Full text of Monthly Labor Review : June 1987, Volume 110, Number 6

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In this issue:
,
Displaced worker^

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U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
William E. Brock, Secretary

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for Bureau of Labor Statistics

BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS

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June cover;
"Tanks #2 (Steel 3lant),’’
a 1929 lithograph by Lou s Lozowick;
Photograph courtesy of the
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Oregon
Washington

I r e s e a r c h l ib r a r y
F e d e ra l

Reserve Bank

of St. Louis
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
JUNE 1987
VOLUME 110, NUMBER 6

J \)L

0 7 1987

Henry Lowenstern, Editor-in-Chief
Robert W. Fisher, Executive Editor

Francis W. Horvath

3 The pulse of economic change: displaced workers of 1981-85
Of the 5.1 million workers who had lost jobs at which they had worked
at least 3 years, about two-thirds were reemployed as of January 1986

Sharon P. Brown

13

How often do workers receive advance notice of layoffs?
A b ls survey of layoffs in seven States discloses that 2 of 3 workers
who lost their jobs in the last half of 1985 received no general advance notice

Lawrence S. Root

18

Britain’s redundancy payments for displaced workers
An employee has property rights to his or her job based on years of service;
government and industry sponsor an entitlement program for laid-off workers

Ralph E. Smith,
Bruce Vavrichek

24

Barbara A. O’Neil

31

The minimum wage: its relation to incomes and poverty
In March 1985, one in five hourly wage workers paid at or below the minimum wage
of $3.35 an hour lived in households with incomes below U.S. poverty levels

Mining machinery industry: labor productivity trends, 1972-84
The average annual rate of growth in output per employee hour
in this industry was substantially below that for all manufacturing

REPORTS
Thomas Nardone
Earl F. Mellor
Constance Sorrentino
Melvin Brodsky


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37 Decline in youth population does not lead to lower jobless rates
41 Weekly earnings in 1986: a look at more than 200 occupations
47 Japanese unemployment: bls updates its analysis
53 o e c d meeting calls for job growth, flexibility, and readjustment

DEPARTMENTS
2 Labor month in review
37 Research summaries
47 Foreign labor developments
55 Major agreements expiring next month
56 Developments in industrial relations
59 Book reviews
61 Current labor statistics

Labor M onth
In Review

Seventy-fifth Anniversary Year of the Department of Labor

PROCLAMATION. To mark the 75th
anniversary next year of the establish­
ment of the U.S. Department of Labor,
President Ronald Reagan, on April 23,
issued a proclamation calling upon the
people of the United States to observe
the anniversary with “ appropriate pro­
grams, ceremonies, and activities” in
1988. Following is the proclamation:
March 4, 1988, will be the seventyfifth anniversary of President William
Howard Taft’s signing into law an act
establishing the United States Depart­
ment of Labor. In celebrating this mile­
stone, we honor both the mandate of
this ninth Executive department and the
men and women who have made that
mandate a reality through the years.
Recognition of the need for a Depart­
ment of Labor began in the late 19th and
early 20th centuries. Labor organiza­
tions such as the Knights of Labor and
the American Federation of Labor
( a f l ) urged the creation of a Federal
department to deal with matters affect­
ing working people. A Bureau of Labor
was established in the Department of the
Interior in 1884. This Bureau was made
an independent, but not Executive-rank,
Department of Labor in 1888. When the
Department of Commerce and Labor
was created in 1903, the Department of
Labor returned to bureau status within
it. The famed labor leader Samuel
Gompers and others then campaigned
for a Cabinet-level Department of
Labor.

2


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That campaign bore fruit with Presi­
dent Taft’s bill-signing in 1913. The
mandate of the Department of Labor
was “ to foster, promote, and develop
the welfare of the wage earners of the
United States, to improve their work­
ing conditions and to advance their op­
portunities for profitable employment. ”
That immense task has inspired the
Department ever since.
The Department has fulfilled its
duties during war and peace, during
depression and prosperity. Through the
years, the Department of Labor has
improved the lives of working people
and benefited all Americans through its
contributions to the success of our
economy.
Among other tasks, the Department
helps workers find and train for jobs;
monitors changes in employment,
prices, and other economic measures;
oversees the broad range of working
conditions and safeguards working
people’s rights; assures and strengthens
collective bargaining; and ensures free­
dom from discrimination. Seeking to
help business and industry achieve eco­
nomic growth and stability, the Depart­
ment also prom otes cooperative
relationships between labor and
management and encourages collabora­
tive efforts with trade unions and em­
ployer organizations.
The Department has played a signifi­
cant international role as well, cultivat­
ing understanding among labor organi­
zations throughout the world and

fostering free unions and efficient
governmental labor institutions in other
nations.
NO W , THEREFORE, I, RONALD REAGAN,

President of the United States of
America, do hereby proclaim the year
1988 as United States Department of
Labor Seventy-fifth Anniversary Year.
I call upon the people of the United
States to observe this Anniversary Year
with appropriate programs, ceremo­
nies, and activities. In order to enhance
participation in this important obser­
vance, I call upon the Secretary of
Labor to establish an Honorary Com­
mittee for the Department of Labor
Seventy-fifth Anniversary Year, and to
invite all living former Secretaries of
Labor and the Presidents of the a f l -CIO
and the Chamber of Commerce to act
as Co-Chairs of the Committee. I also
call upon the Secretary to invite other
distinguished persons to serve as
Com m ittee m em bers, including
representatives of the Congress, labor,
management, and academia.
In w i t n e s s w h e r e o f , I have hereunto
set my hand this twenty-third day of
April, in the year of our Lord nineteen
hundred and eighty-seven, and of the
Independence of the United States of
America the two hundred and eleventh.

CHA-tt-fixLv.

The pulse of economic change:
displaced workers of 1981-85
Of the 5.1 million workers who had lost jobs
at which they had worked at least 3 years ,
about two-thirds were reemployed as of January 1986
F rancis W. H orvath

One of the harsh realities of economic change is the closing
of plants or the severe cutbacks in their operations. The
mass layoffs create instant pockets of unemployment, often
made up of people with years of dedicated service and
acquired skills and no place to apply them. The ability of
these workers to readjust after plant closings or large cut­
backs has been a subject of considerable interest to policy­
makers, labor leaders, and economic analysts.
In January 1986, the Employment and Training Adminis­
tration sponsored a special supplement to the Current Popu­
lation Survey designed to answer some of the questions
about “displaced workers.” The survey was almost identical
to a study conducted in January 1984, which permitted
additional insight into the problem.1 The principal findings
of the survey include:
•

•

•

A total of 10.8 million workers 20 years of age and over
lost jobs because of plant closings or employment cut­
backs over the January 1981-January 1986 period.
Those who had been at their jobs at least 3 years num­
bered about 5.1 million. This estimate was very similar
to that obtained in the 1984 survey, which had covered
the 1979-83 period.
While both surveys yielded about the same number of
displaced workers with at least 3 years of tenure on the
lost jobs, the reemployed proportion was much higher in
1986 than in 1984-67, compared with 60 percent.
Close to 18 percent of those displaced were unemployed
when surveyed in January 1986. This was an improve­
ment over 1984, when 26 percent of those displaced
were looking for work.

Francis W. Horvath is an economist in the Division o f Labor Force Statis­
tics, Bureau o f Labor Statistics.


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•

The number of labor force exits among displaced work­
ers was very close to the 14-percent level observed in
1984. More than 1 of every 3 older workers (over 55
years of age) left the labor force after losing their jobs.
• Of the 3.4 million workers who found work following
the displacement, 2.7 million were working at full-time
wage and salary jobs. More than half of those reem­
ployed earned as much or more in their new jobs as in
their lost jobs.
• About 2 of 3 displaced workers were men.
• The geographic distribution of displaced workers was
again heavily concentrated in the East North Central
States. More than 1.1 million workers there had lost jobs
since 1981.
• Following displacement, reemployment was more diffi­
cult for black and Hispanic workers. The percentage of
those who were reemployed as of January 1986 was
about 10 percentage points lower than the comparable
level for whites.

Measurement of displacement
Interest in the issue of displaced workers increased in the
early 1980’s, as two back-to-back recessions led to the elim­
ination of many jobs.2 Indications that the cutbacks in many
industries might be permanent rather than cyclical spurred
an effort to better identify those workers who had lost their
jobs. The terms “displaced” or “dislocated” were used to
describe workers who had put in years of service and ac­
quired very specific skills, only to find that those skills were
no longer in demand.
As noted above, only a small proportion of the displaced
were unemployed when surveyed. In fact, many may have
3

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW

June 1987 •

Displaced Workers of 1981-85

found another job rather ^quickly, although it may not have
been at a pay and skill level comparable to the one from
which they had been displaced. A frequently mentioned
example of a displaced worker is the steel or automobile
worker, who had been employed at a relatively high paying
production job and who, upon losing that job, finds little
prospect of replacing the earnings to which he— and his
family— had become accustomed.
Some displaced workers might give up looking for work
altogether, believing that there are no suitable jobs avail­
able. Unplanned early retirements often seem to be the only
choice for many of the older displaced workers.
Altogether, a total of 10.8 million workers 20 years of age
and over answered that they had lost a job between January
1981 and January 1986 because of plant closings, employers
going out of business, or layoffs from which they had not
been recalled. However, a large proportion of these workers
had been at their jobs for only a short period before they
were dismissed. For example, about 4 million— or 37 per­
cent— had been at their jobs a year or less.
In order to focus on those displaced workers who had
spent a substantial amount of time with their employer,
while presumably acquiring a substantial amount of jobspecific skills, the statistical universe used in this study was
limited to those individuals with 3 years or more of tenure
on the jobs they lost, some 5.1 million.

