
3.1
39.1
2.9
39.1
2.8
39.2
2.6
36.2
2.4
38.2
2.4
Food and kindred products..........................
Tobacco manufactures...............................
Textile mill products...................................
Apparel and other textile products................
Paper and allied products...........................
39.7
38.1
40.1
35.4
42.3
39.7
38.8
39.7
35.7
42.5
39.3
38.5
39.9
35.3
42.2
39.2
37.2
40.1
35.8
42.4
39.3
37.2
39.4
35.2
42.3
39.8
38.6
40.3
36.0
42.5
39.8
38.5
40.4
36.4
42.7
39.6
38.6
39.7
36.0
42.4
40.0
40.7
40.0
36.3
42.5
39.8
40.2
38.9
35.2
43.2
39.6
39.4
39.4
35.8
42.4
39.9
38.6
39.2
35.8
42.3
40.4
38.1
38.6
35.5
42.7
38.7
36.1
31.1
30.2
41.2
38.9
38.3
37.5
34.6
41.9
Printing and publishing ...............................
Chemicals and allied products......................
Petroleum and coal products ......................
Rubber and miscellaneous plastics products ..
Leather and leather products ......................
37.1
41.5
41.8
40.1
36.7
37.3
41.6
43.2
40.4
36.8
36.9
41.5
42.5
40.2
36.7
37.1
41.6
42.6
40.7
36.8
37.0
41.6
43.9
40.4
36.3
37.3
41.6
43.6
40.9
37.4
37.2
41.6
43.5
40.9
38.1
37.2
41.5
43.7
40.0
36.6
37.5
41.4
43.0
40.4
36.9
37.4
42.2
44.4
39.8
36.0
37.2
41.5
43.1
40.2
36.7
37.3
41.7
43.0
39.9
36.6
37.9
41.8
42.6
40.1
36.4
36.3
40.8
43.1
37.8
33.5
37.0
41.2
42.4
39.3
34.6
39.2
39.1
39.3
39.3
38.6
39.4
TOTAL PRIVATE..........................................
Overtime hours...................................
Durable goods ..............................................
TRANSPORTATION AND PUBLIC UTILITIES . . . .
39.6
39.6
39.5
39.4
39.3
39.3
39.8
39.8
39.5
WHOLESALE AND RETAIL TRADE
32.2
32.2
31.7
31.9
32.1
32.0
32.3
32.8
32.8
32.2
31.9
31.9
32.2
31.1
31.5
WHOLESALE TRADE..........................................
38.5
38.5
38.3
38.5
38.5
38.5
38.6
38.8
38.7
38.5
38.7
38.6
38.7
37.9
38.1
RETAIL TRADE..................................................
30.2
30.2
29.6
29.8
30.0
29.9
30.4
30.9
30.9
30.2
29.8
29.8
30.3
28.9
29.4
FINANCE, INSURANCE, AND REAL
ESTATE ..........................................................
36.2
36.2
36.4
36.4
36.3
36.1
36.1
36.3
36.3
36.0
36.2
36.2
36.2
36.2
36.3
SERVICES..........................................................
32.6
32.6
32.6
32.6
32.6
32.5
32.7
33.0
32.9
32.4
32.5
32.5
32.6
32.1
32.4
82
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
16.
Weekly hours, by industry division and major manufacturing group, seasonally adjusted
[Gross averages, production or nonsupervisory workers on private nonagricultural payrolls]
1981
1982
Industry division and group
Feb.
Mar.
Apr.
TOTAL PRIVATE................................................
35.2
35.3
MANUFACTURING ..................................................
39.8
2.8
39.9
2.8
Overtime hours........................................
40.1
2.8
Lumber and wood products .............................
Furniture and fixtures ......................................
Stone, clay, and glass products ........................
Primary metal industries...................................
Fabricated metal products ...............................
May
June
July
Aug.
Sept.
Oct.
Nov.
Dec.
Jan.p
Feb.»
35.4
35.3
35.2
35.3
35.2
34.9
35.0
35.0
34.9
34.2
34.9
40.2
2.9
40.3
3.2
40.1
3.0
40.0
3.0
40.0
3.0
39.3
2.7
39.5
2.7
39.3
2.5
39.0
2.4
37.3
2.3
39.1
2.3
40.4
2.8
40.8
3.0
40.8
3.2
40.5
3.0
405
3.0
40.5
3.0
39.7
2.6
39.9
2.6
39.7
2.4
39.3
2.4
37.9
2.2
39.5
2.2
39.1
38.6
40.6
40.7
40.2
39.1
38.6
40.7
41.0
40.4
39.6
38.8
41.2
41.2
40.9
39.8
39.0
41.0
41.0
40.9
39.0
38.9
40.8
40.8
40.7
38.8
38.5
40.9
40.5
40.5
38.6
38.6
40.8
40.7
40.5
37.3
37.5
40.3
40.6
39.5
37.6
38.1
40.0
39.8
40.0
37.5
37.7
40.0
39.7
39.6
37.6
37.7
39.5
39.2
39.2
34.7
32.9
38.2
38.4
37.9
38.2
37.6
39.9
39.1
39.3
Machinery, except electrical ......... ....................
Electric and electronic equipment ......................
Transportation equipment.................................
Instruments and related products ......................
Miscellaneous manufacturing ...........................
40.8
39.6
40.5
40.5
38.6
40.9
40.0
40.9
40.5
38.7
41.3
40.2
42.0
40.1
38.9
41.4
40.4
41.8
40.4
39.2
41.1
40.2
41.4
40.4
39.1
41.1
40.5
41.2
40.5
39.2
41.2
40.4
41.3
40.8
39.1
40.3
39.6
399
40.5
38.4
40.7
399
40.5
40.4
39.0
40.6
39.3
40.3
40.3
39.0
40.3
39.2
39.4
39.9
38.4
39.0
38.1
38.8
38.5
36.6
40.4
39.4
40.3
39.8
38.3
Nondurable goods ..............................................
Overtime hours........................................
39.2
2.9
39.2
2.8
39.3
2.9
39.6
3.1
39.4
3.0
39.3
2.9
39.3
2.9
38.9
2.8
39.0
2.8
38.8
2.7
38.6
2.4
36.4
2.4
38.5
2.5
Food and kindred products...............................
Textile mill products........................................
Apparel and other textile products......................
Paper and allied products.................................
39.9
40.0
35.6
42.4
39.7
39.9
35.7
42.4
40.1
39.8
35.5
42.6
40.0
40.5
36.0
42.8
39.8
40.2
36.1
42.7
39.4
40.4
35.9
42.7
39.4
40.3
36.1
42.7
39.2
38.9
35.2
43.1
39.5
39.3
35.7
42.4
39.6
38.8
35.6
41.9
39.8
37.8
35.1
41.8
39.0
31.2
30.9
41.1
39.5
37.5
34.8
42.1
Printing and publishing ....................................
Chemicals and allied products...........................
Petroleum and coal products ...........................
Rubber and miscellaneous plastics products ......
Leather and leather products ...........................
37.3
41.6
43.8
40.3
37.0
37.1
41.5
43.5
40.5
37.1
37.3
41.5
44.1
40.7
36.6
37.6
41.7
43.8
41.3
37.1
37.4
41.7
43.4
41.0
37.1
37.3
41.8
43.1
40.5
36.5
37.3
41.7
42.8
40.6
36.9
37.1
42.3
43.3
39.6
36.1
37.1
41.5
42.1
40.0
36.8
36.9
41.3
42.3
39.6
36.7
37.2
41.3
42.6
39.4
36.1
36.6
40.8
44.3
37.7
33.8
37.4
41.3
43.7
39.4
34.8
WHOLESALE AND RETAIL TRADE ..........................
32.2
32.2
32.3
32.1
32.1
32.2
32.1
32.1
31.9
32.0
31.9
31.5
31.9
WHOLESALE TRADE ..............................................
38.6
38.6
38.6
38.5
38.5
38.7
38.6
38.5
38.5
38.6
38.4
38.1
38.4
RETAIL TRADE........................................................
30.2
30.2
30.3
30.1
30.1
30.1
30.1
30.1
29.9
29.9
29.9
29.5
29.9
SERVICES............................................................
32.8
32.8
32.8
32.7
32.5
32.5
32.4
32.4
32.5
32.6
32.7
32.3
32.6
Overtime hours........................................
Durable goods
Note: The industry divisions of mining; construction; tobacco manufactures (a major
manufacturing group, nondurable goods); transportation and public utilities; and finance, insurance,
and real estate are no longer shown. This is because the seasonal component in these is
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
.
small relative to the trend-cycle, or irregular components, or both, and consequently cannot be precisely
separated,
83
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW April 1982 • Current Labor Statistics: Establishment Data
17.
Hourly earnings, by industry division and major manufacturing group
[Gross averages, production or nonsupervisory workers on private nonagricultural payrolls]
1982
1981
Annual average
Industry division and group
July
Aug.
Sept.
Oct.
Nov.
Dec.
Jan.p
Feb.p
1980
1981
Feb.
Mar.
Apr.
May
June
TOTAL PRIVATE..........................................
$6.66
$7.25
$7.06
$7.10
$7.13
$7.17
$7.20
$7.24
$7.30
$7.40
$7.42
$7.46
$7.45
$7.55
$7.54
MINING..............................................................
9.17
10.06
9.86
9.85
9.70
9.68
9.94
10.11
10.15
10.29
10.28
10.42
10.43
10.67
10.72
CONSTRUCTION................................................
9.92
10.75
10.41
10.44
10.43
10.53
10.60
10.74
10.87
11.02
11.10
11.12
11.19
11.55
11.17
7.27
7.98
7.75
7.80
7.88
7.92
7.97
8.02
8.02
8.15
8.15
8.20
8.26
8.41
8.35
Lumber and wood products ..................
Furniture and fixtures...........................
Stone, clay, and glass products .............
Primary metal industries.......................
Fabricated metal products ....................
7.75
6.53
5.49
7.50
9.77
7.45
8.52
7.00
5.90
8.27
10.81
8.20
8.26
6.81
5.74
7.89
10.56
7.91
8.32
6.79
5.76
7.94
10.52
8.01
8.40
6.83
5.78
8.11
10.76
8.05
8.45
6.92
5.83
8.20
10.68
8.17
8.52
7.10
5.89
8.31
10.76
8.23
8.55
7.16
5.91
8.39
10.79
8.22
8.57
7.13
5.98
8.41
10.99
8.27
868
7.15
6.00
8.53
11.22
8.34
8.71
7.09
6.05
850
10.97
8.39
8.75
7.15
604
8.54
11.10
8.43
8.81
7.17
6.11
8.56
11.09
8.53
8.90
7.38
6.26
8.70
11.21
8.55
8.90
7.41
6.17
8.67
11.16
8.61
Machinery, except electrical..................
Electric and electronic equipment...........
Transportation equipment......................
Instruments and related products ...........
Miscellaneous manufacturing ................
8.00
6.95
9.32
6.80
5.47
8.83
7.65
10.31
7.44
5.98
8.56
7.43
9.93
7.20
5.83
8.62
7.47
10.08
7.23
5.85
8.67
7.51
10.14
7.25
5.91
8.75
7.55
10.25
7.31
5.93
8.81
7.60
10.36
7.34
5.93
8.85
7.69
10.35
7.44
5.98
8.86
7.76
10.30
7.56
5.97
8.98
7.79
10.41
7.60
6.07
9.05
7.84
10.65
7.61
6.06
9.10
7.86
10.66
7.70
6.12
9.20
7.93
10.69
7.83
6.20
9.21
8.00
10.69
7.94
6.32
9.24
8.03
10.72
7.99
6.33
6.56
6.86
7.73
508
4.57
7.84
7.19
6.98
7.24
8.56
5.35
4.87
8.28
7.01
7.29
8.61
5.36
4.94
8.30
7.08
7.37
8.90
5.36
4.96
8.37
7.11
7.43
9.03
5.40
4.98
8.42
7.14
7.43
9.33
5.42
5.00
8.55
7.23
7.47
9.43
5.51
4.94
8.73
7.24
7.50
8.61
5.66
4.98
8.67
7.37
7.58
8.66
5.69
5.06
8.95
7.34
7.53
8.58
5.72
5.07
8.82
7.39
7.63
8.96
5.74
5.06
8.89
7.45
7.69
8.90
5.72
5.05
8.96
7.68
7.82
9.13
5.76
5.19
9.06
7.57
Food and kindred products....................
Tobacco manufactures.........................
Textile mill products.............................
Apparel and other textile products .........
Paper and allied products......................
Printing and publishing.........................
Chemicals and allied products ..............
Petroleum and coal products ................
Rubber and miscellaneous plastics products
Leather and leather products ................
7.53
8.30
10.09
6.56
4.58
7.96
8.80
11.33
7.04
4.88
8.02
8.84
11.23
7.07
4.90
8.04
8.94
11.40
7.15
4.93
8.10
8.99
11.28
7.22
4.95
8.13
9.07
11.29
7.23
4.98
8.22
9.16
11.41
7.28
4.96
8.27
9.19
11.31
7.32
4.97
8.40
9.38
11.53
7.38
5.08
8.42
9.37
11.46
7.39
5.09
8.44
9.42
11.57
7.41
5.10
8.50
9.52
11.58
7.48
5.14
8.59
9.67
12.03
7.62
5.21
9.45
9.42
9.54
9.59
9.63
9.69
9.89
9.97
9.96
10.07
10.08
10.13
5.84
5.85
5.87
5.89
5.89
5.91
5.94
6.04
6.00
6.03
6.01
6.17
7.38
7.42
7.47
7.51
7.51
7.59
7.67
7.71
7.74
7.81
7.83
7.94
5.20
5.20
5.22
5.23
5.23
5.24
5.26
5.37
5.29
5.32
5.32
5.44
MANUFACTURING ............................................
Durable goods
Nondurable goods
7.45
8.82
5.52
4.98
8.60
8.20
9.12
11.37
7.25
4.99
8.87
TRANSPORTATION AND PUBLIC UTILITIES
7.73
9.39
5.78
5.19
8.98
8.60
9.66
12.14
7.61
5.25
10.17
9.72
WHOLESALE AND RETAIL TRADE ....................
5.48
WHOLESALE TRADE..........................................
6.96
6.15
5.93
7.95
7.58
RETAIL TRADE..................................................
4.88
FINANCE, INSURANCE, AND REAL
ESTATE ..........................................................
5.78
6.30
6.21
6.19
6.20
6.24
6.24
6.27
6.37
6.38
6.42
6.51
6.46
6.60
6.62
SERVICES..........................................................
5.85
6.41
6.27
6.29
6.30
6.33
6.33
6.34
6.41
6.51
6.57
6.67
6.66
6.77
6.78
5.41
5.26
18.
Hourly Earnings Index for production or nonsupervisory workers on private nonagricultural payrolls, by industry division
[Seasonally adjusted data: 1977=100]
1982
1981
Industry
Jan. 1982
to
Feb. 1982
Feb. 1981
to
Feb. 19821
Feb.
Mar.
Apr.
May
June
July
Aug.
Sept.
Oct.
Nov.
Dec.
Jan.p
Feb.p
135.0
135.8
136.7
137.7
138.4
139.0
140.7
141.5
141.9
143.2
143.5
145.0
145.1
.1
7.5
Mining2 ..................................
Construction ...........................
Manufacturing ..........................
Transportation and public utilities ..
Wholesale and retail trade .........
Finance, insurance, and real estate
Services .................................
143.2
128.0
137.5
135.4
135.0
135.0
133.2
144.0
128.6
138.5
136.1
135.8
136.0
134.0
145.7
129.0
139.9
137.3
136.4
135.4
134.8
145.6
129.4
140.7
138.9
137.4
136.8
136.0
147.2
130.4
141.6
139.8
137.8
137.1
136.6
148.9
131.8
142.5
139.3
138.4
137.4
136.9
149.4
132.5
143.6
141.8
140.0
140.4
139.4
151.5
132.9
144.8
141.7
141.2
140.3
139.8
151.3
134.3
145.5
142.0
140.5
140.9
140.7
153.3
135.4
146.4
144.0
141.5
143.2
142.6
153.2
136.2
147.0
144.4
141.9
141.8
142.7
155.9
140.7
148.8
145.5
142.2
144.0
143.5
156.4
136.9
149.3
146.2
142.7
143.7
144.0
.3
-2.6
.3
.5
.3
-.2
.3
9.2
7.0
8.6
7.9
5.7
6.5
8.1
TOTAL PRIVATE (in constant dollars)
92.7
92.8
93.0
93.1
92.9
92.2
92.7
92.1
92.0
92.5
92.3
93.0
-
-
TOTAL PRIVATE (in current dollars)
1Over-the-year percent change before seasonal adjustment.
2The unadjusted data are shown because the seasonal component is small relative to the trend-cycle,
84
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
-
irregular components, or both, and consequently cannot be separated with sufficient precision.
19. Weekly earnings, by industry division and major manufacturing group
[Gross averages, production or nonsupervisory workers on private nonagricultural payrolls]
1980
TOTAL PRIVATE..................................
$235.10
1981
19 32
1981
Annual average
Feb.
Mar.
Apr.
May
June
July
$255.20 $247.10 $249.92 $250 98 $252.38 $254.88 $257.74
422.92
42398
Aug.
Sept.
Oct.
Nov.
Dec.
Jan.p
Feb.p
$259.88 $259.00 $260.44 $261.85 $262.24 $255.19 $260.88
418.47
439.79
447.62
450.70
MINING............................................................
396.14
438.62
422.01
416.66
CONSTRUCTION..............................................
367.04
395.60
364.35
388.37
384.87
388.56
394.32
404.90
405.45
393.41
317.59
320.39
317.59
319.20
321.93
463.10
461.61
466.22
456 68
416.25
411.44
414.03
383.46
394.30
323.56
324.72
329.57
312.01
324.82
457.46
MANUFACTURING ..........................................
288.62
317.60
306.13
311.22
312.84
Durable goods..............................................
Lumber and wood products......................
Furniture and fixtures .............................
Stone, clay, and glass products................
Primary metal Industries .........................
Fabricated metal products........................
310.78
252.06
209.17
306.00
391.78
300.98
423.46
342.50
270.90
226.56
335.76
437.81
329.57
262.19
219.84
312.44
429.79
316.40
336.96
264.81
223.49
322.36
432.37
325.21
338.52
267.05
220.80
331.70
443.31
323.61
343.07
274.03
224.46
337.02
436.81
332.52
345.91
280.45
229.12
342.37
440.08
335.78
341.15
277.09
223.40
342.31
434.84
327 98
344.51
278.07
230.83
344.81
442,90
333.28
345.46
270.99
226.20
346.32
457.78
330.26
349.27
270.84
233.53
344.25
434.41
336.44
420.34
350.00
268.84
23012
345.87
440.67
425.52
355.92
273.18
237.68
343.26
439.16
401.56
335.53
249.44
204.08
324.51
430.46
418.04
349.77
278.62
230.76
337.26
436.36
Machinery except electrical......................
Electric and electronic equipment..............
Transportation equipment ........................
Instruments and related products..............
Miscellaneous manufacturing....................
328.00
276.61
378.39
275.40
211.69
330.46
361.15
305.24
421.68
300.58
349.25
294.23
398.19
291.60
223.87
355.14
300.29
414.29
293.54
227.57
353.74
298.90
415.74
289.28
228.13
360.50
302.76
426.40
294.59
230.68
362.09
305.52
427.87
296.54
231.27
357.54
305.29
421.25
296.86
230.23
360.60
310.40
417.15
305.42
232.83
362.79
309.26
415.36
307.04
234.91
367.43
312.82
435.59
307.44
238.16
337.20
372.19
312.83
434.93
314.16
344.61
381.80
319.58
442.57
318.68
323.19
360.11
304.80
411.57
305.69
336.65
373.30
316.38
427.73
318.00
255.84
272.34
294.51
203.71
161.78
331.63
232.62
281.85
295.77
342.22
219.14
177.79
271.52
284.53
329.56
213.47
171.91
349.42
274.09
285.77
320.29
214.94
176.85
351.92
275.41
289.64
331.08
211.18
174.59
354.05
280.13
295.71
348.56
217.62
179.28
357.85
282.03
295.71
359.21
218.97
182.00
365.09
282.69
295.81
364.00
218.75
177.84
370.15
285.26
300.00
350.43
226.40
180.77
368.48
288.17
301.68
348.13
221.34
178.11
386.64
286.99
298.19
338.05
225.37
181.51
373.97
241.74
288.95
304.44
347.65
225.01
181.15
242.42
292.04
310.68
339.09
220.79
179.28
230.05
278.02
302.63
329.59
179.14
156.74
241.17
289.17
300.70
359.64
216.75
179.57
279.36
344.45
421.76
365.50
305.86
379.39
293.72
365.20
481.53
297.54
367.74
478.40
297.48
371.90
500.46
302.13
373.98
491.81
302.44
377.31
491.12
305.78
380.14
498.62
310.13
380.47
486.33
314.16
395.84
511.93
313.22
388.86
493.93
376.05
314.81
392.81
382.59
322.15
397.94
373.27
311.82
394.54
376.26
318.20
397.99
263.06
168.09
491.18
292.90
283.01
179.10
287.75
180.32
288.86
178.96
295.30
185.13
295.71
189.74
291.20
181.54
295.73
183.39
293.72
182.88
297 08
186.80
497.51
295.66
493.31
299.95
518.49
288.04
514.74
299.07
351.25
183.63
373.28
371.15
374.92
376.89
383.27
385.66
390.66
390.82
389.44
186.66
187.10
174.54
181.65
391.02
400.70
Nondurable goods
Food and kindred products ......................
Tobacco manufactures ...........................
Textile mill products ...............................
Apparel and other textile products.............
Paper and allied products ........................
Printing and publishing.............................
Chemicals and allied products..................
Petroleum and coal products....................
Rubber and miscellaneous
plastics products.................................
Leather and leather products....................
TRANSPORTATION AND PUBLIC UTILITIES
WHOLESALE AND RETAIL TRADE ..................
176.46
382.97
185.13
186.62
188 43
188 48
190.25
193.85
194.83
194.49
191.40
395.75
396.14
WHOLESALE TRADE ......................................
267.96
190.35
282.65
285.67
287.60
289.14
289.89
294.49
296.83
296.84
299.54
192.36
193.52
191.89
193.73
300.93
302.90
RETAIL TRADE................................................
FINANCE, INSURANCE, AND REAL ESTATE
SERVICES
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
147.38
292.59
153.92
154.96
156.60
156.38
158.99
161.92
162.53
162.17
157.64
301.47
303.02
209.24
158.33
226.04
225.32
225.06
225.26
225.26
227.60
231.23
229.68
232.40
158.54
161.20
157.22
159.05
233.85
238.92
240.31
190.71
228.69
204.40
205.05
205.38
206.73
206.99
209.22
210.89
210.92
213.53
235.66
85
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW April 1982 • Current Labor Statistics: Establishment Data
20.
Gross and spendable weekly earnings, in current and 1977 dollars, 1961 to date
[Averages for production or nonsupervisory workers on private nonagricultural payrolls]
Private nonagricultural workers
Year and month
Gross average
weekly earnings
Manufacturing workers
Spendable average weekly earnings
Worker with no
dependents
Spendable average weekly earnings
Married worker with
3 dependents
weekly earnings
Worker with no
dependents
Married worker with
3 dependents
Current
dollars
1977
dollars
Current
dollars
1977
dollars
Current
dollars
1977
dollars
Current
dollars
1977
dollars
Current
dollars
1977
dollars
Current
dollars
1977
dollars
1961
1962
1963
1964
1965
......................................
......................................
......................................
......................................
......................................
$82.60
85.91
8846
91.33
95.45
$167.21
172.16
175.17
178.38
183.21
$67.08
69.56
71.05
75.04
79.32
$135.79
139.40
140.69
146.56
152.25
$74.48
76.99
78.56
82.57
86.63
$150.77
154.29
155.56
161.27
166.28
$92.34
96.56
99,23
102.97
107.53
$186.92
193.51
196.50
201.11
206.39
$74.60
77.86
79.51
84.40
89.08
$151.01
156.03
157.45
164.84
170.98
$82.18
85.53
87.25
92.18
96.78
$166.36
171.40
172.77
180.04
185.76
1966
1967
1968
1969
1970
......................................
......................................
......................................
......................................
......................................
98.82
101.84
107.73
114.61
119.83
184.37
184.83
187.68
189.44
186.94
81.29
83.38
86.71
90.96
96.21
151.66
151.32
151.06
150.35
150.09
88.66
90.86
95.28
99.99
104.90
165.41
164.90
165.99
165.27
163.65
112.19
114.49
122.51
129.51
133.33
209.31
207.79
312.43
214.07
208.00
91.45
92.97
97.70
101.90
106.32
170.62
168.73
170.21
168.43
165.87
99.33
100.93
106.75
111.44
115.58
185.32
183.18
185.98
184.20
180.31
1971
1972
1973
1974
1975
......................................
......................................
......................................
......................................
......................................
127.31
136.90
145.39
154.76
163.53
190.58
198.41
198.35
190.12
184.16
103.80
112.19
117.51
124.37
132.49
155.39
162.59
160.31
152.79
149.20
112.43
121.68
127.38
134.61
145.65
168.31
176.35
173.78
165.37
164.02
142.44
154.71
166.46
176.80
190.79
213.23
224.22
227.09
217.20
214.85
114.97
125.34
132.57
140.19
151.61
172.11
181.65
180.86
172.22
170.73
124.24
135.57
143.50
151.56
166.29
185.99
196.48
195.77
186.19
187.26
1976
1977
1978
1979
1980
......................................
......................................
......................................
......................................
......................................
175.45
189.00
203.70
219.91
235.10
186.85
189.00
189.31
183.41
172.74
143.30
155.19
165.39
178.00
188.82
152.61
155.19
153.71
148.46
138.74
155.87
169.93
180.71
194.82
206.06
166.00
169.93
167.95
162.49
151.65
209.32
228.90
249.27
269.34
288.62
222.92
228.90
231.66
224.64
212.06
167.83
183.80
197.40
212.70
225.79
178.73
183.80
183.46
177.40
165.90
181.32
200.06
214.87
232.38
247.01
193.10
200.06
199.69
193.81
181.49
1981 ......................................
255.20
170.13
202.00
134.67
220.57
147.05
317.60
211.73
244.09
162.73
267.36
178.24
1981: February........................
March...........................
April.............................
May .............................
June.............................
July .............................
August .........................
September ....................
October ........................
November......................
December......................
