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M O N TH S LABOR REVIEW
U.S. D e p a rtm e n t of L ab o r
B u re a u o f L a b o r S ta tis tic s
Ju ly 1984
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In th is is s u e :
The m ilitary
in the labor force
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Raymond J. Donovan, Secretary
Regional Commissioners
for Bureau of Labor Statistics
BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS
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M O N TH LY LA BO R R EVIEW
JU LY 1984
VO LU M E 107, NUM BER 7
Henry Low enstern, E ditor-in-C hief
Robert W. Fisher, E xecutive Editor
C a ro l B o yd Leon
3
W orking for Uncle Sam : a look at m em bers of the A rm ed Forces
The ‘career force' is grow ing rapidly, as alm ost half of new m em bers reenlist;
in 1982, the total labor force in clu d e d 1.7 m illion men and w om en in the m ilitary
Hal S id e r a n d C h e ryl C ole
10
The changing m akeup of the m ilitary and the effect on labor data
With the end of the draft and the b e g in n in g of an all-volunteer m ilitary force in 1973,
the racial com position of the services has c h a n g ed , co m p lic a tin g interpretation of data
E u g e n e H. B e c k e r
14
Self-em ployed w orkers: an update to 1983
The num ber of A m ericans w orking for them selves continues to rise, re aching 9.1 m illion
during 1983; they tend to be o ld e r than other w orkers, w ork lo nger hours and earn less
M ic h a e l P o d g u rs k y
19
Sources of secular increase in the u n em p loym ent rate, 1 9 6 9 -8 2
Progressively higher rates of joblessness su g g e st a strong structural co m p o n e n t
in today's unem ploym ent; tw o labor force c h a n g es are linked to the phenom enon
A .L. G u stm a n , T.L. S te in m e ie r
26
M odeling the retirem ent process for evaluation and research
A sizable m inority of men w ho retire continue to w ork part tim e, a lthough briefly;
a sm all num ber actually increase hours of w ork after retirem ent or sem i-retirem ent
REPO RTS
A n n e M c D o u g a ll Y o un g
34
F ew er s tu d e n ts in w o rk fo rc e as s c h o o l-a g e p o p u la tio n d e c lin e s
P eter C a p p e lli
37
A u to in d u stry e x p e rim e n ts w ith th e G u a ra n te e d In c o m e S tre am
F re d e ric L. P ryor
40
In ce n tive s in m a n u fa c tu rin g : th e c a rro t a nd the s tic k
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DEPARTMENTS
2
34
44
45
48
53
L a b o r m on th in re vie w
R e se arch su m m a rie s
M ajor a g re e m e n ts e x p irin g n ext m onth
D e v e lo p m e n ts in in d u stria l re la tio n s
B o ok review s
C u rre n t la b o r s ta tis tic s
Labor M onth
In Review
WORKING WOMEN. At the National
Conference on Women, the Economy,
and Public Policy in Washington, D.C.,
June 20, Commissioner of Labor
Statistics Janet L. Norwood discussed
some of the economic issues facing to
day’s working women, including the
female-male earnings gap. Some ex
cerpts from Norwood’s address:
Earnings gap. The Bureau of Labor
Statistics publishes two types of data
which can be useful in analyzing the ear
nings gap. The first set groups together
the earnings of all women and compares
them to the earnings of all men. These
data come from the Current Population
Survey (CPS), a sample of 60,000
households throughout the country,
w hich
p ro v id e s
c o n sid e ra b le
demographic detail. The second set of
data comes from the BLS occupational
wage survey programs. These data are
collected from samples of business
establishments, which provide detailed in
formation for selected occupations. Both
sets of data are important for analysis.
What do the latest data show? Accor
ding to the CPS, median earnings for
women who worked year round, full
time were $13,014 in 1982, or 62 percent
of the median for men.
A newer CPS series on the median
weekly earnings of full-time wage and
salary workers shows a similar earnings
ratio.
Can we tell exactly what accounts for
these pay differences? The answer is no.
Aggregate data at the national level real
ly cannot pinpoint precise reasons for
female-male pay differences in specific
firms or in specific cities or States. We
do know, however, that there are dif
ferences in the work history and educa
tion and skills that men and women bring
to the marketplace, as well as differences
in their occupational distribution. When
2
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we “ adjust” for some of the differences,
the female-male earnings gap is reduced
considerably—in some studies by close to
one-half.
The BLS establishment wage survey
data suggest a narrower female-male gap
than the aggregate earnings data do.
Data from our survey of professional,
administrative, technical, and clerical
occupations indicated that the average
pay for men in narrowly defined whitecollar occupational skill levels generally
exceeded the earnings of their female
counterparts, but the difference was
much smaller than that found in studies
using less detailed data. Moreover, in
many of these white-collar occupations,
women’s earnings were closer to men’s
w hen view ed w ithin in d iv id u a l
establishments.
Researchers who have carried out
wage gap studies often point to
discrimination as a further explanation
of earnings differences. Averages from
sample surveys do not give us enough of
the information needed to isolate and
quantify the amount of the earnings gap
due to discrimination.
Occupational differences. Of 503
separate, detailed job categories, 5 of
the top 10 occupations employing
women are in sales and clerical work:
secretaries, bookkeepers, cashiers,
salesworkers (except apparel), and
typists. An additional two are in the
female-intensive and relatively lowpaying professional jobs of registered
nurses and elementary school teachers.
Two more are the service occupations of
waitresses and nurses’ aides.
A number of employed women are
clearly moving into higher paying jobs.
But we must recognize that, in most
cases, the actual number engaged in
these occupations remains relatively
small.
Industry attachment. Where do
women work? Mostly, in industries at
the bottom of the pay scale. The BLS
monthly business payroll survey shows
that about two-thirds of all women on
nonfarm payrolls work in the service and
retail trade industries, and in State and
local governments. Only about 1 in 6
works in a goods-producing industry.
Hours of work; job tenure. Women
tend to work fewer hours and have less
seniority than men. Generally women
are 2-1/2 to 3 times more likely than men
to work part time, if we define part time
as less than 35 hours per week. And,
even as full-time workers, relatively
more women tend to be at the low end of
the full-time scale.
The amount of time spent with an
employer—seniority—is less for women
than men, at least partly because many
more women are newer labor force en
trants than men. But this situation is
changing. There is little or no difference
in the number of years young women
and men—under age 30—have spent
with their current employer. There is a
1-to 2-year difference at ages 30 to 39,
and then it jumps to 5 to 7 years’ dif
ference for 40- to 64-year olds.
Workers in families. We are expan
ding our data on workers in families, us
ing the monthly household survey.
Despite changes in living patterns, most
Americans continue to live in families,
and many families will continue to have
more than one worker. We are now
developing a quarterly report—to be
issued early next year—on the employ
ment and earnings situation in different
types of families.
Single copies of the commissioner’s ad
dress are available from the Bureau of
Labor Statistics, Division of Information
Services, Washington, D.C. 20212.□
Working for Uncle Sam— a look
at members of the Armed Forces
The ‘career force’ is growing rapidly,
as almost half o f recruits reenlist;
in 1982, the total labor force included
1 .7 million men and women assigned
to military duty in the United States
Carol Boyd L eon
Individuals seeking work may consider the military to be
an attractive alternative to a civilian job— especially for
those lacking employment experience, facing a tight labor
market, looking for a lifetime career, or having strong pa
triotic feelings. More than 2 million men and women are
in the Armed Forces. This article compares the demographic
and occupational characteristics of the 1.7 million stationed
in the United States with those of civilian workers.1
It is especially appropriate to examine data on military
personnel, because at the beginning of 1983. the Bureau of
Labor Statistics" began publishing an unemployment rate
which includes the resident Armed Forces in the labor force
count. Other statistical series including the resident Armed
Forces, such as labor force participation rates, the number
of employed, and employment-population ratios, also be
came available at that time. Calculations have been niade
for each of these series back to 1950.2
These statistical series were made available in accordance
with the recommendations of the National Commission on
Employment and Unemployment Statistics, which was es
tablished in 1978 to study the Nation’s labor force data
system with regard to its accuracy and relevance to current
conditions. The Commission determined that, with the change
to a volunteer system in 1973, military employment was
Carol Boyd Leon is an economist in the Division of Employment and
Unemployment Analysis, Office of Employment and Unemployment Sta
tistics, Bureau of Labor Statistics.
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not “ substantively different” from civilian employment and
thus concluded that military personnel should be counted in
national employment and labor force totals.2 Because the
civilian labor force includes only persons residing in the
United States, the Armed Forces count is similarly re
stricted.
Who are counted?
Monthly data on the Armed Forces are obtained by the
Bureau of the Census from the Department of Defense. The
Armed Forces count includes persons on active duty in either
the regular military or the reserve forces for an extended
period. More specifically, six groups are included in the
1982 count of 2.2 million: (1) total military personnel on
active duty; (2) Marine reserve forces on active duty train
ing for 6 months or longer; (3) Army reserve forces on
active duty training for 4 months or longer; (4) Air Force
reserve personnel on tours of duty lasting a minimum of 12
months; (5) National Guard personnel on initial active duty
training; and (6) Coast Guard personnel on active duty.
Demographic characteristics, which are gathered quarterly,
are applied to the monthly counts of the total Armed Forces.
The resident Armed Forces is a subgroup of the total
military and consists of military personnel stationed in any
of the 50 States. This includes about two-thirds of Army
personnel, 80 percent of the Navy and the Air Force, 85
percent of the Marines, and virtually all Coast Guard per
sonnel. Included in the count of Navy personnel are those
3
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW July 1984 • Working for Uncle Sam
on ships homeported in the United States.4
Trends in size and composition
In the post-World War II period, the total active-duty
Armed Forces ranged from a low of 1.4 million in 1948 to
3.6 million in 1952 and 3.5 million in 1968 and 1969.
Between 1969 and 1979, this number dropped to 2.1 mil
lion, before inching upward to 2.2 million in 1982. The
resident Armed Forces ranged from 1.2 million in 1950 at
the inception of the data series to 2.4 million in 1952 and
2.3 million in 1968. In 1979, the resident military fell to
slightly less than 1.6 million, edging up to 1.7 million in
1982. (See table 1.) While changes in the size of the two
Armed Forces counts are directly related, the impact of a
military buildup during periods of armed conflict is. of course,
greatest on the number stationed overseas and therefore has
a larger effect on the total Armed Forces.
Since 1973. monthly changes in the size of the services
have been fairly small— generally no more than 5.000 and
rarely more than 20,000. These increases and decreases have
virtually no effect on the unemployment rate. In fact, the
unemployment rate which includes the resident Armed Forces
in the labor force base runs just one or two-tenths of a
Tab le 1.
percentage point below the civilian-based rate, and even the
largest changes in the size of the military from month to
month have made only a one-tenth of a point difference in
the over-the-month movement of the overall unemployment
rate.
Service, gender, and minority status
The Army is the largest branch of the resident Armed
Forces with about 545.000 members, or 33 percent of the
resident military. The next largest is the Air Force's 460,000,
or 28 percent, closely followed by the Navy's 455,000, or
27 percent. About 11 percent of the resident Armed Forces
are in the Marine Corps, with 165,000 members, and the
Coast Guard, with 40,000, makes up 2 percent.''
The number of women in the resident military is relatively
small with a total of only about 140,000 in 1982. They were
outnumbered by men 11 to 1. However, military women
numbered less than 30.000 in 1962. and the ratio of maleto-female personnel declined from 70 to 1 in that year to
43 to 1 in 1972. Over the same period, the ratio among
civilian workers dropped from 2 to 1 to 1.3 to 1. With the
change to an all-volunteer force in 1973. women joined the
military at an increasing rate, reflecting stepped-up recruit-
M em bers of the A rm ed Forces by selected characteristics, 1 9 5 0 -8 2 annual averages
[Numbers in thousands]
Total Arm ed Forces
Y ear
N um ber
W om en
Total
P ercent of total
em ploym ent
Total
Percent of the
resid ent
A rm ed Forces
.....................................................................
.....................................................................
.....................................................................
.....................................................................
.....................................................................
.....................................................................
.....................................................................
.....................................................................
.....................................................................
.....................................................................
1.649
3.098
3.593
3.547
3.350
3.048
2.856
2.799
2.636
2.551
1.5
2.9
3.3
3.2
3.0
2.7
3.4
2.4
2.3
2.2
1.169
2.143
2.386
2.231
2.142
2.064
1.965
1.948
1.847
1.788
1.9
3.5
3.8
3.5
3.4
3.2
3.0
3.0
2.8
2.7
19
31
38
36
33
31
28
27
27
27
1.6
1.4
1.6
1.6
1.5
1.5
1.4
1.4
1.5
1.5
1960 .....................................................................
1961 .....................................................................
1962 .....................................................................
1963 .....................................................................
1964 .....................................................................
1965 .....................................................................
1966........................................................................
1967 .....................................................................
1968 .....................................................................
1969 .....................................................................
2.514
2.572
2.827
2.737
2.738
2.722
3.122
3.446
3.534
3.506
2.1
2.1
2.3
2.2
2.2
2.1
2.4
2.6
2.6
2.5
1.861
1.900
2.061
2.006
2.018
1.946
2,122
2,218
2.253
2,238
2.8
2.8
3.0
2.9
2.8
2.7
2.8
2.9
2.9
2.8
28
29
29
27
27
27
30
32
34
34
1.5
1.5
1.4
1.3
1.3
1.4
1.4
1.4
1.5
1.5
1970
1971
1972
1973
1974
1975
1976
1977
1978
1979
.....................................................................
.....................................................................
.....................................................................
.....................................................................
.....................................................................
.....................................................................
.....................................................................
.....................................................................
.....................................................................
.....................................................................
3.188
2.816
2.449
2.326
2.229
2.180
2,144
2.133
2.117
2,088
2.3
2.0
1.7
1.6
1.5
1.4
1.4
1.3
1.3
1.3
2.118
1.973
1,813
1,774
1,721
1,678
1,668
1,656
1,631
1,597
2.6
2.4
2.2
2.0
1.9
1.9
1.8
1.8
1.7
1.6
37
39
41
49
63
78
86
92
100
108
1.7
2.0
2.3
2.8
3.7
4.6
5.2
5.6
6.1
6.8
1980 .....................................................................
1981 .....................................................................
1982 .....................................................................
2.102
2,142
2,180
1.2
1.2
1.2
1,604
1,645
1,668
1.6
1.6
1.6
134
133
139
7.7
8.1
8.3
1950
1951
1952
1953
1954
1955
1956
1957
1958
1959
4
R esident A rm ed Forces
Percent of the
total
nonln stitutional
population
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ing efforts for both men and women, as well as women’s
growing participation in the labor force in general. How
ever, since 1979, there has been no growth in the civilian
labor force participation of women under 25, and women’s
entrance into the Armed Forces has slowed. Despite the
increasing number of women in the military, their repre
sentation in the Armed Forces still does not come anywhere
near their share of civilian employment. The following tab
ulation shows actual and projected numbers of enlisted women
during selected fiscal years:6
Numbers, in
thousands
Percent of all
enlisted members
1972 1982 1987
1972 1982 1987
Total ......................... 31.8
A rm y........................ 12.3
Navy .....................
5.7
Marine Corps ..........
2.1
Air Force ................. 11.7
163.2 188.1
64.3 70.1
37.0 45.6
7.9
9.1
54.1 63.4
1.6
1.8
1.1
2.1
2.0
9.0 9.6
9.6 10.1
7.7 8.7
4.5 5.0
11.3 11.5
It should be noted that each of the services still imposes
limits on the number of women. For example, the Army
had a limit of 70,000 in 1982.
The distribution of women by service is a bit different
than that of men. In 1982, almost 40 percent of enlisted
women were in the Army, 33 percent were in the Air Force,
23 percent were in the Navy, and just 5 percent were in the
Marine Corps. The tabulation above points out that enlisted
women are proportionately best represented in the Air Force,
while being outnumbered by male Marines 22 to 1. The
situation for women officers in 1982 was quite similar as
women comprised 9.2 percent of all officers, but made up
10.4 percent of Air Force officers and just 3.1 percent of
Marine officers. Because female officers as a percent of all
officers and enlisted women as a percent of total enlistees
are each about 9 percent, it can be assumed that women are
proportionately about as likely as men to be officers, al
though there are differences among the branches.
For both se^es combined, officers make up about 18
percent of the resident Armed Forces; the proportion ranges
from 11 percent of the Marine Corps to 24 percent of the
Air Force, where officer ranks are swelled by the larger
number of pilots and various support personnel.
Although most members of the resident Armed Forces
are white, blacks make up a large share, as the following
percentage distribution shows:
Total ..................................
Non-Hispanic
W hite.........................
Black .........................
Other .........................
Hispanic origin ............
Total
Men
Women
100.0
100.0
100.0
74.2
18.2
4.0
3.6
74.6
17.7
4.1
3.6
69.4
24.2
3.5
2.9
By comparison, more than 80 percent of civilian workers
in a comparable age range— 18 to 54— are non-Hispanic
whites,7 while less than 75 percent of the resident military
is in that category. The number of Hispanics, Asian-Americans, and other nonblack minorities in the military is rel
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
atively smaller than their number in the population. In contrast,
the proportion of black men in the Armed Forces is twice
that among civilian workers, and the ratio is even a bit
higher for black women. Before the late 1960’s, the rep
resentation of black men in the Armed Forces was dispro
portionately low when compared with their share of civilian
male employment. Noting the increasing percentage of blacks
in the military since the mid-1960’s, one analyst attributed
it to three factors: “ (1) a dramatic increase over time in
the proportion of blacks found eligible for military ser
vice; (2) particularly high unemployment rates that plagued
the young black population during the beginning of the
volunteer force; and (3) a lag in earning potential for young
blacks in the civilian work force.” 8
The civilian employment situation for black youth has
not improved since the start of the all-volunteer military—
in fact, the jobless rate for 18- and 19-year-olds rose from
about 28 percent in 1973 to nearly 48 percent in 1982-and
so the disproportionately high participation of blacks in the
military is still quite relevant. During economic downturns,
more blacks than whites enter the military from outside the
labor force rather than from the ranks of the unemployed.9
Many of the blacks outside the labor force had not sought
jobs in the civilian economy because of the poor employ
ment situation they faced. Thus, the continually high jobless
rates for young blacks directly contributed to their military
enlistments during recent years. Another factor contributing
to the growing proportion of blacks in the military was
shown in a recent study10 which found that blacks who
complete their first enlistment are more likely than other
racial groups to reenlist.
Youthfulness predominant
As expected, persons in the military tend to be younger
than civilian workers. Among both men and women in the
resident Armed Forces, only 1 or 2 percent are age 45 or
older; among civilian workers, more than 30 percent are in
this age group. The recent increase in the number of military
women helps account for their especially large concentration
in the younger age groups. Ninety-five percent are under
age 35. compared with less than half of civilian women
workers, and more than half of the military women are under
age 25. (See table 2.)
The relative youthfulness of members of the Armed Forces
indicates that a large number of men and women in the
resident military view their time in the military as a transition
between school and civilian jobs. However, half of these
men and two-fifths of the women are at least 25 years old
and thus are not in a first enlistment from high school. The
1980 National Longitudinal Survey found that men and women
with a high degree of satisfaction with their military jobs
are more likely to extend their term of service. While the
study notes that this may seem to be a trivial finding, “ it
suggests that the usual view of military service as a transitory
rather than a permanent career-oriented job may not be
5
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW July 1984 • Working for Uncle Sam
Tab le 2. M ilitary personnel and civilian em ploym ent by
age and sex, 1982
[Numbers in thousands]
M en
16
18
20
25
35
45
55
W om en
Total
Arm ed
Forces1
R esident
Arm ed
Forces1
C ivilian
em ploy
m en t2
Total
Arm ed
forces1
Resident
Arm ed
Forces1
C ivilian
em p lo y
m en t2
T o ta l...........
Percent . . .
1,908
100.0
1,536
100.0
56,271
100.0
189
100.0
143
100.0
43,256
100.0
to 17 years . . .
to 19 years . . .
to 24 years . . .
to 34 years . . .
to 44 years . . .
to 54 years . . .
years and
o v e r ...................
.5
11.4
38.4
33.3
14.5
1.9
.6
12.3
38.1
32.5
14.6
2.0
2.3
3.7
12.8
28.4
21.2
16.4
.3
11.2
48.0
36.3
3.7
.5
.4
12.3
46.5
36.3
3.9
.5
2.8
4.6
15.0
28.1
20.8
15.5
.1
.1
15.2
—
—
13.4
Age
1As of September 1982.
2Annual averages for 1982.
N ote:
Dashes indicate data round to less than 0.1 percent.
relevant for most youths.” 11
Another way to view the issue of temporary job versus
career is by examining reenlistment rates. Among first-term
members of the military, an increasing proportion— about
47 percent— chose to reenlist in 1982. In fact, since 1973,
the proportion has been rising among all military members,
reaching 68 percent in 1982.12 Another way to examine this
issue is in terms of the “ career force” — that is, the body
of enlisted personnel with more than 4 years of service. In
1982, the career force made up 46 percent of the total
enlisted strength, up from 33 percent in 1971 and 41 percent
in 1976.13
As previously mentioned, there are relatively few military
members above age 45. In part, this results from the eli
gibility for partial pensions beginning after 20 years of ser
vice when the retiree may be as young as age 38. In fact,
the retirement age of the average enlisted retiree is 42, and
the average retiring officer is 45. Moreover, persons over
35 are generally precluded from enlisting in the Armed
Forces, so that the young retirees cannot be replaced by
older civilian workers. Officers tend to be somewhat older
than enlisted personnel in that they usually join the military
later because of additional schooling and retire after serving
an average of 2 years longer than enlistees. Close to 8
percent of the officers are age 45 or older, compared with
only 1 percent of enlisted personnel. There is little difference
in the age distribution of all persons in the Armed Forces
compared with that of the resident military, except that the
latter includes a slightly larger proportion of 18- and 19year-olds, reflecting the fact that initial military training
takes place within the United States.
Family status
Times have changed since World War I when military
regulations required enlisted men and junior officers to be
unmarried. In 1982, a little more than half of the men in
the resident Armed Forces were married. Not surprisingly,
however, a higher proportion of civilian male workers were
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married— about three-fifths of those in the most comparable
ages (18 to 44). Among military women, about two-fifths
were married, compared with close to half of comparable
aged (18 to 34) women with civilian jobs. Part of the dif
ference is attributed to the fact that the majority of military
women were under 25, while the civilian workers were most
often over 25. In addition, the military traditionally has
served as a transitional period for many persons just out of
school and who do not yet have family obligations. Women,
in particular, typically join the Armed Forces before mar
riage and often do not reenlist once marriage and family
responsibilities make military life more difficult to adapt to.
However, women are more likely than men to complete
their initial term of service, and to reenlist at higher rates
when they reach the end of their first term. At later reen
listment periods, reenlistment rates for men exceed those
for women.14 About 45,000,15 or two-thirds of all married
military women, were married to military men.
According to data from the March 1982 supplement to
the Current Population Survey, there are nearly a half mil
lion married-couple families with children under age 18
whose fathers are in the Armed Forces. This represents
three-fourths of all military married-couple families (that is,
the husband is in the service and the wife is a civilian). On
average, civilian families are older than military families,
and are less apt to include children; in fact, only half have
children under age 18. In addition to the half million married
military men with children, there were about 12,000 military
fathers raising their children alone, and a number of military
mothers doing the same. When the husband was in the
Armed Forces, close to half of the families included pre
schoolers, compared with one-fourth of all civilian husband/
wife families; this again points to the relative youthfulness
of persons in the military.
Historically, military wives were less likely to work out
side the home than were civilian wives, as frequent moves,
limited job opportunities, extended separations from their
husbands, the longstanding custom of volunteer activities,
and young children were obstacles to paid employment.16
Nevertheless, the labor force participation of Armed Forces
wives has been rising rapidly since the early 1970’s, in
creasing by 25 percentage points in the past decade to nearly
52 percent in 1982. While this rate almost matched that for
civilian wives, the labor force participation of wives of
employed civilians was much higher— about 59 percent.
Wives of civilian workers tend to be younger than all civilian
wives, as their husbands generally are of preretirement age.17
(Data are not available from the Current Population Survey
on married-couple families where the wife is in the Armed
Forces, on military mothers raising their children alone, and
on the labor force participation of civilian husbands of mil
itary wives.)
Occupational comparisons
To liken military and civilian occupations could very well
resemble a comparison of apples and oranges. After all,
combat-related occupations do not usually exist for civil
ians. In reality, however, only a small— and shrinking—
proportion of the military performs combat and other spe
cific military duties. During World War I, about 40 of every
100 soldiers had direct combat-related jobs. By World War
II, the number had dropped to 30 of every 100, and during
the height of the Vietnam conflict fewer than 13 of every
100 had combat assignments.18 In 1982, only 9 of every
100 persons in the resident military were classified in the
infantry, gun crews, air crews, and seamanship specialist
category. Most other military personnel held jobs similar to
those of civilians, such as managers, clerks, musicians, and
nurses, although a small proportion provided support for
combat-related jobs.
The distribution of military occupations differs from that
of civilians as shown in table 3. Among enlisted men, craftworkers make up the largest category; about 42 percent of
these workers are mechanics and repairers, compared with
21 percent of civilian men age 18 to 54. Professional, tech
nical, and managerial workers and clerical and administra
tive workers each account for about 16 percent of enlisted
men. Among civilian men. professional, technical, and
managerial workers account for more than 30 percent of the
employed and clerical, administrative, and sales an addi
tional 12 percent. The remaining enlisted men have service,
operative, and laborer jobs (10 percent) or general military
duties (16 percent). Male officers, as might be expected,
are found primarily in professional, technical, and mana
gerial jobs. A large group— about 40 percent— are in such
tactical categories as pilots and artillery officers.
Among women, a different picture emerges in that en
listed women tend to perform duties other than those as
signed to their male counterparts. (It should be noted that
women are excluded from various combat occupations by
Tab le 3. R esident m ilitary personnel and civilian
e m p lo ym en t by occupation, sex, and age, 1982
[Percent distribution]
M en
W om en
Occupation
Enlisted
Arm ed
Forces1
C ivilian
em p lo y
ment?
Enlisted
Arm ed
Forces1
C iviliam
em ploy
ment?
Total e m ployed..............
Professional, technical, and
managerial workers ..............
Clerical and administrative
w o rk e rs ....................................
Sales workers ...........................
Craft and kindred workers . . .
Mechanics and repairers . . .
Other cra ftw o rke rs................
Service workers, operatives,
and la b o re rs ...........................
Farm workers ...........................
General military w o rk e rs ...........
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
16.1
31.5
29.9
26.4
15.6
6.4
6.1
21.0
6.2
14.8
41.2
35.2
6.4
2.1
.2
1.9
31.7
3.3
11.0
—
15.9
—
—
42.3
37.1
5.2
10.1
—
17.1
14.9
2.2
—
1As of September 1982; data exclude officers.
2Annual averages for 1982; data relate to persons age 18 to 54.
Note:
Dashes indicate data round to less than 0.1 percent.
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9
28.9
1.0
—
law.) Occupations of enlisted and civilian women are some
what similar. The largest proportion of both groups (41
percent of military women and 35 percent of civilians) are
in clerical and administrative fields. About 30 percent of
enlisted women and one-fourth of their civilian counterparts
have professional, technical, or managerial positions. But
where close to 17 percent of the military women are craftworkers (such as aircraft and auto mechanics and electronic
equipment repairers), only 2 percent of the nonmilitary women
are so employed. Work in the service, operative, and laborer
categories is much more common among civilian women
(29 percent) than among their enlisted counterparts. General
military duties are performed by less than 1 percent of the
enlisted women. The jobs of female officers, like those of
male officers, are concentrated in professional, technical,
and managerial fields. Almost half are medical officers,
including nurses, doctors, pharmacists, and other health
professionals.
Educational attainment
Education is an important consideration of the military.
For example, the educational attainment of recruits is used
as an enlistment standard. The military also sets goals re
garding the enlistment of both high school graduates and
those who score in the upper half of the Armed Services
Vocational Aptitude Battery Test, in part, because military
personnel who hold high school diplomas tend to have lower
attrition rates and fewer disciplinary problems.19 Schooling
is also used as an enlistment incentive, as new members of
the Armed Forces receive skill training and later may attend
more specialized classes. Of course, many veterans and
active duty personnel have also taken advantage of high
school and college courses.20
How similar or dissimilar are the educational backgrounds
of persons in the resident military and those of employed
civilians? Among teenagers (age 18 and 19), those in the
military are much more likely to be high school graduates
than are their civilian counterparts. (See table 4.) Only 15
percent of the 18- and 19-year-old men and 3 percent of
women in the military do not have a high school diploma.
In the next age group, however, the opposite generally is
true— that is, the educational attainment of civilian workers
surpasses that of members of the Armed Forces among the
20- to 24-year-olds, as fewer military personnel than civil
ians in that age category have attended college. Some of
the 20- to 24-year-old civilian workers, of course, were both
working and attending college or had recently graduated.
Military personnel, age 25 to 34, were old enough to have
attended college before enlisting, or to have attended while
in the military, and more than a fifth of these men and a
fourth of these women had attended at least 4 years of
college. Many view the military as a career, rather than as
a transitional phase between high school and civilian em
ployment. The proportion of college graduates among the
25- to 34-year-old civilian men is slightly higher than that
7
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW July 1984 • Working for Uncle Sam
T ab le 4.
Educational attainm ent of resident m ilitary personnel and civilian em p lo ym en t by sex and age, 1982
[Percent distribution]
E ducational atta in m e n t and sex
Total
16 to 17
years
18 to 19
years
20 to 24
years
25 to 34
years
35 to 44
years
45 years
and over
100.0
14.6
84.9
.6
100.0
10.4
79.8
5.6
4.3
100.0
3.7
59.2
15.4
21.7
100.0
2.4
43.9
20.1
33.6
100.0
2.1
24.5
17.9
55.6
100.0
15.0
49.2
25.8
10.0
100.0
11.3
37.9
21.9
28.9
100.0
17.6
35.6
17.6
29.2
100.0
29.6
34.1
13.4
23.0
100.0
1.0
81.9
10.3
6.8
100.0
.4
53.4
18.7
27.5
100.0
.2
26.3
21.3
52.2
100.0
.1
9.0
18.0
72.9
100.0
8.5
48.5
30.0
13.0
100.0
8.7
41.6
23.2
26.5
100.0
15.3
46.4
18.2
20.2
100.0
25.0
47.3
14.2
13.9
MEN
Resident Armed Forces1 ...........................
High school: Less than 4 years . . .
4 years o n ly .................
College: Less than 4 years ..............
4 years or more ................
100.0
7.5
67.3
10.4
14.7
100.0
30.2
69.7
.1
Civilian employment2 .................................
High school: Less than 4 years . . .
4 years o n ly ................
College: Less than 4 years ..............
4 years or more ................
100.0
21.6
37.5
17.9
23.0
100.0
97.2
2.5
.3
Resident Armed Forces1
High school: Less than 4 years . . .
4 years o n ly ................
College: Less than 4 years ..............
4 years or more ................
100.0
1.0
70.8
12.6
15.5
100.0
5.7
94.2
.2
Civilian employment2 .................................
High school: Less than 4 years . . .
4 years or more . . . .
College: Less than 4 years ..............
4 years or more ................
100.0
17.9
45.0
19.5
17.6
100.0
95.0
5.0
—
—
—
100.0
37.2
54.1
8.8
—
WOMEN
—
—
—
100.0
2.9
95.6
1.4
—
100.0
27.5
58.9
13.5
.1
1As of September 1982
2As of March 1982.
N ote :
Dashes indicate data round to less than 0.1 percent.
of military men, but women in and out of the military are
about equally likely to have completed college. Only very
small numbers of military men and almost no military women
are high school dropouts, while substantial proportions of
employed civilians do not have a high school diploma, and
these proportions rise with age (to 30 percent for men and
25 percent for women 45 years and over). Among military
personnel in this age group, more than half of the men and
nearly three-fourths of the women have college degrees; it
can be assumed that most are officers. In fact, 97 percent
of the commissioned officers of all ages are graduates, com
pared to 2 percent of enlisted personnel.21
Compensation
The military has an unusual pay structure in that it is a
combination of cash earnings and allowances, plus various
in-kind allowances and benefits. The total compensation
received, unlike that of civilian workers, is partially deter
mined by marital and family status and is based on rank
and years in service, rather than on occupation and seniority.
Any attempt to compare military and civilian pay is fraught
with problems.
Regular military compensation is a combination of basic
pay, quarters allowance, variable or station housing allow
ance, subsistence allowance, and the tax advantages asso
ciated with these tax-free allowances.22 In addition to regular
military compensation, special pay and allowances are pro
vided for hazardous, sea, or foreign duty, special skills, to
maintain uniforms, and the maintenance of two households
during periods of separation. Fringe benefits include a non
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contributory retirement plan which starts to pay after a min
imum of 20 years of service at 50 percent of base pay, and
rises to 75 percent with 30 years; medical coverage for
military personnel and their families; discounted prices for
the purchase of food, clothing, and housewares at post ex
changes and commissaries; and coverage under the social
security system.
Monthly basic pay for fiscal 1982 ranged from $573 to
$2,215 for enlisted personnel and from $1,099 to $5,317
for commissioned officers, depending on rank and years of
service. Basic allowances relate to rank and dependent fam
ily members or marital status. About half of the military
personnel live in government quarters while a smaller pro
portion receives subsistence in kind.22 But enlisted person
nel without family members who received cash allowances
for quarters were given from $123 to $272; allowances for
commissioned officers ranged from $224 to $509. Military
personnel with families received from $214 to $383 if en
listed and $291 to $636 if commissioned. The variable hous
ing allowance is granted to those persons stationed in highcost areas. Allowances for subsistence are less complicated;
enlisted members received about $142 and officers received
$98. Finally, the value of the income tax advantage varies
with each person’s own family and income situation.
An example is a male member of the Armed Forces with
a civilian spouse and one child who live together off base.
If in 1982 he had been in the Army for 8 years and was an
E-6 staff sergeant, he earned $1,103 per month in basic
pay. His allowance for subsistence was $4.68 per day or
$140 per month. His allowance for quarters was $303. His
monthly tax advantage was estimated at $110. The total
annual Basic Military Compensation— the sum of these four
items— was about $19,900. If the family lives in a highcost area, the Variable Housing Allowance of, say $188 per
month (in Washington, D.C.) brought the annual salary—
now called Regular Military Compensation— to about
$ 22 , 100.
In summary , available data indicate that the military is an
attractive alternative to many jobseekers— including some
without work experience, some who desire occupational
training, some who have strong feelings of patriotism, and
some who are looking for a lifetime career. Persons in the
Armed Forces tend to be younger than civilian workers and
include relatively more blacks but fewer women. About half
the men and two-fifths of the women are married. Combat
jobs are not prevalent— fewer than 9 of every 100 persons
in the resident military hold them— and crafts predominate
among enlisted men, while enlisted women are more likely
to hold clerical and administrative positions. Officers gen
erally can be classified as professional, technical, and man
agerial workers. The 1.7 million members of the resident
Armed Forces are, indeed, an important part of the U.S.
economy.
FOOTNOTES
A c k n o w l e d g m e n t : The author wishes to thank Ken Scheflen and his
staff at the Defense Manpower Data Center, Arlington, Va., for providing
data on the resident Armed Forces.
'Because 1982 data on the Armed Forces were tabulated specifically
for this article by the Department of Defense, civilian data obtained from
the Current Population Survey also refer to 1982. The Current Population
Survey ( c p s ) is a sample survey of about 60,000 households conducted
monthly by the Bureau of the Census for the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
2It should be noted that those series exist only for three groups: men
age 16 and over, women age 16 and over, and both sexes combined.
3See C o u n tin g th e L a b o r F o r c e (Washington, National Commission on
Employment and Unemployment Statistics, Labor Day 1979), pp. 49-51.
4These are ships whose homeport is in the United States and are not
deployed to the Mediterranean, the Mideast, the Far East, or the Indian
Ocean. The actual location of all Navy ships is reported annually to the
Bureau of the Census and the ratio of persons on ships deployed to the
above locations to the total number afloat is applied to the monthly count
of Navy personnel on ships.
Department of Defense data provided for this article include all Navy
personnel on ships—bringing the resident forces to 95 percent of the
Navy—and this helps account for the fact that the total resident military
count in the tables shown in this article is slightly higher (less than 1
percent) than the total generally used by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
In addition, the detailed data shown for the Armed Forces refer to Sep
tember 1982 (the end of fiscal 1982) unless otherwise noted, while the
civilian data used for comparison purposes generally are 1982 annual
averages.
5These data are those used by the Census Bureau to calculate the size
of the resident Armed Forces for the c p s . Department of Defense data
provided specifically for this article and used throughout most of the re
maining text show a 31-percent share for the resident Army. 31 percent
for the Navy, 27 percent for the Air Force, and 11 percent for the Marine
Corps.
6This tabulation, showing enlisted women in the total Armed Forces,
is from the M ilita r y M a n p o w e r T a sk F o r c e , A R e p o r t to th e P r e s id e n t on
th e S ta tu s a n d P r o s p e c ts o f th e A ll-V o lu n te e r F o r c e . Rev. ed. (Washington,
1982), pp. 11-18.
7 It is not possible to directly count the number of non-Hispanic whites
from the CPS, because in that survey race and ethnic origin are determined
independently. There is evidence that most Hispanics are classified as
white. In order to compare data for military and civilian workers, Hispanic
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civilian employment was subtracted from white civilian employment (in
both instances for persons age 18-54) to arrive at a civilian employment
level for non-Hispanic whites. However, because a small number of His
panics are black or other nonwhite races, the actual proportion of nonHispanic whites is slightly higher than that shown.
8Richard V. L. Cooper, M ilita r y M a n p o w e r a n d th e A ll-V o lu n tee r F o rc e s
(Santa Monica, Calif., The Rand Corp., 1977), p. 210.
9See Charles Dale and Curtis L. Gilroy, “The Effects of the Business
Cycle on the Size and Composition of the U.S. Army,” A tla n tic E c o n o m ic
J o u r n a l , March 1983, p. 45.
l0Choongsoo Kim, Y ou th a n d th e M ilita r y S e r v ic e s : 1 9 8 0 N a tio n a l L o n
g itu d in a l S u r v e y S tu d ie s o f E n lis tm e n t, I n te n tio n s to S e r v e , R e e n lis tm e n t
a n d L a b o r M a r k e t E x p e r ie n c e o f V e te r a n s a n d A ttr ite r s (Columbus, Ohio
State University, Center for Human Resource Research, 1982), p. 81.
"Kim, Y ou th a n d th e M ilita r y S e r v ic e s , p. 88.
12Department of Defense, S e le c te d M a n p o w e r S ta tis tic s , F is c a l Y e a r
1 9 8 2 (Washington, 1983), tables 2-25 and 2-26.
13M ilita r y M a n p o w e r T a s k F o r c e , p. Ill—
9
14I b id ., p. 11-18.
15I b i d ., p. 11-18.
l6Allyson Sherman Grossman, “The employment situation for military
wives,” M o n th ly L a b o r R e v ie w , February 1981, pp. 60-62.
17These data are from the March 1982 supplement to the Current Pop
ulation Survey.
18Sar A. Levitan and Karen C. Alderman, W a r r io r s A t W o rk (Beverly
Hills, Calif., Sage Publications, Inc., 1977), p. 141.
l9Levitan and Alderman, W a r r io r s A t W o rk , pp. 23-25.
20Through September 1982, a total of 7.9 million veterans received
financial educational assistance under the post-Korean GI Bill; 4.8 million
of these attended college. During fiscal year 1982, more than three-quarters
of a million veterans received financial assistance to attend college, and
more than 200,000 participated in other educational and training programs.
See V e te r a n s ’ B e n e fits U n d e r C u r r e n t E d u c a tio n P r o g r a m s , F is c a l Y e a r
1 9 8 2 (Veterans Administration, 1983), RSM70-83-1, pp. 12 and 18.
21Department of Defense, S e le c te d M a n p o w e r S ta tis tic s , F is c a l Y e a r
1 9 8 2 , table 2-5.
22Public Law 96-579, Dec. 23, 1980.
23Martin Binkin and Irene Kyriakopoulos, P a y in g th e M o d e r n M ilita r y
(Washington, The Brookings Institution 1981), p. 15.
9
The changing composition of the military
and the effect on labor force data
With the end o f the draft and the beginning
o f an all-volunteer military force in 1973,
the racial composition o f the services
has changed significantly and complicates
interpretation o f labor force data based on
the civilian population alone
Hal Sider
and
Cheryl Cole
January 1983 marked the 10th anniversary of the all-vol
unteer Armed Forces; since the end of the draft, important
changes in the size and demographic composition of the
military have occurred. These changes have implications
for the analysis of labor force statistics, which have tradi
tionally focused on civilians. Recognizing that this distinc
tion is increasingly archaic in the context of an armed force
that competes in the job market for its work force, beginning
in January 1983, the Bureau of Labor Statistics began to
count domestic military personnel as employed members of
the aggregate labor force.1 The data cited in this article
incorporate the total (foreign and domestic) military pop
ulation. Roughly 80 percent of military personnel are sta
tioned in the United States.
This article examines some of the changes that have oc
curred in the military as a result of the advent of the all
volunteer Armed Forces. Trends in labor force data which
include individuals in the military are compared with tra
ditional statistics that measure the civilian labor market.
Demographic changes in the composition of the military
in recent years affect the analysis of labor force trends based
on the civilian population alone. The effect is greatest for
males, ages 16 to 24, a group that makes up roughly 50
percent of the Armed Forces. As measured by civilian emHal Sider and Cheryl Cole are economists in the Office of Policy, U.S.
Department of Labor.
10
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ployment-to-population ratios and unemployment rates, the
labor market experience of nonwhites has worsened con
siderably relative to that of whites in recent years. The
analysis indicates, however, that roughly 30 percent of the
relative decline can be attributed to changes in the demo
graphic composition of the military alone.
Changes in the military since 1972
Size. When the shift to an all-volunteer force2 was com
pleted in January 1973, the military was in the midst of
significant changes. By January 27, 1973, the last U.S.
combat troops were withdrawn from Vietnam and the size
of the Armed Forces was already declining rapidly. The
military population reached post-World War II peaks in
1968 and 1969 when there were more than 3.5 million active
duty personnel. By January 1973, the total size of the mil
itary was 2.3 million. As the following tabulation shows,
draftees made up a declining share of recruits in the years
prior to 1973:
Y ear
1968
1969
1970
1971
1972
1973
P ercen t
................
................
................
................
................
................
..........
...........
..........
..........
...........
..........
41
33
33
29
7
8
1974-82 ......... ...........
0
In 1968, there were 340,000 draftees and fewer than 40,000
in 1972, according to the U.S. Department of Defense’s
Office of Accession Policy.
Between 1973 and 1980, the size of the military fell 10
percent to 2.1 million but then increased slightly to 2.2
million in 1982. The distribution of the military population
among the various services has been relatively steady since
1973. In 1982, the Army made up roughly 36 percent of
personnel on active duty; the Navy, 26 percent; the Air
Force, 27 percent; the Marines, 9 percent; and the Coast
Guard (now administered by the Department of Transpor
tation), 2 percent.3
Race. The change in the racial composition of the military
is perhaps the most often cited result of the all-volunteer
force. In fact, since 1973 this change has been quite dra
matic. The proportion of the military (in percent) made up
by nonwhites roughly doubled between 1972 and 1982 and
tripled between 1963 and 1982. The proportion of the pop
ulation made up by nonwhites increased from 10 to 13
percent over the period. The following tabulation shows the
percentage of males of all ages in the Armed Forces and in
the population as a whole.
Armed Forces
Total
population
7.8
12.3
23.2
10.1
Year
1963 .......................
1972 .......................
1982 .......................
10.9
12.9
As late as 1970, nonwhites were actually less than pro
portionately represented in the military. Currently, the pro
portion of the military made up of nonwhites is at a high
(23 percent) and is roughly double the nonwhite share of
the total population. Following the formation of the vol
unteer force, the proportion of nonwhite officers has grown
from 3 percent in 1972 to 8 percent in 1981.4 Roughly 85
percent of nonwhites in the military are black. This figure
has remained fairly constant during the 1970’s.5
Sex. The proportion of the military made up by women is
low compared with civilian employment. However, the
number of women on active duty has grown very rapidly
in recent years, increasing more than fourfold in the last
decade. In 1972, slightly more than 43,000 women were in
the Armed Forces, making up less than 2 percent of the
total personnel. In 1982, 190,000 women were in the mil
itary, accounting for about 9 percent of the total. In com
parison, women made up 36 percent of all civilian employment
in 1972 and roughly 40 percent in 1982. In 1982, women
made up 9 percent of the Army; 8 percent of the Navy; 11
percent of the Air Force; and 4 percent of the Marines.
Trends in the racial composition of female personnel are
similar to those among males. In 1982, 29 percent of the
women were nonwhite, compared with 12 percent in 1972.
Age. Changes in the age composition of the Armed Forces
have also occurred during the same period, but they have
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been less dramatic than those in the race and sex classifi
cations. In the early 1960’s, before large-scale American
participation in Vietnam, teenagers made up roughly 18
percent of the Armed Forces. At the height of the Vietnam
conflict, 1969-71, the proportion of teenagers fell to 12
percent. The proportion of teenagers again approached preVietnam War levels in the mid-1970’s after implementation
of the all-volunteer force. However, this proportion has
fallen steadily in recent years, reflecting increased efforts
by the Armed Forces to attract and retain older and more
highly educated recruits. The following tabulation shows
the age distribution (in percent) of the male Armed Forces
population for selected years:
16 to 19
1963 ................................
1969 ................................
1973
1982 ................................
18.4.
11.9
16.5
12.7
20 to 24
35.4
52.1
41.4
38.6
25 and over
46.2
36.0
42.1
48.7
Trends in the “ quality” of recruits are observed in data
on the proportion of recruits having at least a high school
diploma. The proportion fell from 67 percent in 1972 to 61
percent in 1974 but increased to more than 86 percent in
1982. In contrast, 74 percent of the total youth population
ages 18 to 23 were high school graduates in 1982.6
Labor force trends
This section incorporates data on the Armed Forces pop
ulation into the analysis of labor market trends. The focus
of the analysis is on males ages 16 to 24. In recent years,
there has been a marked divergence in the civilian employment-to-population ratios and unemployment rates of whites
and nonwhites in this age group. Table 1 shows that civilian
employment-to-population ratios have fallen and unem
ployment rates have risen rather dramatically for nonwhites
in recent years. Measures of labor market performance were
fairly stable for whites, at least until the onset of the 198182 recession. There are no generally accepted explanations
for the causes of the racial divergence in labor market per
formance.7
Tab le 1. C ivilian em p lo ym en t-to -p o p u latio n ratios and the
u n em p lo ym en t rate fo r m ales, ages 16 to 24, selected
years, 1 9 6 3 -8 2
Year
E m ploym ent-topopulation ratio
U nem p lo ym en t rate
W hite
N onw hite
W hite
N onw hite
1963 ............................
1970 ............................
61.5
63.0
55.5
53.3
11.0
10.2
20.1
17.4
1973
1974
1975
1976
1977
1978
1979
............................
............................
............................
............................
............................
............................
............................
67.8
67.7
63.1
65.0
67.5
69.5
69.6
52.4
50.3
43.9
44.6
44.6
46.4
48.6
8.8
10.1
15.1
13.4
11.5
9.9
9.9
17.9
21.5
27.2
25.7
26.8
25.0
22.0
1980 ............................
1981 ............................
1982 ............................
66.7
65.7
62.3
45.5
42.8
39.6
13.0
13.8
16.9
26.2
28.7
33.9
11
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW July 1984 • Effect o f Military on Labor Force Data
The addition of the military population to data on the
civilian labor force necessarily increases employment-topopulation ratios and decreases “ civilians only” unem
ployment rates.8 The extent of the adjustment for different
demographic groups, however, is larger or smaller depend
ing on the proportion of the group’s population in the mil
itary. Data on the female labor force, for example, are only
negligibly affected due to the small number of women in
the military.
1 6 to 1 9
Tab le 2. C om p arison of civilian and total labor force
s ta tis tic s 1 fo r m ales, selected years, 1 9 6 3 -8 2
Y ear
[In percent]
M e a s u re and
y ear
W hite
N onw hite
Total
C ivilian
D iffe re n c e 2
Total
C ivilian
D ifference
49.5
52.3
44.7
49.6
4.8
2.7
40.7
38.0
37.4
35.5
3.3
2.4
.........................
........................
.........................
.........................
.........................
.........................
.........................
56.4
56.3
52.7
53.5
56.1
57.7
57.0
54.3
54.4
50.6
51.5
54.4
56.3
55.7
2.0
1.9
2.1
1.9
1.7
1.5
1.3
37.2
35.9
31.5
30.5
30.8
33.2
33.6
33.9
32.4
27.8
27.4
27.7
30.0
30.2
3.3
3.5
3.7
3.1
3.2
3.2
3.3
1980 .........................
1981 .........................
1982 .........................
54.8
52.8
48.5
53.4
51.3
47.0
1.4
1.5
1.6
32.0
29.4
25.7
28.5
26.1
22.7
3.5
3.4
3.0
Ages 20 to 24:
1963 .........................
1970 .........................
82.4
81.5
79.1
76.8
3.4
4.7
77.4
77.1
74.8
72.9
2.7
4.2
.........................
.........................
.........................
.........................
.........................
.........................
.........................
82.2
81.6
76.3
78.5
80.2
81.9
82.3
80.2
79.8
74.3
76.9
76.7
80.6
81.1
2.0
1.8
2.0
1.6
1.4
1.2
1.2
73.9
72.2
64.6
66.0
65 0
66.1
69.5
70.9
68.8
60.3
62.0
61.0
62.0
65.7
3.0
3.4
4.3
4.0
4.1
4.1
3.8
1980 .........................
1981 .........................
1982 .........................
78.9
78.3
75.5
77.5
77.0
73.9
1.3
1.4
1.6
65.5
62.9
59.8
61.0
58.0
54.4
4.5
4.9
5.3
13.5
12.4
15.9
13.7
2.4
1.3
24.7
23.0
27.3
24.9
2.7
1.9
.........................
.........................
.........................
.........................
.........................
.........................
.........................
11.4
12.7
17.1
16.2
14.1
12.8
13.3
12.3
13.5
18.3
17.3
15.0
13.5
14.0
9
.9
1.2
1.1
.9
.7
.6
24.1
28.2
31.2
31.9
33.3
30.8
28.2
26.0
31.4
35.1
35.6
36.7
34.1
31.4
2.7
3.2
3.9
3.3
3.4
3.3
3.2
1980 .........................
1981 .........................
1982 .........................
15.4
17.0
20.7
16.2
17.9
21.7
.7
9
1.0
30.7
33.8
40.1
34.3
37.6
44.0
3.6
3.8
4.0
Ages 20 to 24:
1963 .........................
1970 .........................
6.4
6.0
7.8
7.8
1.4
1.8
13.7
10.4
15.6
12.6
1.8
2.3
.........................
.........................
.........................
.........................
.........................
.........................
.........................
5.8
7.0
12.0
10.0
8.6
7.1
6.9
6.6
7.8
13.1
10.9
9.3
7.7
7.5
.8
.8
1.2
.9
.7
.6
.5
11.3
13.6
19.6
17.9
18.7
17.3
14.8
12.9
15.6
22.7
20.6
21.4
20.0
17.2
1.6
2.0
3.1
4.8
2.8
2.7
2.3
1980 .........................
1981 .........................
1982 .........................
10.3
10.7
13.3
11.1
11.6
14.3
.8
.9
1.0
18.9
20.7
25.0
22.1
24.3
29.2
3.1
3.6
4.3
E m p lo ym en t-to p o pulation ratio
Ages 16 to 19:
1963 .........................
1970 .........................
1973
1974
1975
1976
1977
1978
1979
1973
1974
1975
1976
1977
1978
1979
U n em p lo ym en t rate
Ages 16 to 19:
1963 .........................
1970 .........................
1973
1974
1975
1976
1977
1978
1979
1973
1974
1975
1976
1977
1978
1979
'Total includes civilian and Armed Forces.
lu m b e r s may not add to totals because of rounding.
12
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The starting point for the analysis is the construction of
the ratio of the Armed Forces population to total population
for various demographic groups. The data reveal a long
term trend toward a reduced role for the military in the life
of young adults, particularly for whites. This is, of course,
due to a larger population (the entry of the baby-boom cohort
into the labor force) as well as changes in the military. The
tabulation below shows the male military population to total
population (in percent) by age and race, for selected years:
W h ite
1963 ................................
8.7
4.2
1972 ...............................
1974
4.2
1982 ............................. 2.9
N o n w h ite
5.2
3.8
5.1
3.9
2 0 to 2 4
W h ite
16.0
12.1
8.7
6.2
N o n w h ite
10.6
11.1
10.9
11.7
Before the all-volunteer force, enlistment-to-population
ratios were uniformly higher for whites than nonwhites.
Since that time, however, enlistment ratios have been uni
formly higher among nonwhites. The phasing out of the
draft has resulted in a decrease in the proportion of white
males ages 20 to 24 in the military, as well as in the pro
portion of white teenagers.
Table 2 presents total (including Armed Forces) and ci
vilian labor force data for male teenagers and young adults.
For whites, the difference between total and civilian labor
force statistics is greatest in the years before the formation
of the volunteer Armed Forces because whites were more
than proportionally represented in the Armed Forces at that
time. As enlistment-to-population ratios fell for whites, the
wedge between civilian and total labor force statistics nar
rowed. Thus, the declines in white civilian employment-topopulation ratios are smaller than the decline in the
employment-to-population ratio for the total population. In
fact, for white teenagers, an increase of 2.3 points in the
civilian employment-to-population ratio between 1963 and
1982 was more than offset by declines in military enlistment.
The total employment-to-population ratio for white teen
agers fell by 1 percentage point over the period. Similarly,
increases in civilian unemployment rates for whites over the
past 20 years are smaller than the increase observed in total
unemployment data.
The data for nonwhites reveal the opposite pattern. The
wedge between total and civilian labor force statistics is
greater in the postdraft era, as blacks came to account for
a growing share of the Armed Forces population. As such,
the decline in the nonwhite civilian employment-to-popu
lation ratio is greater than the decline in the employmentto-population ratio for the total population. Similarly, the
increases in nonwhite civilian unemployment rates exceed
changes in unemployment for the total labor force.
Thus, examination of data on the civilian labor force alone
is insufficient in determining the relative labor market ex
perience of white and non white youth. More specifically,
the racial gap in the civilian employment-to-population ratio
T ab le 3.
R acial differences in the civilian and total labor force, 1 9 6 3 -8 2
M eas u re and y ear
Total
Civilian
M eas u re and y ear
E m p lo ym en t-to -p o p u latio n ra tio 1
C ivilian
U nem p lo ym en t ra te 2
Ages 16 to 19:
1963 . .
8.8
1973
1974
1975
1976
1977
1978
1979
19.2
20.4
21.2
23.0
25.3
24.5
23.4
1980
1981
1982
7.2
Ages 16 to 19:
1963 . .
11.2
11.4
20.4
22.0
22.8
24.1
26.7
26.3
25.5
1973
1974
1975
1976
1977
1978
1979
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
12.7
15.5
14.1
15.7
19.2
18.0
14.9
14.5
17.9
16.8
18.3
21.7
20.6
17.4
22.8
23.4
22.9
24.9
25.2
24.3
1980
1981
1982
..
..
..
15.3
16.8
19.4
18.1
19.7
22.3
Ages 20 to 24:
1963 . .
5.0
4.3
Ages 20 to 24:
1963 . .
7.4
7.8
1973
1974
1975
1976
1977
1978
1979
8.3
9.4
11.7
12.5
15.2
15.8
12.8
9.4
11.0
14.0
14.9
17.7
18.6
15.4
1973
1974
1975
1976
1977
1978
1979
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
5.5
6.6
7.6
7.9
10.1
10.2
7.9
6.3
7.8
9.5
9.7
12.1
12.3
9.7
1980
1981
1982
13.4
15.4
15.8
16.5
19.0
19.5
1980
1981
1982
..
..
..
8.6
10.0
11.7
11.0
12.2
14.7
1White rate minus nonwhite rate.
was smaller than the gap in the total employment-to-population ratio in the years before the volunteer force. After
that time, the gap was greater in the civilian data. (See table
3.)
Between 1963 and 1982, changes in the composition of
the military accounted for roughly 20 percent of the relative
decline in the employment-to-population ratio for nonwhite
male teenagers;9 for males ages 20 to 24, the corresponding
number is roughly 30 percent. Similarly, changes in the
military accounted for 25 percent of the relative increase in
unemployment rates for nonwhite teenagers and 40 percent
of the relative increase among nonwhites 20 to 24 years of
age.
S i g n i f i c a n t c h a n g e s in the size and demographic com
position of the military have taken place since the start of
the all-volunteer Armed Forces in 1973. These changes have
also had important implications for the interpretation of
labor force statistics. The most significant change is that the
share of the military made up by nonwhites grew rapidly in
the years after the draft was phased out. Over the same
period, the civilian labor market status of nonwhite teen
agers and young adults in the civilian labor force deteriorated
rapidly. A focus restricted to the civilian labor force, how
ever, yields an exaggerated picture of the extent of this
decline. Roughly 30 percent of the relative decline in the
number of nonwhite teenagers and young adults in the ci
vilian labor force can be attributed to changes in the de
mographic composition of the military.
□
----------- F O O T N O T E S ------------
The analysis in this article does not necessarily
reflect an official position of the U.S. Department of Labor. The authors
A
Total
ckno w ledg m ent:
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
2Nonwhite rate minus white rate.
would like to thank their colleagues Roger Hart. Arlene Holen. John
Raisian, Eric Sonnett, and Andy Sparks for their helpful comments.
'The Bureau has historically published total labor force figures for the
overall population, including the military, and made them available for
specific age groups.
2The last draft call was in December 1972. These men were inducted
in 1973, resulting in the positive level of draftees after formal commence
ment of the volunteer force.
1S ta tis tic a l A b s tr a c t o f th e U n ite d S ta te s , 1982, tables 593 and 596, p.
360.
4 S ta tis tic a l A b s tr a c t,
table 594. p. 360.
In addition to blacks, the category nonwhite includes Asian Amer
icans, American Indians, and others. It should be noted that the “ Hispanic
origin" category is not a racial classification. Persons in this group may
appear in the white or black and other racial categories.
^Military Manpower Task Force. November 1982, pp. II-3-II-4.
7Recent noteworthy contributions to the research literature on this prob
lem include: John Cogan, “The Decline in Black Teenage Employment,
1950-1970,” T h e A m e r ic a n E c o n o m ic R e v ie w , September 1982, pp. 621 —
38; Dave O’Neill, “ Racial Differences in Teenage Employment: A Note
on the Trends,” J o u r n a l o f H u m a n R e s o u r c e s , Spring 1983, pp. 296-306;
David T. Ellwood and David A. Wise, Youth E m p lo y m e n t in th e S e v e n tie s :
T h e C h a n g in g C ir c u m s ta n c e s o f Y ou n g A d u lts (Cambridge, Mass., Na
tional Bureau of Economic Research, Inc., 1983), n b e r Working Paper
Series, 1055. See also the papers collected in Richard B. Freeman and
David A. Wise, eds., The Youth L a b o r M a rk e t P r o b le m : Its N a tu re, C a u ses,
a n d C o n s e q u e n c e s (Cambridge, Mass., National Bureau of Economic Re
search, Inc., 1982).
"Total employment-to-population ratios are calculated by adding the
Armed Forces population to employment and civilian population totals.
Total unemployment rates are calculated by including the Armed Forces
population in labor force totals.
9For example, the growth of the white or nonwhite difference in the
to ta l teenage employment-to-population ratio between 1963 and 1982 is
14.1 points (22.9 - 8.8). The corresponding figure for the civilian pop
ulation is 17.1 points (24.3 — 7.2). Thus, roughly 20 percent of the
divergence in the civilian employment-to-population ratio among teenagers
can be attributed to changes in the composition of the military. Calculations
for other groups are carried out in a similar manner.
5 I b id .
13
Self-employed workers:
an update to 1983
The number o f Americans working for themselves
continues to increase, reaching 9.1 million in 1983;
they tend to be older than other workers, and
although they work longer hours, their earnings are lower
E ugene H. B ecker
Even in -this age of big business, there are still many in
dividuals who work for themselves. Between 1976 and 1983,
the number of self-employed Americans increased each year,
posting an overall gain of 23 percent, or 1.7 million.1 In
fact, self-employment among American workers has been
increasing for almost a decade and a half, barely pausing
for cyclical downturns.
When agricultural self-employment is separated from
nonagriculture, two pictures emerge. Agricultural self-em
ployment, which had been decreasing for decades, contin
ued to decline through the mid-1970’s. Since 1976, it has
held steady at about 1.6 million. Nonagricultural self-em
ployment, in contrast, has increased each year since 1970,
when it was 5.2 million, to 1983, when it was 7.6 million,
an increase of more than 45 percent.2
Related groups
Several groups are closely related to the self-employed,
but are not included in their number. Among them are in
dividuals who have incorporated their own businesses. By
incorporation, such persons draw a wage or salary from
their business and, consequently, are included among wage
and salary workers.3 The incorporated self-employed ac
counted for 2.8 million workers in 1982, up from 2.1 million
in 1978.
Another group closely related to the self-employed is the
unpaid family worker (who must work at least 15 hours a
week in a family business to be counted in the statistics).
There were slightly more than 600,000 of these workers in
1983. As a worker group, unpaid family members have
been declining for several decades. Since 1970, their num
ber in agriculture has dropped by about 52 percent, com
pared with a 25-percent decline for those in nonagricultural
work. (See table 1.)
No typical unpaid family worker exists. He or she may
be the spouse of a doctor or dentist doing office chores or
professional work, the child of the owner of a small store
or business helping out after school and on weekends, or
the relative of a family farmer putting in long hours of
manual work.4 More than three-fourths of unpaid family
workers were women in 1983, a proportion only slightly
smaller than in past years.
Finally, there is the person who holds two jobs and who
is self-employed on the second job. Because the Current
Population Survey counts each person only once, dual job
holders are classified according to their primary job. The
latest available data on multiple jobholders from the May
1980 Current Population Survey show that about 1.6 million
people, or one-third of all dual jobholders, were self-em
ployed on their second jobs.5
Cyclical patterns
Eugene H. Becker, an economist formerly with the Oifice of Employment
and Unemployment Statistics, Bureau of Labor Statistics, is now with the
Bureau’s Office of Publications.
14
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The upward trend in the number of self-employed workers
began around 1970. (See chart 1.) Prior to then, self-em-
C h art 1. S elf-em p loyed w orkers by m ajor industry group, 1948-84
M illions
Seasonally adjusted q u a rte rly averages
ployment had been on the decline, fueled largely by the
reduction in agricultural self-employment, which in 1948
was 4.7 million. Agricultural self-employment continued to
decline through the mid-1970’s, but at a much slower pace.
Since 1976, agricultural self-employment has leveled off at
about 1.6 million, suggesting that the decline in independent
family farming may be coming to an end.
In the nonagricultural sector, there were 6.1 million selfemployed in 1948; by 1970, the number had declined to
5.2 million. Not included in the 1970 total, however, was
a large number of incorporated self-employed who, prior to
1967, had been included.6 Nonfarm self-employment began
rising slowly in the early 1970’s and more sharply in the
second half of the decade. By 1983, the number reached
7.6 million.
Several analysts have suggested that self-employment
moves in a countercyclical fashion.7 While the evidence for
this is not overwhelmingly strong, an examination of the
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
proportional seasonally adjusted quarterly changes in selfemployment during recessions tends to support this idea, at
least for the nonagricultural sector. The following tabulation
shows percentage changes in self-employment from busi
ness cycle peaks to troughs (as designated by the National
Bureau of Economic Research), 1948-82:
P eak
T ro u g h
IV -1948 IV -1949
III-1953 11-1954
11-1957 11-1958
11-1960 1-1961
.. .
.
. . .
.
IV -1969
IV -1973
1-1980
HI-1981
.
.
.
.