By January 1986, the rate of reemployment among man­
ufacturing workers had improved considerably relative to
1984. About 2 of 3 workers displaced from manufacturing
had found new jobs as of January 1986, a rate of reemploy­
ment quite similar to that for workers who had lost jobs in
other industries. In the 1984 survey, the reemployment rate
for manufacturing workers was much lower— 59 percent.
The services industry accounted for about 10 percent of
the displaced workers. This proportion was relatively small
considering that these workers accounted for over 30 per­
cent of all employed workers. Also, more than 2 of 3 service
workers who had been displaced were able to find new jobs
as of January 1986.
The largest number of displaced workers— some 1.9 milTable 1. Employment status of displaced workers by age,
sex, race, and Hispanic origin, January 1986
[In percent]
Characteristic

Number
(thousands)1

Total

Employed

Unemployed

Not in the
labor force

5,130
222
3,950
789

100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0

66.9
69.1
72.5
47.4

17.8
23.2
18.1
17.6

15.3
7.7
9.4
35.0

169

100.0

23.4

4.3

72.4

3,321
146
2,605
482

100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0

70.9
74.1
76.1
50.2

18.6
20.4
19.6
15.3

10.5
5.5
4.4
34.5

87

100.0

24.5

6.2

69.3

1,810
76
1,345
307

100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0

59.6
59.6
65.7
43.1

16.2
28.7
15.2
21.2

24.1
11.8
19.0
35.8

82

100.0

22.2

2.2

75.6

4,452
2,936
1,516

100.0
100.0
100.0

68.2
72.4
59.9

16.2
16.8
15.2

15.6
10.8
24.9

581
312
268

100.0
100.0
100.0

57.7
57.6
57.7

29.2
36.0
21.3

13.1
6.3
21.0

311
208
103

100.0
100.0
100.0

56.6
63.7
42.3

27.2
27.9
25.9

16.1
8.4
31.8

Total
Total, 20 years
and over ...........
20 to 24 years .
25 to 54 years .
55 to 64 years .
65 years and
o v e r ...............
Men

Demographic characteristics
About two-thirds of the 5.1 million displaced workers
were men, and most were in the prime working ages, 25 to
54. (See table 1.) These men were not only the largest group
of displaced workers, they also had the highest level of
reemployment; over three-fourths of them were reemployed
in January 1986.
Blacks accounted for 11 percent of all displaced workers,
and there were nearly as many black women as there were
men. Also, the level of reemployment was just under 58
percent for both black men and women.
Following displacement, women were much more likely
to leave the labor force than men. Almost 1 in 4 white
women and 1 in 5 black women who had been displaced
were outside the labor force in January 1986. The proportion
of labor force leavers was nearly 1 of 3 for Hispanic women.
Black and Hispanic displaced workers were more likely
to be unemployed in January 1986 than whites. About 36
percent of black men and 28 percent of Hispanic men who
had been displaced were unemployed compared with 17
percent of white men.
Industry and occupation. As was found in the 1984 sur­
vey, about one-half of the displaced workers in January
1986 had lost jobs in manufacturing. The industries in which
much of the displacement had taken place included nonelec­
trical machinery, electrical machinery, and primary metals.
(See table 2.)

4
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Total, 20 years
and over ...........
20 to 24 years .
25 to 54 years .
55 to 64 years .
65 years and
o v e r ...............
Women
Total, 20 years
and over ...........
20 to 24 years .
25 to 54 years .
55 to 64 years .
65 years and
o v e r ...............
White
Total, 20 years
and over ...........
M e n .................
Women ...........
Black
Total, 20 years
and over ...........
M e n .................
Women ...........
Hispanic origin
Total, 20 years
and over ...........
M e n .................
Women ...........

1 Data refer to persons with tenure of 3 years or more who lost or left a job between January
1981 and January 1986 because of plant closings or moves, slack work, or the abolishment of
their positions or shifts.
Note : Detail for the above race and Hispanlc-origin groups will not sum to totals because
data for the "other races” group are not presented and Híspanles are included in both the white
and black population groups.

Table 2.

Employment status of displaced workers by industry and class of worker of lost job, January 1986

[In percent]
Industry and class of worker

Number
Total
(thousands)1

Employed

Unemployed

Not in the
labor force

66.9

17.8

15.3

Total, 20 years and over2 ........

5,130

Nonagricultural private wage and
salary workers ............................

4,772

100.0

67.2

17.6

15.2

Mining ....................................
Construction ............................

175
316

100.0
100.0

67.4
74.8

17.4
16.6

15.2
8.6

100.0

Manufacturing ..........................
Durable goods .....................
Lumber and wood
products .......................
Furniture and fixtures........
Stone, clay, and glass
products .......................
Primary metal
industries.......................
Fabricated metal
products ........................
Machinery, except
electrical .......................
Electrical machinery...........
Transportation
equipment.....................
Automobiles...................
Other transportation
equipment...................
Professional and
photographic
equipment.....................
Other durable goods
industries........................

2,550
1,691

100.0
100.0

65.9
66.7

18.2
18.9

15.9
14.4

104
63

100.0
100.0

67.0
(3)

23.2
(3)

9.8
(3)

87

100.0

64.7

17.3

17.9

Nondurable goods.................
Food and kindred
products ........................

235

100.0

62.0

15.0

23.0

187

100.0

64.1

24.8

11.0

361
255

100.0
100.0

71.9
54.9

18.6
23.2

9.5
21.9

260
148

100.0
100.0

74.3
70.2

16.7
21.1

8.9
8.7

112

100.0

79.8

11.0

9.2

73

100.0

(3)

(3)

(3)

66

100.0

(3)

(3)

(3)

859

100.0

64.3

16.8

18.9

178

100.0

57.1

19.5

23.4

1 Data refer to persons with tenure of 3 years or more who lost or left a job between January 1981 and
January 1986 because of plant closings or moves, slack work, or the abolishment of their positions or
shi^s-

lion— were formerly employed as operators, fabricators,
and laborers, occupations which are quite prevalent in the
manufacturing industries. They represented nearly 2 out of
5 displaced workers in January 1986. (See table 3.)
The higher the workers’ skills, the more likely they were
to have found other jobs. For example, among persons who
had lost managerial and professional specialty jobs, almost
3 of 4 were reemployed in January 1986. On the other hand,
fewer than 2 of 3 of the displaced operators, fabricators, and
laborers had been able to find new jobs. The highest propor­
tions of displaced workers who were still unemployed were
those who had lost their jobs in the transportation and mate­
rial moving occupations, as well as in the service occupa­
tions.
Regional distribution. As in January 1984, the largest
concentration of displaced workers in the 1986 survey was
found in the East North Central area— 1.1 million. This area
comprises the heavily industrialized States of Illinois, Indi­
ana, Michigan, Ohio and Wisconsin. Close to half of the job
losses in this area had occurred in the durable goods manu­
facturing industry. (See table 4.)
But some improvement was found even in the East North
Central area. About 65 percent of the area’s displaced work­
ers were employed in January 1986, compared with only


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Industry and class of worker

Textile mill products . . . .
Apparel and other
finished textile
products.....................
Paper and allied
products.....................
Printing and
publishing .................
Chemical and allied
products.....................
Rubber and miscellaneous plastics products ..
Other nondurable goods
industries...................

Number
Total
(thousands)1

Employed

Unemployed

Not in the
labor force

123

100.0

71.2

9.9

19.0

171

100.0

51.9

18.0

30.1

39

100.0

(3)

(3)

(3)

94

100.0

69.8

14.8

15.4

98

100.0

75.2

11.9

12.8

67

100.0

(3)

(3)

(3)

88

100.0

62.8

25.9

11.3

386
303

100.0
100.0

66.9
66.1

20.0
20.6

13.1
13.3

83

100.0

69.9

17.7

12.4

Wholesale and retail trade . . .
Wholesale trade ...............
Retail trade.......................

689
294
395

100.0
100.0
100.0

66.3
74.4
60.3

12.4
12.5
12.4

21.3
13.1
27.4

Finance, insurance, and
real estate .......................
Services ..............................
Professional services.........
Other service industries . . .

107
540
198
342

100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0

73.5
68.4
66.8
69.3

12.5
21.4
19.1
22.8

14.0
10.2
14.1
80

141
172

100.0
100.0

66.0
63.0

20.9
18.9

13.1
18.0

33

100.0

(3)

(3)

(3)

Transportation and public
utilities..............................
Transportation...................
Communication and other
public utilities.................

Agricultural wage and salary
workers ..................................
Government workers...................
Self-employed and unpaid
family workers..........................
2 Total

includes a small number who did not report industry or class of worker

3 Data not shown where base is less than 75,000.

about half in January 1984. However, among those still
unemployed, almost one-third had been without work for
6 months or more.
Reemployment was much higher for displaced workers
on the Atlantic and Pacific coasts. In New England, for
example, about 75 percent of those identified as displaced
workers had found new jobs. On the Pacific coast, about 70
percent of those who had been displaced were again em­
ployed in January 1986, and among those who were still
looking for work, 42 percent had been unemployed for less
than 5 weeks.
Tenure on jobs lost. In order to identify workers who had
formed a long term relationship with their employers, only
those who had worked for 3 years more on the jobs lost were
included in the detailed analysis of the data from 1984 and
1986. While persons with shorter job durations may also
face hardships following plant closings, their skills are un­
likely to be tied to an employer or industry.
The tenure of displaced workers on the jobs lost tends
to be higher than the tenure of the overall work force.
Obviously, the restriction to 3 years or more of tenure im­
parts an upward bias that the general tenure level does not
have. In addition, in declining industries, workers with the
least tenure are likely to be released first. Should the plant
5

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
Table 3.