247.10
249.92
250.98
252.38
254.88
257.74
259.88
259.00
260.44
261.85
262.24
170.18
171.06
170.73
170.18
170.49
170.35
170.64
168.40
169.01
169.48
169.30
195.92
197.88
198.61
199.59
201.32
203.30
204.79
204.18
207.07
208.07
208.34
134.93
135.44
135.11
134.59
134.66
134.37
134.46
132.76
134.37
134.67
134.50
214.22
216.34
217.14
218.20
220.08
222.24
223.85
223.19
225.23
226.30
226.60
147.53
148.08
147.71
147.13
147.21
146.89
146.98
145.12
146.16
146.47
146.29
306.13
311.22
312.84
317.59
320.39
317.59
319.20
321.93
323.56
324.72
329.57
210.83
213.02
212.82
214.15
214.31
209.91
209.59
209.32
209.97
210.17
212.76
236.08
239.37
240.39
243.40
245.18
243.40
244.42
246.15
249.93
250.68
253.83
162.59
163.84
163.53
164.13
164.00
160.87
160.49
160.05
162.19
162.25
163.87
258.70
262.38
263.55
266.99
269.01
266.99
268.15
270.13
272.84
273.69
277.25
178.17
179.59
179.29
180.03
179.94
176.46
176.07
175.64
177.05
177.15
178.99
1982: January15........................
February » . , ..................
255.19
260.88
164.21
( 1)
( 1)
(’ )
(’ )
312.01
324.82
200.78
V)
( 1)
(')
(')
( 1)
( 1)
(’ )
(’ )
(')
n
(’ )
' Not available.
Note: The earnings expressed in 1977 dollars have been adjusted for changes in price level
as measured by the Bureau’s Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers.
These series are described in The Spendable Earnings Series: A Technical Note on its Calculation,”
Employment and Earnings and Monthly Report on the Labor Force, February 1969,
86
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
(')
(’ )
pp. 6-13. See also “Spendable Earnings Formulas, 1979-81,” Employment and Earnin gs, November
1981, pp. 7-8.
N o t ic e : With publication of the final December 1981 data in this issue, the Bureau of Labor Statistics
is discontinuing the spendable earnings series shown in this table, because of budgetary constraints
The real earnings series published here will appear with the data in the preceding table.
UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE DATA
N a t i o n a l u n e m p l o y m e n t in s u r a n c e d a t a are compiled
monthly by the Employment and Training Administration of
the U.S. Department of Labor from monthly reports of unem
ployment insurance activity prepared by State agencies. Rail
road unemployment insurance data are prepared by the U.S.
Railroad Retirement Board.
ployed. Persons not covered by unemployment insurance (about 10
percent of the labor force) and those who have exhausted or not yet
earned benefit rights are excluded from the scope of the survey. Ini
tial claims are notices filed by persons in unemployment insurance
programs to indicate they are out of work and wish to begin receiv
ing compensation. A claimant who continued to be unemployed a
full week is then counted in the insured unemployment figure. The
rate of insured unemployment expresses the number of insured unem
ployed as a percent of the average insured employment in a
12-month period.
Definitions
Data for all programs represent an unduplicated count of insured
unemployment under State programs, Unemployment Compensation
for Ex-Servicemen, and Unemployment Compensation for Federal
Employees, and the Railroad Insurance Act.
An application for benefits is filed by a railroad worker at the be
ginning of his first period of unemployment in a benefit year; no ap
plication is required for subsequent periods in the same year. Num
ber of payments are payments made in 14-day registration periods.
The average amount of benefit payment is an average for all com
pensable periods, not adjusted for recovery of overpayments or set
tlement of underpayments. However, total benefits paid have been
adjusted.
Under both State and Federal unemployment insurance programs
for civilian employees, insured workers must report the completion of
at least 1 week of unemployment before they are defined as unem
21.
Unemployment insurance and employment service operations
[All Items except average benefits amounts are In thousands]
1981
Item
All programs:
Insured unemployment ....................
State unemployment insurance
program:'
Initial claims2 .................................
Insured unemployment (average
weekly volume)...........................
Rate of Insured unemployment .........
Weeks of unemployment
compensated .............................
Average weekly benefit amount
for total unemployment ................
Total benefits paid .........................
Unemployment compensation for exservicemen: 3
Initial claims' .................................
Insured unemployment (average
weekly volume)...........................
Weeks of unemployment
compensated .............................
Total benefits paid .........................
Unemployment compensation for
Federal civilian employees:4
Initial claims...................................
Insured unemployment (average
weekly volume)...........................
Weeks of unemployment
compensated .............................
Total benefits paid .........................
Railroad unemployment insurance:
Applications ...................................
Insured unemployment (average
weekly volume)....................
Number of payments ......................
Average amount of benefit
payment....................................
Total benefits paid .........................
Employment service:5
New applications and renewals .........
Nonfarm placements........................
Jan.
Mar.
Feb.
Apr.
May
1982
July
Aug.
Sept.
Oct.
Nov.
Dec.
Jan.p
4,621
4,264
3,948
3,453
3,111
2,949
3,012
2,874
2,680
2,753
r 3,228
3,935
4,679
2,653
1,806
1,684
1,647
1,417
1,741
2,114
1,610
1,681
1,996
2,266
'3,272
3,388
3,844
4.4
3,669
4.2
3,382
3.9
2,988
3.4
2,691
3.1
2,596
3.0
2,743
3.1
2,656
3.0
2,488
2.9
2,592
3.0
r 3,061
r3.5
3,778
4.3
4,468
5.1
14,228
12,882
13,504
11,871
9,790
9,928
10,486
9,594
9,565
9,424
'10,052
'14,592
15,878
$102.34
$101.89
$105.63
$105.96
$105.49
$99.02
$103.47
$105.94
$107.39
$1,416,513 $1,313,507 $1,393,612 $1,226,815 $1,006,341 $1,012,764 $1,061,899 $1,004,864 $1,001,020
$108.92
'$110.52 '$112.83
$114.97
$997,757 '$1,080,810 $1,592,546 $1,754,029
19
17
18
16
15
19
22
19
15
11
9
11
8
57
54
51
46
43
42
44
44
34
26
22
19
16
257
$26,646
221
$22,517
234
$24,668
214
$23,048
183
$19,965
192
$21,145
203
$22,785
190
$21,425
153
$17,144
116
$12,952
91
'$10,043
93
$10,155
68
$7,645
22
13
12
12
11
13
15
17
18
20
16
17
17
41
40
36
31
27
25
25
25
29
32
36
39
40
160
$15,432
148
$14,573
156
$15,561
135
$13,701
107
$11,023
105
$10,705
105
$10,805
102
$9,543
100
$10,495
112
$11,719
127
'$13,491
174
$18,891
161
$18,014
13
5
5
6
6
26
41
13
15
21
13
19
22
53
118
50
104
44
115
41
94
35
79
30
86
28
32
29
63
34
74
40
86
44
83
54
117
75
153
$209.38
$20,303
$214.56
$22,049
$214.93
$23,233
$201.12
$19,239
$199.43
$15,428
$201.06
$16,206
$199.63
$11,541
$202.53
$7,071
$207.98
15,046
$197.26
15,994
$207.08
$16,377
$212.33
$25,292
$213.39
$30,544
8,778
1,595
’ Initial claims and State insured unemployment include data under the program for Puerto Rican
sugarcane workers.
2Includes interstate claims for the Virgin Islands. Excludes transition claims under State programs.
3Excludes data on claims and payments made jointly with other programs.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
June
12,868
2,446
16,502
3,509
4Includes the Virgin islands. Excludes data on claims and payments made jointly with State programs.
5Cumulative total for fiscal year (October 1-September 30). Data computed quarterly.
Note: Data for Puerto Rico included. Dashes indicate data not available.
r=revised.
87
PRICE DATA
P rice data are gathered by the Bureau of Labor Statistics
from retail and primary markets in the United States. Price
indexes are given in relation to a base period (1967 = 100,
unless otherwise noted).
Definitions
The Consumer Price Index is a monthly statistical measure of the
average change in prices in a fixed market basket of goods and ser
vices. Effective with the January 1978 index, the Bureau of Labor Sta
tistics began publishing CPI’s for two groups of the population. One
index, a new CPI for All Urban Consumers, covers 80 percent of the
total noninstitutional population; and the other index, a revised CPI
for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers, covers about half the
new index population. The All Urban Consumers index includes, in
addition to wage earners and clerical workers, professional, manageri
al, and technical workers, the self-employed, short-term workers, the
unemployed, retirees, and others not in the labor force.
The CPI is based on prices of food, clothing, shelter, fuel, drugs,
transportation fares, doctor’s and dentist’s fees, and other goods and
services that people buy for day-to-day living. The quantity and quali
ty of these items is kept essentially unchanged between major revi
sions so that only price changes will be measured. Prices are collected
from over 18,000 tenants, 24,000 retail establishments, and 18,000
housing units for property taxes in 85 urban areas across the country.
All taxes directly associated with the purchase and use of items are
included in the index. Because the CPI’s are based on the expendi
tures of two population groups in 1972-73, they may not accurately
reflect the experience of individual families and single persons with
different buying habits.
Though the CPI is often called the “Cost-of-Living Index,” it meas
ures only price change, which is just one of several important factors
affecting living costs. Area indexes do not measure differences in the
level of prices among cities. They only measure the average change in
prices for each area since the base period.
Producer Price Indexes measure average changes in prices received
in primary markets of the United States by producers of commodities
in all stages of processing. The sample used for calculating these in
dexes contains about 2,800 commodities and about 10,000 quotations
per month selected to represent the movement of prices of all com
modities produced in the manufacturing, agriculture, forestry, fishing,
mining, gas and electricity, and public utilities sectors. The universe
includes all commodities produced or imported for sale in commercial
transactions in primary markets in the United States.
Producer Price Indexes can be organized by stage of processing or
by commodity. The stage of processing structure organizes products
by degree of fabrication (that is, finished goods, intermediate or
semifinished goods, and crude materials). The commodity structure
organizes products by similarity of end-use or material composition.
To the extent possible, prices used in calculating Producer Price In
dexes apply to the first significant commercial transaction in the Unit
ed States, from the production or central marketing point. Price data
are generally collected monthly, primarily by mail questionnaire.
88
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Most prices are obtained directly from producing companies on a vol
untary and confidential basis. Prices generally are reported for the
Tuesday of the week containing the 13th day of the month.
In calculating Producer Price Indexes, price changes for the vari
ous commodities are averaged together with implicit quantity weights
representing their importance in the total net selling value of all com
modities as of 1972. The detailed data are aggregated to obtain in
dexes for stage of processing groupings, commodity groupings, dura
bility of product groupings, and a number of special composite
groupings.
Price indexes for the output of selected SIC industries measure av
erage price changes in commodities produced by particular industries,
as defined in the Standard Industrial Classification Manual 1972
(Washington, U.S. Office of Management and Budget, 1972). These
indexes are derived from several price series, combined to match the
economic activity of the specified industry and weighted by the value
of shipments in the industry. They use data from comprehensive in
dustrial censuses conducted by the U.S. Bureau of the Census and the
U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Notes on the data
Beginning with the May 1978 issue of the Review, regional CPI’s
cross classified by population size, were introduced. These indexes will
enable users in local areas for which an index is not published to get a
better approximation of the CPI for their area by using the appropri
ate population size class measure for their region. The cross-classified
indexes will be published bimonthly. (See table 24.)
For further details about the new and the revised indexes and a
comparison of various aspects of these indexes with the old unrevised
CPI, see Facts About the Revised Consumer Price Index, a pamphlet in
the Consumer Price Index Revision 1978 series. See also The
Consumer Price Index: Concepts and Content Over the Years, Report
517, revised edition (Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 1978).
For interarea comparisons of living costs at three hypothetical stand
ards of living, see the family budget data published in the Handbook
of Labor Statistics, 1977, Bulletin 1966 (Bureau of Labor Statistics,
1977), tables 122-133. Additional data and analysis on price changes
are provided in the CPI Detailed Report and Producer Prices and Price
Indexes, both monthly publications of the Bureau.
As of January 1976, the Wholesale Price Index (as it was then
called) incorporated a revised weighting structure reflecting 1972 val
ues of shipments. From January 1967 through December 1975, 1963
values of shipments were used as weights.
For a discussion of the general method of computing consumer,
""producer, and industry price indexes, see BLS Handbook of Methods
for Surveys and Studies, Bulletin 1910 (Bureau of Labor Statistics,
1976), chapters 13-15. See also John F. Early, “Improving the meas
urement of producer price change,” Monthly Labor Review, April
1978, pp. 7-15. For industry prices, see also Bennett R. Moss, “In
dustry and Sector Price Indexes,” Monthly Labor Review, August
1965, pp. 974-82.
22.
Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers, annual averages and changes, 1967-80
[1967= 100]
Food and
beverages
All Items
Year
Index
Percent
change
Index
Apparel and
upkeep
Housing
Percent
change
Index
Percent
change
Transportation
Percent
change
Index
Index
Percent
change
Medical care
Percent
change
Index
Other goods
and services
Entertainment
Percent
change
Index
Index
Percent
change
1967
1968
1969
1970
................
................
................
................
100.0
104.2
109.8
116.3
4.2
5.4
5.9
100.0
103.6
108.8
114.7
3.6
5.0
5.4
100.0
104.0
110.4
118.2
4.0
6.2
7.1
100.0
105.4
111.5
116.1
5.4
5.8
4.1
100.0
103.2
107.2
112.7
3.2
3.9
5.1
100.0
106.1
113.4
120.6
6.1
6.9
6.3
100.0
105.7
111.0
116.7
5.7
5.0
5.1
100.0
105.2
110.4
116.8
5.2
4,9
5.8
1971
1972
1973
1974
1975
................
................
................
................
................
121.3
125.3
133.1
147.7
161.2
4.3
3.3
6.2
11.0
9.1
118.3
123.2
139.5
158.7
172.1
3.1
4.1
13.2
13.8
8.4
123.4
128.1
133.7
148.8
164.5
4.4
3.8
4.4
11.3
10.6
119.8
122.3
126.8
136.2
142.3
3.2
2.1
3.7
7.4
4.5
118.6
119.9
123.8
137.7
150.6
5.2
1.1
3.3
11.2
9.4
128.4
132.5
137.7
150.5
168.6
6.5
3.2
3.9
9.3
12.0
122.9
126.5
130.0
139.8
152.2
5.3
2.9
2.8
7.5
8.9
122.4
127.5
132.5
142.0
153.9
4.8
4.2
3.9
7.2
8.4
1976
1977
1978
1979
1980
................
................
................
................
................
170.5
181.5
195.3
217.7
247.0
5.8
6.5
7.6
11.5
13.5
177.4
188.0
206.2
228.7
248.7
3.1
6.0
9.7
10.9
8.7
174.6
186.5
202.6
227.5
263.2
6.1
6.8
8.6
12.3
15.7
147.6
154.2
159.5
166.4
177.4
3.7
4.5
3.4
4.3
6.6
165.5
177.2
185.8
212.8
250.5
9.9
7.1
4.9
14.5
17.7
184.7
202.4
219.4
240.1
267.2
9.5
9.6
8.4
9.4
11.3
159.8
167.7
176.2
187.6
203.7
5.0
4.9
5.1
6.5
8.5
162.7
172.2
183.2
196.3
213.6
5.7
5.8
6.4
7.2
8.8
23. Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers and revised CPI for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers,
U.S. city average— general summary and groups, subgroups, and selected items
[1967=100 unless otherwise specified]
Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (revised)
All Urban Consumers
General summary
All items......................................................................................
Jan.
Aug.
Sept.
260.5
276.5
297.3
Nov.
Dec.
Jan.
Jan.
279.9
280.7
281.5
282.5
260.7
270.3
303.5
191.5
287.2
304.8
225.5
245.2
269.9
304.2
191.3
289.1
308.2
226.8
245.9
270.5
305.2
190.5
289.8
310.2
227.3
246.7
273.6
306.1
187.3
289.9
313.4
229.2
248.4
262.1
279.1
180.8
265.7
281.4
212.2
224.4
Oct.
1982
1981
1982
1981
Nov.
Dec.
Jan.
279.7
280.4
281.1
282.1
270.7
303.3
190.6
288.9
304.0
223.4
241.4
270.3
303.8
190.5
290.8
307.1
224.3
242.5
270.8
304.7
189.4
291.5
309.1
224.4
243.5
273.9
305.6
186.5
291.6
312.0
226.1
245.0
Sept.
Oct.
276.5
279.1
270.6
299.6
187.9
285.1
298.6
219.9
233.5
271.0
303.6
190.5
286.6
300.9
221.5
239.3
Aug.
Food and beverages ..............................................................
Housing................................................................................
Apparel and upkeep................................................................
Transportation .......................................................................
Medical care .........................................................................
Entertainment .......................................................................
Other goods and services.........................................................
261.4
279.1
181.1
264.7
279.5
214.4
226.2
270.1
299.7
187.4
283.7
299.3
222.3
235.6
270.7
303.7
190.7
285.2
301.7
224.0
243.0
Commodities .........................................................................
Commodities less food and beverages .................................
Nondurables less food and beverages...............................
Durables.....................................................................
245.4
234.3
250.2
221.0
256.2
245.8
263.9
230.9
257.7
247.6
265.8
232.6
257.9
248.0
266.4
232.9
258.0
248.3
266.7
233.2
258.4
248.7
266.7
233.7
258.8
2480
265.6
233.4
245.8
234.7
252.6
219.5
256.9
246.7
266.8
229.9
258.2
248.4
268.5
231.5
258.4
2487
268.6
232.0
258.5
249.1
269.0
232.3
258.8
249.3
268.9
232.7
259.3
248.7
267.8
232.4
Services ...............................................................................
Rent, residential............................................................
Household services less rent ..........................................
Transportation services...................................................
Medical care services.....................................................
Other services..............................................................
2877
200.9
342.3
258.7
302.1
230.4
312.2
210.3
379.9
275.7
323.4
239.1
317.3
211.9
387.4
277.7
326.1
245.8
318.6
213.6
387.2
281.0
329.7
247.8
320.6
215.0
389.2
283.2
333.7
248.7
321.8
216.5
390.4
284.2
3357
249.5
323.9
217.8
392.4
286.6
339.4
251.7
288.4
200.6
345.5
257.7
304.3
230.2
312.7
209.9
384.2
274.3
322.1
238.3
317.7
211.5
392.2
276.3
324.7
243.6
319.2
213.2
391.8
279.9
328.3
246.6
321.1
214.5
393.6
282.3
332.0
247.2
322.4
216.0
394.8
283.6
334.0
248.0
324.3
217.4
396.5
285.9
337.5
250.0
All items less food ..................................................................
All items less mortgage interest costs ........................................
Commodities less food............................................................
Nondurables less food ............................................................
Nondurables less food and apparel............................................
Nondurables .........................................................................
Services less rent ..................................................................
Services less medical care.......................................................
Domestically produced farm foods ............................................
Selected beef cuts..................................................................
Energy ................................................................................
All items less energy ..............................................................
All items less food and energy ........................................
Commodities less food and energy.................................
Energy commodities ...................................................
Services less energy...................................................
257.6
247.8
232.4
245.3
281.1
256.9
304.2
284.2
252.4
276.2
381.7
251.2
245.7
211.5
420.4
285.4
274.9
260.9
243.8
258.4
298.0
268.1
331.7
308.8
260.6
276.7
416.1
265.6
261.3
220.9
449.9
308.3
278.2
262.9
245.5
260.3
299.1
269.5
337.5
314.1
260.8
277.9
417.1
268.6
264.8
222.9
449.3
313.6
279.0
263.6
245.9
260.7
299.5
269.5
338.7
315.1
259.5
275.5
414.9
269.4
265.9
223.4
448.2
315.3
280.1
264.2
246.2
261.1
300.1
269.5
340.8
316.9
258.3
271.9
414.1
270.4
267.2
223.8
448.2
317.7
280.8
264.9
246.5
261.1
300.7
269.8
342.0
318.1
259.1
270.7
414.6
271.1
267.9
224.2
448.0
318.9
281.4
266.1
245.9
260.2
301.0
270.8
344.2
320.0
262.4
269.6
416.4
272.1
268.5
223.7
446.4
320.5
257.9
248.5
232.7
247.5
283.0
258.3
305.2
284.7
252.1
277.9
385.2
250.6
244.8
210.4
421.3
286.2
275.2
261.5
244.7
261.2
300.0
269.7
332.6
309.4
259.9
277.2
418.9
264.7
260.3
220.2
450.6
308.9
278.2
263.3
246.3
262.9
301.3
270.7
338.3
314.6
259.9
279.7
420.1
267.5
263.6
222.1
450.0
314.0
279.1
264.0
246.6
263.0
301.5
270.7
339.7
315.8
258.6
276.5
417.9
268.3
264.8
222.6
448.9
316.0
280.1
264.6
247.0
263.4
302.0
270.7
341.6
317.5
257.8
273.2
417.3
269.2
265.9
223.0
449.0
318.2
280.7
265.2
247.2
263.3
302.5
270.9
342.9
318.7
258.2
271.9
417.6
269.9
266.6
223.3
448.7
319.5
281.3
266.4
246.6
262.4
302.6
271.9
345.0
320.5
261.4
271.1
419.0
270.9
267.1
222.8
447.0
321.0
Purchasing power of the consumer dollar, 1967 - $1 ..................
$0,384
$0,362
$0,358
$0,357
$0,356
$0,355
$0,354
$0,384
$0,362
$0,358
$0,358
$0,357
$0,356
$0,354
Special indexes:
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
89
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW April 1982 • Current Labor Statistics: Consumer Prices
23.
Continued— Consumer Price Index— U.S. city average
[1967=100 unless otherwise specified]
All Urban Consumers
General summary
Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (revised)
1981
1982
1981
1982
Jan.
Aug.
Sept.
Oct
Nov.
Dec.
Jan.
Jan.
Aug.
FOOD AND BEVERAGES
261.4
270.1
270.7
270.3
269.9
270.5
273.6
262.1
270.6
Food .....................................................................................................
268.6
277.4
278.0
277.6
277.1
277.8
281.0
269.2
277.7
Food at home ................................................................................
Cereals and bakery products.......................................................
Cereals and cereal products (12/77 = 100).............................
Flour and prepared flour mixes (12/77 = 100)....................
Cereal (12/77 100) ...................................................
Rice, pasta, and cornmeal (12/77 = 100) .........................
Bakery products (12/77 = 100) ............................................
White bread..................................................................
Other breads (12/77 = 100) ..........................................
Fresh biscuits, rolls, and muffins (12/77 = 100)..................
Fresh cakes and cupcakes (12/77 = 100) ........................
Cookies (12/77 = 100) .................................................
Crackers, bread, and cracker products (12/77 = 100).........
Fresh sweetrolls, coffeecake, and donuts (12/77 = 100) . . . .
Frozen and refrigerated bakery products
and fresh pies, tarts, and turnovers (12/77 = 100) ...........
265.6
262.9
143.2
135.9
145.8
146.0
137.7
229.5
137.1
137.6
138.5
138.0
127.0
138.0
272.8
272.6
149.5
139.6
154.6
151.4
142.4
235.6
140.8
143.4
142.7
143.1
130.6
143.9
273.2
274.3
150.1
139.5
155.7
151.6
143.5
238.2
141.5
143.3
144.4
143.9
132.0
144.3
272.1
275.0
150.0
139.3
156.1
151.1
144.0
238.4
141.6
144.8
143.9
145.7
133.2
144.4
271.0
276.3
149.9
138.4
157.4
149.6
144.9
241.3
142.8
145.2
145.0
146.3
133.1
144.8
271.7
277.7
151.5
137.8
160.2
151.7'
145.4
241.5
143.4
145.9
144.9
147.6
134.2
145.4
275.3
279.8
153.0
139.1
163.1
151.1
146.4
243.3
143.9
146.5
147.2
148.1
133.4
146.2
265.1
263.0
144.5
136.8
147.2
147.8
137.5
229.4
139.4
136.4
136.8
139.0
126.8
138.5
272.2
272.0
151.3
142.0
156.4
153.1
141.5
233.0
143.4
141.0
141.2
144.1
130.9
143.4
272.3
273.2
151.2
141.1
157.2
152.6
142.4
235.9
143.4
140.1
142.3
144.6
132.2
144.8
139.7
147.1
148.0
148.9
149.2
149.3
151.2
135.2
141.5
142.1
142.8
143.1
143.0
144.7
Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs.......................................................
Meats, poultry, and fish........................................................
Meats .........................................................................
Beef and veal............................................................
Ground beef other than canned .................................
Chuck roast ..........................................................
Round roast ..........................................................
Round steak ..........................................................
Sirloin steak ..........................................................
Other beef and veal (12/77 = 100) ...........................
Pork.........................................................................
Bacon ...................................................................
Chops....................................................................
Ham other than canned (12/77 = 100)........................
Sausage ................................................................
Canned ham..........................................................
Other pork (12/77 = 100)........................................
Other meats..............................................................
Frankfurters ..........................................................
Bologna, liverwurst, and salami (12/77 = 100) .............
Other lunchmeats (12/77 = 100)...............................
Lamb and organ meats (12/77 = 100)........................
Poultry .......................................................................
Fresh whole chicken ................................................
Fresh and frozen chicken parts (12/77 = 100) .............
Other poultry (12/77 = 100) ....................................
Fish and seafood ..........................................................
Canned fish and seafood (12/77 = 100)......................
Fresh and frozen fish and seafood (12/77 = 100).........
Eggs................................................................................