IV-1970
IV—1975
Ill—1980
IV—1982
A ll
in d u s tr ie s
a g r ic u ltu r e
N onA g r ic u ltu r e
-0 .5
- .5
- 2 .4
2.2
4.5
- .3
- .1
2.4
- 7 .0
- .8
-6 .7
1.8
.0
.5
.9
2.5
1.5
1.7
.7
3.2
-4 .3
-2 .8
1.9
- .8
Nonagricultural self-employment has registered strong increases during the recovery part of the cycle since 1970.
15
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW July 1984 • Self-Employed Workers in 1983
Tab le 1.
E m ploym ent by m ajor industry group and class of w orker, 1 9 7 0 -8 3
Total
Year
A gricultural
N onag ricultural
S elfem ployed
W ag e and
salary
Unpaid
fam ily
S elfem ployed
W age and
salary
Unpaid
fa m ily
S elfem ployed
W ag e and
salary
U npaid
fa m ily
1970
1971
1972
1973
1974
....................................
....................................
...................................
....................................
....................................
7,031
7,077
7,157
7,254
7,455
70,645
71,286
74,010
76,847
78,460
1,001
1,001
986
962
880
1,810
1,750
1,792
1,780
1,758
1,154
1,166
1,225
1,267
1,366
499
479
467
422
391
5,221
5,327
5,365
5,474
5,697
69,491
70,120
72,785
75,580
77,094
502
522
519
540
489
1975
1976
1977
1978
1979
....................................
....................................
....................................
....................................
....................................
7,427
7,429
7,694
8,047
8,384
77,551
80,519
83,481
87,205
89,674
869
806
841
795
767
1,722
1,646
1,580
1,618
1,593
1,301
1,344
1,360
1,452
1,451
386
342
343
316
304
5,705
5,783
6,114
6,429
6,791
76,249
79,175
82,121
85,753
88,222
483
464
498
479
463
1980
1981
1982
1983
....................................
....................................
....................................
....................................
8,642
8,735
8,898
9,140
89,950
91,006
89,967
91,075
711
656
661
616
1,642
1,638
1,636
1,565
1,425
1,464
1,505
1,579
297
266
261
240
7,000
7,097
7,262
7,575
88,525
89,543
88,462
89,500
413
390
401
376
During downturns, however, it has tended to stabilize or
increase moderately after a decline. In effect, nonagricultural self-employment has come out of each of the cyclical
downturns since 1970 somewhat earlier than its wage and
salary counterpart. One possible reason for this may be the
length and intensity of the recessions themselves (except for
the 1980 downturn). When persons who are self-employed
on their second job lose their primary wage and salary job
due i n economic downturn, their self-employment, if
continued, becomes their primary job. In addition, some
people may enter self-employment upon the loss of a wage
and salary job. Self-employment growth during the first full
year of recovery from the 1981-82 recession was excep
tionally large— 360,000, or 4 percent— when compared with
other postwar recovery periods.8
Demographic characteristics
Self-employed workers tend to be older than wage and
salary workers. Whereas younger workers rarely have the
financial and skill resources needed to start their own busi
nesses, many older workers can marshal these resources
either through their own efforts or through access to avail
able credit. In addition, older workers who have retired from
wage and salary jobs often become self-employed to sup
plement their retirement income.
Although the average age of self-employed persons has
dropped in recent years, those age 45 and over continue to
account for a large share (45 percent) of all self-employed
workers. The downtrend in age distribution is more pro
nounced among the self-employed than among wage and
salary workers. The percentages of the total accounted for
by each of three age groups are shown in the following:
Self-employed:
16-24 ...................
25-44 ...................
45 and over ..........
Wage and salary:
16-24 ...................
25-44 ...................
45 and over ..........
16
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1979
1983
Change
6.6
44.3
49.0
6.1
48.6
45.2
-0 .5
4.3
-3 .8
24.1
45.9
30.0
21.3
50.5
28.2
-2 .8
4.6
-1 .8
Blacks are considerably less likely than the population at
large to be self-employed. While this was true in 1979, it
was even more so in 1983, as the proportion of self-em
ployed blacks dropped from 5.5 to 3.8 percent. At the same
time, their number declined by more than 100,000, or 23
percent, while that of their wage and salary counterparts
increased by 30 percent.
Not only are there proportionately fewer black self-em
ployed workers, but those who did operate their own busi
nesses in 1983 were quite likely to be in sales, service,
farming, and operator, fabricator and laborer occupations.
White self-employed workers, in contrast, were more likely
to be in managerial and professional and technical occu
pations.
In addition to being disproportionately older and white,
71 percent of the self-employed in 1983 were men, com
pared with 55 percent of wage and salary workers. But the
number of self-employed women has increased five times
faster than the number of self-employed men, and more than
three times as fast as wage and salary women. To the extent
that the total female labor force is growing more rapidly
than the male labor force, the increase in self-employed
women is to be expected. Nevertheless, the continued in
crease in the number of self-employed women may also
Tab le 2.
1983
O ccupatio nal distribution by class of w orker,
[In percent]
S elf-e m p lo yed
w orkers
W ag e and
salary
w orkers
Unpaid
fa m ily
w orkers
Total ............................................
100.0
100.0
100.0
Managerial and professional
s p e c ia lity .........................................
Technical, sales, and administrative
s u p p o r t............................................
S e rv ic e ..................................................
26.7
23.2
4.7
23.1
9.7
31.7
14.2
43.8
6.5
Precision production, craft, and
repair ...............................................
Operator, fabricator, and laborer . .
Farming, forestry, and fishing . . . .
16.7
6.6
17.3
11.8
17.0
2.1
3.1
6.3
35.7
O ccupation
N ote :
Columns may not equal total because of rounding.
indicate an expansion in the employment opportunities women
are creating for themselves.
Occupational and industry distribution
As with wage and salary workers, the self-employed are
widely distributed across occupations and, with two major
exceptions, their distribution patterns are similar. (See table
2.) A much larger share of self-employed than wage and
salary workers are in agriculture. This phenomenon traces
its roots to the family farm. However, with the advent of
large-scale corporate farming, the family farm and, with it,
agricultural self-employment, began to decline. From 4.8
million workers in the fourth quarter of 1948, agricultural
self-employment declined to 1.6 million in the fourth quarter
of 1983. Nevertheless, agriculture accounted for more than
17 percent of all self-employed workers in 1983, compared
with a little more than 2 percent of wage and salary em
ployment. The managerial and professional specialty oc
cupations accounted for more than a quarter of all selfemployed workers and was the largest single group among
the major occupations. Physicians, dentists, chiropractors,
lawyers, and accountants are included in this group.
Technical, sales, and administrative support jobs were
only a slightly smaller proportion of self-employment than
the managerial and professional specialty occupations, but
this proportion was substantially smaller than that of wage
and salary workers in the same occupational group. Included
in this group are many jobs not readily suited to self-em
ployment, such as cashiers, receptionists, and bank tellers.
Self-employment does constitute a lion’s share of several
occupations. More than half of all dentists, veterinarians,
optometrists, podiatrists, and other health diagnosing tech
nicians, authors, painters and sculptors, auctioneers, street
and door-to-door sales workers, barbers, child-care workers,
and farm operators and managers were self-employed in
1983.
Just as certain occupations lend themselves to self-em
ployment, so do certain industries. More than half of the
workers in dressmaking shops, shoe repair shops, barber
shops, and lodging places other than hotels or motels were
self-employed. Other industries with more than a quarter of
their work force self-employed included: taxicab service,
business management and consulting services, auto repair
shops, and beauty shops.
Clearly, the service-producing sector provides the bulk
of the opportunities for self-employment outside of agri
culture. Eighty percent of the self-employed had serviceproducing jobs, compared with 70 percent of wage-andsalary workers. While most of the self-employed in this
sector had jobs in retail trade or services, this was due to
the dominance of these two industries in terms of total
employment. Only about 10 percent of the work force in
both retail trade and services were self-employed, not much
higher than the percent of total nonagricultural employment.
Within the goods-producing sector, almost 20 percent of
construction industry employment consisted of the self-em
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T able 3. N onagricultural self-em p loym ent by industry,
selected years
Industry
N u m b er (in thousands)
Percent
1 972
1 979
1 983
1 972
1979
1 983
5,365
6,791
7,578
100.0
100.0
100.0
1,003
13
746
244
1,513
22
1,152
339
1,558
29
1,158
371
18.7
.2
13.9
4.5
22.3
.3
17.0
5.0
20.6
.4
15.3
4.9
Service-producing . . . 4,362
Transportation,
communication,
and public
utilities ................
203
Wholesale trade . . .
213
Retail tr a d e .............. 1,475
Finance, insurance,
and real estate . .
262
S e rv ic e s ................... 2,209
5,278
6,020
81.3
77.7
79.4
276
277
1,576
322
316
1,616
3.8
4.0
27.5
4.1
4.1
23.2
4.2
4.2
21.3
445
2,704
532
3,233
4.9
41.2
6.6
39.8
7.0
42.7
T o t a l................
Goods-producing . . . .
M in in g ......................
Construction ...........
Manufacturing . . . .
ployed, compared with only 3 percent in mining and 2
percent in manufacturing. The need for extensive capitali
zation is clearly a major deterrent for the latter two indus
tries.
Growth patterns in the two sectors were quite different
over the 1979-83 period than in the prior 7 years, partly
because of the impact of the 1980 and 1981-82 recessions
on the goods sector. During the 1972-79 period, self-em
ployment in the goods-producing sector grew twice as fast
as in the service-producing sector, primarily because of
rapid growth in the construction industry and slow growth
among retailers. Over the 1979-83 period, employment
growth continued to be slower than average among selfemployed retailers, but it picked up in the services industry.
The latter industry alone provided two -thirds of the 197983 increase in the self-employed. Thus, during that period,
both self-employment and employment in general grew faster
in the service sector than in the goods-producing sector.
(See table 3.)
Hours and earnings
Self-employment conjures up the image of an individual
who works many hours each week to keep his or her business
operating. And, indeed, almost a third of those working for
themselves in nonagricultural jobs worked at least 49 hours
a week in 1983. The workweek of the self-employed av
eraged 40 hours, down nearly 2 hours from 1979. During
the same period, the average workweek of wage and salary
workers declined by one-half hour, to 38 hours. (See table
4.) Thus, there has been a narrowing in the gap in the
workweek between the self-employed and other workers.
Tab le 4. W eekly hours of w ork by m ajor industry group
and class of w orker, 1 9 7 9 -8 3
Industry group and class
1 979
1980
1981
1 982
1983
C hange, 1 9 7 9 -8 3
Hours
Percent
Nonagricultural:
Self-em ployed................... 41.9
Wage and s a la r y .............. 38.4
41.2
38.1
40.5
37.6
39.8
37.6
40.0
37.9
- 1 .9
-.5
- 4 .5
- 1 .3
Agricultural:
Self-em ployed................... 51.4
Wage and s a la ry .............. 42.1
49.3
41.6
49.5
40.9
48.3
40.3
47.4
40.3
- 4 .0
- 1 .8
- 7 .8
- 4 .3
17
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW July 1984 • Self-Employed Workers in 1983
Self-employed farmers put in more than 47 hours a week
in 1983, down from more than 51 hours in 1979. Although
they still worked more hours than their nonagricultural coun
terparts, the same declining trend in hours is evident.
Persons who work for themselves continue to earn less
then their wage and salary counterparts. Despite a generally
longer workweek, self-employed persons in 1982 earned,
on average, only about 70 percent as much as wage and
salary workers, that is $12,595 compared with $17,559.9
Nevertheless, there were a number of occupations— mostly
professional— where self-employment was more remuner
ative than wage and salary work. Included are managementrelated jobs such as accountants and auditors, records
management analysts, buyers, and business promotion agents;
and professional specialty occupations such as natural sci
entists, health diagnosing, assessment, and treating, legal,
and certain sales-related jobs.
Partly because more than half of the women who work
for themselves were in the relatively low-paying sales and
service occupations, their median earnings of $6,644 in
1982 were substantially below those of self-employed men,
who earned $14,360. (See table 5.) A sizable portion of
self-employed men, about a third, were in the more lucrative
management and professional specialty occupations or worked
as finance and business sales representatives, also a highpaying occupation.
Tab le 5. M edian e arnings o f year-round full-tim e w orkers
in 1982, by o ccupation, class of w orker, and sex
M en
Occupation
Total
.........................................
Managerial and professional
specialty ............................................
Technical, sales, and
administrative support ...................
S e rvice ....................................................
Precision production,
craft, and repair ..............................
Operator, fabricator, and
laborer ...............................................
Farming, forestry, and fis h in g ...........
W om en
S elfem ployed
W age and
salary
S elfem ployed
W ag e and
salary
$14,360
$21,542
$6,644
$13,352
24,720
28,637
10,366
17,955
15,841
10,913
21,694
14,632
7,468
4,837
12,897
9,185
13,890
21,432
7,557
14,024
12,015
6,584
17,167
11,323
5,918
238
11,047
7,958
The 1982 mean earnings of self-employed men were also
below those of wage and salary workers, a reversal of the
situation in 1978. At that time, earnings of self-employed
men were “ substantially skewed at the upper end of the
earnings distribution,” bringing their mean earnings to a
fairly high level.10 In 1982, however, more than half of all
self-employed men had earnings below $15,000 a year,
compared with only a fourth of wage and salary workers.
At the upper end of the scale, a fifth of self-employed men
had earnings above $30,000 a year, compared with a fourth
of wage and salary men.
FOOTNOTES
'This report primarily covers trends since 1979. as it updates T. Scott
Fain, "Self-employed Americans: their number has increased." M o n th ly
L a b o r R e v ie w , November 1980. pp. 3-8. It is based on data from the
Current Population Survey, a monthly sample survey of about 60.000
households conducted for the Bureau of Labor Statistics by the Census
Bureau. Self-employed persons are defined as those who work for profit
or fees in their own business, profession, or trade, or operate a farm.
2The size of the nonagricultural self-employed class corresponds closely
to—but by no means totally explains—the difference between two inde
pendently derived estimates of nonagricultural employment. In 1983, the
Current Population Survey (household survey) provided an estimate of
97.5 million nonagricultural workers, while the Current Employment Sta
tistics (establishment survey) program produced an estimate of 90.0 mil
lion. In addition to the coverage differences, the two surveys differ in terms
of both concept and methodology.
2In 1967, it became possible to identify workers who had reported
themselves in the Current Population Survey as self-employed but who
had incorporated their businesses. Practically all of these workers were in
the nonagricultural sector and their reclassification out of self-employment
in 1967 is quite apparent in the trend line on chart 1. For a more complete
discussion of the incorporated self-employed see Fain, "Self-employed
Americans.” Also see Robert L. Stein, "New Definitions for Employment
and Unemployment," E m p lo y m e n t a n d E a rn in g s a n d M o n th ly R e p o r t on
th e L a b o r F o r c e , February 1967, pp. 3-27.
4For a report on unpaid family workers since 1950, see Patricia A Daly,
"Unpaid family workers: long-term decline continues," M o n th ly L a b o r
R e v ie w , October 1982, pp. 3-5.
18
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5For additional comments and tabulations on the May 1980 data, see
Daniel E. Taylor and Edward S. Sekscenski, "Workers on long schedules,
single and multiple jobholders,” M o n th ly L a b o r R e v ie w , May 1982, pp. 5152.
hFor a quantification of the effect of moving the incorporated from the
self-employment to the wage and salary classification see Stein, "New
Definitions,” page 34.
7See John E. Bregger, "Self-employment in the United States, 1948—
62,” M o n th ly L a b o r R e v ie w , January 1963, pp. 37-43; and Robert N.
Ray, "A report on self-employed Americans in 1973,” M o n th ly L a b o r
R e v ie w , January 1975, pp. 49-54.
8The comparison refers to the 13-month period from November 1982,
the trough of the most recent recession, through December 1983. Largely
because of the unusually fast growth in self-employment, total employment
grew faster than wage and salary employment (as measured by the survey
of establishments) during the first year of recovery.
9These data are from the March 1983 supplement to the Current Pop
ulation Survey and refer to 1982 median earnings for year-round full-time
workers. These median earnings do not include income implicit to the selfemployed worker (and generally not available to the wage and salary
worker) such as use of the business car for personal travel or the home as
the place of work, or feeding or clothing the family from a store owner’s
own stock or the farmer’s own fields.
l()See Fain, "Self-employed Americans.” The situation is not exactly
comparable, however, because Fain’s analysis is based on private wage
and salary workers, whereas the earnings data in this report are for all
wage and salary workers, including government employees.
Sources of secular increases
in the unemployment rate, 1969-82
Progressively higher rates o f joblessness suggest
a strong structural component in today’s unemployment;
the influx o f women and young workers
was an importantfactor early in the study period,
while later years show a decline
in the employment picture for prime-age men
M ichael Podgursky
Since the late 1960’s, the unemployment rate at the peak
of economic expansions as well as at recession troughs has
tended to rise over time. Was this upward drift primarily a
result of the inflationary price shocks and macroeconomic
turbulence of the 1970’s, or were microeconomic labor mar
ket forces at work as well? What role did the strains as
sociated with the absorption of a rapidly growing, young,
and inexperienced labor force play? And, finally, what con
tribution did structural unemployment among adults make
to this secular rise?
The relative importance of these and other contributing
forces are the subject of debate among economists and are
clearly of considerable importance for economic policy.1 If,
for example, the rising trend in the unemployment rate
stemmed primarily from demographic factors, macroecon
omic policy alone— if correctly administered— could re
verse the trend in the coming decade as the labor force
growth rate slows and the “ baby boom’’ generation ma
tures. However, if structural unemployment among adults
was a major contributor, macroeconomic policy alone will
not produce unemployment rates comparable with those of
the 1960’s— a rising economic tide will not raise all labor
force boats.
Michael Podgursky is an assistant professor of economics at the University
of Massachusetts, Amherst.
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This article examines in some detail the composition of
peak-to-peak and trough-to-trough changes in the unem
ployment rate over the 1969-82 period. A statistical profile
of the labor force segments that nudged the unemployment
rate progressively higher over this period can provide some
insight as to the relative importance of demographic and
other factors in generating the upward trend and help us
interpret the labor market experience of the 1970’s.2
The first part of the article provides a brief discussion of
cyclical and noncyclical components of unemployment.
Subsequent parts examine demographic, occupational, in
dustrial, and other sources of secular changes in the un
employment rate using data from the Current Population
Survey. A concluding part highlights the major trends in
the composition of the unemployment rate changes and pro
vides a tentative interpretation of the findings in light of the
questions posed above.
Cyclical vs. noncyclical unemployment
Economists typically distinguish two broad components
of aggregate unemployment— cyclical and noncyclical. Cy
clical unemployment derives from fluctuations in aggregate
demand and will decline in the course of an expansion.
Noncyclical unemployment is considerably more tenacious,
however, and persists even in the face of economic growth.
There are two major sources of noncyclical unemploy
ment. The first is frictional unemployment, which is of a
19
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW July 1984 • Source o f Secular Increase in Unemployment
transitory nature and results from voluntary job turnover and
mobility into and out of labor markets. Of more concern
from a policy viewpoint is structural unemployment, which
arises from more fundamental skill or locational mismatches
between supply and demand in the labor market, and is
associated with prolonged periods of unemployment, sub
employment, and withdrawal from the labor force.3
In practice, we cannot precisely estimate changes in these
three types of unemployment between any two points in
time. Nevertheless, it is possible to minimize the effect of
cyclical factors by comparing the level and composition of
unemployment during similar phases of business cycles,
which is the approach employed in the following sections.
Secular trends
The secular rise in the unemployment rate is readily seen
in table l .4 The unemployment rate at the trough of the
1969-70 recession averaged 5.8 percent of the labor force.
It rose to 8.3 percent in the 1973-75 recession, dipped to
7.5 percent during the brief 1980 recession, and then climbed
sharply to 10.6 percent during the 1981-82 downturn. The
net increase over the 12-year period ended December 1982
thus totaled 4.8 percent of the labor force.
A similar upward trend is apparent in expansion peaks.
Starting from 3.6 percent of the labor force at the peak of
the long 1961-69 expansion, the unemployment rate climbed
by more than a percentage point in each of the next three
expansions to reach 7.4 percent by third-quarter 1981. The
net 12-year increase in the unemployment rate between the
third quarters of 1969 and 1981 amounted to 3.8 percent of
the labor force.
Demographic factors
Considerable attention has been devoted to demographic
factors— in particular, the increased flow of youth and women
into the labor force during the 1970’s— as a possible cause
of the rising rate of unemployment. To examine the role of
demographic shifts in the labor force, trough-to-trough and
T ab le 1. A verage unem ploym ent rates at business cycle
peaks and troughs, and peak-to -peak and trough-to-troug h
changes, 1 9 6 9 -8 2
Peak
q uarter
1969:
1973:
1979:
1981:
III
III
IV
III
Change,
1969:
1981:
U n em p lo y
m ent rate
....
____
. ...
____
3.6
4.8
6.0
7.4
III to
III . . .
P ercentag e-p o in t
change,
peak-topeak
Trough
q uarter
1.2
1.2
1.4
1970:
1975:
1980:
1982:
3.8
Change,
1970:
1982:
IV . . . .
I ...........
III . . . .
IV . . . .
IV to
IV . . .
U n em ploy
m ent rate
5.8
8.3
7.5
10.6'
Percentag e-p o in t
change,
trough-totrough
2.5
- 0 .8
3.1
4.8
Labor Force Statistics Derived from the Current Population Survey: A Da
tabook, Vol. II, Bulletin 2096 (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 1982); and Employment and
Earnings, April 1983.
S ource:
20
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peak-to-peak breakdowns of sources of the rising unem
ployment rate by age and sex are presented in table 2.5 The
first column of the table shows the percentage-point change
in the overall unemployment rate, and the remaining col
umns, the percentage contribution of each demographic group
to that change. For example, reading across the first row,
we find that youth (ages 16 to 24) accounted for 43.1 per
cent, or 1.1 percentage points, of the 2.5-percentage-point
increase in the unemployment rate between the fourth quarter
of 1970 and first quarter 1982. The table also shows the
percent of the labor force accounted for by each of the
demographic groups at the beginning and end of the 12year intervals under consideration.
Youth have made a disproportionate and substantial con
tribution to the secular increase in the rate of unemployment,
but their contribution has declined over time. While young
workers made up just 21.9 percent of the labor force in
fourth-quarter 1970, they accounted for 43.1 percent of the
increase in unemployment between the 1970 and 1975 troughs.
If we skip over the brief 1980 recession and compare the
1973-75 and 1981—82 recessions, we find that the youth
contribution drops to 16 percent. Overall, youth accounted
for 29.2 percent of the trough-to-trough increase in the un
employment rate over the 12-year period.
The downward trend in the youth contribution stands out
clearly in the peak-to-peak comparisons as well. While mak
ing up just over one-fifth of the labor force, they accounted
for 58.0 percent of the increase in unemployment between
expansion peaks in 1969 and 1973. Their contribution fell
sharply to 33.6 percent and 30.5 percent over the 1973-79
and 1979-81 peak-to-peak intervals.
What explains the declining youth contribution? The youth
component may be broken down into two parts, one re
flecting a rising unemployment rate among youth, and a
second stemming from changes in youth’s share of the total
labor force. Such a decomposition is presented in table 3.
The first column of this table shows the total contribution
of youth to the change in the unemployment rate. The next
two columns decompose this contribution into a part due to
rising unemployment among youth, and part due to changing
weight of youth in the labor force. A positive value in the
“ Weight” column means that the youth labor force was
growing faster than the total labor force; hence, its share of
the labor force was rising. A negative term indicates a slower
relative rate of growth.
A comparison of the second and third columns of table
3 clearly shows that the negative trend in the youth contri
bution to the overall unemployment rate is attributable to
changes in the rate of growth in the number of young work
ers relative to increase in the adult labor force. Comparing
the 1969-70 and 1973-75 recessions, we find that the rising
youth share of the labor force by itself accounted for 30.9
percent of the increase in the unemployment rate. Between
1975 and 1982, however, the youth share component was
—12.9 percent, meaning that a declining youth share of the
Table 2.
D em ographic sources of the rising unem ploym ent rate, 1 9 6 9 -8 2
Percent contribution of group to change in u n em ploym ent rate—
point change
in the
unem ploym ent
rate
Period
Age
16 to 24
Age
25 to 54
Age
55 to 64
Total
Age
65 and over
Both sexes
M en
W om en
M en
W om en
Both
sexes
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
43.1
21.9
65.0
24.3
16.0
29.2
22.1
27.6
38.7
-3 0 .1
41.8
56.7
42.4
36.7
24.6
22.0
26.9
16.2
23.6
24.1
27.5
1.3
8.5
11.8
7.0
4.6
3.0
6.5
3.2
'5.1
16.6
3.0
.2
1.7
4.4
0.2
3.8
9.8
7.7
-1 .1
- 0 .5
2.7
100 0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
58 0
21.0
33.6
30.5
40.3
23.0
?n 7
39.3
36.8
40.5
33.0
36.4
16 3
21.9
31.2
23.1
23.3
26.8
22
8.7
.3
3.8
2.6
6.6
5'2
.9
2.4
1.5
4.4
4.0
- 2 .2
- 0 .5
- 0 .2
2.8
Trough-to-trough
1970: IV to 1975: I ..............................................
Percent of 1970 IV labor force .....................
1975: I to 1980: I l l ..............................................
1980: III to 1982 I V ...........................................
1975: I to 1982: I V ..............................................
1970: IV to 1982: I V ...........................................
Percent of 1982 IV labor force ......................
2.5
—
- 0 .8
3.1
2.3
4.8
—
P eak -to -p eak
1969: III to
Percent of
1973: III to
1979: IV to
1969: III to
Percent of
N ote:
1973
1969
1979
1981
1981
1981
I l l ...........................................
Ill labor force ......................
I V ...........................................
I l l ...........................................
I l l ...........................................
Ill labor force .....................
12
1.2
1.4
3.8
—
Due to rounding, sums of individual items may not equal totals.
Seasonally adjusted labor force data are from L a b o r Force Statistics-, and E m p lo y m e n t a n d E arn ing s, April 1983. Certain fourth-quarter 1982 labor force data were provided
by the Office of Employment and Unemployment Statistics. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Source:
labor force was acting to lower the overall unemployment
rate.
The downward trend in the youth weight component also
stands out clearly in the peak-to-peak comparisons in the
lower portion of the table. The rising youth labor force
weight accounted for 19.9 percent of the increase in the
unemployment rate between the 1969 and 1973 peaks. The
weight contribution fell to 1.6 percent over the 1973-79
interval, and became negative ( - 8 .8 percent) during the
final 1979-81 period.
Throughout the 1970’s and early 1980’s, however, the
unemployment rate among youth was increasing sharply,
thus producing the large positive effects shown in the second
column of table 3. When added to the youth weight effects,
these intragroup effects were sufficiently large to produce
the positive net youth contributions shown in the first col
Table 3. C ontribution of youth to rising noncyclical
unem ploym ent, 1 9 6 9 -8 2
Percent contribution—
Total
Due to
rising youth
unem ploym ent
Due to changing
youth labor
force w eight
43.1
65.0
24.3
16.0
29.2
12.2
46.6
31.4
28.9
28.6
30.9
18.4
-7 .1
-1 2 .9
.6
58.0
33.6
30.5
40.3
38.1
32.0
39.3
35.9
19.9
1.6
- 8 .8
4.5
Period
Trough-to-trough
1970
1975
1980
1975
1970
IV to 1975: I ......................
I to 1980: I I I ......................
Ill to 1982: I V ...................
I to 1982: I V ......................
IV to 1982: I V ...................
1969
1973
1979
1969
III to
Ill to
IV to
Ill to
P eak -to-peak
1973:
1979:
1981:
1981:
I I I ...................
I V ...................
I I I ...................
I I I ...................
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umn, even when the youth weight components were neg
ative.
If the secular rise in the unemployment rate in the early
1970’s was primarily a youth unemployment problem, by
the late 1970’s and early 1980’s it was increasingly a primeage male problem. Prime-age men and women (ages 2554) accounted for 27.6 percent and 24.6 percent, respec
tively, of the increase in the unemployment rate between
1970 and 1975, with workers over the age of 55 contributing
the remaining 4.7 percent. While the contribution of primeage women remained relatively stable between 1975 and
1982, the prime-age male contribution rose sharply. Al
though prime-age men made up just 36.7 percent of the
1982 labor force, they had accounted for 56.7 percent of
the increase in the unemployment rate between 1975 and
1982.
Peak-to-peak comparisons also show a rising contribution
by prime-age men. Their share of the unemployment rate
increase grew from 20.7 percent over the 1969-73 interval
to 36.8 percent and 40.5 percent during the 1973-79 and
1979-81 peak-to-peak intervals.
In sum, the demographic sources of the secular rise in
the unemployment rate have not been constant. Youth made
the largest and most disproportionate contribution in the
early 1970’s. As the surge of young entrants into the labor
force abated in the late 1970’s and early 1980’s, however,
the youth contribution declined sharply. Prime-age women
have made a substantial but not disproportionate contribu
tion to the increase, and while their share of the labor force
rose, their contribution to the rising rate of unemployment
did not. The decline in the youth contribution was matched
by an equally sharp rise in the contribution of prime-age
21
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW July 1984 • Source o f Secular Increase in Unemployment
Tab le 4. C hange in the unem ploym ent rate by reason for
unem ploym ent, 1 9 6 9 -8 2
____________________
Percent contribution b y Percentagepoint change
in the unem New
Job
ReJob
Total
ploym ent
losers leavers entrants entrants
rate
Period
Trough-to-trough
1970
1975
1980
1975
1970
IV to 1975: I . . . .
I to 1980: I l l ____
III to 1982: IV . . .
I to 1982: I V ____
IV to 1982: IV . . .
2.5
- 0 .8
3.1
2.3
4.8
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
72.5
63.1
79.8
82.3
77.8
5.6
1.1
- 3 .7
- 4 .4
.2
14.5
36.4
14.1
10.8
12.5
7.4
- 0 .6
9.7
11.3
9.5
1.2
1.2
1.4
3.8
100.0
100.0
100 0
100.0
50.7
71.6
77.6
67.2
15.4
4.9
1.9
7.1
21.4
17.5
13.0
17.1
12.3
6.0
7.6
8.6
P eak -to -p eak
1969
1973
1979
1969
N ote:
III
III
IV
III
to
to
to
to
1973:
1979:
1981:
1981:
Ill
IV
Ill
Ill
...
...
...
...
Due to rounding, sums of individual items may not equal totals.
men, who, by the late 1970’s, had replaced young workers
as the most important factor in secular growth in the un
employment rate.
Reasons for unemployment
How did workers contributing to the 12-year rise in the
unemployment rate become unemployed? The Bureau of
Labor Statistics classifies unemployed workers according to
four mutually exclusive categories: job losers; job leavers;
new entrants; and reentrants. This allows us to decompose
the secular rise in the unemployment rate by reasons for
unemployment, and in so doing, gauge the importance of
involuntary job loss in explaining the upward trend.
Table 4 is similar to table 2, except that changes in the
unemployment rate are decomposed by reason for unem
ployment rather than by demographic characteristics. Both
the peak-to-peak and trough-to-trough measures suggest that
Tab le 5.
the preponderant reason for the rising unemployment rate
was involuntary job loss. Job losers accounted for 77.8
percent of the increase in the unemployment rate between
the 1970 and 1982 recession troughs, and 67.2 percent of
the increase between the 1969 and 1981 expansion peaks.
Involuntary job loss has also tended to increase in im
portance over time. Job losers accounted for 72.5 percent
of the increase in the unemployment rate between the 1970
and 1975 recession troughs. However, their share increased
to 82.3 percent between 1975 and 1982. An upward trend
also emerges in peak-to-peak comparisons. Job losers ac
counted for 50.7 percent of the increase in the unemploy
ment rate between the 1969 and 1973 peaks, but this proportion
rose to 71.6 percent and 77.6 percent, respectively, over
the 1973-79 and 1979-81 peak-to-peak intervals.
Voluntary job leavers, by contrast, have played a small
and declining role in the secular rise in the unemployment
rate. Job leavers accounted for 5.6 percent of the increase
in the unemployment rate between 1970 and 1975, but made
a negative contribution ( - 4 . 4 percent) to the change be
tween the 1975 and 1982 recession troughs.6 The contri
bution of voluntary job leavers to peak-to-peak increases in
the unemployment rate is somewhat larger, but the negative
trend is even more pronounced. Job leavers accounted for
15.4 percent of the increase between the 1969 and 1973
peaks, but only 1.9 percent of the increase from 1979 to
1981.
Reentrants and new entrants, many of whom are youth
and women, have made a notable contribution to the changes
in the unemployment rate. Reentrants and new entrants ac
counted for 14.5 percent and 7.4 percent, respectively, of
the increase in the unemployment rate between the 1970
and 1975 troughs. The reentrants’ share fell slightly to 10.8
percent over the 1975-82 interval, while the new entrant
share rose to 11.3 percent. The combined contribution of
O ccupational sources of the rising unem ploym ent rate, 1 9 6 9 -8 2
Period
Percentagepoint
change in
unem ploym ent
rate
Percent contribution by—
W h ite -c o lla r
B lu e-c o llar
Total
P rofessional
M an a g erial
Sales
C lerical
Total
2.5
—
- 0 .8
3.1
2.3
4.8
—
22.5
47.3
38.3
28.6
26.0
24.5
51.3
4.0
13.7
6.4
6.7
6.7
5.4
16.0
5.0
10.2
2.3
5.2
5.8
5.5
11.0
2.6
6.2
15.6
4.6
1.9
2.3
6.4
10.9
17.2
14.0
12.1
11.6
11.3
17.9
50.8
35.7
40.9
42.8
43.3
47.0
31.0
17.1
12.8
5.6
15.2
17.6
17.3
12.3
1.2
—
1.2
1.4
3.8
—
30.6
46.6
23.8
28.4
27.6
50.7
8.4
13.4
6.7
3.7
6.1
15.6
3.5
9.9
7.3
5.4
5.3
10.9
4.5
6.0
.4
4.7
3.3
6.2
14.2
17.3
9.4
14.6
12.9
18.0
43.6
36.5
48.4
44.7
45.5
27.6
20.3
12.9
11.2
19.1
17.3
12.6
C raftw orkers O peratives
Service
Laborers
Total
23.6
17.9
31.5
19.6
16.7
20.2
13.6
10.1
5.0
3.8
8.0
9.0
9.5
5.1
14.7
12.5
24.9
21.1
20.1
17.4
14.0
14.1
18.8
24.5
18.0
18.6
14.5
9.2
4.8
12.7
7.6
9.6
5.0
17.3
12.3
14.7
17.2
16.5
13.5
Trough-to-trough
1970: IV to 1975: I .................................
Percent of 1970 IV labor f o r c e ...........
1975: I to 1980: Ill .................................
1980: III to 1982: IV ..............................
1975: I to 1982: IV .................................
1970: IV to 1982: IV ..............................
Percent of 1982 IV labor f o r c e ...........
Pea k-to-peak
1969: III to
Percent of
1973: III to
1979: IV to
1969: III to
Percent of
1973
1969
1979
1981
1981
1981
III ..............................
Ill labor f o r c e ...........
IV ..............................
Ill ..............................
Ill ..............................
Ill labor force
N ote: The sum of white-collar, blue-collar, and service contributions represents the contribution of e x p erie nc ed civilian workers to the percentage-point change in the unemployment
rate and is therefore less than 100 percent, the difference being the contribution of unemployed workers lacking civilian work experience.
22
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Tab le 6.
In d u strial sources of the rising unem ploym ent rate, 1 9 6 9 -8 2
Perio d
P erc entagepoint change
in the
unem ploym ent
rate
Percent contribution by—
A griculture
Construction
0.9
1.5
10.8
4.7
0.8
.6
28.2
25.6
M ining
M anu facturing
Transportation
and public
u tilitie s
R etail trade
Finance and
services
G overnm ent
19.3
16.8
13.4
19.3
8.1
15.5
T ro ug h-to-trough
1970: IV to 1975:
Percent of 1970:
I .................................
IV labor force . . . .
1975
1 to 1980:
I I I .................................
2.5
—
- 0 .8
- 3 .2
2.0
- 5 .5
77.6
.1
19.0
5.1
- 9 .4
1980
Ill to 1982:
I V ..............................
3.1
2.7
9.0
3.7
29.8
4.0
20.5
18.4
3.0
1975
I to 1982:
I V .................................
2.3
4.1
10.7
5.9
18.1
5.0
20.9
21.6
I V ..............................
IV labor force . . . .
4.8
—
2.5
1.7
10.7
4.7
3.3
1.0
23.2
20.2
4.5
5.2
20.1
18.9
17.5
23.8
6.0
71
14.7
- 0 .2
1.5
13.1
4.6
.2
.6
12.6
26.8
2.7
5.6
28.9
16.1
17.6
18.9
12 1
15.1
5.0
7.7
2.3
28.5
6.5
11.4
18.0
13.4
1.4
15.9
1.6
16.9
.8
2.0
1.5
12.5
4.8
1.3
1.1
19.1
21.3
3.1
5.3
23.8
21.7
18.5
19.5
18.4
22.7
10 5
15.0
1970 IV to 1982:
Percent of 1982:
• 4.0
5,5
P eak -to -p e a k
1969 III to 1973:
Percent of 1969:
1973 Ill to 1979:
1979 IV to 1981:
I I I ..............................
III labor force ...........
I I I ..............................
1.2
—
1.2
1.4
1969 Ill to 1981:
Percent of 1981:
I I I ..............................
III labor force . . . .
3.8
— .
Note:
I V ..............................
6.6
Because data are for experienced private wage and salary workers only, industry detail does not sum to 100 percent.
the two groups, however, remained fairly stable.
Thus, involuntary job loss has been the major source of
the secular rise in the rate of unemployment. Moreover, it
has tended to increase in importance over time. New entrants
and reentrants have also played an important role, with a
combined contribution of 20 to 30 percent, while voluntary
job turnover has played a very small and declining role.
Occupation and industry
To what extent is the secular increase in the unemploy
ment rate associated with particular occupations or indus
tries? In table 5, the increase in the unemployment rate is
decomposed by broad occupational classes. White-collar
workers, who made up 51.3 percent of the labor force in
fourth-quarter 1982, accounted for 24.5 percent of the in
crease in the unemployment rate between the 1970 and 1982
recession troughs. Service workers were 14.0 percent of the
1982 labor force, but accounted for a slightly larger 17.4
percent of the increase in the unemployment rate. The group
bearing the largest and most disproportionate share of the
increased rate of unemployment, however, was blue-collar
workers. By fourth-quarter 1982, their share of the labor
force had declined to 31.0 percent, but they accounted for
47.0 percent of the increase in the unemployment rate over
the 12-year interval.
Broadly similar results obtain in examining peak-to-peak
changes in the unemployment rate. White-collar workers
made up a slightly larger 27.6 percent of the increase in the
rate between the third quarters of 1969 and 1981. The bluecollar and service contributions were slightly smaller— 45.5
and 16.5 percent, respectively.
An industrial decomposition of the changing unemploy
ment rate is presented in table 6. Workers in mining, man
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ufacturing, and construction together accounted for 25.9
percent of the labor force in fourth-quarter 1982, but con
tributed 37.2 percent of the 12-year increase in the unem
ployment rate. Those in retail trade, finance, and services
made up 42.7 percent of the 1982 labor force, and 37.6
percent of the secular change in the unemployment rate.
Government workers accounted for 14.7 and 7.1 percent of
the labor force and the change in the unemployment rate,
respectively.
Peak-to-peak comparisons yield broadly similar results.
Over the 12-year interval from third-quarter 1969 to thirdquarter 1981, mining, manufacturing, and construction ac
counted for a somewhat smaller 32.9 percent of the increase
in the unemployment rate. The contribution of retail trade,
finance, and services was also slightly less (40.1 percent),
while government’s share remained virtually unchanged at
15.0 percent.
The duration of unemployment
To what extent is the secular increase in the rate of un
employment associated with long-term unemployment? Has
there been a substantial increase in “ hard-core” long-term
unemployment, or does the higher unemployment rate sim
ply result from a greater frequency of short spells of un
employment? A secular rise in the unemployment rate
generated by unemployment spells of progressively longer
duration may, for example, signal increasing structural un
employment problems in the labor market.
The average unemployment rate in any quarter is the
product of: a) the percent of the labor force experiencing
a spell of unemployment (/); b) the average number of spells
per unemployed worker (¿v); and c) the average duration
of an unemployment spell in weeks as a fraction of a quarter
23
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW July 1984 • Source o f Secular Increase in Unemployment
T ab le 7. The contrib ution o f unem ploym ent duration to
th e rising un em p lo ym en t rate, 1 9 6 9 -8 2
U nem p lo ym en t
rate
Period
U n em ploym ent
duration
R ate
Index
M e a n w eeks
Index
5.8
8.3
7.5
10.6
4.8
100
143
129
183
83
9.3
16.2
13.4
17.5
8.2
100
174
144
188
88
3.6
4.8
6.0
7.4
3.8
100
133
167
206
106
7.9
9.6
10.6
14.0
6.1
100
122
134
177
77
Trough q uarter
1 97 0 :
I V .........................................
1975: I ............................................
1980: I I I .........................................
1982: I V .........................................
Change, 1970: IV to 1982: IV
P eak qu arte r
1969: I I I .........................................
1973: I I I .........................................
1979: I V .........................................
1981: I I I .........................................
Change, 1969: III to 1981: III
average duration of unemployment increased by 88 percent,
from 9.3 to 17.5 weeks. Thus, extended unemployment
duration would seem to account for the entire increase in
the unemployment rate over the period. Over the peak-topeak interval from 1969 to 1981, the unemployment rate
and duration rose by 106 percent and 77 percent, respec
tively. Extended duration thus accounted for approximately
70 percent of the peak-to-peak increase in the unemployment
rate.
The evidence in table 7 suggests that the secular increase
in the unemployment rate is not due to a larger fraction of
the labor force experiencing relatively brief spells of un
employment, but rather to a relatively stable fraction of the
labor force experiencing substantially longer periods of un
employment.
year (Dll3):
(1)
W hat does this statistical portrait tell us about the rising
u = i n (d/13)
Taking the natural log of both sides of equation (1) and
differentiating with respect to time yields:
(
2)
u
=
i
+
n +
D
where the dotted variables denote proportionate rates of
change. Thus, the proportionate contribution of duration to
a change in the unemployment rate is (blu).7
Unfortunately, data are not available on the average du
ration of a completed spell of unemployment. However,
there are estimates of the average duration of unemployment
among workers who are currently unemployed— that is, the
average duration of an unemployment spell in progress.
There is considerable debate as to whether the latter statistic
overstates or understates the average duration of a completed
unemployment spell.8 For our purposes, however, the di
rection of a bias is irrelevant, so long as the bias remained
a relatively stable fraction of the true value during the last
12 years. If this is the case, then proportionate increases in
the duration of unemployment in progress imply equivalent
increases in the duration of completed unemployment spells.
Table 7 presents proportionate changes in the unemploy
ment rate and the duration of unemployment. Over the 12
years between the 1970 and 1982 troughs, the unemploy
ment rate rose by 83 percent. Over the same interval, the
unemployment rate? Clearly, frictional, and perhaps struc
tural, factors associated with the increased flow of youth
and women into the labor force during the study period did
contribute to the higher unemployment rate. Youth ac
counted for a large and disproportionate share of the increase
in the unemployment rate at the beginning of the period,
while new entrants and reentrants to the labor force made
a steady contribution of 20 to 30 percent in peak-to-peak
and trough-to-trough increases in the unemployment rate.
The large contribution of prime-age men, blue-collar
workers, and job losers, as well as the sharp increase in the
duration of unemployment, suggest that rising structural
unemployment in traditional segments of the labor force
may also have played a significant role. This composition
of rising unemployment is also consistent with higher cy
clical unemployment, however, if aggregate demand be
came progressively more slack between peaks and between
troughs over the study period. The across-the-board indus
trial and occupational contributions to the rising unemploy
ment rate certainly suggest a slackening of aggregate demand.
But whatever the exact mix of structural and cyclical factors,
the secular rise in the unemployment rate since 1969 seems
to have been generated by more than just labor market
adjustment problems associated with a rapidly growing labor
force.
n
FOOTNOTES
1Recent studies which have examined the unemployment experience
during the 1970*s include: Martin Neil Baily, ed., W o r k e r s , J o b s a n d
I n fla tio n (Washington, The Brookings Institution, 1982); James L. Medoff,
“ Imbalance, Wage Growth and Productivity in the 1970’s,” B ro o k in g s
P a p e r s o n E c o n o m ic A c tiv ity , vol. 1, 1983, pp. 87-128; David M. Lilien,
“ Sectoral Shifts and Cyclical Unemployment,” J o u r n a l o f P o l itic a l E c o n
o m y , August 1982, pp. 777-93; and Robert W. Bednarzik, “ Layoffs and
permanent job loss: workers’ traits and cyclical patterns,” M o n th ly L a b o r
R e v ie w , September 1983, pp. 3-12.
2Because the focus of this article is on changes in the structure of
unemployment during the 1970’s and early 1980’s, the period of analysis
begins with the expansion peak in the third quarter of 1969. It might be
argued, however, that the unemployment rate in the late 1960’s was ar
24
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
tificially low due to the Vietnam War. As is shown below, the secular
upward trend in the unemployment rate remains whether one begins with
the 1969 or 1973 peak, or the 1970 trough. In any event, the long interval
between 1969 and 1982 will be broken into peak-to-peak and trough-totrough subintervals, thus providing a moving benchmark for the analysis.
3 A third source of noncyclical unemployment is seasonal unemploy
ment, which, as the name suggests, is associated with regular seasonal
labor market adjustments. Examples include youth entry into the labor
force in May and withdrawal in August, and winter layoffs in construction.
Because this study uses only seasonally adjusted labor force data, the effect
of such factors has been minimized.
4In this article, the term “secular” rather than “ noncyclical” is used
to denote peak-to-peak or trough-to-trough changes in the unemployment
rate because it is possible that such changes include a cyclical component,
if the state of aggregate demand differs from one peak or trough to another.
5In computing the sources of rising unemployment, the following iden
tity was used:
(u2-u ,) = S0i2(ui2—u;i) + 2uu(ei2—Oi,)
where 0, and u, denote the labor force weight and unemployment rate of
the f'th group. The proportionate contribution of the /th group to the change
in the unemployment rate is:
e i2(u i2- u , i ) + Uji(ei2— 0j|)
(u2 U|)
(u2—UI)
The first term is the effect of a changing intragroup unemployment rate,
and the second term, the effect of shifting labor force weights.
6A negative contribution implies that unemployed job leavers as a per
cent of the labor force fell between the 1973-75 and 1981-82 recessions.
In fact, the absolute number of voluntary job leavers fell over this period—
from 902,000 (1975) to 808.000 (1982).
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7Equation (1) is best understood by considering a simple example. Sup
pose the average unemployment rate in a quarter is 10 percent and the
labor force is 100 million. This means there are 130 million weeks of
unemployment to be distributed among the labor force. If 10 percent of
the labor force experiences one spell of unemployment during the quarter,
then the average duration of the spell must be 13 weeks. If 20 percent of
the population experiences one spell, the average duration must be 6.5
weeks. For further discussion, see Richard B. Freeman, L a b o r E c o n o m ic s,
2nd Ed. (Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, Prentice-Hall, 1979), pp. 112—
14.
8Because every unemployed worker’s c o m p le te d duration of unemploy
ment will at least be as long as his or her in - p r o g r e s s duration at the time
of the Current Population Survey interview, average in-progress duration
will u n d e r e s tim a te average completed duration. On the other hand, the
tendency to “oversample” long-term unemployed will impart a bias in the
opposite direction. For example, over the course of a year, a worker
unemployed for 6 months will be six times as likely to be sampled as a
worker unemployed for 1 month. A lively literature has developed around
these matters, much of which is cited in Norman Bowers. "Probing the
issues of unemployment duration,” M o n th ly L a b o r R e v ie w , July 1980,
pp. 23-32.
Geoffrey Moore wins Shiskin Award
The fifth annual Julius Shiskin Award for Economic Statistics was presented
June 12, 1984 to Dr. Geoffrey H. Moore “ for his research in measurement
and analysis of business cycles.” The award was presented at the Washington
Statistical Society Annual Dinner along with an honorarium of $250.
The Award Program is designed to honor unusually original and important
contributions in the development of economic statistics or in the use of
economic statistics in interpreting the economy. Participating organizations
in the program are the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Bureau of Census, Bureau
of Economic Analysis, Office of Federal Statistical Policy and Standards,
National Bureau of Economic Research, National Association of Business
Economists, and the Washington Statistical Society, all of which Mr.
Shiskin was associated with in his long and fruitful career.
Previous winners of the Award were Estella Dagum of Statistics Canada,
James Bonnen for his work chairing the President’s Reorganization Project
for the Federal Statistical System, Edward Denison for his work at the
Bureau of Economic Analysis and the Brookings Institution, and Beatrice
Vaccara for her contributions at the Bureau of Industrial Economics.
25
Modeling the retirement process
for policy evaluation and research
A sizable minority of men who retire
continue to work part time, although the duration
o f partial retirement tends to be brief;
a small number actually increase hours o f work
after a period o f retirement or semiretirement
when personal or economic circumstances change
A lan L. Gustman
and
T homas L. Steinmeier
The economics literature has generally conceived of the
retirement process as a one-way flow from an “ in the labor
force” status to a “ not in the labor force” status. However,
evidence from recent studies suggests that the retirement
transition is much more complex, involving both major flows
from full-time work to full retirement, either directly or
indirectly through partial retirement, and much smaller flows
in the opposite direction. Information about these flows
provides a richer description of the retirement process. It
may also help in establishing values for parameters which
are important to the retirement decision and, thereby, in
understanding the nature of that decision.
This article presents an analytical framework for inves
tigating transitions of white men among full-time work,
partial retirement, and full retirement. Of special importance
are flows to partial retirement, which usually are associated
with a reduction in wage rates and frequently entail a change
in employers as well. Various descriptive statistics related
to the retirement process, including probabilities of older
workers being in particular labor force states at given ages,
transition rates among the various states, and continuation
Alan L. Gustman is professor of economics at Dartmouth College and a
research associate at the National Bureau of Economic Research, Cam
bridge, Mass. Thomas L. Steinmeier is an associate professor of economics
at Texas Tech University and a research economist at the National Bureau
of Economic Research.
26
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rates in the states, also are examined. A final section dis
cusses implications of the descriptive statistics for the es
timation of retirement models.
The analytical framework
The framework for this analysis reflects a number of
relevant findings presented in our previous work. One such
finding is that partial retirement is indeed a widespread
phenomenon.1 Between the ages of 65 and 69, partial re
tirement is as common as continued full-time work.2 More
than one-third of the older white men who were not selfemployed in the Social Security Administration’s Retire
ment History Survey indicated that, during at least 1 of the
4 sample years between 1969 and 1975, they were partially
retired.3 Moreover, the probability of partial retirement re
mained high even for those who were in good health, did
not face mandatory retirement, and were not covered by a
pension.
A second important finding is that partially retired work
ers had significantly lower wage rates than comparable full
time workers.4 These lower wage rates may come about for
at least two reasons. First, surveys of both workers and
firms indicate that, in a majority of jobs, an individual is
not permitted to cut back from full-time to part-time work.5
Under such circumstances, if an older worker wishes to
reduce his work effort below full time, he must quit his
main job and find one that does permit part-time work,
usually at a lower wage rate. In some cases, the worker can
reduce his hours of work without changing jobs, albeit at a
reduction in the wage. As would be expected, the relatively
small fraction of individuals who are free to reduce hours
of work on their main job are overrepresented among those
who do partially retire.6
These findings may be incorporated into a formal lifecycle model as follows. An individual is presumed to choose
a time path for consumption and labor supply so as to max
imize lifetime utility:
0)
U =
ST
0 u[C(t),
L(t), t; 0 ] dt
where C(t) is consumption at time t, L(t) is leisure at time
t, and (3 is a vector of parameters that determine the nature
of the utility function u at any time t. The maximization of
the utility function is subject to the lifetime budget con
straint:7
(2)
fT
0 d(t) {WN[HN(t), t] + WP (HP(t), t]} dt
+ A„ = f g d(t) C(t) dt
where d(t) is the discount factor to time t\ WN[HN(t), f] is
the total compensation, including changes in pension and
social security asset values, from working HN(t) in the non
retirement job; Wp[HP(t), t] is the corresponding compen
sation for H P(t) hours in the partial retirement job; and A0
is the discounted value of the individual’s exogenous assets.8
Further constraints limit the potential quantities of labor
supply and relate labor supply to leisure:
(3)
HN(t) [hN — HN(t)] = 0
(4)
0 < HP(t) < hN
(5)
HN(t) HP(t) = 0
(6)
L(t) = 1 - HN(t) - HP(t) > 0
The first constraint specifies that the individual must work
either full time (where full-time work is a fraction, hN, of
available time) or not at all in the nonretirement job, while
the second specifies that the labor supplied to the partial
retirement job can range between none and full time.9 The
third constraint specifies that the individual cannot work at
both jobs simultaneously, and the last constraint defines
leisure as the time not supplied as labor.
Within the context of this model, the paths of wages in
the two types of jobs (that is, tenure dependence) will induce
bunching of hours. Most people will spend the first part of
their working lives in nonretirement jobs, where the wage
rate is higher than in partial retirement jobs. With increasing
age, however, the individual’s utility function is likely to
change in such a manner that full-time work generates in
creasing disutility to the point that he will quit the non
retirement job. Some people will find it advantageous to
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spend additional years in part-time employment, albeit at a
lower wage rate, while others will elect to bypass the stage
of partial retirement entirely and move directly to full re
tirement. Even for those who partially retire, the withinperiod utility function will continue to shift over time to
make work increasingly onerous, so that these people, too,
will eventually wish to retire fully. Hence, the sequence
that we expect to find most often is nonretirement, possibly
followed by partial retirement, followed by full retirement.
It is possible that some people will find it desirable or
necessary to move in the reverse direction from the sequence
indicated above. That is, they may work in a partial retire
ment job after being fully retired, or they may take a non
retirement job after being partially or fully retired. Such
“ reverse” flows may be generated by very substantial jumps
in wage rates in an individual’s later years, but this is not
a very persuasive reason for many such flows. A more
plausible explanation involves unexpected changes in a per
son’s economic or social circumstances that induce him to
change his mind and return to work for a period during
which he had anticipated being partially or fully retired. For
example, an individual might suffer large losses in the fi
nancial markets, and subsequently find he has fewer assets
than anticipated. His spouse might suffer from a serious
illness or injury which increases the household’s need for
income. Alternatively, he may retire and then find that he
does not enjoy his new status. Any of these circumstances
could lead the individual to recalculate the optimal path of
labor supply over his remaining lifetime, causing him to
move in the reverse direction from the typical nonretirementto-retirement sequence.
Descriptive statistics on retirement flows
Statistical evidence bearing on the magnitudes of the labor
force flows associated with the model described above is
available from the Retirement History Survey. Survey data
used in this study pertain only to white men who had not
been self-employed before retirement, for the years 1969,
1971, 1973, and 1975. Respondents included in the sample
were 58 to 63 years old in 1969.
So that a meaningful number of observations could be
obtained for each cell, some of the tables in this article do
not distinguish among different cohorts in survey years. In
such cases, the entry for a particular cell mixes observations
at different points in time and for different cohorts. There
are two problems with this procedure which the reader should
bear in mind. First, the unemployment rate differed widely
among the four survey years, ranging from 3.5 percent in
1969 to 8.5 percent in 1975. Second, there have been down
ward trends in male labor force participation rates— since
1900 for those over 65, and since the late 1960’s for those
55 to 6 4 .10 These trends could possibly be caused by secular
changes in many of the explanatory variables included in
the life-cycle model we describe, but might also reflect true
cohort effects. When the observations are pooled, these
27
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW July 1984 • Modeling the Retirement Process
differences are either hidden or, where the focus is on cal
endar age, may be correlated to some extent with the age
variable.
State probabilities. First, the simple percentages of the
sample who were not retired, were partially retired, or were
fully retired were examined. Table 1 presents these per
centages by survey year and by age of the respondent.11
Three aspects of this table are particularly noteworthy.
First, departure from the nonretirement state is indeed
pervasive between the ages of 58 and 68. The percentage
of individuals reporting in a particular survey that they were
not retired at all falls from 85 percent to 8 percent during
this 10-year span. This is accompanied by a very large
increase in the fraction of the sample who were fully retired,
and a smaller rise in the portion who were partially retired.
Second, among those who worked at all, partial retire
ment was more common than nonretirement for individuals
past the age of 65. For the 5-year span beginning at age 65
and ending at age 69, the fraction of individuals who were
partially retired holds fairly steady between 15 and 20 per
cent. During the same period, nonretirement falls from around
20 percent to a little more than 5 percent. These figures
again suggest that partial retirement is an important phe
nomenon, particularly in the older age ranges.
Finally, there appear to be unmistakable trends in the
proportions of the men not retired and fully retired. Between
1969 and 1973, the percentage of 62- and 63-year-olds not
retired dropped by 8 to 9 percentage points, and similar
declines are observed for 64- and 65-year-olds between 1971
and 1975. The figures for full retirement display an equally
large change in the opposite direction. What is not clear
from the table is whether there are similarly strong changes
for men under 62 or over 65, for whom the 1969-75 Re
tirement History Survey includes data from at most two
adjacent surveys. These data give some hint of such changes
for those cohorts, but they do not appear to be as strong as
for the 62- to 65-year-old group.
Transition rates among retirement states. Table 2 presents
the entry and exit rates among the various retirement states.12
T able 1.
The top panel of the table indicates entry rates from specific
states 2 years earlier. For example, of the people who were
partially retired, 44.1 percent had been not retired 2 years
earlier, 40.0 percent had been partially retired, and so on.
Note that the rows of this panel sum to 1. The bottom panel
of the table conveys the same kind of information on exit
rates to specific states 2 years later. For instance, of the
people who were not retired as of a particular survey, 10.5
percent were partially retired by the next survey, and 26.8
percent were fully retired. The columns of the bottom panel
sum to 1.
Three features of this table are of particular interest. First,
consider the exit rates from nonretirement. About 37.3 per
cent of the individuals who were not retired in one survey
were either partially or fully retired by the time of the next
survey 2 years later. Of those who left nonretirement and
did not become unemployed, 28.2 percent (calculated as
. 105/.373) partially retired, and the remaining 71.8 percent
fully retired. Again, these figures underscore the fact that
partial retirement is a phenomenon that affects a significant
fraction of the labor force during their later years.
The exit rates for partially retired workers also bear men
tion. There was only a 48.5-percent chance that an indi
vidual who was partially retired during one survey would
still be partially retired 2 years later. If exit from partial
retirement were a random process with a constant hazard
rate, this would imply that the average duration of partial
retirement is a little under 3 years.13 The assumption of a
constant hazard rate is undoubtedly an oversimplification,
but the findings nevertheless suggest that the duration of
partial retirement is quite short, particularly when compared
to the duration of an individual’s full-time work.
A third interesting feature of the table involves the flows
against the normal retirement paths. We noted earlier that,
in some cases with unusual wage paths, or in cases where
the individual encounters unforseen events, it is possible
that he might move in a direction counter to the predominant
retirement path. Table 2 indicates that this does indeed oc
cur. More specifically, of the people who entered partial
retirement (and who were not unemployed), about 23.4
percent [calculated as . 135/(. 135 + .441)] had been fully
R etirem ent status by age, selected years, 1 9 6 9 -7 5
P artial retire m en t
N o n retirem ent
Full re tire m e n t
Age
1969
1971
1973
1975
1969
1971
1973
1975
.05
.06
.06
.08
.12
—
.06
.07
.09
—
—
—
.10
—
—
1969
1971
1 973
1975
.09
.12
.12
.18
.23
—
.14
.20
.27
—
—
—
.33
—
—
—
—
__
.50
.67
.70
.72
.77
.76
58
59
60
61
62
................
...........................
...........................
...........................
...........................
85
.81
.79
.72
.64
—
—
.77
.70
.61
—
.56
—
—
—
—
63
64
65
66
67
...........................
...........................
...........................
...........................
...........................
.56
—
—
—
—
.49
.44
.24
—
—
.47
.40
.17
.13
.13
__
.35
.17
.11
.09
.16
—
—
—
—
.12
.13
.19
—
—
.09
.12
.16
.17
.15
__
.13
.15
.17
.18
.27
—
—
.36
.41
.54
—
—
—
—
.40
.47
.66
.69
.71
68 ...........................
69 ...........................
__
—
__
—
__
—
.08
.06
__
—
__
—
__
—
.15
.17
__
—
__
—
__
—
28
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
—
—
—
Tab le 2.
states
Tw o -year transition rates between labor force
Entry rates from —
Final status
Nonretirement ...........
Partial retirement . . .
Full retirement ...........
U nem ploym ent...........
N o n re tirem en t
P artial
retire m en t
Full
retire m en t
U nem ploym ent
.959
.441
.303
.711
.024
.400
.094
.093
.007
.135
.588
.069
.010
.024
.014
.127
N o n re tirem en t
Partial
retire m en t
Full
retire m en t
U nem ploym ent
.609
.105
.268
.018
.077
.485
.426
.012
.008
.057
.932
.003
.226
.208
.448
.118
Exit rates from —
Nonretirement ...........
Partial retirement . . .
Full retirement ...........
U nem ploym ent...........
retired in the previous survey. Of the men who left partial
retirement and did not become unemployed, 15.3 percent
[calculated as .077/(.077 + .426)] were not retired in the
next survey. The entry rate for the third “ reverse” flow,
that from full retirement to nonretirement, and the corre
sponding exit rate were both less than 1 percent.
Continuation rates by age. It is useful to examine in more
depth the way these flows, and especially the continuation
rates— the diagonal elements of the lower parts of table 2—
vary with age. Table 3 reports, by respondent’s age in the
initial year, the proportions of individuals who continue in
the same retirement category until the next survey 2 years
later.
How should these continuation rates behave? We know
that pension programs and mandatory retirement provisions
boost the likelihood of retirement at ages 62 and 65, either
by providing incentives for individuals to leave their jobs
or by forcing them to retire at a specified age. Moreover,
while there is controversy about the effects of social security
payments at 62, we know that beyond age 64 the benefit
adjustments for this cohort were not actuarially fair, pro
viding further incentive for retirement.14 In terms of labor
supply, the effects of changing health and family structure
and the increasing disutility of work should act to reduce
continuation rates in nonretirement below the high levels
typical of individuals in their prime working years.
There is indeed evidence of rapidly falling continuation
rates for nonretirement up to age 64. These range from 87
percent at age 58 to 27 percent at age 64— the age when
the strongest economic incentives to leave nonretirement
are about to be encountered. The continuation rates for 65to 67-year-olds lie above those for 64-year-olds, but well
below the rates observed for those in their late 50’s and
early 60’s.
For the partially retired, continuation rates hold relatively
steady in the 45- to 50-percent range up to age 64. The
continuation rates for full retirement are very high at all
ages, ranging from 91.8 to 94.4 percent. Among the un
employed, there are too few observations to permit gener
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alizations about the pattern of the continuation rates.
Duration dependence o f continuation rates. A related is
sue, particularly for partial retirement, is whether the con
tinuation rate depends on how long the individual has been
partially retired— that is, the duration dependence of con
tinuation rates.
To investigate this issue, we examined data for those
individuals who were not retired in 1969 but who were
partially retired in 1971. This avoids our having to deal with
periods of partial retirement already in progress. Moreover,
the requirement that individuals had been working full time
in 1969 ensures that we are looking at persons who are
following the normal retirement sequence and who perhaps
are not quite as likely to be responding to unusual or un
expected circumstances. Of this group, 292 were still in the
sample by 1973, and of that number 122, or 41.8 percent,
were still partially retired in 1973. Hence, a person partially
retired for the first time in 1971 had a 41.8-percent initial
2-year continuation rate.
Some 112 of the 122 individuals who were partially re
tired in both 1971 and 1973 were in the sample in 1975,
and of those men 75, or 67.7 percent, were still partially
retired. Hence, the 2-year continuation rate is considerably
higher for individuals with durations in partial retirement
of between 2 and 4 years than for individuals with durations
of less than 2 years.15 It should be kept in mind that these
individuals were also growing older with each successive
survey, and the evidence from table 3 indicates that this
could be part of the explanation as to why the individuals
exhibited higher continuation rates between 1973 and 1975
than between 1971 and 1973. Even so, the magnitude of
the increase in the continuation rate from 41.8 percent to
67.7 percent is relatively large compared to changes in the
continuation rates caused by an additional 2 years of age,
as indicated in table 3. It would appear that there is some
duration dependence, in that the continuation rate for partial
retirement increases with the length of time the individual
has been partially retired.