June 1987 •

Displaced Workers o f 1981-85

Employment status of displaced workers by occupation of lost job, January 1986

[In percent]
Number
(thousands)1

Occupation

Total

Employed

Unemployed

Not in the
labor force

Total, 20 years and over2 ..........................................................................................................................

5,130

100.0

66.9

17.8

15.3

Managerial and professional specialty.................................................................................................................
Executive, administrative, and managerial.......................................................................................................
Professional specialty.......................................................................................................................................

782
487
295

100.0
100.0
100.0

74.1
72.0
77.7

14.1
16.9
9.4

11.7
11.1
12.8

Technical, sales, and administrative support.......................................................................................................
Technicians and related support ......................................................................................................................
Sales occupations ...........................................................................................................................................
Administrative support, including clerical .........................................................................................................

1,125
174
447
504

100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0

68.0
76.5
65.1
67.6

12.8
11.7
11.9
13.9

19.2
11.8
23.0
18.5

Service occupations.............................................................................................................................................
Protective service.............................................................................................................................................
Service, except private household and protective............................................................................................

254
32
222

100.0
100.0
100.0

53.5
(3)
52.6

22.6
(3)
24.1

23.9
(3)
23.2

Precision production, craft, and repair.................................................................................................................
Mechanics and repairers...................................................................................................................................
Construction trades...........................................................................................................................................
Other precision production, craft, and repair ..................................................................................................

1,018
268
255
495

100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0

68.5
73.7
69.2
65.4

18.2
18.5
22.4
15.9

13.3
7.9
8.4
18.8

Operators, fabricators, and laborers ....................................................................................................................
Machine operators, assemblers, and inspectors..............................................................................................
Transportation and material moving occupations............................................................................................
Handlers, equipment cleaners, helpers, and laborers......................................................................................
Construction laborers ..................................................................................................................................
Other handlers, equipment cleaners, helpers, and laborers.........................................................................

1,870
1,197
328
345
51
293

100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0

64.0
64.1
62.6
65.1
(3)
64.6

21.4
19.7
25.7
23.4
(3)
23.0

14.6
16.3
11.7
11.4
(3)
12.4

Farming, forestry, and fish in g ..............................................................................................................................

80

100.0

72.1

19.1

8.9

1 Data refer to persons with tenure of 3 years or more who lost or left a job between January
1981 and January 1986 because of plant closings or moves, slack work, or the abolishment of
their positions or shifts.

Table 4.

2 Total includes a small number who did not report occupation.
3 Data n0, shown where base is less than 75 000

Employment status and area of residence in January 1986 of displaced workers by selected characteristics

[Numbers in thousands]

Characteristic

Total1

New
England

Middle
Atlantic

East
North
Central

West
North
Central

South
Atlantic

East
South
Central

West
South
Central

Mountain

Pacific

5,130
3,321
1,810

226
129
97

733
453
280

1,149
774
375

384
253
131

744
464
280

397
235
162

610
401
209

240
169
71

648
443
205

2,809
1,603
719

143
48
35

427
221
84

580
402
166

206
122
55

444
197
103

223
132
42

311
210
89

123
76
41

351
194
103

359
2,592
1,707
885
417
706
680
55
319

8
141
82
59
19
22
34
2
1

27
428
272
157
62
73
103
10
29

84
646
498
148
83
164
119
12
41

25
179
120
59
29
69
48
8
25

61
364
177
187
55
96
102
3
62

34
197
101
96
51
49
35
3
27

43
281
185
96
51
80
81
3
71

25
66
41
25
20
39
51
7
32

53
289
232
57
46
114
107
8
31

3,432
912
26.4
23.6
786

168
22
(3)
(3)
35

442
162
25.6
25.8
129

749
233
24.9
31.0
167

263
62

535
104
27.1
23.2
105

248
84
25.4
24.2
65

403
103
18.3
16.4
103

174
34

450
108
42.1
17.9
90

Workers who lost jobs
Total ................................................................................................
Men ..............................................................................................
Women ........................................................................................
Reason for job loss
Plant or company closed down or moved ..................................
Slack work ...................................................................................
Position or shift abolished............................................................
Industry of lost job
Construction.................................................................................
Manufacturing...............................................................................
Durable goods...........................................................................
Nondurable goods....................................................................
Transportation and public utilities ...............................................
Wholesale and retail trade ..........................................................
Finance and service industries ...................................................
Public administration....................................................................
Other industries2 ...........................................................................
Employment status
in January 1986
Employed.....................................................................................
Unemployed.................................................................................
Percent less than 5 weeks.......................................................
Percent 27 weeks or m ore.......................................................
Not in the labor force ..................................................................

1 Data refer to persons with tenure of 3 years or more who lost or left a job between January
1981 and January 1986 because of plant closings or moves, slack work, or the abolishment of
their positions or shifts.
2 Includes a small number who did not report industry.
3 Data not shown where base is less than 75,000.
Note : Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont
compose the New England Division; New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania compose the
Middle Atlantic Division; Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, and Wisconsin compose the East

6

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(3)
(3)
59

(3)
(3)
32

North Central Division; Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, and South
Dakota compose the West North Central Division; Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida,
Georgia, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, and West Virginia compose the
South Atlantic Division; Alabama, Kentucky, Mississippi, and Tennessee compose the East
South Central Division; Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, and Texas compose the West South
Central Division; Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming
compose the Mountain Division; Alaska, California, Hawaii, Oregon, and Washington compose
the Pacific Division.

Table 5.

Displaced workers by age, sex, race, Hispanic origin, and tenure when job ended

[In percent]

Characteristic

Number
(thousands)1

Total

3 to 4
years

5 to 9
years

10 to 14
years

15 to 19
years

20 years
or more

Median
years on
lost job

5,130
4,908
3,950
789
169

100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0

32.8
31.0
35.0
14.6
15.0

34.2
34.5
37.2
22.6
25.6

15.7
16.4
16.1
17.9
15.6

7.8
8.2
7.0
12.8
13.6

9.5
9.9
4.7
32.0
30.2

6.6
6.9
6.2
12.9
12.8

3,321
3,175
2,605
482
87

100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0

31.2
29.4
32.7
14.9
12.9

33.6
33.7
36.6
18.9
30.4

15.5
16.2
16.8
14.6
9.8

8.9
9.3
8.6
12.8
10.8

10.9
11.4
5.4
38.8
36.2

6.9
7.3
6.6
15.4
13.2

1,810
1,733
1,345
307
82

100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0

35.7
34.0
39.5
14.2
17.3

35.4
35.8
38:4
28.4
20.5

15.9
16.6
14.8
23.2
21.7

6.0
6.2
4.1
12.9
16.6

7.0
7.4
3.2
21.2
23.9

6.0
6.2
5.7
10.7
12.7

4,452
2,936
1,516

100.0
100.0
100.0

32.6
31.0
35.5

33.6
32.9
34.9

15.6
15.7
15.5

8.1
9.2
6.0

10.1
11.1
8.1

6.7
7.0
6.0

581
312
268

100.0
100.0
100.0

35.1
31.9
38.7

36.8
38.4
34.9

16.0
13.5
18.9

6.2
6.7
5.7

5.9
9.5
1.7

6.2
6.6
5.7

311
208
103

100.0
100.0
100.0

33.6
27.7
45.5

42.3
43.9
39.1

12.9
14.5
9.7

6.3
8.3
2.3

4.9
5.6
3.5

6.4
7.3
5.3

Total
Total, 20 years and o ve r.........
25 years and o ve r...............
25 to 54 ye a rs .................
55 to 64 ye a rs .................
65 years and o v e r ...........
Men
Total, 20 years and o ve r.........
25 years and o v e r...............
25 to 54 ye a rs .................
55 to 64 ye a rs.................
65 years and o v e r ...........
Women
Total, 20 years and o ve r.........
25 years and ove r...............
25 to 54 ye a rs.................
55 to 64 ye a rs.................
65 years and o v e r ...........
White
Total, 20 years and over.........
M e n ....................................
Women ..............................
Black
Total, 20 years and ove r........
M e n ....................................
Women ..............................
Hispanic origin
Total, 20 years and o ve r.........
M e n ....................................
Women ..............................

1 Data refer to persons with tenure of 3 years or more who lost or left a job between January
1981 and January 1986 because of plant closings or moves, slack work, or the abolishment of
their positions or shifts.

ultimately close its doors, those with longer tenure are likely
to be still on the job when the decision to shut down is made.
The 5.1 million displaced workers can be divided into
three roughly equivalent groups on the basis of their job
tenure. About one-third had been on their jobs for 3 to 4
years, one-third for 5 to 9 years, and the remaining third for
10 years or more. Median tenure on the lost jobs was 6.6
years. (See table 5.)
The proportion of older workers displaced from jobs of
long tenure was noticeably higher in 1986 than in 1984. In
the 1986 survey, it was found that nearly two-fifths of the
displaced men age 55 and over had lost jobs which they had
held for 20 years or more.