255.1
260.6
259.7
275.3
276.3
285.3
250.0
262.4
264.9
160.3
228.2
228.1
211.6
104.1
287.8
241.1
127.4
262.9
262.5
151.2
130.3
145.0
202.4
202.5
132.7
128.7
358.0
137.4
135.7
190.2
255.8
262.2
262.0
275.9
267.4
285.3
247.2
256.0
282.2
164.3
235.3
231.1
224.1
105.3
297.2
234.9
135.0
261.4
259.8
147.0
130.6
146.8
202.0
201.4
131.8
129.7
356.8
139.8
133.6
177.6
257.7
263.4
263.4
277.1
270.3
289.4
244.1
255.9
281.9
164.9
238.1
237.1
225.1
106.8
300.7
239.5
135.4
260.7
256.4
147.5
131.8
144.4
199.7
197.3
130.5
129.9
362.6
140.9
136.5
188.8
256.4
262.2
262.5
274.9
267.4
287.8
245.1
259.0
273.3
163.4
238.6
240.1
223.1
109.4
298.7
241.9
134.1
261.6
261.2
147.6
131.8
143.4
196.6
194.0
129.2
127.2
360.8
140.5
135.6
185.9
254.2
259.2
259.6
271.5
266.1
282.6
245.0
256.7
262.0
161.1
235.6
238.1
217.0
108.9
298.1
243.1
131.1
260.5
259.9
146.7
132.1
141.7
192.3
190.9
127.3
122.2
358.9
141.5
133.9
194.7
253.7
258.4
258.7
270.5
264.5
282.2
242.6
254.6
260.1
161.0
234.3
237.2
212.4
109.1
299.1
244.3
130.0
260.6
261.0
146.4
132.6
140.7
191.7
190.1
128.1
120.7
359.6
140.7
134.7
198.0
253.7
259.1
257.8
269.4
262.2
279.6
241.6
257.5
258.2
160.9
234.7
235.5
219.2
107.3
297.6
245.4
129.5
258.1
256.7
145.4
132.2
138.6
194.2
193.1
128.5
123.2
373.3
140.6
143.2
189.4
254.1
259.4
259.2
276.4
279.3
295.2
249.6
255.5
266.3
159.5
228.5
232.5
210.2
102.2
288.5
243.3
127.9
260.4
262.6
148.0
128.1
147.8
199.2
197.2
131.3
127.9
350.0
135.3
132.0
190.1
255.5
261.8
261.3
275.9
269.4
295.5
247.3
251.5
279.2
162.6
236.5
234.5
224.4
103.7
298.6
238.0
136.3
259.6
260.4
145.7
128.8
148.3
201.2
199.6
131.6
129.9
356.4
138.5
134.1
177.7
257.5
263.2
263.3
278.3
273.8
299.9
249.1
252.5
281.9
162.8
239.4
241.1
224.7
105.6
302.3
242.9
136.7
258.7
259.1
144.8
129.5
146.0
198.1
194.0
130.1
129.6
358.6
139.4
134.9
189.5
256.0
261.7
262.1
275.3
268.6
297.2
250.1
254.9
275.1
161.3
239.3
245.1
221.3
107.5
302.1
244.7
134.5
260.5
262.4
146.9
130.2
145.0
194.7
189 9
129.7
126.1
358.2
140.3
134.0
187.2
254.0
258.8
259.3
272.2
268.0
292.6
248.2
254.8
260.7
159.2
235.9
242.9
216.2
106.6
299.2
247.0
130.9
259.9
260.9
145.9
130.6
144.6
190.6
188.5
126.5
121.5
356.6
141.0
132.7
196.7
253.1
257.7
257.9
270.9
265.8
291.5
245.9
252.2
260.7
159.1
233.8
240.5
211.0
106.3
3000
247.7
129.2
259.7
260.0
146.3
130.6
143.9
189.5
187.8
126.3
119.8
358.6
140.2
134.4
198.8
253.3
258.6
257.3
270.1
263.7
288.5
244.7
256.1
258.9
159.3
234.4
239.3
217.6
104.8
298.8
249.0
128.8
257.3
256.1
145.4
130.2
141.4
192.4
190.9
126.9
123.0
372.4
140.0
143.0
190.6
Dairy products ....................................................................
Fresh milk and cream (12/77 = 100) ...............................
Fresh whole milk.........................................................
Other fresh milk and cream (12/77 = 100) ....................
Processed dairy products (12/77 = 100)...........................
Butter.......................................................................
Cheese (12/77 = 100)...............................................
Ice cream and related products (12/77 = 100)................
Other dairy products (12/77 = 100) .............................
240.1
133.0
218.2
132.1
139.6
242.7
138.2
143.6
133.3
243.8
134.5
220.2
134.2
142.5
246.2
140.8
147.9
135.6
244.3
134.7
220.0
135.4
143.0
247.1
140.8
148.7
137.3
244.6
134.7
220.2
135.2
143.3
247.2
140.9
149.9
137.0
245.0
134.9
220.8
134.9
143.5
248.0
141.1
149.3
138.7
245.5
135.2
221.2
135.3
143.9
248.7
141.0
150.3
139.7
245.8
135.1
221.2
135.1
144.4
249.3
142.0
150.8
138.4
240.7
133.4
218.5
132.9
140.1
246.5
138.3
144.3
132.9
243.9
134.3
219.8
134.4
143.3
248.5
141.5
147.9
137.2
244.1
134.3
219.4
135.3
143.4
249.9
140.9
149.1
137.6
244.2
134.4
219.5
135.2
143.6
249.7
140.7
149.9
138.1
244.7
134.6
220.1
134.9
144.0
250.2
141.1
149.4
140.2
244.9
134.6
220.2
134.9
144.2
251.3
141.3
149.4
140.5
245.2
134.6
220.2
134.7
144.7
252.0
142.3
149.9
139.1
Fruits and vegetables ..........................................................
Fresh fruits and vegetables..............................................
Fresh fruits................................................................
Apples ..................................................................
Bananas ................................................................
Oranges ................................................................
Other fresh fruits (12/77 = 100) ...............................
Fresh vegetables .......................................................
Potatoes................................................................
Lettuce..................................................................
Tomatoes ..............................................................
Other fresh vegetables (12/77 = 100) ........................
257.6
263.9
245.6
220.8
237.8
272.9
127.8
281.1
326.1
234.2
247.2
157.8
286.1
295.8
306.9
282.1
245.2
353.7
163.5
285.5
375.1
290.6
209.9
143.6
281.6
286.9
306.4
262.9
250.7
346.2
168.4
268.6
329.1
293.5
193.9
137.9
275.2
273.5
291.4
237.0
254.9
328.5
160.9
256.8
290.4
258.3
207.3
139.6
272.0
267.8
276.1
248.7
249.4
314.0
144.7
260.1
286.3
257.1
206.9
145.0
276.4
274.9
269.6
261.2
254.9
280.6
141.0
279.8
286.8
343.1
204.6
150.4
294.7
308.0
276.7
273.0
253.5
283.1
145.9
337.3
288.8
514.4
245.6
174.8
255.1
260.3
241.1
216.8
228.9
258.9
128.4
277.8
322.9
229.9
239.8
156.9
282.5
290.4
298.4
284.6
239.9
325.1
160.5
283.2
362.8
290.0
211.0
144.1
276.3
278.2
293.7
261.8
251.3
314.6
161.5
264.4
316.8
292.9
191.3
136.6
270.8
267.2
279.5
236.5
253.3
299.9
154.7
256.1
287.7
257.2
206.4
140.0
268.1
261.9
266.0
249.1
248.3
286.0
139.7
258.2
281.5
247.4
209.7
145.8
272.6
269.4
260.5
261.2
252.8
252.8
136.7
277.6
280.0
342.7
207.8
149.1
291.3
303.1
267.0
272.6
251.1
255.1
141.0
335.8
282.7
515.8
248.8
173.9
Processed fruits and vegetables ......................................
Processed fruits (12/77 = 100)....................................
Frozen fruit and fruit juices (12/77 = 100) ..................
Fruit juices other than frozen (12/77 = 100)................
Canned and dried fruits (12/77 = 100)........................
Processed vegetables (12/77 = 100) ...........................
Frozen vegetables (12/77 = 100) .............................
253.0
129.9
120.7
133.2
134.1
124.2
124.1
277.9
143.4
143.5
147.4
139.1
135.7
134.9
278.3
143.7
143.6
147.5
139.8
135.9
135.7
279.4
144.9
144.7
148.4
141.2
135.9
136.9
279.2
145.1
144.9
148.6
141.6
135.4
137.4
280.6
145.0
142.3
149.5
142.6
136.9
139.1
282.7
146.4
143.5
151.4
143.6
137.6
140.7
251.3
129.9
119.6
133.2
134.7
123.0
123.3
276.2
143.4
142.8
147.1
139.8
134.6
135.7
276.7
143.7
142.8
147.8
140.1
134.8
136.6
277.2
144.2
143.4
147.6
141.1
134.9
137.5
277.3
144.6
144.1
147.4
141.8
134.7
139.2
278.4
144.5
141.2
148.3
143.0
135.7
140.2
280.6
146.0
142.8
150.1
144.0
136.5
141.8
Digitized90
for FRASER
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Sept
Oct
Nov.
Dec.
Jan.
271.0
270.7
270.3
270.8
273.9
278.1
277.8
277.4
277.9
281.1
271.3
274.0
151.5
140.9
157.9
152.7
142.8
235.5
143.6
141.7
141.7
146.4
134.0
144.9
270.4
275.5
152.1
140.2
158.9
153.9
143.7
237.6
144.9
141.9
143.2
146.8
133.4
145.8
270.8
276.6
152.5
138.4
162.1
152.9
144.3
237.4
145.3
141.9
143.7
148.4
135.6
147.8
274.4
278.6
153.9
139.6
165.1
152.4
145.3
239.4
145.7
142.5
145.8
148.9
134.7
148.9
23.
Continued— Consumer Price Index— U.S. city average
[1967=100 unless otherwise specified]
All Urban Consumers
General summary
Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (revised)
1981
1982
1981
1982
Jan.
Aug.
Sept.
Oct
Nov.
Dec.
Jan.
Jan.
Aug.
Sept
Oct
Nov.
Dec.
Jan.
Fruits and vegetables—Continued
Cut corn and canned beans except lima (12/77=100) . . . .
Other canned and dried vegetables (12/77=100).............
Other foods at home..........................................................
Sugar and sweets................................................................
Candy and chewing gum (12/77=100) .............................
Sugar and artificial sweeteners (12/77=100)......................
Other sweets (12/77=100) ............................................
Fats and oils (12/77=100) .................................................
Margarine ....................................................................
Nondairy substitutes and peanut butter (12/77=100) ...........
Other fats, oils, and salad dressings (12/77=100) ...............
Nonalcoholic beverages .......................................................
Cola drinks, excluding diet cola........................................
Carbonated drinks, including diet cola (12/77=100).............
Roasted coffee .....................................................
Freeze dried and instant coffee........................................
Other noncarbonated drinks (12/77=100)..........................
Other prepared foods .....................................................
Canned and packaged soup (12/77=100)..........................
Frozen prepared foods (12/77=100).................................
Snacks (12/77=100).....................................................
Seasonings, olives, pickles, and relish (12/77=100).............
Other condiments (12/77=100) ......................................
Miscellaneous prepared foods (12/77-100) ......................
Other canned and packaged prepared foods (12/77=100) .. .
126.0
123.4
320.5
385.4
138.6
222.8
137.1
260.4
256.9
156.0
130.3
409.7
290.8
137.5
380.7
354.6
129.1
244.9
128.1
138.6
141.1
135.2
134.4
135.4
131.6
137.4
135.4
325.1
361.3
146.1
164.3
145.0
269.2
258.2
179.8
129.4
413.1
298.2
141.5
346.0
333.3
134.9
257.9
133.6
143.5
148.8
144.4
142.9
142.0
139.5
136.8
135.6
325.7
361.4
146.8
163.0
145.3
268.5
256.7
178.5
129.6
413.7
298.9
142.4
345.1
330.8
134.9
259.0
134.9
144.8
149.6
144.4
143.3
142.3
139.9
137.7
134.6
326.4
359.9
148.8
157.1
145.2
268.5
256.6
176.5
130.5
414.8
301.1
142.3
343.1
329.9
135.6
260.5
133.1
144.1
152.0
146.2
143.5
144.5
140.5
138.3
133.1
326.0
359.1
149.3
155.2
144.9
262.2
255.2
163.0
129.8
413.4
298.8
141.4
341.0
330.8
136.4
262.7
133.4
146.5
152.5
148.9
145.0
144.8
141.8
138.9
134.8
325.6
359.3
149.9
153.4
146.1
261.1
255.7
160.1
129.7
412.5
298.1
139.3
344.4
332.0
137.0
262.8
133.7
145.9
152.2
148.8
144.6
145.8
142.5
139.9
135.0
328.7
361.6
150.1
155.6
147.1
261.6
257.8
157.7
130.5
418.7
302.4
141.9
353.3
336.9
138.0
2646
134.3
147.8
152.6
149.7
146.4
146.9
142.5
124.5
122.1
320.8
387.3
139.4
223.4
135.5
261.8
257.4
156.4
131.0
410.7
288.2
135.0
376.4
355.8
129.6
245.1
127.9
136.9
141.7
134.5
136.3
135.2
132.1
135.4
133.7
326.1
362.7
147.4
165.3
142.9
268.7
255.7
178.8
129.6
415.2
296.6
138.9
342.8
333.8
135.0
259.7
134.8
142.5
151.5
142.8
145.6
142.1
140.8
135.1
133.8
326.2
363.1
147.6
164.9
143.8
267.4
254.5
177.2
129.2
414.7
295.6
140.3
340.5
331.4
134.6
260.5
136.4
142.7
152.6
142.7
145.3
142.8
141.1
135.5
133.3
327.1
360.2
148.7
158.4
144.0
268.1
255.9
175.2
130.3
416.0
297.7
139.6
338.9
332.7
135.5
262.3
135.6
142.8
155.3
144.8
145.5
143.9
141.9
136.0
131.8
327.0
359.0
148.9
157.0
143.1
263.1
254.9
163.0
130.4
415.2
296.1
139.3
337.3
333.2
136.4
264.5
136.1
145.1
155.6
147.4
146.5
145.2
143.0
136.5
133.2
326.4
359.3
149.9
154.6
144.2
261.0
254.9
158.5
130.1
414.2
295.7
137.2
340.1
331.6
137.1
264.4
135.7
145.3
154.2
147.7
146.2
145.8
143.9
137.5
133.5
329.6
361.6
150.0
157.0
145.2
261.5
257.2
156.0
131.0
420.5
300.0
139.7
348.8
336.5
138.2
266.3
136.4
147.4
154.6
148.6
148.0
147.0
143.9
Food away from home..............................................
Lunch (12/77=100) .......................................................
Dinner (12/77=100) ..........................................................
Other meals and snacks (12/77=100)..........................................
280.9
137.2
136.2
134.7
293.7
143.2
141.9
142.1
294.8
143.6
142.4
143.1
296.2
143.9
143.2
143.9
297.2
144.4
143.6
144.6
297.7
144.6
144.0
144.7
299.8
146.1
144.8
145.4
284.2
138.5
138.2
136.4
296.4
144.2
143.7
143.1
297.6
144.6
144.3
143.9
299.0
145.3
144.8
144.8
299.6
145.6
145.1
145.1
300.7
146.3
145.6
145.4
302.8
147.7
146.4
146.2
Alcoholic beverages ............................................
193.7
201.4
202.5
201.4
202.3
202.7
204.0
195.5
203.8
204.6
204.3
204.6
204.9
206.0
Alcoholic beverages at home (12/77=100)..........................................
Beer and ale.........................................................
Whiskey ................................................................
Wine................................................
Other alcoholic beverages (12/77=100)........................................
Alcoholic beverages away from home (12/77=100).............................
126.1
194.5
140.0
221.7
113.7
127.6
130.6
202.6
144.7
227.4
117.0
134.7
131.4
203.6
145.4
229.7
117.5
135.4
130.5
202.5
144.0
228.2
116.3
135.5
131.2
204.0
144.8
227.5
117.3
135.7
131.4
204.1
145.0
230.0
117.3
135.8
132.2
205.0
145.9
232.2
117.5
137.0
127.6
194.5
141.5
229.4
113.2
127.4
132.4
203.2
145.6
235.5
117.0
135.4
132.8
203.5
146.2
237.6
117.1
136.2
132.5
203.1
146.4
238.1
115.7
136.4
132.8
203.6
146.2
237.4
116.8
136.6
132.8
203.5
145.9
238.0
117.4
137.3
133.4
204.3
146.8
239.8
117.5
138.6
299.7
303.7
303.5
304.2
305.2
306.1
279.1
299.6
303.6
303.3
303.8
304.7
305.6
FOOD AND BEVERAGES-Continued
Food —Continued
Food at home —Continued
HOUSING................................................................
279.1
Shelter..........................................
300.1
322.0
326.9
326.6
327.2
328.0
328.3
301.7
323.6
328.6
328.1
328.5
329.3
329.4
Rent, residential........................................
200.9
210.3
211.9
213.6
215.0
216.5
217.8
200.6
209.9
211.5
213.2
214.5
216.0
217.4
Other rental costs .............................................................
Lodging while out of town.....................................................
Tenants'Insurance (12/77=100) ................................................
273.9
291.5
127.6
298.5
325.7
133.9
308.1
326.3
135.9
308.7
324.2
140.0
305.3
318.6
140.4
306.3
319.9
140.7
313.6
331.1
141.8
273.6
289.9
128.0
299.0
324.4
134.5
308.0
325.3
136.4
308.4
323.3
140.1
305.0
317.9
140.3
305.3
318.0
140.6
312.3
328.4
142.0
Homeownership................................................................
Home purchase......................................................................
Financing, taxes, and insurance ...................................................
Property insurance ..............................................
Property taxes ..................................................................
Contracted mortgage interest cost..........................................
Mortgage interest rates...................................................
Maintenance and repairs ............................................................
Maintenance and repair services ......................................
Maintenance and repair commodities ......................................
Paint and wallpaper, supplies, tools, and
equipment (12/77=100) ..............................................
Lumber, awnings, glass, and masonry (12/77=100).............
Plumbing, electrical, heating, and cooling
supplies (12/77=100).................................................
Miscellaneous supplies and equipment (12/77=100) ...........
335.8
266.2
435.2
369.8
196.0
563.5
209.0
296.8
321.3
239.7
361.8
272.6
488.3
389.0
205.2
641.3
232.4
320.5
350.6
249.5
367.8
366.7
274.5
272.5
501.8 - 501.8
389.7
392.5
206.2
207.4
662.0
661.3
238.2
239.5
321.6
320.8
352.5
351.1
248.7
249.3
367.2
270.2
505.6
393.3
208.0
666.8
244.1
322.8
353.8
249.7
367.8
270.5
506.3
394.1
210.7
666.6
243.9
324.1
355.4
250.3
367.5
269.3
506.0
393.0
212.9
665.2
244.4
326.7
358.2
252.5
338.6
266.4
441.3
373.2
197.9
565.9
209.4
294.1
319.8
236.7
364.8
272.3
495.3
390.5
207.1
643.8
233.3
315.8
349.5
243.1
371.0
273.8
509.0
391.9
208.0
664.4
239.2
318.1
352.5
244.1
369.7
271.4
508.3
394.7
209.2
662.5
240.5
319.2
354.2
244.0
369.8
268.6
511.9
395.5
210.0
667.7
245.3
319.8
354.9
244.5
370.4
268.7
512.9
396.5
212.5
668.1
245.3
321.0
356.5
244.9
369.9
267.4
512.2
395.6
214.5
666.3
245.7
323.3
359.2
246.4
139.5
123.4
146.9
124.2
146.2
125.0
146.7
124.4
146.5
124.1
147.3
124.3
149.4
124.6
135.1
122.7
139.2
122.0
139.1
123.2
139.9
122.3
140.0
121.8
140.5
121.6
142.3
121.9
125.2
124.7
132.0
130.5
131.2
131.2
132.4
131.7
133.1
131.6
131.5
132.5
131.9
133.6
124.5
127.9
130.6
133.3
131.7
134.3
132.1
133.7
132.4
134.2
131.6
134.7
131.8
135.7
Fuel and other utilities......................................................
296.7
327.8
331.1
330.1
329.8
331.8
336.2
297.5
328.7
332.3
330.9
330.9
332.7
337.0
Fuels ............................................................................................
Fuel oil, coal, and bottled gas.......................................................
Fuel oil.............................................................................
Other fuels (6/78 = 100) .....................................................
Gas (piped) and electricity ..........................................................
Electricity...........................................................................
Utility (piped) gas ................................................................
375.4
625.9
656.0
419.5
674.6
707.3
163.6
360.8
311.9
416.2
422.4
673.4
705.7
163.8
364.5
309.8
431.7
419.0
672.7
704.3
165.0
360.6
303.0
434.5
417.6
676.1
706.8
167.7
358.3
298.6
437.0
420.0
682.5
713.5
169.4
359.9
300.3
438.2
426.9
686.0
716.8
170.9
367.4
306.6
447.2
375.0
627.9
657.1
154.1
317.7
266.5
383.3
418.7
677.9
710.2
165.1
359.4
312.1
411.2
422.2
677.0
709.0
165.3
363.6
309.9
428.5
418.4
675.9
707.1
166.4
359.3
302.7
430.8
417.4
679.3
709.6
169.1
357.5
297.7
436.0
419.6
685.5
716.0
170.8
358.8
299.3
436.4
426.2
688.9
719.3
172.1
366.0
305.3
445.2
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
152.3
318.5
266.9
385.3
91
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW April 1982 • Current Labor Statistics: Consumer Prices
23.
Continued— Consumer Price Index— U.S. city average
[1967 = 100 unless otherwise specified]
Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (revise■d)
All Urban Consumers
General summary
1982
1981
1982
1981
Jan.
Aug.
Sept.
Oct.
Nov.
Dec.
Jan.
Jan.
Aug.
Sept.
Oct.
Nov.
Dec.
Jan.
Local charges (12/77 = 100) ...............................................
Interstate toll calls (12/77 = 100) ..........................................
Intrastate toll calls (12/77 = 100) ..........................................
Water and sewerage maintenance ...............................................
171.9
141.1
111.6
101.8
101.0
271.4
183.7
149.2
117.3
113.4
101.8
299.2
187.4
152.5
120.5
114.9
103.9
304.1
189.4
154.3
121.5
116.6
105.5
305.2
190.7
155.6
123.5
116.7
105.3
306.1
191.9
156.8
124.4
116.7
107.1
307.4
192.7
157.2
124.0
116.8
109.2
309.8
172.0
141.1
111.7
101.9
100.8
272.5
184.3
149.5
117.6
113.8
101.6
301 4
187.8
152.7
120.7
115.1
103.7
306.0
189.8
154.5
121.8
116.6
105.3
307.3
191.0
155.8
123.8
116.8
105.0
307.9
192.2
156.9
124.6
116.8
106.9
309.4
193.1
157.3
124.2
116.9
109.0
312.2
Household furnishings and operations ................................................
212.6
222.9
224.5
225.6
227.2
227.7
228.4
209.7
219.8
221.2
222.2
223.6
224.2
224.9
178.7
191.9
114.6
124.9
196.6
128.3
114.2
113.1
128.7
143.1
107.4
105.6
110.2
167.2
168.0
123.6
114.2
186.2
203.4
124.6
129.1
205.4
135.9
116.0
116.7
135.9
147.3
108.6
105.0
112.8
174.9
175.8
129.2
119.5
187.9
207.7
127.7
131.4
207.7
137.6
118.6
116.8
137.3
147.7
108.7
104.6
113.4
175.7
177.5
129.7
119.7
188.7
210.4
130.1
132.2
207.9
137.4
119.3
117.0
137.3
147.8
109.1
105.0
113.8
175.3
177.0
130.5
118.9
189.4
211.7
130.8
133.1
209.2
139.6
118.7
118.8
137.1
148.2
109.0
104.8
113.9
176.1
178.7
130.7
119.4
189.2
211.2
128.8
134.7
209.7
138.6
119.4
119.0
138.4
147.9
108.9
104.7
113.7
175.9
179.9
130.5
118.7
189.8
210.1
127.3
134.8
209.5
139.7
117.3
118.9
138.5
148.8
108.8
104.4
113.8
178.0
180.8
132.2
120.6
176.9
193.4
117.0
124.6
193.6
125.1
113.2
114.3
125.6
142.7
106.5
104.2
109.4
167.6
171.7
121.9
114.0
184.5
207.3
126.8
132.1
201.4
132.2
115.0
116.9
132.2
146.6
107.8
104.2
111.9
174.1
178.9
129.1
117.0
185.7
213.0
129.7
136.3
202.7
132.9
117.4
117.2
132.3
146.7
107.8
103.6
112.4
174.4
180.6
128.8
117.1
186.6
214.1
132.0
135.2
203.8
132.3
119.0
118.5
133.0
147.2
108.1
103.8
112.8
175.1
181.6
129.8
117.1
187.3
214.7
131.9
136.1
205.3
135.2
118.8
118.9
133.1
147.7
108.3
103.6
113.4
175.9
182.7
130.8
117.4
187.1
213.9
129.9
137.4
206.0
135.2
119.5
119.1
134.0
147.5
108.0
103.3
112.9
176.0
185.3
130.3
116.8
187.7
212.5
128.6
137.0
205.9
136.5
117.6
119.0
133.9
148.5
107.9
103.1
113.0
178.1
186.1
132.4
118.5
114.8
118.5
118.8
118.2
118.7
117.9
119.4
115.7
116.4
116.0
115.9
116.8
116.2
117.4
113.6
125.6
120.6
131.7
120.8
133.1
119.8
134.2
120.1
134.4
119.6
134.0
121.9
134.9
112.0
123.8
117.7
131.0
118.3
131.6
118.4
132.4
118.1
132.4
117.3
131.9
119.7
132.9
125.7
122.3
133.4
125.8
134.8
128.2
135.4
128.7
136.1
129.5
135.9
128.4
136.3
128.6
118.9
119.2
129.3
122.5
129.6
123.8
129.6
124.5
129.7
125.2
128.3
124.7
128.6
124.8
131.9
118.7
138.9
124.0
140.4
124.5
141.1
127.2
141.2
126.9
141.0
126.3
142.3
127.8
128.0
123.8
137.0
128.8
137.8
129.2
137.9
131.2
137.5
131.6
137.1
131.5
138.2
133.2
Housekeeping supplies.....................................................................
Soaps and detergents ................................................................
Other laundry and cleaning products (12/77 - 100) ........................
Cleansing and toilet tissue, paper towels and napkins (12/77 = 100) ..
Stationery, stationery supplies, and gift wrap (12/77 - 100) .............
Miscellaneous household products (12/77 - 100)...........................
Lawn and garden supplies (12/77 - 100)......................................
259.5
255.6
128.8
137.3
119.9
132.3
130.0
272.0
267.0
134.8
138.4
126.6
141.7
139.2
273.3
268.9
135.7
139.9
127.2
142.8
137.8
274.3
269.3
136.7
141.8
128.1
142.8
136.6
275.4
269.7
137.3
143.6
128.5
143.0
136.8
277.4
271.6
138.8
144.5
128.8
145.4
136.7
279.1
275.5
139.6
145.1
128.8
146.2
137.1
257.5
253.4
129.0
139.2
120.7
129.3
122.7
268.6
263.6
134.7
138.7
128.2
136.9
131.8
270.4
265.6
135.8
140.4
128.7
138.1
131.1
271.2
265.3
136.6
142.4
130.8
137.8
129.0
271.9
265.2
137.0
143.9
131.3
137.4
129,6
274.1
268.0
137.5
144.4
131.6
140.4
129.4
275.7
272.0
138.4
145.1
131.7
141.2
129.2
Housekeeping services.....................................................................
Postage ..................................................................................
Moving, storage, freight, household laundry, and
drycleaning services (12/77 - 100) ..........................................
Appliance and furniture repair (12/77 - 100) .................................
279.6
257.3
296.9
308.0
298.3
308.0
300.5
308.0
305.2
337.5
306.9
337.5
307.4
337.5
276.4
257.3
295.1
308.1
296.9
308.1
298.9
308.1
303.9
337.5
305.4
337.5
305.9
337.5
137.0
122.4
143.9
128.5
144.7
129.0
145.5
131.3
147.0
132.2
147.8
133.0
148.4
133.6
134.3
121.5
143.8
127.2
144.9
128.3
145.2
130.5
146.7
131.2
147.6
131.6
148.0
132.2
APPAREL AND UPKEEP........................................................................