Table 3. Tw o-year labor force status continuation rates,
by age of respondent
Age in
in itia l period
Labor force status
N o n re tirem en t
P artial
retire m en t
Full
retire m en t
U nem ploym ent
5 8 ...................................
5 9 ....................................
6 0 ....................................
61 ....................................
6 2 ....................................
.873
.831
.713
.652
.632
.409
.472
.467
.450
.458
.926
.939
.934
.921
.918
1.222
1.267
.242
.070
.105
63
64
65
66
67
.327
.267
.415
.515
.432
.446
.475
.510
.597
.604
.931
.933
.934
.944
.932
.114
1.000
1.053
1.000
1.000
....................................
....................................
...................................
....................................
'Sample size less than 25.
29
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW July 1984 • Modeling the Retirement Process
Detailed flows fo r the partially retired. Table 4 looks at
the flows of partially retired men in somewhat greater detail
to shed some light on the mechanism of partial retirement.
These individuals are separated into three categories ac
cording to the relationship between their nonretirement and
partial retirement jobs. The top line of both sections of the
table considers individuals who have partially retired in jobs
in which they reported themselves not retired in a previous
survey or, if the observation is for the first survey, in jobs
which they started before age 55. The second line refers to
individuals who have partially retired to jobs which are
different from any jobs in which they reported themselves
not retired in prior surveys. The third line indicates indi
viduals who are partially retired, but for whom the rela
tionship of the nonretirement and partial retirement jobs
could not be classified in one of the other two categories.16
The information in the table has a couple of interesting
implications. First, it suggests that partial retirement in a
job previously reported as a nonretirement job and partial
retirement at a different job are relatively distinct paths. Of
the individuals leaving partial retirement in a job previously
reported as a nonretirement job, only 7.3 percent (calculated
as .039/.531) were found to be partially retired in a different
job, and of the individuals entering partial retirement in a
job not previously reported as a nonretirement job, only 4.4
percent (calculated as .032/.727) were entering from partial
retirement in a job previously reported as a nonretirement
job or in a different job.
Second, a comparison of the exit rates of individuals
partially retired in jobs previously reported as nonretirement
T able 4. D etailed 2 - year transition rates for partially
retired individuals
Entry rates fro m —
P artial re tire m e n t—
Final status
Partial retirement
in:
The nonretirement job . . .
A different
j o b ................
A nonclassitied job . . . .
Nonretire m en t
In the
non
retire m ent
job
In a
different
job
.566
.434
.000
.000
.000
.000
.422
.032
.273
.094
.144
.034
.051
.039
.285
.231
.034
.360
Full
U nem
In a nonclassified retire m en t ploym ent
job
Exit rates from p artia l re tire m e n t in—
The n o n retirem ent
job
A different
job
A nonclassified
job
.091
.069
.071
.000
Nonretirement . . .
Partial retirement
in:
The nonretirement job . . .
A different
j o b ..............
A nonclassitied job . . . .
.469
.000
.039
487
.082
.071
.081
.293
Full retirement . . .
.324
.354
.536
Unemployment . .
.006
.009
.018
30
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
jobs and individuals partially retired in different jobs indi
cates that the behavior of these two groups is generally
similar. A man partially retired in a job previously reported
as a nonretirement job was a couple of percentage points
(9.1 percent vs. 6.9 percent) more likely to return to non
retirement, while one partially retired in a different job was
3 percentage points (35.4 percent vs. 32.4 percent) more
likely to retire completely. Both groups were about equally
likely (57.9 percent vs. 56.8 percent) to continue partial
retirement in some form. Individuals who were partially
retired but who could not be assigned to either one of the
above categories appear to be somewhat different, with sub
stantially lower probabilities of continuing partial retirement
and substantially higher probabilities of complete retire
ment. It is likely that these unclassified individuals in fact
are partially retired in jobs they did not previously hold as
nonretirement jobs, but it is not possible to be entirely sure
of this.
Implications for retirement models
One aspect of the descriptive statistics from the Retire
ment History Survey has particular importance for retire
ment models of the type presented earlier in this article.
Namely, the data indicate that, although a substantial mi
nority of older men pass through a stage of partial retire
ment, the spells of such retirement typically are very short.
More than half of these spells appear to last less than 2
years, and it seems likely that few individuals would be
partially retired for a significant fraction of their working
lives. This fact, when considered together with the observed
incidence of partial retirement, provides a powerful clue to
the nature of the utility function on which individuals are
basing their retirement decisions.
Exhibit 1 illustrates this maximization problem facing the
individual at time t. (See appendix.) The indifference curve
I— I is one of a set of such curves, all of which are vertical
displacements of one another, or equivalently, all having
the same slope along any vertical line.17 The budget con
straint for the individual at time t consists of point A plus
the line segments between B and C. Point A corresponds to
the earnings and leisure available if the person chooses to
work on the nonretirement job. The series of line segments
between B and C represent potential income opportunities
if he works at a partial retirement job, allowing for effects
such as the reduction in social security benefits after a dis
regard amount.18 The individual chooses the point along
this constraint which enables him to reach the highest in
difference curve. This may occur at point A, in which case
the individual is nonretired, or at some point between B and
C, which corresponds to partial retirement, or at C, which
represents full retirement. (Notice that a value of zero at
time t, which is associated with point C, does not mean that
consumption, or income from social security, pensions, or
other programs would be zero should the outcome associated
with point C be chosen.)
E xhibit 1. T he earnings leisure choice at tim e t
This leaves a second explanation for short periods of
partial retirement, specifically, that the indifference curves
are rotating fairly rapidly. For example, when an individual
leaves the nonretirement job and partially retires, his indif
ference curve may have a tangency at any point along BC.
If the indifference curves are rotating rapidly, the point of
tangency will travel along BC toward C rather quickly, and
the individual will fully retire after a fairly brief spell of
partial retirement.
The descriptive statistics cited earlier thus suggest that
the indifference curves in exhibit 1 have enough curvature
that at least some persons partially retire, and that the curves
are rotating fairly rapidly, becoming significantly steeper as
the individual ages. But what do these results imply about
the utility function in the original structural model, namely
u[C(t), L(t), t; ß]l To examine this issue, consider the
specific function
(7)
Over time, this diagram changes in some important re
spects. First, the indifference curves will rotate clockwise—
that is, other things equal, they will become steeper as an
individual ages, reflecting the fact that work is likely to be
less attractive with increasing age. Point A may shift down
ward as well, because past a certain age the availability of
both social security and private pensions may reduce effec
tive compensation for work. The budget line between B and
C may also be affected, but here we would not expect the
effects to be too great, particularly for the part of the con
straint that lies below the social security disregard amount.
In this range, social security will not change the effective
compensation for employment, and partial retirement jobs
are unlikely to involve pension plans that alter the effective
compensation.
Now consider the implications of the two facts noted
above: first, that a substantial minority of older workers go
through a phase of partial retirement and, second, that for
most of them the period in partial retirement is fairly short.
According to exhibit l, there are two ways in which an
individual might find it optimal to retire partially for a short
time. One possibility is that he has a set of indifference
curves with just the right degree of curvature so that when
he leaves point A, the tangency with the budget segment
BC will already be very close to C. In this case, only a
slight rotation of the curve or a slight decline in the partial
retirement wage rate would be sufficient to induce him to
retire fully after a brief period of partial retirement. This
might be a satisfactory explanation for the behavior of some
individuals, but it seems unlikely that most partial retirees
have indifference curves so shaped that they retire for only
a short period despite the fact that they face a wide range
of wages in the nonretirement and partial retirement jobs.
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u[C(t), L(t), t; ß] = [0(t)/p]-[C(t)p
+ b(/3, t)L(t)p], p < l
where 6(t) is the time preference discount factor and <x =
1/(1 - p) is within-period elasticity of substitution between
consumption and leisure.19 The indifference curves implied
by this utility function have slope S„ = -b ( ß ,t) \L(t)/
C(t)\p~ '. The corresponding indifference curves in exhibit 1
have slope Sz = - b ( ß j ) 6(t) L(t)f,~'/\A y d(t)\.20 For a
given point in exhibit 1, Sy changes over time with the
quantity b (ß , t) 0(t)ld(t), while for a given point in the
consumption-leisure space of w, S„ changes according to
b(ß,t). Unless the rate of time preference exceeds the dis
count rate by a considerable amount, both sets of indiffer
ence curves will be rotating rapidly if either is. Thus, the
fact that few individuals who partially retire do so for long,
which suggests that the indifference curves in exhibit 1 are
rotating rapidly, implies that the indifference curves cor
responding to the utility function in the structural model
also are rotating rapidly as the individual ages.
Models for policy evaluation and research
The descriptive statistics presented in this article impose
some important requirements for a good structural retire
ment model. First, the model should be able to explain the
behavior of labor force status continuation rates, especially
the sharp dip in these rates as workers approach age 65. It
seems likely that the explanation for this dip lies in the effect
of pension and social security benefit formulae, mandatory
retirement policies, and other factors affecting the individ
ual’s consumption-leisure budget line. Certainly, models
that explain these continuation rates in terms of ad hoc,
discrete, age-related changes in slopes of the indifference
curves should be interpreted cautiously, particularly if they
are intended to predict the effects of hypothetical changes
in social security or pension rules.21 Second, a good struc
tural model must deal with the minority of observations for
31
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW July 1984 • Modeling the Retirement Process
which the flows appear to run counter to the normal retire
ment sequence. In particular, it is necessary to determine
whether these reverse flows are the result of expected but
unusual paths of the wages in the full-time or partial re
tirement jobs, or if, as seems more likely, they signify
responses to unforeseen events or to miscalculations. In the
latter case, the proper model may be a stochastic model in
which the individual recalculates the optimal labor supply
path in each period conditional on his past decisions, taking
into account current or expected future changes which were
not foreseen when he made his previous calculations.
The statistics also suggest an important characteristic of
the lifetime utility function that individuals are attempting
to maximize. Specifically, the fact that a significant number
partially retire but that few of them remain in the state for
very long implies that, whether the tradeoff is in terms of
earnings vs. leisure or consumption vs. leisure, the indif
ference curves of the individuals are relatively convex but
rotating fairly rapidly with age. If confirmed by further
studies, this would be an important finding, for the speed
with which these indifference curves rotate is a major factor
in estimating the effects of potential changes in such pro
grams as social security and private pensions on the amount
of labor individuals wish to supply to the market.
FOOTNOTES
1Alan L. Gustman and Thomas L. Steinmeier, “ Partial Retirement and
the Analysis of Retirement Behavior,” In d u s tr ia l a n d L a b o r R e la tio n s
R e v i e w , April 1984.
2For that analysis, the main job was defined as the job held by the
individual at age 55.
3The Retirement History Survey is a 10-year longitudinal survey of a
national sample of 11,153 persons age 58 to 63 in 1969. The survey reports
on the individual’s work history, health, financial status, and other infor
mation relevant for studying retirement. For a description of this survey,
see U.S. Department of Health, Education and Welfare. Social Security
Administration. Office of Research and Statistics. A l m o s t 6 5 : B a s e lin e
D a ta F r o m th e R e tir e m e n t H is to r y S tu d y (Washington. U.S. Government
Printing Office, 1976).
4Alan L. Gustman and Thomas L. Steinmeier. P a r tia l R e tir e m e n t a n d
Working Paper No. 1000 (Cam
bridge. Mass., National Bureau of Economic Research. October 1982).
5Alan L. Gustman and Thomas L. Steinmeier. “ Minimum Hours Con
straints and Retirement Behavior,” Contemporary Policy Issues, April
1983, pp. 77-91.
6Counting each observation for a given employer only one time, we
found that for a sample of older white men who were not self-employed.
53 percent of the partially retired were in jobs at which they had previously
worked full time, and the remainder were in jobs at which they had not
previously reported working full time. See Gustman and Steinmeier. P a r
tia l R e tir e m e n t a n d W a g e P r o file s . The proportion who partially retire on
jobs they held at age 55 is considerably smaller than the proportion who
partially retire on jobs they held while not retired. See Gustman and
Steinmeier, “ Partial Retirement and Retirement Behavior.”
7Including a bequest motive in the budget constraint would leave the
discussion unchanged.
8In this formal model, the "partial retirement" job may refer to a job
distinct from the nonretirement job, or it may refer to the opportunity to
remain in the nonretirement job and work less than full time at a reduced
wage. Separation from a job may also be involuntary. Note, however, that
it would be difficult to interpret the meaning of the reason for separation.
For example, an employer with an unemployment insurance tax rate that
was outside the range of experience rating might have agreed to lay off
some workers before they retired to allow them to collect unemployment
insurance benefits. The period covered by our data predates changes in
unemployment insurance regulations which were designed to deal with
such problems.
9A closely related model could be developed with the assumption that
labor supplied to the partial retirement job must fall within a more restricted
range.
10See, for example, Henry Aaron, E c o n o m ic E ffe c ts o f S o c ia l S e c u r ity
(Washington, The Brookings Institution, 1982).
"A fourth category, not included in table 1, consists of anyone who
reported that his major activity during the survey week was looking for
work. With the exception of one cell (61 year-olds in 1971), the percentage
in this category never exceeded 2 percent. People were classified as not
retired, partially retired, or fully retired on the basis of their answers to
W a g e P r o file s f o r O ld e r W o r k e r s , nber
32
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the question “Do you consider yourself to be completely retired, partially
retired, or not retired at all?”
12The figures in table 2 exclude data for individuals who dropped out
of the sample in the subsequent survey (for exit rates) or who were not in
the sample in the previous survey (for entry rates). The principal reasons
for being out of the sample were death and nonresponse. The percentages
of. individuals who dropped out of the sample by the next survey were
10.1
for nonretired workers,
11.4
for partially retired workers,
15.0
for
fully retired workers, and 10.2 for unemployed workers. Only 2.2 percent
of the individuals who dropped out of the sample subsequently reentered,
and most of those who did so reported themselves as fully retired.
13With a constant hazard rate, durations are distributed with the expo
nential density function f ( t) = y e x p ( - y t ) . If 51.5 percent of this distri
bution lies between zero and 2, y may be calculated as .362. The mean
of the distribution is then calculated as 2.76 years.
l4There is little reliable information on the incentive effects for partial
retirement. For some discussion, see Gustman and Steinmeier, “Minimum
Hours Constraints,” and “ Partial Retirement and the Analysis of Retire
ment Behavior.” Reduced-form retirement equations which include partial
retirement as an outcome are reported in the first paper.
15Given the sizes of the two samples, the difference between 41.8 percent
and 67.7 percent is statistically significant at better than a 1-percent con
fidence level.
16Note especially that this group includes anyone who was partially
retired during the initial survey but whose current job began after age 55.
17This may be shown by examining the slope of an indifference curve
at any point in the diagram. This slope is given by S L = Z J Z Y. From
appendix equation (12), Z L does not depend on Y (t), so that it may be written
Z L [L (t), /; /3, Ay d ( t) ] , and ZY = h Yd ( t) . Thus:
$ z = Z L [L (t), t; p , \ yd (t)]
[Ayd (t)]
Because Y (t) does not appear either directly or indirectly in this expression,
the slope of the indifference curve at time t depends only on L ( t) and all
the curves thus must have the same slope.
18For a related discussion, see Alan S. Blinder, P r iv a te P e n s io n s a n d
P u b lic P e n s io n s : T h e o r y a n d F a c t, nber Working Paper No. 902 (Cam
bridge, Mass., National Bureau of Economic Research. June 1982).
l9This is similar to the utility function presented in.Roger H. Gordon
and Alan S. Blinder, “ Market Wages, Reservation Wages and Retire
ment,” J o u r n a l o f P u b lic E c o n o m ic s , Vol. 14, 1980, pp. 277-308. Note
that it would not make sense to choose u to be linear homogeneous, for
the resulting indifference curves in the exhibit would necessarily be straight
lines. This may be shown as follows. In a linear homogenous function,
both uc and uL are strict functions of the ratio C (t)I L ( t), and hence of each
other. By appendix equation (10), uc is equal to AYd ( t ) , which is inde
pendent of earnings and leisure at time t, giving the result. The GordonBlinder function does satisfy the criterion that the degree of homogeneity
should be less than 1, yielding convex indifference curves as in exhibit 1.
20If P is close to 1, the indifference curves associated with both u and
Z have little curvature. Hence the existence of a substantial amount of
partial retirement at reduced compensation rates would suggest that p
cannot be close to 1for all individuals. This reasoning is contrary to Gordon
and Blinder’s empirical finding that p = 0.9, relatively close to 1.
21It might be argued that a more elaborate model than ours is appropriate
because discontinuities at particular ages may result from the influence of
some socially acceptable retirement age, which in turn is influenced by
program parameters. But to analyze the effects of changes in retirement
policy, the role of a socially acceptable retirement age should be modeled
explicitly, because the effects of these age terms may be altered by the
policy change.
APPENDIX: Converting from consumption to earnings
To derive the tradeoffs between earnings and leisure shown
in text exhibit 1, it is necessary to derive the relationship
between consumption and earnings along the solution path
of the model. At any point in time, the solution path max
imizes the quantity
(8)
0°)
Z(t) = u[C(t), L(t), t; (3\ + \ Y d(t) S(t)
where S(t) = Y(t) — C(t) is the amount saved in period t
and Y(t) = WN[HN(t), /] + WP \HP(t), /] is the net com
pensation for labor supplied in period t. \ Y may be inter
preted as the marginal utility of discounted lifetime income—
that is, the marginal utility of relaxing the lifetime budget
constraint by $ 1.1 It is chosen so that when this optimization
is implemented for all periods, the lifetime budget con
straint f T
Q d(t) S(t) dt + Aa — 0 is just satisfied. The max
imization is subject to the constraints of equations (3) through
(6), which describe the hours limitations on the two types
of employment.
If we substitute for S(t) in equation (8), the maximand in
this problem becomes
(9)
any of the constraints in text equations (3) through (6), the
value of C(t) which maximizes equation (9) may be found
simply by differentiating the equation and setting the result
equal to zero:
Z(t) = u[C(t), L(t), t; (3]
+ \ Y d(t) [Y(t) -
dZ(t)
^ - 7 = uc [C(t), L(t), t; 0] - \ Y d(t) = 0
where uc indicates the partial derivative with respect to the
first argument. This equation may then be solved for the
optimal C*(t) as a function of L(t) and Ayd(t):
(11)
C*(t) = C* [L(t), t; (3, \ Yd(t)]
This may in turn be substituted into equation (9) to yield:
(12)
Z(t) - u{C* [L(t), t; ¡3, \ Yd(t)], L(t), t; (3}
+ \ Yd(t) {Y(t) - C* |L(t), t; (3, XYd(t)]}
= Z[Y(t), L(t), t; (3, \ Yd(t)]
At a particular time, this means that the individual may be
viewed as maximizing a utility function involving only in
come and leisure,2 instead of consumption and leisure as in
equation (8). The maximization is done subject to the def
C(t)]
inition of Y(t) and the constraints of equations (3) through
Because C(t) appears neither in the definition of Y(t) nor in
( 6 ).
FOOTNOTES
1 See Thomas L. MaCurdy, “ An Empirical Model of Labor Supply In 'The fact that \ y appears in z [ ■] means that the function cannot be
a Life-Cycle Setting," J o u r n a l o f P o l itic a l E c o n o m y , December 1981,
viewed as constant from individual to individual, because k Y depends on
pp. 1059-85.
earnings opportunities in other years.
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33
Research
Summaries
Fewer students in work force
as school age population declines
A nne McDougall Y oung
The continuing decline in the 16- to 24-year-old population
accounted for most of the half million drop in the schoolage work force between October 1982 and October 1983.
Sixty percent of this decrease was among students. In ad
dition, labor force participation rates edged down among
most student groups but were unchanged among out-ofschool youth. Lower unemployment rates were recorded
among both students and nonstudents, reflecting the
strengthened economy. Not all worker groups shared in this
improvement, however.1 (See table 1.)
Students
Over a third of the high school students and over half of
all college students were in the labor force, that is, working
or looking for work, in October 1983. The labor force par
ticipation rate was virtually the same for female and male
students at each level of school attended. This is in sharp
contrast to the 1960's and early 1970's, when participation
rates were as much as 11 percentage points higher among
male high schoolers and 9 percentage points among male
full-time college students.
Employment. About 29 percent of high school students
and 40 percent of full-time college students had jobs in
October 1983. Students usually work in industries requiring
either irregular hours or extended schedules beyond “ 9 to
5 ,” such as retail stores, restaurants (including "fast food”
establishments), and financial service organizations. In Oc
tober 1983, 84 percent of all employed teenage students and
71 percent of employed 20- to 24-year-old students were in
the trade or services industries.
Full-time college students were employed an average of
18 hours per week compared to nearly 14 hours for high
Anne McDougall Young is an economist in the Division of Employment
and Unemployment Analysis, Office of Employment and Unemployment
Statistics, Bureau of Labor Statistics.
34
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0 001
o o
school students. (See table 2.) Relatively few students worked
full time (35 hours or more per week). Among both high
school and full-time college students, the trend since 1970
has been for the working hours of women to rise while those
of men have held steady, reflecting the increasing proportion
of women who worked 15 to 21 hours and the decreasing
proportion of men working more than 21 hours. Average
hours worked by full-time college women have increased
by more than 3 hours since 1967.
Among college students, paid employment is often ar
ranged as part of a financial aid package along with schol
arship grants and loans. The longitudinal study, "High School
and Beyond,” 2 reported that 56 percent of the 1980 high
school graduates who were enrolled in some form of post
secondary education used earnings to help finance their
schooling.3 About one-third of all employed full-time col
lege students worked up to 14 hours per week, and another
third worked 15 to 21 hours in October 1983.
Tab le 2. H ours w orked in nonag ricultu ral in dustries by
persons 16 to 24 years, enrolled in school by level of
school attend ed, and sex, selected years, O ctober 1 9 6 7 -8 3
[Numbers in thousands]
High school
Hours of w ork and sex
October
1967
October
1970
October
1973
October
1980
October
1 983
Total at work ......................................
Percent .................................................
1 to 14 hours .................................
15 to 21 hours ..............................
22 to 34 hours ..............................
35 hours and over ........................
2.953
100.0
61.7
19.8
11.7
6.7
3,163
100.0
57.3
24.0
12.6
6 1
3,740
100.0
51.6
27.3
14.5
6.6
3,311
100 0
51.0
30.5
13.4
5.1
2,836
100 0
57.2
28.6
9.9
4.3
Average hours (mean):
T o ta l...............................................
Men .........................................
Women ...................................
13.9
15.5
11 8
14.3
16.0
12.2
15.2
17.0
13.1
14.9
15.8
14.1
13.6
14.3
13.0
October
1967
October
1970
October
1973
October
1980
October
1983
Total at work ......................................
Percent .................................................
1 to 14 hours .................................
15 to 21 hours ..............................
22 to 34 hours ..............................
35 hours and over ........................
1,308
100.0
42.7
30 3
16.8
10.2
1.709
100 0
36.2
35.9
16.7
11.2
1.913
100 0
33.4
35.9
18.6
12.2
2.395
100 0
36 5
36.9
17.0
9.6
2.509
100.0
33.8
38 5
18.2
9.5
Average hours (mean):
T o ta l..............................................
Men .........................................
Women ....................................
17.2
19.6
14.3
18 2
20 6
15.6
18.9
21.4
16.9
17.8
19.7
17.4
18.2
19.6
17.6
F u ll-tim e college
Out-of-school youth
The labor force activity of 16- to 24-year-old men and
women who were no longer in school varied much more
than among students. Women were less likely than men to
be in the labor force at every level of completed education,
with the difference narrowing as years of schooling in
creased. (See table 1.) Among high school dropouts, the
labor force participation rate of women was 35 percentage
points lower than that of men. Family responsibilities ac
counted for a large part of the difference; about half of the
female dropouts were or had been married as of October
1983. However, male dropouts were more likely than women
to have left school for job-related reasons or to support their
family.4 At the other end of the educational spectrum, the
difference in participation rates between male and female
college graduates differed by only about 4 percentage points.
Except for high school dropouts, unemployment rates
were generally about the same for men and women who
were no longer in school and had completed the same years
of schooling. Among persons with 4 years of high school
or more, male and female unemployment rates have differed
by only 1 or 2 percentage points since the mid-1970’s.
Among the dropouts, women’s unemployment rates have
historically been 5 to 8 percentage points higher than those
of men. By October 1982, the difference had narrowed, in
part, because of the recession-related increase in unem
ployment among men. In October 1983, the difference re
mained small, but the unemployment rate for women was
once again significantly higher as the unemployment rate
T ab le 1. E m ploym ent status of persons 16 to 24 years by school enrollm ent status, years of school com pleted, and sex,
O ctober, 1 9 8 2 -8 3
[Numbers in thousands]
Characteristic
C ivilian
noninstitutional
population
C ivilian
lab o r force
P articip atio n
rate
U nem ployed
U nem p lo ym en t
rate
1982
1983
1 982
1 983
1 982
1983
1982
1983
1982
1 983
36,452
35,884
24,076
23,557
66.0
65.6
4,331
3,704
18.0
15.7
Total, 16 to 24 years .......................................................................
16 to 19 y e a rs ...............................................................................
20 to 24 years ...............................................................................
15,624
10,725
4.897
15,357
10,637
4.720
7,194
4,398
2,796
6,883
4,233
2,650
46.0
41.0
57.1
44.8
39.8
56.1
1,202
916
286
1,053
798
255
16.7
20.8
10.2
15.5
18.9
9.6
High s c h o o l.....................................................................................
C ollege.............................................................................................
Full-time students ....................................................................
Part-time s tu d e n ts ....................................................................
7,701
7,923
6,546
1,377
7,628
7,728
6,453
1,275
2,970
4,222
2,992
1,230
2,802
4,080
2,955
1,125
38.6
53.3
45.7
89.3
36.7
52.8
45.8
88.2
707
496
381
115
621
433
350
83
23.8
11.7
12.7
9.3
22.2
10.6
11.8
7.4
Men, 16 to 24 y e a rs ....................................................................
16 to 19 years ..........................................................................
20 to 24 years ..........................................................................
7,991
5,457
2,534
7,942
5,360
2,582
3,628
2,211
1,417
3,563
2,127
1,436
45.4
40.5
55.9
44.9
39.7
55.6
674
493
180
568
422
146
18.6
22.3
12.7
15.9
19.8
10.2
High s c h o o l...............................................................................
C o lle g e ........................................................................................
Part-time students ...............................................................
4,045
3,945
3,336
609
4,016
3,925
3.294
631
1,589
2,038
1,481
557
1,490
2.070
1,500
570
39.3
51.7
44.9
91.5
37.1
52.7
45.5
90.3
417
258
186
72
344
223
182
41
26.2
12.7
12.6
12.9
23.1
10.9
12.3
7.2
Women, 16 to 24 y e a rs ...............................................................
16 to 19 years ..........................................................................
20 to 24 years ..........................................................................
7.633
5.270
2,363
7.415
5.277
2,138
3,566
2,187
1.379
3,320
2,106
1.214
46.7
41.5
58.4
44.8
39.9
56.8
528
423
105
485
376
109
14.8
19.3
7.6
14.6
17.9
9.0
High s c h o o l..........................................................................
C o lle g e ..................................................................................
Full-time students ...............................................................
Part-time students ............................................................
3.656
3.978
3,210
768
3.612
3.803
3.159
644
1.381
2.184
1.511
673
1,312
2.010
1.455
555
37 8
54.9
47.1
87.6
36.3
52.9
46.1
86.2
290
238
195
43
277
210
168
42
21.0
10.9
12.9
6.4
21.1
10.4
11.5
7.6
Total. 16 to 24 years .......................................................................
16 to 19 y e a rs ...............................................................................
20 to 24 years ...............................................................................
20.828
4.901
15.926
20.527
4.486
16.041
16.882
3.709
13.173
16.674
3,387
13.286
81.1
75.7
82.7
81.2
75.5
82 8
3.129
1,009
2.120
2,651
829
1,822
18.5
27.2
16.1
15.9
24.5
13.7
Men. 16 to 24 y e a rs ....................................................................
16 to 19 years ..........................................................................
20 to 24 years ..........................................................................
9.947
2,359
7.588
9.770
2.226
7.544
9.056
1.971
7.086
8.878
1.855
7.023
91.0
83.6
93 4
90 9
83.3
93.1
1.742
542
1.200
1,462
448
1,014
19.2
27.5
16.9
16.5
24.2
14.4
Less than 4 years of high school .........................................
16 to 19 years .....................................................................
20 to 24 years ....................................................................
4 years of high school ....................................................
1 to 3 years of college .......................................................
4 years of college or m o r e .................................................
2.600
981
1.620
5.313
1.333
701
2.631
882
1.749
5.232
1.259
648
2.193
765
1.428
4.915
1,262
687
2.182
662
1.520
4.856
1.201
638
84.3
78 0
88.1
92 5
94.7
98.0
82.9
75.1
86.9
92 8
95 4
98.5
684
297
387
851
148
58
572
216
356
730
121
38
31.2
38.8
27.1
17.3
11.7
8.4
26.2
32.6
23.4
15.0
10.1
6.0
Women. 16 to 24 y e a rs ...............................................................
16 to 24 years ..........................................................................
20 to 24 years ..........................................................................
10.881
2,543
8.338
10,757
2.260
8.497
7,826
1.739
6.087
7.795
1.532
6.263
71.9
68.4
73.0
72.5
67 8
73.7
1,387
466
921
1,189
381
808
17.7
26.8
15.1
15.3
24.9
12.9
Less than 4 years of high school .........................................
16 to 19 years ....................................................................
20 to 24 years ....................................................................
4 years of high school .......................................................
1 to 3 years of college .......................................................
4 years of college or m o re .................................................
2,455
910
1.545
5,903
1.691
833
2,275
745
1.530
5,803
1,726
955
1,159
442
719
4,464
1.428
775
1,082
335
747
4,342
1.468
904
47.2
48 6
46.5
75.6
84.4
93.0
47.6
45.0
48 8
74.8
85.1
94.7
382
172
212
769
160
76
319
110
209
671
131
70
33.0
38.9
29.5
17.2
11.2
9.8
29.5
32.8
28.0
15.5
8.9
7.7
Total, 16 to 24 y e a rs .......................................................
Enrolled
Full-tim e students
...................................................................
Not en ro lled
N ote:
Because of rounding, sums of individual items may not equal totals.
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35
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW July 1984 • Research Summaries
for men declined more during recovery.
White, black, and Hispanic youth
Labor force participation was about unchanged over the
year among white and black youth for both students and
nonstudents. (See table 3.) Black youth, however, continued
to be less than half as likely as whites to be in the labor
force while in high school, and substantial differences also
persisted by race among college students and out-of-school
youth at all educational attainment levels. Participation rates
for black high school students and high school graduates
have been declining for several years. Among black high
school students, for example, the participation rate slipped
from 25 percent in October 1978 and 1979 to 16 percent in
October 1983 and declined from 78 to 72 percent over the
same period for black high school graduates. On the other
hand, the participation rates for black college students and
those out of school with some college education have been
fairly stable.
Labor force participation rates of Hispanic students were
also about unchanged over the year and remained between
those of black and white youth. Relatively more Hispanic
than white students in the labor force were enrolled at the
high school level, perhaps reflecting slower progress in school
for those who lacked a facility with English and/or were
poorly prepared. Some 38 percent of the Hispanic high
school students were age 18 or older, compared to 17 percent
of the white high schoolers. Among youth no longer in
school, Hispanics were twice as likely as whites to have
left school before graduating from high school, reflecting,
T ab le 3. Labor force participation and unem ploym ent
rates of persons 16 to 24 years old by school enrollm ent,
race, and H ispanic origin, O ctober 1 9 8 2 -8 3
E n rollm ent status
W hite
Black
Hispanic
origin
T a b le 4. S chool e nrollm ent and labor force status of 1983
high school g raduates and 1 9 8 2 -8 3 school dropo uts 16 to
24 years, by sex, race, and H ispanic origin, O ctober 1 9 8 2 83
[Numbers in thousands]
O ctober 1983
O ctober 1982
P a rtic i
pation
rate
Un
em p lo y
m ent
rate
C ivilian
noninstitutional
population
P a rtic i
pation
rate
Un
em ploy
m ent
rate
3,100
63.0
22.5
2,964
63.6
22.3
Men ................
W o m e n ...........
White ..............
Black ..............
Hispanic
origin
1,508
1,592
2,644
384
174
64.7
61.3
64.5
54.9
57.0
21.2
23.9
19.0
53.0
34.3
1.390
1,574
2,496
392
138
67.5
60.2
64.6
57.4
63.8
22.6
22.0
7.7
49.6
21.6
Enrolled in
college ...........
Men ................
W o m e n ...........
Full-time
students . . .
Part-time
students . . .
White ..............
Black ..............
Hispanic
origin . . . .
1,568
44.3
15.7
1,562
44.9
17.0
739
829
1,419
42.8
45.7
40.6
14.6
16.6
16.3
721
841
1,416
47.7
42.6
41.5
17.4
16.5
16.0
149
79.2
12.7
146
78.8
21.7
1,376
140
46.1
30.0
15.0
(2)
1.372
151
46.7
27.8
15.6
<2)
75
33.3
(2)
75
34.7
(2)
Not enrolled in
college
Men .................
Women ' : . . . .
White ..............
Black ..............
Hispanic
origin . . . .
1.532
82.0
26.3
1.402
84.5
25.5
769
763
1,268
244
85.8
78.2
84.6
69.3
24.4
28.5
21.4
58.0
669
733
1.124
241
88.8
80.5
86.4
75.9
25.6
25.4
19.2
54.1
99
74.7
(2)
63
<2 )
(2)
668
63.0
41.6
597
63.1
31.6
355
313
216
76.6
47.6
50.5
43.4
38.3
38.5
329
268
208
75.4
48.1
50.0
32.7
29.5
33.7
96
513
135
41.7
67.1
51.9
(2)
36.0
(2)
60
445
124
(2)
63.8
57.3
25.7
(2)
73
(2)
(2)
79
67.1
<2 )
C h ara cteristic
Total recent high
school
graduates1 . . .
Total recent
school
dropouts1
Men ..............
Women . . . .
Single . . .
Other
marital
status . .
White ...........
Black ...........
Hispanic
origin . . .
C ivilian
nonin stitu tional
population
(2 )
1Data refer to persons who graduated from high school or dropped out of school
between October 1981-82 or October 1982-83.
2Percent not shown where base is less than 75,000.
Note: Detail for the above race and Hispanic-origin groups will not sum to totals
because data for the “ other races” group are not presented and Hispanics are included
in both the white and black population groups.
1982
1983
1982
1983
1982
1 983
Labor force participation rate . . . . 49.2
High school students .............. 43.0
College students ...................... 54.8
48.4
41.6
54.6
28.7
18.6
44.4
25.6
16.1
41.1
34.6
23.5
53.8
35.6
25.9
52.2
Unemployment r a te ........................... 14.7
High school students .............. 21.2
College students ...................... 10.2
13.5
19.4
9.4
36.7
52.7
26.6
35.6
56.4
22.3
22.4
36.6
12.7
16.8
18.8
15.7
in part, the need to help support their families as well as
lack of opportunity for some of the immigrants among them
to have attended school in their native country.
82.7
68.2
85.2
89.3
95.4
83.4
68.9
85.5
90.4
96.5
72.2
59.3
74.7
88.2
(1)
69.4
57.3
71.7
82.6
90.7
71.3
65.0
76.0
79.6
(1)
72.9
66.3
77.2
81.8
(1)
Unemployment r a te ........................... 15.7
Less than 4 years of high school 27.8
4 years of high school only . . . . 14.6
8.9
College: 1 to 3 years ................
4 years or more . . . . 8.6
12.8
23.5
11.9
7.3
5.9
38.6
52.9
35.7
28.4
(1)
37.3
48.0
37.5
23.8
23.1
21.4
24.7
19.9
15.2
(1)
17.7
22.0
17.5
3.4
(1)
Unemployment rates dropped somewhat over the year
among most groups of white students, and much larger
declines took place among those no longer in school. For
the latter group, the unemployment rates of 5.9 percent for
college graduates, 11.9 for high school graduates, and 23.5
for high school dropouts were 2 to 4 percentage points lower
than in 1982. By contrast, unemployment rates among black
youth, both in and out of school, were nearly three times
Enrolled
Not en ro lled
Labor force participation rate . . . .
Less than 4 years of high school
4 years of high school only . . . .
College: 1 to 3 years ................
4 years or more . . . .
1Data not shown where base is less than 75,000.
36
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as high as for whites and showed relatively little response
to improved economic conditions. For Hispanic youth, job
less rates declined substantially among high school students
and those no longer in school. However, the unemployment
rate for out-of-school Hispanic youth remained almost 5
percentage points higher than for white youth.
Recent high school graduates and dropouts
Although there were fewer high school graduates in 1983
than in 1982, about the same number went on to college in
both years. (See table 4.) Thus, college enrollment levels
remained unchanged, as a somewhat higher entry rate offset
the declining school-age population. Black high school
graduates continued to be less likely to enter college than
white or Hispanic graduates.
Nearly 85 percent of recent high school graduates not
enrolled in college were in the labor force in October 1983.
This was somewhat higher than in October 1982, but, in
contrast to the situation among the total out-of-school youth
group, the unemployment rate for recent graduates was vir
tually unchanged. As among all 16- to 24-year-olds with a
high school diploma, lower proportions of black and His
panic recent graduates were in the labor force compared
with whites.
The number of recent high school dropouts declined over
the year, reflecting the decrease in the teenage population.
In both 1982 and 1983, recent school leavers accounted for
about 3 percent of all 16- to 24-year-olds no longer in school,
down from 4 percent during the peak years of the baby
boom. While about the same proportion of dropouts as a
year earlier were in the labor force, unemployment rates for
this group decreased by about 10 percentage points for both
men and women.
I I
-------- F O O T N O T E S ---------
1Data in this report are based primarily on supplementary questions in
the October 1983 Current Population Survey (CPS), conducted and tab
ulated for the Bureau of Labor Statistics by the Bureau of the Census.
Most data relate to persons 16 to 24 years of age in the civilian noninstitutional population in the week ending Oct. 15, 1983.
Sampling variability may be relatively large in cases where the numbers
are small. Small estimates, or small differences between estimates, should
be interpreted with caution. For the most recent report in this series, see
Anne McDougall Young, “Youth labor force marked turning point in
1982,” M o n th ly L a b o r R e v ie w , August 1983, pp. 29-32, reprinted with
additional tabular data and explanatory notes as Bulletin 2192 (Bureau of
Labor Statistics, December 1983).
2High School and Beyond (HS&B) is a national longitudinal study of
high school students being conducted by the National Center for Education
Statistics (NCES).
3P a c k a g in g o f G r a n ts , L o a n s , a n d E a rn in g s f o r F in a n c in g P o s ts e c o n d
a r y E d u c a tio n , Bulletin 83-2206 (National Center for Education Statistics,
February 1984).
4Samuel S. Peng, H ig h
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P eter C appelli
The Nation’s recent experience with high unemployment
and occupational dislocation has renewed the interest of
workers and their unions in improving employment security
through the collective bargaining process. William M. Davis
notes, for example, that employment security was the most
important topic in the 1983 round of national negotiations,1
and results of a 1982 survey by D. Quinn Mills also suggest
that concern with unemployment has been a major influence
shaping current union bargaining positions.2
A number of innovative arrangements to improve em
ployment security have come out of recent contract nego
tiations. Of these, perhaps the most interesting and important
are the Guaranteed Income Stream (gis) plans introduced
in the auto industry. These plans address the growing prob
lem of structural unemployment by providing a novel form
of income protection for workers, and financial incentives
for firms to avoid long-term layoffs and to find alternative
employment for workers who are laid off.
gis
versus other plans
There are two basic ways to ensure employment security.
The first, and most straightforward, is to guarantee jobs
directly, as in the case of contractual manning levels. In
practice, these guarantees are difficult for workers to secure
because they pose considerable risk to firms facing uncertain
product markets. According to a June 1982 Business Week
poll, only 2 percent of the firms surveyed were willing to
provide explicit employment guarantees even in return for
union concessions on other issues.3 The most noteworthy
of such agreements, the lifetime employment experiment
introduced in the auto industry in 1982, covers relatively
few workers in a small number of plants, giving rise to the
possibility that these jobs will be guaranteed at the expense
of employment and production opportunities at noncovered
automaking facilities.
The second and more common method for addressing the
problem of unemployment is through income maintenance
plans. These protect workers’ income from employment
adjustments and provide financial incentives for firms to
minimize layoffs. The most important of these are supple
mental unemployment benefit plans ( subs), which are a
contractual form of unemployment insurance with perfect
experience rating— each employer bears the total cost of
unemployment benefits for its workers.4 (State-sponsored
plans, in contrast, involve cross-subsidization because an
S c h o o l D r o p o u ts : D e s c r ip tiv e I n fo r m a tio n f r o m
Bulletin 83-221 b (National Center for Education
Statistics, November 1983.)
H ig h S c h o o l a n d B e y o n d ,
Auto industry experiments with
the Guaranteed Income Stream
Peter Cappelli is an assistant professor at the Institute of Labor and In
dustrial Relations, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
37
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW July 1984 • Research Summaries
employer’s contributions may not completely reflect the
benefits its workers receive.)
subs and other income maintenance plans create incen
tives for stabilizing employment because they reduce the
marginal cost of employment for covered workers. Because
the employer must pay the sub benefit when its workers are
idle, the marginal cost of keeping a worker occupied pro
ductively is merely the difference between the sub payment
and the wage rate. One might expect this reduction in the
marginal cost of labor to affect firms’ operating decisions.
With marginal cost pricing, they would be more likely to
cut prices during economic downturns, maintaining pro
duction and employment levels.5 Unfortunately, there is
ample evidence that these income maintenance plans do not
provide sufficient incentives for companies to stabilize em
ployment in the face of steep recessions and structural changes
in product markets. Further, the temporary income protec
tion provided by subs, which were designed to cushion
against short-term cyclical adjustments, is not adequate for
the longer-term, structural unemployment characteristic of
the 1980’s.
The gis plan represents an alternative which shares the
basic income maintenance approach but differs from sub
plans in several important ways. First, while subs and other
income maintenance plans end after relatively short periods
(for example, 2 years) and provide temporary support for
the long-term unemployed, gis plans furnish benefits to
eligible workers until they retire, if necessary. If subs pro
vide a “ guaranteed annual wage,’’6 then gis plans provide
a guaranteed lifetime wage. Second, qualification for gis
eligibility is based on earnings rather than simply on em
ployment status. That is, a laid-off worker could find em
ployment elsewhere and still be eligible for gis benefits as
long as his or her earnings from the alternative job were
below a specified level. Finally, the benefits provided by
the gis plan are not completely offset by outside earnings
until those earnings reach a specified “ breakeven point.”
This is unlike the case for subs, where benefits are com
pletely offset. Thus, workers can increase their net income
under the gis program by accepting other paid employment.
In fact, the gis plan is a type of negative income tax
similar in form to the Family Assistance Plan proposed
during the Nixon Administration. Eligible workers receive
a minimum benefit, and outside earnings from alternative
employment are “ taxed” or offset by reductions in that
benefit. Because the rate of offset is less than complete (80
percent), workers net 20 cents from every dollar of outside
earnings. Therefore, they have some incentive to seek al
ternative employment. Benefits continue to be paid until
workers reach a combined income level (benefits plus earn
ings) call the “ breakeven point” (1/tax rate), which in this
case equals 125 percent of the minimum benefit. Beyond
38
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this point, additional earnings are completely offset by ben
efit reductions, and the plan ceases to function.
Those employees with more than 15 years of seniority
(10 years in cases of plant shutdowns) are eligible for the
gis program after their sub benefits have been exhausted.
The minimum benefit is equal to 50 percent of pretax earn
ings and rises 1 percentage point with each additional year
of seniority. The table below shows the net earnings of GIS
participants with pretax earnings of $400 per week at dif
ferent levels of seniority and outside earnings:
Seniority and
_________ 0utside earnin8s
minimum benefit
$0
$200 $250 $325 $375
15 years (50 percent) . . $200 $240 $250* $325 $375
30 years (65 percent) . . 260
300 310
325* 375
40 years (75 percent) . . 300
340 350
365
375*
»Indicates breakeven points.
The gis approach differs from other income maintenance
programs both in the type of unemployment it addresses
and in the incentives it creates for workers and employers.
Unlike sub plans, which tie laid-off workers to their former
employers, gis plans create incentives to find alternative
employment. The complete sub benefit offset by earnings
from an alternative job leaves workers with little financial
incentive to look for work elsewhere, and the fact that ben
efits end after a reasonably short period means that firms
have less of an incentive to find new jobs for these workers.
sub plans are beneficial to employers because they increase
the likelihood that laid-off workers would be available for
recall at the end of temporary cyclical downturns.
gis, in contrast, provides workers with financial incen
tives to find alternative employment because the benefit
offset is less than complete. Moreover, the long period of
eligibility associated with gis encourages firms to avoid
layoffs by increasing the costs of permanent layoffs and
reducing the marginal cost of keeping workers productively
employed. Once workers are laid off, however, that long
period of eligibility creates strong incentives for the firm to
help workers find alternative employment at rates of pay
above the gis breakeven level.
Labor force effects of gis
One can get some idea of the likely effects of gis plans
by looking at the results of the negative income tax dem
onstration projects that were conducted during the 1970’s.
From the standpoint of public policy, the most important
concern about negative income tax plans was their effect on
labor supply. Economic theory suggests that the introduction
of minimum benefits will cause an income effect that would
curtail labor supply. The benefit offset would reduce the
return from working, producing a substitution effect that
also reduces labor supply. Results from various demonstra
tion projects showed the effects of negative income tax pro
grams on labor supply to be rather small. Recipients tended
to search longer for jobs and found marginally better-paying
ones. It also appeared that the employment effects of the
negative income tax extended to the families of recipients
as well, the most important change being a reduction in
labor force participation by wives of recipients.7
Another important effect of negative income tax-type plans
like g is may be their influence on the types of jobs that
workers choose. To the extent that higher pay compensates
for unpleasant work, one might expect gis to reduce the
incentives to accept such work because the worker receives
less than the compensating wage differential after the benefit
offset.
The magnitude of these effects depends largely on the
rate of “ tax,” or benefit offset, prescribed by the plans.
The tax rate determines the breakeven point, as well as the
marginal incentives to alter one’s behavior. If the rate is too
low, the program covers more workers with higher earnings
and becomes a burdensome expense to the company; if it
is too high, workers have little incentive to pursue alternative
employment. It might seem that the gis 80-percent tax rate
is quite high. A worker accepting employment at $10 per
hour, for example, would net only $2 per hour and would
pay government taxes on those earnings. Such a worker in
the 30-percent tax bracket would take home only an addi
tional $1.40 per hour after government taxes and the benefit
offset.
Because the gis plan is new and eligibility was not ex
tended to workers who had previously exhausted their su b
benefits, relatively few workers currently are drawing ben
efits from the plan. One of the requirements for continued
eligibility is that workers must accept suitable employment
when it is offered, and many workers lost their eligibility
rather than accept transfers to auto plants in other parts of
the country. Employers point out that within the same lo
cation, there has been little difficulty getting workers to
accept new jobs with the company, but that it has been
extremely difficult to get them to take jobs with other em
ployers where the pay is less and the benefit offset applies.
This suggests that the high rate of benefit offset may be a
factor inhibiting reemployment.
In a theoretical sen se, perhaps the m ost interesting aspect
o f the g is program is that it represents one o f the more
clearcut exam p les o f labor-m anagem ent behavior that has
fallen under the rubric o f im plicit contracting; because the
incentives created by g is plans extend the firm’s interest in
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
its employees beyond layoffs through to the end of their
working lives, the collective bargaining agreement implic
itly becomes almost a lifetime contract.8 Further, the firm
has financial incentives to see that workers find well-paying
jobs and the contractual right to ensure that workers accept
suitable employment. In this sense, one might expect the
firm to take on some of the functions of an employment
agency: identifying potential jobs for its laid-off workers,
setting up job interviews, perhaps counseling workers in
order to improve their success in the job market, and de
termining the reasons for unsuccessful job search by some
plan participants.
W hether g is pl a n s w ill spread to other industries as su b
plans did during the 1 9 5 0 ’s w ill depend largely on the pace
o f structural change in the econ om y, g is plans provide pro
tection from structural unem ploym ent for senior em ployees
in a w ay that su b s and seniority-based layoffs cannot. If
w orkers in other U.S. industries continue to feel threatened
by large-scale layoffs and plant shutdowns in com ing years,
one m ight exp ect their unions to respond with dem ands for
G is-type programs. In any even t, g is plans represent an
important innovation in labor-m anagem ent relations and sig
nal a renewed effort to address em ployment problems through
the co lle c tiv e bargaining process.
-------- F O O T N O T E S ---------
' William M. Davis. "Collective bargaining in 1983: a crowded agenda,”
January 1983. pp. 3-16.
2D. Quinn Mills. "When Employees Make Concessions." H a r v a r d
B u s in e s s R e v ie w . May-June 1983. pp. 103-13.
7B u s in e ss W eek , unpublished results of a June 14. 1982. survey.
4For a history of sub plans and their development, see John Becker.
G u a r a n te e d In c o m e f o r th e U n e m p lo y e d (Baltimore, Johns Hopkins Press
1967).
Peter Cappelli and Barry Nalebuff. "Supplemental Unemployment Benefit
Plans and the Response of Employers,” mimeo. January 1983.
(’For a discussion of this position, see Herman Feldman, "The Annual
Wage—Where Are We?” A m e ric a n E c o n o m ic R e v ie w . December 1947,
pp. 15-19.
7See Albert Rees and Harold W. Watts, "An Overview of the Labor
Supply Results,” in Joseph A. Pechman and P. Michael Timpane, eds.,
M o n th ly L a b o r R e v ie w ,
W o rk I n c e n tiv e s a n d I n c o m e G u a r a n te e s : Th e N e w J e r s e y N e g a tiv e I n c o m e
(Washington. The Brookings Institution, 1975); and Gary
Burtless and David Greenberg. "Measuring the Impact of Negative Income
Tax Experiments on Work Effort,’’ I n d u s tr ia l a n d L a b o r R e la tio n s R e v ie w ,
July 1983. pp. 592-605 for a review of these results.
xWorkers continue to be covered by gis as long as they maintain the
required level of seniority. The requirements governing the loss of seniority
while on layoff are complex and are subject to negotiation. Those workers
currently eligible for the gis program will continue to be covered by it
even if the program is not renewed in future contracts. Questions about
eligibility and benefit levels are answered by the joint board (chaired by
an independent member) that administers the gis program.
T a x E x p e r im e n t
39
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW July 1984 • Research Summaries
Incentives in manufacturing:
the carrot and the stick
F r ederic L. P ryor
To what degree do different incentives substitute for or
complement each other in the manufacturing sector? Al
though this question has received considerable attention on
the plant level, relatively little information is available on
the subject for the U.S. manufacturing sector as a whole.
This study presents the results of a small survey designed
to elicit information so as to determine the contours of this
important problem.
The study focuses on both positive and negative incen
tives, that is, the carrot and the stick. Positive incentive
plans tie the compensation of the individual workers directly
with the work that is done and are of two basic types:
Individual incentives include piecework or various types of
bonuses for exceeding norms; Group incentives tie the bonus
to the performance of the group as a whole, for example,
profit-sharing plans, stock ownership plans, bonuses based
on aggregative indicators such as production or productivity.
Negative incentives are threats or actual use of punishment,
including financial penalties. These include the hiring of
additional supervisors to monitor the performance of work
ers or firing workers for poor performance. Although some
borderline cases can be cited for which it is difficult to
determine whether a particular incentive is positive or neg
ative, in most cases the distinction should be relatively clear.
For the most part, both positive and negative incentives
are unilaterally imposed, that is management-controlled (but
often constrained by union contracts), in contrast to quality
circles and labor-management committees which are bilat
eral or cooperative efforts. I do not analyze these latter
measures because they raise a set of considerations far from
the major theme of this study.
Because both positive and negative incentives serve many
of the same ends, they can be substitutes for each other.
However, it is also possible that some incentives are com
plementary to each other. For instance, a high rate of su
pervision may lead to a high rate of firing (a conjecture not
supported by the data below) or individual and group in
centives may accompany each other (a proposition which
does receive support). Current economic theory tells us little
about such relations of complementarity or substitution; such
an analysis must, therefore, be carried out primarily on an
empirical level.
The sample
A questionnaire consisting of about 65 questions was sent
in the summer of 1981 to a stratified random sample of
Frederic L. Pryor is a professor of economics at Swarthmore College.
40
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2,050 U.S. manufacturing establishments and addressed to
the production manager.1 The questions focused on hourly
plant employees and covered not only questions about in
centives but also the opinions of the managers about the
effectiveness of particular incentives and about the changes
in the intensity of work.2 Three hundred and sixty usable
replies were received, and the final sample represents plants
employing slightly less than 86,000 production workers (about
0.62 percent of total manufacturing workers). Although the
survey is too small to offer conclusive results, a number of
propositions are generated which warrant more extensive
testing.
The characteristics of the plants in the sample parallel
reasonably closely the characteristics of the total universe
of U.S. manufacturing plants. The breakdown by two-digit
industries (Standard Industrial Classification) is roughly similar
to the United States as a whole.3 The size distribution of
plants is quite close to that of the total universe of American
plants with 100 workers or more; however, workers in plants
with 50 to 99 employees are underrepresented by 40 percent.
Therefore, the results obtained should be considered only
as reflecting conditions in larger plants and more impersonal
working conditions. Geographical distribution of the plants
in my survey appears quite similar to the country as a whole4
and the percentage of unionized workers appears roughly
the same as the entire manufacturing sector. In sum, al
though the sample is not perfect, it appears to reflect the
broad structure of the U.S. manufacturing sector except, as
intended, for very small plants.
The data collected differ from the compensation surveys
of the Bureau of Labor Statistics in two important aspects.
The bl s data focus on a narrow range of incentives at the
level of the worker, whereas my data focus on a broad range
of incentives at the level of plant (for any production workers
within the plant).
Positive incentives
Plant managers were asked if they had an incentive plan
system for a large proportion of their hourly plant workers
and, if so, which of a variety of specified methods they
used. Summary results concerning the usage of such plans
are presented in table 1.
Problems in presenting the data arise because many plants
have more than one positive incentive plan; and in the most
disaggregated classification (not given), those plants having
plans with positive incentives averaged 1.4 different plans
per plant. In the more aggregated classification presented
in the table, roughly 30 percent of the plans report more
than one type of incentive plan, and 16 percent of all plants
(which cover 22 percent of the workers) have both personal
and group incentive plans. This multiplicity of various pos
itive incentive plans within a single plant suggest that at the
plant level, such incentive systems are complementary. It
appears likely, however, that within the plant different groups
of workers may participate in different types of incentive
Table 1. Reported usage of incentive plans for production
workers1
[In percent]
Plans
Plants
Production
workers
............................................................
100
100
Plants with any incentive p la n s ...................
With personal incentive p la n s ................
P ie ce w o rk..............................................
Bonuses for exceeding norms2 . . . .
Other3 ....................................................
54
31
16
16
2
59
38
17
23
1
With group incentive p la n s ......................
Profit sharing or profit bonuses . . . .
Stock purchase ......................................
Bonuses based on aggregative indicators
(production, sales, shipments) . . .
Sharing cost savings, productivity
increases............................................
32
21
4
9
33
12
7
14
3
3
With miscellaneous p la n s .........................
1
0
All plants
1The data for each category are presented net of all duplications. Hence, the sums of
the parts are larger than the reported total, with the differences reflecting the extent to
which various plants have several types of plans.
2These include plans based on "standard hour" or “ standard day” as well as “ in
dividual production bonuses.”
3These Include bonuses for good attendance and base-pay increases for “ good work.”
schemes. For instance, assembly line workers might have
group bonuses, while those in subsidiary activities might
have individual bonuses.
If we examine the percentage of plants with positive in
centive plans by industry, we find enormous variations in
both personal and group incentives. In trying to understand
this variation, I investigated a number of causal variables
and the results can be briefly summarized.
• Influence o f labor unions: There appears to be no sig
nificant relationship between the presence of a labor union
and the existence of personal incentive plans; however,
group incentive plans (especially profit-sharing or stockownership plans for blue-collar workers) are less likely
to be found in plants with labor unions. For example,
only 19 percent of plants with a majority of hourly work
ers which are unionized offered a group incentive plan,
compared with 44 percent of plants with a majority of
nonunion hourly workers.
• Size o f plant: No interesting relationships were found
except that profit-sharing or profit-bonus plans are used
mostly in smaller plants.
• Technology: I asked the production managers to classify
the technology of their plant into one of six types: tra
ditional hand technology, general machining, assembly
line, continuous flow technology, machine tending, and
other. Only a few significant relations were found (for
example, plants using continual process technologies have
fewer personal incentive plans). I found no evidence to
back Norma W. Carlson’s contention5 that personal in
centive plans are less likely to be found in machine-paced
production, although the difference in our results may lie
in the fact that I tried to classify technology of individual
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plants, while she characterized the type of technology
using an industrial classification.
• Cost effectiveness o f such plans: It is difficult to deter
mine the cost effectiveness to the manufacturer of using
such plans. However, it is noteworthy that the rank order
of industries using piecework or personal incentive plans
is highly correlated with a similar rank ordering of in
dustry in France.6 This suggests that use of certain tech
nologies in the production of particular types of goods
strongly influences the cost effectiveness of personal in
centive plans.
Negative incentives
I asked each manager to designate the number of hourly
plant employees for each immediate supervisor. The results
(which can be obtained from the author) show a statistically
significant and positive relationship between the number of
workers per supervisor and the size of the plant. For in
stance, 21 percent of the plants with fewer than 100 workers
had 17 or more production workers per immediate super
visor, while 33 percent of plants with more than 500 workers
had this low a degree of supervision. Other factors such as
the degree of unionization, the type of technology, and so
forth were not found to be statistically related to the degree
of supervision.
Among the questions, I asked the production managers
to rate the effectiveness of various types of incentives for
increasing productivity. Of the 11 different measures pro
vided in the list for that question, “ more supervision of
workers” numbered among the least effective. However,
they did rank “ more training of supervisory personnel” the
single most effective measure to achieve higher productiv
ity. This suggests that the managers consider the positive
help that supervisors can give to their subordinates much
more effective in raising productivity than the police role
that the supervisors may play.
In addition, I asked the production managers to provide
the percentage of workers “ fired in the past year for poor
job performance.” The quantitative results examined by
industry are quite similar to previously unpublished b l s
surveys on the phenomenon.7
The most important causal factor underlying the rate of
firing appears to be the degree of unionization. For instance,
in plants with a majority of production workers unionized,
5 percent or more workers were annually fired in only 25
percent of the plants; among plants with a majority of non
union workers, this percentage was 44 percent. Such results
parallel the findings of Charles Brown and James L. Medoff8
and Richard B. Freeman9, who present quite different types
of evidence showing that unionization is inversely related
to labor turnover. This phenomenon is more dramatically
seen when we examine changes in the rate of firing poor
workers when the unionization status of workers has changed.
For instance, in my sample, the rate of firing poor workers
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MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW July 1984 • Research Summaries
increased over the last decade in 33 percent of the plants
which are not unionized now but were unionized a decade
ago; while this rate increased in only 20 percent of the plants
which are now unionized but which were not unionized a
decade ago. These results cannot tell us, however, whether
the cause of this inverse relationship between labor turnover
and unionization is due to the greater “ voice“ which union
workers receive (an explanation offered by Freeman [1980],
Brown and Medoff [1978] and others) or is due to union
efforts to reduce the rate at which workers are fired.
Are the two types of negative incentives complements to
each other (as are the two types of positive incentives) or
substitutes? At a particular time, such a relationship cannot
be easily seen; however, the time series data suggest strongly
that they are substitutes. For instance, where the ratio of
supervisors to production workers has increased over the
last decade, the rate of firing increased in only 24 percent
of the plants; where the degree of supervision has decreased
over the last decade, the rate of firing has increased in 42
percent of them. This inverse relationship between changes
in the degree of supervision and changes in the degree of
firing poor workers means that if plants cannot (either be
cause of pressure from labor unions or other considerations)
encourage productivity by firing poor workers, they appear
to increase the rate of supervision instead.
Positive and negative incentives compared
Analyzing the degree to which positive and negative in
centives are substitutes or complements raises some prob
lems. Because the two types of negative incentives appear
to be substitutes for each other, aggregating them and com
paring the results with the aggregate results of the positive
incentives does not seem a fruitful way of attacking the
problem. Instead, a more disaggregative approach is re
quired.
The following is a comparison of some positive and neg
ative incentives by presence of incentive plan and the num
ber of production workers per immediate supervisor:
Presence of
personal incentive plan
Yes
Production workers per
supervisor
1 through 8 ...................
9 through 16 ................
17 and over ..................
No
37
71
24
97
42
57
x2 = 13.5
Presence of
group incentive
plan
Yes
No
37
71
46
75
79
20
x2 = 8.6
The reported chi square statistics (y2) are uncorrected for
the size of the sample. Both of the calculated statistics are
significant at the .95 degree of confidence.
The above results suggest that there is a statistically sig
nificant inverse relationship between the use of incentive
plans (particularly, individual incentive plans) and close
supervision of workers. That is, the greater the use of in
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
centive pay systems, the lower the degree of supervisor,
and vice versa. The relationship is revealed not only at a
single point in time but in other calculations where changes
in the use of positive incentives and changes in the degree
of supervision are examined over time.
Because intensive supervision and the rate of firing appear
inversely related to each other and because intensive su
pervision and the presence of positive incentives also appear
inversely related, we might expect to find a positive rela
tionship between the rate of firing and the presence of pos
itive incentives. Although this complementary relationship
can, indeed, be found for particular types of positive in
centives (for example, piecerate) and the rate of firing, such
a positive relationship on an aggregative basis is not ob
served either at a single point in time or over time.
T his small sample survey of the American manufactur
ing sector suggests that positive incentives (individual and
group plans) are complementary to each other, that major
negative incentives (the rate of supervision and the rate of
firing) are substitutes for each other, and that the positive
incentives and the rate of supervision are also substitutes
for each other.
While it would be possible to carry out a similar survey
on a much larger scale, more useful information could be
gained if both plant and individual data could be obtained.
That is, data on the types of workers within a given plant
covered by particular types of incentives would be more
useful than the plant data which I have collected. This in
formation would provide a database permitting not only a
much closer look at the suitability of particular types of
incentives for particular types of workers but also would
permit a closer monitoring of some important managerial
efforts to increase productivity. Combined with data on plant
performance, we could also begin the important task of
assessing the effectiveness of particular types of
incentives.
--------F O O T N O T E S -------A cknow ledgment : The research for this study is part of a larger project
that was financed by, and carried out at: Swarthmore College, the Centre
d’économie quantitative et comparative at the Ecole des hautes études en
sciences sociales (Paris) and the Institut universitaire des hautes études
internationale (Geneva). I would like to thank these institutions for their
aid. In addition, I would like to express my appreciation to David Granick,
Clark Kerr, Marie Lavigne, Jerome A. Mark, Daniel Pryor, Millard H.
Pryor, Jr., Millard H. Pryor Sr., Zora Pryor, and Richard Rubin for their
useful comments and help at various stages of this research.
All comparisons with U.S. manufacturing plants as a whole are made
with the universe of plants in 1977, the last year for which detailed data
were available to me. Almost all such comparisons are made with the
census of manufacturing data for that year.
1The names of the plants were obtained from a direct mailing company
whose master list was reported to contain 86 percent of all U.S. plants.
To reduce the costs of the survey and to increase its coverage of total
workers, the questionnaires were sent only to plants with more than 50
reported employees.
2The latter results are reported in Frederic L. Pryor, “ Some Economics
of Sloth,” T h e S o c ia l S c ie n c e R e v i e w , 5, No. 1 (Fall 1983), pp. 82-102.