Before, during, and after displacements
Notification o f dismissal. An important issue in debates
surrounding plant closing legislation has been the question
of advance notification of workers about to be laid off. It is
argued that advance notification allows the workers a better
chance of finding new jobs by possibly beginning their job
search efforts while still employed. On the other hand, ad­
vance notice is viewed unfavorably by some employers,


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Note : Detail for the above race and Hispanic-orlgin 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.

who fear the anger of disgruntled employees and the possi­
ble reduction in productivity.3
In both the 1984 and 1986 surveys, a question was asked
regarding whether the displaced worker had received an
advance notice, or had left the business because he or she
expected to be released.4 About 45 percent of the displaced
workers in the 1986 survey said they had not received
notification prior to displacement. (See table 6.) Among
those affected by plant closings or moves, about 40 percent
neither were notified in advance nor had anticipated the
closing.
Among the workers who had received an advance notice
or had expected an impending closing, the proportion that
was reemployed by January 1986 was greater than it was
among those without warning of a layoff, but by a small
margin— 69 versus 64 percent. Among those who had been
laid off because of plant closings, the difference in the
reemployment rates between those with and without preno­
tification was even smaller.
Reasons for dismissals. More than half of the 5.1 million
displaced workers reported that they had lost their jobs be7

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW

June 1987 •

Displaced Workers o f 1981-85

cause of plant closings or moves. (See table 7.) About
one-third offered “slack work” as the reason for their dis­
missals. The remaining persons reported that they had been
working on jobs or shifts which were abolished.
The reasons offered for the dismissals were closely re­
lated to age, with older workers more likely to be affected
by plant closings. For example, about two-thirds of the
workers age 55 and over were dismissed because of plant
closings, while only about half of those age 25 to 34 were
released for this reason. It is likely that seniority would offer
older workers some protection against dismissal during peri­
ods of “slack work,” whereas they would have no protection
if the plant closed down.
Weeks without work. Displaced workers were asked to
estimate the number of weeks they were without work fol­
lowing job loss. The median period for the entire 5.1 million
was about 18 weeks. It should be noted that, for many
persons, this included periods spent outside the labor force.
For example, displaced workers who were not in the labor
force in January 1986 reported the longest spells without
work, typically stretching over a year in length. (See table
8.) For these persons, the time spent “out of work” cannot

be equated with unemployment, the latter condition imply­
ing jobseeking.
Displaced workers who were employed in January 1986
reported a much shorter period without work, the median
being 13 weeks. About 1 of every 3 reemployed displaced
workers had spent less than 5 weeks without work.
When surveyed, unemployed displaced workers had been
jobless for a median duration of 21 weeks. This group and
displaced older persons were more likely to report longer
periods without work than were younger persons.
The measurement of “weeks without work” presents a
difficult challenge. For example, for the reemployed the
reporting may relate to a period in the distant past, the length
of which is only vaguely remembered. For the unemployed,
the spell of joblessness may still be in progress and could
possibly last much longer than reported in the survey. And,
as already noted, for persons outside the labor force, the
“weeks without work” could relate to periods which, al­
though long, might have included few, if any, attempts to
find another job.
Receipt of unemployment insurance. For many displaced
workers, loss of income was cushioned by their receipt of

Table 6. Displaced workers by age, whether they received advanced notice or expected layoff, selected reason for job loss,
and employment status in January 1986
[Percent distribution]
Plant or company closed down or moved

Total who lost jobs

Employment status, January 1986

Employment status, January 1986
Characteristic

Total
(thousands)1

Total

Employed

Unemployed

Not in
the
labor
force

Total
(thousands)1

100.0

66.9
69.0
73.9

17.8
16.3
7.5
17.7

15.3
14.7
18.6
14.1

Not in
the
labor
force

Total

Employed

Unemployed

2,809
1,664
240
1,421

100.0

15.2
14.7

100.0

68.7
69.8
70.8
69.7

15.3

16.2
15.4
17.9
15.0

15.9

17.2

Total, 20 years and over
Total ..............................................................
Received advanced notice or expected layoff
Left before job ended ................................
Did not leave before job e n d e d .................
Did not receive advance notice or expect
layoff ..........................................................

5,130
2,812
387
2,415

100.0
100.0
100.0

68.1

100.0
100.0

10.8

2,318

100.0

64.4

19.5

16.0

1,145

100.0

66.9

1,864
1,080
132
948

100.0

75.1
76.9
84.1
75.8

16.3
15.5
9.1
16.5

8.6
7.6

100.0

7.7

947
598
92
506

100.0

79.6
80.3
84.8
79.4

13.5
13.7
10.9
14.2

7.0
6.0
5.4
6.1

784

9.9

349

100.0

78.5

13.2

8.6

2,309
1,235
179
1,046

9.8
9.7
8.9
9.9

1,240
708
105
602

100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0

72.2
74.7
75.2
74.4

17.7
15.1
12.4
15.8

10.1
10.2
12.4
9.8

1,074

10.0

532

100.0

68.8

21.2

10.0

958
497
76
421

41.5
42.5
61.8
39.0

621
357
43
314

100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0

44.9
42.9
(2)
44.6

12.6
15.4
(2)
16.2

42.5
41.7
(2)
39.5

460

40.7

264

100.0

47.7

8.7

43.6

20 to 34 years
Total ..............................................................
Received advanced notice or expected layoff
Left before job ended ................................
Did not leave before job e n d e d .................
Did not receive advance notice or expect
layoff .........................................................

100.0
100.0
100.0

6.8

100.0

100.0

35 to 54 years
Total ................................................................
Received advanced notice or expected layoff .
Left before job ended ..................................
Did not leave before job e n d e d ...................
Did not receive advance notice or expect
layoff ............................................................
55 years and over
Total ..............................................................
Received advanced notice or expected layoff
Left before job ended ................................
Did not leave before job e n d e d .................
Did not receive advance notice or expect
layoff ..........................................................

1 Data refer to persons with tenure of 3 years or more who lost or left a job between January 1981
and January 1986 because of plant closings or moves, slack work, or the abolishment of their
positions or shifts.

8

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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

2

Data not shown where base is less than 75,000.

unemployment insurance benefits. About 3.4 million work­
ers reported receiving unemployment benefits after they had
lost their jobs.
One reason why some displaced workers do not collect
unemployment insurance benefits is that some of them are
able to find new jobs quickly or even immediately after their
job loss. Almost 1 in 3 who were employed in January 1986
reported that they had been without work less than 5 weeks.
Moving to another area. Few displaced workers moved to
other areas following the loss of their jobs. (See table 9.) For
the 14 percent who moved, the reemployment rate was
significantly higher than for those who did not move— 82
versus 64 percent.
There was a pronounced difference in the relocation ac­
tivity of men and women. The proportion of displaced men
who had moved was almost twice as high as that of women.
Older displaced workers were least likely to pull up stakes
after losing their jobs. Of those age 55 and over, only about
5 percent had moved to another city or county. Among
displaced women, only about 3 percent of those age 55 and
over had moved subsequent to the job loss.
Loss o f health insurance. The loss of group health in­
surance which usually accompanies a job loss can deal a
financial blow to workers.5 Of the displaced workers sur­
veyed in January 1986, almost 80 percent had been included
in a group health insurance plan on their lost jobs. (See table
10.) For these workers, recovery of coverage was closely
related to employment status: those who found new jobs
were usually covered by some form of insurance, either
through their new jobs or through the plans of other family
members. Only about 1 in 5 of the reemployed workers were
not covered in their new jobs. However, displaced workers
who were unemployed in January 1986 had a much higher
exposure to health cost risk; almost 60 percent of those who
had been covered on the lost job no longer had any coverage
when surveyed.

Job spirals or new careers?
About 3.4 million of the 5.1 million displaced workers
were reemployed in January 1986. Almost all of these,
about 3.2 million workers, had been working at full-time
wage and salary jobs when they were dismissed. Of these,
10 percent were holding part-time jobs when surveyed. An
additional 8 percent were involved full time in their own
businesses as self-employed or unpaid family workers.
Thus, the vast majority of those working in January
1986 had returned to full-time wage and salary employ­
ment. For about 2.4 million of these workers, earnings
information was obtained for both the old and the new
jobs, making it possible to compare nominal earnings.
Overall, about 56 percent were making as much or more
than before displacement. More than half of that propor­
tion were earning 20 percent or more above pay in their

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Table 7. Displaced workers by age, sex, race, Hispanic
origin, and reason for job loss, January 1986
[Numbers in thousands]

Age and sex

Total1

Plant or
company
closed
down or
moved

Slack work

Position
or shift
abolished

5,130
222
3,950
1,641
1,326
983
467
322
169

2,809
126
2,062
821
670
571
299
214
108

1,603
68
1,338
608
460
270
101
61
36

719
28
551
212
197
142
67
47
25

3,321
146
2,605
1,091
899
616
286
196
87

1,783
85
1,337
539
439
360
186
125
50

1,145
47
968
451
338
179
68
41
21

393
14
301
101
122
77
32
29
16

1,810
76
1,345
551
427
367
180
126
82

1,026
41
724
283
231
211
113
89
59

458
21
370
157
121
92
32
20
14

326
15
250
111
75
64
35
18
9

Total
Total, 20 years and over..
20 to 24 years .............
25 to 54 years .............
25 to 34 ye a rs...........
35 to 44 ye a rs...........
45 to 54 ye a rs...........
55 to 59 ye a rs.............
60 to 64 ye a rs.............
65 years and over . . . .
Men
Total, 20 years and over..
20 to 24 years .............
25 to 54 years .............
25 to 34 ye a rs...........
35 to 44 years...........
45 to 54 ye a rs...........
55 to 59 ye a rs..............
60 to 64 ye a rs..............
65 years and over . . . .
Women
Total, 20 years and ov e r..
20 to 24 years .............
25 to 54 years .............
25 to 34 ye a rs ...........
35 to 44 ye a rs ...........
45 to 54 ye a rs ...........
55 to 59 ye a rs ..............
60 to 64 ye a rs ..............
65 years and over . . . .

1 Data refer to persons with tenure of 3 years or more who lost or left a job between January
1981 and January 1986 because of plant closings or moves, slack work, or the abolishment of
their positions or shifts.

previous job. (See table 11.)
Occupational displacement. A major concern regarding
displaced workers is that they will be unable to use the
hard-earned skills they had acquired in the jobs they lost.
Besides earnings comparisons, another way to examine the
changes forced upon displaced workers is to examine their
occupational mobility.
The major occupational groupings and the percent of
workers within each group who were able to find new jobs
in the same broad occupational classification are shown in
table 12. Of the displaced workers who were reemployed in
January 1986, 45 percent were working in the same general
occupation they had left.
For most of the occupational groups shown, the propor­
tion returning to jobs in the same broad occupation they had
left ranged between 30 and 60 percent. The lowest rates of
occupational stability across the old and new jobs were
found in the occupations of technicians and related support,
and handlers, equipment cleaners, helpers, and laborers.
Some of these workers may have found better jobs than the
ones they had lost. Professional specialty and precision pro­
duction, craft, and repair occupations had the highest levels
of reemployment within the same broad occupation.
9

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
Table 8.