181.1
187.4
190.7
191.5
191.3
190.5
187.3
180.8
187.9
190.5
190.6
190.5
189.4
186.5
181.5
181.5
180.1
176.7
HOUSING — Continued
Fuel and other utilities - Continued
Other utilities and public services .......................................................
Textile housefurnishings..............................................................
Household linens (12/77 = 100) ............................................
Curtains, drapes, slipcovers, and sewing materials (12/77 = 100) ,
Furniture and bedding ................................................................
Bedroom furniture (12/77 = 100) ..........................................
Sofas (12/77 - 100) ..........................................................
Living room chairs and tables (12/77 = 100) ...........................
Other furniture (12/77 = 100)...............................................
Appliances including TV and sound equipment.................................
Television and sound equipment (12/77 - 100) ........................
Television ...................................................................
Sound equipment (12/77 = 100) ....................................
Household appliances..........................................................
Refrigerators and home freezers......................................
Laundry equipment (12/77 - 100) ...................................
Other household appliances (12/77 - 100)........................
Stoves, dishwashers, vacuums, and sewing
machines (12/77 = 100) ..........................................
Office machines, small electric appliances,
and air conditioners (12/77 - 100).............................
Other household equipment (12/77 - 100)....................................
Floor and window coverings, infants’, laundry,
cleaning, and outdoor equipment (12/77 - 100) ....................
Clocks, lamps, and decor items (12/77 - 100) ........................
Tableware, serving pieces, and nonelectric
kitchenware (12/77 = 100) ................................................
Lawn equipment, power tools, and other hardware (12/77 = 100) .
Apparel commodities............................................................................
172.6
178.0
181.4
182.1
181.8
180.7
177.0
172.6
179.0
181.6
Apparel commodities less footwear................................................
168.9
171.1
107.5
99.9
95.2
123.9
115.4
103.4
112.0
104.8
119.1
114.8
152.1
100.8
150.4
155.5
98.2
116.0
87.8
102.9
96.0
103.6
174.3
177.6
111.7
105.6
97.7
129.5
117.9
106.6
115.8
109.2
124.3
117.5
157.8
104.4
162.1
166.2
97.4
121.2
87.0
107.9
101.6
108.7
178.0
181.1
114.3
108.8
101.0
132.7
120.6
107.8
116.4
111.3
125.0
117.0
162.9
108.1
170.8
170.8
101.1
122.8
95.4
109.7
103.3
111.0
178.4
183.6
115.9
109.8
102.4
134.3
123.0
109.2
118.1
111.9
125.6
119.9
161.2
106.8
167.3
166.9
100.4
123.0
92.4
109.2
99.8
112.0
177.9
183.6
115.9
109.9
102.8
133.6
123.0
109.8
118.0
111.6
127.0
119.3
160.6
106.3
164.0
165.0
101.1
124.1
89.5
109.2
100.3
111.3
176.6
181.6
114.5
106.4
101.4
134.2
122.7
108.5
117.2
109.9
127.5
118.8
159.6
105.8
161.8
164.0
100.7
124.8
87.7
107.7
98.4
108.9
172.8
178.7
112.9
104.3
96.4
133.6
120.7
108.2
114.6
104.7
127.3
117.2
154.3
102.3
158.4
153.1
96.7
124.0
84.2
104.4
93.4
106.3
168.7
171.7
107.9
95.1
97.4
119.9
116.7
108.2
111,6
107.9
115.8
112.9
153.9
102.3
162.1
147.3
100.1
115.6
95.5
102.5
94.4
104.4
175.2
178.4
112.8
99.7
102.4
125.3
122.1
112.5
113.8
109.5
120.3
114.7
161.2
107.1
168.7
153.4
101.1
121.0
109.8
107.6
101.5
108.9
178.1
181.4
115.0
102.1
106.1
128.5
123.9
113.5
114.8
112.3
120.9
114.4
164.9
109.8
177.8
155.5
103.3
122.7
115.0
108.8
103.3
110.0
177.7
182.9
115.8
102.0
104.9
130.0
125.5
114.7
116.4
113.5
121.8
116.6
162.7
108.1
171.4
151.5
102.3
123 4
110.2
108.4
99.8
110.6
177.3
183.2
115.9
102.0
105.1
129.8
125.4
115.5
116.5
112.8
123.3
116.9
162.1
107.6
166.3
151.9
101.9
124.0
108.5
108.4
99.9
110.2
175.6
181.7
115.0
99.5
104.1
130.6
125.3
114.1
115.4
110.9
123.5
115.9
160.7
107.1
167.3
149.5
101.3
124.5
106.0
106.0
96.1
107.5
172.2
178.6
113.3
97.8
97.6
129.8
123.3
113.6
112.9
105.3
123.3
114.7
156.4
103.9
161.6
140.7
97.3
123.7
104.0
104.2
91.2
108.2
113.1
117.0
117.9
119.6
120.0
120.7
119.2
112.2
115.1
115.5
118.5
119.0
119.5
118.2
Men’s (12/77 - 100) ..........................................................
Suits, sport coats, and jackets (12/77 - 100) ....................
Coats and jackets (12/77 - 100)....................................
Furnishings and special clothing (12/77 - 100) ..................
Shirts (12/77 - 100).....................................................
Dungarees, jeans, and trousers (12/77 - 100) ..................
Boys’ (12/77 - 100) ..........................................................
Coats, jackets, sweaters, and shirts (12/77 - 100) .............
Furnishings (12/77 - 100) ..............................................
Suits, trousers, sport coats, and jackets (12/77 - 100) .......
Women's and girls’ ....................................................................
Women's (12/77 = 100).......................................................
Coats and jackets .........................................................
Dresses .......................................................................
Separates and sportswear (12/77 - 100).........................
Underwear, nightwear, and hosiery (12/77 - 100)...............
Suits (12/77 - 100).......................................................
Girls' (12/77 - 100)............................................................
Coats, jackets, dresses, and suits (12/77 - 100)................
Separates and sportswear (12/77 - 100).........................
Underwear, nightwear, hosiery, and
accessories (12/77 - 100)..........................................
92FRASER
Digitized for
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
23.
Continued— Consumer Price Index— U.S. city average
[1967 = 100 unless otherwise specified]
All Urban Consumers
General summary
Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (revised)
1981
1982
1981
1982
Jan.
Aug.
Sept.
Oct.
Nov.
Dec.
Jan.
Jan.
Aug.
Sept.
Oct.
Nov.
Dec.
Jan.
Apparel commodities less footwear —Continued
Infants' and toddlers'................................................................
Other apparel commodities .......................................................
Sewing materials and notions (12/77 = 100) .........................
Jewelry and luggage (12/77 = 100) ....................................
249.7
214.2
111.9
149.7
263.6
214.0
117.5
147.2
266.4
213.3
118.3
146.2
268.5
216.2
118.1
149.0
264.9
214.8
118.6
147.5
259.4
214.5
118.3
147.4
259.6
212.9
116.2
146.7
256.9
205.3
110.8
142.8
279.3
206.1
115.3
141.4
279.8
206.0
116.4
140.9
281.6
206.2
116.3
141.1
274.1
206.1
116.4
141.0
270.6
203.2
116.2
138.4
270.1
201.4
114.3
137.5
Footwear......................................................................................
Men's (12/77 - 100) ..............................................................
Boys’ and girls’ (12/77 - 100) .................................................
Women’s (12/77 = 100)..........................................................
194.9
124.4
125.7
118.1
200.0
128.3
129.1
120.6
202.4
128.8
129.7
123.5
204.2
129.3
131.1
124.9
205.4
130.3
132.1
125.2
205.7
130.7
132.1
125.4
202.8
130.3
130.1
122.6
195.5 .
126.1
127.0
115.9
200.8
129.8
130.4
118.9
202.3
129.7
130.7
121.2
204.1
130.3
132.2
122.5
206.2
132.3
134.0
122.9
205.9
132.5
134.8
121.6
203.1
132.2
132.5
118.9
Apparel services
246.3
145.3
131.7
260.2
154.7
137.2
262.0
155.7
138.2
263.2
157.1
137.5
2646
158.2
137.9
266.4
159.2
139.1
267.6
160.0
139.4
245.5
145.5
131.1
258.2
153.9
136.5
260.0
155.0
137.4
262.1
156.4
138.3
262.3
156.3
138.6
264.4
157.8
139.6
265.5
158.5
139.9
APPAREL AND UPKEEP
Continued
Apparel commodities — Continued
Laundry and drycleaning other than coin operated (12/77 - 100)...........
Other apparel services (12/77 = 100) ..............................................
TRANSPORTATION ............................................................................
264.7
283.7
285.2
287.2
289.1
289.8
289.9
265.7
285.1
286.6
288.9
290.8
291.5
291.6
Private................................................................................................
262.9
280.5
281.9
283.9
285.8
286.5
286.6
264.4
282.6
284.1
286.4
288.3
289.0
289.0
New cars ....................................................................................
Used cars....................................................................................
Gasoline ......................................................................................
Automobile maintenance and repair...................................................
Body work (12/77 = 100)........................................................
Automobile drive train, brake, and miscellaneous
mechanical repair (12/77 = 100) ............................................
Maintenance and servicing (12/77 = 100) ...................................
Power plant repair (12/77 - 100) ..............................................
Other private transportation ............................................................
Other private transportation commodities ....................................
Motor oil, coolant, and other products (12/77 = 100) ..............
Automobile parts and equipment (12/77 = 100)......................
Tires .........................................................................
Other parts and equipment (12/77 = 100) ......................
Other private transportation services............................................
Automobile insurance .........................................................
Automobile finance charges (12/77 = 100) ...........................
Automobile rental, registration, and other fees (12/77 = 100) ...
State registration ........................................................
Drivers’ licenses (12/77 = 100) ....................................
Vehicle inspection (12/77 = 100) ...................................
Other vehicle-related fees (12/77 = 100) ........................
185.3
234.0
385.2
282.7
137.3
191.9
266.9
411.7
295.5
145.8
191.3
272.8
411.2
298.7
147.4
192.5
278.2
409.9
301.3
148.7
195.3
281.4
409.5
302.8
149.9
197.0
281.9
408.4
304.1
150.6
197.4
280.5
406.0
305.5
151.5
185.7
234.0
386.6
283.2
137.3
192.1
266.9
412.9
296.1
145.4
191.4
272.8
412.4
299.3
146.1
192.7
278.2
411.3
301.8
147.2
195.2
281.4
410.9
303.4
148.3
196.9
281.9
409.8
304.8
148.9
197.3
280.5
407.5
306.2
149.8
135.8
132.5
134.4
232.4
203.7
139.1
130.6
181.5
128.6
242.4
252.3
163.4
116.2
146.9
105.3
124.8
133.7
140.9
137.8
141.2
243.0
212.1
1468
135.7
189.3
132.4
253.6
260.3
177.3
119.5
147.9
106.2
(’ )
140.0
143.1
138.9
142.6
244.2
212.6
147.7
136.0
189.7
132.8
255.0
262.0
178.0
120.1
147.9
109.6
( ')
140.9
144.0
140.3
144.0
247.5
212.7
148.0
136.0
189.4
133.4
259.1
264.6
184.4
120.2
147.9
109.9
( 1)
141.2
144.2
140.9
144.9
249.5
213.4
148.5
136.4
189.7
134.1
261.5
265.4
188.7
120.7
149.0
110.4
( 1)
141.3
144.7
141.5
145.6
250.6
214.5
148.7
137.2
191.5
133.9
262.6
266.0
190.5
120.8
149.0
111.9
128.3
141.6
145.7
142.0
146.2
253.3
215.5
148.2
138.1
192.8
134.3
265.8
266.8
190.9
127.6
166.9
117.3
129.2
142.5
137.5
132.7
133.5
235.0
206.2
139.2
132.4
184.8
128.9
244.9
251.8
161.7
118.2
146.9
105.1
125.6
144.1
142.6
138.2
140.5
245.6
213.4
144.1
137.0
191.5
132.9
2566
260.1
176.3
119.5
148.0
105.9
(’ )
145.8
145.5
139.2
141.9
246.9
215.5
145.3
138.4
194.1
133.2
257.7
261.8
176.5
1198
148.0
109.5
(’ )
145.9
146.5
140.3
143.5
250.6
216.1
144.8
138 9
194.6
134.3
262.2
264.3
183.1
120.0
148.0
109.8
(’ )
146.5
147.3
148.5
140.5
141.0
144.7
145.1
253.0
254.2
216.8
216.9
146.7
147.2
139.2
139.2
195.1
195.2
134.1
133.9
265.1
266.6
265.0 c265.6
187.6
189.9
121.4
121.1
149.0
149.0
110.3
111.9
129.0
(’ )
148.6
149.2
149.5
141.5
145.7
256.9
218.0
146.9
140.0
196.5
134.5
269.7
266.6
190.3
128.4
166.2
117.1
130.5
150.4
Public...................................................................................................
286.4
326.5
329.1
330.8
333.2
333.8
334.9
279.0
320.9
324.5
326.6
328.2
328.6
329.4
Airline fare....................................................................................
Intercity bus fare ...........................................................................
Intracity mass transit .....................................................................
Taxi fare ......................................................................................
Intercity train fare...........................................................................
331.9
310.7
247.1
271.0
276.4
371.4
347.5
294.0
288.1
304.6
372.5
351.4
298.6
288.6
305.0
372.0
361.3
301.7
289.3
315.0
374.5
362.2
304.4
291.3
319.2
374.7
365.2
304.6
294.7
319.2
375.5
367.3
305.9
296.3
318.1
330.2
310.6
246.5
277.5
276.8
370.0
347.3
293.9
296.7
305.0
371.8
351.7
299.2
297.1
305.2
372.9
362.1
301.3
298.1
314.9
373.1
362.9
303.6
300.4
318.9
372.8
366.1
303.9
304.1
318.9
372.7
368.9
305.1
305.6
317.9
312.0
MEDICAL CARE ..................................................................................
279.5
299.3
301.7
304.8
308.2
310.2
313.4
281.4
298.6
300.9
304.0
307.1
309.1
Medical care commodities..................................................................
176.7
189.4
190.8
192.1
193.1
194.9
195.9
177.5
190.6
191.9
192.9
193.8
195.4
196.4
Prescription drugs .........................................................................
Anti-infective drugs (12/77 - 100)..............................................
Tranquilizers and sedatives (12/77 = 100)...................................
Circulatories and diuretics (12/77 = 100)....................................
Hormones, diabetic drugs, biologicals, and
prescription medical supplies (12/77 = 100) .............................
Pain and symptom control drugs (12/77 = 100) ...........................
Supplements, cough and cold preparations, and
respiratory agents (12/77 = 100)............................................
162.7
127.7
130.7
120.6
175.4
134.8
139.6
127.6
176.5
136.5
140.0
127.8
178.6
136.8
141.9
129.5
179.6
136.3
143.6
130.4
181.0
137.8
144.8
131.9
181.9
138.2
145.4
132.2
163.4
128.6
129.4
121.3
176.5
137.0
138.8
128.6
178.0
139.2
139.7
129.0
179.4
139.6
141.3
130.5
180.3
138.9
143.3
131.0
181.9
139.7
144.4
131.8
182.8
140.1
144.9
132.1
143.9
128.7
160.4
140.2
160.6
141.7
161.9
144.1
163.3
144.9
164.6
145.9
165.6
147.3
143.8
131.4
160.3
142.7
161.4
143.8
162.8
144.2
164.1
145.4
165.9
147.3
166.9
148.7
123.2
133.1
134.1
136.8
137.5
138.1
138.8
123.8
133.9
134.6
136.1
136.8
138.0
138.8
Nonprescription drugs and medical supplies (12/77 = 100) ..................
Eyeglasses (12/77 - 100) .......................................................
Internal and respiratory over-the-counter drugs .............................
Nonprescription medical equipment and supplies (12/77 = 100).......
127.1
121.5
199.3
123.6
135.6
126.3
215.5
130.4
136.7
126.9
217.8
131.4
137.0
127.4
217.3
132.7
137.8
127.8
218.6
133.7
139.2
128.4
221.6
134.6
139.9
128.3
222.8
135.9
127.9
121.1
200.4
125.1
136.7
125.3
217.5
132.3
137.4
126.0
218.9
132.6
137.9
126.0
219.5
133.8
138.5
126.7
220.2
134.7
139.7
127.1
222.8
135.2
140.4
127.1
223.9
136.6
Medical care services ........................................................................
302.1
323.4
326.1
329.7
333.7
335.7
339.4
304.3
322.1
324.7
328.3
332.0
334.0
337.5
Professional services .....................................................................
Physicians' services..................................................................
Dental services.......................................................................
Other professional services (12/77 = 100)...................................
264.7
283.9
251.4
129.3
282.9
302.7
269.9
137.3
284.3
304.9
270.8
137.7
286.4
307.9
271.6
138.9
288.4
311.3
272.3
139.5
290.0
313.0
273.9
140.3
292.0
315.5
275.8
140.3
268.7
290.0
254.9
127.6
282.7
306.7
266.6
133.6
284.5
308.6
268.4
134.3
286.2
310.9
269.5
134.9
288.2
314.1
270.1
136.2
290.3
316.0
272.3
137.2
292.2
318.6
274.1
137.2
Other medical care services............................................................
Hospital and other medical services (12/77 = 100)........................
Hospital room....................................................................
Other hospital and medical care services (12/77 = 100)...........
347.3
144.5
453.8
143.7
372.5
154.7
489.4
152.9
376.5
156.6
494.6
155.0
382.1
159.0
503.0
157.2
388.4
161.9
515.4
159.2
390.9
162.7
519.3
159.6
396.8
165.6
529.4
162.2
347.8
143.7
451.9
142.7
370.6
153.1
482.6
151.8
374.1
154.8
488.5
153.4
380.3
157.9
498.9
156.1
386.2
160.6
509.6
158.3
388.1
161.1
512.6
158.4
393.8
164.0
522.0
161.2
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
93
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW March 1982 • Current Labor Statistics: Consumer Prices
23.
Continued— Consumer Price Index— U.S. city average
[1967=100 unless otherwise specified]
All Urban Consumers
General summary
Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (revised)
1981
1982
1981
1982
Jan.
Aug.
Sept.
Oct.
Nov.
Dec.
Jan.
Jan.
Aug.
Sept.
Oct.
Nov.
Dec.
Jan.
ENTERTAINMENT................................................................................
214.4
222.3
224.0
225.5
226.8
227.3
229.2
212.2
219.9
221.5
223.4
224.3
224.4
226.1
Entertainment commodities................................................................
217.1
226.5
227.9
228.9
230.3
230.6
232.0
213.0
222.2
224.0
224.2
225.5
225.4
226.7
Reading materials (12/77 = 100).....................................................
Newspapers ...........................................................................
Magazines, periodicals, and books (12/77 = 100).........................
130.0
249.7
133.4
136.0
265.5
137.2
138.1
266.3
141.1
138.7
267.1
141.9
139.8
267.6
143.9
139.6
267.7
143.5
142.9
270.5
149.0
129.6
249.4
133.5
135.9
265.4
137.1
137.8
266.2
141.2
138.3
266.9
141.9
139.3
267.5
143.7
139.1
267.6
143.4
142.1
270.1
148.8
Sporting goods and equipment (12/77 = 100)....................................
Sport vehicles (12/77 = 100) ...................................................
Indoor and warm weather sport equipment (12/77 = 100)...............
Bicycles ................................................................................
Other sporting goods and equipment (12/77 = 100) ......................
123.5
124.8
115.7
185.9
120.9
127.2
128.6
118.2
192.2
124.1
127.3
128.4
119.1
193.2
125.0
128.3
129.4
119.2
194.4
126.6
130.2
( 1)
119.6
194.3
126.7
130.0
132.1
119.9
193.9
126.2
129.5
131.4
120.1
194.8
125.3
118.5
117.3
114.5
186.7
119.2
120.8
118.3
116.7
193.5
124.9
121.3
118.7
117.2
193.9
125.8
121.4
118.6
117.3
195.9
126.2
122.8
( 1>
118.2
196.3
126.9
122.4
120.2
117.9
195.2
126.3
122.4
120.1
118.2
196.2
125.2
Toys, hobbies, and other entertainment (12/77 = 100)..........................
Toys, hobbies, and music equipment (12/77 = 100) ......................
Photographic supplies and equipment (12/77 = 100)......................
Pet supplies and expenses (12/77 - 100) ...................................
124.4
122.4
121.5
130.1
130.5
129.3
126.0
136.2
131.0
129.4
126.4
137.2
131.3
129.6
126.0
138.3
131.3
129.7
125.5
138.3
132.0
130.1
125.2
140.2
132.2
130.8
125.2
139.7
122.9
119.4
122.3
129.7
129.6
126.6
127.1
136.6
130.6
127.1
127.7
138.8
130.5
126.2
127.8
139.9
130.8
126.7
127.5
140.1
130.9
126.9
126.3
140.9
131.2
127.7
126.3
140.5
Entertainment services ......................................................................
210.9
216.7
218.9
221.0
222.3
223.0
225.5
212.0
217.0
218.3
223.3
223.4
223.9
226.1
Fees for participant sports (12/77 = 100)..........................................
Admissions (12/77 = 100)..............................................................
Other entertainment services (12/77 = 100)......................................
128.1
124.7
120.1
132.0
128.1
121.7
134.3
128.0
122.5
136.4
128.3
123.1
137.3
128.9
123.4
137.6
129.7
123.7
139.6
131.2
124.2
127.8
125.2
122.0
132.4
126.9
123.1
134.0
127.3
122.7
138.9
128.2
124.2
139.1
128.3
124.1
139.3
128.7
124.3
141.2
130.1
124.7
OTHER GOODS AND SERVICES
226.2
235.6
243.0
245.2
245.9
246.7
248.4
224.4
233.5
239.3
241.4
242.5
243.5
245.0
Tobacco products ..............................................................................
211.9
219.9
221.7
225.3
226.2
226.8
227.1
211.7
219.1
220.9
224.5
225.4
225.9
226.2
Cigarettes....................................................................................
Other tobacco products and smoking accessories (12/77 = 100)...........
214.6
125.4
222.2
132.9
224.2
133.1
228.1
134.0
228.9
134.7
229.7
134.4
230.0
134.7
214.5
125.4
221.4
133.9
223.4
134.4
227.2
134.7
228.1
135.0
228.7
134.7
229.1
135.0
Personal care ....................................................................................
222.5
235.1
236.3
236.9
237.7
239.1
240.9
221.1
232.4
233.6
234.1
235.5
237.1
238.8
Toilet goods and personal care appliances..........................................
Products for the hair, hairpieces, and wigs (12/77 = 100) ...............
Dental and shaving products (12/77 = 100) .................................
Cosmetics, bath and nail preparations, manicure
and eye makeup implements (12/77 = 100) .............................
Other toilet goods and small personal care appliances (12/77 = 100)
216.9
126.3
130.8
230.1
134.1
140.0
231.2
134.1
140.0
231.6
134.9
139.8
232.5
135.4
140.5
234.7
136.5
141.2
236.4
137.2
144.0
216.1
126.2
128.3
229.4
132.5
137.6
231.1
133.3
138.0
231.4
131.8
138.0
233.1
133.3
139.3
235.4
135.8
139.8
236.9
136.4
142.6
122.9
125.5
128.9
133.9
130.7
134.2
131.2
133.7
131.8
134.3
133.2
136.0
134.1
135.9
122.2
126.6
128.9
136.4
130.4
137.4
131.6
138.2
132.2
139.1
133.7
139.1
134.5
138.9
Personal care services....................................................................
Beauty parlor services for women...............................................
Haircuts and other barber shop services for men (12/77 = 100) . . . .
228.3
230.1
127.3
240.3
241.9
134.4
241.5
243.0
135.3
242.3
243.9
135.6
243.1
244.8
135.9
243.9
245.2
136.8
245.7
246.9
138.0
226.3
227.6
126.7
235.7
235.7
133.3
236.3
236.1
133.9
237.1
236.7
134.5
238.1
237.8
134.9
239.2
238.8
135.7
241.0
240.5
136.8
Personal and educational expenses ..................................................
253.6
260.4
281.5
284.6
284.9
285.1
288.1
254.0
261.7
281.8
284.8
285.6
285.9
288.9
Schoolbooks and supplies ..............................................................
Personal and educational services.....................................................
Tuition and other school fees .....................................................
College tuition (12/77 = 100) ..............................................
Elementary and high school tuition (12/77 = 100) ..................
Personal expenses (12/77 = 100)..............................................
228.6
259.7
132.6
132.0
134.4
135.7
231.4
267.2
134.2
133.2
137.8
148.7
252.1
288.5
147.4
146.3
151.5
150.0
254.5
291.7
149.0
148.2
151.6
152.3
254.6
292.1
149.1
148.3
152.0
152.8
254.5
292.3
149.1
148.3
152.0
153.4
260.7
294.8
150.5
149.9
152.1
154.3
232.4
259.6
132.8
132.0
134.3
134.4
235.2
268.4
134.7
133.1
138.7
147.6
255.9
288.5
147.7
146.1
152.1
148.5
258.3
291.6
149.3
148.1
152.2
150.4
258.3
292.5
149.4
148.1
152.7
152.1
258.5
292.8
149.4
148.1
152.7
152.7
264.8
295.2
150.7
149.6
152.8
153.7
379.9
368.9
259.4
309.5
405.9
408.1
289.7
334.0
405.4
417.6
293.3
335.7
404.3
419.0
292.7
335.9
403.9
422.2
292.6
339.6
402.8
423.1
293.9
341.3
400.5
423.9
297.7
343.0
381.2
368.8
258.0
307.4
406.9
407.3
288.5
333.0
406.5
416.4
292.4
335.5
405.4
417.6
291.6
337.3
405.1
420.9
291.5
339.9
404.0
422.1
292.6
341.5
401.8
422.8
296.4
343.3
Special indexes:
Gasoline, motor oil, coolant, and other products...................................
Insurance and finance ...................................................................
Utilities and public transportation.......................................................
Housekeeping and home maintenance services ...................................
1Not available.
94
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
c=corrected.
24. Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers: Cross classification of region and population size class by expenditure
category and commodity and service group
[December 1977 = 100]
Size class A
(1.25 million or more)
Category and group
1981
Aug.
Oct.
Aug.
Oct.
1981
1981
1981
Dec.
Size class D
(75,000 or less)
Size class C
(75,000-385,000)
Size class B
(385,000-1.250 million)
Dec.
Aug.
Oct.
Dec.
Aug.
Oct.
Dec.
Northeast
EXPENDITURE CATEGORY
Ail items ...................................................................................................
Food and beverages .............................................................................
Housing .............................................................................................
Apparel and jpkeep .............................................................................
Transportation......................................................................................
Medical care........................................................................................
Entertainment ......................................................................................
Other goods and services .....................................................................