3The average coverage of production workers is 0.624 percent; the
standard deviation of this ratio among the 20 two-digit manufacturing
industries is 0.242. The most underrepresented industry in the sample is
leather and leather products (sic 31), followed by rubber and plastic prod
ucts (sic 30), and then printing and publishing (sic 27). The most over
represented industry is electrical machinery (sic 36), followed by stone,
glass and clay products (sic 32) and then tobacco and tobacco products
(sic 21). The last industry, although overrepresented by the number of
workers, is represented only by one plant. In most of the statistical work
underlying this study, I combined the most underrepresented industries
into one group.
4The Northeast region is somewhat underrepresented and the Deep South
is somewhat overrepresented. Otherwise, the representation of the nine
census regions is very close to the national distribution.
5Norma W. Carlson, “Time rates tighten their grip on manufacturing
industries,” M o n th ly L a b o r R e v ie w , May 1982, pp. 15-23.
6Of the five industries in both the United States and France with the
highest percentage of workers covered under such personal incentive plans,
four are the same: textile (sic 22), apparel (sic 23), transportation equip
ment (sic 37), and nonelectrical machinery (sic 35). Of the five industries
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
in each nation with the least usage of such plans, four are the same:
chemicals (sic 28), rubber and plastic products (sic 30), food and tobacco
(sic 20 and 21 combined), and wood and furniture (sic 24 and 25 com
bined). The French data come from Elisabeth Vlassenko, “ L’enquête sur
la structure des salaires,” E c o n o m ie e t s ta tis tiq u e . No. 131 (March 1981),
pp. 23-35; and L a s tr u c tu r e d e s s a la ir e s d a n s l ’in d u s tr ie e t le s s e r v ic e s
en 1 9 7 8 in L e s c o lle c tio n d e / ’ i n s e e . Séries M., No. 90-91 (March 1981).
7A former plant manager raised an interesting objection at this point—
namely, that neither my data nor the bls data on firing are very accurate
because of ambiguities arising from treatment of the probationary period
that each new worker serves. Before the end of this period, any worker
can be “released” with ease; and it is unclear whether such actions are
included in either the bls or my data on fired workers because personnel
on the probationary period are not, in a very real sense, regular workers.
8Charles Brown and James L. Medoff, "Trade Unions in the Production
Process,” J o u r n a l o f P o litic a l E c o n o m y , 86, No. 3 (June 1978), pp. 355—
78.
9Richard B. Freeman, “The Exit-Voice Tradeoff in the Labor Markets:
Unions, Job Tenure, Quits, and Separations,” Q u a r te r ly J o u r n a l o f E c o
n o m ic s , 94, No. 4 (June 1980), pp. 643-74.
Carnegie-Mellon honors BLS Commissioner
Commissioner of Labor Statistics Janet L. Norwood received an
honorary Doctor of Laws degree May 14 from Carnegie-Mellon
University. The citation read in part:
Economist and statistician, methodological innovator, manager
and government leader . . . As Commissioner of the Bureau of
Labor Statistics in this its Centennial year, she is the guardian of
the nation’s two most im portant statistical series—the unemploy
ment rate and the consumer price index . . .
Her own words and actions present to us the model of a
dedicated civil servant and true professional: a commitment to ob
jectivity and fairness, an insistence on candor at all times, protec
tion of confidentiality, the constant pursuit of improvement and a
willingness to change, and finally the maintenance of the highest
standards of performance at all times . . .
M ajor Agreements
Expiring Next M onth
This list of selected collective bargaining agreements expiring in August is based on contracts on file
in the Bureau’s Office of Wages and Industrial Relations. The list includes agreements covering
1000 workers or more.
E m ployer and location
Alabama Power Company (Alabama) .............................................................
American Bakeries Company and 2 others
(New York and New Jersey) ......................................................................
Industry
Labor o rgan ization 1
Electrical Workers
Food products ...........................
(ib e w )
................
Bakery and Tobacco Workers . .
Beech Aircraft Corp. (Kansas and Colorado)..................................................
N um ber o f
w orkers
3,700
1,000
6 7S0
Champion International Corp.. Champion Papers Division (Canton. N.C.) . . Paper .........................................
Colt Industries, Inc., Fairbanks Morse Engine Division (Beloit. Wis.) . . . . Machinery..................................
Paperworkers......... ................
Steelworkers ..............................
1,650
1.150
Delaware Valley Set-Up Box Association (Pennsylvania).............................
Paper .........................................
Paperworkers..............................
1,100
General Telephone Company of Florida (Florida) .........................................
Golden Gate Restaurant Association (California) ...........................................
Communication .........................
Restaurants ................................
8.800
3,500
Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Company (Michigan) ......................................
Retail trade ................................
Electrical Workers ( i b e w ) ................
Hotel Employees and Restaurant
Employees
United Food and Commercial
Workers
Kroger Company, Detroit Branch (Michigan) ................................................
Retail trade ...............................
United Food and Commercial
Workers
5,200
Leviton Manufacturing Company. Inc. (New Y o rk )......................................
Maintenance Contractors agreement (Boston. Mass.)- ..................................
Mechanical Contractors District of Columbia Association. Inc.
(District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia)
Mechanical Contractors District of Columbia Association. Inc.
(District of Columbia)
William Powell Company (Cincinnati. O hio)..................................................
'Affiliated with AFL-CIO except where noted as independent (Ind.).
industry area (group of companies signing same contract).
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1.000
2 000
6 OOO
Construction .............................
2,100
Construction .............................
1.100
1,100
Developments in
Industrial Relations
First 1984 settlement in cement industry
Lone Star Industries, Inc. and the Cement, Lime, Gypsum
and Allied Workers Division of the Boilermakers union
negotiated the first settlement in the 1984 round of bar
gaining in the cement industry. In a deviation from past
practice, the other companies did not soon settle on similar
terms. The uncertainty about the course of bargaining was
heightened by the union’s strike against the various oper
ations of Lehigh Portland Cement Co. A union official con
tended that the walkout was necessitated by a company effort
“ to break up pattern bargaining in the cement industry by
blaming workers for the cement industry’s problems.” Dur
ing the last few years, the industry has been beset by prob
lems stemming from high energy costs and increased imports
that have been manifested in company mergers and shut
downs.
The Lone Star accord reflected these conditions, provid
ing for what the union called “ minor gains in wages” of
25 cents an hour in each of the 3 years of the contract. The
provision for automatic quarterly cost-of-living pay adjust
ments was continued, but the adjustments, which begin in
1985, are payable only if the Consumer Price Index rises
more than 7 percent during a 12-month period.
Lone Star also agreed to a $2 increase in the pension rate,
in three steps, bringing it to $22.50 a month for each year
of credited service, and to a 10-cent increase in its 15-centan-hour financing of supplemental unemployment benefits.
Other benefit changes included the elimination of two of
the 12 annual paid holidays in the first year. One of the
holidays will be restored in the second year. Paid vacations
also were reduced, beginning when employees move from
one length of service step to the next (such as from the 5year step to the 10-year step).
Aerospace accord
In the aerospace industry, 9,600 workers in St. Louis,
Mo., were covered by a settlement between McDonnell
Douglas Corp. and the Machinists union. The 3-year accord
was patterned after the company’s earlier settlements with
the Machinists and Auto Workers unions for the West Coast
“ Developments in Industrial Relations” is prepared by George Ruben of
the Division of Developments in Labor-Management Relations, Bureau of
Labor Statistics, and is largely based on information from secondary sources.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
operations. (See Monthly Labor Review, April 1984, p. 49.)
The terms included —
• No specified pay adjustments except for increases of 5,
21, or 22 cents for employees in the highest grades.
• Annual lump-sum payments equal to 3 percent of pay
during the preceding 12 months.
• Continuation of automatic quarterly cost-of-living pay ad
justments, now limited to the highest paid 75 percent of
the workers.
• Lower pay rates for new employees.
• A revision of the health insurance plan requiring em
ployees to begin contributing $2 a week for single cov
erage and $4 for family coverage, with each amount rising
by 20 cents in both the second and third contract years.
• An increase in the pension rate to $17 a month for each
year of past service and $20 for each year of future ser
vice, from $15 for all service. The workers also received
a refund of contributions they had made prior to 1969,
when the pension plan became fully company paid. The
refund ranged up to $5,600 for some workers.
• Increased life insurance and an improved savings plan.
nlrb
decisions
The National Labor Relations Board announced two de
cisions unfavorable to organized labor.
In one decision, the board held that the National Labor
Relations Act should not preclude managers from asking
workers about union organizing activities or union sym
pathies. This was a return to the guiding principle of labor
law that had prevailed until 1980, when the board expanded
the types of management contacts with employees that would
be viewed as intimidation.
In its 3 to 1 ruling, the board held that the 1980 decision
“ improperly established a per se rule that completely dis
regarded the circumstances surrounding an alleged inter
rogation.”
The 1984 ruling, which reversed the decision of an ad
ministrative law judge, involved the Hotel Employees and
Restaurant Employees union and Rossmore House, a private
retirement home in California. According to the union, man
agers of the home had violated the National Labor Relations
Act by questioning Warren Harvey, an employee who had
informed them he was attempting to organize fellow em-
45
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW July 1984 • Developments in Industrial Relations
ployees. The company did not deny that the managers had
questioned Harvey and had expressed their determination
to resist the organizing effort, but contended that they made
no coercive or threatening statements.
The dissenting opinion came from Donald Zimmerman,
who said that the majority ruling “ ignores the reality that
employers sometimes use subtle coercion during an organ
izing campaign and fails to recognize that even open union
adherents may be intimidated by such coercion.”
In the other decision, the board held that it cannot order
an employer who has committed unfair labor practices to
negotiate with a union that is not supported by a majority
of the workers in the bargaining unit. This reversed the
position the board had taken in 1982 in another case.
The current ruling reversed the finding of an administra
tive law judge who had ruled that Gourmet Foods Inc.
committed a number of unfair labor practices to thwart an
organizing drive by the Teamsters and, therefore, should be
required to bargain with the union, even though the union
was not supported by a majority of the employees. Ac
cording to the judge, the specialty foods company’s tactics
had included threats to fire its employees and close the plant,
located in St. Paul, Minn.
In its 3 to 1 decision, the board said the bargaining order
issued in the 1982 case involving Conair Corp. a New Jersey
firm, was improper because it amounted to “ governmental
imposition of a choice of representatives.” The board also
said that the majority-rule principle is fundamental to the
workers’ right to choose a union and must be maintained
even in the most “ exceptional” cases.
The dissent again came from board member Zimmerman
who noted a 1969 Supreme Court decision that identified a
class of unfair labor practices so coercive in nature that they
prevented union elections from being held. He said that if
the board does not use its power to correct such practices,
it fails in its duty to “ preserve employee rights to self
organization and free choice of a collective bargaining rep
resentative.”
Supreme Court rules on agency shop fees
In a setback for organized labor, the Supreme Court re
stricted the activities that unions in the railroad and airline
transportation industries may finance using fees obtained
from workers who object to the expenditures. The Court’s
interpretation of the Railway Labor Act applies only to
workers who are represented by a union in collective bar
gaining but are not members of the union. The money at
question is the so-called “ agency shop fee” paid by “ non
members” in lieu of the dues paid by fellow employees
who are members of the union.
In the ruling, written by Justice Byron White, the Court
said that if an employee objects, the employee’s agency
shop payments cannot be used for organizing other workers
or for paying union legal expenses for lawsuits over issues
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
not specifically related to the bargaining agreement covering
the workers. However, the Justices said it is improper for
a union to collect money from all employees it represents
and then refund a portion of agency shop fees to employees
who object to certain uses of the money. The Court said
this amounted to involuntary loans to the union.
The impact on unions was reduced somewhat by the Jus
tices’ conclusion that, even if employees object, dues and
agency shop fees can be used for conventions at which union
officers are elected and bargaining goals are set, for refresh
ments and social activities at business meetings of local
unions, and for union publications, except articles regarding
political activity.
In a partial dissent, Justice Lewis Powell contended that
convention costs should not be charged to agency shop fees.
Union attorneys said the decision was limited because it
does not apply to workers in other industries who are cov
ered by the National Labor Relations Act; because it does
not limit spending for conventions, the largest expenditure
of the union involved in the case; and because comingling
of agency shop fees and dues for all purposes is legal unless
dissenters inform the union of their objection.
The case, Ellis v. Brotherway o f Railway Clerks, was
initiated by employees of Western Airlines who sued over
use of the agency shop payments they were making to the
union.
Law firms not exempt from Title VII
The Supreme Court held that a law firm must comply
with Federal anti-discrimination laws when deciding which
members of the firm should be elevated to partners. The
ruling also means that firms with more than 15 employees
will be subject to scrutiny by the Equal Employment Op
portunity Commission, which enforces the law, Title VII
of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. (Title VII bars discrimi
nation in hiring and firing in any “ terms, conditions or
privileges of employment” because of a person’s race, sex,
religion, or national origin.)
The case began in 1980, when Elizabeth Anderson Hishon
sued her former employer, the Atlanta law firm of King and
Spalding, asserting that it had engaged in sex discrimination
when it passed her over for partnership. According to Hishon,
when she started with the firm in 1972 she had been prom
ised that she would be considered “ on a fair and equal
basis” for partnership. The Supreme Court said this promise
may have created a contract which Hishon can try to prove
was violated. The Court remanded the case to Federal Dis
trict Court in Atlanta for trial.
The law firm argued before the Supreme Court that Title
VII did not apply to the case because selection of partners
is a business decision rather than an employer-employee
relationship. The unanimous decision, written by Chief Jus
tice Warren Burger, said that there was no historical evi
dence that the Congress meant to exempt law firms from
Title VII coverage. Burger said the possibility of becoming
a partner “ may qualify as a privilege of employment’’ that
“ may not be doled out in a discriminatory fashion.”
Hishon, now a partner in another Atlanta law firm, asked
for damages and back pay from King and Spalding. In 1978,
when she was passed over for partnership, King and Spald
ing had never had a female partner. Currently, two of its
64 partners are women. A survey of large law firms con
ducted by the National Journal newspaper showed that women
make up 30.4 percent of all associates in the firms, but only
5 percent of the partners.
Public utility settlements
In the electric power industry, Public Service Co. of
Indiana and the International Brotherhood of Electrical
Workers ( ibew) negotiated a 1-year extension of an agree
ment scheduled to expire on April 30. The settlement did
not provide for any changes in wages or benefits for the
2,200 workers.
The ibew also settled with Central Maine Power Co. for
more than 1,000 workers. The 2-year contract provided for
3 percent pay increases at the beginning of each contract
year. Benefit changes included adoption of a savings and
investment plan and adoption of a $100 annual deductible
for basic medical benefits.
In New Jersey, Public Service Electric and Gas Co. and
three unions negotiated 3-year contracts that called for wage
increases of 5.32, 5.05, and 6 percent on May 1 of 1984,
1985, and 1986, respectively. Other terms for the 7,300
workers included increased pension benefits and adoption
of prescription drug plan. The unions were the ibew, the
Plumbers and Pipefitters, and the Utility Co. Workers As
sociation.
Seven thousand employees of Southern California Gas
Co. were covered by 2-year contracts with the Utility Work
ers and Chemical Workers unions that called for a 6-percent
pay increase in the first year and a 5.5-percent increase in
the second. Prior to settlement, their pay averaged $12.04
an hour. A provision for automatic cost-of-living pay ad
justments was terminated, and annual health insurance de
ductibles paid by workers were raised to $200, from $100.
In Pennsylvania, 1,100 workers were covered by a set
tlement between West Penn Power Co. and the Utility
Workers. The accord provided for a 5-percent increase in
all pay rates except starting rates for new employees, which
were not changed. The bargaining was conducted under a
wage reopening provision of a contract scheduled to expire
in 1986.
Insurance contract features new pension plan
Metropolitan Life Insurance Co. and the Professional In
surance, Finance and Health Care Division of the United
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Food and Commercial Workers negotiated a 3-year contract
that included provisions for a new pension plan and for
moderating the company’s cost for health insurance.
The new pension plan, established under Section 401 (k)
of the Internal Revenue Code, permits the 3,000 insurance
agents to defer taxes on their 3-percent (of earnings) con
tributions into the pension plan until they begin drawing
money from the plan at age 59 Vi or later. Metropolitan also
contributes an equal amount to the basic plan. The plan is
linked to the existing savings and investment plan enabling
the agents to designate an additional 1 to 10 percent of their
earnings into either the basic plan or the savings and in
vestment plan, or to divide the amount between each.
The provisions to hold down health care costs include a
$356 annual deductible for individuals and $712 for fami
lies, and 90 percent payment for most medical expenses.
The exceptions include 100 percent reimbursement, with no
deductible, for surgery, preadmission testing, home health
care, hospice care, and confinement in extended care fa
cilities; no reimbursement of hospital room and board charges
for Fridays and Saturdays if admissions on those days are
not of an emergency nature; and 100 percent reimbursement
with no deductible for second surgical opinions. (If an em
ployee does not obtain a second opinion for certain non
emergency surgical procedures, the plan only covers 50
percent of the cost above the deductible.)
Under the previous plan, there was a $100 deductible for
out-of-hospital expenses and the company paid 80 percent
of any additional expense. In-hospital expenses were fully
covered if they did not exceed reasonable and customary
charges
In any case, under the new contract the maximum annual
cost to an employee for deductibles and coinsurance will
equal 5 percent of annual income, with a minimum of $750
and maximum of $2,500.
The employee contribution toward health insurance was
changed to $2.50 a week for self-only coverage and $6 a
week for family coverage. Previously, agents with 3 years
or more of service paid $1.25 for self-only coverage and
$3 for family coverage, and those with less service paid
$2.75 for self-only coverage and $6 for family coverage.
The company also established a division to aid the agents
in selling group insurance to employees in large national
organizations such as business firms and trade associations.
In conjunction with this action, the parties agreed on a
schedule of payments to the agents for the various activities
involved in selling the coverage.
The parties also agreed on a new commission schedule
that pays larger percentage amounts to employees who sell
a broad line of policies rather than concentrating on a few
types.
D
47
Book Reviews
The transformation of work
The Work Revolution. By Gail Garfield Schwartz and Wil
liam Neikirk. New York, Rawson Associates, 1983.
255 pp. $14.95.
Changes in technology, international trade patterns, and
immigration flows are all part of a “ work revolution” in
the United States. The number and kinds of jobs, workplace
interactions, skill requirements, and education and training
resources have been, or will be, affected by these changes.
The authors— Gail Garfield Schwartz, a Washington-based
economic consultant, and William Neikirk, the Chicago
Tribune’s economic correspondent— feel that the problems
surrounding these changes have not been well defined and
that outdated solutions have been applied in an effort to
resolve them. Drawing from their own knowledge, as well
as that of other researchers, they raise important policy
issues about, and offer solutions to, a topical and immediate
concern— structural change in the American economy. The
main theme throughout the narrative is “ what was true in
the past is not going to be true in the future.” But strict
adherence to this philosophy does not always serve the au
thors; history is often the best teacher.
The primary purpose of the book is to provide a glimpse
of the future of work from the authors' viewpoint. In the
first half of the book, the authors attempt to qualify and
somewhat quantify the depth of the job crisis that will be
experienced by American workers as a result of a growth
in factory and office automation, imports, and the illegal
immigrant work force. Although the book is very infor
mative, some of the findings are loosely substantiated and
rest more on conjecture than fact. However, information on
how future workers should proceed with their education and
their job search is of considerable value. The acquisition of
transferable skills, applicable to a broad range of jobs is
recommended. An example given is computer competence.
The technological revolution in information management
and communication is the force behind the new “ knowl
edge-based economy.” The authors argue that changes will
spread rapidly and echo the agricultural revolution and not
the industrial revolution. That is, the trend will be much
higher output with fewer workers. Worker displacement will
greatly exceed job creation. However, the authors offer no
persuasive evidence that the increase in technology will have
48
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
such a rapid impact on the work force. They assume that
the escalating cost of capital relative to labor will not inhibit
the substitution of capital for labor in the workplace. For
example, the exorbitant cost of robotic technology, espe
cially to small and medium size firms, raises reasonable
doubt that this indeed will be the case. Also, the less dra
matic findings of the employment effects of robotics and
microelectronics reported in other studies are dismissed rather
nonchalantly. Frequently, only one side of an argument is
presented. For example, the authors discuss the Americanmade products assembled outside our borders but fail to
mention the growing number of American workers who
assemble foreign cars and other foreign products in the
United States.
In the authors’ view, the impact of technological change
will be greater than in the past because service sector au
tomation will impede the traditional flow of workers from
goods to services. The supportive evidence is representative
of the analysis in the first half of the book. No consistent
time period was analyzed, and there is a tendency to confuse
cyclical (short run) changes with structural (long run) changes.
The authors note, for example, that between 1973 and 1976
(primarily a recessionary period), employment growth in
the banking industry averaged 3.2 percent, compared with
4.5 percent between 1960 and 1973. Therefore, they con
cluded that computer technology in the industry was slowing
employment growth. Not noted, however, is that post-1976
employment growth in the banking industry has averaged
more than 4.5 percent annually.
“ The whole technology threat would be much more man
ageable if it were not for another big job threat— foreign
competition.” The authors touch on a number of important
international issues— technological dispersion, protection
ism, and lower foreign compensation levels to name a few—
that may affect domestic employment. They suggest a strat
egy of specialization; that is, we should place more emphasis
on the more sophisticated forms of technology. New hightech professional jobs would create as many, if not more,
jobs in support industries, although they downplay the extent
of this relationship.
Estimating the number and kinds of jobs offers a real
challenge. Occupational projections by the Bureau of Labor
Statistics ( b l s ) for the 1990’s are heavily criticized. In the
author’s words, “ That initial ( b l s ) job projections proved
to be in error is no accident. These forecasts are derived on
the basis of assumptions that are debatable at best.” True,
the well-documented bl s projections were off the mark in
the early 1980’s, probably because of the recession. Besides
failing to note the recession, the authors neglected to point
out that bls projections include three trend scenarios— high,
moderate, and low— in which the underlying assumptions
about each trend vary. Some of the assumptions in the
alternative specifications are the same as those suggested
by the authors. Although they present alternative occupa
tional projections, there is no way to evaluate them. Neither
the methodology nor the underlying assumptions are pro
vided. Interestingly, the authors use bl s projections when
the data support a specific argument or finding.
In the chapter, “ Who Works? The War Over Jobs,” the
authors contend that “ the diminishing stream of youth will
be offset by a growing number of immigrants and older
women in the work force, and older male workers will stay
in the work force longer.” That is, there will be fewer job
opportunities throughout the labor force. But recent labor
force participation trends show a continuing decline in par
ticipation among men, especially those over 55 years, while
the upward trend in women’s participation has slowed. Bas
ically, the whole squeezing opportunity notion rests on trends
in immigration. Illegal immigration flows” are difficult to
measure accurately. Even the authors’ projection of legal
immigration may be somewhat high because it is based on
the 1980-81 period when an unusually large number of
Southeast Asian refugees entered the country.
In the last half of the book, the authors turn from trying
to persuade the reader of the extent of the job crisis to what
can be done about it. “ What are the chances that a 35- to
40-year-old man who has toiled in a factory job all his
working life can be successfully retrained to find another
job in another industry?” The authors believe that the so
lution is more jobs and more leisure (shorter workweek),
with an emphasis on innovation and discovery and a re
vamped educational system attuned to teaching analytical
skills.
The ability of a shortened workweek to reduce unem
ployment is overstated. It is “ not a one job created, one
less unemployed person,” proposition. The authors’ esti
mates fail to recognize the dynamic aspects of the labor
market. Specifically, a shortened workweek will, in all
probability, increase the flow of people from outside the
labor force to the work force. Many part-time workers,
especially those already seeking full-time work, may bid
for these jobs. The number of multiple jobholders may also
increase. That is, many of the new jobs created by a short
ened workweek will be filled by existing workers or from
people outside the labor force.
In coping with the work revolution, the authors view the
government’s role as follows: (1) provide information that
helps match skills with available jobs; (2) assist people in
financing their education or training through a loan program,
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
if necessary; and (3) provide jobs that will benefit the com
mon welfare of the country. The second idea seems to be
the most innovative in that it is open to all workers. Although
the last idea sounds like a Public Service Employment pro
gram, the authors claim that it is different because it is not
limited in scope and mission. They envision the creation of
“ public-interest jobs” to rebuild the vast infrastructure of
American life from bridge and road repair to providing
adequate health care to the poor and the elderly. Costs would
be offset by an increase in tax revenues through tax reform
and through the larger number of jobholders which, in turn,
would mean less welfare and unemployment insurance ben
efit outlays.
The question of how to finance public-interest jobs is
treated only superficially. The authors admit that “ the com
plexities involved in changing tax law are much beyond the
scope of this book.” Moreover, there are other unaddressed
questions bearing on overall program cost such as how many
people will need training to fill public-interest jobs and who
will provide and pay for it.
“ Ringing the job crisis alarm also signals new opportun
ities.” A high-tech society can use its technology to prepare
for it, although the work revolution and job crisis is less
dire than the limited evidence presented here suggests.
— R o ber t W . B edna rzik
Division of Foreign Economic Research
Bureau of International Labor Affairs
Publications received
Agriculture and natural resources
Chambers, Robert G., “ Agricultural and Financial Market Inter
dependence in the Short Run,” The American Journal of
Agricultural Economics, February 1984, pp. 12-24.
Miranowski, John A., “ Impacts of Productivity Loss on Crop
Production and Management in a Dynamic Economic Model,”
The American Journal of Agricultural Economics, February
1984, 61-71.
Pope, Rulon D. and Rod F. Ziemer, “ Stochastic Efficiency, Nor
mality, and Sampling Errors in Agricultural Risk Analysis,”
The American Journal of Agricultural Economics, February
1984, pp. 31-40.
Economic growth and development
“ Papers and Proceedings of the 96th Annual Meeting of the Amer
ican Economic Association, San Francisco, Calif., Dec. 2830, 1983,” The American Economic Review, May 1984, pp.
1-463.
Rapping, Leonard A., “ Bureaucracy, the Corporation, and Eco
nomic Policy, ” Journal of Post Keynesian Economics, Spring
1984, pp. 337-53.
Rubin, Michael Rogers, Information Economics and Policy in the
United States. Littleton, Colo., Libraries Unlimited, Inc.,
1983, 340 pp. $35, U.S.; $42, other countries.
Schweitzer, Thomas T ., The Alberta Economy 1980-2000: Theme
49
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW July 1984 • Book Reviews
and Variations. Ottawa, Ontario, Economic Council of Can
ada, 1983, 143 pp. (Discussion Paper, 246.)
Economic and social statistics
Forstall, Richard L. and Maria Elena Gonzalez, “ Twenty Ques
tions: What You Should Know About the New Metropolitan
Areas,” American Demographics, April 1984, pp. 22-31.
Holdrich, Martin, “ Prospects for Metropolitan Growth,” Amer
ican Demographics, April 1984, pp. 32-37.
Richardson, Jacques, ed., Models of Reality: Shaping Thought and
Action. Mt. Airy, Md., Lomond Publications, Inc., 1984,
328 pp. $22.95.
Solon, Gary, Estimating Autocorrelations in Fixed-Effects Models.
Cambridge, Mass., National Bureau of Economic Research,
Inc., 1984,46 pp. ( n b e r Technical Paper Series, 32.) $1.50,
paper.
Spirer, Herbert F. and A. J. Jaffe, “ Misuses of Statistics: Lessons
for Statisticians, Nonstatisticians, Students and Teachers,”
The American Journal of Economics and Sociology, April
1984, pp. 205-16.
Stemlieb, George and James W. Hughes, “ The Housing Loco
motive and the Demographic Caboose,” American Demo
graphics, March 1984, pp. 22-27.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment in
Mining, Construction, Finance, and Services. Washington,
1984, 94 pp. (Bulletin 2186.) Stock No. 029-001-028016. $3.75, Superintendent of Documents, Washington 20402.
U.S. Department of Commerce, County and City Data Book. 1983.
10th ed. Washington, U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau
of the Census, 1983, 996 pp. Stock No. 003-010-058332. $24, Superintendent of Documents, Washington 20402.
Walsh, Doris, “ Consider Collegetowns,” American Demograph
ics, April 1984, pp. 17-21.
Health and safety
Princeton University, Health Care Cost Containment. Prepared by
Katherine Bagin. Princeton, N.J., Princeton University, In
dustrial Relations Section, 1983, 4 pp. (Selected References,
218.) 50 cents.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Injuries and Ill
nesses in the United States by Industry, 1982. Washington,
1984, 52 pp. (Bulletin 2196.) Stock No. 029-001-028067. $2.75, Superintendent of Documents, Washington 20402.
Wells, Grady, “ Healthy Growth for h m o s , ” American Demo
graphics, March 1984, beginning on p. 34.
Industrial relations
American Enterprise Institute for Public Policy Research, Pro
posals for Line-Item Veto Authority. Washington, 1984, 30
pp. ( a e i Legislative Analyses, 4 1 ,98th Cong., 2d sess.) $3.95,
paper.
Baird, Charles W., Opportunity or Privilege: Labor Legislation
in America. Bowling Green, Ohio, Bowling Green State Uni
versity, Social Philosophy and Policy Center, 1984, 97 pp.
(Studies in Social Philosophy and Policy, 4.) $6.95, paper.
Blanpain, R. and F. Millard, eds., Comparative Labour Law and
Industrial Relations. Hingham, Mass., Kluwer Law and Tax
ation Publishers, 1982, 411 pp., bibliography.
Bloom, Howard M., “ Supervisor/Bargaining Unit Member Par
ticipation in Union Removal Efforts: Is the Company Re-
50
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
sponsible?” Labor Law Journal, April 1984, pp. 216-24.
Bogue, Bonnie G. and Clara Stem, “ An Analysis of 1981-83
Strikes in California’s Public Sector,” California Public Em
ployee Relations, March 1984, pp. 9-16.
Deery, Stephen, “ The Impact of Technological Change on Union
Structure: The Waterside Workers Federation,” The Journal
of Industrial Relations, December 1983, pp. 399-414.
Dellinger, Royal S., “ Implementing the Job Training Partnership
Act,” Labor Law Journal, April 1984, pp. 195-204.
Duff, Karl J., “ Japanese and American Labor Law: Structural
Similarities and Substantive Differences,” Employee Rela
tions Law Journal, Spring 1984, pp. 629-41.
Geslewitz, Irving M., “ Case Law Development Since Nolde
Brothers: When Must Post-Contract Disputes Be Arbitrated?”
Labor Law Journal, April 1984, pp. 225-39.
Gould, William B., Japan's Reshaping of American Labor Law.
Cambridge, Mass., The m i t Press, 1984, 193 pp. $19.95.
Hermann, Donald H. J., “ Clerical Employees, Religious Enter
prises, and Collective Bargaining,” Labor Law Journal, April
1984, pp. 205-15.
“ Judicial Decisions in the Field of Labour Law.” International
Labour Review, March-April 1984. pp. 183-201.
Kruchko, John G. and Jay R. Fries, “ Hospital Strikes: Complying
with n l r a Notice Requirements,” Employee Relations Law
Journal, Spring 1984, pp. 566-79.
Leap, Terry L., Health and Job Retention: The Arbitrator's Per
spective. Ithaca, N.Y., Cornell University, New York State
School of Industrial and Labor Relations, 1984, 60 pp. (Key
Issues, 26.) $ 6 , i l r Press, Ithaca, N.Y.
Leonard, Jonathan S., Unions and Equal Employment Opportu
nity. Cambridge, Mass,, National Bureau of Economic Re
search, Inc., 1984, 37 pp. ( n b e r Working Paper Series, 1311.)
$1.50, paper.
Liebert, John and Siona D. Windsor, “ Unilateral Action on Bargainable Issues: What Is Authorized, What Is Not,” Cali
fornia Public Employee Relations, March 1984, pp. 2-8.
Marett, Pamela C., “ Japanese-Owned Firms in the United States:
Do They Resist Unionism?” Labor Law Journal, April 1984,
pp. 240-50. .
Marginson, Paul M., “ The Distinctive Effects of Plant and Com
pany Size on Workplace Industrial Relations,” British Jour
nal of Industrial Relations, March 1984, pp. 1-14.
Mroczkowski, Tomasz, “ Is the American Labour-Management
Relationship Changing?” British Journal of Industrial Re
lations, March 1984, 47-62.
Nyden, Philip W., Steelworkers Rank-and-File: The Political
Economy of a Union Reform Movement. New York, Praeger
Publishers, 1984, 166 pp., $25.95.
Smith, W. Rand, “ Dynamics of Plural Unionism in France: The
[Confédération Générale du Travail] c g t , [Confédération
Française, Démocratique du Travail] c f d t and Industrial Con
flict,” British Journal of Industrial Relations, March 1984,
pp. 15-33.
Stewart, Mark B., “ Relative Earnings and Individual Union Mem
bership in the United Kingdom,” Economies, May 1983, pp.
111-25.
Stubbs, Daniel G. and Bruce J. Blanning, “ Two Years of State
Bargaining: A Description and Analysis,” California Public
Employee Relations, March 1984, pp. 17-27.
International economics
Gaude, J., N. Phan-Thuy, C. Van Kempen, “ Evaluation of Special
Public Works Programmes: Some Policy Conclusions,” In
ternational Labour Review, March-April 1984, pp. 203-19.
Goldberg, Mark, “ William E. Brock on International Trade: An
Interview,” The Brookings Review , Spring 1984, pp. 26-31.
“ Judicial Decisions in the Field of Labour Law.” International
Labour Review, March-April 1984, pp. 183-201.
Raynauld, A., J.-M . Dufour, D. Racette, Government Assistance
to Export Financing. Ottawa, Ontario, Economic Council of
Canada, 1983, 125 pp., bibliography. $7.95, Canada; $9.55,
other countries.
Sender Henriette, “ Opening Japan’s Financial Markets,” Dun’s
Business Month, May 1984, beginning on p. 66.
Standing, Guy, “ The Notion of Technological Unemployment,”
International Labour Review, March-April 1984, pp. 127—
47.
Tisdell, Clem and T’eo Ian Fairbairn, “ Subsistence Economies
and Unsustainable Development and Trade: Some Simple
Theory,” The Journal of Development Studies, January 1984,
pp. 227-41.
Vandamme, François, “ The Revised European Social Fund and
Action to Combat Unemployment in the European Commu
nity,” International Labour Review, March-April 1984, pp.
167-81.
Labor force
Association of Part-Time Professionals, Part-Time Employment in
America: Highlights of the First National Conference on PartTime Employment. McLean, Va., 1984, 82 pp. $21.95, pa
per. Available from a p t p , P.O. B o x 3419, Alexandria, Va.
22302.
Borus, Michael E., ed.. Youth and the Labor Market: Analyses
of the National Longitudinal Survey. Kalamazoo, Mich., The
W. E. Upjohn Institute for Employment Research, 1984, 295
pp. $20.95, cloth; $13.95, paper.
Breton, Albert, Marriage, Population, and the Labour Force Par
ticipation of Women. Ottawa, Ontario, Economic Council of
Canada, 1984, 33 pp. $4.95, Canada; $5.95, other countries.
Available from Canadian Government Publishing Center,
Supply and Services Canada.
Disney, R. and E. M. Szyszczak, “ Protective Legislation and
Part-Time Employment in Britain,” British Journal of In
dustrial Relations, March 1984, pp. 78-100.
Great Britain, Department of Employment, “ Human Values in
Working Life,” Employment Gazette, February 1984, begin
ning on p. 54.
------“ Labour Force Outlook for Great Britain,” Employment Ga
zette, February 1984, pp. 56-64.
------“ Regional and Age Variations in Unemployment Flow,”
Employment Gazette, February 1984, pp. 65-71.
Hamermesh, Daniel S., The Demand for Labor in the Long Run.
Cambridge Mass., National Bureau of Economic Research,
Inc., 1984,53 pp. ( n b e r Working Paper Series, 1297.) $1.50,
paper.
Levitan, Sar, The Changing Work Place: Perceptions, Reality.
Washington, American Council of Life Insurance, Trend
Analysis Program, 1984, 19 pp.
MaCoy, Ramelle and Martin J. Morand, eds., Short-Time Com
pensation: A Formula for Work Sharing. New York, Per-
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
gamon Press, Inc., 1984, 218 pp. $23.50.
Robey, Bryant and Cheryl Russell, “ A Portrait of the American
Worker,” American Demographics, March 1984, pp. 1621.
Scotland, Manpower Services Commission, Closure at Linwood:
A Follow-up Survey of Redundant Workers. Prepared by
Douglas Payne. Edinburgh, Scotland, Manpower Services
Commission, Office for Scotland, 1984, 30 pp.
Standing, Guy, “ The Notion of Technological Unemployment,”
International Labour Review, March-April 1984, pp. 127—
47.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment, Hours, and Earn
ings, States and Areas, 1939-82: Vol. I, Alabama-Nevada:
Vol. II, New Hampshire-Wvoming. Washington, 1984, 947
pp. (Bulletin 1370-17.) Stock No. 029-001-02800-8. $11.
Superintendent of Documents, Washington 20402.
-------------- Emplovment Projections for 1995. Washington, 1984, 184
pp. (Bulletin 2197.) Stock No. 029-001-02805-9. $5.50,
Superintendent of Documents, Washington 20402.
-------------- Jobs and Prices in a Recovering Economy. By Janet L. Nor
wood. Washington, 1984, 10 pp. (Report 704.)
Weinberg, Edgar, Employment Security in a Changing Workplace.
Scarsdale, N.Y., Work in America Institute, Inc., 1984, 69
pp., bibliography. (Work in America Institute Studies in Pro
ductivity: Highlights of the Literature, 34) $35, paper, Per
gamon Press, Inc., New York.
Weiner, Stuart E., “ Enterprise Zones as a Means of Reducing
Structural Unemployment,” Economic Review, Federal Re
serve Bank of Kansas City. March 1984, pp. 3-16.
Management and organization theory
Alexander, Kenneth O., “ The Promise and Perils of Worker Par
ticipation in Management,” The American Journal of Eco
nomics and Sociology, April 1984, pp. 197-204.
Crockett, Geoffrey and Peter Elias, “ British Managers: A Study
of Their Education, Training, Mobility and Earnings,” Brit
ish Journal of Industrial Relations, March 1984, pp. 34-46.
Crosby, Philip B., Quality' Without Tears: The Art oj Hassle-Free
Management. New York, McGraw-Hill Book Co., 1984, 205
pp. $18.95.
Fear, Richard A., The Evaluation Interview. 3d ed. New York,
McGraw-Hill Book Co., 1984, 330 pp. $29.95.
Joyce, Paul and Adrian Woods, “ The Management of Conflict:
A Quantitative Analysis,” British Journal of Industrial Re
lations, March 1984, pp. 63-77.
McConkey, Dale D., How to Manage by Results. 4th ed. New
York, a m a c o m , American Management Associations, 1983,
301 pp.
Monetary and fiscal policy
Carron, Andrew S., “ Banking on Change: The Reorganization of
Financial Regulation,” The Brookings Review, Spring 1984,
pp. 12-21.
Harriss, C. Lowell, “ Important Issues and Serious Problems in
Flat-rate Income Taxation,” The American Journal of Eco
nomics and Sociology, April 1984, pp. 159-62.
Rubin, Irene S., “ Marasmus or Recovery? The Effects of Cutbacks
in Federal Agencies,” Social Science Quarterly, March 1984,
pp. 74-88.
Solomon, Robert, “ Budget Deficits and Federal Reserve Policy,”
51
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW July 1984 • Book Reviews
The Brookings Review, Spring 1984, pp. 22-25.
Prices and living conditions
Booth, Laurence D., “ Total Price Uncertainty and the Theory of
the Competitive Firm,"Economica, May 1983, pp. 183-91.
Kahn, George A., “ Theories of Price Determination,” Economic
Review, Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City, April 1984,
pp. 16-27.
Stanley, Thomas J. and George P. Moschis, “ America’s Afflu
ent,” American Demographics, March 1984, pp. 28-33.
politan Area, December 1983 (Bulletin 3020-68, 27 pp.,
$3.25); Seattle-Everett, Washington, Metropolitan Area,
December 1983 (Bulletin 3020-69, 29 pp., $3.50); San
Diego, California, Metropolitan Area, December 1983 (Bul
letin 3020-70, 43 pp., $3.75); Jackson, Mississippi, Met
ropolitan Area, January 1984 (Bulletin 3025-1, 28 pp.,
$3.25); Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota — Wisconsin,
Metropolitan Area, January 1984 (Bulletin 3025-2, 56 pp.,
$4); York, Pennsylvania, Metropolitan Area, January 1984
(Bulletin 3025-3, 43 pp., $3.75); Pittsburgh, Pennsylva
nia, Metropolitan Area, January 1984 (Bulletin 3025-4, 42
pp., $3.75). Available from the Superintendent of Docu
ments, Washington 20402, g p o bookstores, or b l s regional
offices.
Productivity and technological change
Lee, J. H., “ The Measurement and Sources of Technological
Change Biases, with an Application to Postwar Japanese Ag
riculture,” Economica, May 1983, pp. 159-73.
Morris, Charles S., “ The Productivity ‘Slowdown’: A sectoral
Analysis,” Economic Review, Federal Reserve Bank of Kan
sas City, April 1984, pp. 3-15.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Technological Change and Its
Labor Impact in Four Industries: Hosiery, Folding Paperboard Boxes, Metal Cans, Laundry and Cleaning. Washing
ton, 1984, 44 pp. (Bulletin 2182.) Stock No. 029-001-028021. $2, Superintendent of Documents, Washington 20402.
Wages and compensation
Alexander, Judith A., Equal-Pay-for-Equal Work Legislation in
Canada. Ottawa, Ontario, Economic Council of Canada. 1984,
81 pp. (Discussion Paper, 252.)
Ashenfelter, Orley and Richard Layard. “ Incomes Policy and Wage
Differentials,” Economica, May 1983. pp. 127-43.
Eaton, Curtis and William D. White. “ The Economy of High
Wages: An Agency Problem,” Economica, May 1983, pp.
175-81.
Gruñe, Joy Ann and Nancy Reder, “ Addendum— Pay Equity: An
Innovative Public Policy Approach to Eliminating Sex-Based
Wage Discrimination,” Public Personnel Management, Spring
1984, pp. 70-80.
Lazear, Edward P., Incentives and Wage Rigidit}'. Cambridge,
Mass., National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc., 1984,
12 pp. ( n b e r Working Paper Series, 1299.) $1.50, paper.
Milkovich, George T. and Jerry M. Newman, Compensation. Plano,
Tex., Business Publications, Inc., 1984, 549 pp. $28.95.
Saucier, Peter S. and John A. Roberts, “ Unemployment Com
pensation: A Growing Concern for Employers,” Employee
Relations Law Journal, Spring 1984, pp. 594-604 .
Steinke, John, “ The Long-Term Decline in the Standard Working
Year,” The Journal of Industrial Relations, December 1983,
pp. 415-30.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Area Wage Surveys:
Salt Lake
City-Ogden, Utah, Metropolitan Area, November 1983 (Bul
letin 3020-65, 30 pp., $3.50); Dayton, Ohio, Metropolitan
Area, December 1983 (Bulletin 3020-66, 44 pp., $3.75);
Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas Metropolitan Area, December 1983
(Bulletin 3020-67, 55 pp., $4); Portland Maine, Metro
52
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
--------------
Industry Wage Survey: Communications, October-December
1981 . Prepared by Jonathan W. Kelinson. Washington, 1984,
15 pp. (Bulletin 2188.) Stock No. 029-001-02797-4. $1.50,
Superintendent of Documents, Washington 20402.1
--------------
Industry Wage Survey: Women’s and Misses’ Dresses, August
1982. Prepared by Norma W. Carlson. Washington, 1984,
38 pp. (Bulletin 2187.) Stock No. 029-000-02796-6. $2,
Superintendent of Documents, Washington 20402.
Welfare programs and social insurance
Aaron, Henry J. and Gary Burtless, eds., Retirement and Economic
Behavior. Washington, The Brookings Institution, 1984, 353
pp. $31.95, cloth; $11.95, paper.
Charles D. Spencer and Associates, Inc., Early and Postponed
Retirement Both Increasing, 1978-83 [Age Discrimination in
Employment Act] a d e a Experience Survey Shows. Chicago,
111., 1984, 5 pp.
Gaver, Dean A. and Irvin M. Freilich, “ Pension Plan Termina
tions: Background, Implications,” Pension World, April 1984,
pp. 53-55.
Hershman, Arlene, “ Behind the Decline in Pension Costs,” Dun’s
Business Month, May 1984, pp. 62-66.
Mazo, Judith F., “ Women and Pensions: What Congress is Doing
About Them,” Pension World, February 1984, pp. 30-32.
Wise, David and Laurence J. Kotlikoff, Labor Compensation and
the Structure of Private Pension Plans: Evidence for Con
tractual Versus Spot Labor Markets. Cambridge, Mass., Na
tional Bureau of Economic Research, Inc., 1984, 33 pp.
( n b e r Working Paper Series, 1290.) $1.50.
Worker training and development
Merrilees, W. J., “ Towards an Integrated System of Vocational
Training Programmes: The Youth Guarantee Concept,” The
Journal of Industrial Relations, December 1983, pp. 46584.
National Council on Employment Policy, Back to Basics Under
[the Job Training Partnership Act]
jtp a
:
A Policy Statement.
Washington, The National Council on Employment Policy,
1983. 21 pp.
Weiermair, Klaus, Apprenticeship Training in Canada: A Theo
retical and Empirical Analysis. Ottawa, Ontario, Economic
Council of Canada, 1984, 244 pp. (Discussion Paper, 250.)
Current
Labor Statistics
Notes on Current Labor Statistics........................................................................... .....................................
54
Schedule of release dates for major BLS statistical series.................. ................................................
54
Employment data from household survey. Definitions and notes .........................................................
55
55
56
57
58
58
59
59
59
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
Employment status of the noninstitutional population, 16 years and over, selected years, 1950-83 .........................
Employment status of the population, including Armed Forces in the United States, by sex, seasonallyadjusted . . . .
Employment status of the civilian population, by sex, age, race, and Hispanic origin, 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 ...
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
Employment, by industry, selected years. 1950-83 ..............................................................................................
Employment, by State ......................................................................................................................................
Employment, by industry, seasonally adjusted ...................................... ..............................................................
Average hours and earnings, by industry, 1968-83 ........................................................................................ .
Average weekly hours, by industry, seasonally adjusted ......................................................................................
Average hourly earnings, by industry .................................................................................................................
Hourly Earnings Index, by industry....................................................................................................................
Average weekly earnings, by industry........................................................................................... .....................
Indexes of diffusion: industries in which employment increased, seasonally adjusted..............................................
60
61
61
62
63
64
65
65
66
66
Unemployment insurance data. Definitions...................................................................................................
67
18. Unemployment insurance and employment service operations ..............................................................................
67
Price data. Definitions and notes ......................................................................................................................
68
69
69
75
76
77
78
80
80
81
19.
20.
21.
22.
23.
24.
25.
26.
27.
Consumer Price Index. 1967-83 ........................................................................................................................
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, by special commodity groupings .....................................................................................
Producer Price Indexes, by durability of product .................................................................................................
Producer Price Indexes for the output of selected SIC industries
.................................................................
Productivity data. Definitions and notes ........................................................................................................
28.
29.
30.
31.
32.
Annual indexes of multifactor productivity and related measures,selected years. 1948-82 .......................................
Annual indexes of productivity, hourly compensation, unit costs, and prices,selected years. 1950-83 ...................
Annual changes in productivity, hourly compensation, unit costs, and prices. 1972-83 ............
Quarterly indexes of productivity, hourly compensation, unit costs, and prices, seasonallyadjusted ........................
Percent change from preceding quarter and year in productivity, hourly compensation, unit costs,and prices.............
Wage and compensation data. Definitions and notes ...............................................................................
33.
34.
35.
36.
37.
Employment Cost Index, by occupation and industry group .................................................................................
Employment Cost Index, wages and salaries, by occupation and industry group ...................................................
Employment Cost Index, private nonfarm workers, by bargaining status, region, and areasize ................................
Wage and compensation change, major collective bargaining settlements, 1978 to date...........................................
Effective wage adjustments in collective bargaining units covering 1.000 workers or more, 1978to date ..................
82
83
83
84
84
85
86
87
88
89
90
90
-t
Work stoppage data. Definition ........................................................................................................................
91
38. Work stoppages involving 1.000 workers or more, 1947 to date ..........................................................................
91
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NOTES ON CURRENT LABOR STATISTICS
This section of the R e v ie w presents the principal statistical series
collected and calculated by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. A brief
introduction to each group of tables provides definitions, notes on
the data, sources, and other material usually found in footnotes.
Readers who need additional information are invited to consult
the BLS regional offices listed on the inside front cover of this
issue of the R e v ie w . Some 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 pro
duction 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 "sea
sonally adjusted." Seasonal effects are estimated on the basis of past
experience. When new seasonal factors are computed each year, revisions
may affect seasonally adjusted data for several preceding years.
Seasonally adjusted labor force data in tables 3-8 were revised in the
February 1984 issue of the Review, to reflect experience through 1983.
Beginning in January 1980. the BLS introduced two major modifications
in the seasonal adjustment methodology for labor force data. First, the
data are being seasonally adjusted with a new procedure called X-11/
AR1MA. which was developed at Statistics Canada as an extension of the
standard X-l 1 method. A detailed description of the procedure appears in
The X-l I A R I M A Seasonal Adjustment Method by Estela Bee Dagum
(Statistics Canada Catalogue No. 12-564E. February 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 show n in tables
11. 13. and 15 were made in July 1984 using the X-l I ARIMA seasonal
adjustment methodology. New seasonal factors for productivity data in
tables 29 and 30 are usually introduced 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 ad
justments 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. More information from household and establishment surveys
is provided in Employment and Earnings, a monthly publication of the
Bureau. Comparable household information is published in a two-volume
data book-Labor Force Statistics Derived From the Current Population
Survey. Bulletin 2096. Comparable establishment information appears in
two data books-Employment and Earnings, United States, and Employ
ment and Earnings. States and Areas, and their annual supplements. More
detailed information 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, pre
liminary figures are issued based on representative but in
complete 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 BLS statistical series
Release
date
Period
covered
Release
date
Period
covered
Release
date
Period
covered
MLR table
number
Employment situation .............................
July 6
June
August 3
July
September 7
August
1-11
Producer Price Index
..........................
July 13
June
August 10
July
September 14
August
23-27
Consumer Price In d e x ................................
July 24
June
August 22
July
September 21
August
19-22
Real earnings...............................................
July 24
June
August 22
July
September 21
August
Maior collective bargaining settlements . . . .
July 27
1st bait
July 31
2nd quarter
July 31
2nd quarter
12-16
36-37
Productivity and costs:
Nonfinancial corporations..........................
Nonfarm business and manufacturing . . .
Employment Cost In d e x ................................
Occupational injuries and illne sse s...............
54
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
August 27
2nd quarter
33-35
1983
EMPLOYMENT DATA FROM THE HOUSEHOLD SURVEY
m p l o y m e n t 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 selected
to represent the U.S population 16 years of age and older. House
holds are interviewed on a rotating basis, so that three-fourths of
the sample is the same for any 2 consecutive months.
E
Definitions
Employed persons include (I) all civilians who worked for pay any
time during the week which includes the 12th 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. Members of the
Armed Forces stationed in the United States are also included in the em
ployed total. 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 overall
unemployment rate represents the number unemployed as a percent of
the labor force, including the resident Armed Forces. The unemployment
rate for all civilian workers represents the number unemployed as a percent
of the civilian labor force.
The labor force consists of all employed or unemployed civilians plus
members of the Armed Forces stationed in the United States. Persons not
in the labor force are those not classified as employed or unemployed;
this group includes persons who are 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, sani
tariums, or homes for the aged, infirm, or needy, and members of the
Armed Forces stationed in the United States. The labor force participation
rate is the proportion of the noninstitutional population that is in the labor
force. The employment-population ratio is total employment (including
the resident Armed Forces) as a percent of the noninstitutional population.
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 compara
bility of historical data presented in table 1. A description of these ad
justments 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 r n in g s .
Data in tables 2-8 are seasonally adjusted, based on the seasonal ex
perience through December 1983.
1. Employment status of the noninstitutional population, 16 years and over, selected years, 1950-83
[Numbers in thousands]
Labor torce
Year
Noninstitutional
population
Employed
Number
Percent ot
population
Unemployed
Civilian
Total
Percent ot
population
Resident
Armed
Forces
Total
Agriculture
Nonagricultural
industries
Number
Percent of
labor
torce
Not in
labor force
1950 ..............
1955 ...............
1960
106.164
111.747
119.106
63.377
67.087
71.489
59.7
60.0
60.0
60.087
64.234
67.639
56.6
57.5
56.8
1.169
2.064
1.861
58.918
62.170
65.778
7.160
6.450
5.458
51.758
55.722
60.318
3.288
2.852
3.852
5.2
4.3
5.4
42.787
44,660
46.617
1965 ...............
1966
1967 ...............
1968
1969
128.459
130.180
132.092
134.281
136.573
76.401
77.892
79.565
80.990
82.972
59.5
59.8
60.2
60.3
60.8
73.034
75.017
76.590
78.173
80.140
56.9
57.6
58.0
58.2
58.7
1.946
2.122
2.218
2.253
2.238
71.088
72.895
74.372
75.920
77.902
4.361
3.979
3.844
3.817
3.606
66.726
68.915
70.527
72.103
74.296
3.366
2.875
2.975
2.817
2.832
4.4
3.7
3.7
3.5
3.4
52.058
52.288
52,527
53.291
53,602
1970
1971 ...............
1972 ...............
1973
1974
139.203
142.189
145.939
148.870
151.841
84.889
86.355
88.847
91.203
93.670
61.0
60.7
60.9
61.3
61.7
80.796
81.340
83.966
86.838
88.515
58.0
57.2
57.5
58.3
58.3
2.118
1.973
1.813
1.774
1.721
78.678
79.367
82.153
85.064
86.794
3.463
3.394
3.484
3.470
3.515
75.215
75.972
78.669
81.594
83.279
4.093
5.016
4.882
4.355
5.156
4.8
5.8
5.5
4.8
5.5
54.315
55.834
57,091
57.667
58.171
1975
1976
1977
1978
1979
...............
..............
...............
154.831
157.818
160.689
153,541
166.460
95.453
97.826
100.665
103.882
106.559
61.6
62 0
62.6
63.5
64.0
87.524
90.420
93.673
97.679
100.421
56 5
57.3
58.3
59.7
60.3
1.678
1.668
1.656
1.631
1.597
85.845
88.752
92.017
96.048
98.824
3.408
3.331
3.283
3.387
3.347
82.438
85.421
88,734
92.661
95.477
7.929
7.406
6.991
6.202
6.137
8.3
76
6.9
6.0
58
59.377
59 991
60.025
59,659
59,900
1980
1981 ...............
1982 ................
1983
169.349
171.775
173.939
175,891
108.544
110.315
111.872
113,226
64.1
65 2
64.3
64.4
100.907
102.042
101.194
102.510
59.6
59 4
58.2
58 3
1.604
1.645
1.668
1.676
99.303
100.397
99.526
100.834
3,364
3,368
3.401
3.383
95.938
97.030
96.125
97.450
7.637
8.273
10.578
10.717
7.0
7.5
9.5
9.5
60,806
61,460
62.067
62.665
...............
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
55
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW July 1984 • Current Labor Statistics: Household Data
2.
E m ploym ent status of the population, in cluding A rm ed Forces in the U nited S tates, by sex, seasonally adjusted
[Numbers in thousands]
Employment status and sex
Annual average
1983
1984
1982
1983
May
June
July
Aug.
Sept.
Oct.
Nov.
Dec.
Jan.
Feb.
Mar.
Apr.
May
173.939
111.872
64 3
101.194
58 2
1.668
99.526
3.401
96.125
10.678
9.5
62.067
175.465
112.646
64.2
101.277
57.7
1.671
99.606
3.392
96.214
11.369
10.1
62.819
175.622
112.619
64.1
101.431
57 8
1.669
99.762
3.374
96.388
11.188
9.9
63.003
175.793
113.573
64 6
102.411
58.3
1.668
100.743
3.479
97.264
11.162
9.8
62.220
175.970
113.489
64.5
102.889
58.5
1.664
101.225
3.499
97.726
10.600
9.3
62.481
176,122
113,799
64.6
103.166
58.6
1.682
101.484
3.449
98.035
10.633
93
62.323
176.297
113.924
64.6
103.571
58.7
1.695
101.876
3.308
98.568
10.353
9.1
62.37.3
176.474
113.561
64.3
103.665
58.7
1.695
101.970
3.240
98.730
9.896
8.7
62.913
176.636
113.720
64.4
104,291
59.0
1.685
102.606
3.257
99.349
9.429
8.3
62.916
176,809
113.824
64.4
104.629
59 2
1.688
102.941
3.356
99.585
9.195
8.1
62.985
177,219
113,901
64.3
104.876
59.2
1.686
103.190
3.271
99.918
9.026
7.9
63.318
177.363
114.377
64.5
105.576
59.5
1.684
103.892
3.395
100.496
8.801
7.7
62.986
177,510
114,598
64.6
105,826
59.6
1.686
104.140
3.281
100,859
8.772
7.7
62.912
177,662
114,938
64.7
106,095
59.7
1.693
104,402
3.393
101,009
8,843
7.7
62.724
177,813
115,493
65.0
106,978
60.2
1,690
105.288
3.389
101.899
8,514
7.4
62.320
83.052
63.979
77.0
57.800
69.6
1.527
56.271
6.179
9.7
84.064
64.580
76 8
58 320
69.4
1.533
56.787
6.260
9.7
83.931
64.348
76.7
57.744
68.8
1.528
56.216
6.604
10.3
84.014
64.778
77.1
58.369
69.5
1.525
56.844
6.409
99
84.099
64.840
77.1
58.592
69.7
1.521
57.071
6.248
9.6
84.173
64.807
77.0
58.607
69.6
1.538
57.069
6.200
9.6
84.261
64.877
77.0
58.828
69.8
1.549
57.279
6 049
9.3
84.344
64.709
76.7
58.950
69.9
1.543
57.407
5.759
89
84.423
64.846
76.8
59.389
70.3
1.534
57.855
5.457
8.4
84.506
64.838
76.7
59.580
70.5
1.537
58.043
5.258
8.1
84.745
64.930
76.6
59.781
70.5
1.542
58.239
5.149
7.9
84.811
65.093
76.8
60.147
70.9
1.540
58.607
4.946
7.6
84.880
65.156
76.8
60.290
71.0
1.542
58.748
4.867
7.5
84.953
65.212
76.8
60.293
71.0
1.548
58.745
4.919
7.5
85.024
65.307
76.8
60.629
71.3
1.545
59.084
4,678
7.2
90.887
47.894
52 7
43 395
47.7
139
43.256
4.499
94
91.827
48.646
53 0
44.190
48.1
143
44.047
4.457
92
91.691
48.271
52 6
43.687
47.6
141
43.546
4.584
9.5
91.779
48.795
53.2
44.042
48.0
143
43.899
4.753
9.7
91.871
48.649
53.0
44.297
48.2
143
44.154
4.352
89
91.949
48.992
53.3
44.559
48.5
144
44.415
4.433
9.0
92.036
49.047
53.3
44.743
48.6
146
44.597
4.304
88
92.129
48.852
53.0
44.715
48.5
152
44.563
4.137
8.5
92.214
48.874
53.0
44.902
48.7
151
44.751
3.972
81
92.302
48.986
53:1
45.049
48.8
151
44.898
3.937
8.0
92.474
48.971
53.0
45.094
48 8
144
44.950
3.876
7.9
92.552
49.283
53.2
45.429
49.1
144
45.285
3.855
7.8
92.630
49.442
53.4
45.536
49.2
144
45.392
3 905
7.9
92.709
49.725
53.6
45.802
49.4
145
45.657
3.924
79
92.789
50.186
54.1
46.350
50.0
145
46.205
3.836
76
TOTAL
Noninstitutional population1-2 ........................
Labor force2 ...............................................
Participation rate3 ..........................
Total employed2
Employment-population rate4 . . . .
Resident Armed Forces1 ....................
Civilian em ployed................................
Agriculture ......................................
Nonagricultural industries...............
Unemployed............................................
Unemployment rate5 .......................
Not in labor force ......................................
Men. 16 years and over
Noninstitutional population1-2 .......................
Labor force2 ...............................................
Participation rate3 ..........................
Total employed2 ......................................
Employment-population rate4 . . .
Resident Armed Forces1 ....................
Civilian em ployed................................
Unemployed............................................
Unemployment rate5 .......................
Women. 16 years and over
Nonmstitutionai population1-2 .......................
Labor force2 ...............................................
Participation rate3 ..........................
Total employed2 ......................................
Employment-population rate4 . . . .
Resident Armed Forces1 ....................
Civilian em ployed................................
Unemployed............................................
Unemployment rate5 .......................
1The population and Armed Forces figures are not adjusted for seasonal variation.
includes members of tne Armed Forces stationed in the United States.
3Labor force as a percent of the nonmstitutionai population.
56
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
4Total employed as a percent of the nonmstitutionai population.
^Unemployment as a percent of the labor force (including the resident Armed Forces).
3.
E m ploym ent status of the civilian population by sex, age, race, and H ispanic origin, seaso n ally adjusted
[Numbers in thousands]
Employment status
1983
Annual average
1982
1983
May
June
July
Aug.
172,271
110,204
64.0
99,526
57.8
10,678
9.7
62,067
174,215
111,550
64.0
100.834
57.9
10,717
9.6
62.665
173,953
110.950
63.8
99.762
57.3
11.188
10.1
63.003
174,125
111,905
64.3
100,743
57.9
11.162
10 0
62.220
174.306
111.825
64.2
101.225
58.1
10.600
9.5
62.481
174.440
112.117
64.3
101.484
58.2
10.633
9.5
62.323
73.644
57.980
78.7
52.891
71.8
2.422
50.469
5.089
88
74.872
58.744
78.5
53.4897
71.4
2.429
51.058
5.257
8.9
74.712
58.546
78.4
52.963
70 9
2.440
50.523
5.583
95
74.814
58.844
78.7
53.492
71.5
2.497
50.995
5.352
9.1
74.927
58.982
78.7
53.765
71.8
2.521
51.244
5.217
88
82.864
43.699
52 7
40.086
48 4
601
39.485
3.613
83
84.069
44.636
53 1
41.004
48 8
620
40.384
3.632
81
83.899
44.331
52.8
40 583
48 4
605
39.978
3.748
85
84.008
44.684
53.2
40.847
48.6
634
40.213
3 837
8.6
15.763
8.526
54 1
6.549
41 5
378
6.171
1.977
23 2
15.274
8.171
53.5
6.342
41 5
334
6.008
1.829
22 4
15.342
8.073
52 6
6.216
40 5
329
5.887
1.857
23 0
149.441
96.143
64 3
87.903
58 8
8.241
86
150.805
97.021
64.3
88.893
58.9
8.128
84
18.584
11.331
61 0
9.189
49.4
2.142
18.9
9.400
5.983
63 6
5.158
54.9
825
13.8
1984
Sept
Oct.
Nov.
Dec.
Jan.
Feb.
Mar.
Apr.
May
174,602
112.229
64.3
101.876
58.3
10.353
9.2
62.373
174.779
111.866
64.0
101.970
58.3
9.896
8.8
62.913
174,951
112,035
64.0
102,606
58.6
9.429
8.4
62.916
175,121
112,136
64.0
102,941
58?
9,195
8.2
62,985
175,533
112,215
63.9
103.190
58.8
9,026
8.0
63,318
175,679
112,693
64.1
103.892
59.1
8,801
7.8
62.986
175,824
112.912
64.2
104,140
59.2
8,772
7.8
62.912
175,969
113.245
64 4
104,402
59.3
8,843
7.8
62,724
.176,123
113,803
64.6
105,288
59.8
8,514
7.5
62,320
75.012
58.954
78.6
53.804
71.7
2.475
51.329
5.150
8.7
75.115
59.012
78.6
53.947
71.8
2.431
51.516
5.065
8.6
75.216
58.949
78.4
54.140
72.0
2.376
51.764
4.809
8.2
75.327
59.053
78.4
54.457
72.3
2.336
52.121
4.596
7.8
75.433
59.050
78.3
54.658
72 5
2.374
52.284
4.392
7.4
75.692
59,299
78 3
54.999
72.7
2.356
52.643
4.300
7.3
75.786
59.394
78.4
55,266
72.9
2.409
52.857
4.128
7.0
75.880
59,388
78.3
■55,368
73.0
2.364
53.004
4.020
6.8
75,973
59,480
78.3
55.385
72 9
2.453
52.932
4.095
6.9
76.073
59,546
78.3
55.685
73.2
2,451
53.234
3,861
6.5
84.122
44.647
53.1
41.123
48.9
613
40.510
3.524
79
84.224
44.896
53.3
41.298
49 0
627
40.671
3.598
80
84.333
45.062
53.4
41.550
49.3
581
40.969
3.512
78
84.443
44.936
53.2
41.570
49.2
597
40.973
3.366
7.5
84.553
44.953
53.2
41.738
49.4
638
41.100.