June 1987 •

Displaced Workers o f 1981-85

Displaced workers1 by weeks without work, age, and employment status, January 1986

[Numbers in thousands]
Weeks without work
Less
than 5
weeks

5 to 14
weeks

15 to 26
weeks

27 to 52
lAIO
OlfG
rfccAo

More
than 52
weeks

Median
weeks
without
work

Total:
Age 20 and o v e r..............................
25 to 54 ye a rs..............................
25 to 34 y e a rs ..........................
35 to 44 y e a rs ..........................
45 to 54 y e a rs ..........................
55 years and o v e r .......................

1,371
1,089
464
352
273
211

883
734
333
233
167
101

791
634
277
200
157
109

893
674
260
270
144
183

979
664
238
213
212
308

18.3
16.5
13.4
17.4
20.1
32.8

Employed:
Age 20 and o v e r ..........................
25 to 54 y e a rs ..........................
25 to 34 years .....................
35 to 44 years .....................
45 to 54 years .....................
55 years and over ...................

1,103
932
406
302
224
113

628
526
254
174
98
65

533
446
195
142
110
57

605
495
200
205
89
91

424
347
140
114
93
74

12.5
12.4
12.2
14.1
12.5
20.7

Unemployed:
Age 20 and o v e r ..........................
25 to 54 y e a rs ..........................
25 to 34 years .....................
35 to 44 years .....................
45 to 54 years .....................
55 years and over ...................

157
122
39
42
40
26

191
167
62
49
55
16

194
155
68
46
41
25

151
114
34
56
24
26

187
137
37
52
48
45

20.5
19.9
17.0
24.1
16.9
30.2

Not in the labor force:
Age 20 and o v e r ..........................
25 to 54 y e a rs ..........................
25 to 34 years .....................
35 to 44 years .....................
45 to 54 years .....................
55 years and over ...................

111
36
19
8
8
71

64
41
17
10
15
20

64
33
14
11
7
28

137
65
26
9
30
67

368
180
61
47
71
189

53.8
54.3
52.6
61.7
67.7
54.8

Age and employment status,
January 1986

1 Data refer to persons with tenure of 3 years or more who lost or left a job between January 1981
and January 1986 because of plant closings or moves, slack work, or the abolishment of their

positions or shifts,

Table 9. Displaced workers1 by whether they moved to a different city or county to find or take another job, age, sex, and
current employment status
[In thousands]
Movers

Nonmovers

Employment status, January 1986

Employment status, January 1986
Age and sex

Unemployed

Not in the
labor force

Total

Employed

Total

Employed

Unemployed

Not in the
labor force

Total
Total, 20 years and o v e r..................................................................................................
25 to 54 ye a rs...............................................................................................................
25 to 34 years ...........................................................................................................
35 to 44 y e a rs ...........................................................................................................
45 to 54 y e a rs ...........................................................................................................
55 years and o v e r.........................................................................................................

4,395
3,318
1,330
1,139
343
902

2,831
2,340
983
826
531
376

832
644
221
227
196
141

733
333
126
86
121
385

713
618
302
183
133
51

582
510
253
154
104
34

81
70
31
23
16
5

51
37
18
7
13
12

Men
Total, 20 years and o v e r..................................................................................................
25 to 54 ye a rs...............................................................................................................
25 to 34 years ...........................................................................................................
35 to 44 years ...........................................................................................................
45 to 54 years ...........................................................................................................
55 years and o v e r .........................................................................................................

2,758
2,119
855
755
510
525

1,884
1,571
664
571
335
236

553
450
165
155
131
74

321
98
26
29
44
215

548
478
229
144
104
41

455
403
198
122
83
24

66
59
25
19
16
5

28
16
6
4
6
12

Women
Total, 20 years and o v e r..................................................................................................
25 to 54 years...............................................................................................................
25 to 34 years ...........................................................................................................
35 to 44 years ...........................................................................................................
45 to 54 years ...........................................................................................................
55 years and o v e r.........................................................................................................

1,637
1,198
476
385
338
377

946
770
318
255
197
140

279
194
57
73
65
67

411
234
100
57
77
170

165
140
72
39
28
10

127
107
55
32
21
10

15
11
7
4

24
21
11
3
7
“

1 Data refer to persons with tenure of 3 years or more who lost or left a job between January 1981
and January 1986 because of plant closings or moves, slack work, or the abolishment of their

10

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positions or shifts,

-

Table 10.

Displaced workers by health insurance coverage, employment status, and selected characteristics, January 1986

[Numbers in thousands]
Covered by group health insurance on lost job
Characteristic

Not covered under any
plan in January 1986

Totali
Total

Not covered on
lost job

Number

Percent

Total
Total, 20 years and o ve r...............................................................................
Employed..................................................................................................
Unemployed..............................................................................................
Not in the labor force ...............................................................................

5,130
3,432
912
786

3,977
2,722
678
577

1,274
610
398
265

32.0
22.4
58.7
45.9

1,082
661
220
201

3,321
2,353
619
349

2,711
1,937
479
295

809
390
288
130

29.8
20.1
60.1
44.1

562
382
129
51

1,810
1,079
294
437

1,266
784
199
282

465
220
110
135

36.7
28.1
55.3
47.9

520
279
90
150

4,452
2,936
1,516

3,478
2,427
1,051

1,036
681
356

29.8
28.1
33.9

916
472
445

581
312
268

437
236
200

217
116
101

49.7
49.2
50.5

134
69
65

311
208
103

214
149
65

94
60
34

43.9
40.3
52.3

84
49
36

Men
Total, 20 years and ove r...............................................................................
Employed..................................................................................................
Unemployed..............................................................................................
Not in the labor force ...............................................................................
Women
Total, 20 years and over...............................................................................
Employed..................................................................................................
Unemployed..............................................................................................
Not in the labor force ...............................................................................
White
Total, 20 years and o ve r...............................................................................
Men ...........................................................................................................
Women ....................................................................................................
Black
Total, 20 years and-over...............................................................................
Men ...........................................................................................................
Women ....................................................................................................
Hispanic origin
Total, 20 years and over...............................................................................
Men ...........................................................................................................
Women .....................................................................................................

1 Data refer to persons with tenure of 3 years or more who lost or left a job between January 1981
and January 1986 because of plant closings or moves, slack work, or the abolishment of their

positions or shifts,

Table 11. Displaced workers who lost full-time wage and salary jobs and were reemployed in January 1986, by industry of
lost job and characteristics of new job
[In thousands]
Full-time wage and salary job
Earnings relative to those of lost job

Total
reemployed,
January
1986

Parttime
job

Total1

Total who lost full-time wage and salary jobs2 .....................

3,236

333

Construction.......................................................................
Manufacturing....................................................................
Durable goods................................................................
Primary metal industries.............................................
Steel3 ......................................................................
Other primary m e ta ls.................................................
Fabricated metal products.............................................
Machinery, except electrical...........................................
Electrical machinery .....................................................
Transportation equipment .............................................
Automobiles................................................................
Other transportation equipment ................................
Nondurable goods..........................................................

250
1,657
1,105
146
118
28
116
258
136
190
102
88
552

15
162
106
13
13

Transportation and public utilities ........................................
Wholesale and retail trade ...................................................
Finance and service industries.............................................
Public administration ............................................................
Other industries4 ..................................................................

257
415
426
34
197

Industry of lost job

20
percent or
more
below

Below,
but within
20
percent

Equal or
above,
but
within 20
percent

20
percent or
more
above

2,655

730

342

651

712

248

16
18
11
19
12
6
56

198
1,410
931
122
97
24
85
232
119
165
87
78
478

53
432
300
54
51
4
29
76
46
38
11
27
131

24
186
102
10
8
2
8
33
16
7
7
84

51
333
216
24
14
10
16
58
21
53
30
24
117

63
356
243
20
16
4
21
53
31
54
38
15
113

37
85
68
11
7
3
15
8
6
6
3
3
17

15
43
68
3
28

217
331
309
28
162

68
62
59
4
53

28
40
41
4
19

59
78
87
7
35

37
116
100
9
30

25
40
49
3
7

-

1 Data refer to persons with tenure of 3 years or more who lost or left a full-time wage and salary
job between January 1981 and January 1986 because of plant closings or moves, slack work, or
their positions or shifts were abolished.
2

Self
employ­
ment or
other
full-time
job

-

3 Includes blast furnaces, steelworks, rolling and finishing mills, and iron and steel furnaces.
4 Includes a small number who did not report industry.

Includes 220 persons who did not report earnings on lost job.


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11

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW

June 1987 •

Displaced Workers o f 1981-85

Table 12. Displaced workers by selected occupations and percent reemployed in the same occupations or in service occu­
pations, January 1986
[Numbers in thousands]

Occupation

Total1

Percent
in same
occupation

Total
reemployed

Percent
in service
occupations

Executive, administrative, and managerial .............................................................................
Professional specialty...............................................................................................................

487
295

351
229

43.0
59.8

0.2
5.2

Technicians and related support..............................................................................................
Sales occupations ....................................................................................................................
Administrative support, including clerical.................................................................................

174
447
504

133
291
341

30.1
45.3
44.9

6.7
6.2
7.6

Service occupations.................................................................................................................