142.1
139.4
146.2
117.6
154.5
137.6
129.3
127.2
143.8
139.7
147.8
118.9
156.3
140.0
131.8
134.6
144.2
139.6
148.0
117.5
157.9
142.0
131.9
135.4
150.5
139.9
160.4
118.3
161.3
139.2
129.1
132.2
152.3
139.9
161.4
124.8
164.0
143.6
129.6
138.0
152.9
139.6
161.9
123.1
165.4
146.6
131.0
138.7
155.3
142.3
170.4
123.5
160.5
140.8
127.8
135.8
156.2
142.6
170.1
124.8
162.0
146.5
129.5
141.5
159.2
142.8
176.3
125.9
162.7
146.3
133.7
142.0
147.7
137.6
155.2
125.7
158.3
138.9
131.7
129.5
149.2
137.4
156.6
126.5
159.7
142.3
133.2
137.5
150.7
137.0
159.3
125.4
161.8
143.0
134.3
138.5
141.0
142.0
143.5
142.1
143.7
146.0
141.8
143.2
147.3
148.6
152.7
153.6
149.6
154.3
156.5
149.6
154.5
158.0
149.1
152.3
165.4
149.8
153.1
166.7
151.1
154.9
172.5
146.0
150.0
150.5
146.4
150.7
153.5
147.2
152.1
156.1
COMMODITY AND SERVICE GROUP
Commodities .............................................................................................
Commodities less food and beverages .....................................................
Services ...................................................................................................
North Central region
EXPENDITURE CATEGORY
All items ...................................................................................................
Food and beverages .............................................................................
Housing .............................................................................................
Apparel and upkeep .............................................................................
Transportation......................................................................................
Medical care........................................................................................
Entertainment ......................................................................................
Other goods and services .....................................................................
152.3
139.4
165.9
112.9
158.9
141.3
130.9
131.2
152.6
139.7
164.4
115.5
161.2
142.8
132.2
136.0
152.6
139.8
163.3
113.7
162.9
144.6
134.1
137.0
148.1
139.2
154.7
120.2
158.4
144.5
188.4
136.5
148.8
139.3
153.6
127.2
159.5
145.6
123.8
142.4
149.2
139.3
153.8
128.0
160.8
146.8
124.4
142.9
145.4
140.8
148.5
116.9
159.3
143.9
129.8
131.5
145.9
140.3
147.5
123.4
161.2
145.3
131.3
135.1
147.4
140.7
150.0
122.4
162.3
147.7
132.6
135.6
145.3
142.4
147.0
121.6
157.6
146.9
128.1
133.6
146.7
143.3
148.3
123.1
158.6
147.7
128.4
140.4
147.6
143.4
149.1
123.6
160.1
151.2
129.2
141.7
145.7
148.7
162.1
145.7
148.5
162.9
145.1
147.6
163.7
142.9
144.5
156.4
142.9
144.4
158.3
142.9
144.4
159.5
141.7
142.1
151.6
141.4
141.9
153.3
142.2
142.8
156.1
139.4
138.1
154.8
140.7
139.6
156.2
140.7
139.5
158.7
COMMODITY AND SERVICE GROUP
Commodities.............................................................................................
Commodities less food and beverages .....................................................
Services ...................................................................................................
South
EXPENDITURE CATEGORY
All items ...................................................................................................
Food and beverages .............................................................................
Housing .............................................................................................
Apparel ano upkeep .............................................................................
Transportation......................................................................................
Medical care........................................................................................
Entertainment ......................................................................................
Other goods and services .....................................................................
148.2
140.2
154.9
121.9
158.9
138.3
125.3
135.3
150.9
141.2
158.6
124.4
160.6
141.6
127.1
139.2
152.0
141.4
160.3
123.5
161.9
143.2
127.4
139.7
151.6
141.7
160.5
120.6
160.3
141.6
132.2
134.6
153.4
141.1
162.5
122.6
162.3
145.9
133.4
139.5
155.9
141.3
166.7
123.7
164.1
147.6
137.1
139.5
148.5
141.6
155.3
115.1
158.6
145.6
132.1
132.7
149.2
141.2
154.7
118.3
160.2
148.8
134.8
138.5
152.3
141.9
159.7
118.2
162.3
153.0
136.4
139.9
147.2
143.9
150.9
108.6
159.1
149.9
138.6
134.8
149.4
144.0
153.5
111.8
160.6
156.3
138.8
139.5
150.8
143.4
156.2
110.4
161.6
160.1
138.4
140.5
143.5
144.9
154.9
145.0
146.6
159.3
145.9
147.9
160.5
144.7
146.0
161.9
145.7
147.7
164.9
147.5
150.1
168.6
143.1
143.8
156.9
143.6
144.6
157.9
145.3
146.7
163.1
143.2
143.0
153.1
144.1
144.2
157.4
145.1
145.8
159.5
COMMODITY AND SERVICE GROUP
Commod'tios.............................................................................................
Commodities less food and beverages .....................................................
Services ...................................................................................................
West
EXPENDITURE CATEGORY
All items ...................................................................................................
Food and beverages .............................................................................
Housing .............................................................................................
Apparel and upkeep .............................................................................
Transportation......................................................................................
Medical care........................................................................................
Entertainment ......................................................................................
Other goods and services .....................................................................
152.4
140.3
160.6
121.2
159.3
149.2
130.2
136.4
156.3
140.3
167.1
121.8
161.8
150.5
133.0
140.1
156.1
140.8
165.5
121.9
162.9
155.7
133.6
141.0
151.2
144.6
156.6
124.5
161.1
146.1
130.1
137.3
155.0
144.9
162.6
127.6
163.5
148.1
132.5
141.4
155.1
145.4
161.6
127.1
165.0
151.3
133.9
142.8
146.4
141.2
148.9
114.6
160.8
147.0
130.8
131.3
149.2
141.4
153.5
116.5
162.1
149.4
131.4
136.1
149.4
140.1
153.8
117.1
162.8
151.1
129.4
136.8
147.7
145.2
145.6
134.4
161.0
149.9
145.4
141.0
152.1
145.5
153.9
135.9
162.5
150.4
144.4
145.5
149.1
145.8
146.1
135.6
164.6
152.8
145.6
148.0
143.4
144.7
164.3
145.1
147.1
171.2
144.9
146.6
170.9
145.2
145.5
159.4
147.0
147.8
166.0
147.2
148.0
166.0
142.6
143.2
151.7
144.4
145.6
156.1
143.7
145.1
157.5
144.5
144.2
152.5
146.2
146.5
160.9
145.5
145.4
154.6
COMMODITY AND SERVICE GROUP
Commodities.............................................................................................
Commodities less food and beverages .....................................................
Services ...................................................................................................
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
95
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW April 1982 • Current Labor Statistics: Consumer Prices
25.
Consumer Price index— U.S. city average, and selected areas
[1967=100 unless otherwise specified]
All Urban Consumers
Area'
U.S. city average 2 ........................................................
Anchorage, Alaska (10/67=100) ....................................
Atlanta. Ga....................................................................
Baltimore, Md.................................................................
Boston, Mass.................................................................
Buffalo, N.Y...................................................................
1981
1982
1982
Jan.
Aug.
Sept.
Oct.
Nov.
Dec.
Jan.
Jan.
Aug.
Sept.
Oct.
Nov.
Dec.
Jan.
260.5
276.5
279.3
279.9
280.7
281.5
282.5
260.7
276.5
279.1
279.7
280.4
281.1
282.1
240.1
250.5
276.1
264.3
256.4
258.9
264.5
Detroit. Mich..................................................................
Honolulu, Hawaii ..........................................................
Houston, Tex.................................................................
Kansas City, Mo.-Kansas ...............................................
Los Angeles-Long Beach, Anaheim, Calif.............................
268.5
275.8
259.4
249.4
252.4
Philadelphia, Pa.-N.J........................................................
Pittsburgh, Pa.................................................................
Portland, Oreg.-Wash......................................................
St. Louis, Mo.-lll..............................................................
San Diego, Calif.............................................................
266.4
255.7
287.7
San Francisco-Oakland, Calif............................................
Seattle-Everett, Wash......................................................
Washington, D.C.-Md.-Va..................................................
264.9
257.2
283.5
2566
294.7
271.3
274.8
284.2
279.3
150.2
286.9
286.6
264.8
270.5
277.7
268.8
271.5
274.4
291.6
268.0
274.7
277.7
279.6
281.8
278.3
258.3
302.7
273.5
282.3
267.8
272.2
274.1
298.7
267.9
274.9
281.8
278.7
273.8
321.3
297.0
288.6
271.8
'The areas listed include not only the central city but the entire portion of the Standard Metropolitan
Statistical Area, as defined for the 1970 Census of Population, except that the Standard Consolidated
275.4
285.7
258.1
266.3
305.4
282.2
280.8
264.4
285.8
262.7
155.2
291.3
138.8
271.9
268.5
272.5
249.1
255.1
274.6
275.7
255.5
265.0
255.9
282.9
295.9
278.0
262.3
259.4
280.2
282.9
271.6
278.1
267.8
275.0
274.5
278.2
259.1
295.9
271.3
284.9
291.6
267.0
275.2
278.4
275.9
288.4
281.2
291.0
276.4
285.5
310.5
275.1
259.3
298.8
272.0
286.1
154.7
291.5
288.8
273.0
308.0
266.9
275.2
274.5
277.8
289.8
156.4
295.3
298.3
266.9
274.1
282.6
276.3
273.0
315.1
295.6
284.3
275.7
274.4
302.8
151.0
292.1
287.0
264.0
282.3
273.4
262.7
277.3
279.0
282.3
288.8
287.2
Area is used for New York and Chicago.
2Average of 85 cities.
276.3
304.2
279.1
256.6
291.8
270.2
278.6
248.6
284 1
280.9
274.3
261.2
275.8
277.1
283.0
285.1
288.4
278.4
323.1
249.3
283.0
281.6
273.6
259.4
294.0
289.2
275.5
245.9
278.1
281.6
295.1
153.6
287.5
291.1
273.4
313.9
287.9
273.9
297.8
281.5
259 3
300.0
272.6
281.3
260.7
262.6
255.7
264.3
277.0
276.6
282.8
292.5 ■
298.9
137.3
266.2
253.2
276.1
253.0
282.1
274.0
282.2
280.7
274.2
262.5
276.9
275.2
284.4
288.2
277.3
Miami, Fla. (11/77=100) ...............................................
Milwaukee, WIs..............................................................
Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minn.-Wis..........................................
New York, N.Y.-Northeastern N.J.......................................
Northeast, Pa. (Scranton)...............................................
253.7
281.5
279.9
272.8
260.3
Chicago, lll.-Northwestern Ind............................................
Cincinnati, Ohio-Ky.-Ind....................................................
Cleveland, Ohio............................................................
Dallas-Ft. Worth, Tex.......................................................
Denver-Boulder, Colo......................................................
96
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (revised)
1981
267.5
274.5
275.1
285.5
277.1
317.4
292.7
285.7
279.3
291.9
281.8
26.
Producer Price Indexes, by stage of processing
[1967= 100]
Annual
average
1981
Feb.
Mar.
Apr.
May
June
July
Aug.
Sept.
Oct.1
Finished goods..............................................................
269.8
263.3
266.0
268.5
269.6
270.5
271.8
271.5
271.5
Finished consumer goods..........................................
Finished consumer foods........................................
Crude..............................................................
Processed .......................................................
Nondurable goods less foods .................................
Durable goods .....................................................
Consumer nondurable goods less food and energy . . . .
Capital equipment ...................................................
271.2
253.5
263.6
250.6
319.4
218.5
208.6
264.3
265.0
251.3
265.6
247.9
308.4
215.1
203.5
256.7
268.2
252.6
279.7
248.1
316.0
214.0
204.8
258.1
270.6
251.9
279.3
247.4
320.4
216.6
207.3
260.8
271.5
252.8
263.1
249.8
321.0
218.1
207.7
262.5
272.3
253.8
258.9
251.3
322.0
218.2
208.4
263.8
273.5
257.6
262.7
255.0
322.5
218.1
209.5
265.4
273.0
256.3
256.9
254.2
322.1
218.3
210.4
265.8
Intermediate materials, supplies, and components................
306.0
298.3
302.0
305.8
306.7
307.2
308.5
Materials and components for manufacturing................
Materials for food manufacturing .............................
Materials for nondurable manufacturing ....................
Materials for durable manufacturing.........................
Components for manufacturing ...............................
286.2
260.9
285.9
312.2
259.2
280.3
273.2
276.5
305.4
253.0
281.6
267.5
279.4
306.9
254.2
284.1
263.1
284.3
310.6
255.4
285.1
259.0
287.0
311.2
256.3
2858
262.4
287.7
310.7
257.3
Materials and components for construction ..................
287.5
280.3
282.7
288.0
288.5
Processed fuels and lubricants ...................................
Manufacturing industries ........................................
Nonmanufacturing industries ...................................
595.0
498.2
680.5
569.8
482.8
646.7
598.3
503.9
681.6
608.5
509.0
696.2
608.7
510.7
695.2
Commodity grouping
1981
1982
Nov.
Dec.
Jan.
Feb.
'274.3
274.5
275.3
277.4
277.4
273.1
256.2
253.5
254.4
324.2
215.8
211.8
265.3
'275.1
'254.0
'253.8
'252.0
'324.3
'224.5
'212.6
'271.5
274.9
252.7
259.5
250.0
325.0
224.3
213.3
272.9
275.6
253.0
273.4
249.1
325.9
225.0
213.4
274.1
277.4
256.4
280.1
252.2
328.1
225.8
216.2
276.1
278.1
258.2
282.0
253.9
329.3
223.5
218.8
274.8
310.1
309.7
'309.4
3090
309.6
311.3
311.3
287.9
260.5
289.2
314.4
259.5
289.8
261.0
291.0
316.0
261.8
290.2
254.6
291.2
317.1
263.8
'290.2
'250.9
'290.9
'316.7
'265.1
289.6
249.2
289.7
315.1
266.3
289.7
247.3
289.5
314.4
267.7
290.8
252.9
289.4
314.2
269.7
291.3
254.3
289.5
313.5
271.1
289.6
290.4
290.7
290.0
'290.1
289.9
290.8
291.9
292.8
605.7
505.4
694.3
602.0
500.3
692.0
607.8
508.3
695.6
601.4
500.5
690.5
'596.9
'497.5
'684.7
5942
495.4
681.5
597.7
498.6
685.3
605.7
507.7
692.0
597.1
498.7
683.9
FINISHED GOODS
INTERMEDIATE MATERIALS
Containers..............................................................
276.2
268.2
270.9
274.3
276.4
277.2
278.8
280.3
2806
' 280 9
280.7
280.6
282.2
285.2
Supplies ................................................................
Manufacturing industries ........................................
Nonmanufacturing industries ...................................
Feeds ..............................................................
Other supplies...................................................
263.9
253.2
269.6
230.4
276.4
257.8
244.8
264.6
237.5
268.3
258.9
246.8
265.2
231.7
270.6
262.4
250.6
268.7
239.2
272.9
264.0
252.3
270.2
242.9
273.8
264.6
253.4
270.5
235.4
276.3
266.0
255.0
272.0
232.8
278.7
2661
256.0
271.6
229.1
279.3
266.1
256.8
271.1
221.3
280.7
'266.6
'258.2
'271.2
'215.9
'282.3
267.4
259.5
271.7
212.0
283.9
268.7
261.5
272.7
214.7
284.4
269.8
262.5
273.9
215.2
285.8
270.7
263.5
274.8
212.7
287.6
329.1
336.5
334.2
336.3
334.4
335.4
337.3
333.0
327.4
'319.9
314.1
311.6
318.2
321.5
CRUDE MATERIALS
Crude materials for further processing...............................
Foodstuffs and feedstuffs ..........................................
257.4
267.1
262.1
263.5
260.6
264.3
267.2
261.8
253.4
'245.7
238.3
233.7
242.5
248.3
Nonfood materials ...................................................
481.6
484.9
488.4
492.1
492.4
487.4
487.2
485.3
486.0
'479.2
476.9
479.1
481.1
479.3
Nonfood materials except fuel .................................
Manufacturing industries......................................
Construction .....................................................
413.9
429.6
262.4
427.9
445.5
257.2
430.9
448.6
259.2
432.5
450.2
261.5
428.3
445.5
261.7
418.1
434.2
262.6
413.1
428.7
262.6
413.9
429.6
263.1
410.2
425.4
263.6
'404.1
'418.6
'264.7
398.5
412.2
266.7
396.4
409.9
267.1
399.7
413.2
269.6
395.1
407.6
272.1
Crude fuel ..........................................................
Manufacturing industries......................................
Nonmanufacturing industries.................................
676.5
865.4
674.3
697.7
798.1
630.6
703.6
805.8
635.0
716.6
821.9
645.8
738.4
850.6
662.2
759.2
877.2
678.5
781.2
902.6
698.1
766.7
883.0
687.8
788.7
911.4
704.8
'779.0
'898.4
'697.8
792.6
915.8
708.4
814.7
944.5
725.3
810.0
936.3
723.6
823.5
953.4
734.4
Finished goods excluding foods........................................
Finished consumer goods excluding foods ....................
Finished consumer goods less energy.........................
273.2
276.3
233.9
265.5
268.5
229.6
268.7
272.5
230.2
272.1
276.1
231.8
273.3
277.0
232.8
274.1
277.7
233.4
274.7
277.9
235.0
274.6
277.7
235.0
274.7
277.9
234.9
'279.1
'281.6
'237.2
279.7
282.0
237.0
280.6
282.8
237.3
282.3
284.4
239.8
281.8
284.1
240.8
Intermediate materials less foods and feeds........................
Intermediate materials less energy .............................
310.1
285.2
301.0
279.1
305.4
280.5
309.5
283.7
310.7
284.7
311.2
285.5
312.7
287.2
314.5
288.5
314.6
288.7
'314.6
'288.8
314.3
288.6
315.1
289.0
316.6
290.1
316.6
290.9
Intermediate foods and feeds ..........................................
250.7
261.3
255.6
254.9
253.1
253.2
251.1
250.2
243.5
'239.3
236.9
236.4
240.4
240.6
Crude materials less agricultural products .........................
Crude materials less energy......................................
545.8
254.0
547.6
262.6
551.8
259.6
556.0
261.1
557.5
257.9
551.3
259.7
550.6
261.8
549.1
258.0
551.4
250.4
'543.4
'243.2
540.9
235.9
544.1
231.6
545.7
239.2
543.9
243.4
SPECIAL GROUPINGS
1 Data for October 1981 have been revised to reflect the availability of late reports and corrections by
respondents. All data are subject to revision 4 months after original publication.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
r=revised,
97
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW April 1982 • Current Labor Statistics: Producer Prices
27.
Producer Price Indexes, by commodity groupings
[1967=100 unless otherwise specified]
Code
Annual
average
1981
Feb.
Mar.
Apr.
May
June
July
Aug.
Sept.
Oct.1
Nov.
Dec.
Jan.
Feb.
All commodities ........................................................................
All commodities (1957-59 = 100)..............................................
293.4
311.3
287.6
305.1
290.3
308.0
293.4
311.3
294.1
312.0
294.8
312.8
296.2
314.3
296.4
314.5
295.7 r 296.1
313.7 r 314.2
295.5
313.5
295.9
313.9
298.2
316.4
298.5
316.7
Farm products and processed foods and feeds........................
Industrial commodities..............................................................
251.5
304.1
255.1
295.7
253.5
299.6
253.8
303.5
252.9
304.7
254.3
305.1
256.8
306.2
254.2
307.2
250.3 r246.0
307.4 r 309.0
242.7
309.1
241.2
310.1
246.2
311.7
248.5
311.4
Commodity group and subgroup
1982
1981
FARM PRODUCTS AND PROCESSED FOODS
AND FEEDS
01
01-1
01-2
01-3
01-4
01-5
01-6
01-7
01-8
01-9
Farm products .....................................................................
Fresh and dried fruits and vegetables ....................................
Grains...............................................................................
Livestock .........................................................................
Live poultry.......................................................................
Plant and animal fibers.........................................................
Fluid milk .........................................................................
Eggs................................................................................
Hay, hayseeds, and oilseeds ...............................................
Other farm products ..........................................................
254.9
267.0
248.4
248.0
201.2
242.0
287.4
187.1
274.1
274.3
262.4
271.5
267.5
244.6
220.8
268.4
289.5
184.8
295.0
295.1
260.7
292.8
261.8
239.3
213.5
270.1
289.5
180.4
289.5
295.9
263.3
286.1
264.7
246.6
195.4
274.2
287.2
196.2
296.3
295.9
259.6
275.3
257.7
251.8
207.2
258.3
283.6
165.0
299.0
259.7
260.7
263.3
257.1
263.0
210.0
259.6
285.0
174.6
285.3
242.7
263.3
265.6
257.4
266.5
215.3
251.3
284.3
185.1
290.0
250.2
257.9
258.1
242.7
262.0
210.3
232.5
285.0
180.7
284.3
263.9
251.1
252.8
227.0
257.3
196.7
206.5
287.3
193.2
267.2
268.9
r 243.1
1248.8
227.6
r244.5
'185.7
'211.7
294.3
193.8
230.4
'263.3
237.4
253.2
226.5
231.1
175.0
198.5
288.2
209.7
221.1
275.8
234.5
279.8
213.6
225.0
171.4
188.4
286.7
195.5
218.8
280.2
242.1
288.3
225.2
236.8
186.8
198.2
287.6
187.0
218.4
280.1
247.1
289.3
223.2
251.2
197.3
193.6
285.8
200.6
217.6
273.7
02
02-1
02-2
02-3
02-4
02-5
02-6
02-7
02-8
02-9
Processed foods and feeds.....................................................
Cereal and bakery products.................................................
Meats, poultry, and fish .......................................................
Dairy products....................................................................
Processed fruits and vegetables............................................
Sugar and confectionery .....................................................
Beverages and beverage materials........................................
Fats and oils.....................................................................
Miscellaneous processed foods ............................................
Prepared animal feeds.........................................................
248.7
255.5
246.2
245.7
261.1
276.8
247.5
227.5
250.1
230.3
250.2
252.1
243.6
245.0
243.7
323.7
244.8
228.2
248.0
235.9
248.5
252.2
242.0
245.1
255.2
302.0
245.4
229.8
249.2
231.1
247.6
253.9
239.1
245.4
258.0
284.5
246.0
232.4
249.9
237.7
248.2
256.3
245.2
244.6
259.4
262.8
247.6
228.2
251.1
241.0
249.9
256.4
248.6
245.2
262.5
274.8
248.1
227.3
251.5
234.3
252.2
258.3
257.1
245.1
265.9
266.0
249.0
234.8
252.2
232.2
251.2
257.7
254.4
245.3
267.3
267.3
249.4
229.5
252.1
228.9
248.9
258.5
253.3
245.5
270.0
246.8
249.1
224.3
253.0
222.9
246.6
'256.9
246.6
'246.8
'271.7
'246.7
250.0
'223.4
'249.9
'218.1
244.7
257.5
240.0
246.9
270.1
249.0
250.8
221.7
250.1
214.6
244.0
255.9
236.3
247.2
271.4
250.9
251.5
219.3
250.1
217.2
247.4
256.6
244.2
247.7
272.8
260.8
253.5
217.0
250.5
217.7
248.3
255.3
247.4
248.0
274.7
260.3
254.2
218.1
250.9
215.4
INDUSTRIAL COMMODITIES
03
03-1
03-2
03-3
03-4
03-81
03-82
Textile products and apparel ...................................................
Synthetic fibers (12/75 - 100)..............................................
Processed yarns and threads (12/75 = 100) .........................
Gray fabrics (12/75 - 100).................................................
Finished fabrics (12/75 - 100) ............................................
Apparel.............................................................................
Textile housefurnishings.......................................................
199.6
156.7
137.8
146.7
125.2
185.5
228.2
193.9
147.1
130.3
144.0
122.9
180.7
221.3
195.2
148.9
134.6
144.7
123.2
181.4
221.3
197.6
151.5
135.0
146.6
124.9
184.3
222.1
199.2
156.4
138.6
145.8
125.7
185.2
224.0
200.1
157.9
139.3
147.4
125.6
186.2
223.9
201.3
159.7
140.3
148.2
126.0
187.2
227.1
202.4
161.2
142.0
149.0
126.8
187.8
228.8
202.9
161.0
142.3
149.1
126.8
188.0
232.2
'204.0
'162.7
'144.4
'148.0
'126.7
'189.9
'233.0
203.2
162.5
140.3
147.9
126.5
188.7
237.9
203.1
162.4
139.8
147.7
125.8
189.1
238.1
203.7
163.7
135.3
148.3
126.7
190.1
241.9
204.2
164.1
134.9
147.4
126.9
191.0
245.5
04
04-2
04-3
04-4
Hides, skins, leather, and related products .................................
Leaner ...............................................................................
Footwear .............................................................................
Other leather and related products............................................
261.5
319.5
241.2
243.5
257.7
310.0
240.7
236.9
261.2
322.5
240.4
238.4
263.5
337.8
241.1
238.5
263.7
330.0
241.4
244.2
261.6
321.0
241.5
244.3
261.1
319.0
242.4
242.9
261.3
313.7
242.5
245.1
261.7
313.2
242.9
245.0
'260.0
'313.7
'239.6
'245.0
261.7
311.3
241.1
250.5
262.7
311.9
241.7
250.5
264.5
320.3
241.4
252.7
263.3
317.8
239.2
253.3
05
05-1
05-2
05-3
05-4
05-61
05-7
Fuels and related products and power ......................................
Coal................................................................................
Coke ...............................................................................
Gas fuels2 .......................................................................
Electric power....................................................................
Crude petroleum3 ..............................................................
Petroleum products, refined4 ...............................................
694.4
497.3
456.5
939.8
366.8
803.6
805.8
667.5
480.8
430.1
881.6
346.2
842.7
769.6
696.5
481.1
430.1
889.9
351.2
842.8
825.5
707.2
486.1
430.1
907.8
355.5
842.5
840.9
709.0
487.3
467.9
933.9
360.4
839.9
835.3
707.6
491.7
469.7
954.6
366.6
815.9
828.1
704.9
505.5
469.7
969.4
374.6
798.9
816.3
704.3
507.0
469.7
949.3
385.8
796.8
813.4
703.5
510.2
469.7
976.6
383.8
796.8
806.1
'698.1
'510.8
'469.7
'965.6
'378.4
'788.2
'802.3
697.5
513.1
470.3
981.4
377.6
786.0
797.9
702.7
515.6
470.3
1007.7
383.8
787.4
798.3
705.8
526.1
470.3
990.2
392.5
787.4
802.9
697.6
529.1
470.3
987.9
392.6
770.4
789.4
06
06-1
06-21
06-22
06-3
06-4
06-5
06-6
06-7
Chemicals and allied products.................................................
Industrial chemicals5 ..........................................................
Prepared paint....................................................................
Paint materials ..................................................................
Drugs and pharmaceuticals .................................................
Fats and oils, inedible .........................................................
Agricultural chemicals and chemical products .........................
Plastic resins and materials .................................................
Other chemicals and allied products......................................