3.215
7.2
84.666
45.024
53.2
41 843
49.4
653
41.190
3.181
7.1
84.860
44.981
53.0
41.798
49.3
625
41.174
3.182
7.1
84.962
45.258
53 3
42.138
49.6
640
41.498
3.120
6.9
85.064
45.459
53.4
42.315
49.7
574
41.741
3.144
6.9
85.168
45.703
53 7
42.517
49 9
619
41.898
3.186
7.0
85,272
46,222
54.2
43,098
50.5
610
42.487
3.124
6.8
15.303
8.377
54 7
6.404
41 8
348
6.056
1.973
23.6
15.257
8.196
53.7
6.337
41 5
365
5.972
1.859
22.7
15.204
8.267
54 4
6.382
42.0
347
6.035
1 885
22 8
15.154
8.155
53 8
6.379
42.1
296
6.083
1,776
21 8
15.120
7 981
52 8
6.260
41 4
267
5.993
1.721
21 6
15.072
8.029
53.3
6.411
42.5
283
6,128
1.618
20 2
15.022
8.062
53.7
6.440
42 9
329
6.111
1.622
20 1
14.981
7.935
53 0
6.392
42.7
290
6.102
1.543
19.4
14.931
8.041
53.9
6.488
43.5
346
6.142
1.553
19 3
14.880
8.065
54 2
6.457
43.4
343
6.114
1.608
19.9
14.828
8.062
54.4
6.500
43 8
321
6.179
1.562
29 4
14.778
8.034
54.4
6.505
44.0
327
6.178
1.529
19.0
150.671
96.472
64.0
88.004
58 4
8.468
88
150.810
97.235
64.5
88.836
58.9
8.399
86
150.959
97.255
64.4
89.260
59 1
7.995
82
151 003
97.498
64 6
89.503
59 3
7.995
82
151.021
97.507
64.6
89.693
59 4
7.814
80
151.175
97.339
64.4
89.851
59 4
7.488
7.7
151.324
97.559
64.5
90.430
59.8
7.129
7.3
151.484
97.724
64.5
90.779
59 9
6.945
7.1
151 939
97.813
64.4
91.044
59 9
6.768
6.9
152.079
98.167
64.6
91.544
60 2
6 623
6.7
152.285
98.424
64.6
91.845
60.3
6.580
6.7
152.178
98.495
64.7
91.933
60.4
6 562
6.7
152.229
98.853
64.9
92.505
60.8
6.348
6.4
18.925
11.647
61.5
9.375
49.5
2.272
19.5
18.880
11.645
61.7
9.277
49.1
2.368
20.3
18.911
11.718
62.0
9.339
49.4
2.379
20 3
18.942
11.741
62.0
9.443
49 9
2.298
19 6
18.966
11.724
61 8
9.408
49.6
2.316
19 8
18.994
11.720
61 7
9.504
50.0
2.216
18.9
19.026
11.565
60 8
9.449
49.7
2.116
18.3
19.057
11.623
61.0
9.563
50.2
2.060
17.7
19.086
11.650
61.0
9.582
50 2
2.068
17.8
19.196
11.660
60.7
9.707
50.6
1.953
16.7
19.222
11,881
61.8
9.958
51.8
1.923
16.2
19.248
11.867
61.7
9.896
51.4
1.972
16.6
19.274
11.934
61.9
9.923
51 5
2.011
16 8
19.302
12.008
62 5
10.105
52 4
1.903
15.8
12.771
8.119
63 6
6.995
54.8
1.124
13 8
9.747
6.139
63 0
5.284
54.2
855
13.9
9.738
6.202
63.7
5.336
54 8
866
14.0
9.640
6.090
63 2
5.339
55.4
751
12.3
9 690
6.145
63 4
5.350
55.2
795
12 9
9.700
6.202
63 9
5 392
55.6
810
13 1
9.745
6.165
63 3
5.398
55.4
767
12.4
9.677
6.232
64.4
5.463
56.5
769
12.3
9.735
6.267
64 4
5.540
56.9
727
11.6
9.778
6 336
64.8
5.627
57 6
708
112
9.906
6.292
63.5
5.652
57.1
639
10.2
10.080
6.484
64.3
5.751
57.1
733
11.3
10.072
6.378
63.3
5.643
56.0
735
11.5
10.026
6.332
63.2
5.666
56 5
666
10.5
TOTAL
Civilian nomnstitutional population' ...............
Civilian labor fo r c e ....................... ..............
Participation r a te .............................
Employed ...............................................
Employment-population ratio2 . . . .
Unemployed............................................
Unemployment rate .......................
Not in labor force ......................................
Men. 20 years and over
Civilian nomnstitutional population' ...............
Civilian labor fo r c e ......................................
Participation r a te .............................
Employed ...............................................
Employment-population ratio2 . . . .
Agriculture............................................
Nonagricultural industries .................
Unemployed............................................
Unemployment rate .......................
Women. 20 years and over
Civilian nomnstitutional population' ..............
Civilian labor fo r c e ...................................
Participation r a te .............................
Employed ...............................................
Employment-population ratio2 . . . .
Agriculture .
.................
Nonagricultural industries
Unemployed............................................
Unemployment rate
Both sexes. 16 to 19 years
Civilian nomnstitutional population' ............
Civilian labor fo r c e ......................................
Participation r a te .......................
Employed ...............................................
Employment-population ratio2 . . . .
Agriculture .
Nonagricultural in d u s trie s .................
Unemployed............................................
Unemployment rate
.................
White
Civilian nomnstitutional p o p u la tio n '..............
Civilian labor fo r c e ......................................
Participation r a te ..........................
Employed ...............................................
Employment-population ratio2 . . .
Unemployed............................................
Unemployment rate .......................
Black
Civilian nomnstitutional population' ..............
Civilian labor fo r c e ......................................
Participation r a te .............................
Employed ...............................................
Employment-population ratio2 . . . .
Unemployed............................................
Unemployment rate .......................
Hispanic origin
Civilian nomnstitutional population' ..............
Civilian labor fo r c e ......................................
Participation r a te .............................
Employed ...............................................
Employment-population ratio2 . . . .
Unemployed............................................
Unemployment rate .......................
'The population figures are not seasonally adjusted.
2Civilian employment as a percent of the civilian nomnstitutional population.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
NOTE: Detail for the above race and Hispamc-origm groups will not sum to totals because data for
,be |other races' 9rou')s are no1 bresen,ed and HlsPan,cs are ,ncluded in botb ,he whl,e and blacl(
57
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW July 1984 • Current Labor Statistics: Household Data
4.
S elected em ploym ent indicators, seasonally adjusted
[In thousands]
Annual average
Q
1983
1984
1982
1983
May
June
July
Aug.
Sept.
Oct.
Nov.
Dec.
Jan.
Feb.
Mar.
Apr.
May
99.526
56.271
43.256
38.074
24.053
5.099
100.834
56.787
44.047
37.967
24.603
5.091
99.762
56.216
43.546
37.616
24.304
4.991
100.743
56.844
43.899
37.911
24.416
5.029
101.225
57.071
44,154
38.254
24.618
5.071
101.484
57.069
44.415
38.281
24.905
5.096
101.876
57.279
44.597
38 232
24.921
5.124
101,970
57.407
44.563
38 240
24.953
5.172
102.606
57.855
44.751
38 388
25.057
5.236
102,941
58.043
44.898
38.494
25.140
5.254
103.190
58.239
44.950
38.682
24.947
5.293
103,892
58,607
45,285
38,911
25.212
5.346
104,140
58,748
45,392
38.927
25.239
5.444
104.402
58,745
45,657
39,062
25,457
5,491
105,288
59,084
46,205
39,159
25,722
5,668
Agriculture:
Wage and salary workers ................................
Self-employed workers ...................................
Unpaid family w orkers......................................
1.505
1.636
261
1.579
1.565
240
1.588
1.558
233
1.624
1.591
252
1.631
1.573
251
1.628
1.564
240
1.572
1.515
236
1.505
1.527
227
1.481
1.556
224
1.512
1.572
265
1.443
1.613
233
1.560
1.609
232
1.515
1.580
198
1.661
1.534
207
1,610
1.537
246
Nonagricultural industries:
Wage and salary workers ................................
Government...............................................
Private industries......................................
Private households ..........................
Other ...............................................
Self-employed workers ...................................
Unpaid family w orkers......................................
88.462
15.562
72.945
1.207
71.738
7.262
401
89.500
15.537
73.963
1.247
72.716
7.575
376
88.584
15.530
73.054
1.238
71.816
7.448
345
89.345
15.514
73.831
1.295
72.536
7.510
352
89.687
15.593
74.094
1.276
72.818
7.595
322
90.032
15.671
74.361
1.270
73.091
7.641
375
90.743
15.560
75.183
1.279
73.904
7.656
380
90.617
15.578
75.039
1.278
73.761
7.695
405
91.094
15,585
75.509
1.216
74.293
7.800
474
91.422
15.481
75.941
1.241
74.700
7.734
450
91.641
15.535
76.106
1.197
74.909
7.936
364
92.379
15.822
76.557
1.219
75.339
7.849
330
92.819
15.813
77.006
1.155
75.851
7.755
326
92.931
15,784
77,147
1.296
75.851
7.834
338
93.928
15,761
78.167
1.347
76.820
7.707
311
90.552
72.245
5.852
2.169
3.683
12.455
92.038
73.624
5.997
1.826
4171
12.417
91.070
72.949
5 965
1.748
4.217
12.156
90.913
73.071
5.886
1.777
4.109
11.956
92.126
73.844
5.700
1.781
3.919
12.582
91.953
73.499
5.866
1.742
4.124
12.588
93.322
74.666
6.027
1.771
4.256
12.629
93.273
75.047
5.724
1.617
4.107
12.502
93.834
75.398
5.848
1.719
4.129
12.588
94.173
75.802
5.712
1.672
4.040
12 659
94.707
76.237
5.943
1.771
4.172
12.527
95.067
76.715
5.808
1.611
4.197
12.545
94.982
77.004
5 463
1.472
3 991
12.515
96.918
78.276
5.593
1.530
4.063
13.049
96.523
78.280
5.353
1.549
3.804
12.889
CHARACTERISTIC
Civilian employed. 16 years and over .....................
M e n ....................................................................
W o m en ..............................................................
Married men. spouse present..........................
Married women, spouse present ....................
Women who maintain families .................
MAJOR INDUSTRY AND CLASS OF WORKER
PERSONS AT WORK1
Nonagricultural industries.........................................
Full-time schedules .........................................
Part time for economic reasons
Usually work full time .............................
Usually work part tim e .............................
Part time for noneconomic reasons.................
1Excludes persons with a job but not at work during the survey period for such reasons as
vacation, illness, or industrial disputes.
5.
S elected unem ploym ent indicators, seasonally adjusted
[Unemployment rates]
Annual average
Selected categories
1983
1983
May
June
July
Aug.
Sept
Oct.
Nov.
Dec.
Jan.
Feb.
Mar
Apr.
May
97
23 2
88
83
96
22 4
89
81
10 1
23 0
95
85
10 0
23 6
91
•8.6
95
22 7
88
79
95
22 8
87
80
92
21 8
86
7.8
88
21 6
82
75
84
20 2
78
72
82
20 1
7.4
71
80
19 4
73
71
78
19.3
7.0
69
78
19 9
68
69
78
19 4
69
70
75
19.0
6.5
68
White tota:
Botri sexes. 16 to 19 years
Men. 16 to 19 years
Women. 16 to 19 years
Men 20 years and over
Women. 20 years and over
86
20 4
21 7
19 0
78
73
84
19 3
20 2
18 3
7.9
69
88
19 9
20 4
19 4
84
72
86
20 1
20 4
19 7
79
74
8.2
19 4
20 3
18 4
77
68
82
19 5
20 7
18 2
77
67
8.0
18 2
18 9
17 4
77
66
77
18 5
19 8
16 9
73
63
73
17 2
17 6
16 6
69
60
7.1
17.0
17 5
16 5
67
59
69
16.2
17.8
14 5
63
60
67
16 5
16.4
16.7
61
58
6.7
17 1
17.3
16 8
5.8
5.9
67
16 2
16 6
15.7
5.9
6.0
64
16 2
16 8
15 5
56
58
Black, total
......
Both sexes. 16 to 19 years
Men. 16 to 19 years .
Women. 16 to 19 years
Men. 20 years and over .
Women. 20 years and over .
18 9
48 0
48 9
47 1
17 8
15 4
19 5
48 5
48 8
48 2
18 1
16.5
20 3
48 4
52.1
44 1
19 5
17 0
20 3
49 8
50.7
48.7
18.9
16 9
19 6
48 4
48 3
48 4
18 6
16.2
19 8
51 4
53.7
48 8
18.2
16.4
18 9
51 1
52.7
49 2
16 9
16.1
18 3
48 7
45 6
52.2
16 3
15 9
17 7
47 3
44 9
50 0
15 6
15.6
17 8
49 0
46 4
51.9
15 1
15.9
16.7
47.9
47.1
48 8
14.8
14 3
16 2
43 5
46 7
39 9
14.1
14.4
16.6
46 7
44 4
49 6
15.4
13 5
16 8
44.8
42 8
47 1
16.0
13 4
158
44 1
40 9
48 2
14 1
13 6
Hispanic origin, total
CHARACTERISTIC
Total ali civilian workers
Both sexes. 16 to 19 years
Men 20 years and over
Women. 20 years and over
...
13 8
13 8
13 9
14.0
12.3
12 9
13 1
12 4
12.3
116
112
10.2
11.3
115
10 5
Married men, spouse present..........................
Married women, spouse present
Women who maintain families
65
74
11 7
6.5
7.0
12 2
70
74
12 7
67
76
12.5
6.2
7.0
118
63
69
11 8
61
68
12.0
5.7
6.3
11.4
5.5
6.0
10.5
5.2
6.1
10.9
5.06.0
10.7
4.9
5.9
11.0
■4.7
58
11.0
47
58
10.5
45
58
98
Full-time w orkers.............................
Part-time workers
.......................
Unemployed 15 weeks and over
Labor force time lost1
INDUSTRY
96
10 5
32
110
95
10 4
38
10 9
10 0
10 9
41
11 5
97
118
4.0
11.1
94
10.2
39
10 7
9.3
10 2
36
10 7
9.1
10.1
3.5
10.5
87
10 0
33
10.0
82
9.8
3.1
9.7
8.0
98
3.0
9.4
7.8
9.2
2.9
9.2
7.5
93
2.6
89
75
9.2
2.5
88
7.6
91
2.5
8.9
72
93
25
8.5
10 1
13.4
20 0
12 3
13.3
10 8
68
10 0
69
49
14.7
99
17 0
18.4
112
12 1
10 0
74
10 0
72
53
16 0
10.4
20 8
20 0
12.3
13.5
10 6
7.3
10 2
75
5.6
16 8
10.1
17 9
18.4
11 6
12.5
10.2
78
10.2
7.2
51
16.5
97
16.6
18 0
10.7
11 4
9.7
7.3
9.8
73
5.4
15.0
9.8
14 9
17 9
11.2
117
10.5
7.7
98
7.2
5.1
15.1
94
16.9
18.1
10.2
10.9
9.3
7.4
9.5
7.0
5.0
16 5
9.0
12.1
15 8
9.6
10.2
8.7
7.2
9.8
69
5.1
16 2
8.6
12.8
15.6
8.9
9.0
8.7
6.7
9.1
6.7
4.9
15.7
83
12.4
16.3
8.3
8.3
8.2
6.5
8.8
6.6
5.0
15.6
7.9
10 9
15.0
8.4
8.0
8.9
5.1
8.4
6.3
5.0
15.5
7.8
12.2
15.1
7.5
73
7.8
5.9
8.3
6.3
4.5
14.0
7.6
112
13.3
7.5
7.8
7.2
5.0
8.3
6.4
4,4
14.6
7.7
10 3
14.3
7.7
7.5
8.0
5.4
8.7
6.1
4.4
12 2
7.2
8.9
14.8
71
7.0
7.1
5.5
7.9
5.5
47
13 9
. .
Nonagricultural private wage and salary workers
Mining ...............................................
Construction
M anufacturing..................................................
Durable goods
....................
Nondurable goods
Transportation and public utilitie s.................
Wholesale and retail trade . . .
Finance and service industries
Government workers
.............................
Agricultural wage and salary w o rk e r s ....................
’ Aggregate hours lost by the unemployed and persons on part time for economic reasons as a percent of
potentially available labor force hours.
58
1984
1982
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
6.
U n em p lo ym en t rates by sex and age, seasonally adjusted
[Civilian workers]
Sex and age
1984
1983
Annual average
1982
1983
May
June
July
Aug.
Sept.
Oct.
Nov.
Dec.
Jan.
Feb.
Mar.
Apr.
May
Total, 16 years and over .........................................
16 to 24 years .....................................................
16 to 19 y e a rs ..................................................
16 to 17 ye a rs...............................................
18 to 19 ye a rs...............................................
20 to 24 years ..................................................
25 years and over ...............................................
25 to 54 ye a rs...............................................
55 years and over .........................................
9.7
17.8
23.2
24.9
22.1
14.9
7.4
7.9
5.0
9.6
17.2
22.4
24.5
21.1
14.5
7.5
8.0
5.3
10.1
18.0
23.0
25.6
21.3
15.5
7.9
8.5
5.3
10.0
17.6
23.6
25.6
22.3
14.5
7.9
8.3
5.5
9.5
16.8
22.7
25.1
20.8
13.9
7.4
7.9
5.3
9.5
17.2
22.8
24.8
21.6
14.4
7.3
7.8
5.1
9.2
16.5
21.8
24.0
20.5
13.8
7.2
7.7
5.2
8.8
16.3
21.6
24.0
20.3
13.6
6.8
7.2
5.0
8.4
15.4
20.2
21.9
19.3
13.0
6.5
6.9
4.9
8.2
14.9
20.1
22.9
18.8
12.2
6.4
6.8
4.9
8.0
14.8
19.4
21.9
17.6
12.5
6.2
6.5
4.7
7.8
14.2
19.3
22.1
17.5
11.6
6.1
6.4
4.3
7.8
14.4
19.9
23.1
18.1
11.6
5.9
6.3
4.3
7.8
14.6
19.4
22.3
17.5
12.2
6.0
6.3
4.2
7.5
14.0
19.0
20.2
18.2
11.5
5.7
6.0
4.4
Men, 16 years and o v e r ...................................
16 to 24 years...............................................
16 to 19 years .........................................
16 to 17 y e a rs ......................................
18 to 19 y e a rs ......................................
20 to 24 years .........................................
25 years and over .........................................
25 to 54 years ......................................
55 years and over ................................
9.9
19.1
24.4
26.4
23.1
16.4
7.5
8.0
5.1
9.9
18.4
23.3
25.2
22.2
15.9
7.8
8.2
5.6
10.5
19.5
23.9
26.7
22.3
17.3
8.2
8.8
5.8
10.1
18.6
24.0
26.0
22.8
15.9
7.9
8.4
5.5
9.9
18.4
23.8
27.3
21.2
15.8
7.6
8.1
5.5
9.8
18.6
24.3
26.0
23.2
15.7
7.5
8.0
5.4
9.6
17.6
22.8
23.9
22.2
15.0
7.5
8.0
5.6
9.1
17.3
22.5
24.3
21.6
14.7
7.0
7.4
5.4
8.6
15.9
20.2
22.0
19.6
13.8
6.8
7.1
5.4
8.3
15.6
20.4
23.3
18.9
13.3
6.5
6.7
5.4
8.1
15.6
20.8
21.6
19.6
13.1
6.2
6.6
4.8
7.8
14.6
19.7
21.6
18.1
12.1
6.1
6.4
4.5
7.7
14.6
20.0
23.0
18.2
11.9
5.9
6.1
4.6
7.7
15.0
19.7
23.7
17.3
12.7
5.9
6.2
4.4
7.3
14.0
19.4
21.3
18.3
11.5
5.7
5.9
4.5
Women, 16 years and o v e r .............................
16 to 24 ye a rs...............................................
16 to 19 years .........................................
16 to 17 y e a rs ......................................
18 to 19 y e a rs ......................................
20 to 24 years .........................................
25 years and over .........................................
25 to 54 years ......................................
55 years and over ................................
9.4
16.2
21.9
23.2
21.0
13.2
7.3
7.7
4.8
9.2
15.8
21.3
23.7
19.9
12.9
7.2
7.7
4.7
9.5
16.3
22.0
24.4
20.2
13.4
7.5
8.1
4.7
9.8
16.4
23.1
25.2
21.7
12.9
7.8
8.1
5.5
9.0
15.0
21.5
22.6
20.5
11.7
7.1
7.6
5.1
9.1
15.7
21.1
23.4
19.9
12.8
7.0
7.5
4.7
8.8
15.2
20.6
24.0
18.5
12.5
6.9
7.3
4.5
8.5
15.1
20.5
23.6
18.8
12.3
6.5
7.0
4.4
8.2
14.7
20.1
21.8
19.0
12.0
6.2
6.6
4.1
8.1
14.0
19.8
22.5
18.7
11.0
6.3
6.8
4.3
7.9
13.9
18.0
22.2
15.4
11.7
6.2
6.5
4.5
7.8
13.7
18.9
22.6
16.9
11.0
6.1
6.5
4.0
7.9
14.2
19.8
23.1
18.1
11.3
6.0
6.5
3.9
7.9
14.1
19.0
20.8
17.8
11.6
6.0
6.4
3.9
7.7
14.0
18.6
19.0
18.1
11.6
5.8
6.1
4.3
7.
U nem p loyed persons by reason fo r unem ploym ent, seasonally adjusted
[Numbers in thousands]
Reason lor unemployment
Job lo s e rs .................................................................
On layoff ...........................................................
Other job losers ...............................................
Job leavers.................................................................
Reentrants.................................................................
New entrants..............................................................
1983
Annual average
1982
1983
May
June
July
Aug.
Sept.
Oct.
Nov.
Dec.
Jan.
Feb.
Mar.
Apr.
May
6,258
2,127
4,141
840
2,384
1,185
6,258
1,780
4,478
830
2,412
1,216
6,753
1,958
4,795
808
2,404
1,246
6,525
1,841
4,684
799
2,436
1,412
6,235
1,735
4,500
752
2,415
1,229
6,133
1,660
4,473
799
2,479
1,214
5,938
1,562
4,376
858
2,362
1,234
5,601
1,392
4,209
866
2,322
1,127
5,226
1,321
3,905
868
2,250
1,154
5,017
1,283
3,734
855
2,246
1,150
4,825
1,238
3,588
809
2,192
1,175
4,737
1,272
3,465
772
2,153
1,092
4,614
1,254
3,360
756
2,208
1,213
4,527
1,108
3,419
781
2,308
1,216
4,327
1,192
3,134
804
2,178
1,186
100.0
58.7
19.9
38.8
7.9
22.3
11.1
100.0
58.4
16.6
41.8
7.7
22.5
11.3
100.0
60.2
17.5
42.8
7.2
21.4
11.1
100.0
58.4
16.5
41.9
7.2
21.8
12.6
100.0
58.6
16.3
42.3
7.1
22.7
11.6
100.0
57.7
15.6
42.1
7.5
23.3
11.4
100 0
57.1
15.0
42.1
8.3
22.7
11.9
100.0
56.5
14.0
42.4
8.7
23.4
11.4
100.0
55.0
13.9
41.1
9.1
23.7
12.1
100.0
54.1
13.8
40.3
9.2
24.2
12.4
100.0
53.6
13.7
39.9
9.0
24.4
13.1
100.0
54.1
14.5
39.6
8.8
24.6
12.5
100.0
52.5
14.3
38.2
8.6
25.1
13.8
100.0
51.3
12.5
38.7
8.8
26.1
13.8
100.0
50.9
14.0
36.9
9.5
25.6
14.0
5.7
.8
2.2
1.1
5.6
.7
2.2
1.1
6.1
.7
2.2
1.1
5.8
.7
2.2
1.3
5.6
.7
2.2
1.1
5.5
.7
2.2
1.1
5.3
.8
2.1
1.1
5.0
.8
2.1
1.0
4.7
.8
2.0
1.0
4.5
.8
2.0
1.0
4.3
.7
2.0
1.0
4.2
.7
1.9
1.0
4.1
.7
2.0
1.1
4.0
.7
2.0
1.1
3.8
.7
1.9
1.0
PERCENT DISTRIBUTION
Total unem ployed.....................................................
Job losers .................................................................
On layoff ...........................................................
Other job losers ...............................................
Job leavers.................................................................
Reentrants.................................................................
New entrants..............................................................
PERCENT OF
CIVILIAN LABOR FORCE
Job losers .................................................................
Job leavers.................................................................
Reentrants.................................................................
New entrants..............................................................
8.
D uration o f unem ploym ent, seasonally adjusted
[Numbers in thousands]
Weeks of unemployment
Less than 5 weeks.....................................................
15 weeks and over ..................................................
27 weeks and over ............................................
Mean duration in weeks............................................
Median duration in weeks.........................................
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1984
1983
Annual average
1982
1983
May
June
July
Aug.
Sept.
Oct.
Nov.
Dec.
Jan.
Feb.
Mar.
Apr.
May
3,883
3,311
3,485
1,708
1,776
15.6
8.7
3,570
2,937
4,210
1,652
2,559
20.0
10.1
3,568
3,012
4,510
1,774
2,736
20.2
11.9
3,630
2,950
4,486
1,593
2,893
21.4
10.8
3,529
2,841
4,398
1,794
2,604
21.3
10.1
3,633
2,951
4,078
1,597
2,481
19.9
9.4
3,740
2,784
3,889
1,383
2,506
20.2
9.4
3,504
2,725
3,655
1,372
2,283
20.1
9.5
3,328
2,616
3,527
1,337
2,190
20.2
9.4
3,382
2,504
3,369
1,284
2,085
19.6
9.0
3,233
2,556
3,201
1,166
2,035
20.5
9.2
3,359
2,484
2,984
1,173
1,810
18.8
8.3
3,386
2,539
2,873
1,114
1,759
18.8
8.3
3,438
2,493
2,855
1,111
1,744
18.5
8.1
3,238
2,433
2,851
1,186
1,664
18.4
8.7
59
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 i n g s d a t a in this section are com
piled from payroll records reported monthly on a voluntary basis
to the Bureau of Labor Statistics and its cooperating State agencies
by 195,000 establishments representing all industries except ag
riculture. In most industries, the sampling probabilities are based
on the size of the establishment; most large establishments are
therefore in the sample. (An establishment is not necessarily a
firm; it may be a branch plant, for example, or warehouse.) Selfemployed 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 sur
veys.
Definitions
Employed persons are all persons who received pay (including holiday
and sick pay) for any part of the payroll period including the 12th of the
month. Persons holding more than one job (about 5 percent of all persons
in the labor force) are counted in each establishment which reports them.
Production workers in manufacturing include blue-collar worker su
pervisors and all nonsupervisory workers closely associated with produc
tion operations. Those workers mentioned in tables 12-16 include production
workers in manufacturing and mining; construction workers in construc
tion; and nonsupervisory workers in transportation and public utilities; in
wholesale and retail trade; in finance, insurance, 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 re
ceive 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 reflect the effects of changes in
consumer prices. The deflator for this series is derived from the Consumer
Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W). The
Hourly Earnings Index is calculated from average 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
60
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
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 low-wage industries.
Hours represent the average weekly hours of production or nonsuper
visory workers for which pay was received and are different from standard
or scheduled hours. Overtime hours represent the portion of gross average
weekly hours which were in excess of regular hours and for which overtime
premiums were paid.
The Diffusion Index, introduced in table 17 of the May 1983 issue,
represents the percent of 185 nonagricultural industries in which employ
ment was rising over the indicated period. One-half of the industries with
unchanged employment are counted as rising. In line with Bureau practice,
data for the 3-, 6-, and 9-month spans are seasonally adjusted, while that
for the 12-month span is unadjusted. The diffusion index is useful for
measuring the dispersion of economic gains or losses and is also an eco
nomic indicator.
Notes on the data
Establishment data collected by the Bureau of Labor Statistics are pe
riodically adjusted to comprehensive counts of employment (called
“benchmarks” ). The latest complete adjustment was made with the release
of May 1984 data, published in the July 1984 issue of the R e v ie w . Con
sequently, data published in the R e v ie w prior to that issue are not necessarily
comparable to current data. Unadjusted data have been revised back to
April 1982; seasonally adjusted data have been revised back to January
1979. Unadjusted data from April 1983 forward, and seasonally adjusted
data from January 1980 forward are subject to revision in future bench
marks. Earlier comparable unadjusted and seasonally adjusted data are
published in a S u p p le m e n t to E m p lo y m e n t a n d E a rn in g s (unadjusted data
from April 1977 through February 1984 and seasonally adjusted data from
January 1974 through February 1984) and in E m p lo y m e n t a n d E a rn in g s,
U n ite d S ta te s , 1 9 0 9 - 7 8 , BLS Bulletin 1312-11 (for prior periods).
A comprehensive discussion of the differences between household and
establishment data on employment appears in Gloria P. Green, “Com
paring employment estimates from household and payroll surveys,” MonthlyL a b o r R e v ie w , December 1969, pp. 9-20. See also B L S H a n d b o o k o f
M e th o d s , Bulletin 2134-1 (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 1982).
9.
E m ploym ent, by industry, selected years, 1 9 5 0 -8 3
[Nonagricultural payroll data, In thousands]
Service-producing
Goods-producing
Year
Total
Private
sector
Total
Mining
Construetion
Manufacturing
Total
Transportation
and
public
utilities
Whole
sale
trade
Retail
trade
Finance,
insurance,
Services
and real
estate
Government
Total
Federal
State
Local
1950 ................................
1955 ................................
I9602 .............................
1964 ................................
1965 ................................
45,197
50,641
54,189
58,283
60,765
39,170
43,727
45,836
48,686
50,689
18,506
20,513
20,434
21,005
21,926
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
26,691
30,128
33,755
37,278
38,839
4,034
4,141
4,004
3,951
4,036
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
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
(1)
1,168
1,536
1,856
1,996
(1)
3,558
4,547
5,392
5,700
1966
1967
1968
1969
1970
................................
................................
................................
................................
................................
63,901
65,803
67,897
70,384
70,880
53,116
54,413
56,058
58,189
58,325
23,158
23,308
23,737
24,361
23,578
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
40,743
42,495
44,160
46,023
47,302
4,158
4,268
4,318
4,442
4,515
3,597
3,689
3,779
3,907
3,993
9,648
9,917
10,320
10,798
11,047
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
2,141
2,302
2,442
2,533
2,664
6,080
6,371
6,660
6,904
7,158
1 9 7 1 ................................
1972 ................................
1973 ................................
1974 ................................
1975 ................................
71,214
73,675
76,790
78,265
76,945
58,331
60,341
63,058
64,095
62,259
22,935
23,668
24,893
24,794
22,600
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
48,278
50.007
51,897
53,471
54,345
4,476
4,541
4,656
4,725
4,542
4,001
4.113
4,277
4,433
4,415
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
2,747
2,859
2,923
3,039
3,179
7,437
7,790
8,146
8,407
8,758
1976
1977
1978
1979
1980
................................
................................
................................
................................
................................
79,382
82,471
86,697
89,823
90,406
64,511
67,344
71,026
73,876
74,166
23.352
24,346
25,585
26,461
25,658
779
813
851
958
1,027
3.576
3,851
4.229
4.463
4,346
18,997
19,682
20,505
21,040
20,285
56,030
58,125
61,113
63,363
64,748
4,582
4,713
4,923
5,136
5,146
4,546
4,708
4,969
5,204
5.275
13,209
13,808
14,573
14,989
15,035
4,271
4,467
4,724
4,975
5,160
14,551
15,303
16,252
17,112
17,890
14,871
15,127
15,672
15,947
16.241
2,733
2,727
2,753
2,773
2,866
3,273
3,377
3,474
3,541
3,610
8,865
9,023
9,446
9,633
9,765
1 9 8 1 ................................
1982' .............................
1983' .............................
91,156
89,566
90,138
75,126
73,729
74,288
25,497
23,813
23,394
1.139
1,128
957
4,188
3,905
3,940
20,170
18,781
18.497
65,659
65.753
66,744
5,165
5,082
4.958
5,358
5,278
5,259
15.189
15.179
15,545
5,298
5,341
5,467
18,619
19,036
19,665
16,031
15,837
15,851
2,772
2,739
2,752
3,640
3,640
3,660
9,619
9,458
9,439
1Not available.
2Data include Alaska and Hawaii beginning in 1959.
r = revised.
NOTE: In accordance with usual practice, BLS has revised establishment survey data to reflect a new
benchmark and updated seasonal adjustment factors. Because of these revisions, establishment data in
this table may differ from data published earlier.
10. Employment, by State
[Nonagricultural payroll data, in thousands]
State
Apr. 1983
Mar. 1984
Apr. 1984»
State
Apr. 1983
Mar. 1984
Apr. 1984P
Alabama........................................................
Alaska ...........................................................
Arizona ........................................................
1,312.4
205.9
1.061.8
734 8
9 833 4
1,333,0
206.4
1,135.1
765 0
10,185.0
1.346.2
212.4
1,138.2
770.2
10.241.4
Montana........................................................
Nebraska ....................................................
Nevada .......................................................
New Hampshire............................................
267 6
602.2
397.9
397.1
3,106 0
268.6
612.5
416,4
415.7
3,191.8
270 9
617.2
411.9
417 3
3,226.5
District of Columbia ...................................
Florida...........................................................
1 307 3
1,432.2
262 8
595.8
3.874.8
1.347.7
1,457.8
267.3
592.7
4,117.3
1.353.2
1.474.6
271.7
596.2
4.130.8
North D a ko ta ...............................................
O h io .............................................................
472 5
7,230 8
2,378.4
245.4
4,041.8
489.5
7,351.3
2,465.0
245.5
4,120.3
493.0
7,417.3
2,474.9
248.7
4,166.6
Georgia ........................................................
H awaii...........................................................
Idaho ...........................................................
Illin o is ...........................................................
Indiana ........................................................
2,253.3
403 6
312.8
4,473.1
1,994.1
2.343.7
406.9
320 1
4,501.8
2.021.8
2.378.4
405.4
323.0
4,529.9
2.045 9
Oklahoma.....................................................
Oregon .......................................................
Pennsylvania ...............................................
Rhode Island ...............................................
South Carolina ............................................
1.165.6
952.6
4,491.7
390.5
1.177.2
1,176.3
979.9
4,535.9
399.1
1,214.1
1,177.0
984 2
4,588 8
401.8
1,226.8
Io w a ..............................................................
Kansas ........................................................
Kentucky .....................................................
Louisiana .....................................................
M a in e ...........................................................
1,019,3
916.2
1,150.8
1,555.9
410,6
1.025.7
929.7
1.166.4
1,566.6
414.0
1.033.6
936.4
1,176.0
1.569.6
421 7
South D akota...............................................
Tennessee .....................................................
Texas ..........................................................
U ta h .............................................................
Verm ont.......................................................
228.8
1.705.3
6,143.9
555.5
201.6
232.4
1,769.5
6,286.2
585 3
206.1
235.2
1,792.4
6,313.3
589.5
205.3
Maryland .....................................................
Massachusetts ............................................
Michigan .....................................................
Minnesota.....................................................
Mississippi ..................................................
M issouri........................................................
1,693.7
2,655.9
3,145.4
1,688.8
784.4
1,909.6
1,717.2
2.697.6
3,255.3
1,742.1
799.4
1,926 9
1.734.9
2.729.3
3.261 1
1,779.2
805 4
1.948.1
Virginia ........................................................
Washington..................................................
West V irg in ia ...............................................
W isconsin.....................................................
Wyoming .....................................................
2,168.0
1.568.8
573.4
1.820.8
199 8
2,240.3
1,605.9
585.0
1,858.1
198.5
2,264 8
1,617.3
588.5
1,878 2
199.2
Virgin Islands...............................................
36.2
35.9
35.4
Connecticut..................................................
New Y o r k .....................................................
p = preliminary.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
61
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW July 1984 • Current Labor Statistics: Establishment Data
11.
E m ploym ent, by industry, seasonally adjusted
[Nonagricultural payroll data, In thousands]
Industry division and group
TOTAL
PRIVATE SECTOR
1983
Annual average
June
July
Aug.
Sept.
Oct.
Nov.
Dec.
Jan.
Feb.
Mar.
Apr.P
90,138
89,578
89,927
90,274
89,918
91,018
91,345
91,688
92,026
92,391
92,846
93,058
93,456
93,688
74,288
73,730
74,091
74,452
74,110
75,083
75,481
75,814
76,157
76,533
76,971
77,185
77,551
77,798
23,394
1983
89,566
73,729
MayP
23,087
23,241
23,414
23,532
23,669
23,895
24,058
24,198
24,383
24,577
24,595
24,763
24,856
957
600
940
589
939
583
946
590
950
590
952
594
965
600
967
603
969
607
975
608
978
607
978
607
985
613
993
619
3,905
991
3,940
1,015
3,849
986
3,911
1,011
3,947
1,024
3,985
1,037
4,019
1,043
4,044
1,053
4,073
1,064
4,086
1,077
4,154
1,100
4,226
1,111
4,151
1,099
4,247
1,109
4,306
1,129
Manufacturing
Production workers .........................................
18,781
12,742
18,497
12,581
18,298
12,408
18,391
12.494
18,521
12,612
18,597
12,679
18,698
12,759
18,886
12,928
19,018
13,048
19,143
13,145
19,254
13,234
19,373
13,326
19,466
13,388
19,531
13,445
19,557
13,475
Durable goods
Production workers .........................................
11.039
7,311
10,774
7,151
10,623
7,020
10,686
7,078
10,781
7,165
10,846
7,224
10,923
7,289
11,071
7,421
11,170
7,511
11,266
7,585
11,343
7,643
11,440
7,718
11,513
7,769
11,553
7,804
11,590
7,836
Lumber and wood products .............................
Furniture and fix tu re s .........................................
Stone, clay, and glass products .......................
Primary metal industries ...................................
Blast furnaces and basic steel products . . . .
Fabricated metal products...................................
598
432
577
922
396
1,427
658
447
573
838
343
1.374
643
441
567
827
341
1,355
657
445
570
830
340
1,362
665
454
573
838
344
1,369
675
453
578
840
344
1,384
680
456
581
849
346
1,389
690
462
587
863
351
1,408
695
467
589
869
351
1,420
698
470
592
877
352
1,431
702
475
595
871
347
1,440
706
480
604
877
348
1,447
712
483
606
877
347
1,456
714
482
605
880
346
1,460
712
484
605
887
347
1,467
Machinery, except electrical .............................
Electric and electronic equipment ....................
Transportation equipment...................................
Motor vehicles and equipment .......................
Instruments and related products ....................
Miscellaneous manufacturing.............................
2.244
2.008
1,735
699
716
382
2,038
2,024
1.756
758
695
371
2,014
1.989
1,727
732
690
370
2,020
2,006
1,736
741
689
371
2,039
2,024
1,757
756
690
372
2,051
2,022
1,776
779
694
373
2,058
2,062
1,780
783
698
370
2,077
2,086
1,820
810
702
376
2,106
2,109
1,832
823
705
378
2,122
2,132
1,855
843
707
382
2,137
2,152
1,876
858
711
384
2,151
2,175
1,898
865
715
387
2,166
2,202
1,905
863
718
388
2,189
2,213
1,903
856
719
388
2,199
2,229
1,901
847
721
385
7,741
5.431
7.724
5.430
7,675
5.388
7,705
5,416
7,740
5,447
7,751
5.455
7,775
5,470
7,815
5,507
7.848
5,537
7,877
5,560
7,911
5,591
7,933
5,608
7,953
5,619
7,978
5,641
7,967
5,639
Food and kindred pro d u cts................................
Tobacco manufactures ......................................
Textile mill products............................................
Apparel and other textile p ro d u cts....................
Paper and allied products...................................
1.636
69
749
1.161
662
1,622
69
744
1.164
662
1.621
70
736
1.149
658
1,625
69
743
1.156
659
1,626
69
745
1,171
661
1,621
66
751
1,170
663
1,624
68
753
1,174
666
1.624
68
758
1.186
669
1,629
66
760
1,195
671
1,631
67
762
1,202
675
1,638
66
768
1,207
676
1,637
65
767
1,213
680
1,638
66
769
1,218
680
1,647
67
767
1,225
680
1,641
67
763
1,216
681
Printing and p ublishing......................................
Chemicals and allied products ..........................
Petroleum and coal products.............................
Rubber and miscellaneous plastics products . .
Leather and leather pro d u cts.............................
1,272
1.075
201
697
219
1.296
1,047
195
718
208
1.288
1,045
197
704
207
1,294
1,045
196
712
206
1,297
1.046
195
723
207
1,302
1,046
194
730
208
1,305
1,047
194
735
209
1.311
1.049
192
748
210
1,317
1,050
192
758
210
1,321
1,052
191
766
210
1,328
1,053
191
774
210
1,333
1,054
190
784
210
1,339
1,054
190
790
209
1,348
1,058
189
789
208
1,352
1,057
189
795
206
65.753
66.744
66.491
66.686
66,860
66.386
67.349
67,450
67.630
67,828
68,008
68,269
68,463
68,693
68,832
5.082
2.789
2.293
4,958
2.739
2,219
5,001
2,728
2.273
5,005
2,735
2,270
5,001
2,751
2,250
4,369
2,751
1,618
5,046
2,768
2,278
5,053
2,776
2,277
5,043
2,763
2,280
5,055
2,776
2,279
5,095
2,816
2,279
5,105
2,828
2,276
5,112
2,839
2,273
5,131
2,863
2,268
5,141
2,869
2,272
Nondurable g o o d s ...............................................
5.278
11.039
7.741
5.259
10.774
7,724
5,220
10,623
7,675
5,241
10,686
7,705
5,256
10,781
7,740
5,277
10,846
7,751
5,301
10,923
7,775
5,322
11,071
7,815
5,344
11,170
7,848
5,371
11,266
7,877
5,406
11,343
7,911
5,438
11,440
7,933
5,457
11,513
7,953
5,474
11,553
7,978
5,496
11,590
7,967
Retail trade
General merchandise stores .............................
Food stores ........................................................
Automotive dealers and service stations............
Eating and drinking places ................................
15.179
2.184
2.478
1.632
4.831
15,545
2,161
2,560
1,667
5,007
15,433
2,142
2,549
1,648
4,972
15,514
2,152
2,555
1,659
5,002
15,580
2,164
2,558
1,673
5,025
15,626
2,169
2,563
1,679
5,043
15,671
2,171
2,568
1,685
5,058
15,737
2,179
2.587
1,695
5,071
15,805
2,195
2,594
1,703
5,082
15,857
2,189
2,600
1,710
5,095
15,914
2,210
2,618
1,725
5,111
15,980
2,211
2,626
1,740
5,121
16,030
2,230
2,626
1,748
5,136
16,094
2,241
2,637
1,743
5,158
16,117
2,252
2,631
1,753
5,153
Finance, insurance, and real estate
Finance.................................................................
Insurance ...........................................................
Real estate ...........................................................
5.341
2.646
1,714
981
5,467
2,740
1,721
1,005
5.460
2,743
1,718
999
5,464
2,745
1,717
1,002
5,478
2,749
1,719
1,010
5,498
2,749
1,724
1,025
5,503
2,763
1,725
1,015
5,512
2,769
1,725
1,018
5,530
2,777
1,728
1,025
5,546
2,789
1,730
1,027
5,573
2,797
1,737
1,039
5,593
2,812
1,741
1,040
5,613
2,831
1,742
1,041
5,640
2,851
1,742
1,047
5,650
2,861
1,743
1,046
Services
Business service s...............................................
Health services ..................................................
19.036
3.286
5.812
19,665
3,539
5,973
19,529
3,474
5,973
19,626
3,520
5,963
19,723
3,577
5,981
19,808
3,599
5,988
19,893
3,636
6,003
19,962
3,672
6,007
20,034
3,703
6,016
20,130
3,758
6,026
20,162
3,798
6,030
20,278
3,845
6,040
20,378
3,875
6,052
20,449
3,903
6,062
20,538
3,974
6,069
Government
Federal.................................................................
State ....................................................................
L o c a l....................................................................
15,837
2,739
3,640
9.458
15,851
2,752
3.660
9,439
15,848
2,753
3,652
9,443
15,836
2,744
3,657
9,435
15,822
2,744
3,662
9,416
15,808
2,747
3,668
9,393
15,935
2,774
3,672
9,489
15,864
2,760
3,667
9,437
15,874
2,759
3,669
9,446
15,869
2,762
3,668
9,439
15,858
2,760
3,670
9,428
15,875
2,763
3,682
9,430
15,873
2,770
3,686
9,417
15,905
2,773
3,693
9,439
15,890
2,767
3,701
9,422
GOODS-PRODUCING
23,813
Mining ...................................................................
Oil and gas extraction......................................
1,128
708
Construction
General building contractors.............................
Nondurable goods
Production w o rkers.........................................
SERVICE-PRODUCING
Transportation and public utilities
Transportation.....................................................
Communication and public utilitie s.....................
Wholesale trade
.
p - preliminary,
NOTE: In accordance with usual practice, BLS has revised establishment survey data to reflect a new
62
1984
May
1982
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
benchmark and updated seasonal adjustment factors. Because of these revisions, establishment data in
this table may differ from data published earlier.
12.
A verag e hours and earnings, by industry 1 9 6 8 -8 3
[Production or nonsupervisory workers on nonagricultural payrolls]
Year
Average
weekly
hours
Average
hourly
earnings
Average
weekly
earnings
Average
weekly
hours
Average
weekly
earnings
Average
hourly
earnings
Average
weekly
hours
Average
hourly
earnings
Mining
Private sector
Average
weekly
earnings
Average
weekly
hours
Construction
Average
hourly
earnings
Average
weekly
earnings
Manufacturing
1968 .....................
1969 ....................
1970 .....................
37 8
37.7
37.1
$2.85
3.04
3.23
$107.73
114.61
119.83
42.6
43.0
42.7
$3.35
3.60
3.85
$142.71
154.80
164.40
37.3
37.9
37.3
$4.41
4.79
5.24
$164.49
181.54
195.45
40.7
40.6
39.8
$3.01
3.19
3.35
$122.51
129.51
133.33
1 9 7 1 .....................
1972 .....................
1973 .....................
1974 ..................
1975 .....................
36.9
37.0
36.9
36.5
36.1
3 45
3.70
3 94
4.24
4.53
127.31
136.90
145.39
154.76
163.53
42 4
42 6
42.4
41.9
41.9
4.06
4.44
4.75
523
5.95
172.14
189.14
201.40
219.14
249.31
37.2
36.5
36.8
36.6
36.4
5.69
6 06
6.41
6.81
7.31
211.67
221.19
235.89
249.25
266.08
39.9
40.5
40.7
40.0
39.5
3.57
3.82
4.09
4.42
4 83
142.44
154.71
166.46
176.80
190.79
1976
1977
1978
1979
1980
.....................
.....................
.....................
.....................
.....................
36.1
36.0
35.8
35.7
35.3
4.86
5.25
5.69
6.16
6 66
175.45
189.00
203 70
219.91
235.10
42.4
43.4
43.4
43.0
43.3
6 46
6.94
7.67
8.49
9.17
273.90
301.20
332.88
365.07
397.06
36.8
36.5
36.8
37.0
37.0
7.71
8.10
8.66
9.27
9.94
283.73
295.65
318.69
342.99
367.78
40.1
40.3
40.4
40.2
39.7
5.22
5.68
6.17
6.70
7.27
209.32
228.90
249.27
269.34
288.62
1 9 8 1 .....................
1982' ...............
1983' ..................
35.2
34 8
35.0
7.25
7.68
8 02
255 20
267.26
280 70
43.7
42.7
42 5
10.04
10.77
11.27
438 75
459.88
478 98
36.9
36.7
37.2
10.82
11.63
11.92
399.26
426.82
443.42
39.8
38.9
40.1
7.99
8.49
8.83
318.00
330.26
354.08
Average
weekly
hours
Average
hourly
earnings
Average
weekly
earnings
Average
weekly
hours
Transportation and public
utilities
Average
hourly
earnings
Average
weekly
earnings
Average
weekly
hours
Average
hourly
earnings
.
Average
weekly
earnings
s
Retail trade
Wholesale trade
Average
weekly
hours
Average
hourly
earnings
Average
weekly
earnings
Average
weekly
hours
Finance, insurance, and
real estate
Average
hourly
earnings
Average
weekly
earnings
Services
1968
1969
1970 .....................
40.6
40.7
40.5
$3.42
3.63
3.85
$138 85
147.74
155.93
40.1
40.2
39 9
$3 05
3.23
3.44
$122 31
129.85
137.26
34.7
34.2
33.8
$2.16
2 30
2.44
$74.95
78.66
82.47
37.0
37.1
36.7
$2.75
2.93
3.07
$101.75
108.70
112.67
34.7
34.7
34.4
$2.42
2.61
2.81
$83.97
90.57
96.66
1 9 7 1 .....................
1972 .....................
1973 .....................
1974 .....................
1975 .....................
40.1
40.4
40.5
40.2
39 7
4.21
4 65
5.02
5.41
5.88
168.82
187.86
203.31
217.48
233.44
39.5
39 4
39.3
38.8
38.7
3.65
3.85
4.08
4 39
4.73
129.85
144.18
151.69
160.34
183.05
33.7
33.4
33.1
32.7
32.4
2.60
2.75
2.91
3.14
3.36
87.62
91.85
96.32
102.68
108.86
36.6
36.6
36.6
36.5
36.5
3.22
3.36
3.53
3.77
4.06
117.85
122.98
129 20
137.61
148.19
33.9
33.9
33.8
33.6
33.5
3.04
3.27
3.47
3.75
4.02
103.06
110.85
117.29
126.00
134.67
1976
1977
1978
1979
1980
.....................
.....................
39 8
39 9
40.0
39 9
39 6
6.45
6.99
7.57
8.16
8 87
256.71
278 90
302.80
325 58
351.25
38.7
38.8
38.8
38.8
38 5
5.03
5 39
5.88
6.39
6.96
194.66
209.13
228.14
247.93
267.96
32.1
31.6
31.0
30.6
30 2
3.57
3.85
4.20
4.53
4.88
114.60
121.66
130.20
138.62
147.38
36.4
36.4
36.4
36.2
36.2
4.27
4.54
4.89
5.27
5.79
155.43
165.26
178.00
190.77
209.60
33.3
33.0
32.8
32.7
32.6
4.31
4.65
4.99
5.36
5.85
143.52
153.45
163.67
175.27
190.71
1981
1982'
1983'
..................
..................
39 4
39 0
39 0
9.70
10 32
10.80
382.18
402.48
421.20
38 5
38.3
38.5
7.56
8.09
8 54
291.06
309.85
328.79
30.1
29.9
29.8
5.25
5.48
5.74
158.03
163.85
171.05
36.3
36.2
36.2
6.31
6.78
7.29
229.05
245.44
263.90
32.6
32.6
32.7
6.41
6.92
7.30
208.97
225.59
238.71
.....................
.....................
“
NOTE: In accordance with usual practice, BIS has revised establishment survey data to reflect a new
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
benchmark and updated seasonal adjustment factors. Because of these revisions, establishment data in
this table may differ from data published earlier.
63
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW July 1984 • Current Labor Statistics: Establishment Data
13.
A verage w eekly hours, by industry, seasonally adjusted
[Production or nonsupervisory workers on private nonagricultural payrolls]
Industry
1983
Annual average
1983
34.8
35.0
34.9
35.0
35.0
35.0
35.2
35 2
35.2
35.2
35.4
35.3
MANUFACTURING
Overtime h o u rs .........................................
38.9
2.3
40 1
3.0
399
2.7
40.1
2.9
40.2
3.0
40.3
3.0
40.7
3.2
40.6
3.3
40.6
3.3
40.6
3.4
40.9
3.5
40.9
3.5
Durable goods
Overtime h o u rs .........................................
39.3
2.2
40.7
3.0
40 3
2.6
40.5
2.8
40 8
3.0
40.8
3.0
41.4
3.3
41.2
3.4
41.3
3.5
41.3
3.5
41.6
3.7
Lumber and wood products.............................
Furniture and fixtures ......................................
Stone, clay, and glass products ....................
Primary metal industries...................................
Blast furnaces and basic steel products . . .
Fabricated metal p roducts................................
38.0
37.2
40.1
38.6
37,9
39.2
40.1
39.4
41.5
40.5
39.5
40.6
39.8
39 2
41.2
40.2
39.2
40.3
40.0
39.5
41.5
40.4
39.3
40.4
40.0
39.7
41.6
40.7
39.9
40.7
40 2
39.7
41.7
40.9
40.1
40.8
40.4
40.0
42.0
41.2
40.5
41.4
40.5
39.8
41.8
41.6
40.8
41.2
40.0
39.8
41.8
41.7
40.8
41.4
40.0
40.1
41.9
41.8
41.2
41,4
Machinery, except electrical.............................
Electric and electronic equipment....................
Transportation equipm ent................................
Motor vehicles and equipment.......................
Instruments and related products....................
39.7
39.3
40 5
40.5
39 8
40.5
40.5
42.1
43.3
40 4
40.0
40 2
41.6
42.6
40.3
40 3
40 5
41.8
43 2
40.1
40.6
40.7
42.0
42 9
40.5
40.6
40.7
41.9
43.1
40 4
41.1
41.2
43.3
45.1
40.8
41.2
41.1
42.5
44.1
40.7
41.3
41.1
42.6
44.1
40.7
Nondurable goods
Overtime h o u rs .........................................
38 4
2.5
39 4
3.0
39 4
2.9
39.5
3.0
39.5
3.0
39 6
3.1
39.9
3.1
39 7
3.1
Food and kindred products .............................
Textile mill pro d u cts.........................................
Apparel and other textile products ..................
Paper and allied p ro d u cts................................
39.4
37 5
34.7
41.8
39.5
40.5
36.2
42.6
39 4
40 5
36.1
42.7
39.7
40.7
36.2
42 8
39 4
40.8
35.9
42 9
39.6
40 9
36.3
42.9
39 8
41.3
36.7
43 2
Printing and publishing ...................................
Chemicals and allied products..........................
Petroleum and coal products ..........................
Leather and leather products ..........................
37.1
40.9
43 9
35.6
37.6
41,6
43 9
36 8
37.5
41.6
43.6
36.8
37.5
41.8
43.6
36.8
37.6
41.8
43.8
37.2
37 6
41.7
43.5
37.1
37.8
41.7
43.2
37.8
PRIVATE SECTOR
May
June
July
Aug.
1984
1982
Sept.
Oct.
.
Nov.
Dec.
Jan.
Feb.
Mar.
Apr.F
MayP
35.3
35.5
35.3
40.7
3.5
41.2
3.7
40.7
3.4
41.7
3.8
41.4
3.7
41.8
4.0
41.4
3.5
40 6
40.0
42.1
41.9
41.0
41.6
40.4 '
39.9
42.5
42.0
41.3
41.8
40.1
39.6
41.9
41.8
41.2
41.3
40.5
39.8
42.3
42.2
40.9
41.8
39.6
39.6
42.2
42.4
42.1
41.4
41.5
41.0
42.4
43.9
40 8
41.8
41.2
43.2
44.8
41.3
41.9
41.2
43.1
44 3
41.2
41.9
41.0
42.9
44.4
41.1
42.3
41.3
43.5
44.8
41.4
41.8
41.0
42.7
43.4
40.7
39.8
3.1
39 7
3.2
39.9
3.3
39.9
3.3
39 8
3.3
40.2
3.4
39.7
3.1
39.6
40.8
36.6
43.2
39 6
40.6
36 7
43.1
39.5
40.7
36.6
43.1
39.7
40.6
36.6
43.2
39.7
40.8
36 9
43 2
39.8
40.6
36.7
43.0
40.1
41.3
37.4
43.1
39.6
40.1
36 5
43.1
37 9
41.7
43.6
37.3
37.9
41.9
43.7
37.2
37.7
41.9
44.6
37.1
37.9
42.1
44.8
37 3
37 9
42.1
44.5
37.2
37.9
42 0
44.7
36 7
38.3
42.0
44.0
37.7
38 0
41.9
44.1
37.1
TRANSPORTATION AND PUBLIC UTILITIES
39.0
39.0
38.9
38 9
39 0
39 2
39.3
39.4
39.2
39.4
39.5
39.3
39.2
39.5
39.4
WHOLESALE TRADE
38 3
38 5
38 5
38.5
38.4
38.5
38.6
38.6
38.6
38.6
38.6
38 5
38.5
38.7
38.5
RETAIL TRADE
299
29 8
29 8
29 9
29 8
29 8
29 8
30.0
30.0
30.3
30.1
30.0
30.1
30.1
30 2
SERVICES
32.6
32.7
32.7
32.7
32.7
32.6
32.7
32,8
32 7
32.6
32.8
32.7
32.8
32 8
32.7
p preliminary.
NOTE: In accordance with usual practice. BLS has revised establishment survey data to reflect a
64
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
new
an(j updated seasonal adjustment factors. Because of these revisions, establishment data
in this table may differ from data published earlier.
14.
A verage hourly earnings, by industry
[Production or nonsupervisory workers on private nonagricultural payrolls]
Industry
1984
1983
Annual average
1982
1983
May
June
July
Aug.
Sept.
Oct.
Nov.
Dec.
Jan.
Feb.
Mar.
Apr.P
MayP
$7.68
<1)
$8.02
(1)
$7.98
7.98
$7.98
8.01
$8.01
8.04
$7.95
8.00
$8.12
8 09
$8.16
8.13
$8.16
8.14
$8.16
8.17
$8.26
8.21
$8.24
8.23
$8.24
8.25
$8.29
8.31
$8.28
8.28
MINING
10.77
11.27
11.17
11.22
11.27
11.25
11.33
11.33
11.40
11.41
11.54
11.49
11.60
11.60
11.63
CONSTRUCTION
PRIVATE SECTOR
Seasonally adjusted...................................
11.63
11.92
11.81
11.77
11.80
11.86
12.04
12.06
11.91
12.02
12.08
11.99
11.97
11.94
11.92
MANUFACTURING.....................................................
8 49
8.83
8.77
8.79
8.84
8.78
8.89
8.90
8.97
9.04
9.08
9.06
9.09
9.11
9.12
Durable goods
Lumber and wood p ro d u cts.....................
Furniture and fixtures................................
Stone, clay, and glass products...............
Primary metal industries..........................
Blast furnaces and basic steel products
Fabricated metal p ro d u c ts .......................
9.04
7.43
6.31
8.87
11.33
13.35
8.77
9.38
7.79
6.62
9.27
11.34
12.89
9.11
9.31
7.77
6.52
9.19
11.28
12.74
9.06
9.34
7.84
6.60
9.27
11.24
12.69
9.08
9.38
7.82
6.65
9.33
11.37
12.81
9.07
9.32
7.82
6.67
9.30
11.29
12.74
9.09
9.46
7.87
6.74
9.42
11.34
12.79
9.18
9.47
7.86
6.71
9.38
11.28
12.68
9.18
9.53
7.79
6.73
9.41
11.32
12.71
9.24
9.60
7.80
6.78
9.41
11.35
12.71
9.35
9.64
7.88
6.76
9.42
11.38
12.76
9.31
9.63
7.88
6.75
9.38
11.49
13.10
9.31
9.66
7.87
6.76
9.40
11.44
12.97
9.31
9.67
7.88
6.75
9.50
11.51
13.13
9.34
9.67
7.90
6.78
9.53
11.49
13.12
9.32
Machinery, except electrical.....................
Electric and electronic equipm ent............
Transportation equipment ........................
Motor vehicles and equipm ent...............
Instruments and related pro d u cts............
Miscellaneous manufacturing ..................
9.26
8.21
11.11
11.62
8.06
6.42
9.55
8 65
11.66
12.12
8.46
6.80
9.51
8.58
11.51
11.97
8.39
6.80
9.55
8.61
11.62
12.12
8.40
6.79
9.57
8.67
11.60
12.05
8.49
6.80
9.54
8.62
11.52
11.92
8.45
6.79
9.63
8.73
11.80
12.31
8.54
6.83
9.66
8.71
11.87
12.38
8.54
6.84
9.74
8.77
12.01
12.49
8.56
6.84
9.85
8.84
12.04
12.47
8.65
6.95
9.85
8.88
12.06
12.53
8.68
7.00
9.87
8.86
12.00
12.41
8.66
6.97
9.90
8.88
12.12
12.62
8.71
6.97
9.92
8.89
12.05
12.55
8.73
6.96
9.93
8.89
12.05
12.52
8.70
7.01
Nondurable goods
Food and kindred products .....................
Tobacco manufactures.............................
Textile mill p ro d u c ts ................................
Apparel and other textile products............
Paper and allied products .......................
7.74
7.92
9.79
5.83
5.20
9.32
8.08
8.20
10.35
6.18
5.37
9.94
8.04
8.21
10.78
6.14
5.33
9.81
8.05
8.20
10 98
6.16
5.37
9.92
8.12
8.20
10.90
6.17
5.35
10.07
8.06
8.15
10.26
6.19
5.35
10.03
8.11
8.17
9.90
6.23
5.39
10.11
8.12
8.16
9.65
6.24
5.40
10.11
8.18
8.26
10.77
6.26
5.43
10.20
8.24
8.36
10.19
6.31
5.44
10.24
8.27
8.41
10.77
6.39
5 50
10.23
8.24
8.37
11.13
6.40
5.46
10.22
8.27
8.39
11.29
6.41
5.48
10.25
8.29
8.43
11.41
6.43
5.48
10.29
8.31
8.42
11.54
6.41
5.46
10.35
Printing and publishing..............................
Chemicals and allied products..................
Petroleum and coal products ..................
Rubber and miscellaneous
plastics products...................................
Leather and leather products ..................
8.74
9.96
12.46
9.11
10.59
13.29
9.04
10.50
13.18
9.05
10.52
13.19
9.09
10.59
13.22
9.12
10.62
13.17
9.23
10.70
13.38
9.23
10.79
13.38
9.26
10.86
13.45
9.29
10.90
13.54
9.26
10.91
13.47
9.30
10.90
13.43
9.29
10.95
13.44
9.30
10.97
13.43
9.28
11.02
13.33
7.64
5.33
7.99
5.54
7.94
5.52
7.93
5.50
8.02
5.53
8.00
5.52
8.05
5.57
8.08
5.56
8.07
5.57
8.16
5.61
8.17
5.68
8.16
5.67
8.20
5.68
8.25
5.67
8.27
5.71
10.32
10.80
10.73
10.72
10.84
10.69
10.88
10.94
11.01
11.00
11.08
11.01
11.02
11.07
11.09
8.09
8.54
8.49
8.49
8.56
8.54
8.62
8.69
8.68
8.74
8.82
8.79
8.79
8.89
8.85
5.73
5.78
5.79
5.82
5.78
5.89
5.89
5.89
5.89
5.87
TRANSPORTATION AND PUBLIC UTILITIES
WHOLESALE TRADE
RETAIL TRADE
5.48
5.74
5.72
5.73
5.73
FINANCE, INSURANCE, AND REAL ESTATE
6.78
7.29
7.29
7.25
7.29
7.24
7.33
7.45
7.39
7.43
7.55
7.54
7.54
7.63
7.55
7.24
7.24
7.37
7.43
7.44
7.47
7.57
7.55
7.54
7.60
.
.
7.54
6.92
SERVICES
1^ 0(
7.30
7.27
7.24
avaj|a(,|e
NOTE: In accordance with usual practice, BIS has revised establishment survey data to reflect a new
benchmark and updated seasonal adjustment factors. Because of these revisions, establishment data in
this table may differ from data published earlier.
p = preliminary.
15.