254

136

52.2

52.2

Precision production, craft, and repair......................................................................................
Machine operators, assemblers, and inspectors .....................................................................
Transportation and material moving occupations.....................................................................
Handlers, equipment cleaners, helpers, and laborers ............................................................

1,018
1,870
1,197
328

697
767
205
225

55.7
36.6
45.9
26.7

7.3
18.4
11.2
10.7

80

58

Farming, forestry, and fish in g ..................................................................................................
1 Data refer to persons with tenure of 3 years or more who lost or left a job between January
1981 and January 1986 because of plant closings or moves, slack work, or the abolishment of

It is interesting to compare the shift into service occupa­
tions found among reemployed displaced workers. Machine
operators, assemblers, and inspectors, who accounted for
almost one-fourth of all displaced workers, were more likely
than most other workers to move into service jobs. Still,
only about 18 percent of the displaced operators, assem­
blers, and inspectors were working in service-related occu­
pations.

Number o f jobs held since displacement. Another indica­
tor of the stability or suitability of the new jobs is the
frequency with which displaced workers change them. Nu­
merous short-term stretches of employment or quits could
indicate the difficulty of finding acceptable work. A ques­
tion was added to the 1986 survey regarding the number of
jobs held since displacement. About one-third of those un­
employed in January and just over one-fourth of those out­
side the labor force had held a job at some time following
their displacement. As shown in the following tabulation,
nearly two-thirds of those who were employed when sur­
veyed were working on their first and only job held since the
original job loss. The remainder had, of course, held more
than one job since displacement.

1 For a more detailed discussion of the findings from the first survey of
displaced workers, see Paul O. Flaim and Ellen Sehgal, “Displaced work­
ers of 1979-83: how well have they fared?” M o n th ly L a b o r R e v ie w , June
1985, pp. 3-16; Richard Devens, “Displaced workers: one year later,”
M o n th ly L a b o r R e v ie w , July 1986, pp. 40-43; and U .S. Congress, Office
o f Technology Assessment, T e c h n o lo g y a n d S tr u c tu r a l U n e m p lo y m e n t:
R e e m p lo y in g D is p la c e d A d u lts , ota -ite -250 (Washington, Government
Printing Office, February 1986).
2 The level o f concern about displaced worker issues can be seen in
Kevin Hollenbeck, Frank Pratzner, and Howard Rosen, eds., D is p la c e d
W o rk e rs : I m p lic a tio n s f o r E d u c a tio n a l a n d T ra in in g I n stitu tio n s (Colum­
bus, Ohio State University, 1984); and U .S. Congress, Congressional

12

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(2)

(2)

their positions or shifts.
2 Data not shown where base is less than 75,000.

Total

Two jobs
or more

One job

No jobs

T o tal...................... . .

100.0

29.0

48.5

22.5

Employed.............. ..
Unemployed.......... . .
Not in the labor
fo rc e .................. . .

100.0
100.0

36.7
16.5

63.3
18.6

64.8

100.0

10.2

18.3

71.5

—

Summary
The 1986 survey of displaced workers presents a more
positive picture of post-displacement success than the one
conducted in 1984, reflecting the effect of continued em­
ployment growth in the economy. While the overall level of
displacement was little changed, the number of displaced
workers who were reemployed at the time of the survey was
7 percentage points higher. The regional distribution, while
still not evenly balanced across the country, improved
slightly, in that the rate of reemployment in areas which had
been hardest hit was now closer to the national average.
However persistent unemployment has remained among
some groups. Levels of reemployment among older
workers were still relatively low. Reemployment rates of
women lagged behind those of men by about 10 percentage
points.
□

Budget Office, D is lo c a t e d W o rk e rs : I ss u e s a n d F e d e r a l O p tio n s (Wash­
ington, Government Printing Office, July 1982).
3 Additional information on advance notification is available from the
Permanent Mass Layoffs and Plant Closings program. See the accompany­
ing article by Sharon P. Brown.
4 “Advance notice” was defined as 30 days, but the definition did not
appear in the specific wording of the question asked the respondent.
5 For another look at the loss of health benefits for displaced workers, see
Michael Podgursky and Paul Swaim, “Job displacement and health in­
surance loss,” M o n th ly L a b o r R e v ie w , April 1987, pp. 30-33.

How often do workers receive
advance notice of layoffs?
About 2 of 3 layoffs occurred in the surveyed
States without workers receiving advance general notice;
in slightly more than half of the layoffs,
specific notice of more than 1 day was provided
to employees, usually averaging 18 days of notice
S haron P. B rown

Advance notice to workers about to be laid off is of increas­
ing interest to policymakers and others looking for ways to
avoid or reduce the period of dislocation between jobs. A
number of States have passed laws requiring or offering
incentives for providing advance notice. In September
1986, the Bureau of Labor Statistics surveyed establish­
ments in seven States which participated in the Bureau’s
mass layoff reporting system.1
The reporting system covers layoff events of 30 days or
more in which at least 50 initial claims for unemployment
compensation were filed in a 3-week period by separated
workers against their former employer. This system, which
will soon be nationwide, provides detailed information on
plants and workers affected by closings and layoffs. Estab­
lishments reporting layoffs in the last half of 1985 in Ala­
bama, Arizona, Arkansas, Massachusetts, Texas, Washing­
ton, and Wisconsin were recontacted by employment
security agency staff in each of these States and asked to
provide additional information on activities leading to the
layoff. A total of 248 establishments responded to the sur­
vey, accounting for 271 layoffs and the separation of 67,800
workers, 49,327 of whom filed claims for unemployment
compensation. While the survey findings are not representa­
tive of the Nation as a whole (because State selection was
not based on socioeconomic or demographic factors, or
Sharon P. Brown is Chief of the Division of Local Area Unemployment
Statistics, Bureau o f Labor Statistics.


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statistical techniques), the study does present information on
worker dislocation.
Survey results. About 2 of 3 layoffs occurred in the sur­
veyed States without workers receiving advance general
notice. (See table 1.) Advance general notice was defined as
the notification of individual workers that a layoff was ex­
pected to occur, without specifying the exact date of termi­
nation. When advance general notice was provided, workers
were usually given an average of 46 days of notice.
In slightly more than half of the layoffs, establishments
provided specific notice of more than 1 day to employees,
usually averaging 18 days of notice. Specific notice was
defined as the notification of individual employees that they
will be laid off on a specific date. If general notice was
provided, it was always in advance of the specific notice.
Industry. Among the surveyed firms in the seven States,
the incidence of advance general notice was much higher in
manufacturing than nonmanufacturing industries (43 per­
cent of layoffs versus 19 percent). (See table 1.) However,
the average days of notice in manufacturing establishments
was somewhat less than for nonmanufacturing industries—
45 days compared to 54. Specific notice of more than 1 day
was provided in 57 percent of reported manufacturing lay­
offs and 40 percent of nonmanufacturing layoffs. Average
days of specific notice of more than 1 day were the same for
each, 18 days.
13

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW

June 1987 •

Advance Notice o f Layoffs

Within manufacturing, nondurable goods industries re­
ported a higher incidence of general and specific notice to
employees than durable goods firms. Durable goods firms
that gave notice provided a much longer period of notice—
54 versus 25 days. The greater length of general notice in
the nonmanufacturing sector was affected by the responses
of wholesale and retail trade establishments, which experi­
ence normal seasonal layoffs of more than 30 days’ dura­
tion.
Union status. The probability of providing both advance
general and specific notice was about equal among union­
ized and nonunionized establishments in the six States re­
porting information on union status. (See table 2.) (Estab­
lishments in Alabama were not asked the question on union
status.) However, when giving notice, unionized firms gave
a longer period of advance general notice than in nonunion
situations— an average of 51 versus 42 days. In contrast,
nonunionized employers averaged 24 days of specific notice
of more than 1 day— almost twice that of union situations,
which averaged 13 days.
The provision of longer advance general notice to union­
ized workers and longer specific notice to nonunion workers
within an industry group was especially evident in the
durable goods industries. When notice was given, an aver­
age of 63 days of general notice was provided by unionized
durable goods firms, versus 53 days in nonunionized situa­
tions, while 26 days of specific notice were provided to
nonunionized workers compared to 14 days for unionized
workers. Unionized establishments accounted for about half
of all respondents to this question.
Corporate status. When the establishment was part of a
larger corporate entity, there was a higher probability that
advance general notice would be provided, although the
length of notice was not significantly different from firms
without the corporate association. (See table 3.) General

Table 1.

notice was provided in 43 percent of layoffs reported by
establishments which were part of a larger organization,
with an average of 47 days of notice given. Among estab­
lishments not associated with a larger corporate entity, gen­
eral notice was provided in one-quarter of the reported lay­
offs, with 45 days of notice given.
Establishments which were part of a larger corporate en­
tity also had a higher likelihood of providing specific notice
of more than 1 day— 58 versus 44 percent— with the length
of notice almost double— 21 days compared to 12 days.
Notice to others. In addition to employee notification, 85
establishments provided advance general and specific notice
to State and local government officials, union officials, the
news media, and community groups. (See table 4.) More
than 3 of 4 of these establishments provided advance general
notice to State or local government officials averaging 22
days. Union officials received advance general notice from
42 establishments, with 38 days of notice provided. Mem­
bers of the press and other news media received general
notice averaging 44 days from 27 firms.
Twenty-eight firms providing specific notice of more than
1 day to employees also informed State or local government
officials of the layoff—an average of 18 days of notice was
provided. Twenty-six firms provided such information to
union officials, although the average notice was only 9 days.
Reemployment services. About one-third of the establish­
ments provided some type of reemployment services to em­
ployees. (See table 5.) Nineteen set up formal labormanagement committees, while 58 provided outplacement
services within the company’s structure. Among establish­
ments with formal labor-management committees, the most
frequent services provided were an examination of the char­
acteristics and skills of the workers as part of developing
reemployment strategies, arrangements for prelayoff regis-

Mass layoff events by selected industries and type and length of separation notice, July-December 1985

Industry

Total, all industries ......................................................................................................................