287 8
363.8
249.9
300.2
193.4
295.6
284.8
289.2
254.4
277.6
352.1
246.6
287.0
187.3
289.7
271.6
276.1
245.1
280.4
354.5
246.6
290.5
189.3
295.7
275.8
279.4
248.3
286.0
362.4
248.1
295.4
191.0
312.7
277.8
285.1
255.3
288.6
368.5
250.0
300.3
192.4
312.1
279.1
287.9
254.8
290.5
369.7
250.0
300.8
193.2
303.1
288.9
290.0
256.3
291.3
370.4
250.7
304.5
195.5
290.9
288.9
295.9
254.8
293.3
371.5
250.7
308.5
195.0
305.6
293.4
297.5
257.3
293.3
371.8
250.7
308.0
197.8
285.6
292.6
296.8
257.4
'292.4
'367.9
'250.7
'308.1
'198.5
277.7
'293.1
'299.5
'256.9
292.5
365.6
254.8
307.4
198.1
282.5
295.4
290.9
260.9
292.7
364.6
256.7
307.9
198.7
280.4
294.5
297.0
260.2
293.4
363.8
259.3
308.7
200.9
272.8
295.8
293.8
262.8
294.5
362.8
259.3
308.6
203.0
274.2
297.9
295.9
265.0
07
07-1
07-11
07-12
07-13
07-2
Rubber and plastic products ...................................................
Rubber and rubber products.................................................
Crude rubber ....................................................................
Tires and tubes..................................................................
Miscellaneous rubber products..............................................
Plastic products (6/78 = 100) ..............................................
232.8
256.7
281.7
250.9
252.4
128.4
226.4
248.5
281.9
243.5
240.4
125.5
228.4
252.1
281.2
248.6
243.5
126.0
230.8
253.0
279.8
250.7
243.8
128.2
231.8
254.4
283.2
251.2
245.7
128.6
233.4
256.8
285.2
251.2
250.9
129.1
232.1
254.7
284.2
246.8
251.4
128.7
234.1
256.9
284.7
249.9
253.1
129.8
235.7
260.3
283.1
256.5
253.9
129.9
'237.3
'262.9
'279.8
'257.1
'261.1
'130.3
238.7
266.2
278.9
257.5
269.5
130.1
239.0
266.4
280.7
255.9
271.4
130.3
239.5
267.3
281.8
256.6
272.6
130.5
241.0
269.7
282.1
259.6
274.9
130.9
08
08-1
08-2
08-3
08-4
Lumber and wood products.....................................................
Lumber.............................................................................
Millwork ...........................................................................
Plywood ...........................................................................
Other wood products..........................................................
292.8
325.2
273.4
245.7
239.2
294.7
326.9
273.8
251.2
238.1
294.4
326.2
275.7
248.8
236.9
299.4
333.6
276.5
256.0
238.3
298.4
336.3
274.8
248.3
238.2
298.1
335.8
272.2
251.5
239.8
296.5
332.4
273.6
247.8
240.7
294.5
329.9
272.3
245.6
239.8
289.3
320.2
271.4
240.8
240.5
'284.3
'311.7
'271.3
'234.3
'239.9
283.0
308.8
272.0
233.0
239.7
285.2
309.7
273.6
239.2
239.5
285.7
310.6
276.8
236.8
239.4
285.4
308.3
278.4
235.7
239.8
See footnotes at end of table.
98
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
27.
Continued— Producer Price Indexes, by commodity groupings
[1967 = 100 unless otherwise specified]
Annual
INDUSTRIAL COMMODITIES
1982
1981
Commodity group and subgroup
Code
1980
Feb.
Mar.
Apr.
May
June
July
Aug.
Sept.
Oct.1
Nov.
Dec.
Jan.
Feb.
Continued
09
09-1
09-11
09-12
09-13
09-14
09-15
09-2
Pulp, paper, and allied products...............................................
Pulp, paper, and products, excluding building paper and board ...
Woodpulp.........................................................................
Wastepaper .....................................................................
Paper ..............................................................................
Paperboard.......................................................................
Converted paper and paperboard products .............................
Building paper and board.....................................................
273.7
271.0
398.1
175.7
280.0
258.2
259.0
231.3
267.2
264.5
3902
186.1
272.9
252.8
252.1
225.7
269.0
266.8
390.2
185.1
273.8
255.1
255.3
227.9
271.4
268.6
394.1
184.2
275.2
255.7
257.3
232.5
272.1
269.9
394.2
182.7
275.9
258.8
258.8
237.3
272.9
271.2
394.2
182.9
278.5
259.2
259.9
237.4
274.9
272.3
394.2
182.1
279.7
259.4
261.2
235.5
275.9
273.7
394.2
182.1
282.1
260.6
262.4
234.2
277.8
274.8
394.2
178.5
285.9
261.6
262.8
234.2
'279.2
'275.7
'402.3
165.1
'287.8
'261.7
'263.2
'233.3
280.2
276.3
417.0
144.5
287.1
261.6
263.9
231.5
280.7
276.2
417.0
143.4
287.5
259.3
263.9
227.7
283.9
276.1
412.8
135.2
288.8
259.7
263.9
233.2
285.4
277.0
412.8
128.8
289.5
261.4
264.9
231.1
10
10-1
10-13
10-2
10-3
10-4
10-5
10-6
10-7
10-8
Metals and metal products .....................................................
Iron and steel ...................................................................
Steel mill products..............................................................
Nonferrous metals..............................................................
Metal containers ................................................................
Hardware .........................................................................
Plumbing fixtures and brass fittings........................................
Heating equipment..............................................................
Fabricated structural metal products......................................
Miscellaneous metal products...............................................
300.4
333.8
337.6
286.0
315.9
262.4
267.4
223.9
295.4
270.8
294.0
323.2
322.9
287.4
313.8
258.0
259.2
217.6
285.4
263.1
296.4
328.2
328.7
286.5
314.1
258.6
259.5
219.5
289.4
264.7
298.8
331.0
331.8
288.4
314.1
258.5
265.3
219.8
293.1
267.2
299.1
330.4
331.8
287.7
314.1
259.4
266.2
222.3
294.0
269.7
298.4
330.1
332.2
284.5
314.1
259.7
268.9
223.5
295.0
269.4
302.0
338.8
344.9
282.8
315.2
263.8
270.9
226.4
297.9
272.0
304.1
339.9
344.9
287.3
318.7
265.3
271.2
227.9
299.3
272.9
304.9
339.8
345.3
289.4
318.8
267.8
271.6
228.5
300.0
273.7
'305.3
'341.3
348.7
'285.4
'318.2
'269.5
'272.9
'229.0
'302.6
'276.1
303.9
339.8
348.6
281.4
318.2
268.9
273.0
227.6
302.2
277.5
303.6
339.7
348.9
277.5
318.2
269.4
273.9
229.2
302.7
281.4
305.1
343.1
350.8
275.4
323.4
271.3
274.4
232.2
303.1
284.3
305.0
343.0
350.5
274.2
325.4
272.5
276.1
231.9
303.5
284.0
11
11-1
11-2
11-3
11-4
11-6
11-7
11-9
Machinery and equipment .......................................................
Agricultural machinery and equipment....................................
Construction machinery and equipment...................................
Metalworking machinery and equipment .................................
General purpose machinery and equipment.............................
Special industry machinery and equipment .............................
Electrical machinery and equipment ......................................
Miscellaneous machinery .....................................................
263.1
287.7
320.8
301.2
288.5
308.0
220.1
252.3
255.3
278.4
310.0
291.6
280.2
299.2
213.7
245.2
257.5
279.8
312.8
294.9
282.3
301.0
216.0
247.0
259.6
282.5
317.0
298.7
284.4
303.2
217.4
248.5
260.7
285.7
318.4
299.9
285.9
307.2
217.5
248.8
262.1
286.8
320.1
301.3
287.0
308.8
219.2
250.1
264.8
288.1
323.8
302.9
290.6
311.0
221.1
254.0
266.2
290.3
325.0
303.5
292.3
310.3
222.8
256.0
268.1
292.8
326.5
305.3
293.9
312.8
224.2
258.5
'269.3
'295.5
'328.3
'306.6
'295.1
'314.6
'225.3
'259.0
270.0
298.7
329.6
307.5
295.6
315.2
226.0
259.1
271.6
301.3
332.0
312.2
297.2
316.5
226.9
259.8
273.5
302.2
337.0
313.7
299.6
319.5
228.3
261.3
274.9
303.7
338.1
315.8
300.8
320.3
229.4
263.4
12
12-1
12-2
12-3
12-4
12-5
12-6
Furniture and household durables ............................................
Household furniture............................................................
Commercial furniture..........................................................
Floor coverings..................................................................
Household appliances ........................................................
Home electronic equipment .................................................
Other household durable goods ............................................
198.4
219.4
257.6
178.6
186.9
89.1
280.8
195.2
213.8
251.6
171.9
183.5
91.3
280.8
195.8
214.5
253.4
174.1
184.2
91.4
278.1
196.4
216.5
254.5
175.3
185.1
90.9
275.3
197.4
216.4
257.7
179.5
185.5
90.8
276.7
197.3
218.6
257.9
180.7
186.1
86.7
276.4
199.5
220.0
258.7
182.8
188.8
87.4
282.1
199.6
220.7
259.1
181.9
189.1
87.6
280.9
201.0
222.2
261.6
181.7
190.1
87.8
285.8
'201.3
'222.8
'262.1
'180.9
'190.8
'88.1
'285.8
201.6
225.4
263.2
180.8
189.7
88.0
284.6
202.2
227.0
264.1
180.7
190.2
87.8
285.5
202.7
228.2
266.6
179.6
192.0
87.5
282.8
203.9
228.3
271.6
179.8
193.8
87.5
283.0
13
13-11
13-2
13-3
13-4
13-5
13-6
13-7
13-8
13-9
Nonmetallic mineral products...................................................
Flat glass .........................................................................
Concrete ingredients ..........................................................
Concrete products..............................................................
Structural clay products, excluding refractories ........................
Refractories .....................................................................
Asphalt roofing ..................................................................
Gypsum products ..............................................................
Glass containers ................................................................
Other nonmetallic minerals...................................................
309.5
212.9
296.3
291.2
249.7
302.5
407.0
256.2
328.5
463.9
297.9
204.3
291.4
286.6
239.8
293.5
389.5
257.3
311.4
424.7
300.9
204.8
292.6
286.9
244.6
296.1
390.5
257.6
311.4
441.7
310.8
210.2
297.4
289.9
246.0
296.4
415.9
256.8
326.7
479.1
312.0
210.2
297.5
291.2
250.1
304.0
407.4
261.1
335.3
477.6
313.6
210.3
297.5
293.5
250.7
307.1
428.5
260.7
335.3
476.8
314.3
218.3
297.7
293.4
250.9
307.1
421.9
259.7
335.5
476.2
314.1
218.3
298.0
293.4
250.9
307.1
420.9
255.3
335.5
475.3
313.2
218.3
298.5
292.9
255.3
307.1
401.6
2529
335.5
474.3
'313.3
218.5
'298.4
'293.3
'256.2
'307.8
'402.9
'252.4
'335.5
'473.3
313.5
218.5
298.3
293.2
255.9
309.8
408.9
251.3
334.8
473.5
313.6
218.5
298.5
293.5
257.1
309.8
404.2
249.7
334.8
475.4
315.1
216.0
305.9
294.8
257.1
315.4
399.7
250.4
334.7
474.9
318.4
216.1
308.1
295.6
257.4
330.9
398.8
255.0
349.6
479.0
14
14-1
14-4
Transportation equipment (12/68 - 100)...................................
Motor vehicles and equipment ..............................................
Railroad equipment ............................................................
235.4
237.5
338.2
229.1
230.9
332.5
228.1
229.5
333.9
231.9
233.9
335.7
233.6
236.0
331.2
234.3
236.7
331.4
235.0
237.4
338.1
235.9
238.4
338.7
231.8
232.8
338.7
'244.5
'247.8
'338.7
246.2
248.6
347.5
246.7
249.2
346.3
248.3
250.4
352.4
244.7
246.1
352.4
15
15-1
15-2
15-3
15-4
15-5
15-9
Miscellaneous products..........................................................
Toys, sporting goods, small arms, ammunition.........................
Tobacco products ..............................................................
Notions.............................................................................
Photographic equipment and supplies ....................................
Mobile homes (12/74 - 100)...............................................
Other miscellaneous products .............................................
2656
212.2
268.3
259.6
210.1
(6)
346.9
264.9
210.5
256.1
247.3
209.6
153.1
358.1
264.0 266.0
211.1 211.3
256.3 268.7
247.3 248.4
211.2 212.4
155.0
(6)
351.3 j 349.0
266.9
211.4
268.7
267.8
212.5
<6)
349.4
266.3
211.2
268.7
268.0
212.5
(6)
346.9
263.2
213.2
268.8
267.5
211.4
158.1
333.1
262.6
212.7
268.8
267.7
207.1
158.3
334.6
267.0
213.6
274.5
267.8
208.7
158.7
345.5
'268.5
'213.0
'278.2
269.7
'208.9
'159.1
'348.5
267.2
213.4
278.0
269.7
209.1
158.8
343.4
267.3
213.8
277.9
269.7
209.5
159.0
343.2
268.4
219.3
277.9
270.5
210.3
159.1
341.9
273.7
221.0
306.4
270.7
210.8
159.6
340.9
1Data for October 1981 have been revised to reflect the availability of late reports and corrections by
respondents. All data are subject to revision 4 months after original publication.
2Prices for natural gas are lagged 1 month.
3Includes only domestic production.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
4Most prices for refined petroleum products are lagged 1 month,
5Some prices for industrial chemicals are lagged 1 month.
6Not available.
r= revised.
99
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW April 1982 • Current Labor Statistics: Producer Prices
28.
Producer Price Indexes, for special commodity groupings
[1967=100 unless otherwise specified]
Commodity grouping
Annual
average
1981
1981
1982
Feb.
Mar.
Apr.
May
June
July
Aug.
Sept.
Oct.’
Nov.
Dec.
Jan.
Feb.
291.9
253.4
252.3
258.6
132.2
130.5
202.0
295.0
251.4
250.3
261.8
134.5
134.2
202.1
296.1
250.3
250.5
262.9
135.7
134.6
202.3
2967
252.2
253.1
263.5
135.9
135.7
203.5
298.0
255.2
256.0
265.0
136.8
135.8
204.7
298.7
253.7
255.0
266.1
137.2
135.3
204.7
298.5
251.7
252.8
266.4
138.1
135.5
204.7
r 299.5
'249.1
'250.0
'268.7
' 138.2
136.5
'204.7
299.3
247.8
248.2
268.9
138.6
136.5
206.0
300.0
248.0
246.9
269.4
138.3
136.7
206.6
301.9
252.0
251.0
270.9
139.3
137.0
212.4
301 8
253.5
252.2
271.4
140.0
137.0
216.0
Industrial commodities less fuels..................................
Selected textile mill products (Dec. 1975 = 100)..........
Hosiery .....................................................................
Underwear and nightwear ...........................................
Chemicals and allied products, including synthetic rubber
and fibers and yarns................................................
Pharmaceutical preparations ......................................
Lumber and wood products, excluding millwork............
Special metals and metal products..............................
Fabricated metal products..........................................
Copper and copper products ......................................
Machinery and motive products ..................................
135.9
134.3
203.5
288.8
253.7
253.9
257.2
132.5
130.3
200.9
278.6
186.8
303.1
279.4
280.0
204.0
256.7
268.3
179.7
306.0
272.7
272.5
205.0
249.4
271.0
182.1
304.8
273.5
274.7
204.8
250.2
276.1
184.0
312.3
276.8
277.0
207.7
253.1
279.0
185.7
311.5
277.9
278.5
206.6
254.4
281.2
186.6
312.2
277.9
279.0
203.7
255.6
282.3
189.0
308.7
280.2
281.7
202.5
257.4
284.0
188.4
306.2
281.9
283.1
206.2
258.6
284.4
191.6
298.0
280.1
283.9
205.1
257.7
'283.8
'192.8
'290.1
'286.7
'286.0
'201.9
'264.3
283.8
192.4
287.7
286.4
286.2
199.3
265.5
284.0
193.0
290.4
286.6
287.9
195.9
266.7
284.9
195.5
290.2
288.0
290.0
195.1
268.5
286.0
198.0
288.3
286.1
290.4
194.1
267.6
Machinery and equipment, except electrical..................
Agricultural machinery, including tractors......................
Metalworking machinery ............................................
Numerically controlled machine tools (Dec. 1971 = 100)
Total tractors .............................................................
Agricultural machinery and equipment less p a rts..........
Farm and garden tractors less parts............................
Agricultural machinery, excluding tractors less parts . . .
Industrial valves ........................................................
Industrial fittings ........................................................
Construction materials................................................
288.3
296.2
329.4
239.4
324.0
289.0
298.9
294.4
314.8
302.1
283.0
279.7
287.3
320.5
235.0
311.1
280.2
287.2
287.7
305.5
296.0
277.2
281.9
288.3
323.5
235.7
311.8
281.5
287.6
289.1
310.1
298.9
279.0
284.3
289.6
325.9
235.7
316.8
283.2
289.3
290.2
314.0
302.7
283.9
285.9
293.7
327.1
237.3
322.0
286.7
297.7
290.8
314.3
303.0
284.2
287.3
294.8
328.3
241.4
322.5
287.9
298.0
292.5
315.3
303.0
285.0
290.4
295.6
330.1
241.7
325.5
288.6
298.0
293.9
317.5
303.0
285.7
291.7
298.2
331.4
241.8
327.8
291.1
301.4
295.8
319.8
303.0
285.5
293.8
301.6
333.9
241.8
330.7
294.0
305.5
298.7
322.7
3043
284.4
'295.0
'305.7
'336.7
'241.8
'338.3
'297.6
'313.0
'299.9
'322.4
304.1
'284.6
295.8
309.1
338.1
242.5
340.4
300.6
316.5
303.3
320.0
304.1
284.1
297.8
312.4
339.8
242.3
340.4
303.9
316.5
309.3
321.9
304.1
285.1
300.1
313.7
342.1
240.5
346.2
305.3
318.5
310.0
325.2
304.1
286.4
301.6
314.6
343.3
240.1
346.2
306.3
318.5
311.6
326.8
304.1
286.9
July
Aug.
Sept.
Oct.1
Nov.
Dec.
Jan.
Feb.
All commodities less farm products ......................
All fo o d s .........................................................................
Processed foods ..........................................................
295.7
251.9
252.2
1Data for October 1981 have been revised to reflect the availability of late reports and corrections
by respondents. All data are subject to revision 4 months after original publication.
29.
r=revised,
Producer Price Indexes, by durability of product
[1967 = 100]
Annual
average
1981
Feb.
Mar.
Apr.
May
Total durable goods ..................................................
Total nondurable goods..............................................
269.8
312.4
263.8
306.8
264.9
310.9
267.8
314.2
268.6
314.8
269.1
315.7
270.8
316.8
271.9
316.2
271.8
315.0
'275.0
'312.8
275.2
311.5
275.9
311.6
277.4
314.7
277.3
315.3
Total manufactures.....................................................
Durable ...............................................................
Nondurable...........................................................
285.9
269.6
303.6
279.3
263.4
296.4
282.3
264.4
301.7
285.3
267.2
304.9
286.2
268.2
305.7
286.9
268.9
306.4
288.0
270.6
306.9
288.6
271.7
306.9
288.3
271.7
306.3
'289.8
'275.1
'305.5
289.6
275.5
304.6
290.0
276.3
304.5
291.8
277.8
306.8
291.9
277.7
307.2
Total raw or slightly processed goods..........................
Durable ...............................................................
Nondurable...........................................................
330.7
271.4
334.0
330.3
275.5
333.3
331.2
281.7
333.8
334.6
286.0
337.1
334.2
280.4
337.1
335.4
272.4
338.9
337.9
271.2
341.8
335.8
275.9
339.1
332.7
270.4
336.3
'326.4
'263.7
'330.0
323.2
253.8
327.3
323.8
248.4
328.3
329.0
254.4
333.4
330.6
254.4
335.1
Commodity grouping
1981
1Data for October 1981 have been revised to reflect the availability of late reports and corrections
by respondents. All data are subject to revision 4 months after original publication.
30.
June
1982
r=revised,
Producer Price Indexes for the output of selected SIC industries
[1967=100 unless otherwise specified]
1972
SIC
code
Industry description
1011
1092
1211
1311
1442
1455
Iron ores (12/75 = 100)..............................................
Mercury ores (12/75 = 100) ......................................
Bituminous coal and lignite ..........................................
Crude petroleum and natural gas .................................
Construction sand and gravel ......................................
Kaolin and ball clay (6/76 = 100).................................
2011
2013
2016
2021
Meatpacking plants ...................................................
Sausages and other prepared meats.............................
Poultry dressing plants................................................
Creamery butter.........................................................
Annual
1981
1982
1981
Feb.
Mar.
Apr.
May
June
July
Aug.
Sept.
Oct.1
Nov.
Dec.
Jan.
Feb.
167.3
346.0
493.9
898.8
277.3
138.7
168.1
324.5
478.1
897.9
272.3
137.1
168.1
335.4
478.5
901.7
275.2
137.1
168.1
354.1
483.5
908.6
278.0
137.1
168.1
347.9
484.5
919.7
278.4
137.1
168.1
352.0
488.4
713.7
278.4
137.1
168.1
358.3
502.1
911.5
278.4
137.1
168.1
365.4
503.4
900.3
278.2
137.1
168.1
364.5
506.0
913.6
279.2
137.1
168.1
354.1
'506.2
'900.8
'279.7
143.4
168.1
354.1
508.2
907.4
279.6
143.4
171.3
343.7
510.7
922.6
280.4
143.4
171.3
347.9
521.3
917.6
287.0
147.1
171.3
313.7
524.7
913.5
289.5
149.6
243.1
241.3
192.0
274.8
237.2
232.9
208.3
273.5
236.1
230.4
203.9
273.6
237.8
227.5
186.7
273.4
243.6
230.4
196.2
273.4
245.9
238.1
198.3
273.5
252.6
246.0
203.6
273.8
250.9
254.0
201.2
273.7
252.7
253.9
188.8
275.0
'244.1
'252.2
175.5
279.2
236.9
248.6
172.8
279.5
234.5
246.7
166.7
275.0
236.6
245.7
(2)
275.0
243.8
250.5
(2)
276.4
MINING
MANUFACTURING
See footnotes at end of table.
100
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
30.
Continued— Producer Price Indexes for the output of selected SIC industries
[1967 = 100 unless otherwise specified]
Annual
1972
SIC
code
MANUFACTURING
1982
1981
Industry description
1981
Feb.
Mar.
Apr.
May
June
July
Aug.
Sept.
Oct.1
Nov.
Dec.
Jan.
Feb.
Continued
2022
2024
2033
2034
2041
2044
2048
2061
2063
2067
Cheese, natural and processed (12/72 - 100).............
Ice cream and frozen desserts (12/72 - 100) .............
Canned fruits and vegetables....................................
Dehydrated food products (12/73 - 100)....................
Flour mills (12/71 =100) ........................................
Rice milling............................................................
Prepared foods, n.e.c. (12/75 - 100).........................
Raw cane sugar .....................................................
Beet sugar ............................................................
Chewing gum ........................................................
215.8
211.9
248.5
177.6
195.9
277.2
124.6
273.5
320.6
309.8
215.6
210.6
237.4
171.3
198.4
289.6
129.3
367.1
398.1
323.0
215.7
210.6
241.5
172.9
195.1
298.0
126.6
318.8
370.7
323.1
216.2
211.4
244.0
174.2
201.5
300.9
128.5
275.7
350.5
323.1
216.2
2124
245.9
175.3
199.4
300.3
129.8
224.8
334.4
303.1
216.1
212.4
2489
175.0
199.3
300.3
127.5
263.3
339.7
303.1
213.8
212.7
251.6
180.5
196.5
297.4
125.9
272.2
274.1
303.1
214.5
212.7
252.9
178.7
191.0
284.3
124.8
254.6
287.5
303.2
215.0
212.7
254.3
183.4
195.3
268.2
119.6
212.3
270.7
303.2
r 215.4
212.5
'257.0
r 182.1
'191.1
247.3
'117.3
219.9
'250.3
303.2
215.9
212.5
255.6
181.6
191.5
235.4
116.4
224.3
262.1
303.2
217.1
212.8
258.8
182.1
189.3
215.1
116.4
230.8
272.4
303.2
218.6
212.8
259.6
184.0
191.4
205.9
116.6
247.6
292.5
303.3
217.9
212.8
262.2
181.8
187.4
192.2
116.5
245.1
292.6
303.3
2074
2075
2077
2083
2085
2091
2092
2095
2098
2111
Cottonseed oil mills.................................................
Soybean oil mills.....................................................
Animal and marine fats and oils .................................
Malt .....................................................................
Distilled liquor, except brandy (12/75 = 100) ..............
Canned and cured seafoods (12/73 - 100) ................
Fresh or frozen packaged fish ...................................
Roasted coffee (12/72 = 100)...................................
Macaroni and spaghetti ............................................
Cigarettes..............................................................
199.0
245.8
288.1
282.5
134.7
187.8
369.6
238.0
252.0
277.7
193.7
252.5
287.2
286.1
133.9
187.1
366.7
238.3
243.6
264.1
204.4
253.2
284.2
286.1
133.9
187.6
385.2
238.3
243.6
264.2
218.4
259.1
301.7
286.1
133.9
187.7
393.5
238.5
243.6
278.3
216.6
258.1
304.3
286.1
134.3
187.3
378.2
238.6
246.6
278.3
212.3
248.4
291.3
286.1
134.6
187.5
375.5
238.6
246.6
278.3
212.0
253.7
288.8
286.1
134.6
187.4
367.6
236.4
259.5
278.3
206.0
245.8
294.1
2861
135.5
188.4
347.1
235.7
259.5
278.3
182.3
234.2
281.2
275.4
135.5
188.8
353.5
237.3
259.5
284.2
'172.0
'229.7
'274.0
275.4
135.5
188.2
'356.9
'238.2
259.5
288.4
167.2
221.1
272.3
275.4
137.9
188.3
362.3
239.4
259.5
288.4
182.3
221.5
266.6
275.4
137.9
188.5
371.1
240.4
259.5
288.4
184.9
222.6
260.3
267.1
140.1
187.2
398.3
245.0
259.5
288.4
170.6
219.9
262.6
267.1
137.9
187.0
390.8
247.1
259.5
319.7
2121
2131
2211
2221
2251
2254
2257
2261
2262
Cigars ..................................................................
Chewing and smoking tobacco...................................
Weaving mills, cotton (12/72 = 100) .........................
Weaving mills, synthetic (12/77 = 100) ......................
Women’s hosiery, except socks (12/75 = 100).............
Knit underwear mills ...............................................
Circular knit fabric mills (6/76 = 100).........................
Finishing plants, cotton (6/76 = 100) .........................