T he H ourly E arn ings Index, by industry
[Production or nonsupervisory workers on private nonagricultural payrolls; 1977 = 100]
Seasonally adjusted
Not seasonally adjusted
Industry
PRIVATE SECTOR (in current dollars)
Mining ........................................................
Construction...............................................
Manufacturing............................................
Transportation and public utilities ............
Wholesale tr a d e .........................................
Retail tra d e ..................................................
Finance, insurance, and real estate............
Services .....................................................
PRIVATE SECTOR (in constant dollars)
May
1983
Jan.
1984
Feb.
1984
Mar.
1984
Apr.
1984
May
1984P
Percent
change
from:
Apr. 1984
to
May 1984
3.2
154.7
158.4
158.5
159.1
159.9
159.6
- 0 .2
173.6
145.5
161.8
161.1
163.9
153.9
164.4
161.5
5.4
1.0
2.9
3.6
4.2
2.5
3.6
3.9
(1)
144.8
157.3
156.2
(1)
149.6
(1)
155.3
(1)
146.3
160.3
159.9
(1)
152.7
(1)
159.8
(1)
146.2
160.7
159.8
(1)
152.9
(1)
159.8
(1)
146.3
161.2
160.9
(1)
153.2
(1)
160.8
(1)
146.5
161.5
161.3
(1)
153.7
(1)
162.3
<1)
146.2
161.9
161.7
(1)
153.3
(1)
161.3
(1)
- .2
.2
.3
(1)
- .3
(1)
- .6
(2)
<2)
94.8
94.8
94.8
95.1
95.4
(2)
<2)
May
1983
Mar.
1984
Apr.
1984
May
1984P
154.7
158.9
159.8
159.6
164.7
144.1
157.1
155.6
157.3
150.2
158.7
155.4
172.0
145.3
161.1
160.2
162.7
153.4
164.2
160.8
172.8
145.4
161.6
160.8
164.6
154.2
165.9
-162.3
94.7
95.1
95.4
iThis series is not seasonally adjusted because the seasonal component is small relative to the trendcycle, irregular components, or both, and consequently cannot be separated with sufficient precision.
¿Not available,
Percent
change
from:
May 1983
to
May 1984
NOTE: In accordance with usual practice, BLS has revised establishment survey data to reflect a new
benchmark and updated seasonal adjustment factors. Because of these revisions, establishment data in
this table may differ from data published earlier.
p = preliminary.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
65
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW July 1984 • Current Labor Statistics: Establishment Data
16.
A verag e w eekly earnings, by industry
[Production or nonsupervisory workers on private nonagricultural payrolls]
PRIVATE SECTOR
Current d o lla rs ..................................................
Seasonally adjusted......................................
Constant (1977) d o lla rs ...................................
1982
1983
S267.26
(1)
168.09
$280.70
(1)
171.37
1984
1983
Annual average
Industry
May
June
July
Aug.
Sept.
Oct.
Nov.
Dec.
Jan.
Feb.
Mar.
$278.50 $280.90 $282.75 $280.64 $286.64 $288.05 $286.42 $289.68 $289.10 $288.40 $288.40
287.58 290.63 290.52 291.23
278.50 280.35 281.40 280.00 284.77 286.18 286.53
172.44
174.40 173.32 172.59
171.59 172.09 170.08 172.99 173.42
172.59
170.55
Apr. F
MayP
$292.64
295.01
174.71
$292.28
292.28
(1)
MINING
459.88
478.98
471.37
476.85
474.47
479.25
488 32
489.46
489 06
495.19
499.68
492.92
496.48
497 64
502.42
CONSTRUCTION
426.82
443.42
442.88
446.08
450.76
450.68
456.32
449.84
432.33
442.34
438.50
443.63
439.30
448.94
452.96
MANUFACTURING
Current d o lla rs ..................................................
Constant (1977) d o lla rs ...................................
330.26
207.71
354.08
216.17
349.92
214.28
354.24
216.40
353.60
215.22
352.96
213.92
362.71
218 90
362.23
218.08
365.98
220.34
372.45
224.23
368.65
221.01
368.74
220 67
369.96
221.40
372.60
222.45
371.18
<1)
Durable goods
Lumber and wood products .............................
Furniture and fix tu re s .........................................
Stone, clay, and glass products .......................
Primary metal industries ...................................
Blast furnaces and basic steel products............
Fabricated metal products...................................
355.27
282.34
234.73
355.69
437.34
505.97
343.78
381.77
312.38
260 83
384.71
459.27
509.16
369.87
376.12
312.35
254.28
380.47
451.20
495.59
365.12
381.07
319.87
263.34
390.27
455.22
499.99
369.56
378.95
314.36
259.35
390.93
460.49
514.96
364.61
378.39
319.06
267.47
391.53
458.37
507.05
369.96
390.70
320.31
270.95
399.41
469.48
521.83
379.13
391.11
319.12
271.08
394.90
464.74
508.47
379.13
395.50
309.26
269.87
395.22
470.91
513.48
384.38
403.20
311.22
277.98
394.28
478.97
526.19
395.51
398.13
311.26
263.64
386 22
476.82
521.88
385.43
398.68
313.62
263.93
389.27
482.58
539.72
386.37
399.92
314.01
267.02
389.16
480.48
534.36
384.50
403.24
317.56
267.30
400.90
488.02
551.46
387.61
400.34
316.79
267.13
405.03
484.88
548.42
385.85
Machinery except electrical................................
Electric and electronic equipment ....................
Transportation equipment...................................
Instruments and related products .....................
Miscellaneous manufacturing.............................
367.62
322.65
449.96
470 61
320.79
246.53
386.78
350.33
490.89
524.80
341.78
265.88
379.45
344.06
482.27
518.30
338.12
263.84
384.87
349.57
491.53
533.28
337.68
263.45
383.76
349.40
483.72
518.15
340.45
263.16
383.51
349.11
474.62
503.02
340.54
264.81
395.79
358.80
505.04
546.56
349.29
269.10
396.06
357.98
505.66
545.96
346.72
272.23
405.18
363.08
515.23
550.81
350.96
272,23
418.63
369.51
521.33
556.16
357.25
278.00
411.73
364.97
517.37
555.08
356.75
272.30
413.55
364.15
514.80
544.80
356.79
276.01
415.80
364.08
521.16
560.33
358.85
276.01
417 63
364.49
522.97
563.50
358.80
275.62
414.08
363.60
518.15
553.38
354.09
275.49
Nondurable goods
Food and kindred pro d u cts................................
Tobacco manufactures ......................................
Textile mill products............................................
Apparel and other textile p ro d u cts.....................
Paper and allied products...................................
297.22
312.05
370.06
218.63
180.44
389.58
318.35
323.90
387.09
250.29
194.39
423.44
315.97
322.65
403.17
249.28
192.41
416.93
319.59
326.36
421.63
253.18
196.54
425.57
319.93
323.90
401.12
248.03
193.14
429.99
319.98
326.00
385.78
254.41
195.81
429.28
325.21
330.07
380.16
258.55
198.35
439.79
323.99
324.77
370.56
256.46
198.72
437.76
327.20
329.57
431.88
256.66
199.82
440.64
330.42
333.56
385.18
258.71
199.65
448.51
326.67
331.35
410.34
257.52
198.55
440.91
326.30
327.27
405.13
259.84
200.38
438.44
327.49
329.73
416.60
258.96
201.12
437.68
329.94
332.99
450.70
261.06
201.66
441.44
329.08
332.59
462.75
257.68
199.29
444.02
Printing and publishing......................................
Chemicals and allied products ..........................
Petroleum and coat products.............................
Rubber and miscellaneous
plastics p ro d u c ts ............................................
Leather and leather p ro d u cts.............................
324.25
407.36
546.99
342.54
440.54
583.43
337.19
435.75
575.97
338.47
440.79
580.36
340.88
440.54
585.65
343.82
439.67
572.90
350.74
448.33
592.73
350.74
449.94
586.04
352.81
457.21
590.46
356.74
462.16
603.88
347.25
458.22
594.03
349.68
457.80
584.21
353.02
458.81
585.98
354.33
460.74
593.61
350.78
461.74
589.19
302.54
189.75
329.19
203.87
326.33
204.79
327.51
207.90
328.02
206.82
329.60
207.00
337.30
209.43
338.55
206.83
338.94
207.76
345.98
209.25
343,14
208.46
342.72
208.66
341.94
205.05
347.33
210.92
344.86
214.13
402.48
421.20
415.25
419.15
424.93
422.26
428.67
432.13
432.69
436.70
434.34
429.39
429.78
435.05
434.73
328.79
326 02
327.71
330.42
329.64
333.59
336.30
335.92
339.99
338.69
335.78
336.66
342.27
340.73
TRANSPORTATION AND PUBLIC UTILITIES
309.85
WHOLESALE TRADE
RETAIL TRADE
163.85
171.05
169.88
172.47
175.34
174.77
172.82
173.12
173.44
178.02
173.17
173.17
174.34
176.11
176.69
FINANCE, INSURANCE, AND REAL ESTATE
245.44
263.90
264.63
261.73
264.63
261.36
264.61
271.18
266.78
268.97
275.58
274.46
273.70
279.26
273.31
SERVICES
225.59
238.71
237.00
238.20
239.64
238.92
241.00
242.96
242.54
243.52
246.78
246.13
245.80
248.52
245.80
1Not available.
.
p = preliminary,
17.
NOTE: In accordance with usual practice, BLS has revised establishment survey data to reflect a new
benchmark and updated seasonal adjustment factors. Because of these revisions, establishment data in
this table may differ from data published earlier.
In dexes of diffusion: in dustries in w hich em ploym ent increased, seasonally adjusted
[In percent]
Time
span
Year
Jan.
Feb.
Mar.
Apr.
May
June
July
Aug.
Sept.
Oct.
Nov.
Dec.
Over
1-month
span
1982
...
1983 . . . .
1984
.
27.6
54.3
71.1
47.6
46.5
73.2
35.7
60.8
67.0
31.1
68.9
P64.6
41.1
69.5
P58.4
33.5
64.6
—
34.6
74.3
—
32.4
68.6
—
37.3
69.5
—
28.9
75.4
—
32.4
69.7
—
45.7
73.8
—
Over
3-month
span
1982 . . .
1983
1984 . . . .
25.1
46.8
82.2
27.8
57.3
80.5
27.8
64.1
P77.3
27.3
75.1
P69.2
27.6
75.7
—
28.6
77.8
—
23.5
74.1
—
24.1
81.6
—
26.5
80.8
—
25.9
78.9
—
27.8
79.5
—
41.6
77.6
—
Over
6-month
span
1982 . . . .
1983 . . . .
1984 . . . .
19.2
50.8
P81.9
22.2
63.0
P82.4
21.9
69.2
—
24.6
75.1
—
20.3
80.0
—
21.4
82.4
—
21.4
84.1
—
18.6
82.4
—
23.2
84.6
—
27.3
85.9
—
29.5
86.8
—
35.4
83.8
—
Over
12-month
span
1982 . . . .
1983 . .
21.6
49.5
21.4
54.3
17.6
61.9
18.1
71.1
16.2
77.3
18.1
79.5
21.1
83 8
21.1
88.1
25.1
86.8
31.6
P87.6
34.1
P84.3
40.3
p = preliminary.
NOTE: Figures are the percent of industries with employment rising. (Half of the unchanged components
are counted as rising.) Data are centered within the spans. See the “ Definitions” in this section.
66
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
In accordance with usual practice, BIS has revised establishment survey data to reflect a new benchmark
and updated seasonal adjustment factors. Because of these revisions, establishment data in this table
may differ from data published earlier.
UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE DATA
N a t i o n a l u n e m p l o y m e n t i n s u r a n c e d a t a are compiled monthly
by the Employment and Training Administration of the U.S. De
partment of Labor from monthly reports of unemployment insur
ance activity prepared by State agencies. Railroad unemployment
insurance data are prepared by the U.S. Railroad Retirement Board.
persons in unemployment insurance programs to indicate they are out of
work and wish to begin receiving 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 in
sured unemployed as a percent of the average insured employment in a
12-month period.
Definitions
Average weekly seasonally adjusted insured unemployment data are
computed by BLS’ Weekly Seasonal Adjustment program. This procedure
incorporated the X-11 Variant of the Census Method II Seasonal Adjust
ment program.
Data for all programs represent an unduplicated count of insured un
employment under State programs, Unemployment Compensation for ExServicemen, and Unemployment Compensation for Federal Employees,
and the Railroad Insurance Act.
An application for benefits is filed by a railroad worker at the beginning
of his first period of unemployment in a benefit year; no application is
required for subsequent periods in the same year. Number of payments
are payments made in 14-day registration periods. The average amount
of benefit payment is an average for all compensable periods, not adjusted
for recovery of overpayments or settlement 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 unemployed. 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. Initial claims are notices filed by
18.
U n em p lo ym en t in surance and em ploym ent service operations
[All Items except average benefits amounts are in thousands]
Hem
All programs:
Insured unemployment...........................
State unemployment insurance program:1
Initial claims2 .........................................
Insured unemployment (average
weekly volum e)...................................
Rate of insured unemployment...............
Weeks of unemployment compensated...
Average weekly benefit amount
for total unemployment .....................
Total benefits paid ................................
1984
1983
Apr.
May
4,642
June
3,947
Aug.
July
3,481
3,275
Sept.
Nov.
Oct.
Dec.
Jan.
Feb.
Mar.
Apr.F
2,917
2,580
2,478
2,620
2,915
3,374
3,174
2,958
2,610
1,522
1,757
2,105
2,356
r1,529
1,433
1,465
2,358
2.7
8,417
2,508
2.9
9,301
2,805
3.3
10,168
3,249
3.8
12,232
3,056
3.6
r11,622
2,843
3.3
11,339
2,512
2.9
9,969
1,874
1,666
1,740
1,804
1,668
1,381
3,906
4.5
14,986
3,361
3.9
13,133
3,063
3.5
12,819
3,049
3.5
r10,957
2,766
3.2
r11,581
2,449
2.8
9,383
$123.00
$124.49
$123.44
r$121.53
r$121.14
r$121.32
$122.19
$122.61
$123.60
r$124.30
$124.67
$126.15
$124.85
$1,816,539 $1,587,888 r$1,537,372 r$1,297,164 r$1,367,186 r$1,104,404 $1,002,141 $1,099,862 $1,203,605 $1,457,983 «$1,400,458 $1,369,536 $1,215,724
State unemployment Insurance program:1
(Seasonally adjusted data)
Initial claims2 .........................................
Insured unemployment (average
weekly volum e)...................................
Rate of insured unemployment...............
1,952
1,993
1,836
1,723
1,841
1,664
1,656
1,717
1,620
1,606
«1,568
1,554
1,619
3,774
4.3
3,538
4.1
3,301
3.8
3,303
3.8
3,026
3.5
3,088
3.6
2,617
3.1
2,677
3.1
2,721
3.2
2,486
2.9
2,416
2.8
2,505
2.9
2,609
3.0
Unemployment compensation for exservicemen:3
Initial claims1 .........................................
Insured unemployment (average
weekly volum e)...................................
Weeks of unemployment compensated...
Total benefits paid ................................
15
14
16
16
19
17
16
15
14
15
13
13
12
30
117
$14,776
26
104
$13,111
25
107
$13,588
25
r95
r$12,134
26
r$14,082
27
106
r$13,531
28
107
$14,074
28
116
$15,121
27
113
$14,815
27
112
$14,532
24
96
«$12,540
22
89
$11,813
20
79
$10,486
Unemployment compensation for
Federal civilian employees:4
Initial cla im s............................................
Insured unemployment (average
weekly volum e)...................................
Weeks of unemployment compensated
Total benefits paid ................................
Railroad unemployment insurance:
Applications............................................
Insured unemployment (average
weekly volum e)...................................
Number of paym ents..............................
Average amount of benefit payment . . .
Total benefits paid ................................
Employment service:5
New applications and renewals...............
Nonfarm placements ..............................
10
9
13
12
11
11
15
13
13
16
10
9
13
26
109
$12,422
22
93
$10,603
21
90
$10,272
23
r84
r$9,646
22
r96
r$10,982
22
83
r$9,535
25
88
$10,144
27
110
$12,415
29
119
$13,888
32
133
$15,588
31
129
«$15,003
28
122
$14,778
23
98
$11,892
9
4
31
55
14
9
7
8
8
10
4
3
2
79
172
$203.87
$24,783
70
183
$215.15
$20,622
49
123
$203.54
$14,984
49
92
$199.87
$17,551
46
107
$214.21
$21,789
41
103
$214.77
$20,239
48
92
$211.41
$19,531
40
92
$212.36
$19,536
43
95
$213.71
$19,870
51
121
$210.73
$23,866
49
104
$209.56
$23,228
41
99
$208.96
$20,112
27
70
$196.32
$13,356
11,987
1,921
11nitial claims and State insured unemployment include data under the program for Puerto Rican
sugarcane workers.
2 Excludes transition claims under State programs.
o
■«Excludes data on claims and payments made |ointly with other programs.
4 Excludes data or claims and payments made jointly with State programs.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
mo
15,595
3,012
4,297
782
Cumulative total for fiscal year (October 1-September 30). Data computed quarterly,
NOTE: Qata for puert0 RjC0 an(j ^ e Virgin Islands included. Dashes Indicate data not available.
p = preliminary.
« = rev'set*'
67
PRICE DATA
P r i c e d a t a 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 services. Effective
with the January 1978 index, the Bureau of Labor Statistics began pub
lishing CPI’s for two groups of the population. It introduced a CPI for All
Urban Consumers, covering 80 percent of the total noninstitutional pop
ulation, and revised the CPI for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers,
covering about half the new index population. The All Urban Consumers
index covers in addition to wage earners and clerical workers, professional,
managerial, 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, doctors’ and dentists’ fees, and other goods and ser
vices that people buy for day-to-day living. The quantity and quality of
these items is kept essentially unchanged between major revisions so that
only price changes will be measured. Data are collected from more than
24,000 retail establishments and 24,000 tenants 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 ex
penditures of two population groups in 1972-73, they may not accurately
reflect the experience of individual families and single persons with dif
ferent buying habits.
Though the CPI is often called the “ Cost-of-Living Index,” it measures
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 indexes contains
about 2,800 commodities and about 10,000 quotations per month selected
to represent the movement of prices of all commodities 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, intermimate or semifinished goods,
and crude materials). The commodity structure organizes products by sim
ilarity of end-use or material composition.
68
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
To the extent possible, prices used in calculating Producer Price Indexes
apply to the first significant commercial transaction in the United States,
from the production or central marketing point. Price data are generally
collected monthly, primarily by mail questionnaire. Most prices are ob
tained directly from producing companies on a voluntary 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 various
commodities are averaged together with implicit quantity weights repre
senting their importance in the total net selling value of all commodities
as of 1972. The detailed data are aggregated to obtain indexes for stage
of processing groupings, commodity groupings, durability 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 S ta n d a r d I n d u s tr ia l C la s s ific a tio n M a n u a l 1 9 7 2 (Washing
ton, 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 industrial censuses conducted
by the U.S. Bureau of the Census and the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Notes on the data
Regional CPI’s cross classified by population size were introduced in
the May 1978 R e v ie w . These indexes 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 appropriate population size class measure for their region.
The cross-classified indexes are published bimonthly. (See table 20.)
For details concerning the 1978 revision of the CPI, see Th e C o n s u m e r
P r ic e In d e x : C o n c e p ts a n d C o n te n t O v e r th e Y ea rs, Report 517, revised
edition (Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 1978).
As of January 1976, the Producer Price Index incorporated a revised
weighting structure reflecting 1972 values of shipments.
Additional data and analyses of price changes are provided in the C P I
D e ta ile d R e p o r t and P r o d u c e r P r ic e s a n d P r ic e In d e x es , both monthly
publications of the Bureau.
For a discussion of the general method of computing producer, and
industry price indexes, see B L S H a n d b o o k o f M e th o d s , Bulletin 2134-1
(Bureau of Labor Statistics, 1982), chapter 7. For consumer prices, see
B L S H a n d b o o k o f M e th o d s f o r S u r v e y s a n d S tu d ie s (1976), chapter 13.
See also John F. Early, “ Improving the measurement of producer price
change,” M o n th ly L a b o r R e v ie w , April 1978. For industry prices, see also
Bennett R. Moss, “ Industry and Sector Price Indexes,” M o n th ly L a b o r
R e v ie w , August 1965.
19.
C o n su m er P rice Index fo r Urban W age E arners and C lerical W orkers, annual a verag es and c hanges, 1 9 6 7 -8 3
[1967 = 100]
Food and
beverages
All items
Year
Index
Percent
change
Index
Apparel and
upkeep
Housing
Percent
change
Index
Percent
change
Index
Percent
change
Transportation
Medical care
Percent
change
Index
Index
Percent
change
Other goods
and services
Entertainment
Index
Percent
change
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
115.8
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
3.3
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
8.0
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
287.2
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
1981 ..................
1982 ..................
1983 ..................
272.3
288.6
297.4
10.2
6.0
3.0
267.8
278.5
284.7
7.7
4.0
2.2
293.2
314.7
322.0
11.4
7.3
2.3
186.6
190.9
195.6
5.2
2.3
2.5
281.3
293.1
300.0
12.3
4.2
2.4
295.1
326.9
355.1
10.4
10.8
8.6
219.0
232.4
242.4
7.5
6.1
4.3
233.3
257.0
286.3
9.2
10.2
11.4
20. C onsum er P rice Index fo r All Urban C onsum ers and revised C PI fo r Urban W age E arners and C lerical W orkers,
U.S. city averag e— g eneral sum m ary and groups, subgroups, and selected item s
[1967 = 100 unless otherwise specified]
Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers
All Urban Consumers
19(14
1983
General summary
1984
1983
Apr.
Nov.
Dec.
Jan.
Feb.
Mar.
Apr.
Apr.
Nov.
Dec
Jan.
Feb.
Mar.
Apr.
All Item s..........................................................................................................
295.5
303.1
303.5
305.2
306.6
307.3
308 8
294.9
301.4
301.5
302.7
303.3
303.3
304.1
Food and beverages ........................................................................................
Housing ..........................................................................................................
Apparel and u pkeep........................................................................................
Transportation.................................................................................................
Medical c a r e ....................................................................................................
Entertainment .................................................................................................
Other goods and services...............................................................................
284.6
320.3
195.5
292.3
353.5
244.6
283.2
285.3
327.0
200.7
306 3
364.9
249.5
298.1
286.5
327.4
199.3
306.3
366.2
249.5
298.6
291.6
329.2
196.4
306.0
369.5
249.9
300.5
294.2
331.0
196.2
305.8
373.2
251.5
301.5
294.3
331.5
198 8
306.9
374.5
251.7
302.1
294.5
333.2
199.2
309.6
375.7
253.8
302.8
284.9
320.3
194.8
293.5
351.2
241.1
281.4
285.6
324.5
199.7
308.2
362.9
245.7
295.5
286.8
324.2
198.1
308.2
364.3
245.8
295.9
291.9
324.7
195.3
307.9
367.5
246.2
298.1
294.4
324.2
195.4
307.7
371.3
247.7
299.2
294.5
322.9
198.0
308.9
372.6
248.0
299.7
294.7
322.7
198.2
311.9
373.9
249.8
300.4
Commodities....................................................................................................
Commodities less food and beverages..................................................
Nondurables less food and beverages...............................................
D urables..............................................................................................
269.2
257.3
267.8
248.7
275.2
266.3
274.5
261.0
275.5
266.0
273.5
261.8
276.8
265.2
272.3
261.4
278.3
266.0
274.0
260.9
278.7
266.6
274.2
262.2
280.1
268.7
275.7
265.2
270.9
260.3
269.7
251.2
276.2
267.5
276.6
258.7
276.3
267.1
275.4
258.9
277.3
266.4
274.2
258.4
278.0
266.2
276.0
256.9
278.1
266.4
276.1
257.1
279.2
267.8
277.5
258.5
Services ..........................................................................................................
Rent, residential .....................................................................................
Household services less rent of shelter (12/82 = 100) .......................
Transportation services ............... .....................................................
Medical care services ............................................................................
Other services ........................................................................................
341.2
234.5
102.0
300.8
382.8
274.2
351.0
241.3
104.2
310.1
395.0
286.5
351.6
242.0
104.1
310.8
396.3
287.2
353.9
242.9
105.1
314.1
400.2
288.0
355.3
243.6
105.7
314.4
404.4
289.1
356.5
244.8
105.8
315.4
405.3
290.4
358.1
246.4
106.2
315.8
406.3
291.3
339.5
234.0
348.2
240.7
348.4
241.3
349.8
242.3
350.1
242.9
349.9
244.1
350.1
245.7
297.2
379.7
272.0
306.0
392.3
283.6
306.9
393.8
284.3
310.3
397.5
285.0
310.6
401.8
286.1
311.6
402.7
287.6
312.1
403.9
288 3
All items less fo o d ...........................................................................................
All items less homeowners' costs .................................................................
All items less mortgage interest c o s ts ...........................................................
Commodities less food ..................................................................................
Nondurables less food ..................................................................................
Nondurables less food and apparel.................................................................
Nondurables....................................................................................................
Services less rent of shelter (12/82 = 100) ..................................................
Services less medical care ............................................................................
Domestically produced farm fo o d s .................................................................
Selected beef c u ts ...........................................................................................
Energy .............................................................................................................
Energy commodities ..................................................................................
All items less energy .....................................................................................
All items less food and energy....................................................................
Commodities less food and ene rg y........................................................
Services less energy...............................................................................
294.7
101.0
303.9
103.6
304.0
103.7
304.8
104.3
305.9
104.8
306.8
105.1
308.6
105.5
294.4
302.3
302.1
302.3
302.4
302.4
303.3
255.4
263.0
302.1
277.3
101.6
334.5
269.9
279.4
410.0
403.2
287.0
284.0
240 2
334.8
264.1
269.5
309.3
281.1
104.7
344.1
267.7
265.3
419.9
414.4
294.4
293.2
248.9
344.9
263.8
268.5
308.6
281.2
104.8
344.5
269.7
265.5
418.0
411.8
295.0
293.6
249.0
345.5
263.0
267.4
308.6
283.2
105.7
346.6
277.2
274.6
416.7
409.9
297.0
294.6
248.3
348.1
263.8
269.1
311.2
285.3
106.3
347.8
280.7
280.8
420.2
414.5
298.2
295.5
248.5
349.5
264.4
269.3
310.3
285.5
106.5
349.0
279.9
279.7
418.1
410.7
299.2
296.7
249 9
350.7
266.5
270.7
312.1
286.3
106 8
350.6
279.4
280.6
421.3
414.2
300.5
298.3
251.8
352.2
281.7
258.2
265.0
303.5
278.4
288 3
264.9
271.5
310.9
282.1
288.5
264.9
270.4
310.1
282.2
290.0
264.2
269.4
310.0
284.1
290.9
264.1
271.1
312.4
286.3
291.3
264.3
271.3
311.6
286.4
292.4
265.7
272.6
313.5
287.2
333.0
269.0
280.7
410.8
404.3
285.6
282.6
241.2
332.7
341.3
266.7
266.4'
420.8
415.8
291.8
290.3
247.8
341.6
341.3
268.7
266.6
418.7
412.9
292.1
290.3
247.7
341.8
342.6
276.0
275.8
417.0
410.7
293.5
290.7
247.2
343.4
342.4
279.4
282.1
420.2
414.7
293.8
290.4
246.6
343.6
342.1
278.6
281.3
418.2
411.3
294.0
290.7
247.2
343.3
342.2
278.1
282.3
421.5
414.8
294.6
291.3
248.4
343.3
Purchasing power of the consumer dollar, 1967 = $1 ................................
$0,338
$0 330
$0,329
$0,328
$0,326
$0,325
$0,324
$0,332
$0,330
$0,330
$0,330
$0,329
Special Indexes:
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
$0,339
$0,332
69
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW July 1984 • Current Labor Statistics: Consumer Prices
20.
C o n tin u ed — C onsum er Price In d ex— U.S. city average
[1967 = 100 unless otherwise specified]
All Urban Consumers
1983
General summary
Apr.
Nov.
Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers
1984
Dec.
Jan.
1983
Feb.
Mar.
Apr.
Apr.
1984
Nov.
Dec
Jan.
Feb.
Mar.
Apr.
FOOD AND BEVERAGES
284.6
285.3
286.5
291.6
294.2
294.3
294.5
284.9
285.6
286.8
291.9
294.4
294.5
294.7
F o o d ................................................................................................................
291 9
292.5
293.9
299.4
302.1
302.2
302.3
292.1
292.6
294.0
299.4
302.1
302.1
302.3
Food at home .................................................................................................
Cereals and bakery products ................................................................
Cereals and cereal products (12/77 = 100) ................................
Flour and prepared flour mixes (12/77 = 1 0 0 )....................
Cereal (12/77 = 100) ..........................................................
Rice, pasta, and cornmeal (12/77 = 100) ..........................
Bakery products (12/77 = 1 0 0 ).....................................................
White b re a d ............................................................................
Other breads (12/77 = 1 0 0 )..................................................
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) ..............
283.4
291.1
156.1
140.2
173.8
145.8
153.3
252.1
148.8
152.5
154.9
156.8
147.2
153.7
281.4
295.7
157.9
140.8
177.3
146.1
156.0
257.0
151.9
155.7
157.9
157.6
147.8
156.8
283.0
297.1
158.2
140.1
178.0
146.8
156.9
257.4
152.0
157.8
159.7
159.2
148.1
157.7
290.2
299.8
159.3
143.0
178.6
146.7
158.4
259.1
153.7
157.9
161.5
161.1
151.2
159.7
293.6
300.3
160.3
143.4
180.4
147.2
158.5
257.3
153.9
158.7
160 4
162.6
152.3
160.4
293.1
301.5
161.9
144.6
182.3
148.8
158.8
258.9
153.0
158.8
160.0
162.9
153.9
160.5
292.8
302.8
162.5
143.8
183.9
149.2
159.4
258.2
154.7
159.2
161.2
163.8
156.6
160.1
282.5
289.6
156.9
140.4
175.9
146.8
152.0
247.6
150.7
143.4
153.3
157.6
148.7
156.2
280.5
294.3
158.6
141.3
179.4
147.2
154.8
252.7
154.1
151.7
156.2
158.4
149.2
159.6
282.1
295.7
158.9
140.4
180.1
148.0
155.7
253.2
154.1
153.7
157.9
159.9
149.6
160.4
289.1
298.3
160.0
143.3
180.8
147.9
157.1
254.8
155.8
153 9
159.5
161.9
152.6
162.4
292.4
298.9
161.0
143.8
182 5
148.4
157.2
253.0
156.0
154.7
158.6
163.4
153.6
163.2
291.9
300.0
162.6
145.1
184.4
150.0
157.5
254.6
155.2
154.9
158.1
163.7
155.2
163.3
291.6
301.3
163.1
144.1
186.1
150.4
158.2
254.0
156.8
155.1
159.2
164.8
158.1
163.1
157.1
160.6
161.5
163.3
163.9
163.8
166.0
150.2
154.0
154.9
156.5
157.1
157.0
159.1
Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs ..............................................................
Meats, poultry, and f i s h .................................................................
Meats .....................................................................................
Beef and v e a l......................................................................
Ground beef other than canned......................................
Chuck roast ...................................................................
Round r o a s t...................................................................
Round s te a k ...................................................................
Sirloin s te a k ...................................................................
Other beef and veal (12/77 = 100) .............................
P o rk .....................................................................................
Bacon ............................................................................
Chops ............................................................................
Ham other than canned (12/77 = 1 0 0 ) .......................
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) ........................
P ou ltry.....................................................................................
Fresh whole chicken........................................................
Fresh and frozen chicken parts (12/77 = 1 0 0 ) ............
Other poultry (12/77 = 1 0 0 ).........................................
Fish and seafood ....................................................................
Canned fish and seafood ...............................................
Fresh and frozen fish and seafood (12/77 = 100) . . .
E gg s.................................................................................................
264 2
271.4
273.3
279.4
267,0
291.2
251.1
263.9
274.8
168.3
262.1
276.6
241.8
116.7
332.5
272.0
143.5
268.6
267.4
154.4
139.7
137.0
191.0
184.5
125.7
127.2
379.4
137.9
148.4
174.9
256.6
260.8
258.6
265.7
251.6
266.2
235.3
250.0
265.3
163.2
241.1
253.7
222.3
109.1
305.0
248.0
131.5
262.6
259.7
152.8
135.8
134.6
201.7
207.6
134.1
120.6
374 9
132.6
148.8
208.2
259.3
261.8
258.3
266.0
251.3
266.9
231.3
249.9
262.7
164.7
240 3
253.0
219.0
111.8
303.4
246.5
129 9
261.3
259.0
150.4
134.7
136.1
209.8
219.4
139 4
122.3
376 4
132.5
149.9
234.0
268 9
269.8
266 4
274.9
256.9
282.8
246.2
256.2
265.7
169.7
250 8
259.0
236.5
113.0
311.0
252.4
139.7
262.5
260.0
150.6
135.2
137.6
217.5
228.7
144.7
125.4
383.4
133.1
153.7
266.5
273.0
273.9
270.0
280 9
261.1
293.1
253.5
264.5
274.6
172.3
250.6
267.9
230.7
109 8
320.0
251.1
139.3
265.0
263.5
152.4
136.2
138 2
225.5
235.9
152.2
128.5
386 2
132.9
155.5
270.3
269.6
272.6
268.8
279.9
260.9
286.6
251.2
261.6
278.7
172.2
248 6
258.9
229 6
112.2
315.2
251.5
137.8
265.1
264.2
153.1
136.3
137.2
223.2
232.6
150.7
127.9
385.3
132.1
155.4
237.2
270.5
272.7
268.9
280.8
262.7
286.8
250.9
262.4
284.3
172.1
247.7
258.8
232.9
109.2
314.8
246.9
137.3
264.6
262.5
152.9
135.3
138.9
222.3
231.2
150.1
128.0
387.3
132.7
156.3
249.6
263.9
271.0
272.9
280.0
268.0
300.2
254.0
262.0
276.0
166.8
261.7
281.4
239.7
113.9
333.1
277.1
142.8
268.3
266.4
154.3
137.7
140.0
189.0
182.3
124.2
126.6
377.5
137.4
147.7
175.8
256.1
260.2
258.1
266.1
252.5
274.0
238.1
248 6
266.9
161.8
240.7
256.8
220.3
106.4
305 9
254.3
131.1
262.4
258.8
152 8
133.9
137.8
199.7
205.1
132.1
120 3
373.4
132.1
148.5
209.3
258.6
261.0
257.7
266.4
251.7
275.2
233.9
248.0
264.1
163.5
239.8
256.4
217.5
108.8
304.2
252.0
129.3
260.7
257.5
150.2
132.8
139.3
207.8
216.7
137.2
122.1
374.9
132.0
149.5
235.3
268 3
269.1
265.8
275.4
257.7
291.6
250.0
253.0
266.0
168.5
250.1
262.4
234.5
110.0
312.2
257.5
138.9
262.0
258.9
150.4
133.2
140.9
215.4
226.1
142.5
124.9
382.4
132.6
153.7
268.1
272.4
273.2
269.4
281.6
261.9
302.0
257.3
264.0
276 5
170.8
250.1
271.6
228 7
107.0
321.1
255.7
138.7
264.4
262.0
152.3
134.2
141.6
223.5
233.4
150.2
127 9
384.6
132.4
155.2
271.8
269.0
272.0
268.3
280.8
262 1
295.8
254.5
261.3
280.9
171.0
248.0
262.7
227.8
109.1
315.6
256.3
137.1
264.6
263.0
152.9
134.3
140.5
221.2
229.8
148.7
127.6
383.9
131.7
155.2
238.7
270.0
272.1
268.4
281.7
264.0
295.8
254.7
261.4
286.4
171.0
247.2
262.6
231.1
106.3
315.3
252.1
136.8
263.9
261.1
152.6
133.4
142.1
220 4
228.7
148 3
127.3
385.9
132.2
156.1
251.0
Dairy p ro d u cts........................................................................................
Fresh milk and cream (12/77 = 1 00 )............................................
Fresh whole milk ....................................................................
Other fresh milk and cream (12/77 = 1 0 0 )..........................
Processed dairy products ..............................................................
Butter .....................................................................................
Cheese (12/77 = 1 0 0 ) ...........................................................
Ice cream and related products (12/77 = 1 00).....................
Other dairy products (12/77 = 100) ...................................
250.1
136.6
223.5
136.7
148.1
253.9
146.5
152.0
144.5
250.2
135.9
222.1
136.4
149.3
254.8
146.8
155.3
145.7
249.9
135.9
222.3
136.2
148.8
254.1
146.4
154.0
146.0
250.8
136.4
222.7
137.3
149.3
254.7
147.0
154.8
146.1
250.9
136.6
223.3
137.0
149.3
253.4
146.8
155.6
146.2
250.8
136.5
222.9
137 3
149.2
254.4
146.3
155.3
146.9
251.5
136.8
223.7
137.3
149.6
252.4
146.6
156.4
148.2
249 4
136.1
222.7
136.1
148 4
256.5
146.8
151.1
145.3
249.3
135.3
221.2
135.8
149.5
257.4
147.1
154.2
146.1
249.0
135.3
221.4
135.6
149.0
256.6
146.7
153.0
146.5
249.8
135.8
221.7
136.7
149.6
257.1
147.3
153.8
146.7
250.1
136.0
222.3
136.4
149.5
255.9
147.1
154 4
146.7
249.8
135.8
221.9
136.7
149.4
256 9
146.6
154.3
147.4
250.5
136.2
222.6
136 6
149.8
254.9
146.9
155.3
148.7
Fruits and vegetables ............................................................................
Fresh fruits and vegetables ...........................................................
Fresh fruits ............................................................................
Apples ............................................................................
Bananas .........................................................................
Oranges .........................................................................
Other fresh fruits (12/77 = 1 0 0 )...................................
Fresh vegetables ...................................................................
Potatoes .........................................................................
Lettu ce ............................................................................
Tomatoes ......................................................................
Other fresh vegetables (12/77 = 1 0 0 )..........................
294.9
304 3
291 9
259 9
295.1
301.3
155.8
316.0
258.7
316 0
327.5
186 9
288.9
288.7
279.5
265.9
233.1
307.8
148.5
297.4
305.0
329.8
243.0
163.0
292 6
294.2
270.4
270.0
230.0
283.4
143.0
316.6
317.6
371.8
222.2
177.2
311.0
327.8
289.6
277.0
244.3
301.3
156.9
363.6
342.3
328.3
285.6
226.1
321.0
342.8
296.0
287.9
263.2
303.0
158.2
386.6
359.6
278.5
332.8
252.1
323.2
344.3
300.5
298.6
264.1
309.6
159.1
385.4
363.5
290.5
318.5
249.4
315.3
326.5
304.2
299.3
275.2
309.5
161.5
347 4
367.3
244.4
280.4
218 9
291.1
298.9
282.2
260.5
293.0
274.4
150.9
314.0
253.3
311.6
332.1
186.4
285 1
283.4
269.3
267.3
230.7
279.3
142.9
296.2
300.1
330.0
246.9
162.3
289.3
289.8
261.1
270.8
227.8
257.5
137.8
315.7
314 3
375.0
224.7
176.1
307.3
322.5
279.5
277.6
242.4
275.1
151.1
361.4
337.5
329.8
290.4
224.0
317.2
337.4
286.2
289.3
260.7
276.2
152.6
383.8
353.2
280.2
337.6
249.7
319.4
339.0
290.8
298.7
262.2
284.2
153.4
382.7
357.7
292.6
322.7
247.0
311.2
321.0
294.0
300.4
273.1
283.4
155.1
345.4
360.1
247.1
286 6
217.2
Processed fruits and vegetables.....................................................
Processed fruits (12/77 = 1 0 0 ) ............................................
Frozen fruit and fruit juices (12/77 = 1 0 0 ) ..................
Fruit juices other than frozen (12/77 = 1 0 0 ) ...............
Canned and dried fruits (12/77 = 1 0 0 ) .......................
287.1
150 6
143 9
155.7
150.8
291.6
151.2
143.3
155.5
153.2
293.3
152.0
143.6
155.7
155.0
295.1
152.3
144.7
155.7
155.0
299.9
156.8
154.9
158 4
156.8
302.8
159.5
159.4
160.8
158.3
305.7
161.7
163.2
163.2
158.8
284.8
150.2
143.0
154.6
151.4
289.5
150.8
142.6
154.6
153.5
291.2
151.6
142.9
154.8
155.1
292.9
151.9
143.9
154.7
155.3
297.4
156.3
154.0
157.3
157.1
300.2
159.0
158.6
159.7
158.5
302.9
161.2
162.4
162.2
159.0
70
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
20.
C o n tin u ed — C o n su m er P rice In d ex— U.S. city average
(1967 = 100 unless otherwise specified]
Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers
All Urban Consumers
19B4
1983
General summary
1984
1983
Apr.
Nov.
Dec.
Jan.
Feb.
Mar.
Apr.
Apr.
Nov.
Dec
Jan.
Feb.
Mar.
Apr.
Fruits and vegetables— Continued
Processed vegetables (12/77 = 1 0 0 ) ...................................
Frozen vegetables (12/77 = 100) ................................
Cut corn and canned beans except lima (12/77 = 100)
Other canned and dried vegetables (12/77 = 100) . . . .
Other foods at hom e ...............................................................................
Sugar and sweets .........................................................................
Candy and chewing gum (12/77 = 100) .............................
Sugar and artificial sweeteners (12/77 = 1 0 0 )....................
Other sweets (12/77 = 1 0 0 )..................................................
Fats and oils (12/77 = 100) ........................................................
M argarine...............................................................................
Nondairy substitutes and peanut butter (12/77 = 100)
. .
Other fats, oils, and salad dressings (12/77 = 1 0 0 )............
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 fo o d s ......................................................................
Canned and packaged soup (12/77 = 1 0 0 )..........................
Frozen prepared foods (12/77 = 100) ................................
Snacks (12/77 = 1 0 0 ) ...........................................................
Seasonings, olives, pickles, and relish (12/77 = 100)
. .
Other condiments (12/77 = 1 0 0 ) .........................................
Miscellaneous prepared foods (12/77 = 100) ....................
Other canned and packaged prepared foods (12 77 = 100) .
138 0
150.9
139.6
130.6
339.2
373.2
150.8
168.3
151.4
258.6
259.6
151.5
129.5
431.8
313.1
146.8
361.4
349.5
140.6
276.9
140.9
155.0
159.2
159 3
155.3
151.6
147.4
141.8
151.8
143.2
136 0
343.4
376.0
152.0
170.4
151.7
275.4
268 9
151.8
143.8
435.2
315.7
149.4
355.4
352.4
141.8
277.9
142.0
156.4
158.6
160.7
155.4
152.8
147.0
142.8
151.5
145.8
136.8
343.6
377.7
152.8
171.1
152.3
278.2
273.7
151.4
145.4
433.7
314.3
148.8
354.2
351.2
141.8
278.2
142.8
155.5
158.9
160.6
155.5
153.3
148.0
144.2
153.3
145 9
138.7
346.6
380.0
154.0
170.9
153.9
279.7
278.2
152.2
145.4
439.1
319.9
149.1
359.2
353.7
143.8
279.9
142.6
157.2
159.5
161.6
156.6
154.3
149.1
144.6
154.2
146.2
138.8
348.4
381.2
154.5
171.8
154.0
281.1
280.5
153.9
145.5
441.8
318.3
152.6
364.3
357.2
144.5
281.4
143.2
156.8
162.8
162.3
156.6
154.6
149.7
144.9
153.5
148.2
138.8
349.7
384.8
156.0
172.5
156.5
280.7
280.1
153.7
145.2
443.5
319.1
153.2
367.6
359.8
144.9
282.1
143.6
156.0
163.3
162.9
156.6
155.0
151.6
145.6
156.0
148.5
138.9
351.0
387.7
158.6
171.8
156.9
282.4
280.5
154.3
146.7
443.6
320.8
151.3
368.6
362.2
144.7
283.8
144.6
159.3
163.0
163.5
157.5
155.8
151.7
136.8
152.5
137.1
129.2
340.0
373.0
150.8
169.7
149.1
258.4
258.1
149.9
130.1
433.5
310.4
144.5
356.2
349.0
140.9
278.5
142.7
154.2
161.2
158.3
157.1
151.8
148.7
140.7
153.4
140.8
134.5
344.2
375.7
151.8
171.7
149.5
275.5
267.1
150.1
144.5
437.3
313.2
147.5
350.2
351.6
142.1
279.4
143.9
155.7
160.7
159.9
157.2
153.0
148.2
141.6
153.2
143.2
135.3
344.4
377.6
152.7
172.4
150.0
278.2
271.7
149.6
146.1
435.7
311.6
146.9
349.0
350.5
142.2
279.7
144.6
154.5
161.0
159.5
157.4
153.5
149.2
143.0
154.9
143.3
137.1
347.4
379.7
153.9
172.0
151.8
279.5
276.4
150.4
145.9
441.1
317.2
147.0
353.9
353.1
144.2
281.5
144.4
156.5
161.6
160.5
158.4
154.5
150.4
143.3
155.8
143.7
137.1
349.1
380.7
154.3
173.0
151.7
280.9
278.8
151.9
146.1
443.5
315.8
150.3
358.9
356.5
144.8
283.0
145.2
156.1
164.9
161.4
158.4
154.8
150.9
143.6
155.2
145.5
137.1
350.2
384.5
155.9
173.7
154.2
280.2
278.1
151.8
145.6
444.9
316.1
150.7
362.0
359.1
145.2
283.7
145.5
155.1
165.4
161.9
158.4
155.1
152.8
144.3
157.7
145.8
137.2
351.6
387.3
158.4
173.0
154.7
281.9
278.5
152.2
147.1
445.2
318.0
149.0
363.0
361.6
144.9
285.4
146.5
158.4
165.2
162.4
159.4
156.0
153.0
Food away from home ..................................................................................
Lunch (12/77 = 1 0 0 ) ............................................................................
Dinner (12/77 = 1 0 0 )............................................................................
Other meals and snacks (12/77 = 1 0 0 ) ...............................................
318.0
154.4
152.5
157.1
324.8
157.1
156.2
160.8
325.5
157.5
156.5
161.0
327.2
158.0
157.6
162.0
328.5
158.5
158.1
162.9
329.8
159.0
158.9
163.4
330.9
159.6
159.6
163.7
321.3
156.1
154.2
157.7
328.0
158.7
157.9
161.2
328.7
159.0
158.3
161.4
330.4
159.5
159.3
162.5
331.7
160.1
159.9
163.4
333.0
160.6
160.8
163.9
334.1
161.2
161.3
164.2
Alcoholic beverages
216.1
218 6
218.1
219.0
219.9
220.7
221.3
218.5
221.5
221.2
222.0
223.0
223.8
224.6
Alcoholic beverages at home (12/77 = 100)
Beer and ale ...........................................................................................
Whiskey....................................................................................................
Wine .......................................................................................................
Other alcoholic beverages (12/77 = 1 0 0 ) ............................................
Alcoholic beverages away from home (12/77 = 100) ................................
139.7
222.5
151.4
236.3
121.5
146.5
140.9
225.9
152.9
234.8
121.5
149.9
140.4
225.5
152.4
232.1
121.4
150.4
140.8
225.7
153.5
233.2
121.7
151.6
141.5
227.7
153.2
232.4
122.8
152.0
142.0
228.7
153.6
233.6
122.8
152.6
142.3
229.9
153.1
233.4
122.8
153.6
141.3
221.2
151.9
243.9
121.3
147.7
143.0
225.2
153.4
242.3
121.5
150.9
142.6
224.8
152.9
239.9
121.3
151.5
142.8
224.9
153.7
241.0
121.6
153.0
143.6
226.8
153.5
239.8
122.6
153.2
144.1
227.8
153.8
241.5
122.8
153.9
144.5
228.9
153.7
241.7
122.7
154.8
HOUSING
320.3
327.0
327.4
329 2
331.0
331.5
333.2
320.3
324.5
324.2
324.7
324.2
322.9
322.7
Shelter (CPI-U)
341.7
351.1
351.8
353.2
354.0
355.5
357.8
Renters' c o s ts .................................................................................................
Rent, residential .....................................................................................
Other renters' costs ...............................................................................
Homeowners' c o s ts ........................................................................................
Owners' equivalent r e n t .........................................................................
Household insurance...............................................................................
Maintenance and repairs ...............................................................................
Maintenance and repair services ...........................................................
Maintenance and repair commodities.....................................................
101.8
234.5
343.7
101,7
101.7
102.0
343.6
382.8
258.7
105.0
241.3
359.8
104.3
104.2
106.1
353.4
398.5
262.3
105.1
242.0
356.1
104.5
104.5
106.1
354.7
400.8
262.6
105.7
242.9
361.7
104.9
104.8
106.6
356.7
402.4
264.6
106.0
243 6
362.5
105.1
105.1
107.1
353.5
400.9
260.4
106.5
244.8
364.5
105.6
105.5
107.1
355.3
405.9
259.3
107.4
246.4
371.2
106.2
106.2
106.1
356 3
408.1
259.2
342.4
347.1
346.6
346.1
343.7
342.0
341.3
Shelter (C P I-W )..............................................................................................
Rent, residential..............................................................................................
234.0
240.7
241.3
242.3
242.9
244.1
245.7
Other renters' costs ........................................................................................
Lodging while out of to w n ......................................................................
Tenants' insurance (12/77 = 1 0 0 ) ........................................................
342.3
358.2
153.2
357.3
370.9
159.4
352.9
363.9
159.4
359.1
374 0
160.4
360.9
377.9
161.1
363.0
381.3
161.1
370.7
393.8
159.8
Homeownership..............................................................................................
Home purchase .....................................................................................
Financing, taxes, and insurance..............................................................
Property insurance.........................................................................
Property taxes ...............................................................................
Contracted mortgage interest c o s ts ...............................................
Mortgage interest ra te s ...........................................................
Maintenance and repairs.........................................................................
Maintenance and repair services.....................................................
381.2
301.0
492.2
422.3
232.9
625.5
206.0
339.0
378.9
384.9
300.0
499.2
438.0
239.6
632.2
208.6
349.1
393.3
384.1
298.9
497.6
437.2
240.7
629 4
208.7
351.0
395.6
382.9
298.0
494.8
438.3
242.7
624.1
207.6
353.0
397.6
379.4
294.4
490.5
439.3
243.2
617.2
207.7
351.9
396.8
376.6
292.5
484.8
439.9
244.1
607.9
205.4
353.8
400.3
374.9
291.7
480.8
440.3
244.8
601.6
203.9
354.2
401.0
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
71
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW July 1984 • Current Labor Statistics: Consumer Prices
20.
C o n tin u ed — C onsum er Price In dex— U.S. city average
[1967 = 100 unless otherwise specified]
Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers
All Urban Consumers
1984
1983
General summary
Apr.
Nov.
Dec.
Jan.
Feb.
1984
1983
Mar.
Apr.
Homeownership— Continued
Maintenance and repair commodities.....................................................
Paint and wallpaper, supplies, tools, and
equipment (12/77 = 1 0 0 )..................................................
Lumber, awnings, glass, and masonry (12/77 = 1 0 0 )............
Plumbing, electrical, heating, and cooling
supplies (12/77 = 100) ........................................................
Miscellaneous supplies and equipment (12/77 = 1 0 0 ) ............
Apr.
Nov.
Dec.
Jan.
Feb.
Mar.
Apr.
253.9
255.9
257.0
259.0
257.4
256.3
255.9
145.7
123.4
147.3
123.8
149.1
123.7
150.8
125.2
147.6
125.6
147.3
124.3
147.3
124.5
137.4
143.1
139.1
144.0
138.4
143.7
139.9
143.1
139.4
144.3
138.6
144.0
140.2
141.7
Fuel and other utilities
363.6
371.3
370.6
376.0
383.0
380.1
380.9
365.1
372.8
372.0
377.3
384.2
381.3
382.0
F u e ls ................................................................................................................
Fuel oil, coal, and bottled g a s................................................................
Fuel oil ...........................................................................................
Other fuels (6/78 = 100) .............................................................
Gas (piped) and electricity......................................................................
E le ctricity........................................................................................
Utility (piped) gas .........................................................................
Other utilities and public services ................................................................
Telephone services..................................................................................
Local charges (12/77 = 1 0 0 ) ........................................................
Interstate toll calls (12/77 = 100) ...............................................
Intrastate toll calls (12/77 = 100) ...............................................
Water and sewerage maintenance...........................................................
459.2
610.6
618.4
186.7
420 5
319.9
578.3
211.7
171.9
139.9
121.8
116.6
347.5
468.1
623.9
631.5
191.4
428.2
331.8
576.3
217.3
175.4
143.8
121.5
119.8
363.6
467.4
623.9
631.5
191.4
427.5
329 8
578.2
216.5
174.3
142.2
121.4
119.7
364.3
470.4
642.8
652.7
193.6
427.3
332.8
571.1
224.6
183 3
154.3
121.4
122.1
367.4
479.6
688 6
705 0
197.4
429.0
334.2
573.6
228.0
186.8
159.0
122.4
122.1
369.0
475.2
660.0
671.6
196.4
429 5
335.8
571.4
227.4
185.9
157.7
122.4
122 0
369 5
476.0
650.7
660.9
195.6
432.3
338 9
573.2
228.2
186.4
157.8
122 3
123.7
371.4
459.3
612.8
620.4
187 7
420 1
319.3
576.5
212.5
172.4
140.3
122.3
116.6
350.8
467.8
626 4
633.9
192.4
427.5
330 8
574.0
218 4
176.0
144.4
121.9
119.8
367.8
467.2
626 4
633.9
192.3
426.7
329 0
575.7
217.4
174.7
142.6
121.9
119.8
368.5
469.9
645.1
654.9
194.4
426.2
331.9
568.1
225.7
183.9
154.8
121.9
122.2
371.7
479.1
691.4
707.6
198.1
427 9
333.3
570.1
229.2
187.5
159.6
122 8
122.1
373.2
474.7
662.4
673.9
197.1
428.4
335.1
567.9
228.5
186.6
158 4
122.8
122.0
373.9
475.4
652 9
663.1
196.3
431.1
338.0
569.8
229 2
187.0
158.4
122.7
123.6
375.7
Household furnishings and operations
239.0
239.9
240.5
240.4
240 4
241.2
242.3
236.0
236.7
237.3
237.3
237.4
238.0
238 9
Housefurnishings ............................................................................................
Textile housefurnishings.........................................................................
Household linens (12/77 = 1 0 0 ) ..................................................
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 = 1 0 0 ) .............................
Other furniture (12/77 = 100) .....................................................
Appliances including TV and sound equipment ...................................
Television and sound equipment ..................................................
Television ...............................................................................
Sound equipment (12/77 = 100) .........................................
Household appliances ....................................................................
Refrigerators and home freezers............................................
Laundry equipm ent.................................................................
Other household appliances (12/77 = 1 0 0 ) ........................
Stoves, dishwashers, vacuums, and sewing
machines (12/77 = 1 0 0 ) ...............................................
Office machines, small electric appliances, and
air conditioners (12/77 = 100) ...................................
Other household equipment (12/77 = 1 0 0 ) .........................................
Floor and window coverings, infants', laundry,
cleaning, and outdoor equipment (12/77 = 1 0 0 ) ....................
Clocks, lamps, and decor items (12/77 = 1 0 0 )..........................
Tableware, serving pieces, and nonelectric
kitchenware (12/77 - 1 0 0 )........................................................
Lawn equipment, power tools, and other
hardware (12/77 = 100) ...........................................................
198.7
229.4
134.2
198.4
229.6
135.7
198.8
230 3
135.6
197.9
227 6
133.0
197.6
232.0
137.4
198.3
236.1
140.1
199 9
235.2
139.0
196.7
233.6
135.3
196.4
233.0
136.4
196.9
233 1
136.2
196.3
230 9
134.1
196 0
235.5
138.5
196 7
240.0
141.2
197.7
238 6
139.9
152.4
221.6
152.9
118.9
126.2
144.6
152.3
107.1
100.9
113.6
188 5
193.3
142.7
125.4
151.1
220.1
152 6
119.8
125.6
141.4
151.0
105.0
98.8
111.6
189.2
193.0
144,1
125.9
152.0
221.3
154.9
120.2
124.4
142.3
150.9
104.8
99.0
111.0
189.4
195.8
144.4
125.5
151.3
219.5
154.4
119.4
124.8
139.2
151.0
104.9
98.8
111.3
189.5
196.5
145.7
125.2
152.3
216.7
148 7
118.5
124.5
139.7
151.1
104.5
98.1
111.2
190.7
196.2
145.9
126.4
154.6
218.4
149.1
119.8
124.5
142.1
150.5
103.6
97.9
109.7
191.0
197.2
147.4
126 2
154.7
222 8
154.2
121.2
125.5
144.6
150.1
103.4
96.7
110.3
190.4
195.8
146.7
126.1
157.8
218.1
149 4
119.1
126 6
140.2
152.4
106.2
99.7
112.6
188.9
199.2
143.6
123.5
155.6
217.1
149.5
120.0
126 6
137.1
151.6
104.1
97.4
110.7
190.1
198.9
145.2
124.6
156.1
218 3
151.3
120.3
125.7
138.2
151.7
103.9
97.6
110.1
190.5
201.7
145.1
124.2
155.5
216.7
151.1
119.2
125 9
135.4
151.9
104.0
97.5
110.5
190.7
202.1
146.6
123 6
156.6
213.7
145.3
118.3
125.7
135.9
152.2
103.5
96.7
110.2
192.1
201 9
147.1
125.3
159.5
215.3
145.9
119.7
125.7
137.9
151.9
102.5
96.5
108.6
192.8
203.1
148.6
125.2
159.2
218.9
149.6
121.3
126.3
140.2
151.4
102.4
95.3
109.3
192.0
202.2
147,6
124.9
125.0
125 8
124.5
123.3
127.2
127.1
126.3
123.3
124.6
123.5
122.3
126.4
126 4
125.4
126.2
143.2
123.8
138.4
124.6
139.7
124.9
140.1
125.2
140.0
124.0
139.5
123.8
139.2
124.2
140.7
147.6
137.4
135.3
128 3
138.8
131.0
138.4
129 6
137.5
126.6
137.6
128.1
137.0
128.5
139.0
132.9
145.5
145.1
135.9
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 = 1 0 0 )............................................
296 9
294.5
150.6
148.8
139.6
154.5
147.2
Housekeeping services ..................................................................................
Postage....................................................................................................
Moving, storage, freight, household laundry, and
drycleaning services (12/77 = 1 0 0 )..................................................
Appliance and furniture repair (12/77 = 1 0 0 ) ......................................
126.1
140.4
126.2
142.1
126.6
142.3
127.2
142.1
126.1
141.7
125 8
141.6
143.2
133.3
147.3
135.5
146.6
134.1
145.5
130.9
145.9
132.0
145.4
132.8
146.2
147.4
149 6
148.2
148.2
149.2
142.0
142.4
143.6
145.5
144,1
144.2
136.6
137 2
136 9
136.1
135.3
134.9
141.4
141.8
142.4
142.2
141.0
140.1
140.5
297 0
296.7
151.5
148.2
140.9
155.5
143.0
298.6
295.9
152.7
148.6
141.7
156.6
145.4
299.4
296.3
153.6
149.2
141.7
157.4
145.0
300.0
296.5
154.5
148.8
141.7
158.3
145.2
300 6
296.1
153.7
149.3
141.7
159.5
146.6
301.8
297.1
153.8
151.6
142.0
159.2
147.5
293.9
290.4
149.5
148.9
142.7
149.2
141.4
293.9
292.7
150.2
148.3
144.0
150.0
136.0
295.3
291.8
151.5
148.6
144.7
151.1
138 3
296.3
292 2
152 3
149.4
144.8
152.0
138 0
296.9
292.3
153.2
149.0
145.0
152.8
138 3
297.1
291.7
152.4
149.4
144.7
154.0
138.9
298.5
292.8
152.5
151.6
145.1
153.7
140.5
317.1
337 5
322.3
337.5
322.8
337.5
324 1
337.5
324.8
337 5
326.1
337.5
325.7
337.5
316.5
337.5
322.3
337.5
322.9
337.5
324 4
337.5
325.3
337 5
326.0
337.5
326.0
337.5
160.8
141.7
168.1
146.2
168 4
147.1
171.0
147.5
171.7
148.3
171.7
148.8
171.8
149.4
160.8
140.0
168.2
144.3
168.5
145.2
171.1
145.6
171.9
146.5
172.0
146 9
172.1
147.5
APPAREL AND UPKEEP
195.5
200.7
199.3
196.4
196.2
198.8
199.2
194.8
199.7
198.1
195.3
195.4
198.0
198.2
Apparel commodities
183.7
188.6
186 9
183 6
183.2
185 9
186.3
183.5
188.2
186.3
183.1
183.0
185.8
185.9
179.7
187.8
117.9
110.3
100.0
142.8
185 2
193 0
121.6
114.8
105.5
147.3
183.4
191.8
120.9
112.9
104.4
147.8
179.8
189.7
119.3
110.8
101.7
145.9
179.3
187.9
118.1
107.6
98.1
145.2
182.3
189.9
119.4
110.6
98.1
146.1
182.6
190.6
120.2
112.0
99.0
146.0
179.4
187.9
118.3
103.5
102.4
138.6
184.5
193.4
122.2
107.7
108.8
143.6
182.5
192.1
121.5
105.8
107.6
144.1
178.9
190.2
119.8
104.0
104.3
141.9
178.9
188.7
118.9
101.2
101.3
141.2
181.9
190.5
120.1
104.1
101.4
142.1
181.9
191.2
121.0
105.4
102.4
142.1
Apparel commodities less footwear........................................................
Men's and b o y s '.....................................................................................
Men s (12/77 - 100) ....................................................................
Suits, sport coats, and jackets (12/77 = 100) ..................
Coats and ja cke ts....................................................................
Furnishings and special clothing (12/77 = 1 0 0 ) ..................
72
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
20.
C o n tin u e d — C onsum er Price In dex— U.S. city average
[1967 = 100 unless otherwise specified]
Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers
All Urban Consumers
1984
1983
1984
1983
General summary
Apr.
Nov.
Dec.
Jan.
Feb.
Mar.
Apr.
Apr.
Nov.
Dec
Jan.
Feb.
Mar.
Apr.
122.0
112.0
123.5
115.2
134.9
125.5
160.6
106.5
168.1
161.5
100.1
131.1
80.5
108.2
97.1
107.5
125.2
113.9
125.2
119.9
137.6
124.4
167.0
110.9
173.3
171.9
102.0
136.1
85.7
111.8
106.2
107.6
125.7
112.9
123.9
118.8
137.0
122.7
164.9
109.5
170.3
172.0
98.9
136.5
81.7
110.2
101.8
106.7
125.7
111.4
124.0
118.8
136.2
123.3
158.8
105.4
162.8
164.1
94.5
134.8
75.2
106.6
98.1
102.6
125.7
112.1
123.1
118.4
136.2
121.6
159.0
105.6
162.9
166.5
93.0
135.5
75.2
106.4
98.9
102.2
127.0
112.4
124.1
119.7
137 9
122.1
163.3
108.7
167.2
175.9
92.5
136.8
85.0
108.0
100.6
103.9
127.3
113.6
123.2
119.7
137.2
120.3
163.2
108.6
164.9
175.0
92.8
136.9
85.1
108.2
100.6
104.3
125.0
117.7
121.5
115.7
130.4
122.6
163.1
108.3
177.1
145.7
101.0
130.8
99.4
109.2
98.5
109.1
127.8
120.1
123.8
122.1
133.3
121.6
168.6
112.4
177.4
158.0
102.4
135.7
105.8
110.8
103.3
108.3
128.5
118.8
122.4
120.6
132.9
120.0
166.0
110.8
174.8
157.1
99.4
136.2
100.2
108 8
98.8
106.3
128.9
117.1
122.7
121.1
132.1
120.6
160.0
106.8
166.9
150.5
94.7
134.4
93.9
104.8
95.1
101.4
128.8
117.8
121.7
120.7
131.9
119.0
160.7
107.2
166.9
153.7
93.3
135.2
95.0
105.6
96.6
102.7
130.0
118.3
122.8
122.0
133.4
119.6
165.3
110.5
172.8
162.9
93.0
136.5
106.4
107.4
98.3
104.6
130.1
119.9
121.8
122.0
132.7
117.6
164.5
109.9
170.1
160.6
93.5
136.6
104.2
107.6
98.1
105.2
127.8
280.4
214.4
121.8
145.8
128.7
288.7
216.6
118.6
149.2
130.5
282.7
215.6
121.4
147.0
128.0
283.6
215.5
119.8
147.6
126.3
286.2
216.1
122 4
147.0
128.0
288.0
217.2
120.8
148.8
128.1
289.2
217.6
122.6
148.3
126.9
291.0
202.5
119.4
136.2
127.5
298.1
205.2
116.8
140.0
129.1
292.1
204.2
119.3
137.8
126.5
292.4
203.7
117.7
138.1
125.2
297.0
204.4
121.1
137.2
126.9
298.6
205.3
119.7
138.7
126.9
299.7
205.5
120.8
138.4
Footwear..........................................................................................................