Number of
establish­
ments

248

With advance
general notice
Total1

271

With specific
notice of more
than 1 day

No notice
given

Number

Average
days of
notice2

Number

Average
days of
notice2

97

46

142

18

129

_

_

Agriculture...........................................................................................................................................
Nonagriculture.....................................................................................................................................
Manufacturing..................................................................................................................................
Durable goods..............................................................................................................................
Nondurable goods........................................................................................................................

8
240
181
126
55

8
263
200
143
57

97
85
59
26

46
45
54
25

3
139
114
76
38

40
18
18
19
15

5
94
86
67
19

Nonmanufacturing ..........................................................................................................................
Wholesale and retail tra d e ...........................................................................................................
Services .......................................................................................................................................
Other nonmanufacturing .............................................................................................................

59
8
12
39

63
8
13
42

12
3
3
6

54
84
23
54

25
3
6
16

18
18
19
18

38
5
7
26

1 Data on layoffs were reported by employers In Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Massachusetts,
Texas, Washington, and Wisconsin. Data for Wisconsin are for October-December 1985.

Digitized for 14
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2 Average days of notice are calculated based on those events in which notice was provided.

Table 2. Mass layoff events by selected industries, union status of employees, and type and length of separation notice,
July-December 1985

Industry and union status of employees

Number of
establish­
ments

With advance
general notice
Total1

With specific
notice of more
than 1 day

Number

Average
days of
notice2

Number

Average
days of
notice2

No notice
given

Total, all industries...................................................................................................................

196

217

82

46

112

18

105

Union3 .................................................................................................................................................
Nonunion.............................................................................................................................................

96
100

106
111

40
42

51
42

56
56

13
24

50
55

O)

40

-

-

5
-

Agriculture...........................................................................................................................................
Union3 .............................................................................................................................................
Nonunion .........................................................................................................................................

8

8

_

_

-

-

-

-

8

8

-

-

(3)

40

5

Nonagriculture....................................................................................................................................
Union3 .............................................................................................................................................
Nonunion .........................................................................................................................................

188
96
92

209
106
103

82
40
42

46
51
43

109
56
53

18
13
23

100
50
50

Manufacturing..................................................................................................................................
Union3 .........................................................................................................................................
Nonunion ....................................................................................................................................

139
73
66

157
82
75

72
36
36

46
50
43

91
49
42

17
13
22

66
33
33

Durable goods..............................................................................................................................
Union3 ......................................................................................................................................
Nonunion..................................................................................................................................

99
52
47

115
60
55

50
23
27

57
63
53

65
36
29

19
14
26

50
24
26

Nondurable goods.......................................................................................................................
Union3 ......................................................................................................................................
Nonunion..................................................................................................................................

40
21
19

42
22
20

22
13
9

21
27
13

26
13
13

12
11
12

16
9
7

Nonmanufacturing ..........................................................................................................................
Union3 .........................................................................................................................................
Nonunion ....................................................................................................................................

49
23
26

52
24
28

10
4
6

50
59
43

18
7
11

21
10
27

34
17
17

1 Data on union status of employers involved in layoffs were reported by employers in Arizona,
Arkansas, Massachusetts, Texas, Washington, and Wisconsin. Data for Wisconsin are for
October-December 1985. In Alabama, employers were not asked the union status question.
2 Average days of notice are calculated based on those events in which notice was provided.

3
Data refer to members of a labor union or an employee association similar to a union, or
workers whose jobs are covered by a union or an employee contract.
Note : Dash represents zero or rounds to zero.

Table 3. Mass layoff events by selected industries, corporate status of reporting establishments, and type and length of
separation notice, July-December 1985

Industry and corporate status of establishment

Number of
establish­
ments

With advance
general notice
Total1
Number

With specific
notice of more
than 1 day

Average
days of
notice2

Number

Average
days of
notice2

No notice
given

Total, all industries...................................................................................................................

248

271

97

46

142

18

129

Part of larger corporate e n tity .............................................................................................................
Not part of larger corporate e n tity ......................................................................................................

149
99

165
106

71
26

47
45

95
47

21
12

70
59

Agriculture...........................................................................................................................................
Part of larger corporate entity .........................................................................................................
Not part of larger corporate entity ..................................................................................................

8
3
5

8
3
5

-

-

(3 )

(3 )

(3 )

Nonagriculture....................................................................................................................................
Part of larger corporate entity .........................................................................................................
Not part of larger corporate entity ..................................................................................................

240
146
94

263
162
101

97
71
26

46
47
45

139
93
46

18
21
12

124
69
55

Manufacturing..................................................................................................................................
Part of larger corporate entity ....................................................................................................
Not part of larger corporate entity................................................................................................

181
118
63

200
132
68

85
61
24

46
48
39

114
78
36

18
21
11

86
54
32

Durable goods..............................................................................................................................
Part of larger corporate e n tity ..................................................................................................
Not part of larger corporate e n tity ............................................................................................

126
86
40

143
99
44

59
44
15

54
56
50

76
55
21

19
22
10

67
44
23

Nondurable goods.......................................................................................................................
Part of larger corporate e n tity ..................................................................................................
Not part of larger corporate e n tity ............................................................................................

55
32
23

57
33
24

26
17
9

25
27
20

38
23
15

15
17
13

19
10
9

Nonmanufacturing ..........................................................................................................................
Part of larger corporate entity ....................................................................................................
Not part of larger corporate entity................................................................................................

59
28
31

63
30
33

12
10
2

54
41
16

25
15
10

18
22
12

38
15
23

1 Data on layoffs were reported by employers in Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Massachusetts,
Texas, Washington, and Wisconsin. Data for Wisconsin are for October-December 1985.

„

,

,

2 Average days of notice are calculated based on those events in which notice was provided.


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_

_

(8)

40

5

-

-

(3 )

(3 )

(3 )

3 Data do not meet bls or State agency disclosure standards.

Note : Dash represents zero or rounds to zero.

15

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW

June 1987 •

Advance Notice of Layoffs

tration by the State employment service, and preparation for
training in job search skills.
Among establishments providing out-placement services,
the most frequently cited service was canvassing other em­
ployers for job openings, followed by employee skill sur­
veys and prelayoff employment service registration.

Table 5. Mass layoff events by type of reemployment
services provided by reporting establishments and se­
lected industries, July-December 1985
Industry

Type of reemployment
services

Comparison with other findings
In addition to the Bureau’s study, the General Accounting
Office (g ao ) has released results from a nationwide survey
of layoffs, including information on advance general and
specific notice.2 Before examining the bls and gao find­
ings, one should consider the differences in the surveys and
approaches.
bls examined layoffs of 50 workers or more, while gao
surveyed layoffs of 100 or more. The bls survey was limited
to all such layoffs in seven States, while g a o ’s results were
from a random sample of establishments throughout the
United States. In the bls study, a layoff event was identified
if at least 50 claims for unemployment insurance were filed
in a 3-week period. In the gao study, there was no constraint
on the timing or size of each week’s layoffs, but rather on
the total number of laid off workers. With regard to timing,
bls surveyed layoffs that occurred between August and De­
cember 1985, while gao studied layoffs which occurred in
1983 and 1984. In the bls study, firms were contacted no
more than 1 year after the layoff, while g ao ’s information
was obtained 1 to 3 years after the event.
In addition to the differences in the establishments sur­
veyed and the methods used, perhaps the most important
distinction was the definition of notice used in each study.
In the bls study, a general notice “informs individual em­
ployees that they will be laid off,” while in the gao study,
it was defined as “an event in which groups of workers are
notified that some or all of the workers may be laid off.”
Specific notice, in the bls study, “informs individual em­
ployees that they will be laid off on a specific date.” In the
gao study, it was described as “an event in which individual
Table 4. Establishments providing layoff notification to
organizations, by type and length of separation notice,
July-December 1985
Advance specific
notice of more
than 1 day

Advance
general
notice
Organization
Average
days of
notice1

Number of
establish­
ments

Average
days of
notice1

85

-

85

-

42

38

26

9

65
27
12

22
44
50

28
8
4

18
34
5

Number of
establish­
ments

Total, all establishments2 .
Unions..................................
State and local government
officials..............................
Press and other news media
Community groups...............

1 Average days of notice are calculated based on those events in which notice was provided.
2 Data on layoffs were reported by employers in Alabama, Arizona, Massachusetts, Texas,
Washington, and Wisconsin. Data for Wisconsin are for October-December 1985.

16

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Total, all industries1 .............
With labor-management
committees..............................
Surveying skills of employees
Arranging for employment
service registration...........
Arranging for training in job
search skills.....................
Canvassing other employers
for job openings...............
Inviting other firms to conduct
interviews ........................
Providing other services . . .
With outplacement services . . . .
Surveying skills of employees .
Arranging for employment
service registration .............
Arranging for training in job
search skills ........................
Canvassing other employers
for job openings .................
Inviting other firms to conduct
interviews............................
Providing other services.........

Number
of
estab­
lishments

Nonagriture

Total

Durable
goods

Non­
dur­
able
goods

248

240

181

126

55

59

19
17

19
17

15
14

12
11

3
3

4
3

15

15

13

10

3

2

14

14

13

10

3

1
2

Manufacturing

Nonmanufactar­
ing

10

10

8

5

3

7
3

7
3

6
2

4
2

2
“

1
1

58
28

58
28

46
23

36
21

10
2

12
5

27

27

23

17

6

4

22

-

22

20

2

~

30

30

26

20

6

4

9
14

9
14

8
10

6
7

2
3

1
4

1 Data on layoffs were reported by employers in Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Massachusetts,
Texas, Washington, and Wisconsin. Data for Wisconsin are for October-December 1985.