Finishing plants, synthetics, silk (6/76 = 100) ..............
169.1
320.9
234.1
136.6
113.5
210.2
110.8
144.9
126.5
165.3
320.7
230.9
132.3
109.2
208.7
109.6
144.5
123.1
167.0
320.7
232.3
133.3
108.9
209.7
109.1
144.6
124.3
168.5
320.8
235.3
134.9
114.1
209.8
110.8
146.9
125.2
168.5
320.8
233.5
135.7
114.2
210.0
110.5
147.0
126.6
168.5
320.8
234.3
137.1
115.6
210.0
110.4
146.2
126.6
169.7
321.0
234.7
138 0
115.5
210.7
111.0
146.3
127.1
169.7
321.3
237.4
139.3
115.0
210.8
112.0
146.2
127.8
174.5
3253
236.0
139.5
115.0
210.9
111.9
145.4
129.0
'174.5
'326.1
'233.2
'139.4
115.2
'210.9
'112.0
144.9
'129.1
171.6
327.6
236.3
139.2
115.2
212.7
112.1
143.4
129.1
171.6
326.0
235.2
139.5
115.3
212.9
111.7
141.4
128.6
171.6
326.0
227.5
139.8
115.6
228.7
111.8
140.5
129.3
175.6
349.4
226.9
139.8
115.6
234.7
112.3
140.3
129.7
2272
2281
2282
2284
2298
2311
2321
2322
2323
2327
Tufted carpets and rugs............................................
Yarn mills, except wool (12/71 - 100) .......................
Throwing and winding mills (6/76 = 100) ....................
Thread mills (6/76 - 100)........................................
Cordage and twine (12/77 = 100).............................
Men's and boys' suits and coats.................................
Men's and boys' shirts and nightwear.........................
Men's and boys’ underwear......................................
Men’s and boys’ neckwear (12/75 = 100) ..................
Men’s and boys’ separate trousers.............................
154.3
221.8
138.6
151.4
134.8
223.9
208.8
230.6
114.6
186.1
147.8
218.1
123.2
144.3
129.3
219.7
207.3
229.1
115.4
185.3
150.2
220.7
131.3
148.4
130.9
220.1
207.1
231.0
115.4
185.3
151.5
220.9
131.5
150.8
132.7
220.3
207.6
231.0
115.4
186.0
154.5
224.1
139.1
150.9
134.3
220.4
207.1
231.0
115.4
186.1
155.6
225.8
139.3
151.1
134.3
224.6
207.5
230.7
115.4
186.1
158.3
225.1
142.7
151.1
134.3
225.9
210.5
230.8
113.9
186.4
157.4
225.4
146.8
151.1
134.3
226.2
210.6
230.8
113.9
186.4
157.3
223.8
148.0
154.8
139.3
226.5
211.5
230.8
113.9
186.4
'155.7
'222.4
'154.5
157.0
139.3
'227.4
'212.4
230.8
113.9
'186.8
156.4
220.1
145.5
156.9
139.3
227.1
210.4
232.9
113.9
186.6
156.3
217.9
146.0
156.8
140.7
230.7
211.2
233.0
113.9
186.8
155.1
216.0
135.3
156.8
141.0
230.7
190.9
237.6
115.3
187.0
155.3
215.3
135.2
156.8
141.0
232.1
191.7
246.9
117.3
187.0
2328
2331
2335
2341
2342
2361
2381
2394
2396
2421
Men’s and boys’ work clothing ...................................
Women’s and misses’ blouses and waists (6/78 = 100) .
Women’s and misses’ dresses (12/77 - 100)..............
Women’s and children’s underwear (12/72 = 100) .......
Brassieres and allied garments (12/75 = 100) .............
Children’s dresses and blouses (12/77 = 100).............
Fabric dress and work gloves....................................
Canvas and related products (12/77 = 100)................
Automotive and apparel trimmings (12/77 = 100).........
Sawmills and planing mills (12/71 =100)....................
248.4
119.8
121.1
169.9
136.8
120.3
289.3
132.1
131.0
228.2
242.2
116.3
116.9
167.5
132.8
118.9
289.1
126.8
131.0
229.6
242.3
116.4
118.5
168.8
134.9
119.2
289.1
127.8
131.0
228.6
247.0
118.3
118.4
169.0
135.0
120.7
289.1
129.3
131.0
233.3
248.2
118.4
122.3
169.2
135.0
120.5
292.1
130.0
131.0
234.8
248.3
118.5
122.5
170.5
136.9
120.5
292.1
130.1
131.0
234.8
250.8
121.0
123.0
170.6
138.8
121.6
289.2
130.1
131.0
233.5
251.1
121.2
124.3
170.6
138.8
121.7
289.2
133.1
131.0
231.2
251.2
121.3
123.5
170.6
138.8
121.7
289.2
134.6
131.0
225.2
'253.1
'126.4
'123.4
'170.6
'138.8
'122.0
289.2
'137.6
131.0
'219.5
252.5
123.8
123.6
172.2
139.3
121.3
289.2
138.1
131.0
217.7
252.5
123.9
122.5
172.2
140.5
119.6
289.2
140.3
131.0
218.3
251.9
123.8
122.6
175.3
145.5
122.0
293.8
145.5
131.0
218.5
251.8
123.8
122.9
175.4
149.2
122.0
297.4
145.5
131.0
217.6
2436
2439
2448
2451
2492
2511
2512
2515
2521
2611
Softwood veneer and plywood (12/75 = 100)..............
Structural wood members, n.e.c. (12/75 = 100) ...........
Wood pallets and skids (12/75 = 100)........................
Mobile homes (12/74 = 100)....................................
Particleboard (12/75 = 100) ....................................
Wood household furniture (12/71 = 100) ....................
Upholstered household furniture (12/71 =100).............
Mattresses and bedsprings........................................
Wood office furniture ...............................................
Pulp mills (12/73 = 100)..........................................
142.0
156.6
152.5
156.8
172.8
197.4
174.9
193.7
254.6
253.2
149.3
147.2
157.0
157.1
152.8
152.7
153.2 ' 155.0
170.3
172.3
192.1
193.3
170.1
170.1
188.3
189.5
250.4
253.5
246.9
246.9
152.6
158.3
153.1
155.8
180.9
195.4
171.8
190.5
254.5
251.2
145.7
158.2
153.1
155.9
184.5
196.2
169.7
190.4
255.4
251.3
148.1
158.2
153.0
156.1
182.3
197.5
173.9
190.5
254.6
251.3
143.8
157.6
153.1
158.1
179.6
198.6
175.1
191.3
254.7
251.3
139.6
156.9
152.9
158.3
173.6
199.2
175.1
194.6
254.7
251.3
135.4
156.6
152.8
158.7
170.5
200.1
175.3
195.2
257.1
251.3
'129.3
'154.8
'152.0
'159.2
'168.0
'201.0
'175.6
'195.2
'257.1
'255.0
128.6
154.7
150.7
159.0
165.7
200.9
182.3
201.8
258.0
265.5
134.1
153.0
150.2
160.1
164.7
201.9
184.9
202.2
258.6
265.5
132.0
153.2
149.8
160.2
171.3
203.3
184.1
207.5
262.9
260.9
131.1
153.2
148.9
160.7
170.2
204.2
182.0
210.0
271.8
260.9
2621
2631
2647
2654
2655
2812
2821
2822
2824
2873
Paper mills, except building (12/74 = 100)..................
Paperboard mills (12/74 = 100) ...............................
Sanitary paper products............................................
Sanitary food containers ..........................................
Fiber cans, drums, and similar products (12/75 = 100) ..
Alkalies and chlorine (12/73 = 100)...........................
Plastics materials and resins (6/76 = 100)..................
Synthetic rubber .....................................................
Organic fiber, noncellulosic........................................
Nitrogenous fertilizers (12/75 = 100) .........................
156.3
151.8
343.8
245.3
163.0
305.3
150.8
292.9
155.7
142.7
152.6
149.2
342.5
235.2
160.6
299.2
143.5
280.7
144.7
138.1
153.3
150.8
343.0
237.9
160.7
295.6
144.8
283.9
147.4
141.7
153.9
151.0
343.2
239.2
160.8
294.4
148.1
288.1
149.9
147.1
154.3
152.1
344.3
239.2
160.9
302.2
149.7
293.3
156.2
148.5
155.7
152.3
344.4
242.2
160.9
309.3
150.7
296.3
156.8
143.4
157.0
151.7
344.2
246.0
163.2
306.2
155.0
297.3
159.2
143.5
157.4
152.4
344.3
252.9
163.2
310.4
155.6
299.4
160.3
143.9
158.8
153.7
344.3
253.2
163.2
316.0
156.0
299.3
160.6
142.1
159.8
'153.6
'344.0
'253.4
'167.6
'317.7
'156.3
'301.0
'164.2
'142.9
159.6
153.8
345.3
254.7
167.8
317.0
152.3
301.1
162.5
144.4
159.8
152.7
345.8
254.7
169.1
323.9
155.7
302.7
161.9
141.3
161.8
152.6
345.6
255.3
175.3
329.3
154.2
304.0
161.0
142.4
162.0
153.6
345.6
258.3
176.5
333.7
156.4
306.2
161.1
142.5
2874
2875
2892
2911
2951
2952
3011
Phosphatic fertilizers ...............................................
Fertilizers, mixing only ..............................................
Explosives ............................................................
Petroleum refining (6/76 - 100) ...............................
Paving mixtures and blocks (12/75 = 100)..................
Asphalt felts and coatings (12/75 = 100)....................
Tires and inner tubes (12/73 = 100) .........................
254.1
270.2
312.0
294.4
194.3
176.7
215.9
248.2
266.8
295.4
279.5
185.4
170.0
209.3
253.5
270.0
303.9
299.0
189.1
169.7
213.8
251.6
271.1
324.8
306.0
198.1
180.4
215.5
251.5
273.6
314.5
304.1
198.8
176.3
216.2
250.9
273.1
312.6
302.6
198.4
185.7
216.2
249.4
275.3
315.7
299.1
197.1
182.8
213.1
260.0
273.0
319.8
297.5
196.3
182.3
215.5
259.4
272.0
316.5
295.8
196.0
174.3
220.6
'259.4
'273.8
'318.7
'294.6
'196.3
'174.9
'221.0
258.9
271.6
316.4
293.2
196.4
177.6
221.2
259.0
268.5
318.0
293.2
196.8
175.5
221.5
261.4
269.1
315.6
293.5
197.2
173.5
222.0
265.5
275.5
312.9
288.8
198.4
173.2
224.4
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
101
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW April 1982 • Current Labor Statistics: Producer Prices
30.
Continued— Producer Price Indexes for the output of selected SIC industries
[1967=100 unless otherwise specified]
1972
SIC
code
Annual
1981
Industry description
1982
1981
Feb.
Mar.
Apr.
May
June
July
Aug.
Sept.
Oct.1
Nov.
Dec.
Jan.
Feb.
3021
3031
3079
3111
3143
3144
3171
3211
3221
Rubber and plastic footwear (12/71 = 1 0 0 ).................................
Reclaimed rubber (12/73 =100) ...............................................
Miscellaneous plastic products (6/78 = 100) ...............................
Leather tanning and finishing (12/77 = 100).................................
Men’s footwear, except athletic (12/75 = 100).............................
Women's footwear, except athletic..............................................
Women’s handbags and purses (12/75 = 100) ...........................
Flat glass (12/71 =100) .........................................................
Glass containers.....................................................................
184.4
193.4
128.8
150.6
169.1
217.8
155.5
175.6
328.4
183.4
190.4
125.4
145.5
166.5
220.2
149.5
167.5
311.4
183.6
187.6
126.3
151.4
167.6
218.7
149.7
168.1
311.4
183.6
187.7
128.7
158.6
168 7
218.7
149.7
174.5
326.6
184.0
187.7
129.1
154.7
168.9
219.3
158.4
174.5
335.2
184.1
187.7
129.6
150.7
169.6
218.5
158.4
174.6
335.2
185.0
192.9
129.2
151.3
170.7
218.9
158.4
180.0
335.4
185.4
200.3
130.2
148.5
171.4
217.8
158.4
180.0
335.4
185.3
200.3
130.3
148.3
170.9
218.2
158.4
180.0
335.4
185.0
r200.3
r 130.8
r 148.2
'170.5
'212.5
158.4
180.1
r 335.4
185.0
198.1
130.5
146.9
170.6
214.5
158.4
180.1
334.7
185.2
198.1
130.8
147.3
171.5
214.6
158.4
180.1
334.8
186.1
198.1
130.9
150.7
172.6
213.8
158.4
177.3
334.7
186.5
198.1
131.3
149.2
171.6
211.3
158.4
177.4
349.5
3241
3251
3253
3255
3259
3261
3262
3263
3269
3271
Cement, hydraulic....................................................................
Brick and structural clay tile.......................................................
Ceramic wall and floor tile (12/75 = 100) ...................................
Clay refractories.....................................................................
Structural clay products, n.e.c.....................................................
Vitreous plumbing fixtures .........................................................
Vitreous china food utensils .......................................................
Fine earthenware food utensils...................................................
Pottery products, n.e.c. (12/75 = 100)........................................
Concrete block and brick..........................................................
328.5
296.9
132.5
310.4
222.7
254.9
335.0
308.9
160.1
270.4
324.3
286.1
127.1
305.2
212.8
248.9
327.4
298.6
155.5
265.0
324.4
295.3
127.1
308.1
213.0
249.4
328.0
307.9
158.5
263.2
332.4
296.0
129.6
308.6
212.7
252.0
328.2
308.2
158.6
267.4
332.3
297.4
132.1
311.0
223.9
252.5
336.6
309.6
160.6
271.2
331.0
298.5
132.1
312.2
223.9
255.8
336.6
309.6
160.7
271.2
331.6
298.9
132.1
312.3
223.9
258.7
336.6
309.6
160.7
271.2
331.6 332.0
298.9 299.9
132.1
140.4
312.3 312.5
223.9 227.5
259.6 259.0
336.6 336.8
309.6 313.8
160.7 161.8
274.0 ■274.2
'330.3
'299.9
'140.4
'313.9
'231.7
'259.0
'336.8
'313.8
'161.8
'274.3
327.2
301.4
137.7
317.0
232.2
259.3
344.7
314.4
163.6
274.5
327.2
301.8
137.8
317.1
237.0
260.1
344.7
314.4
163.6
275.3
336.4
291.4
136.8
327.0
196.4
261.1
347.7
314.5
164.2
274.8
338.2
291.8
136.8
346.5
196.7
260.6
347.7
314.5
164.2
276.0
3273
3274
3275
3291
3297
3312
3313
3316
3317
3321
Ready-mixed concrete..............................................................
Lime (12/75 = 100)................................................................
Gypsum products ....................................................................
Abrasive products (12/71 =100) ..............................................
Nonclay refractories (12/74 = 100)............................................
Blast furnaces and steel mills ...................................................
Electrometallurgical products (12/75 = 100) ...............................
Cold finishing of steel shapes.....................................................
Steel pipes and tubes ..............................................................
Gray iron foundries (12/68 = 100)..............................................
298.7
172.5
257.3
232.5
185.3
342.8
121.8
316.2
341.5
299.5
295.4
171.7
257.6
221.7
177.5
328.9
120.0
303.1
316.3
296.1
296.0
172.6
257.9
223.1
178.9
334.0
120.0
306.1
326.1
295.6
298.5
172.4
257.1
232.7
178.9
336.7
120.8
308.2
333.1
297.0
299.4
172.6
261.4
233.2
186.6
337.3
120.6
308.2
334.1
298.4
301.7
173.0
260.9
234.1
189.7
338.2
120.7
309.5
336.3
298.4
300.7
173.1
261.8
235.0
189.7
350.1
121.2
325.0
348.2
298.8
300.0
173.9
258.9
235.1
189.7
350.0
121.5
325.7
350.6
299.9
299.2
173.7
252.9
237.3
189.7
350.3
121.4
326.2
350.5
302.0
'299.5
'173.7
251.5
'237.6
'189.7
353.1
125.4
326.4
362.0
'303.3
299.2
173.8
252.5
239.6
190.2
352.9
125.4
326.4
362.3
303.9
299.5
174.0
250.6
240.0
190.2
353.2
125.3
326.7
363.1
304.7
301.1
179.1
250.9
239.9
191.1
354.9
125.3
327.0
363.8
308.0
301.4
184.0
253.9
245.0
198.1
354.6
123.4
327.0
3642
310.4
3333
3334
3351
3353
3354
3355
3411
3425
3431
3465
Primary zinc...........................................................................
Primary aluminum....................................................................
Copper rolling and drawing .......................................................
Aluminum sheet, plate, and foil (12/75 = 100) .............................
Aluminum extruded products (12/75 = 100).................................
Aluminum rolling, drawing, n.e.c. (12/75 = 100) ...........................
Metai cans.............................................................................
Hand saws and saw blades (12/72 = 100) .................................
Metal sanitary ware..................................................................
Automotive stampings (12/75 = 100) ........................................
326.5
333.5
212.4
175.9
180.1
159.1
305.3
201.3
265.0
146.4
300.0
332.3
215.3
170.7
177.1
157.1
303.0
196.3
256.4
143.9
299.7
332.2
211.8
172.1
177.3
157.2
304.7
198.0
258.5
144.2
311.9
332.8
213.1
173.8
180.6
157.3
304.7
198.1
262.8
145.0
332.7
334.2
212.6
174.4
180.7
157.4
304.7
200.2
264.8
145.0
335.1
332.5
210.6
176.1
180.8
157.3
304.7
200.2
265.2
145.2
335.4
334.2
209.4
177.3
181.2
157.2
305.5
204.1
269.2
146.2
353.8
334.4
212.9
177.4
181.3
157.2
306.7
204.2
269.7
146.4
355.9
333.6
214.1
178.0
181.2
157.7
3068
204.6
270.2
146.9
'337.0
'333.5
'212.3
'179.9
181.3
'163.0
'307.0
'204.8
'270.3
'147.4
337.5
332.5
209.4
179.9
181.4
166.2
306.6
204.6
270.6
149.7
327.3
332.8
208.6
180.9
181.1
166.1
306.6
205.6
272.0
153.7
308.0
332.4
205.6
181.5
180.7
166.1
310.3
211.0
270.9
154.6
308.9
327.9
204.1
181.6
180.8
166.6
314.4
214.2
271.8
152.5
3482
3493
3494
3498
3519
3531
3532
3533
3534
3542
Small arms ammunition (12/75 = 100) ......................................
Steel springs, except wire .........................................................
Valves and pipe fittings (12/71 - 100)........................................
Fabricated pipe and fittings .......................................................
Internal combustion engines, n.e.c................................................
Construction machinery (12/76 = 100) ......................................
Mining machinery (12/72 = 100)...............................................
Oilfield machinery and equipment...............................................
Elevators and moving stairways.................................................
Machine tools, metal forming types (12/71 =100) ........................
160.5
245.1
248.4
361.4
311.0
157.0
282.3
395.4
253.5
306.4
157.8
239.2
242.1
335.7
299.4
151.4
273.5
374.2
250.3
298.0
157.2
239.5
244.8
338.5
302.6
152.6
276.2
378.2
250.3
301.9
157.8
241.2
247.6
358.8
306.0
154.4
279.5
382.2
251.2
303.0
157.8
241.7
247.9
359.9
306.2
155.3
280.0
384.6
251.2
304.5
157.8
241.9
248.5
361.6
307.2
156.9
280.8
390.3
251.2
305.7
157.8
243.7
250.0
364.6
312.0
159.0
282.7
401.3
252.1
307.6
159.9
248.9
251.0
370.0
314.2
159.5
285.3
406.5
252.8
309.5
159.9
252.4
252.7
375.1
322.1
160.1
286.9
411.3
254.6
312.0
'159.9
'253.9
'252.9
'377.7
'323.2
'161.0
'288.5
'415.6
'257.0
'311.7
165.3
253.8
251.9
378.8
322.4
161.6
290.3
418.3
259.9
312.3
165.3
254.3
253.8
379.4
321.5
162.1
291.8
420.1
261.4
313.0
173.2
256.4
255.8
378.6
327.3
164.8
293.9
427.1
268.0
313.5
173.2
257.2
257.1
377.7
330.0
163.1
297.5
429.1
268.9
316.9
3546
3552
3553
3576
3592
3612
3623
3631
3632
3633
Power driven hand tools (12/76 = 100)......................................
Textile machinery (12/69 = 100)................................................
Woodworking machinery (12/72 = 100)......................................
Scales and balances, excluding laboratory...................................
Carburetors, pistons, rings, valves (6/76 - 100)...........................
Transformers .........................................................................
Welding apparatus, electric (12/72 = 100)...................................
Household cooking equipment (12/75 = 100)................ ...........
Household refrigerators, freezers (6/76 = 100) ...........................
Household laundry equipment (12/73 = 100)...............................
147.1
243.4
224.5
226.2
177.9
209.7
227.2
141.1
132.3
174.2
144.9
235.0
223.1
221.1
170.9
197.1
220.9
141.0
127.5
170.2
145.2
240.0
224.7
224.2
171.5
204.3
222.1
141.1
127.6
170.9
146.4
240.4
225.5
230.2
172.0
206.0
224.3
140.5
129.4
173.5
147.0
241.2
219.1
230.2
172.0
207.8
225.9
140.7
129.5
173.9
147.1
244.4
219.7
230.3
176.5
209.6
227.2
141.0
130.8
173.6
148.2
246.2
224.0
226.6
180.8
210.7
228.3
140.5
135.5
174.1
148.4
245.4
225.4
226.6
181.3
212.8
229.6
141.5
135.5
174.6
148.6
248.2
228.9
226.1
182.1
214.5
231.6
141.6
136.4
177.2
'149.5
'248.0
'228.9
'226.2
'185.4
'217.3
'232.5
141.6
'137.8
'177.0
148.7
247.9
229.0
226.1
187.0
221.5
232.4
142.0
136.4
178.5
149.3
250.0
229.0
226.4
187.1
219.8
234.7
142.6
136.4
178.8
153.3
249.8
229.4
228.2
185.0
220.3
235.9
144.6
138.6
179.8
153.4
250.7
229.2
228.9
189.4
221.9
236.0
146.3
139.6
180.4
3635
3636
3641
3644
3646
3648
3671
3674
3675
3676
Household vacuum cleaners .....................................................
Sewing machines (12/75 = 100)................................................
Electric lamps.........................................................................
Noncurrent-carrying wiring devices (12/72 = 100) ........................
Commercial lighting fixtures (12/75 = 100) .................................
Lighting equipment, n.e.c. (12/75 - 100) ....................................
Electron tubes receiving type.....................................................
Semiconductors and related devices ..........................................
Electronic capacitors (12/75 = 100) ..........................................
Electronic resistors (12/75 = 100)..............................................
156.8
146.6
277.5
250.4
154.4
155.7
309.7
90.4
170.3
141.3
156.3
130.3
271.2
236.3
148.0
146.8
284.4
90.8
171.1
139.9
158.5
131.9
272.6
240.6
151.4
152.7
285.0
91.3
173.2
139.9
158.4
131.8
275.5
242.6
156.1
153.2
285.0
91.2
168.7
140.0
158.5
153.8
275.1
242.8
156.2
153.3
285.1
90.6
168.5
140.8
158.6
153.8
276.5
251.5
156.2
153.7
312.5
90.3
171.2
141.2
158.6
153.8
275.2
253.3
154.4
153.8
327.4
89.2
171.4
142.1
158.8
153.8
280.0
253.8
155.5
161.3
327.5
89.2
178.8
142.5
158.8
153.8
283.1
258.5
157.6
161.7
327.5
91.4
172.4
142.7
'161.3
'156.0
285.9
'258.7
' 158.9
' 162.0
'327.5
'91.6
'171.5
'142.7
154.2
155.4
286.6
264.6
157.3
162.0
327.8
91.0
169.2
142.8
154.0
155.4
282.7
264.6
158.4
162.7
342.3
91.9
168.0
142.5
158.7
155.4
282.0
261.5
159.9
162.7
371.8
90.9
166.4
142.9
158.3
155.2
286.2
261.5
161.1
167.8
374.9
90.8
169.3
143.9
3678
3692
3711
3942
3944
3955
3995
39%
Electronic connectors (12/75 = 100)..........................................
Primary batteries, dry and w et...................................................
Motor vehicles and car bodies (12/75 - 100)...............................
Dolls (12/75 = 100)................................................................
Games, toys, and children’s vehicles ..........................................
Carbon paper and inked ribbons (12/75 = 100)...........................
Burial caskets (6/76 = 100) .....................................................
Hard surface floor coverings (12/75 = 100).................................
154.8
182.2
150.2
131.1
220.5
138.6
139.5
151.8
153.5
183.3
145.7
132.3
220.2
136.4
135.0
148.6
154.5
184.2
144.2
132.4
221.2
136.4
138.0
148.7
154.4
182.6
148.4
132.4
221.2
136.9
138.1
151.5
153.7
181.0
149.6
130.9
221.8
136.9
138.3
151.5
154.3
181.0
150.3
130.9
221.9
140.4
138.3
151.5
155.0
181.6
150.3
130.9
222.0
140.4
138.3
153.3
155.8
182.7
150.1
130.9
222.0
140.6
140.6
153.6
156.5
182.7
143.4
130.9
222.2
140.6
143.4
153.7
'156.8
182.7
' 158.6
'130.9
'222.2
'140.2
'143.4
153.7
155.8
182.7
158.5
130.6
220.5
140.6
143.4
153.7
156.6
182.7
158.9
130.6
221.5
140.7
142.7
153.7
157.2
182.1
159.5
134.9
225.8
140.3
142.7
155.1
156.9
185.0
154.5
136.2
229.9
140.3
143.8
155.2
1Data for October 1981 have been revised to reflect the availability of late reports and corrections by
respondents. All data are subject to revision 4 months after original publication.
Digitized 102
for FRASER
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
2Not available
r=revised.
PRODUCTIVITY DATA
P roductivity data are compiled by the Bureau of Labor
Statistics from establishment data and from estimates of com
pensation and output supplied by the U.S. Department of
Commerce and the Federal Reserve Board.
Definitions
Output is the constant dollar gross domestic product produced in a
given period. Indexes of output per hour of labor input, or labor pro
ductivity, measure the value of goods and services produced per hour
of labor. Compensation per hour includes wages and salaries of em
ployees plus employers’ contributions for social insurance and private
benefit plans. The data also include an estimate of wages, salaries, and
supplementary payments for the self-employed, except for nonfinancial corporations, in which there are no self-employed. Real com
pensation per hour is compensation per hour adjusted by the
Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers.
Unit labor cost measures the labor compensation cost required to
produce one unit of output and is derived by dividing compensation
by output. Unit nonlabor payments include profits, depreciation, in
terest, and indirect taxes per unit of output. They are computed by
subtracting compensation of all persons from the current dollar gross
domestic product and dividing by output. In these tables, unit
nonlabor costs contain all the components of unit nonlabor payments
except unit profits. Unit profits include corporate profits and invento
ry valuation adjustments per unit of output.