Men's (12/77 - 1 0 0 ) ............................................................................
Boys' and girls’ (12/77 - 1 0 0 )..............................................................
Women's (12/77 - 100) .......................................................................
207.5
133.9
130.7
126.5
209 1
135.8
131.8
126.7
207.9
134.7
132.9
125.2
206.7
134.4
132.6
123.7
206.4
135.0
131.4
123.5
207.7
135.2
131.2
125.5
208.9
135.8
131.4
126.7
207.2
135.6
133.4
122.0
209.1
137.6
134.0
122.9
208.3
136.6
135.2
121.7
207.3
136.4
135.0
120.3
207.0
136.9
133.9
120.3
208.3
137.1
133.8
122.3
209.4
137.9
133.9
123.4
Apparel services ...........................................................................................
288.7
296.2
297.0
298.3
299.7
300.8
301.5
287.1
294.3
295.0
296.1
297.6
298.8
299.4
179.0
154.2
180.2
154.4
180.7
155.3
181.0
155.7
170.3
153.1
175.4
155.6
176.0
155.6
177.3
155.4
178.5
155.5
179.1
156.5
179.4
156.9
Men's— Continued
Shirts (12/77 - 1 0 0 )..............................................................
Dungarees, jeans, and trousers (12/77 = 100) ..................
Boys' (12/77 - 100) ....................................................................
Coats, jackets, sweaters, and shirts (12/77 = 1 0 0 ) ............
Furnishings (12/77 = 100) ..................................................
Suits, trousers, sport coats, and jackets (12/77 = 100) . .
Women's and girls' ................................................................................
Women’s (12/77 - 100) ..............................................................
Coats and ja cke ts....................................................................
Dresses ..................................................................................
Separates and sportswear (12/77 = 100) ..........................
Underwear, nightwear, and hosiery (12/77 = 100) ............
Suits (12/77 = 1 0 0 ) ..............................................................
Girls' (12/77 - 1 0 0 ).......................................................................
Coats, jackets, dresses, and suits (12/77 = 1 0 0 ) ...............
Separates and sportswear (12/77 = 100) ..........................
Underwear, nightwear, hosiery, and
accessories (12/77 = 1 0 0 ) ...............................................
Infants' and toddlers' .............................................................................
Other apparel commodities ....................................................................
Sewing materials and notions (12/77 = 100) .............................
Jewelry and luggage (12/77 - 100) ............................................
177.7
154.5
171.7
152.0
177.0
154.5
TRANSPORTATION
292.3
306.3
306.3
306.0
305.8
306.9
309.6
293.5
308.2
308.2
307.9
307.7
308.9
311.9
P rivate.............................................................................................................
287.5
301.7
301.8
300.9
300.8
301.9
304.8
289.9
304.9
305.0
304.1
303.9
305.2
308.3
New c a rs ..........................................................................................................
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 - 1 0 0 )............................................
Power plant repair (12/77 - 100) ........................................................
Other private transportation............................................................................
Other private transportation commodities ............................................
Motor oil, coolant, and other products (12/77 = 1 0 0 ) ...............
Automobile parts and equipment (12/77 = 100) ........................
T ir e s ........................................................................................
Other parts and equipment (12/77 = 1 0 0 ) ..........................
Other private transportation se rvice s.....................................................
Automobile insurance ....................................................................
Automobile finance charges (12/77 = 100) ................................
Automobile rental, registration, and other fees (12/77 = 100) . .
State registration ....................................................................
Drivers’ licenses (12/77 - 1 0 0 )............................................
Vehicle inspection (12/77 = 1 0 0 ) .........................................
Other vehicle-related fees (12/77 = 1 0 0 ) .............................
201.1
312.7
367.6
327.4
164.7
206.2
356.1
378.1
335.2
169.5
207.0
357.6
375.2
335.4
169.6
207.2
357.3
370.3
336.1
170.2
207.2
357.2
368.8
337.4
170.3
207.2
362.2
368.6
338.3
170.7
207.4
370.0
374.0
338.9
171.4
200.7
312.7
369.3
328.1
163.4
205.7
356.1
380.1
335.6
168.2
206.5
357.6
377.0
335.9
168.3
206.7
357.3
372.1
336.6
168.9
206.7
357.2
370.7
338.1
169.0
206.7
362.2
370.5
339.0
169.3
206.9
370.0
375.7
339.6
170.1
157.3
151.0
156.2
258.4
212.2
156.1
134.5
186.4
133.4
273.1
299.0
157.3
141.4
186.6
133.9
131.1
157.6
163.4
152.7
160.2
265.6
209.2
152.9
132.7
183.1
133.0
283.1
312.8
159.1
147.3
195.4
154.5
139.8
160.5
163.6
152.8
160.1
266.8
208 4
153.3
132.4
182.7
132.9
284.8
315.0
160.0
147.5
195.6
154.5
139.8
160.7
163.8
152.9
160.9
267.6
203.3
153.3
128.3
175.7
132.1
287 2
318.8
160.1
148.9
195.1
158.0
139.2
163.5
164.4
153.5
161.8
267.7
202.8
153.8
127.8
174.2
132.0
287.5
319.8
159.3
149.1
195.1
158.0
139.2
163.9
165.1
153.9
162.1
268.3
201.3
152.5
126.9
171.8
133.2
288.7
322.3
159.2
149.1
195.5
158.0
139.2
163.5
165.1
154.2
162.4
269.0
202.4
152.7
127.7
172.9
134.0
289.3
321.8
160.9
149.5
195.7
158.0
139.8
164.3
161.2
150.4
155.7
259.3
214.7
155.0
136.4
190.1
133.4
273.7
298.2
156.6
142.2
186.3
134.1
132.4
165.4
167.2
151.9
159.5
266.6
211.7
151.7
134.6
187.0
132.9
283.7
312.1
158.7
148.3
195.2
154.8
140.5
167.7
167.4
152.0
159.5
267.9
211.4
152.3
134.3
186.5
132.7
285.4
314.3
159.7
148.6
195.4
154.8
140.5
167.9
167.6
152.0
160.4
268.4
205.6
152.2
130.0
178.5
131.9
287.6
318.0
159.6
149.8
195.0
158.3
139.9
170.4
168.4
152.8
161.2
268.5
205.2
152.7
129.6
177.9
131.8
287.7
318.9
158.7
150.1
195.0
158.3
139.9
171.1
169.1
153.1
161.6
269.1
203.5
152.3
128.5
175.1
132.7
289.0
321.5
158.7
150.1
195.4
158.3
139.9
170.7
169.2
153.4
161.9
269.9
204.8
151.9
129.4
176.5
133.6
289.7
321.0
160.4
150.4
195.6
158.3
140.3
171.5
Public .............................................................................................................
361.1
370.3
369.0
378.2
377.4
377.4
377.1
353.3
359.9
359.0
371.1
370.1
370.2
370.0
Airline f a r e .......................................................................................................
Intercity bus fare ...........................................................................................
Intracity mass tr a n s it......................................................................................
Taxi f a r e ..........................................................................................................
Intercity train f a r e ...........................................................................................
417.2
394.6
320.2
302.0
352.0
431.6
416.0
324.3
304.7
364.8
428.5
405.5
324.5
307.6
370.7
430.3
425.3
342.8
308.2
373.7
429.5
428.2
341.4
308.3
373.5
429.0
427.6
342 0
308.5
373.4
427.7
428.7
342.3
308.8
373.4
415.9
396.9
319.1
311.4
352.5
427.2
416.9
322.5
313.5
365.6
424.4
402.6
322.7
316.7
371.3
426.4
423.9
342.8
317.2
374.0
425.5
427.1
341.3
317.5
373.8
424.9
426.8
341.8
317.7
373.7
423.5
427.6
342.1
317.9
373.7
MEDICAL CARE ..............................................................................................
353.5
364.9
366.2
369.5
373.2
374.5
375.7
351.2
362.9
364.3
367.5
371.3
372.6
373.9
235.3
237.1
Laundry and drycleaning other than coin operated (12/77 = 100) ............
Other apparel services (12/77 - 1 0 0 )...........................................................
Medical care commodities
221.2
228.9
229.9
231.2
232.9
235.0
236.9
221.6
229.1
230.1
231.5
233.2
Prescription d ru g s ...........................................................................................
Anti-infective drugs (12/77 - 1 0 0 )........................................................
Tranquilizers and sedatives (12/77 = 100) .........................................
Circulatories and diuretics (12/77 = 1 0 0 ) ............................................
Hormones, diabetic drugs, biologicals, and
prescription medical supplies (12/77 - 1 0 0 )...................................
211.6
155.2
174.7
153.4
220.8
159.1
186.9
159.9
222.3
161.2
188.4
160.6
223.7
161.4
190.1
161.5
226.4
163.4
193.0
164.7
228.2
163.9
195.5
164.7
230.7
164.8
198.4
166.1
212.8
157.2
174.5
153.2
222.1
161.5
186.7
159.7
223.1
163.5
188.3
160.3
225.0
164.2
190.0
161.1
227.9
165.8
192.9
164.4
229.7
166.3
195.4
164.3
232.2
167.3
198.3
165.5
196.1
204.0
205.0
205.8
207.2
209.7
212.5
198.1
206.1
207.1
207.9
209.4
211.9
214.7
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
73
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW July 1984 • Current Labor Statistics: Consumer Prices ,
20.
C o n tin u ed — C onsum er P rice In dex— U.S. city average
[1967 = 100 unless otherwise specified]
All Urban Consumers
1983
1984
Feb.
Mar.
Apr.
Apr.
Nov.
Dec
Jan.
Feb.
Mar.
182.1
183.8
185.5
187.7
173 4
182.4
183.0
184.2
185.9
187.7
190.0
167.1
169.8
171.4
173.2
159.7
165.1
166.2
167.4
170.4
172.0
173.9
159.2
137.9
259 4
153.4
159.6
138.0
260.1
154.6
161.2
138 4
263.1
155.8
162.1
138.9
264.9
156.5
154 6
133.9
250.2
150.6
158 8
136.6
257.7
154.1
159.1
136 5
258.8
154.0
160.1
136.8
260.6
155.0
160.6
137.0
261.4
155.7
162.1
137.3
264 4
157.5
163.0
137.8
266.1
158.0
396.3
400.0
404.4
405.3
406.3
379.7
392.3
393.8
397.5
401.8
402.7
403.9
332.9
362.0
314.0
156.2
335.9
366.0
316.0
157.4
339.8
370.4
319 8
158.7
341.1
372.2
321.1
158.8
342.5
373.5
322.5
159.5
318 4
351.8
293.4
148.5
332.0
364.3
310.7
152.5
333.3
365.9
311.8
152.7
336.3
369.9
313.9
153.8
340.3
374.4
317.8
155.0
341.6
376.1
319.0
155.0
343.0
377.5
320.5
155.8
471.5
201.0
641.9
197.1
473.0
202.2
643.5
198.8
477.9
204.3
650.2
200.9
482.5
206 4
657.9
202.7
482 8
207.0
659.4
203.3
483.4
207 5
660.3
204.2
456 9
188 4
600.7
184 9
467.9
199.0
633.9
195.4
469.5
200.1
635.9
197.0
474.1
202 1
641 9
199.1
479.0
204.4
650 4
201.0
479.3
204.9
651.7
201.5
480.0
205.6
652.9
202 4
244.6
249 5
249.5
249.9
251.5
251.7
253.8
241.1
245.7
245 8
246.2
247.7
248.0
249.8
246.0
249.0
248.7
248.9
250.7
250.6
253 4
240.5
243.4
243.1
243.6
245.3
245.3
247.7
164.5
312.6
170.7
157.8
300.4
164.8
162.3
307.8
170.4
161.8
308.3
168.7
160.3
308.6
164.9
163.4
310.4
171.3
161.9
312.0
166.5
164.0
312.9
170.8
Apr.
Nov.
Dec.
171.7
180.5
181.1
159.4
164.7
165.7
Nonprescription drugs and medical supplies (12/77 = 1 0 0 ).......................
Eyeglasses (12/77 = 100) ....................................................................
Internal and respiratory over-the-counter d r u g s ...................................
Nonprescription medical-equipment and supplies (12/77 = 100) . . .
153.8
135.1
248.7
149.4
157.9
137 8
256.4
152.7
158.3
137.7
257.5
152.6
Medical care services
382.8
395 0
Professional services .....................................................................................
Physicians' se rvice s...............................................................................
Dental services........................................................................................
Other professional services (12/77 = 100) .........................................
318.0
348.2
295.7
151.9
331.7
360.5
312 9
155 9
Other medical care services............................................................................
Hospital and other medical services (12/77 = 1 0 0 ).............................
Hospital r o o m .....................................................................................
Other hospital and medical care services (12/77 = 100) ...............
461.1
190.2
608.0
186.3
ENTERTAINMENT
Entertainment commodities
Prescription drugs— Continued
Pain and symptom control drugs (12/77 = 1 0 0 ) ................................
Supplements, cough and cold preparations, and
respiratory agents (12/77 = 1 0 0 ) .....................................................
Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers
1984
1983
General summary
Jan.
Apr.
Reading materials (12/77 = 100) .................................................................
Newspapers ...........................................................................................
Magazines, periodicals, and books (12/77 = 100)................................
158.4
300.2
164.8
162.9
307.7
170.2
162 3
308.2
168 6
160.7
308.6
165.0
164.1
310.2
171.2
162 4
311.8
166.6
Sporting goods and equipment (12/77 = 1 0 0 ) ............................................
Sport vehicles (12/77 = 100) ..............................................................
Indoor and warm weather sport equipment (12/77 = 1 00 )..................
Bicycles ....................................................................................................
Other sporting goods and equipment (12/77 = 1 0 0 ) ..........................
133 6
136.3
121.3
196.1
132.0
134.7
137.8
118.1
198.6
134.5
135 0
138 5
117.4
198.2
134 8
136. V
139.8
117.8
200.1
135.2
135.9
139.5
117.4
201.5
134.6
136.1
139.9
117.1
201.5
134.0
139.1
144.6
117.5
201.1
135.6
127.5
126.7
118.9
197.4
132.0
128.7
128.5
116.0
199 3
134.4
129.1
129.2
115.3
199 0
134.7
130.1
130 5
115.8
200.9
134 6
130.3
130.7
115.3
202 4
134.2
130.0
130 4
115.1
202.5
133.8
132 6
134.1
115.6
202.2
135.3
Toys, hobbies, and other entertainment (12/77 = 100) .............................
Toys, hobbies, and music equipment (12/77 = 1 0 0 )..........................
Photographic supplies and equipment (12/77 = 100) .......................
Pet supplies and expenses (12/77 = 1 0 0 )............................................
138 5
137.3
131.6
145.8
139.1
136.7
131.7
148.8
138.8
136.6
130.2
148.9
139 3
137.0
130.1
150.1
139 8
137.3
131.9
149.9
140.5
138.6
132.6
149.7
141.0
139 3
132.9
149.9
137.2
133.4
132.6
146 9
137 8
132 8
132.7
146.9
137.6
132.9
131.2
150.1
138.2
133.4
131.2
151,1
138.7
133.8
133.0
150.9
139.5
135 2
133.8
150.8
140.0
135.8
134.2
151.0
Entertainment services..................................................................................
243.1
250 5
251.1
251.8
253.1
253.8
254 9
243 3
251 0
251.7
252.1
253.2
253 9
254 7
Fees for participant sports (12/77 = 1 00 ).....................................................
Admissions (12/77 = 1 0 0 ).............................................................................
Other entertainment services (12/77 = 100) ...............................................
151.3
141.7
131.6
156.4
146.6
133 3
156.9
147.2
133.0
157.8
147.3
132.9
158.6
148.3
133.4
158.5
148.9
134.5
159.5
149.4
134.8
152 4
140.7
132.6
157.7
145.6
134.4
158.1
146.3
134.0
158.8
146.2
133.9
159.2
147.2
134.4
159.2
147 8
135.7
160.1
148.3
135.7
OTHER GOODS ANO SERVICES
283.2
298 1
298 6
300 5
301.5
302.1
302 8
281.4
295 5
295.9
298.1
299.2
299.7
300 4
Tobacco products
284.9
299 9
299.9
304 3
305 4
305.6
305.9
284.3
299.7
299.6
304 0
305.1
305 2
305.6
Cigarettes .......................................................................................................
Other tobacco products and smoking accessories (12/77 = 1 0 0 )...............
292 0
149.6
308 2
152.7
308.0
153.9
312 8
154.9
313 8
156.1
313.8
157.0
314.1
157.6
290.9
149.5
307.3
152.7
307.0
153.9
311.8
154.9
312.7
156.0
312.8
157.0
313.1
157.6
Personal care .................................................................................................
259 1
265.6
266.3
266.9
267.9
267 8
268 9
257.1
263.7
264.4
265.0
266.1
265 7
266 9
Toilet goods and personal care appliances.....................................................
Products fur 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) . . .
258.5
150.9
160 5
265.7
154.5
166.7
266.3
154.0
167.3
266 8
154.3
167.8
267.9
154.7
168.1
265.9
154.1
164.6
267.3
154.9
165.1
259.3
150 3
158 9
266.6
153 6
165.1
267.1
153.1
165.6
267.5
153.2
166.0
268.7
153.8
166.3
266.6
153.3
162.9
268.1
154.1
163.3
145.6
146.0
148.9
150.5
149.8
150.7
150.0
151.0
150.6
152 4
150.0
151.8
151.8
151.6
146.3
149.8
150.1
154.1
151.1
154.4
151.1
154.8
151.7
156.2
150.8
155.4
152.7
155.2
Personal care services ..................................................................................
Beauty parlor services for women ........................................................
Haircuts and other barber shop services for men (12/77 = 100) . . .
260.7
264.2
143 8
266.6
269.8
147.5
267.4
270.7
147.8
268.1
271.2
148.4
269.0
272.3
148.7
270.4
273 4
149.9
271.4
274.4
150.4
255.4
257.2
142.7
261.4
262.9
146.3
262.1
203.7
146 7
263.0
264.5
147.2
264.0
265 7
147.5
265.3
266 6
148 6
266.1
267.5
149.2
Personal and educational expenses
324.9
351.3
352.1
353.5
354.4
356.4
356.9
326.8
352.9
353.7
355.4
356.4
359.2
359.7
292.5
332.7
167.6
167.4
168.8
183.1
308.8
361.0
182.9
182.7
183.9
194.6
308.9
361.9
182 9
182 8
183.9
196 8
314.4
362 7
183.0
182.9
183.9
198 6
317.2
363.3
183 2
183.0
183.9
199 6
317.1
365.7
184.3
184.5
183 9
201.2
317 6
366.1
184.4
184.7
183.9
202.0
296.5
334.5
168.2
167.5
169 8
183.1
313.0
352.9
183.3
182.6
184 9
195.2
313.0
363 6
183 3
182.7
184.9
197.3
318.8
364 5
183 4
182.7
184.9
199.1
321.7
365 2
183.5
182.9
184.9
200.2
321.6
368.6
185.2
185.4
184 9
202.1
322.2
369.0
1853
185.5
184 9
202.8
363.4
373.7
370 9
366.3
365.1
364.7
369 8
333.4
357.3
340 7
364.2
339.8
364.9
344.6
366 4
346.6
366 9
346.5
368.7
348.0
368.6
365.0
411.6
332.6
359.5
375.5
419 8
339 4
370.4
372.5
419 4
338.5
372.0
367.9
418.4
343.6
373.9
366.0
415.7
345.5
373.8
366.5
412.6
345.5
376.1
371.4
410.3
347.0
376.6
Schoolbooks and supplies ............................................................................
Personal and educational services .................................................................
Tuition and other school fe e s .................................................................
College tuition (12/77 = 1 0 0 )........................................................
Elementary and high school tuition (12/77 = 100) .....................
Personal expenses (12/77 = 1 0 0 ) ........................................................
Special indexes:
Gasoline, motor oil, coolant, and other p ro d u cts .........................................
Insurance and finance......................................................................................
Utilities and public transportation....................................................................
Housekeeping and home maintenance service s............................................
74
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
21. C o n su m er P rice Index fo r All Urban C onsum ers: C ross classification of region and popu lation size c lass by exp en d itu re
categ o ry and co m m o d ity and service group
[December 1977 = 100]
Size clast A
(1.25 million or more)
Category and group
1984
1983
Dec.
Feb.
Size class B
(385,000-1,250 million)
1984
1983
Apr.
Dec.
Size class C
(75,000-385,000)
Feb.
1983
Apr.
Dec.
1984
Size class D
(75,000 or leu)
1983
1984
Feb.
Apr.
Dec.
Feb.
Apr.
Northeast
EXPENDITURE CATEGORY
All items .................................................................................................................................
Food and beverages .......................................................................................................
H ousing...........................................................................................................................
Apparel and upkeep ......................................................................................................
Transportation ...............................................................................................................
Medical care ..................................................................................................................
Entertainment..................................................................................................................
Other goods and services ..............................................................................................
157.2
148.8
161.7
122.7
166.5
168.3
145.9
167.9
159.5
152.4
164.3
121.1
168.4
171.8
146.6
169.1
160 7
152.7
165.3
123.8
170.1
173.2
148.1
170.6
163.7
146.7
172.6
129.5
174.2
170.7
140.3
167.7
165.9
151.8
176.9
124.0
172.6
175.1
140.3
168.7
166.3
151.5
175.7
128.5
174.1
177.6
143.8
169.1
168.3
151.9
179.5
133.0
172.9
174.2
149.0
172.3
170.5
155.0
183.7
128.7
173.2
176.5
149.9
173.5
170.9
155.2
183.0
131.8
174.3
176.9
152.8
174.5
162.3
147.6
166.4
134.1
172.5
177.5
152.3
171.8
164.9
152.4
170.1
132.6
172.2
181.1
352.4
173.6
166.3
152.4
172.9
133.6
173.4
182.5
152.3
173.9
COMMODITY AND SERVICE GROUP
Commodities...........................................................................................................................
Commodities less food and beverages .........................................................................
Services....................................................................................................................................
151.4
152.9
164.4
153.6
154.0
166.9
154.1
154.7
168.8
157.1
162.0
173.6
159.3
162.5
175.8
159.9
163.5
176.1
157.0
159.2
186.3
159.1
160.7
188 6
159.2
160.8
189.6
155.5
159.0
172.7
158.6
161.1
174.4
158.2
160.4
178.4
North Central Region
EXPENDITURE CATEGORY
All terns .................................................................................................................................
Food and beverages ......................................................................................................
H ousing...........................................................................................................................
Apparel and upkeep .......................................................................................................
Transportation ...............................................................................................................
Medical care ..................................................................................................................
Entertainment..................................................................................................................
Other goods and services .............................................................................................
167.6
145.2
185.8
120.3
168.9
172.4
144.2
163.8
168.7
149.4
186.2
116.7
168.6
176.2
144.6
165 9
169.9
149.4
187.7
118.2
170.5
177 4
145.1
165.9
163.6
143.8
171.5
131.2
171.6
173.9
133.6
177.4
165.2
148.0
173.4
126.6
170.9
176.9
135.7
177.4
166.8
148.6
175.2
132.8
172.9
177.2
140.6
178.6
161.6
144.7
169.0
132.3
172.1
168.0
148.4
161.7
162.5
148.6
169.9
129.0
171.1
170.2
148.3
163.0
163.4
148.8
169.1
132.6
173.8
172.7
151.0
163.6
162.8
152.9
167.0
127.5
170.8
177.6
139.1
172.3
163.7
155.9
167.0
123.0
170.0
183.2
144.2
175.0
164.5
156.9
167.3
126.1
172.2
182.9
141.3
176.1
COMMODITY AND SERVICE GROUP
Commodities...........................................................................................................................
Commodities less food and beverages .........................................................................
Serv.ces....................................................................................................................................
155.6
160.9
185.2
156.8
160.0
186.3
158.1
162.1
187.2
154.2
158 7
178.6
155.7
158.6
180.4
157.3
160.9
182.1
152.6
156.3
176.2
153.6
155.7
176.8
155.1
157.9
176.8
152.9
153.0
178.3
153.8
152.7
179.3
154.8
153.8
179.8
South
EXPENDITURE CATEGORY
All items .................................................................................................................................
Food and beverages .......................................................................................................
H ousing...........................................................................................................................
Apparel and upkeep ......................................................................................................
Transportation ...............................................................................................................
Medical care ..................................................................................................................
Entertainment..................................................................................................................
Other goods and services ..............................................................................................
163.5
151.9
169.3
130.5
171.5
173.6
142 9
166.6
165.7
156.3
172.4
129 9
171.0
176.2
142.9
169.6
166.3
156.3
172.3
131.3
172.6
177.1
145.2
170 0
164 9
149 8
170.9
128.7
174.4
174.0
154.6
169.1
166 9
154.8
172.0
129.6
174.1
177.0
157.7
171.5
168.2
155.6
173.7
128.1
176.2
178 5
159.6
172.4
163.7
148.5
169.4
126.7
172.5
182 7
150.0
167.5
165.3
153.2
170.7
124.8
171.8
186.7
151.4
169.5
166.9
153.0
173.2
127.5
174,0
187.5
153.2
170.2
165.7
152.3
174.6
116.0
170.2
189.9
147.5
167.3
166.6
157.5
174.2
110.9
170.2
193.3
148.5
167.9
168.1
156 6
176.4
114.7
172.3
193.7
150.5
169.2
COMMODITY AND SERVICE GROUP
Commodities...........................................................................................................................
Commodities less food and beverages .........................................................................
Services....................................................................................................................................
155,9
157.7
174.0
157.9
158.1
176.5
158.6
159 4
176 8
156.9
160.1
176.9
159.2
160.7
178.4
160.2
161.8
180.1
154.8
157.8
177.5
156.5
157.7
178.4
157.7
159.7
181.2
155.6
157.1
180.8
159 9
156.1
181.2
152.9
158.1
183.4
West
EXPENDITURE CATEGORY
All items ............................................................................. ...............................................
Food and beverages ......................................................................................................
H ousing...........................................................................................................................
Apparel and upkeep .......................................................................................................
Transportation ...............................................................................................................
Medical care ..................................................................................................................
Entertainment..................................................................................................................
Other goods and services ..............................................................................................
164.0
152.7
169.4
122.7
174.2
178.0
142.6
168.8
165.7
155.8
171.7
123 8
172.9
181.2
144.3
171.1
167.2
155.3
173.7
124.3
176.4
182.6
144.1
171.5
164.0
154.4
167.2
127.9
175.3
176.5
147.5
170.0
165.3
158.4
168.4
124.9
175.0
178.2
148.1
171.3
166.8
158.6
170.4
126.9
177.5
179.8
148.9
171.3
156.3
150.2
153.9
123.4
171.1
180.9
148.8
166.2
157.6
153 7
154.6
123.8
170.5
184.5
151.8
166.8
159.1
155.0
155.8
123.9
173.5
185.9
154.4
166.5
164.0
156.0
164.4
144.4
171.1
178.9
161.2
174.5
164.8
160.3
165.2
141.2
168.6
183.8
161.4
175.3
166 5
160.3
168.0
142.9
171.1
184.6
160.6
175.1
COMMODITY AND SERVICE GROUP
Commodities...........................................................................................................................
Commodities less food and beverages
Services....................................................................................................................................
153 5
153 9
177.8
154.1
152.9
180.6
155.9
156.1
181.9
156 3
157 2
174.7
157.3
156.2
176.2
158.7
158.4
178.0
154 3
156.0
158.8
155.3
155.3
160.4
157.1
157.4
161.7
154.3
153.6
178.3
154.6
151.5
179.9
155 6
153 2
182.3
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
75
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW July 1984 • Current Labor Statistics: Consumer Prices
22.
C o n su m er P rice in d ex— U.S. city average, and selected areas
[1967 = 100 unless otherwise specified]
All Urban Consumers
Area1
U.S. city average2 ......................................................................
Anchorage, Alaska (10/67 = 100) ............................................
Atlanta, Ga......................................................................................
Baltimore, Md................................................................................
Boston. Mass.................................................................................
Buffalo, N Y....................................................................................
Chicago, III.-Northwestern Ind.....................................................
Cincinnati, Ohio—Ky.—Ind..............................................................
Cleveland, O h io ............................................................................
Dallas-Ft. Worth, Tex.....................................................................
Denver-Boulder, Colo.....................................................................
1983
Dec.
Jan.
Feb.
Mar.
Apr.
Apr.
Nov.
Dec
Jan.
Feb.
Mar.
Apr.
295.5
303.1
303.5
305.2
306.6
307.3
308.8
294.9
301.4
301.5
302.7
303.3
303.3
304.1
311.1
300.1
270.4
297.6
282.5
295.3
307 6
296.6
303.9
316.8
303.9
299.9
300.1
296.5
278.4
320.7
303.0
297.7
Philadelphia, Pa.-N.J....................................................................
Pittsburgh. Pa................................................................................
Portland, Oreg.-Wash...................................................................
St. Louis, M o.-Ill..........................................................................
San Diego, Calif..............................................................................
283.5
305.2
San Francisco-Oakland, Calif.........................................................
Seattle-Everett. Wash.....................................................................
Washington, D C -M d.-V a ...........................................................
299.3
293 9
288 5
291.7
317.5
294.3
291.8
314.3
305.4
320.0
301.3
303.1
299.1
280.7
323.6
306.4
300.2
297.3
291.0
294.4
306.7
293.6
332.8
323.9
315.3
301.7
304.1
305.6
295.0
300.7
283.2
325.7
309.1
302.8
276.9
317.6
293.5
290.2
319.6
299.0
296.4
315.5
299.9
293.0
296.7
1The 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 Area is
294.2
322 0
300.9
312.4
282.2
298.2
318.6
286.8
300.7
301.3
297.8
288.2
317.9
300.0
299.9
287 3
290 9
294.8
315.9
294.7
312.5
288.2
294.3
302.6
used for New York and Chicago.
2Average of 85 cities.
296.0
313.8
304.7
297.9
284.3
323.5
296.6
299.0
290.2
293.2
296.7
302.9
298.6
297.9
289.0
324.9
299.7
298.9
166.3
335.3
318.6
290.5
298 5
299 6
289.5
296.8
329.6
289 9
294.0
298.8
321.1
291.2
299.0
301.5
292.2
297.3
326.6
308.7
299.4
308.1
296.3
320.7
316.5
341.7
307.9
306.1
299 0
302.7
296 9
286.6
318.2
317.7
165.9
327.5
289.6
299.3
323.7
310.2
305.1
298.3
313.4
336.0
301.8
309.3
307.2
298.2
285.9
314.9
313.5
164.9
328.9
298.0
302.7
349.8
311.7
311.1
303 4
285.6
295.7
316.0
265.9
309.6
303.8
294.4
338.4
165.6
316.8
295.1
300 9
346.6
307.3
278.4
344.7
165.0
314.0
293.9
299.6
342.3
309.5
298.6
305.0
264.0
309.7
302.4
292.5
293.0
331.1
322.7
343.0
164.0
312.5
309.4
286 5
305.2
318.4
264.0
310.4
302.0
290.5
330.7
317.6
339.8
272.8
316.7
295.9
289.5
309.3
288.2
319.5
308.6
274.4
271.5
307.3
304.7
294.0
Honolulu, H a w a ii.........................................................................
Houston, Tex..................................................................................
Kansas City, M o .-K a n sa s...........................................................
Los Angeles-Long Beach, Anaheim, Calif.....................................
76
1984
Nov.
294.9
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1983
Apr.
Detroit, Mich..................................................................................
Miami, Fla. (11/77 = 100) ........................................................
Milwaukee, Wis..............................................................................
Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minn.-Wis.................................................
New York, N.Y.-Northeastern N.J................................................
Northeast, Pa. (S cranton)...........................................................
Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers
1984
310.8
299.9
308.2
23.
P roducer P rice Indexes, by stage o f processing
[1967 = 100]
Commodity grouping
Annual
average
1983
1984
1983
May
June
July
Aug.
Sept.
Oct.
Nov.
Dec.
Jan.1
Feb.
Mar.
Apr.
May
FINISHED GOODS
285.2
284.2
285.0
285.7
286.1
285.1
287.6
286.8
287.2
r289.5
290.6
291.7
291.4
291.5
284.6
261.8
r258.7
r260.0
335.3
233.1
r231.5
r287.2
283.6
262.6
267.2
260.1
332.0
232.9
230.3
286.5
284.6
261.2
251.2
260.0
335.7
233.1
230.7
286 7
285.2
260.7
247.1
259.8
337.7
233.4
232.0
287.2
285.7
260.7
259.9
258.7
338.6
233.8
232.7
287.7
285.1
263.0
267.4
260.5
338.6
229.2
233.0
285.1
287.0
263.7
287.3
259.5
338.1
235.3
233.6
289.9
285.9
261.9
270.4
259.0
336.8
235.4
234.1
r290.0
286.3
264.3
266.0
262.0
335.2
235.9
234.0
290.4
r288.9
272.2
r306.9
r266.9
335.0
235.9
r236.0
r291.6
290.1
274.7
315.9
268.9
335.9
236.2
236.1
292.5
291.4
277.0
332.5
269.8
337.0
236.6
237.2
292.7
290.6
275.0
307.9
269.9
336.7
236.7
237.6
294.1
290.7
272.3
279.7
269.4
339.3
236.6
238.6
294.3
Intermediate materials, supplies, and components....................
r312.3
309 7
311.3
312.8
314.0
315.5
315.6
315.5
315.7
r316.3
317.4
319.5
320.2
320.8
Materials and components for manufacturing....................
r293.4
291.9
292.4
294.1
294.7
296.7
296.4
296.5
297.6
r298.9
299.5
301.7
302.6
303.0
263.5
283.3
322.3
282.6
260.0
284.6
321.6
283.0
262.9
285.7
322.8
283.5
r268.6
r286.6
r323.4
r284.5
267.9
286.9
325.2
284.9
269.2
290.2
328.3
285.2
271.3
291.4
329.0
285.9
275.6
292.5
326.8
286.6
Finished g o o d s ............................................................................
Finished consumer goods ..................................................
Finished consumer foods ...............................................
Crude ............................................................................
Processed ...................................................................
Nondurable goods less fo o d s .........................................
Durable goods ................................................................
Consumer nondurable goods less food and energy . . .
Capital equipment................................................................
INTERMEDIATE MATERIALS
Materials for food manufacturing...................................
Materials for nondurable manufacturing .......................
Materials for durable manufacturing .............................
Components for manufacturing......................................
258.4
r280.0
r319.4
r280 4
257.0
277.7
318.4
279.4
257.0
277.7
319.0
280.3
257.4
279.7
320.9
281 6
260 5
281.1
320.9
281.5
269.4
282.7
323.1
281.8
Materials and components for construction.......................
r301.8
301 2
302.4
302.9
303.7
303.1
303.6
303.9
304.9
r305.5
307.5
309.2
310.1
309.6
Manufacturing industries..................................................
Nonmanufacturing industries .........................................
r564.8
r479.0
r640.0
547.8
462.9
622.2
562.0
475.9
637.5
567.9
480.9
644.1
572.0
485.1
648.0
573.4
487.2
648.8
574.2
490.5
647.2
568.1
484.9
640.6
561.7
478.8
634.0
r556.4
r474.2
r628.0
561.7
478.3
634.5
568.4
484.2
641.8
564.2
482.7
635.1
569.2
488.1
639.5
Contaners............................................................................
286.6
285.8
285.9
286.1
286.3
287.1
288.1
289.3
289.9
r292.3
293.2
295.5
298.4
301.3
S upplies................................ • .............................................
Manufacturing industries..................................................
Nonmanufacturing industries .........................................
Feeds ............................................................................
Other supplies..............................................................
r277.1
269.9
r281.1
r225.9
r292 8
275 6
268.9
279.3
218.1
292.2
275.6
269 8
278.8
213.4
292.5
276.2
270.1
279.6
216.2
291.9
277 9
270.5
282.0
230.7
293.0
280.2
270 8
285.3
249.6
293.4
280.6
271.8
285.3
246.7
294.0
281.6
272.2
286.7
251.0
294.8
281.6
273.3
286.1
243.9
295.5
r282.6
r274.5
r287.0
r243.7
r296 6
282.2
275.9
285.7
227.8
298.0
283.1
276.2
286.9
232.3
298.6
284.1
277.7
287.7
233.5
299.3
284.2
278.3
287.6
229.5
300.0
323.6
325.8
323.3
320.6
327.1
328.5
324.8
324.0
327.5
r333.5
332.8
339.4
340.1
338.5
CRUDE MATERIALS
Crude materials for further processing ......................................
Foodstuffs and feedstuffs.....................................................
r252 2
256.5
252.1
248.4
256.4
257 2
253.7
251.8
256.0
r264.0
260.7
270.7
270.4
267.2
Nonfood materials................................................................
r4 7 7 . 4
475.4
476.8
476.2
479.6
482.5
478.2
479.4
481.6
r483.4
488.2
487.9
490.4
492.2
388.1
r372 2
369.0
370.5
371.6
375.6
378.1
377.1
377.7
379.1
r380.1
385.5
r 3 8 1 .9
378 3
379 9
3 8 1 .6
385 7
3 8 8 .3
387 4
3 8 7 .9
389 4
r3 9 0 . 4
3 9 5 .5
3 9 9 .1
r270 6
270.3
271.3
270.9
271.0
272.5
270.5
272.1
272.7
r273.7
280.2
276.8
389 0
399.8
278.2
389.7
..................................................................
Construction................................................................
Crude fu e l.........................................................................
Manufacturing industries ............................................
Nonmanufacturing industries......................................
931.5
r1,094.5
r816.3
935.9
1,100.9
819.1
936.7
1,102.3
819.4
927.8
1.090.4
813 0
926.9
1,088.9
812 5
931 0
1,093.9
816.1
910.9
1,067.1
801.1
915.3
1,071.8
805.3
921.1
r926.1
1,079.0 r1,086.5
810.1
r813.2
927.4
1,087.5
814.6
911.5
1,066.1
803.2
922.2
1,081.1
810.3
929.2
1089.3
816.6
Finished goods excluding fo o d s ..................................................
Finished consumer goods excluding foods .......................
Finished consumer goods less energy................................
r290 8
r291.4
249.9
289.3
289.4
249.7
290.8
291.6
249.4
291.8
292.6
249 9
292.5
293.5
250.2
290.3
291.4
249.7
293.4
293.9
252.1
293.0
293.2
251.7
292.6
292.5
252.6
292.9
292.5
r256.1
293.6
293.1
257.1
294.3
293.9
258.4
294.6
293.7
257.9
295.7
295.1
257.3
Intermediate materials less foods and feeds .............................
Intermediate materials less energy......................................
r317.1
r295.2
314 6
293.9
316.4
294 4
318.0
295.6
318.7
296 5
319.5
298.1
320.0
298.2
319.9
298.5
320.2
299.4
r320.6
r300.5
322.1
301.2
324.2
303.0
324.8
304.1
325.4
304.4
Intermediate foods and feeds .....................................................
r247.9
244.4
242.8
244 0
250.9
263.2
258.2
257.4
256 9
260.7
254.9
257.3
259.1
260.6
Crude materials less agricultural products ................................
Crude materials less energy ...............................................
r538 6
246 5
536.2
249.0
537.5
246.2
536.8
243.9
540.0
251.2
542.9
252.5
538.8
249.6
540.3
248.3
543.2
252.0
r546.3
r258.3
552.1
257.4
550.4
265.8
553.3
266.0
554.0
263.8
Nonfood materials except fu e l.........................................
M a n u fa c t u r in g in d u s tr ie s
4 0 0 .2
281.1
SPECIAL GROUPINGS
'Data for January 1984 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.
77
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW July 1984 • Current Labor Statistics: Producer Prices
24.
P roducer P rice indexes, by com m o dity groupings
[1967 = 100 unless otherwise specified]
Code
1983
1984
Commodity group and subgroup
Annual
average
1983
May
June
July
Aug.
Sept.
Oct.
Nov.
Dec.
Jan.1
Feb.
Mar.
Apr.
May
All commodities ............................................................................
All commodities (1957-59 = 100)
303.1
r321.5
301.5
319.9
302.4
320.8
303.2
321.7
304.7
323.3
305.3
323 9
306.0
324.7
305 5
324 1
306.1
324 8
'308 0
'326 8
308.8
327.6
311.1
330.1
311.4
330.4
311.7
330.7
Farm products and processed foods and feeds ..........................
Industrial commodities...................................................................
253.9
'315.7
254 7
313.6
252.5
315.3
251.5
316.5
255.5
317.3
259.1
317.1
257.5
318.5
256.0
318.3
257.9
318 4
264.4
'319 1
263.5
320.4
268.3
321.9
267.9
322.5
266.3
323.3
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.........................................
G rains...........................................................................................
Live sto ck.....................................................................................
Live p o u ltry..................................................................................
Plant and animal fibers .............................................................
Fluid m ilk .....................................................................................
Eggs..............................................................................................
Hay, hayseeds, and oilseeds .....................................................
Other farm p ro d u cts...................................................................
248 2
r262 1
240.4
243.1
206.5
227.0
282.0
(2)
'246.8
282.1
250.4
260.1
242.2
258.0
186.9
223.8
279 8
185.1
227.3
281.0
247 4
264.4
241.5
251.7
199.3
229.7
278.6
169.3
213.3
284.4
244.3
258 2
236.7
240.7
214.5
230.4
278.7
177.2
227.3
282.5
253.5
270.4
251.8
242 2
221.4
240 7
281.7
189.5
262.8
285.7
256.4
276.0
258 0
231.5
242.2
238.7
284.4
200.1
297.8
287.3
255.2
308.1
253.7
229.4
208.5
234.5
284 1
(2)
288 8
283.7
251 0
275.2
257.5
220.5
238.5
243.6
283.2
<2)
287.6
283.5
254.0
276 1
243 6
238.2
241 2
244.1
281 4
(2)
282 2
276 9
'263.4
'291.2
245.5
250.7
252.6
229 3
279 1
282.4
287.3
280.2
261.5
311.5
235 3
251.9
251.3
232.7
275 7
280.7
265.4
278.9
267.4
307.0
250.9
260.8
258.4
250.3
274.2
235 8
281.4
278.6
265.4
262.8
262.1
260.8
240 8
252.3
272.7
264 4
282.1
281.0
260 8
251.1
256.2
254.8
240.6
259.1
271.7
201.0
297.0
288.0
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 p ro d u cts........................................................
Meats, poultry, and f i s h ..............................................................
Dairy products ............................................................................
Processed fruits and vegetables..................................................
Sugar and confectionery..............................................................
B e v e r a g e s and b e v e r a g e m a te r ia ls
..................................................................
Fats and oils ...............................................................................
Miscellaneous processed fo o d s ..................................................
Prepared animal fe e d s ................................................................
'255.9
r261.0
'249.0
250.6
r277 4
292.8
263.6
r238.8
r254.8
'228.8
256.1
259.1
257.8
250 9
275.3
289.9
263.6
220.0
249 9
221.3
254.3
260.3
250.2
250.4
277.1
296.0
263.0
219.3
251.5
217.1
254 4
261 4
247.3
250.4
277.1
296.4
263 7
222.2
255.0
220.0
255.5
262.8
243.2
250.4
278.3
298 9
263.9
245.6
252.7
233 0
259.6
263.6
242 9
250.6
278.6
300.2
264.3
303.5
258.4
249 3
257.8
264.6
237.0
251.3
281.1
298.0
265.2
281.7
262 1
248.6
257.6
265.2
234.7
251.4
280.9
297.7
266.3
274.5
264 8
252 1
259.0
265 1
242.3
248 9
282.9
297 5
266.5
271.7
266.2
245 6
'263 8
'266.6
'255.8
'248.4
'287.7
'299 9
'268.7
'278.3
'266.8
'245.2
263.5
267.0
255.6
248 6
291.8
300.6
270.0
269.1
275 3
231.1
267.8
267.9
267.7
249.0
293 2
299 3
270.2
282.5
274.7
235.3
268.2
268.2
265.3
249.2
295.6
301.8
271 6
290.9
276.0
236.3
268.3
268.6
260.6
248 9
297.4
303.6
273.6
325.8
275.5
232.6
03
03-1
03-2
03-3
03-4
03-81
03-82
Textile products and a pparel...........................................................
Synthetic fibers (12/75 = 1 0 0 ) ..................................................
Processed yarns and threads (12/75 = 100) ..........................
Gray fabrics (12/75 = 1 0 0 ).......................................................
Finished fabrics (12/75 = 1 0 0 )..................................................
Apparel ........................................................................................
Textile housefurnishings..............................................................
'205.1
r156.7
'138.5
'147.0
123.1
r197.4
r235.1
204.3
155.6
137.4
146.2
122.8
196.5
237 6
204.7
155.9
137 6
145.8
122.5
197.9
235.2
205.3
158.3
138.5
146.1
122 4
198.4
234.8
206.0
157.5
140.2
146.7
123.6
198 7
234.5
206.2
158.0
140.3
147.3
123.4
198.7
235.3
207 0
160.5
141.3
149.4
123.8
198.8
234.5
207.7
159.3
141,7
151.4
124,4
199.4
234.4
207 8
158.1
142.9
152 0
124.8
199.0
235 3
'208.2
159 2
142.3
'151.1
'124.8
'200.1
'236.0
209.3
161.5
144,0
152.8
126 3
199.8
236.2
209.9
161.2
143.8
152.9
127.1
200.7
237.1
209 6
166.6
143.7
153.0
126.6
200.3
238.0
210.5
160.8
144.3
153.6
127.4
201.2
239.4
04
04-2
04-3
04-4
Hides, skins, leather, and related p ro d u cts...................................
Leather ........................................................................................
Footwear .....................................................................................
Other leather and related products ............................................
'271.1
'330.7
250.1
r252.7
269.4
326.6
248.7
251.7
271.2
335.9
249.9
251.7
272.3
337 9
249.9
253.5
274.7
343.4
250 9
253.7
274 4
339.4
251.6
253,5
273.7
336.6
251.3
253.5
277 0
340.5
257.3
255.8
277
344
250
255
'279 1
'346.2
'250.9
'257.2
283 2
361.3
251.6
259 1
287.0
372.6
253.3
260 9
287.4
381.7
251.8
261.6
289 2
387 2
251.8
263.1
05
05-1
05-2
05-3
05-4
05-61
05-7
Fuels and related products and p ow er............................................
C o a l..............................................................................................
Coke..............................................................................................
Gas fuels3 ..................................................................................
Electric power ............................................................................
Crude petroleum4 ......................................................................
Petroleum products, refined5 .....................................................
06
06-1
06-21
06-22
06-3
06-4
06-5
06-6
06-7
Chemicals and allied p ro d u cts........................................................
Industrial chemicals6 ....................................................................
Prepared paint
Paint m a te ria ls............................................................................
Drugs and pharmaceuticals ........................................................
Fats and oils, in e d ib le .................................................................
Agricultural chemicals and chemical p ro d u cts..........................
Plastic resins and m aterials........................................................
Other chemicals and allied products .........................................
'293.0
342.9
264.7
'305.8
'226.1
'285.6
'280.5
'291.5
'273 6
291.1
338.8
264.7
300.2
225.2
287.1
282 4
288.0
272.0
290 8
338.5
264 7
299.5
225.2
276.9
280.6
289 1
272.4
293.7
347.0
265 2
300.5
227.6
260.9
278.1
291.3
274.2
294.4
347.6
265.4
305.7
227.3
278.1
277.1
293.7
274.2
295.9
345.6
264.5
316.2
227.4
329.0
276.0
302.6
274.3
295.5
344.9
264 2
316 9
229 3
318.6
276.4
299 1
274.4
296.4
346.2
264 5
316.5
231.0
321.6
280.4
297.9
273.8
297 7
349 2
264 9
315.5
230.9
318.8
281.9
301 5
273.6
'298.1
'347.4
'265.6
'316.6
'232.9
'334.2
'278.5
'305.2
'274.9
296 7
338.0
266.9
313.9
234.4
348 9
287.1
305.0
273.7
300.8
346.0
267.6
317.3
237.5
362 4
289.6
306.6
275.7
301.8
345.1
267.3
327.6
239.9
382.1
288.3
308.6
277.1
302.5
344.8
268.0
337 2
240.2
398 8
286.6
311.1
277.2
07
07-1
07-11
07-12
07-13
07-2
Rubber plastic products ................................................................
Rubber and rubber products........................................................
Crude rubber ...............................................................................
Tires and tu b e s............................................................................
Miscellaneous rubber products ..................................................
Plastic products (6/78 = 100) ..................................................
'243.2
'266.0
'280.8
'245 3
'284 8
135.3
243.2
267.0
280.6
246.3
286.0
134.8
243.1
265.6
280.2
243.7
285.9
135.5
243.4
265.2
283.2
242.4
285.7
136 0
243 7
265.1
284 6
242.8
284.5
136.4
243.2
263.9
284.4
242.5
281.6
136.6
244.4
264 8
284.3
242.6
283.8
137.4
243.6
264 3
282 7
242.4
283.5
136 7
243 8
264.6
282 2
242.3
284.6
136 8
'244 8
'266.6
282.9
'244.1
'287.1
'136.9
245 4
266.6
282.8
243.0
288.7
137.6
246.1
265.9
282.0
242.3
287.9
138.8
246.5
266.7
282.5
243 2
288.8
138 8
247.4
267.2
277.5
244.5
290.0
139 6
08
08-1
08-2
08-3
08-4
Lumber and wood products ...........................................................
L u m b e r........................................................................................
M illw ork........................................................................................
Plywood........................................................................................
Other wood products...................................................................
'307.1
'352 6
'302.3
244.1
230.6
308.0
358.6
299 0
241.1
231.1
314 8
372 8
294.9
255.5
229.6
314.6
373.1
296 3
252.5
229.7
313.9
366.6
306.6
246.2
229.3
305.6
346.6
305 9
242.2
229.4
305.6
344.7
307.4
246.6
229.6
304.9
342.8
307.9
244 6
229.8
308 7
351.3
308.5
247.2
230.6
'309.1
'352.6
'308.6
'248.2
'230.0
315.6
365.4
308.5
249.5
230.7
316.0
369 2
309.7
248.7
232.0
315.4
369 6
307.7
244.0
233.3
308 8
355.8
305.4
235 4
234.3
INDUSTRIAL COMMODITIES
See footnotes at end of table.
78
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
3
1
3
6
671.7
668.7
672 3
669.5
663 7 658.0 '652 1 656.7
662.7
r664 7
665 5
659.6
656.5
651.9
537.9
538 2
543.4
534 1
536.6
542 3
543.9 '541.4
543.0
546.9
r537 4
535.2
534.8
546.0
415.4
438 4
453.9
453.1
453.8
418.3
434.4
428.7
438.4
431 6 453.9
418.3
429.5
'444.6
r1.146.9 1,156.7 1.155.1 1,148.9 1,145.9 1,147.0 1,128.4 1,122.0 1,120.4 '1,123.0 1,123.8 1,096.4 1,115.2 1,116.8
426.4
418.7
419.4
427 2 427.9
423.6
417 3 '420.5
424.4
427,1
433.5
'417.9
412.2
431.9
675.7
675.7
675.7
675.8
674.4 '675.6
'681.4
677.9
675.1
676.0
676 0
674.3
674.3
678.0
688 7 694 9
695.3
688 2
678.9
684.2
695.3
678 3 '663.2
670.1
680.7
667.3
'684.3
659.3
24.
C o n tin u ed — P roducer Price Indexes, by com m o dity group ings
[1967 = 100 unless otherwise specified]
Code
Commodity group and subgroup
Annual
average
1983
1984
1983
May
June
July
Aug.
Sept.
Oct.
Nov.
Dec.
Jan.1
Feb.
Mar.
Apr.
May
INDUSTRIAL COMMODITIES— 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
W oodpulp.....................................................................................
Wastepaper..................................................................................
Paper ...........................................................................................
Paperboard ..................................................................................
Converted paper and paperboard p roducts................................
Building paper and board ...........................................................
r298.1
r271.4
r346.9
<2>
r282.0
r250.9
'265.3
250 0
296 0
268.7
343.2
(2)
279.0
248.7
264.1
249.3
297.0
269.2
344.9
(2)
279.5
249.4
264.5
255.7
297.8
270.2
345.8
183.3
279.2
249.7
264.1
256.2
298.8
271.1
346.4
(2)
280.9
250.1
264.7
252.1
299.9
273.1
34.4
194.4
286.0
254.0
265.0
252.8
302.2
275.2
347.4
216.2
287.2
257.3
266.5
254.7
303.6
277.4
356.7
215.0
288.5
259.4
267.9
254.7
304.0 '309.1
277.4 '280.8
355.5 '366.2
211.5 '211.5
289.3 ''294.2
260.9
262.2
268.0 '270.6
250.4 '251.9
310.5
283.3
371.5
229.3
296.6
269.3
271.6
253.9
312.7
286.4
376.0
242.9
299.2
273.6
274.1
258.9
315.3
290.1
392.5
258.8
300.6
275.4
277.7
264.1
317.0
292.7
405.1
259.3
301.3
276.9
280.6
265.2
10
10-1
10-17
10-2
10-3
10-4
10-5
10-6
10-7
10-8
Metals and metal p roducts..............................................................
Iron and stee l...............................................................................
Steel mill pro d u cts......................................................................
Nonferrous m e ta ls ......................................................................
Metal containers ....................... ..................................................
Hardware.....................................................................................
Plumbing fixtures and brass fittings .........................................
Heating equipm ent......................................................................
Fabricated structural metal products .........................................
Miscellaneous metal products.....................................................
'307.2
'343.4
'352.8
'276.1
'335.4
'290.7
'289 3
'243.6
'303.5
'283.6
306.1
340.9
349 8
277.7
337.1
288.5
289.1
242.7
302.1
280.8
306.3
341.3
350.1
275.7
337.4
291.5
290.8
243.0
302.0
283.4
307.3
342.1
350.8
278.4
336.5
292.1
290.4
244.9
302.2
283.7
308.2
343.2
351.7
279.8
336.6
292.2
290.2
245.1
303.0
284.0
310.7
348.1
358.1
282.0
338.5
292 5
292.4
246.6
304.3
284.3
310.9
348.5
358.7
279.3
338.3
292.7
292.7
245.3
304.2
289.0
310.9
349.5
359.5
276.6
338.2
293.1
294.1
245.5
305.3
289.5
311.9
350.9
360.0
278.2
340.3
293.5
294.0
245.7
306.0
289.6
'312.9
'353.8
'362.5
'276.8
'344.1
'293.3
293.9
247.3
306.5
'290.3
314.6
356.3
363.5
279.5
344.9
292.9
296.9
248.4
306.9
290.7
316.6
356.1
363.6
286.1
345.6
293.2
299.9
248.8
308.5
291.7
317.8
356.5
364.3
289.0
345.5
293.6
301.4
250.3
309.3
292.7
317.1
357.1
364.9
283.6
348.1
294.1
301.8
252.5
310.6
293.1
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 ...........................................................
286.4
326.3
351.9
'326.5
'308.2
337.1
'240.1
'274.1
286.0
326.4
352.3
326.7
308.4
335.8
238.5
275.3
286 2
326.4
352.5
327.0
308.4
336.7
238.8
275.0
287.4
327.1
352.8
326.6
308.5
338.0
241.7
275.2
287.4
327.3
352.9
326.5
307.9
339.0
241.7
275.3
287.9
328.5
353.5
326.6
308.1
339.8
242.9
274.5
287.6
328.0
353.6
327.0
307.8
340.6
242.6
273 3
288.0
328.6
353.9
327.3
308.6
341.0
242.8
273.7
288.8
330.1
353 6
328.7
309.8
342.0
243.8
273.9
'289.7
'331.0
'354.2
'329.2
'310.7
'342.0
'244.7
'275.5
290.4
331.1
355.9
330.4
310.7
343.3
245.5
275.5
291.2
332.7
355.8
330.2
311.7
345.0
246.5
276.0
292.4
335.5
357.6
332.4
313.1
347.1
247.3
276.2
292.8
337.1
357.8
332.9
313.3
348.2
247.5
277.2
12
12-1
12-2
12-3
12-4
12-5
12-6
Furniture and household d u ra b le s..................................................
Household furniture ...................................................................
Commercial furniture...................................................................
Floor coverings............................................................................
Household appliances .................................................................
Home electronic equipment ........................................................
Other household durable g o o d s ..................................................
'214.0
234.7
'286.3
'185.4
'206.9
'86.1
'313.1
213.6
234.4
285.9
182.1
207.5
86.4
312.7
214.0
235.0
286.9
181.4
207.5
86.5
314.3
214.8
235.4
287.5
186.6
207.8
85.9
314.8
214.9
236.3
286.5
188.9
207.7
85.5
313.9
215.4
236.6
287.3
189.5
208.0
85.8
314.5
215.3
236.9
287.4
189.5
207.6
85.8
314.0
215.7
237.4
289.9
189.3
208.0
85.1
315.1
215.7
237.2
289.5
189.4
208.5
84.5
315.2
'216.8
'237.9
'293.4
'188.2
'209.8
'84.4
'318.0
216.9
239 2
293.9
187.7
210.6
84.4
315.2
217.4
240.0
296 4
187.5
210.8
84.3
315.0
217.9
240.7
297.5
187.4
210.7
84.1
317.9
218.9
241.5
297.6
191.1
210 9
84.1
321.0
13
13-11
13-2
13-3
13-4
13-5
13-6
13-7
13-8
13-9
Nonmetallic mineral products ........................................................
Flat g la s s .....................................................................................
Concrete ingredients....................................................................
Concrete products ......................................................................
Structural clay products, excluding refractories .......................
Refractories..................................................................................
Asphalt ro o fin g ............................................................................
Gypsum products ......................................................................
Glass containers .........................................................................
Other nonmetallic minerals ........................................................
'325.2
'229.7
'313.3
'302.0
'277.8
'341.3
'384.0
'286.0
'352.4
'480.2
324.1
229.7
313.7
301.1
277.6
338.2
380.0
275.7
351.8
478.5
324.5
229.7
314.2
301.6
281.5
336.8
379.6
273.8
351.8
479.5
325 1
229.8
314.0
302.3
282.4
338.2
385.3
276.0
351.6
479.7
326.3
229.7
316.4
302.7
282.4
339.4
383.4
289.3
351.3
481.9
327.2
229.5
317.2
303 5
282.4
340.2
387.2
297.8
351.1
482.5
328.0
229.6
316.7
303.3
283.5
344.7
387.9
312.8
350.2
483.2
328.9
230.1
314.8
304.1
284.1
353.3
387.8
315.1
350.4
487.4
328.9
229.9
314.6
304.2
284.2
353.3
384.2
322.6
350.4
486.8
'330.1
229.5
'315.6
'304.9
'284.3
'353.9
'385.0
328.6
'350.6
'486.4
332.3
230.0
321.3
306.4
283.0
357.0
390.4
339.4
350.9
486.8
333.6
229.7
325.8
306.3
283.6
362.1
383.7
339.5
351.7
490.3
335.6
229.5
323.8
308.8
284.3
362 9
394.2
353.1
358 4
490.8
337.3
226.4
326.9
309 6
285.0
362.9
396.8
360.9
361.2
495.0
14
14-1
14-4
Transportation equipment (12/68
1 0 0 )......................................
Motor vehicles and equipment.....................................................
Railroad equipment......................................................................
256.7
256.8
'350.2
255.8
256.2
350.4
256.1
256.7
350.1
256.2
256.6
351.3
256 8
256.8
351.0
250.4
249.1
350.7
260.6
260.6
348 6
260.5
260.5
348.6
260.7
260 6
350.5
'261.5
'261.1
'351.5
262.3
261.2
359.2
262.4
261.3
359.7
262.9
261.8
361.2
262.7
261.5
361.2
15
15-1
15-2
15-3
15-4
15-5
15-9
Miscellaneous products....................................................................
Toys, sporting goods, small arms, am m unition.......................
Tobacco products ......................................................................
N o tio n s........................................................................................
Photographic equipment and supplies ......................................
Mobile homes (12/74 - 1 0 0 ).....................................................
Other miscellaneous products.....................................................
'289.6
225.2
'365.4
280.1
'215.7
'163.4
'351.8
287.1
226.0
353.8
280.3
216.6
162.4
349 2
288.0
225.9
352.1
280.3
216.5
163.1
353.4
291.5
224.3
373.4
280.3
216.5
163.5
353.7
292.0
224.5
376.7
279.7
216.6
163.7
352.9
291.4
224.8
376.9
279.7
216.6
164.3
349.6
291.7
225 9
376.8
279.7
216.8
164.8
349.2
291.7
225.2
377.0
279.6
216.8
165.0
349.3
292.8
225.3
377.1
280.1
216.8
165.1
353.2
'294.5
'227.4
389.4
281.4
(2)
'162.2
'350.8
295.0
228.4
390.3
282.2
218 2
162.8
350.2
295.0
228.2
390 3
282 2
213.3
162.7
354.0
294.5
226 6
390.4
283.0
213.9
164.0
351.5
294.3
226.7
390.6
283.9
213.5
163.9
350.0
1Data for January 1984 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.
2Not available.
3Prices for natural gas are lagged 1 month.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
4 Includes only domestic production,
5 Most prices for refined petroleum products are lagged 1 month.
6Some prices for industrial chemicals are lagged 1 month.
r = revised.
79
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW July 1984 • Current Labor Statistics: Producer Prices
25.
P roducer P rice Indexes, fo r special com m o dity groupings
[1967 = 100 unless otherwise specified]
Annual
average
1983
May
June
July
Aug.
Sept.
Oct.
Nov.
Dec.
Jan.1
Feb.
Mar.
Apr.
May
All commodities— less farm products
All foods
Processed foods
r306 6
257.5
'258.7,
304.8
258.2
259.6
306.0
256.6
257.9
307.1
256.2
257.7
308.0
257.1
257.6
308.3
260.7
260.9
309.2
260.5
258.6
309.1
258.0
258.0
309.4
260.2
260.4
'310.7
268 3
266.2
311.8
270 3
267.1
313.7
273.5
271.9
314.2
271.6
272.1
314.9
269.8
272.4
Industrial commodities less fu e ls ...............................................
Selected textile mill products (Dec. 1975 = 1 0 0 ) ....................
Hosiery ........................................................................................
Underwear and nightwear ...........................................................
Chemicals and allied products, including synthetic rubber
and fibers and ya rn s................................................................
'279.3
r138.2
144.7
r223 8
278.2
137.7
144.5
223.5
278.7
137.4
144.5
222.7
279.8
143.0
144.5
223.3
280.4
139.0
145.6
223.5
280.0
139.1
145.6
224.5
281.8
139.4
145.6
224.7
282 2
139.8
145.6
224.6
282.9
140.1
145.6
225.4
'284.3
'140.0
145.8
'228.6
285.2
141,1
147.2
229.8
286.6
141.5
147.4
229.5
287.5
141.3
147.4
229.8
287.8
142.7
147.4
229.9
283.5
281.6
281.5
284 6
285.0
285.6
285.6
286 3
287.4
'287.6
286 4
289.9
290.6
290.9
Pharmaceutical preparations.......................................................
Lumber and wood products, excluding m illw ork.......................
Steel mill products, including fabricated wire products ............
Finished steel mill products, excluding fabricated wire
products ..................................................................................
Finished steel mill products, including fabricated wire
products ..................................................................................
224.8
r321.2
r351.2
223.5
324.3
348.5
223.6
338.8
348.7
226.3
338.1
349.3
226.0
331.5
350.1
227.1
316.5
355.9
229.4
316.7
356.4
231.3
314.7
357.4
231.8
321.4
357.8
'233 9
'322.6
'360 1
235.8
331.7
361.0
238.7
334.0
361.2
241.6
332.8
361 8
242.1
320.6
362.5
r351.5
348.5
348.8
349.4
350.3
357.1
357 8
358.6
359.2
'361.7
363.1
363.2
363.5
364.2
'349.9
347.1
347.4
347.9
348.7
354.8
355.4
356.4
356.9
'359.2
360.4
360.6
360.9
361.6
Special metals and metal products ............................................