The implicit price deflator is derived by dividing the current dollar
estimate of gross product by the constant dollar estimate, making the
deflator, in effect, a price index for gross product of the sector reported.
31.
The use of the term “man hours” to identify the labor component
of productivity and costs, in tables 31 through 34, has been discontin
ued. Hours of all persons is now used to describe the labor input of
payroll workers, self-employed persons, and unpaid family workers.
Output per all-employee hour is now used to describe labor productiv
ity in nonfinancial corporations where there are no self-employed.
Notes on the data
In the private business sector and the nonfarm business sector, the
basis for the output measure employed in the computation of output
per hour is Gross Domestic Product rather than Gross National
Product. Computation of hours includes estimates of nonfarm and
farm proprietor hours.
Output data are supplied by the Bureau of Economic Analysis, U.S.
Department of Commerce, and the Federal Reserve Board. Quarterly
manufacturing output indexes are adjusted by the Bureau of Labor
Statistics to annual estimates of output (gross product originating)
from the Bureau of Economic Analysis. Compensation and hours data
are from the Bureau of Economic Analysis and the Bureau of Labor
Statistics.
Beginning with the September 1976 issue of the R ev ie w , tables 3134 were revised to reflect changeover to the new series— private busi
ness sector and nonfarm business sector— which differ from the
previously published total private economy and nonfarm sector in
that output imputed for owner-occupied dwellings and the household
and institutions sectors, as well as the statistical discrepancy, are
omitted. For a detailed explanation, see J. R. Norsworthy and L. J.
Fulco, “New sector definitions for productivity series,” M o n th ly L a b o r
R ev ie w , October 1976, pages 40-42.
Annual indexes of productivity, hourly compensation, unit costs, and prices, selected years, 1950-81
[1977=100]
Item
Private business sector:
Output per hour of all persons ......................
Compensation per hour ...............................
Real compensation per hour.........................
Unit labor cost............................................
Unit nonlabor payments ...............................
Implicit price deflator ...........................
Nonfarm business sector:
Output per hour of all persons ......................
Compensation per hour ...............................
Real compensation per hour.........................
Unit labor cost........... .............................
Unit nonlabor payments ...............................
Implicit price deflator ...................................
Nonfinancial corporations:
Output per hour of all employees ..................
Compensation per hour ...............................
Real compensation per hour..........................
Unit labor cost............................................
Unit nonlabor payments ...............................
Implicit price deflator ...................................
Manufacturing:
Output per hour of all persons ......................
Compensation per hour ...............................
Real compensation per hour..........................
Unit labor cost............................................
Unit nonlabor payments ...............................
Implicit price deflator ...................................
1Not available.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1980
1981
1950
1955
1960
1965
1970
1974
1975
1976
1977
1978
1979
50.3
20.0
50.4
39.8
43.5
41.0
58.2
26.3
59.6
45.2
47.8
46.1
65.1
33.9
69.4
52.1
50.8
51.7
78.2
41.7
80.0
53.3
57.8
54.8
86.1
58.2
90.8
67.6
63.4
66.2
92.7
78.0
95.9
84.2
78.9
82.4
94.8
85.5
96.3
90.2
90.7
90.4
97.9
92.9
98.8
94.8
94.4
94.7
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
99.8
108.4
100.7
108.6
105.1
107.4
99.5
119.3
99.6
119.9
110.9
116.9
99.3
131.5
96.7
132.4
118.3
127.6
100.4
144.6
96.4
r 144.0
r 130.5
r 139.4
56.2
21.8
55.0
38.8
42.8
40.2
62.7
28.3
63.9
45.1
47.9
46.0
68.2
35.6
73.0
52.3
50.5
51.7
80.4
42.8
82.2
53.2
58.2
54.9
86.7
58.6
91.5
67.6
64.0
66.4
93.1
78.4
96.4
84.3
76.1
81.6
95.0
86.0
96.8
90.5
88.9
89.9
98.1
93.0
99.0
94.8
94.0
94.5
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
99.8
108.5
100.7
108.7
103.6
107.0
99.1
119.0
99.3
120.0
108.5
116.2
98.8
130.8
96.2
132.4
117.6
127.4
99.7
143.9
95.9
r 144.3
r 130.3
139.6
n
n
n
O
(M
(’ >
( 1>
(’ )
(’ )
( 1)
(’ )
(’ )
66.3
36.3
74.2
54.7
54.6
54.7
79.9
43.0
82.6
53.8
60.8
56.2
85.4
58.3
91.0
68.3
63.1
66.5
91.3
77.6
95.4
85.1
75.7
81.8
94.4
85.5
96.3
90.6
90.9
90.7
97.4
92.5
98.5
95.0
95.0
95.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.4
108.2
100.5
107.8
103.8
106.4
100.4
118.7
99.1
118.2
108.3
114.8
101.0
130.7
96.2
129.4
117.3
125.2
p 103.5
»143.9
P95.9
p 139.1
p 132.3
p 136.7
49.5
21.5
54.1
43.4
55.1
46.8
56.5
28.8
65.2
51.0
59.4
53.4
60.1
36.7
75.1
61.1
62.0
61.3
74.6
42.9
82.3
57.4
70.3
61.2
79.2
57.6
89.9
72.7
66.0
70.7
90.9
76.4
93.9
84.1
70.4
80.1
93.5
85.5
96.3
91.4
88.5
90.6
97.7
92.4
98.3
94.6
95.1
94.7
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.9
108.2
100.5
107.3
104.7
106.5
102.0
118.8
99.2
116.5
105.7
113.4
101.7
131.6
r96.8
129.4
108.7
123.4
r 104.5
146.2
97.4
140.0
(’ )
(’ )
r = revised.
103
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW April 1982 • Current Labor Statistics: Productivity
Annual changes in productivity, hourly compensation, unit costs, and prices, 1971-81
Private business sector:
Output per hour of all persons .........................
Compensation per hour ...................................
Real compensation per hour.............................
Unit labor cost...............................................
Unit nonlabor payments...................................
Implicit price deflator ......................................
Nonfarm business sector:
Output per hour of all persons .........................
Compensation per hour ...................................
Real compensation per hour.............................
Unit labor cost...............................................
Unit nonlabor payments...................................
Implicit price deflator ......................................
Nonfinancial corporations:
Output per hour of all employees......................
Compensation per hour ...................................
Real compensation per hour.............................
Unit labor cost...............................................
Unit nonlabor payments...................................
Implicit price deflator ......................................
Manufacturing:
Output per hour of all persons .........................
Compensation per hour ...................................
Real compensation per hour.............................
Unit labor cost...............................................
Unit nonlabor payments...................................
Implicit price deflator ......................................
1971
1972
1973
1974
1975
1976
1977
1978
1979
1980
1981
3.6
6.6
2.2
2.9
7.6
4.4
3.5
6.5
3.1
2.9
4.5
3.4
2.7
8.0
1.7
5.2
5.9
5.4
-2.3
9.4
-1.4
11.9
4.4
9.4
2.3
9.6
0.4
7.2
15.0
9.7
3.3
8.6
2.7
5.1
4.1
4.7
2.1
7.7
1.2
5.5
5.9
5.6
-0.2
8.4
0.7
8.6
5.1
7.4
-0.3
10.1
-1.1
10.4
5.5
8.8
-0.2
10.2
-2.9
10.4
6.6
9.2
'1.1
10.0
-0.3
r8.8
r 10.3
'9.3
2.4
6.2
2.3
3.6
3.3
3.5
2.1
7.2
1.7
5.0
4.5
4.9
3.3
6.6
2.2
3.1
7.4
4.5
3.7
6.7
3.3
2.8
3.2
3.0
2.5
7.6
1.3
4.9
1.3
3.7
-2.4
9.4
-1.4
12.1
5.9
10.1
2.1
9.6
0.4
7.4
16.7
10.3
3.2
8.1
2.2
4.7
5.7
5.1
2.0
7.6
1.0
5.5
6.4
5.8
-0.2
8.5
0.7
8.7
3.6
7.0
-0.7
9.7
-1.4
10.4
4.8
8.6
-0.3
9.9
-3.2
10.3
8.4
9.7
0.9
10.1
-0.3
'9.0
'10.8
'9.6
2.1
5.9
2.0
3.7
3.3
3.6
1.8
7.0
1.5
5.0
4.4
4.8
4.8
6.5
2.1
1.6
7.4
3.5
3.0
5.8
2.5
2.8
2.7
2.8
2.6
7.7
1.4
4.9
1.5
3.8
-3.4
9.7
-1.1
13.6
7.1
11.4
3.4
10.1
0.9
6.5
20.1
10.9
3.2
8.2
2.3
4.9
4.6
4.8
2.7
8.1
1.5
5.3
5.2
5.2
0.4
8.2
0.5
7.8
3.8
6.4
0.0
9.7
-1.4
9.7
4.4
7.9
0.6
10.1
-3.0
9.5
8.3
9.1
p2.5
P10.1
p -0.3
p7.4
p 12.8
»9.2
( 1)
(’ )
<1)
( 1)
(’ )
(’ )
'6.9
'1.4
'4.8
'4.0
'4.5
6.1
6.1
1.8
0.0
11.2
3.1
5.0
5.4
2.0
0.3
0.8
0.5
5.3
7.2
0.9
1.7
-3.3
0.3
-2.4
10.6
-0.3
13.3
-1.8
9.0
2.9
11.9
2.5
8.8
25.9
13.1
4.4
8.0
2.1
3.4
7.4
4.6
2.4
8.3
1.7
5.7
5.2
5.6
0.9
8.2
0.5
7.3
4.7
6.5
1.1
9.8
-1.3
8.6
0.9
6.4
-0.3
10.7
-2.5
11.0
2.9
8.8
2.7
11.1
0.7
8.2
(’ )
(’ )
2.6
5.8
2.0
3.1
( 1)
(’ )
2.6
6.9
1.4
4.1
(’ )
(’ )
III
IV
1Not available.
33.
Annual rate
of change
Year
Item
1950-81
1960-81
ro
o
32.
r = revised.
Quarterly indexes of productivity, hourly compensation, unit costs, and prices, seasonally adjusted
[1977=100]
Item
Private business sector:
Output per hour of all persons .........................
Compensation per hour...................................
Real compensation per hour.............................
Unit labor cost...............................................
Unit nonlabor payments...................................
Implicit price deflator ......................................
Nonfarm business sector:
Output per hour of all persons .........................
Compensation per hour ...................................
Real compensation per hour.............................
Unit labor cost...............................................
Unit nonlabor payments...................................
Implicit price deflator ......................................
Nonfinancial corporations:
Output per hour of all employees......................
Compensation per hour ...................................
Real compensation per hour.............................
Total unit costs .............................................
Unit labor cost ........................................
Unit nonlabor costs...................................
Unit profits ...................................................
Implicit price deflator ......................................
Manufacturing:
Output per hour of all persons .........................
Compensation per hour...................................
Real compensation per hour.............................
Unit labor cost...............................................
1Not available.
104
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Quarterly indexes
Annual
average
1979
1980
1981
1980
1981
II
III
IV
1
II
III
IV
1
II
99.3
131.5
96.7
132.4
118.3
127.6
100.4
144.6
96.4
'144.0
'130.5
'139.4
99.7
118.1
100.3
118.5
110.4
115.8
99.4
120.7
99.2
121.4
111.5
118.1
99.1
123.2
98.0
124.3
112.2
120.2
99.5
126.4
96.7
127.0
115.2
123.0
99.1
130.1
96.6
131.3
116.0
126.1
99.4
133.1
96.9
133.9
119.7
129.1
99.1
135.9
96.0
137.1
122.7
132.2
100.3
139.8
96.1
139.4
127.6
135.4
101.2
143.3
96.9
141.6
129.3
137.5
100.9
146.5
96.3
145.2
132.4
140.9
'99.2
148.5
95.8
'149.7
'132.5
'143.9
98.8
130.8
96.2
132.4
117.6
127.4
99.7
143.9
95.9
'144.3
'130.3
139.6
99.1
117.7
100.0
118.7
107.7
115.1
98.9
120.2
98.8
121.5
109.2
117.4
98.8
123.0
97.8
124.4
110.1
119.7
98.9
126.0
96.4
127.4
113.9
122.9
98.2
129.4
96.0
131.8
115.1
126.3
99.0
132.3
96.3
133.6
119.2
128.8
99.0
135.4
95.7
136.8
122.0
131.9
100.0
139.2
95.7
139.1
127.8
135.3
100.4
142.4
96.3
141.9
128.7
137.5
99.9
145.7
95.8
145.8
132.2
141.2
'98.2
'147.9
'95.4
'150.6
'132.7
'144.6
p 103.5
»139.1
»146.1
»103.4
»136.7
100.7
117.6
99.9
115.3
116.8
111.2
100.7
113.7
100.5
120.1
98.7
118.2
119.5
114.6
97.5
115.9
99.9
122.7
97.5
121.3
122.8
117.2
92.2
118.1
100.2
125.7
96.2
124.2
125.4
120.9
95.5
121.0
100.1
129.3
95.9
129.2
129.1
129.3
83.4
124.1
101.8
132.5
96.5
131.1
130.2
133.8
89.1
126.4
101.8
135.5
95.7
134.1
133.1
136.9
92.4
129.5
103.3
139.2
95.7
136.0
134.7
139.5
106.8
132.7
103.9
142.3
96.2
138.7
137.0
143.6
102.8
134.7
103.8
145.5
95.6
142.2
140.2
147.7
106.7
138.2
(’ )
<’ )
(’ )
(’ )
C)
'104.5
146.2
97.4
140.0
102.3 .
118.6
100.7
115.9
102.0
119.8
98.5
117.5
102.1
122.3
97.2
119.8
102.0
125.4
96.0
122.9
100.7
130.0
96.5
129.0
100.7
133.9
97.5
133.0
103.2
137.3
97.0
133.0
104.2
141.1
97.1
135.5
105.2
144.8
'97.9
137.6
105.5
148.0
97.3
140.3
'102.5
150.7
97.2
'147.0
101.0
130.7
96.2
129.7
129.4
130.2
90.2
125.2
101.7
131.6
96.8
129.4
p 143.9
p95.9
p 140.9
r = revised.
(’)
( 1)
V)
34. Percent change from preceding quarter and year in productivity, hourly compensation, unit costs, and prices,
seasonally adjusted at annual rate
[1977 = 100]
Percent change from same quarter a year ago
Quarterly percent change at annual rate
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
I 1980.
to
I 1981
II 1980
to
II 1981
III 1980
to
III 1981
IV 1980
to
IV 1981
'8.7
0.0
10.3
-2.3
10.3
7.4
9.4
0.0
10.3
-2.0
10.3
9.3
10.0
0.8
10.6
-0.6
9.7
10.8
10.1
2.1
10.1
0.3
7.8
11.5
9.0
1.5
10.1
-0.6
8.5
10.6
9.1
'0.0
9.3
-0.2
'9.2
'8.0
'8.8
'-1 .7
9.5
-2.2
11.5
11.3
11.4
'-6 .8
'6.2
' -1.5
'14.0
r -1.6
'10.0
0.2
10.1
-2.5
9.9
9.1
9.6
0.2
10.1
-2.2
9.9
10.8
10.2
'1.2
10.5
-0.7
9.2
12.2
10.1
2.3
10.0
'0.3
7.6
11.8
8.9
0.9
10.2
-0.6
9.2
10.9
9.7
'9.2
-0.2
'10.1
'8.8
'9.7
2.2
9.3
2.1
8.4
7.0
12.3
-13.9
6.2
-0.5
9.2
-2.5
10.3
9.7
11.8
15.7
10.7
(1)
(’ )
(’ )
1.9
10.4
-1.9
10.5
8.4
16.8
0.3
9.6
3.1
10.8
-0.5
9.5
7.4
15.4
11.8
9.7
3.8
10.1
0.3
7.4
6.1
11.1
23.3
8.6
2.0
9.8
-0.9
8.4
7.7
10.4
19.7
9.3
<’ )
(’ )
(’ >
(’ )
O
n
<’ )
<’ )
1.3
10.3
-2.2
11.0
8.9
16.8
-8.6
9.1
'4.0
10.8
3.5
6.5
1.2
9.3
-2.4
8.0
' —11.0
'7.4
' -0.4
'20.7
-1.2
11.8
-1.0
13.2
1.1
12.3
-0.2
11.0
2.1
12.5
1.1
10.2
4.5
11.4
1.5
6.6
4.8
10.5
-0.2
5.5
' -0.7
9.8
0.2
'10.5
III 1981
to
IV 1981
1.3
9.5
1.6
8.1
13.7
9.8
-1.1
8.6
-3.8
9.8
10.2
9.9
4.7
11.9
0.5
6.9
17.1
10.0
3.5
10.4
3.2
6.6
5.3
6.2
-1.1
9.3
-2.3
10.6
10.1
10.4
'-6 .5
'5.5
'-2.1
'12.9
3.6
9.0
1.2
5.3
15.0
8.2
-0.2
9.8
-2.7
10.1
9.9
10.0
4.4
11.7
0.3
7.0
'20.2
11.0
1.4
9.6
2.5
8.1
3.0
6.5
6.7
10.2
2.2
6.2
3.2
14.7
30.3
7.9
0.0
9.4
-3.1
9.4
9.4
9.5
15.7
9.9
6.3
11.4
0.0
5.6
4.8
7.9
77.9
10.4
-0.1
12.7
r4.6
12.8
10.3
10.5
-2.2
0.1
3.8
11.6
-0.2
7.5
n
oo
\
O
1Not available.
IV 1979
to
IV 1980
II 1981
to
III 1981
o
Private business sector:
Output per hour of all persons ..................
Compensation per hour ...........................
Real compensation per hour......................
Unit labor costs ......................................
Unit nonlabor payments ...........................
Implicit price deflator ...............................
Nonfarm business sector:
Output per hour of all persons ..................
Compensation per hour ...........................
Real compensation per hour......................
Unit labor costs ......................................
Unit nonlabor payments ...........................
Implicit price deflator ...............................
Nonflnanclal corporations:
Output per hour of all employees ...............
Compensation per hour ...........................
Real compensation per hour......................
Total unit costs ......................................
Unit labor costs ...................................
Unit nonlabor costs...............................
Unit profits..............................................
Implicit price deflator ...............................
Manufacturing:
Output per hour of all persons ..................
Compensation per hour ...........................
Real compensation per hour......................
Unit labor costs......................................
III 1979
to
III 1980
1 1981
to
II 1981
III 1980
to
IV 1980
I
O
Item
IV 1980
to
I 1981
I11980
to
III 1980
n
n
n
r=revised.
105
LABOR-MANAGEMENT DATA
M a j o r c o l l e c t i v e b a r g a i n i n g d a t a are obtained from
contracts on file at the Bureau of Labor Statistics, direct
contact with the parties, and from secondary sources. Addi
tional detail is published in Current Wage Developments, a
monthly periodical of the Bureau. Data on work stoppages
are based on confidential responses to questionnaires mailed
by the Bureau of Labor Statistics to parties involved in work
stoppages. Stoppages initially come to the attention of the
Bureau from reports of Federal and State mediation agencies,
newspapers, and union and industry publications.
the agreement. Changes over the life of the agreement refer to total
agreed-upon settlements (exclusive of potential cost-of-living escalator
adjustments) expressed at an average annual rate. Wage-rate changes
are expressed as a percent of straight-time hourly earnings, while wage
and benefit changes are expressed as a percent of total compensation.
Effective wage-rate adjustments in major bargaining units measure
actual changes during the reference period, whether the result of a
newly negotiated increase, a deferred increase negotiated in an earlier
year, or a cost-of-living adjustment. Average adjustments are affected
by workers receiving no adjustment, as well as by those receiving in
creases or decreases.
Definitions
Work stoppages include all known strikes or lockouts involving six
workers or more and lasting a full shift or longer. Data cover all
workers idle one shift or more in establishments directly involved in a
stoppage. They do not measure the indirect or secondary effect on
other establishments whose employees are idle owing to material or
service shortages.
Data on wage changes apply to private nonfarm industry agree
ments covering 1,000 workers or more. Data on wage and benefit
changes c o m b in e d apply only to those agreements covering 5,000
workers or more. First-year wage settlements refer to pay changes go
ing into effect within the first 12 months after the effective date of
35.
Wage and benefit settlements in major collective bargaining units, 1976 to date
[In percent]
Quarterly average
Annual average
Measures and industry
1979
1977
1978
1979
1980
1980
1981 p
1981 p
IV
1
II
III
IV
I
II
III
IV
Wage and benefit settlements, all industries:
First-year settlements ...............................
Annual rate over life of contract..................
9.6
6.2
8.3
6.3
9.0
6.6
10.4
7.1
11.3
9.2
8.5
6.0
8.8
6.7
10.2
7.4
11.4
7.2
8.5
6.1
10.5
9.4
11.6
10.8
12.3
9.3
11.1
5.6
Wage rate settlements, all industries:
First-year settlements ...............................
Annual rate over life of contract..................
7.8
5.8
7.6
6.4
7.4
6.0
9.5
7.1
10.1
8.1
6.3
5.3
8.2
6.5
9.1
7.3
10.5
7.4
8.3
6.5
7.2
6.5
11.8
9.7
11,8
9.4
9.3
5.6
Manufacturing:
First-year settlements...........................
Annual rate over life of contract .............
8.4
5.5
8.3
6.6
6.9
5.4
7.4
5.4
7.3
6.3
5.6
4.2
7.2
5.7
6.7
5.1
8.4
5.6
7.8
5.8
6.7
6.0
8.1
6.6
9.4
7.9
6.0
5,0
Nonmanufacturing (excluding construction):
First-year settlements...........................
Annual rate over life of contract .............
8.0
5.9
8.0
6.5
7.6
6.2
9.5
6.6
10.2
7.5
7,8
7.4
9.4
7.6
10.3
8.5
9.5
5,9
8.2
6.8
7.9
7.2
11.7
9.0
10,3
8.6
9.8
5.5
Construction:
First-year settlements...........................
Annual rate over life of contract .............
6.3
6.3
6.5
6.2
8.8
8.3
13.6
11.5
13.5
11.3
7.5
7.6
10.8
9.1
12.2
10.4
15.4
13.0
14.3
12.0
11.4
10.3
12.9
11.1
16.4
12.4
11.4
11.7
r=revised.
Digitized 106
for FRASER
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
36.
Effective wage adjustments in major collective bargaining units, 1976 to date
[In percent]
Average annual changes
Average quarterly changes
Measures and industry
1979
1977
1978
1979
1980
1981 p
1981 P
1980
IV
1
II
III
IV
1
II
III
IV
Total effective wage rate adjustment, all industries .............
Change resulting from —
Current settlement............................................
Prior settlement................................................
Cost-of-living adjustment clause.........................
8.0
8.2
9.1
9.9
9.1
1.6
1.6
3.3
3.5
1.3
1.6
3.0
3.2
1.3
3.0
3.2
1.7
2.0
3.7
2.4
3.0
3.0
3.1
3.6
3.5
2.8
2.5
3.8
2.8
.5
.4
.7
.4
.5
.7
1.0
1.4
.8
1.7
1.2
.7
.5
.3
.6
.4
.6
.6
1.1
1.3
.7
6
1.5
1.1
.4
.4
.4
Manufacturing .......................................................
Nonmanufacturing .................................................
8.4
7.6
8.6
7.9
9.6
8.8
10.2
9.7
8.9
9.2
2.4
1.0
2.0
1.3
3.4
3.2
2.9
4.0
1.7
1.1
2.2
1.1
2.1
3.7
3.0
3.4
1.6
1.1
Note:
37.
Because of rounding and compounding, the sums of individual items may not equal totals.
r
= revised.
Work stoppages, 1947 to date
Number of stoppages
Month and year
Beginning in
month or year
In effect
during month
Workers involved
Beginning in
month or year
(thousands)
Days idle
In effect
during month
(thousands)
Number
(thousands)
Percent of
estimated
working time
1947
1948
1949
1950
.
.
.
.
3,693
3,419
3,606
4,843
2,170
1,960
3,030
2,410
34.600
34.100
50.500
38,800
,30
1951
1952
1953
1954
1955
.
.
.
.
.
4.737
5,117
5,091
3,468
4,320
2,220
3,540
2,400
1,530
2,650
22.900
59.100
28.300
22.600
28,200
.18
1956
1957
1958
1959
1960
.
.
.
.
.
3,825
3,673
3,694
3,708
3,333
1,900
1,390
2,060
1,880
1,320
33.100
16.500
23.900
69,000
19.100
1961
1962
1963
1964
1965
.
.
.
.
3,367
3,614
3,362
3,655
3,963
1,450
1230
941
1,640
1,550
16.300
18,600
16.100
22.900
23.300
1966
1967
1968
1969
1970
.
.
.
.
.
4,405
4,595
5,045
5,700
5,716
1,960
2,870
2,649
2,481
3,305
25,400
42,100
49,018
42,869
66,414
.15
.25
.28
.24
.37
1971
1972
1973
1974
1975
.
.
.
.
.
5,138
5,010
5,353
6,074
5,031
3,280
1,714
2,251
2,778
1,746
47,589
27,066
27,948
47,991
31,237
.26
.15
.14
.24
.16
1976 .
1977 .
1978 .
1979 ,
1980 .
1981 p
5,648
5,506
4,230
4,827
3,885
2,577
2,420
2,040
1,623
1,727
1,366
1 082
37,859
35,822
36,922
34,754
33,289
24,670
.19
.17
.17
.15
.14
1,228
942.4
769.9
1.697.5
4.884.5
5.307.6
3,521.1
2.472.6
1.704.3
1.479.3
1,207.9
395.2
287.6
.06
.05
.04
.08
.24
1980: December
1981p: January
February .
March ...
April.......
May.......
June
July.......
August .. .
September
October ..
November
December
N ote :
90
187
213
285
286
301
302
286
211
225
166
82
33
380
19
38 8
41 5
243.7
80 3
123.7
241 0
120.5
68.5
58.5
36 0
21.0
8.2
77
28
.44
.33
48
.22
.18
.22
.24
.12
.18
.50
.14
.11
.13
.11
.15
.15
.11
.28
.17
.12
.09
.08
.06
.02
.01
The preliminary data for 1981 have been revised.
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Name
Organization
(if applicable)
Street address
City, State,
ZIP
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
450 Golden Gate Ave.
Box 36017
San Francisco, Calif. 94102
U.S. Department of Labor
Bureau of Labor Statistics
Washington, D.C. 20212
Postage and Fees Paid
U.S. Department of Labor
Lab-441
Official Business
SECOND CLASS MAIL
Penalty for Private Use, $300
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https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
MLR LIBRA442L i SSÛUE012R
JJLMA&Y__________ _______ _______
FfcO RESERV l BANK OF ST LOUIS
PQ BOX *+h 2
SA1N1 LOUIS
MO
63166
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