Fabricated metal p ro d u cts...........................................................
Copper and copper products........................................................
Machinery and motive p roducts..................................................
Machinery and equipment, except electrical .............................
'292.6
'294.3
196.6
279.8
313.6
291.7
292.6
206.7
279.2
313.8
292.0
294.0
201.3
279.4
313.9
292.6
294.2
201.6
280.1
314.2
293 5
294.7
201.2
280.4
314.2
291.5
295 5
198.2
277.7
314.3
296.4
297.2
190.7
282 2
314.1
296.3
297.9
182 6
282.4
314.6
297.0
298.4
185.0
283.0
315.3
'297.8
'299.3
182.1
283.9
'316.3
298.8
299.7
185.2
284.6
316.8
300.1
300 9
194.0
285.1
317.5
301.0
301.7
199.8
286.0
318.9
300.6
302.7
190.4
286.2
319.6
Agricultural machinery, including tractors
341.7
358.0
370.5
330.1
341.8
357 8
370.6
330.2
342.7
357 8
370.7
331.0
342.8
357 5
370.0
331.2
344.0
357 1
372.5
332.6
343.6
357 6
372.6
331.8
344.0
358 2
373.1
332.2
346.4
359 3
373.8
334.2
'347.1
r359 ?
374.0
'335.2
347.1
349.2
352.9
355.0
Total tractors ...............................................................................
Agricultural machinery and equipment less parts.......................
341.5
357.1
'369 7
330.0
374.5
335 2
376.1
337 2
384.3
340.4
384.5
342.2
Farm and garden tractors less parts .........................................
Agricultural machinery, excluding tractors less parts ..............
Construction m aterials................................................................
'347.2
'337.1
297.7
348.8
336 2
296.8
348.8
336.4
298.6
348.8
338.0
310.6
347.5
339.2
• 299 8
350.6
338 9
299.9
350 7
338.2
300.4
350.9
338.7
300.4
352.0
342.2
301.3
352.2
'343,3
302.3
352 9
342.7
304.8
355 2
344.6
306.4
362.1
345.7
306.8
362.4
349.3
306.0
Commodity grouping
................................
1983
1Data for January 1984 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.
26.
1984
r = revised.
P roducer P rice Indexes, by durability of product
[1967 = 100]
Annual
average
1983
May
June
July
Aug.
Sept.
Oct.
Nov.
Dec.
Jan.1
Feb.
Mar.
Apr.
May
Total durable goods ....................................................................
Total nondurable goods ..............................................................
286.7
'315.7
286 0
313.5
286.7
314.5
287 4
315.4
287.8
317.8
286.8
319.7
289.2
319.1
289.3
318.1
290 1
318.4
'291.0
'321 2
292.2
321.7
293.2
325.0
294.0
324.9
293.7
325.6
Total manufactures......................................................................
Durable ...............................................................................
Nondurable .........................................................................
295 7
287.3
304 4
293.7
286.7
301.0
295.0
287.3
303.1
296 1
288.0
304.5
296 9
288.3
305.9
297.2
287.2
307.8
298.5
289.6
307.7
298.4
289 8
307.4
298.8
290.5
307.5
300.0
'291 3
'309.1
301.0
292.4
310.0
302.7
293.3
312.5
303.0
294.1
312.3
303.7
293 9
314.0
Total raw or slightly processed goods ......................................
Durable ...............................................................................
Nondurable .........................................................................
'339.8
'249 3
'345.4
340.9
246.1
346.8
339.0
249.4
344.6
338.3
249.9
343.7
343.8
256 8
349.1
345.9
260.7
351.0
343.6
259.8
348.6
340.6
258.5
345.6
341.8
263.3
346.5
'348.4
'267.4
'353.3
348 2
275.4
352.4
353.7
279.2
358.0
354.1
280.2
358.4
351.7
277.2
356.1
Commodity grouping
1983
'Data for January 1984 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.
80
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1984
r = revised.
27.
P roducer P rice In dexes fo r th e output of selected SIC industries
[1967 = 100 unless otherwise specified]
1972
SIC
code
Industry description
1984
1983
Annual
average
1983
May
June
July
Aug.
Sept.
Oct.
Nov.
Dec.
Jan.1
Feb.
Mar.
Apr.
May
177.1
269.7
r921.4
164.3
177.1
268.7
921.8
164.3
177.1
254.1
924.2
164.3
177.1
237.5
916.6
164.3
177.1
231.2
915.8
1364.3
177.1
243.3
920.0
164.3
177.1
283.3
907.2
171.7
177.1
287.5
909.4
172.9
177.1
277.0
909.4
172.9
177.1
275.8
r914.3
172.9
177.1
245.4
913.8
172.9
177.1
250.0
903.5
174.1
177.1
267.9
910.1
174.1
177.1
273.7
914.9
174.1
MINING
1011
1092
1311
1455
Iron ores (12/75 = 1 0 0 )............................................
Mercury ores (12/75 = 100) ...................................
Crude petroleum and natural gas .............................
Kaolin and ball clay (6/76 = 1 0 0 ).............................
MANUFACTURING
2021
2044
2067
2074
2083
Creamery b u tte r...........................................................
Rice m illin g .................................................................
Chewing g u m ..............................................................
Cottonseed oil m ills .....................................................
Malt .............................................................................
275.8
193.4
326.8
r204.1
234.1
275.6
191.3
326.1
186.2
232.6
275.6
194.5
327.2
179.2
232.6
275.6
193.7
327.2
192.4
232.6
276.1
198.1
327.3
220.6
232.6
278.4
201.1
327.3
262.9
232.6
278.1
196.7
327.3
253.5
232.6
278.1
199.6
327.5
233.1
241.6
269.5
199.6
327.5
223.3
241.6
267.3
199.6
r328.0
229.2
241.6
267.6
198.1
328.1
201.2
241.6
268.4
198.1
328.3
212.2
241.6
268.4
198.1
328.8
222.4
241.6
269.2
198.1
329.0
244.1
241.6
2091
2098
2251
2261
2262
Canned and cured seafoods (12/73 = 100) ............
Macaroni and spaghetti...............................................
Women's hosiery, except socks (12/75 = 100) . . .
Finishing plants, cotton (6/76 = 100) .....................
Finishing plants, synthetics, silk (6/76 = 100) . . . .
r174.1
256.8
r122.4
r135.7
r126 7
175.7
255.5
122.7
138.0
126.9
173.4
255.5
122.7
132.9
125.9
173.7
255.5
122.7
132.8
125.1
169.4
255.5
122.9
133.8
127.2
169.8
255.5
122.9
133.5
125.8
170.2
258.6
122.9
132.8
127.2
169.2
261.9
122.9
138.4
127.4
169.7
261.9
122.9
139.4
127.9
169.0
261.9
r123.0
138.5
M28.7
168.8
261.9
123.2
141.2
129.7
168.5
261.9
123.2
145.2
129.9
166.7
261.9
123.2
140.0
129.4
169.4
261.9
123.3
140.8
129.3
2284
2298
2361
2381
2394
Thread mills (6/76 = 1 0 0 ).........................................
Cordage and twine (12/77 = 100) ..........................
Children's dresses and blouses (12/77 = 100) . . . .
Fabric dress and work gloves ...................................
Canvas and related products (12/77 = 1 0 0 ) ............
164.9
139.3
116.6
293.3
r147.0
165.7
137.6
115.5
291.7
146.2
165.7
137.6
117.0
291.7
146.2
165.7
137.6
117.0
296.3
146.2
165.7
137.6
117.0
296.3
146.2
166.1
139.0
117.0
296.3
146.2
166.1
139.0
117.0
296.3
147.8
166.1
138.9
117.0
296.3
147.8
166.1
139.0
117.0
297.6
147.8
166.1
r139.0
118.2
295.2
r150.6
166.2
139.3
117.8
299.1
151.2
166.2
139.3
117.8
302.3
151.2
168.1
139.3
118.5
304.8
151.3
172.7
139.4
118.5
315.6
151.3
2448
2521
2654
2655
2911
Wood pallets and skids (12/75 = 1 0 0 ) ....................
Wood office fu rn itu re ..................................................
Fiber cans, drums, and similar products (12/75 = 100)
Petroleum refining (6/76 = 100) .............................
149.2
r281.3
r266.1
186.5
r253.8
148.5
282.5
265.2
185.6
246.0
149.5
282.5
265.2
185.9
254.0
150.9
283.5
267.1
187.7
255.4
151.3
283.6
267.1
187.7
257.2
151.0
283.6
267.8
187.7
256.8
151.5
283.6
269.0
187.8
257.1
151.9
283.6
269.0
189.5
253.5
153.6
283.6
269.0
189.6
249.7
154.0
r285.1
r269.1
189.6
r244.4
155.9
290.3
274.9
189.7
246.9
157.8
290.3
280.0
191.4
250.1
161.6
290.3
282.2
193.1
245.5
165.0
290.3
282.3
193.1
248.7
2952
3251
3253
3255
3259
Asphalt felts and coating (12/75 = 100) ..................
Brick and structural clay t i l e ......................................
Ceramic wall and floor tile (12/75 = 100) ...............
Clay refractories...........................................................
Structural clay products, n.e.c.....................................
r166.9
r332.3
r146.0
r355.6
r230.2
165.1
333.8
142.4
352.2
234.7
164.9
334.6
149.6
349.4
234.7
167.4
336 4
149.6
352.1
234.8
166.4
336.4
149.6
354.4
234.9
168.0
336.4
149.6
355.9
234.9
168.4
338.4
149.6
364.3
235.1
168.6
339.7
149.6
366.6
235.0
167.0
339.9
149.6
366.5
235.0
r167.4
r340.2
r149.6
r367.2
r235 0
169.9
341.0
146.8
369.7
232.6
166.9
342.2
146.8
371.4
232.9
171.3
343.7
146.8
373.5
232.8
172.4
344.9
146.8
373.5
232.8
3261
3263
3269
3274
3297
Vitreous plumbing fix tu re s .........................................
Fine earthenware food utensils...................................
Pottery products, n.e.c. (12/75 = 100) ..................
Lime (12/75 - 100) ..................................................
Nonclay refractories (12/74 = 1 0 0 )..........................
278.1
r366.5
r187.1
r185.7
r205.2
276.1
365.9
186.6
185.2
203.6
276.9
366.5
186.6
186.2
203.6
277.0
366.5
186.6
187.1
203.7
277.0
366.5
186.6
187.6
203.8
281.3
366.5
186.6
186.3
203.8
283.7
366.5
186.6
185.9
203.9
284.5
368.5
189.9
182.4
212.8
285.4
368.5
189.9
182.5
212.8
285.6
r383.6
r191.9
r182.8
213.1
287.0
381.4
189.3
184.6
215.4
290.1
373.3
189.1
184.2
220.6
290.4
375.4
189.1
184.2
220.2
290.8
378.8
192.3
184.2
220.2
196.6
243.7
196.6
243.7
3482
3623
Small arms ammunition (12/75 = 1 0 0 )....................
Welding apparatus, electric (12/72 = 1 0 0 )...............
M80.5
r243.6
181.6
243.1
181.6
242.3
181.6
243.5
181.6
243.5
181.6
243.6
181.6
243.9
181.6
243.9
181.6
244.7
r190.3
r246.0
196.6
241.7
3648
L ig h tin g e q u ip m e n t, n . e .c . ( 1 2 / 7 5 =
1 0 0 ) ......................
1 7 2 .8
1 7 2 .6
1 7 3 .1
1 7 3 .4
1 7 3 .4
1 7 3 .5
1 7 3 .7
1 7 3 .9
1 7 2 .6
1 7 3 .5
1 7 3 .5
3671
3942
Electron tubes, receiving type ...................................
Dolls (12/75 - 1 0 0 ) ..................................................
435.4
r137.5
432.1
137.7
432.2
137.7
432.5
137.7
432.5
137.7
432.8
137.7
432.9
137.7
432.9
137.7
469.8
137.7
r490.6
r137.6
490.7
137.4
196.6
242.2
184 8
490.9
137.4
3944
3955
3995
3996
Games, toys, and children's v e h icle s........................
Carbon paper and inked ribbons (12/75 = 100) . . .
r238.7
139.2
153.5
r161.5
242.2
139.2
152.1
159.6
242.2
139.2
152.1
159.6
236.1
139.2
155.4
162.2
236.2
139.2
155.4
163.4
236.3
139.2
155.4
163.5
236.4
139.3
156.0
165.5
236.2
139.3
156.0
163.5
236.2
139.3
156.0
163.5
r239.3
144.3
156.0
165.2
236.5
149.0
157.2
165.2
235.9
149.1
157.3
165.2
Hard surface floor coverings (12/75 = 1 0 0 ) ............
1Data for January 1984 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.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1 8 4 .9
1 8 5 .6
490.8
131.3
490.8
133.1
235.5
149.1
158.8
166.3
234.6
149.1
158.8
166.4
r = revised.
81
PRODUCTIVITY DATA
are compiled by the Bureau of Labor Statistics
from establishment data and from measures of compensation and
output supplied by the U.S. Department of Commerce and the
Federal Reserve Board.
P r o d u c t iv it y d a t a
Definitions
Output is the constant dollar gross product produced by the particular
sector. Output per hour of all persons (labor productivity) measures the
value of goods and services in constant prices produced per hour of labor.
Output per unit of capital services (capital productivity) measures the
value of goods and services in constant dollars per unit of capital services
input.
Multifactor productivity measures the output per unit of combined
labor and capital input. The traditional measure of output per hour reflects
changes in capital per hour and a combination of other factors—such as,
changes in technology, shifts in the composition of the labor force, changes
in capacity utilization, research and development, skill and efforts of the
work force, management, and so forth. The multifactor productivity meas
ure differs from the familiar b l s measure of output per hour of all persons
in that it excludes the effects of the substitution of capital for labor.
Compensation per hour includes wages and salaries of employees 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 compensation per hour is com
pensation per hour adjusted by the Consumer Price Index for All Urban
Consumers.
Unit labor costs measure the labor compensation costs required to
produce a unit of output and is derived by dividing compensation by output.
Unit nonlabor payments include profits, depreciation, interest, and in
direct taxes per unit of output. They are computed by subtracting com
pensation of all persons from current dollar gross product and dividing by
output. Unit nonlabor costs contain all the components of unit nonlabor
payments except unit profits. Unit profits include corporate profits and
the value of inventory adjustments per unit of output.
The implicit price deflator is the price index for the gross product of
the sector reported. It is derived by dividing the current dollar gross product
by the constant dollar figures.
Hours of all persons measures the labor input of payroll workers, selfemployed persons, and unpaid family workers. Output per all employee
82
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
hour describes labor productivity in nonfinancial corporations where there
are no self-employed. The capital services input index used in the mul
tifactor productivity computation is developed by b l s from measures of
the net stock of physical assets—equipment, structures, land, and inven
tories—weighted by rental prices for each type of asset. Combined units
of labor and capital input are computed by combining changes in labor
and capital inputs with weights which represent each component’s share
of total output. The indexes for capital services and combined units of
labor and capital are based on changing weights which are averages of the
shares in the current and preceding year (the Tomquist index-number
formula).
Notes on the data
In the business sector and the nonfarm business sector, the output meas
ure employed in the computation of output per hour is constructed from
Gross Domestic Product rather than Gross National Product. Multifactor
productivity measures (table 28) for the p r iv a te business and p r iv a t e non
farm business sectors differ from the business and nonfarm business sector
measures used in the traditional labor productivity indexes (tables 29-32)
in that they exclude the activities of government enterprises. There is no
difference in the sector definition for manufacturing.
Output measures for the business sectors are derived from data 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. Com
pensation and hours data are from the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the
Bureau of Economic Analysis.
The productivity and associated cost measures in the tables describe the
relationship between output in real terms and the labor time and capital
services involved in its production. They show the changes from period
to period in the amount of goods and services produced per unit of input.
Although these measures relate output to hours and capital services, they
do not measure the contributions of labor, capital, or any other specific
factor of production. Rather, they reflect the joint effect of many influences,
including changes in technology; capital investment; level of output; uti
lization of capacity, energy, and materials; the organization of production;
managerial skill; and the characteristics and efforts of the work force. For
a more complete description of the methodology underlying the multifactor
productivity measures, see Bulletin 2178, “Trends in Multifactor Produc
tivity, 1948-81” (September 1983).
28.
A nnual in dexes of m u ltifacto r p rodu ctivity and related m easures, selected years, 1 9 4 8 -8 2
[1977 = 100]
Item
1948
1950
1960
1970
1973
1974
1975
1976
1978
1979
1980
1981
1982
45 3
99.0
60.0
36.8
49.7
98.6
63.6
39.5
64.8
98.5
75.4
53.3
86.1
98.5
90.2
78.3
94.7
103.0
97.5
91.8
92.4
96.5
93.8
89.9
94.5
92.0
93.6
88.0
97.6
96.1
97.1
93.7
100.6
101.8
101.0
105.5
99.3
100.3
99.7
107.9
98.8
95.5
97.7
106.4
101.2
95.8
99.3
109.8
101.1
90.9
97.5
106.6
81.3
37.2
61.3
45.7
79.5
40.1
62.1
50 4
82.2
54.1
70.7
65.8
90.9
79.4
86.8
87.4
96.9
89.1
94.1
92.0
97.2
93.1
95.8
95.8
93.1
95.7
94.0
102.8
95.9
97.5
96.5
101.6
104.9
103.6
104.4
98.8
' 108.6
107.5
108.2
99.0
107.7
111.4
108.9
103.4
108.4
114.6
110.5
105.7
105.4
117.3
109.4
111.3
51.2
97.9
64.6
35.6
55.6
98.2
68.1
38.3
67.9
98.4
77.6
52.3
86.8
98 6
90.6
77.8
95.3
103.2
97.9
91.7
92.9
96.5
94.1
89.7
94.7
91.7
93.6
87.6
97.8
96.1
97.2
93.6
100.6
101.9
101.1
105.7
99.0
100.1
99.4
108 0
98.3
95.2
97.3
106.4
100.2
95.0
98.4
109.3
100.2
90.1
96.6
106.2
69.6
36.4
55.2
52.3
69.0
39 0
56.3
56.6
77.0
53.2
67.4
69.0
89.7
78.9
85.9
88.0
96.2
88.8
93.6
92.3
96.6
• 93.0
95.4
96.3
92.5
95.6
93.6
103.4
95.7
97.4
96.3
101.8
105.1
103.7
104.6
98.7
109.0
107.9
108.6
99.0
108.2
111.7
109.4
103.2
109 0
115.1
111.0
105.5
106.0
118 0
110.0
111.2
45.1
93.9
56.1
35.8
49.4
94.5
59.9
38.6
60.0
88.0
67.0
50.7
79.1
91.8
82.3
77.0
93.0
108.2
96.8
95.9
90.8
99.6
93.0
91.9
93.4
89.4
92.2
85.4
97.5
96.1
97.1
93 6
100.8
101.5
101.0
105.3
101.5
99.5
101.0
108.2
101.7
90.7
98.7
103.5
105.3
90.2
101.2
106.5
106.5
82.7
99.9
99.1
79.4
38.1
63.8
48.0
78.2
40.9
64.6
52.3
84.4
57.5
75.6
68.2
97.3
83.9
93 6
86.2
103.2
88.6
99.1
85.9
101.2
92.2
98.8
91.1
91.4
95.5
92.6
104.4
95.9
97.4
96.4
101.5
104.5
103.8
104.3
99.3
106.6
108.8
107.2
102.1
101.8
114.1
104.8
112.1
101.2
118.0
105.2
116.7
93.0
119.9
99.2
128.8
PRIVATE BUSINESS SECTOR
Productivity:
Output per hour of all p e rso n s..........................
Output per unit of capital se rvice s.....................
Multifactor p ro d u ctivity......................................
O utput.......................................................................
Inputs:
Hours of all persons............................................
Capital services ..................................................
Combined units of labor and capital input . . . .
Capital per hour of all persons .............................
PRIVATE NONFARM BUSINESS SECTOR
Productivity:
Output per hour of all p e rso n s..........................
Output per unit of capital services ....................
Multifactor productivity ......................................
O utput.......................................................................
Inputs:
Hours of all persons............................................
Capital services ..................................................
Combined units of labor and capital input . . . .
Capital per hour of all persons .............................
MANUFACTURING
Productivity:
Output per hour of all p e rso n s..........................
Output per unit of capital se rvice s.....................
Multifactor productivity ......................................
O utput.......................................................................
Inputs:
Hours of all persons............................................
Capital services ..................................................
Combined units of labor and capital input . . . .
Capital per hour of all persons .............................
29.
A nnual in dexes of productivity, hourly com pensation, unit costs, and prices, selected years, 1 9 5 0 -8 3
[1977 = 100]
Item
Business sector:
Output per hour of all p e rso n s..........................
Compensation per h o u r ......................................
Real compensation per hour .............................
Unit labor c o s ts ..................................................
Unit nonlabor payments......................................
Implicit price d e fla to r.........................................
Nonfarm business sector:
Output per hour of all p e rso n s..........................
Compensation per h o u r ......................................
Real compensation per hour .............................
Unit labor c o s ts ..................................................
Unit nonlabor payments......................................
Implicit price d e fla to r.........................................
Nonfinancial corporations:
Output per hour of all p e rso n s..........................
Compensation per h o u r ......................................
Real compensation per hour .............................
Unit labor c o s t s ..................................................
Unit nonlabor payments......................................
Implicit price d e fla to r.........................................
Manufacturing:
Output per hour of all p e rso n s..........................
Compensation per h o u r ......................................
Real compensation per hour ..............................
Unit nonlabor payments......................................
Implicit price d e fla to r.........................................
1Not available.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1950
1955
1960
1965
1970
1975
1976
1978
1979
1980
1981
1982
1983
50.4
20.0
50.5
39.8
43.4
41.0
58 3
26.4
59.6
45.2
47.6
46,0
65.2
33.9
69.5
52.1
50.6
51.6
78.3
41.7
80.1
53.3
57.6
54.7
86.2
58.2
90.8
67.5
63.2
66.0
94.5
85.5
96.3
90.5
90.4
90.4
97.6
92.9
98 9
95.1
94.0
94.7
100.6
108.6
100.9
108.0
106.7
107.5
99.4
118.7
99.1
119.5
112.8
117.2
98.9
131.2
96.5
132.7
119.0
128.1
101.3
143.9
95.9
142.1
136.2
140.1
101.2
155.1
97.4
153.3
136.9
147.7
103.9
163.0
99.2
156.9
146.1
153.2
56.3
21.8
55.0
38.8
42.7
40.1
62.7
28.3
64.0
45.1
47.8
46.0
68.3
35.7
73.0
52.3
50.4
51.6
80.5
42.8
82.2
53 2
58.0
54.8
86.8
58.7
91.5
67.6
63.8
66'3
94.7
86.0
96.8
90.8
88.5
90.0
97.8
93.0
99 0
95.1
93.5
94.6
100.6
108.6
100.9
108.0
105.3
107.1
99.1
118.4
98 9
119.5
110.4
116.5
98.4
130.7
96.1
132.8
118.5
128.1
100.3
143.5
95.6
143.0
135.0
140.4
100.2
154.7
97.1
154.4
137.0
148.6
103.4
163.4
99.4
157.9
146 6
154.2
(1)
(1)
<1>
(1)
(1)
(1>
(1>
<1)
(1)
<1)
68.0
37.0
75.8
54.4
54 6
54.5
81.9
43.9
84.3
53.5
60.8
56.1
87.4
59.4
92.7
68.0
63.1
66.3
95.5
86.1
96.9
90.2
90 8
90.4
98.2
92.9
98.9
94.6
95.0
94.7
100.9
108.5
100.7
107.5
104.2
106.4
100.7
118.7
99.1
117.8
106.9
114.1
99.8
130.9
96.3
131.2
117.4
126.4
102.3
143.6
95.7
140.3
134.4
138 3
102.8
154.8
97.2
150.6
137.6
146.1
106.2
162.2
98.7
152.8
148.8
151.4
49.4
21.5
54.0
43.4
54 3
46.6
56.4
28.8
65.1
51.0
58.5
53.2
60.0
36.7
75.1
61.1
61.1
61.1
74.5
42.8
82.3
57.5
69 3
61.0
79.1
57.6
89.8
72.7
65 0
70.5
93.4
85.4
96.2
91.5
87.3
90.3
97.5
92.3
98.3
94.6
93.7
94.4
100.8
108.3
100.6
107.4
102.5
106.0
101.5
118.8
99.2
117.0
99.9
112.0
101.7
132.7
97.6
130.5
97.7
120.9
105.3
145.8
97.2
138.5
110.2
130.2
106.5
158.2
99.3
148.5
109.2
137.0
113.1
166.7
101.4
147.4
P126.4
P141.3
<1)
<1)
P - preliminary.
83
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW July 1984 • Current Labor Statistics: Productivity
30.
A nnual changes in productivity, hourly com pensation, unit costs, and prices, 1 9 7 2 -8 3
Annual rate
of change
Year
Item
1973
1974
1975
1976
1977
1978
1979
1980
1981
1982
1983
2.6
8.0
1.6
5.3
5.9
5.5
-2 .4
9.4
-1 .4
12.1
4.4
9.5
2.2
9.6
0.5
7.3
15.1
9.8
3.3
8.6
2.6
5.1
4.0
4.7
2.4
7.7
1.2
5.1
6.4
5.6
0.6
8.6
0.9
8.0
6.7
7.5
- 1 .2
9.4
-1 .7
10.7
5.8
9.0
- 0 .5
10.5
- 2 .6
11.1
5.5
9.2
2.4
9.7
- 0 .6
7.1
14.4
9.4
-0.1
7.7
1.5
7.9
0.5
5.4
2.7
5.1
1.9
2.4
6.7
3.7
2.2
6.6
2.1
4.2
3.7
4.1
1.1
8.6
0.3
7.4
6.8
7.2
2.4
7.6
1.3
5.0
1.3
3.8
- 2 .5
9.4
- 1 .4
12.2
5.9
10.2
2.0
9.6
0.4
7.5
16.7
10.3
3.2
8.1
2.2
4.8
5.7
5.1
2.2
7.5
1.0
5.2
6.9
5.7
0.6
8.6
0.9
8.0
5.3
7.1
- 1 .5
9.0
-2 .0
10.7
4.8
8.8
-0 .7
10.4
-2 .8
11.1
7.4
10.0
1.9
9.8
- 0 .6
7.7
13.9
9.6
-0 .1
7.8
1.6
7.9
1.4
5.8
3.2
5.6
2.3
2.3
7.0
3.8
1.9
6.3
1.8
4.3
3.8
4.2
1.0
8.6
0.3
7.4
6.9
7.3
2.4
7.5
1.2
4.9
1.5
3.8
-3 .7
9.4
-1 .5
13.6
7.1
11.4
2.9
9.6
0.4
6.5
20.1
10.9
2.9
7.9
2.0
4.9
4.6
4.8
1.8
7.6
1.1
5.7
5.3
5.6
0.9
8.5
0.7
7.5
4.2
6.4
- 0 .2
9.4
-1 .7
9.6
2.6
7.2
-0 .9
10.3
- 2 .8
11.3
9.8
10.8
2.5
9.7
- 0 .6
7.0
14.5
9.4
0.5
7.8
r1.6
7.3
2.4
5.7
3.3
4.8
1.5
1.4
8.1
3.6
(1)
(1)
(1)
(1)
(1)
(1)
1.1
8.4
0.2
7.2
7.1
7.2
5.4
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
2.5
8.3
1.8
5.7
6.7
6.0
0.8
8.3
0.6
7.4
2.5
6.0
0.7
9.7
-1 .4
9.0
-2 .6
5.7
0.2
11.7
-1 .6
11.5
-2 .2
7.9
3.5
9.9
-0 .4
6.1
12.8
7.7
1.2
8.5
2.2
7.2
- 0 .9
5.2
6.2
5.4
2.1
r -0 .7
P15.7
P3.1
2.5
6.4
1.9
3.8
r2.6
3.4
2.3
9.2
0.8
6.6
r5.1
r6.2
Business sector:
Output per hour o< all persons ...............
Compensation per hour ..........................
Real compensation per hour .................
Unit labor costs ......................................
Unit nonlabor paym ents..........................
Implicit price deflator .............................
Nonfarm business sector:
Output per hour of all persons ...............
Compensation per h o u r ..........................
Real compensation per hour .................
Unit labor costs ......................................
Unit nonlabor paym ents..........................
Implicit price deflator .............................
Nonfinancial corporations:
Output per hour of all employees............
Compensation per h o u r ..........................
Real compensation per hour .................
Unit labor costs ......................................
Unit nonlabor paym ents..........................
Implicit price deflator .............................
Manufacturing:
Output per hour of all persons ...............
Compensation per h o u r ..........................
Real compensation per hour ..................
Unit labor costs ......................................
Unit nonlabor paym ents..........................
Implicit price deflator .............................
1Not available.
1950-83
1972-83
r = revised.
p = preliminary.
31.
Q uarterly indexes of productivity, hourly com pensation, unit costs, and prices, seasonally adjusted
[1977 = 100]
Item
Business sector:
Output per hour of all persons .......................
Compensation per hour ...................................
Real compensation per h o u r.............................
Unit labor co sts..................................................
Unit nonlabor payments ...................................
Implicit price deflator.........................................
Nonfarm business sector:
Output per hour of all persons .......................
Compensation per hour ...................................
Real compensation per h o u r.............................
Unit labor co sts..................................................
Unit nonlabor payments ...................................
Implicit price deflator.........................................
Nonfinancial corporations:
Output per hour of all em ployees....................
Compensation per hour ...................................
Real compensation per h o u r.............................
Total unit c o s ts ..................................................
Unit labor c o s ts .........................................
Unit nonlabor c o s ts ...................................
Unit profits ........................................................
Implicit price deflator.........................................
Manufacturing:
Output per hour of all persons ........................
Compensation per hour ...................................
Real compensation per h o u r.............................
Unit labor co sts..................................................
1Not available.
Quarterly indexes
Annual
average
1982
1981
101.1
156.5
97.2
154.7
136.3
148.5
101.9
158.6
98.1
155.6
137.4
149.4
102.4
160.6
99.3
156.9
140.9
151.5
103.9
162.0
99.1
156.0
145.7
152.5
104.2
163.5
99.0
156.9
147.6
153.8
105.3
166.2
99.5
157 9
149.9
155.2
'106.3
168.6
99 8
'158.6
'151.9
'156.3
99.9
153,5
97.0
153.6
137.7
148.3
100.5
156.1
97.0
155.4
136.5
149.1
100.7
158.3
97.9
157.1
137.2
150.5
101.6
160.8
99.4
158.3
140.7
152.4
103.4
162.6
99.4
157.2
145.8
153.4
104.0
164.1
99 3
157.8
148.3
154.7
104.7
165 9
99.3
158.4
151.3
156.1
'105.6
168.3
99.6
'159.4
'151.9
'156.9
102.4
151.7
97.1
150.9
148.1
158.9
90.8
144.0
102.3
153.7
97.1
153.1
150.2
161.2
90 3
145.9
103.3
156.1
96.9
153.8
151.1
161.3
91.2
146.6
103.4
158.1
97.8
156.3
152.9
165 9
83.0
147.9
104.2
160.3
99.1
156.7
153.9
164.7
96.1
149.7
105.8
161.4
98.7
155.3
152.5
163.1
115.0
150.7
106 9
162.6
98.5
154.5
152.1
161.2
131.5
151.8
107.8
164.5
98.5
154.4
152.6
159.6
143.6
153.2
P108.3
P166.3
P98.4
P154.8
P153.5
P158.4
P146.9
P153.9
'105.2
155.2
99.4
'147.5
105.4
157.2
99.3
149.1
107.8
159.6
99.1
148.1
'107.8
161.2
99.7
'149.5
'109.5
165.1
102.1
'150.8
'111.7
166.0
101.5
'148.5
'114.9
167.1
101.2
'145.4
'116.0
168.7
101.1
'145.5
'116.8
'171.3
101.4
'146.7
102.3
145,5
95.6
142.3
139.9
141.5
101.2
148.2
95.8
146.4
140.2
144.3
101.1
151.6
97.1
149.9
137.0
145.5
100.7
154.0
97.3
152.9
137.0
147.5
103.4
163.4
99.4
157.9
146.6
154.2
101.1
145.1
95.3
143.5
138.3
141.8
99 9
147.7
95.5
147.8
139.5
145.0
100.0
151.3
96.9
151.3
136.4
146.4
102 8
154.8
97 2
153.5
150.6
161.8
88.9
146.1
106.2
162.2
98.7
155.2
152.8
162.1
122.1
151.4
103.0
145.0
95 2
143.6
140.7
151.9
108.6
139.6
102.2
147.8
95.5
147.7
144.6
156.6
104.2
142.7
106.5
158.2
99 3
148.5
113.1
166.7
101.4
147.4
106.1
147.0
96 6
138.5
104.4
150.5
97.2
144.1
101.2
155.1
97.4
153.3
136.9
147.7
103 9
163.0
99.2
156.9
146.1
153.2
100.2
154.7
97.1
154.4
137.0
148.6
III
r = revised.
p = preliminary.
84
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1984
I
I
1983
1983
IV
II
IV
1982
III
II
III
IV
I
32. P ercen t change from preceding quarter and year in productivity, hourly c om pensation, unit costs, and prices,
se aso n ally adjusted at annual rate
Percent change from same quarter a year ago
Quarterly percent change at annual rate
Item
Business sector:
Output per hour of all persons..................
Compensation per h o u r.............................
Real compensation per h o u r .....................
Unit labor c o s ts .........................................
Unit nonlabor payments ..........................
Implicit price d eflator................................
Nonfarm business sector:
Output per hour of all persons..................
Compensation per h o u r..............................
Real compensation per h o u r .....................
Unit labor c o s ts .........................................
Unit nonlabor payments ..........................
Implicit price d eflator................................
Nonfinancial corporations:
Output per hour of all employees ...........
Compensation per h o u r.............................
Real compensation per h o u r ....................
Total units costs ......................................
Unit nonlabor costs .............................
Implicit price deflator................................
Manufacturing:
Output per hour of all persons..................
Compensation per h o u r.............................
Real compensation per h o u r ....................
Unit labor c o s ts .........................................
1Not available.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
11982
to
11983
I11982
to
I11983
III 1982
to
III 1983
IV 1982
to
IV 1983
11983
to
11984
IV 1983
to
11984
IV 1981
to
IV 1982
4.2
6.9
2.3
2.5
6.2
3.7
r4.1
r5.9
r0.9
r1.7
r5.7
r3.0
0.7
7.0
2.4
6.3
- 2 .0
3.5
1.3
6.0
2.3
4.7
2.8
4.1
3.1
5.2
1.9
2.1
6.4
3.4
3.0
4.5
1.8
1.4
8.3
3.6
3.3
4.8
1.4
1.5
9.1
3.8
r3.9
5.0
0.5
r1.1
7 .9
r3.2
2.3
3.8
- 0 .3
1.5
7.3
3.3
2.7
4.3
-0 .1
1.6
8.3
3.7
r3.5
r6.0
1.0
r2.4
r1.4
r2.1
0.8
7.1
2.5
6.3
-1 .6
3.7
1.7
6.3
2.6
4.6
3.1
4.1
3.5
5.9
.2.5
2.3
5.9
3.4
3.5
5.1
2.5
1.5
8.7
3.7
3.9
4.8
1.4
0.8
10.3
3.7
r3.9
4.6
r0.1
r0.7
7 .9
r2.9
6.6
2.9
- 1 .4
-3 .5
-3 .4
-3 .8
104.7
2.5
4.2
3.0
-1 .1
-2 .1
-1.1
-4 .7
71.0
3.1
3.4
4.6
0.2
0.2
1.2
4.0
42.4
3.5
P2.0
P4.5
P -0 .5
P1.0
P2.5
P -2 .7
P9.6
Pi .9
1.1
6.9
2.4
5.8
5.7
6.0
-2 0 .3
3.6
1.7
5.7
2.0
3.8
3.9
3.7
5.8
4.0
3.5
5.0
1.7
1.4
1.5
1.2
27.3
3.3
3.6
4.2
1.6
0.4
0.6
-0 .1
44.2
3.6
4.3
4.1
0.7
- 1 .2
- 0 .2
- 3 .8
73.1
3.6
P4.6
P3.8
P -0 .7
P -1 .2
P -0 .2
P -3 .8
P52.9
P2.8
r8.5
2.1
-2 .2
r - 5 .9
r11.8
-2 .7
1.4
r -8 .1
4.0
4.0
-0 .4
- 0 .2
2.5
6.3
1.3
3.7
r3.3
r7.1
r2.6
r - 3 .7
r4.1
6.4
2.7
r2.2
r6.0
5.6
2.2
r - 0 .4
r6.6
4.7
2.0
r - 1 .8
7 .6
4.7
1.3
r - 2 .7
r6.7
3.8
-0 .7
r -2 .7
I11983
to
III 1983
IV 1982
to
11983
11983
to
I11983
3.2
5.6
4.0
2.3
3.2
2.6
1.9
5.2
4.9
3.3
10.6
5.5
5.9
3.5
-0 .8
-2 .2
14.4
2.8
1.2
3.6
0.6
2.3
5.4
3.3
1.2
5.6
4.0
4.4
2.1
3.7
3.5
6.6
6.3
3.0
10.6
5.3
7.1
4.4
0.0
-2 .6
15.1
2.7
0.4
5.2
3.6
6.7
4.8
11.9
-3 1 .4
36
3.2
5.7
5.4
1.0
2.5
-2 .8
79.9
5.1
r0.2
4.0
2.4
3.3
r6.2
10.0
9.7
r3.6
III 1982
to
IV 1982
III 1982
to
IV 1983
f = revised.
p = preliminary.
85
WAGE AND COMPENSATION DATA
D a t a f o r t h e e m p l o y m e n t c o s t i n d e x are reported to the Bureau
of Labor Statistics by a sample of 2,000 private nonfarm estab
lishments and 750 State and local government units selected to
represent total employment in those sectors. On average, each
reporting unit provides wage and compensation information on
five well-specified occupations.
Data on negotiated wage and benefit changes are obtained from
contracts on file at the Bureau, direct contact with the parties, and
secondary sources.
Definitions
The Employment Cost Index (EC1) is a quarterly measure of the average
change in the cost of employing labor. The rate of total compensation,
which comprises wages, salaries, and employer costs for employee ben
efits, is collected for workers performing specified tasks. Employment in
each occupation is held constant over time for all series produced in the
ECI, except those by region, bargaining status, and area. As a consequence,
only changes in compensation are measured. Industry and occupational
employment data from the 1970 Census of Population are used in deriving
constant weights for the ECI. While holding total industry and occupational
employment fixed, in the estimation of indexes by region, bargaining
status, and area, the employment in those measures is allowed to vary over
time in accord with changes in the sample. The rate of change (in percent)
is available for wages and salaries, as well as for total compensation. Data
are collected for the pay period including the 12th day of the survey months
of March, June, September, and December. The statistics are neither an
nualized nor adjusted for seasonal influence.
Wages and salaries consist of earnings before payroll deductions, ex
cluding premium pay for overtime, work on weekends and holidays, and
shift differentials. Production bonuses, incentive earnings, commissions,
and cost-of-living adjustments are included; nonproduction bonuses are
included with other supplemental pay items in the benefits category; and
payments-in-kind, free room and board, and tips are excluded. Benefits
include supplemental pay, insurance, retirement and savings plans, and
hours-related and legally required benefits.
Data on negotiated wage changes apply to private nonfarm industry
collective bargaining agreements covering 1,000 workers or more. Data
on compensation changes apply only to those agreements covering 5,000
workers or more. First-year wage or compensation changes refer to average
negotiated changes for workers covered by settlements reached in the period
I
86
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
and implemented within the first 12 months after the effective date of the
agreement. Changes over the life of the agreement refer to all adjustments
specified in the contract, expressed as an average annual rate. These meas
ures exclude wage changes that may occur under cost-of-living adjustment
clauses, that are triggered by movements in the Consumer Price Index.
Wage-rate changes are expressed as a percent of straight-time hourly earn
ings; compensation changes are expressed as a percent of total wages and
benefits.
Effective wage adjustments reflect all negotiated changes implemented
in the reference period, regardless of the settlement date. They include
changes from settlements reached during the period, changes deferred from
contracts negotiated in an earlier period, and cost-of-living adjustments.
The data also reflect contracts providing for no wage adjustment in the
period. Effective adjustments and each of their components are prorated
over all workers in bargaining units with at least 1,000 workers.
Notes on the data
The Employment Cost Index data series began in the fourth quarter of
1975, with the quarterly percent change in wages and salaries in the private
nonfarm sector. Data on employer costs for employee benefits were in
cluded in 1980, to produce a measure of the percent change in employers’
cost for employees' total compensation. State and local government units
were added to the ECI coverage in 1981, providing a measure of total
compensation change in the civilian nonfarm economy.
Data for the broad white-collar, blue-collar, and service worker groups,
and the manufacturing, nonmanufacturing, and service industry groups are
presented in the ECI. Additional occupation and industry detail are pro
vided for the wages and salaries component of total compensation in the
private nonfarm sector. For State and local government units, additional
industry detail is shown for both total compensation and its wages and
salaries component.
Historical indexes (June 1981 = 100) of the quarterly rates of changes
presented in the ECI are also available.
For a more detailed discussion of the ECI, see chapter 11, ‘‘The Em
ployment Cost Index,” of the BLS Handbook of Methods (Bulletin 2134—
1), and the Monthly Labor Review articles: ‘‘Employment Cost Index: a
measure of change in the ‘price of labor,” ’ July 1975: ‘‘How benefits will
be incorporated into the Employment Cost Index,” January 1978; and
“The Employment Cost Index: recent trends and expansion,” May 1982.
Additional data for the ECI and other measures of wage and compen
sation changes appear in Current Wage Developments, a monthly publi
cation of the Bureau.
33.
E m p lo ym en t C ost Index, by occupation and industry group
[June 1981 = 100]
Percent change
Series
Civilian workers1 .....................................................................................
Workers, by occupational group
White-collar w orkers..........................................................................
Blue-collar workers .........................................................................
Service workers ...............................................................................
Workers, by industry division
Manufacturing ..................................................................................
Nonmanufacturing............................................................................
Services ........................................................................................
Public administration2 .................................................................
Private industry workers
Workers, by occupational group
White-collar workers ....................................................................
Blue-collar w o rk e rs ......................................................................
Service w o rk e rs............................................................................
Workers, by industry division
Manufacturing...............................................................................
Nonmanufacturing.........................................................................
State and local government workers
Workers, by occupational group
White-collar workers ....................................................................
Blue-collar w o rk e rs .......................................................................
Workers, by industry division
Services ........................................................................................
S ch o o ls.....................................................................................
Elementary and secondary ..................................................
Hospitals and other services3 ..................................................
Public administration2 ................................................................
'Excludes farm, household, and Federal workers.
Consists of legislative, judicial, administrative, and regulatory activities.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1984
1983
1982
3 months
ended
12 months
ended
March 1984
March
June
Sept.
Dec.
March
June
Sept.
Dec.
March
106.3
107,5
110.1
111.4
113.2
114.5
116.5
117.8
119.8
1.7
5.8
106.5
1057
107.2
107.7
107.1
108.3
110.7
109.2
110.8
111.9
110.5
112.4
113.7
112.3
114.3
114.9
113.6
115.1
117.6
114.8
116.7
118.9
115.8
119.1
120.9
117.7
122.0
1.7
1.6
2.4
6.3
4.8
6.7
106.0
106.4
108.2
108.1
107.2
107.7
109.2
109.1
109.3
110.5
113.5
112.8
110.4
111.8
115.0
113.6
112.5
113.5
116.6
116.2
113.5
114.9
117.1
117.0
115.0
117.2
121.1
119.8
116.0
118.6
122.6
121.4
117.9
120.7
125.0
122.9
1.6
1.8
2.0
1.2
4.8
6.3
7.2
5.8
105.8
107.2
109.3
110.7
112.6
113.9
115.6
117.0
119.0
1.7
5.7
105.8
105.6
106.7
107.2
107.0
107.9
109.5
109.0
109.6
110.8
110.3
111.8
112.8
112.1
113.8
114.2
113.5
114.6
116.5
114.6
115.1
117.9
115.7
117.9
119.9
117.5
121.5
1.7
1.6
3.1
6.3
4.8
6.8
106.0
105.7
107.2
107.1
109.3
109.3
110.4
110.8
112.5
112.6
113.5
114.2
115.0
116.0
116.0
117.5
117.9
119.6
1.6
1.8
4.8
6.2
108.8
109.3
114.3
115.1
116.5
117.1
120.8
122.0
123.9
1.6
6.4
109.1
108.2
109.5
108.9
114.9
112.7
115.8
113.0
117.0
114.9
117.5
115.8
121.5
118.0
122.6
119.2
124.5
121.9
1.5
2.3
6.4
6.1
109.0
108.9
109.3
109.5
108.1
109.4
109.1
109.5
110.3
109.1
114.9
114.8
115.6
115.3
112.8
115.9
115.8
116.6
116.0
113.6
116.8
116.6
117.2
117.5
116.2
117.4
116.9
117.4
118.8
117.0
121.7
121.9
123.3
121.1
119.8
122.6
122.6
123.9
122.6
121.4
124.5
124.5
125.4
124.4
122.9
1.5
1.5
1.2
1.5
1.2
6.6
6.8
7.0
5.9
5.8
includes, for example, library, social, and health services.
87
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW July 1984 • Current Labor Statistics: Wage and Compensation Data
34.
E m ploym ent C ost Index, w ages and salaries, by occupation and industry group
[June 1981 = 100)
Percent change
1982
Series
1983
1984
March
June
Sept.
Dec.
March
June
Sept.
Dec.
March
3 months
ended
12 months
ended
March 1984
Civilian workers1 .....................................................................................
Workers, by occupational group
White-collar w orkers.........................................................................
Blue-collar workers .........................................................................
Service workers ...............................................................................
106.3
107.3
109.7
110.9
112.2
113.4
115.3
116.5
117.9
1.2
5.1
106.7
105.5
106.8
107.6
106.7
107.9
110.4
108.6
110.1
111.4
109.8
111.8
113.0
110.8
113.2
114.2
112.0
113.9
116.7
113.1
115.1
117.9
114.0
117.4
1193
115.3
120.0
1.2
1.1
2.2
5.6
4.1
6.0
Workers, by industry division
Manufacturing ..................................................................................
Nonmanufacturing............................................................................
Services ........................................................................................
Public administration2 .................................................................
105.9
106.5
108.6
107 5
107.0
107.5
109.5
108.4
108.8
110.1
113.2
111.9
109 8
111.3
114.4
112.6
111.0
112.7
115.8
114.6
112.0
114.0
116.3
115.4
113.3
116.1
120.1
118.2
114.5
117.4
121.3
119.4
115.7
118.9
123.3
120.4
1.0
1.3
1.6
0.8
4.2
5.5
6.5
5.1
Private industry workers......................................................................
Workers, by occupational group
White-collar workers ...................................................................
Professional and technical w o rk e rs .........................................
Managers and administrators ..................................................
Salesworkers ............................................................................
Clerical workers.........................................................................
Blue-collar workers ......................................................................
Craft and kindred w o rk e rs........................................................
Operatives, except transport.....................................................
Transport equipment operatives...............................................
Nonfarm laborers......................................................................
Service w o rk e rs ............................................................................
Workers, by industry division
Manufacturing...............................................................................
Durables.....................................................................................
Nondurabies ............................................................................
Nonmanufacturing.........................................................................
Construction ............................................................................
Transportation and public u tilitie s ............................................
Wholesale and retail tra d e ........................................................
Wholesale trade ...................................................................
Retail tra d e ............................................................................
Finance, insurance, and real e s ta te .........................................
Services.....................................................................................
105.9
107.1
109.0
110.3
111.6
112.9
114.5
115.8
117.2
1.2
5.0
106.2
108.0
105.8
102.2
107.0
105.4
106.2
105 4
103.2
104.1
106.7
107.3
109.4
107.2
101.8
108.3
106.6
107.6
106.6
104.1
105.1
107.9
109 4
111.8
108.5
104.5
110.3
108.5
109.6
108.3
106.0
106.5
109.3
110.6
112.9
109.3
106 2
111.6
109.7
111.2
109 3
106.9
107.8
111.4
112.2
114.8
112.0
105.7
113.4
110.7
112.2
110 0
108.0
109.0
112.9
113.6
115.9
114.0
107.1
114.6
111.9
113.4
111.1
110.3
109.8
113.5
115.9
119.9
114.8
108.4
116.7
112.9
114.3
112.3
110.7
110.8
113.7
117.2
120 4
115.7
111.2
118.3
113.9
115.4
113.6
110.2
112.1
116.5
118.5
122.2
118.0
110.2
119.8
115.1
116.5
114.9
111.7
112.9
119.8
1.1
1.5
2.0
- .9
1.3
1.1
1.0
1.1
1.4
.7
2.8
5.6
6.4
5.4
4.3
5.6
4.0
3.8
4.5
3.4
3.6
6.1
105.9
106 3
105.3
105.9
105.9
105.7
103.9
106.3
103.0
103.7
108.8
107.0
107.4
106.3
107.1
107.3
106 9
105.8
108.9
104.5
102.4
110.0
108 8
109.0
108.5
109.1
109.1
109.5
106.5
109.0
105 5
106.1
112.5
109.8
110.3
109.1
110.5
109.7
111.1
107 2
109.8
106.1
109.0
114.3
111.0
111.1
110.9
112.0
110.4
112.9
108 5
111,8
107.2
110.6
116.0
112.0
111.8
112.3
113.4
112.1
114.7
110.8
114.1
109.4
111.1
116.6
113.3
112.9
113.9
115.2
112.2
115.7
111.5
115.7
109 9
113.5
120.4
114.5
114.4
114.6
116.5
112.9
116 8
112.3
116.5
110.6
116.9
121.9
115.7
115.7
115.8
118.0
113.3
118.5
114.3
118.2
112.8
116.1
124.2
1.0
1.1
1.0
1.3
.4
1.5
1.8
1.5
2.0
-.7
1.9
4.2
4.1
4.4
5.4
2.6
5.0
5.3
5.7
5.2
5.0
7.1
State and local government workers
Workers, by occupational group
White-collar workers ....................................................................
Blue-collar workers ......................................................................
Workers, by industry division
Services ........................................................................................
S ch o o ls .....................................................................................
Elementary and secondary ..................................................
Hospitals and other services3 ..................................................
Public administration2 .................................................................
108 2
108.7
113.5
114.0
115.1
115.7
119.2
120.0
121.6
1.3
5.6
108.5
107.5
108.9
107.9
114.2
111.5
114.6
112.0
115.6
113.3
116.1
114.3
119 8
116.4
120.6
116.9
122.2
119.1
1.3
1.9
5.7
5.1
108 4
108.3
108.7
108 8
107.5
108 8
108.5
108.8
109.5
108.4
114.2
114.2
114.9
114.3
111.9
114.6
114.5
115.1
114.9
112.6
115.5
115.2
115.6
116.5
114.6
115.9
1154
115.8
117.7
115.4
119.8
119.9
121.1
119.7
118.2
120.6
120.6
121.7
120.6
119.4
122 2
122.2
122.9
121.9
120 4
1.3
1.3
1.0
1.1
.8
5.8
6.1
6.3
4.6
5.1
1Excludes farm, household, and Federal workers.
Consists of legislative, judicial, administrative, and regulatory activities.
88
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includes, for example, library, social, and health services.
35.
E m ploym ent C ost Index, p rivate in dustry w orkers, by bargainin g status,, region, and area size
[June 1981 = 100]
Percent change
Series
1984
1983
1982
3 months
ended
12 months
ended
March 1984
March
June
Sept.
Dec.
Nlarch
June
Sept.
Dec.
March
Workers, by bargaining status1
Union ....................................................................................................
Manufacturing ...................................................................................
Nonmanufacturing.............................................................................
106.5
106.3
106.8
108.4
108.0
108.7
110.6
110.3
111.0
112.3
111.8
112.8
114.5
114.0
114.9
116.0
114.8
117.1
117.8
116.3
119.2
118.8
117.2
120.4
120.6
119.3
121.9
1.5
1.8
1.2
b.3
4.6
6.1
Nonunion ..............................................................................................
Manufacturing ...................................................................................
Nonmanufacturing.............................................................................
105.3
105.7
105.2
106.5
106.6
106.4
108.5
108 4
108.6
109.7
109.2
109.9
111.5
111.2
111.6
112.8
112.3
113.0
114.4
113.8
114.7
115.9
114.9
116.4
118.0
116.6
118.6
1.8
1.5
1.9
5.8
4.9
6.3
111.7
110.6
108.6
112.9
112.6
112.5
110.9
115.4
114.3
113.5
112.5
116.6
116.0
115.6
113.9
118.0
117.5
117.1
114.7
120.0
118.9
119.7
117.2
121.0
1.2
2.2
2.2
0.8
5.6
6.4
5.7
4.9
COMPENSATION
Workers, by region1
Workers, by area size1
Metropolitan areas ................................................................................
Other areas ................................................................................
105 7
106.2
107.2
107.0
109.4
108.6
110.9
109.1
112.9
110.8
114.2
112.3
116.0
113.4
117.4
114.5
119.4
116.7
1.7
1.9
5.8
5.3
Workers, by bargaining status1
Union ....................................................................................................
Manufacturing ...................................................................................
Nonmanufacturing.............................................................................
106.5
105.9
107.0
108.1
107.3
108.8
110.3
109.5
111.1
111.8
110.8
112.7
112.9
111.4
114.3
114.2
112.3
116.0
116.0
113.7
118.3
116.9
114.8
118.9
118.1
116.1
120.1
1.0
1.1
1.0
4.6
4.2
5.1
Nonunion ...............................................................................................
Manufacturing ...................................................................................
Nonmanufacturing.............................................................................
105.6
105.9
105.5
106.5
106.7
106.4
108.3
108.2
108.3
109.5
109.1
109.6
110.9
110.7
111.0
112.2
111.8
112.4
113.7
113.0
114.0
115.2
114.2
115.6
116.7
115.4
117.2
1.3
1.1
1.4
5.2
4.2
5.6
Workers, by region1
Northeast ...............................................................................................
South ....................................................................................................
North Central .........................................................................................
W e s t.......................................................................................................
106.1
105.7
104.7
107.9
106.7
107.4
106.1
108.6
109.7
108.8
107.6
110.7
111.5
109.8
108.6
112.0
112.0
111.4
110.1
114.1
113.6
112.5
111.5
114.9
115.3
114.3
112.8
116.5
116.6
115.7
113.6
118.5
117.4
117.9
115.5
118.8
.7
1.9
1.7
.3
4.8
5.8
4.9
4.1
Workers by area size1
Metropolitan areas ................................................................................
Other areas ............................................................................................
105.9
106.0
107.1
106.8
109.1
108.3
110.5
108.8
111.9
110.1
113.2
111.4
114.9
112.3
116.2
113.4
117.6
115.1
1.2
1.5
5.1
4.5
WAGES AND SALARIES
1The indexes are calculated differently from those for the occupation and industry groups. For a
detailed description of the index calculation, see BLS Handbook o f Methods, Bulletin 1910.
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/
89
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW July 1984 • Current Labor Statistics: Wage and Compensation Data
36.
W age and com pensation change, m ajor co llective bargaining settlem en ts, 1979 to date
[In percent]
Quarterly average
1982
Measure
1979
1980
1981
1982
1983
9.0
6.6
10.4
7.1
10.2
8.3
3.2
2.8
First year of contract .....................
Annual rate over life of contract. . .
7.4
6.0
9.5
7.1
9.8
7.9
Manufacturing:
First year of contract ....................
Annual rate over life of contract. . .
6.9
5.4
7.4
5.4
Nonmanufacturing (excluding
construction):
First year of contract ....................
Annual rate over life of contract. . .
7.6
6.2
Construction:
First year of contract ....................
Annual rate over life of contract. . .
8.8
8.3
1983
1
II
III
IV
3.4
3.0
1.9
1.2
2.6
2.1
6.2
4.7
3.3
4.8
3.8
3.6
2.6
2.8
3.0
2.8
3.4
3.2
5.4
4.5
7.2
6.1
2.8
2.6
0.4
2.1
2.5
2.7
1.8
1.7
9.5
6.6
9.8
7.3
4.3
4.1
5.0
3.7
2.7
2.1
13.6
11.5
13.5
11.3
6.5
6.3
1.5
2.4
8.6
8.2
1
19849
II
III
IV
1
- 1 .6
1.4
4.4
3.6
5.0
4.3
4.9
3.1
5.3
5.0
3.8
4.8
- 1 .2
2.2
2.7
2.8
3.7
3.6
4.2
2.8
3.0
3.4
5.1
3.9
4.1
4.5
- 3 .4
.9
1.3
1.7
3.4
3.5
2.9
3.1
3.1
2.7
6.6
6.1
5.5
4.8
3.6
5.2
3.3
5.3
5.9
5.2
5.8
4.3
4.8
2.7
4.3
4.9
6.2
6.3
6.3
5.9
3.4
2.9
.7
2.4
1.7
2.1
1.5
2.9
1.1
2.6
-5 .4
-4 .2
Total compensation changes, covering
5,000 workers or more, all
industries:
First year of contract .....................
Annual rate over life of contract. . .
Wage rate changes covering at least
1,000 workers, all industries:
p = preliminary.
37.
Effective w age a djustm ents in co llective bargaining units covering 1,000 w orkers or m ore, 1979 to date
Year and quarter
Year
1982
Measure
1979
1980
1981
1982
1983
Average percent adjustment (including no change):
All industries.......................................................................
Manufacturing . ........................................................
Nonmanufacturing ........................................................
9.1
9.6
8.8
9.9
10.2
9.7
9.5
9.4
9.5
6.8
5.2
7.9
From settlements reached in period ................................
Deferred from settlements reached in earlier period . . . .
From cost-of-living clauses...............................................
3.0
3.0
3.1
3.6
3.5
2.8
2.5
3.8
3.2
Total number of workers receiving wage change
(in thousands)'..............................................................
—
—
—
—
From settlements reached
in period .......................................................................
Deferred from settlements
reached in earlier p e rio d ...............................................
From cost-of-living clauses...............................................
Number of workers receiving no adjustments
(in thousands) ..............................................................
II
III
IV
1
II
III
IV
1
4.0
2.7
4,8
1.0
.9
1.1
2.0
1.0
2.7
2.4
1.7
2.9
1.3
1.5
1.2
0.3
-.5
9
1.3
1.1
1.5
1.2
1.2
1.2
1.1
9
1.2
0.9
1.2
.7
1.7
3.6
1.4
.8
2.5
.6
.2
.6
.3
.4
1.4
.2
5
1.3
6
.6
.4
.3
-.2
.4
.1
3
1.0
.1
.2
.8
.2
.6
.3
.2
.1
4
.4
8,648
7,852
6.530
2,878
3,423
3.760
3,441
2,875
3.061
3.025
2,887
2,926
—
2,270
1,907
2.327
204
511
620
825
448
561
599
996
272
—
—
—
6,267
4,593
4,846
3,830
3.260
2,327
1,001
1,920
1.594
1,568
2,400
2,251
860
1,970
812
1,938
1,405
1,299
1,317
1,218
669
1,290
1,049
1,640
—
—
145
483
1,187
5,457
4,912
4,575
4,895
4,842
4,656
4,693
4,830
4,791
1The total number of workers who received adiustments does not equal the sum of workers that received
each type of adjustment, because some workers received more than one type of adjustment during the
period.
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1984P
1983
1
P = preliminary.
WORK STOPPAGE DATA
include all known strikes or lockouts involving
1,000 workers or more and lasting a full shift or longer. Data are
based largely on newspaper accounts and 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.
W ork stoppa ges
38.
Estimates of days idle as a percent of estimated working time
measure only the impact of larger strikes (1,000 workers or more).
Formerly, these estimates measured the impact of strikes involving
6 workers or more; that is, the impact of virtually all strikes. Due
to budget stringencies, collection of data on strikes involving fewer
than 1,000 workers was discontinued with the December 1981
data.
W o rk sto p p ag es involving 1,000 w orkers or m ore, 1947 to date
Workers involved
Number of stoppages
Month and year
Beginning in
month or year
Beginning in
month or year
(in thousands)
In effect
during month
Days idle
In effect
during month
(in thousands)
Number
(in thousands)
Percent of
estimated
working time
270
245
262
424
1,629
1,435
2,537
1,698
25,720
26,127
43,420
30,390
.22
.38
.26
415
470
437
265
363
1,462
2,746
1,623
1,075
2,055
15,070
48,820
18,130
16,630
21,180
.12
.38
.14
.13
.16
287
279
332
245
222
1,370
887
1,587
1,381
896
26,840
10,340
17,900
60,850
13,260
.20
.07
.13
.43
.09
.......................
195
211
181
246
268
1,031
793
512
1,183
999
10,140
11,760
10,020
16,220
15,140
.07
.08
.07
!11
.10
..................................................
1947
1948
1949
1950
.....................................................
1951
1952
1953
1954
1955
....................................................................
1956
1957
1958
1959
I960
................................
......................................................................
1961
1962
1963
1964
1965
.................................................................
......................................
..............................................................
1966
1967
1968
1969
1970
...................................................................
..............................................................
.........................................................................
321
381
392
412
381
1,300
2,192
1,855
1,576
2,458
16,000
31,320
35,567
29,397
52,761
.10
.18
.20
.16
.29
1971
1972
1973
1974
1975
.........................................
............................................................................
......................................................................
........................................................
...............................................................................
298
250
317
424
235
2,516
975
1,400
1,796
965
35,538
16,764
16,260
31,809
17,563
.19
.09
.08
.16
.09
1976
1977
1978
1979
1980
..................................................
..................................................
........................................................
................................
231
298
219
235
187
1,519
1,212
1,006
1,021
795
23,962
21,258
23,774
20,409
20,844
.12
10
.11
09
.09
1981
1982
1983
.........................................
..................................................
............................................................................
145
96
81
729
656
909
16,908
9,061
17,461
.07
.04
.08
1983
January ......................................................................
February ......................................................................
M a rc h .........................................................................
A p r il............................................................................
May ............................................................................
1
5
5
2
12
3
7
10
9
17
1.6
14.0
10.5
2.8
24.9
38.0
50.4
54.9
52.4
34.2
794.8
844.4
1,131.5
789.5
488 5
.04
.05
.05
.04
.03
1984P
January ......................................................................
February ......................................................................
M a rc n .........................................................................
A p r il............................................................................
May ............................................................................
r6
2
2
r6
3
'12
12
9
r12
12
r28.9
8.7
3.0
r27.0
4.0
r43.0
37.2
14.6
r36 6
33.6
r507.3
365.5
284.2
r643.5
530.1
.03
.02
.01
.03
.03
•
p = preliminary.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
r
revised.
91
Published by BLS in May
S A LE S P U B L IC A T IO N S
O c c u p a t io n a l O u t lo o k Q u a r te r ly . S p r in g is s u e fe a tu r e s
a r tic le s
o n th e j o b o u t lo o k in b r ie f , th e e c o n o m y in 1 9 9 5 , a n d h ig h -
BLS B ulletins
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s in c e
1970
in
th e
la b o r
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c o lle g e
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A rea W a g e Survey S u m m aries
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L o g a n s p o r t — P e r u , I n d ., A p r il 1 9 8 4 . 3 p p .
la b o r f o r c e e s t im a te s o n w h ic h th e y a r e b a s e d . I t c o n s is t s o f fo u r
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O c c u p a t io n a l E a r n in g s a n d W a g e T r e n d s in M e t r o p o lit a n A r e a s ,
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1 9 8 3 . S u m m a r y 8 4 -2 ( N o . 3 o f 3 ) , 10 p p .
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O T H E R D ATA S E R V IC E S
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w it h in
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N o.
0 2 9 -0 0 1 - 9 0 2 7 5 -1 ).
W ic h it a , K a n s a s , M e t r o p o lit a n A r e a , A p r il 1 9 8 4 . B u lle t in 3 0 2 5 - 1 1 ,
A
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