Note : Dash represents zero or rounds to zero.

employees are notified that on a specific date they will no
longer be employed at the establishment.” The bls defini­
tion of advance general notice was much more restrictive
than the g a o ’s insofar as it required that individual em­
ployees be informed of an impending layoff. The definitions
used for specific notice in both studies were comparable.
The Bureau’s study dealt with establishments employing
50 workers or more. The survey was limited to seven States
and covered layoffs which occurred in late 1985, lasting at
least 30 days.
The gao study covered a nationwide random sample of
larger firms— those employing 100 workers or more— hav­
ing layoffs in 1983 and 1984.
Considering the results from the two surveys, the gao
study estimated that 76 percent of the surveyed establish­
ments provided advance general notice. (See table 6.) In the
bls study, only 36 percent of layoffs occurred with advance
general notice given to employees. The difference in the
extent of advance general notice provided in each survey
stems from the definition used.
In terms of specific notice, the gao study found that 34
percent of establishments provided no specific notice to
employees, while the bls study found this to occur in only
5 percent of layoffs. However, in the bls survey, establish­
ments responded that, in 115 layoffs, 1 day or less of
specific notice to employees was given. Often, hours of

notice were reported, with the notation made that this was
in accordance with union agreements. Treating the “ 1 day or
less of notice” as no notice increases the proportion of lay­
offs without specific notice provided to 48 percent. Regard­
less of the treatment of “ 1 day or less,” both studies found
that specific notice was provided in the majority of situa­
tions and that such specific notice was typically short— 2
weeks or less.

Table 6. Percent distribution of advance notice provided1
in layoffs by length of layoff

Future data and analysis
The establishments surveyed regarding advance notice to
workers were identified through the Bureau’s Permanent
Mass Layoff and Plant Closing program. This is a FederalState cooperative endeavor which uses a standardized, auto­
mated approach to identifying, describing, and tracking the
effect of major job cutbacks, using data from each State’s
Unemployment Insurance (ui) data base. Establishments
which have at least 50 initial claims filed against them
during a 3-week period are targeted for contact by the State
agency to determine whether these separations are perma­
nent or temporary, the total number of persons separated, as
well as the reasons for these separations. Establishments are
identified by industry and location and detailed socioeco­
nomic characteristics of ui claimants, such as age, race, sex,
ethnic group, and place of residence are noted. The Perma­
nent Mass Layoff and Plant Closing program yields infor­
mation on an individual’s entire spell of insured unemploy­
ment, to the point where his or her regular ui benefits are
exhausted.
Currently, 47 States and the District of Columbia are
participating in the program. Data on establishments and


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1 1n the bls stuay, information on advance notice relates to layoff events. Multiple unrelated
layoffs in a single establishment are treated as separate events. In the gao study, information
on advance notice relates to establishments.
2 Less than 0.5 percent.

workers involved in permanent mass layoffs and plant clos­
ings will be released in the first annual report to Congress
this summer. The report will be limited to those States for
which 1986 data are available. The 1987 report is scheduled
for publication in the spring of 1988 and will contain data
for virtually every State.
---------- F O O T N O T E S ---------1 The survey was undertaken at the request of Secretary o f Labor
William E. Brock’s Task Force on Economic Adjustment and Worker
Dislocation, and conducted by the State employment security agency staff
in Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Massachusetts, Texas, Washington, and
Wisconsin, in cooperation with the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
2 See “gao’s Preliminary Analysis of U .S. Business Closures and Per­
manent Layoffs During 1983 and 1984, Apr. 30, 1986” (U .S. General
Accounting Office). Also see, P la n t C lo s in g s : I n fo r m a tio n o n A d v a n c e
N o tic e a n d A s s is ta n c e to D is lo c a te d W o rk e rs (U .S. General Accounting
Office, Apr. 17, 1987), gao- hrd 87-86BR.

17

Britain’s redundancy payments
for displaced workers
The Redundancy Payments Act of 1965 established
the idea that an employee has property rights
to his or her job based on years of company service
and instituted an entitlement program for displaced
workers sponsored by firms and the government
L aw rence S. R oot

In 1965, British policymakers created the Redundancy Pay­
ments Act, calling for advance notification of workers who
are to be laid off (made “redundant”) and mandating lump­
sum payments to those affected. In the years that fol­
lowed, revisions strengthened requirements for joint labormanagement planning to avoid redundancies, but the basic
structure of redundancy payments remained unchanged. The
Act was an effort to spur industrial modernization, but with
recent high levels of unemployment, it has taken on a wel­
fare role, providing payments to displaced workers who
may face prolonged periods of unemployment. Great Britain
has attempted to mitigate the effects of economic displace­
ment by mandating private-sector payments with partial
government reimbursement of the costs. The primary and
secondary impacts of the Act provide a useful backdrop for
the current discussion of policies to deal with displaced
workers in the United States.

The legislation: context and content
The Redundancy Payments Act of 1965 was a response
by the British government to basic concerns about the flex­
ibility of the nation’s industrial base and, to some extent, its
ability to modernize in the face of a traditional union empha­
sis on job security. Unemployment was low at the time and
the primary concern was shifting to newer modes of produc­
tion and expanding Britain’s economic base to compete in
future markets. Policymakers in the Labour government,
which had a Parliamentary majority at the time, sought
ways:
Lawrence S. Root is an associate professor of social work at thè School of
Social Work, University of Michigan.

18

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“. . .to make it easier for workers to change their jobs in accord­
ance with the needs of technological progress. . .to push forward
the modernisation of British industry as fast as possible, and to
enlist the cooperation of workers as well as management in the
process. . -”1

The Act established the idea that an employee gains the
equivalent of property rights to his or her job by virtue of
years of service with the company. Those rights include the
privileges and security associated with seniority, as well as
rights to the job itself. In his introduction of the bill for its
critical second reading in Parliament, the Minister for
Labour equated the rights of an employee to a job with those
of an owner:
“. . .if a man is deprived of those rights by economic circumstances
outside his control, he ought to be compensated. Industry has long
recognized the justice of this for higher management and I believe
the House would agree that it is high time to extend it to all
workers.”2

What emerged from Parliament was an Act which pro­
vided for advanced notification of impending cutbacks and
lump-sum payments to workers who were made “re­
dundant.”3 Advance notification of redundancies had been
introduced by the previous Conservative government, and
there was legislative precedent for mandating payments to
redundant workers.4
Prior to the Act, severance payments were not wide­
spread. One estimate suggests that fewer than 1 in 6 workers
had any form of redundancy or severance pay, and most of
those workers were in public-sector employment.5 A survey
in the late 1950’s of “best practices,” representing perhaps
10 percent of all companies, suggested that the most gener-

ous of those companies offered no more than 12 weeks’ pay
for their long-term workers.6 In one work force reduction 10
years before the passage of the Act, a large automaker
dismissed 4,900 workers with only 2 days’ notice and no
compensation. Subsequent negotiations eventually resulted
in 1 week’s pay for those with 3 to 10 years of service and
2 weeks’ pay for those with more.7
The appropriateness of a lump-sum payment rather than
increased income maintenance payments was one subject of
legislative debate. The authors of the Act held that a lump­
sum payment was the appropriate response to a loss of
property. It was argued that the redundant worker experi­
ences a loss even if there is no period of unemployment. A
one-time payment also had the advantage of avoiding disin­
centives for reemployment which might result from higher
unemployment benefits. The single payment would “never
have the effect of giving the prudent worker a financial
incentive to spin out a spell of unemployment.”8
The amount of the lump-sum payment was expressed in
terms of a number of weeks of pay for years of service at
different ages. Years worked when the worker was 18 to 21
result in a half week’s pay per year. Each year worked when
age 22 to 40 yields 1 weeks’ pay. The worker is credited
with \\ weeks’ pay for each year worked from age 41 to the
normal retirement age.9 A worker has to have at least 2 years
of service beyond the age of 18 to be eligible for the statu­
tory payment. A maximum of 20 years of work are counted
and a maximum wage was fixed at £40 per week in 1965.
This was increased over the years to £155 in 1986.10 (At the
time of this writing, the exchange rate suggested that 1
British pound was equal to approximately $1.50.)
The schedule links payment levels to age, based on the
assumption that older workers have more to lose in the event
of displacement. This introduction of age into the formula
was a departure from the approach of private-sector plans,
and it created incentives for older workers to volunteer for
redundancy.
The Act also established a Redundancy Fund, financed by
a surcharge on the National Insurance tax. The fund had two
purposes: first, it made the payments to “redundant em­
ployees whose employers were unable to fulfill that obliga­
tion”;11 and second, the fund also reimbursed employers for
about 60 percent of the costs of redundancy payments.
The reimbursements were intended to spread the costs
across businesses rather than have them fall only “on those
firms and industries which are least able to bear it.”12 Re­
cently, the percentage of costs reimbursed by the Redun­
dancy Fund was decreased and was phased out entirely in
the fall of 1986 for establishments with 11 employees or
more.
The reimbursement structure initially reduced the costs
for companies experiencing redundancies, undercutting
some political opposition. This reimbursement structure
also had additional political benefits. The governmental
share of redundancy expenses was decreased over the years


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Table 1. Redundancies and unemployment in Great
Britain, 1977-85
[In thousands]
Item

Advance notifications . . .
Confirmed redundancies.
Redundancy payments..
Confirmed
redundancies1
(percent) ...................
Redundancy
payments1
(percent) ...................
Total number of
unemployed2 .............
Percent .....................

1977

1978

607
158
267

1979

1980

1981

1982

1983

1984

1985

548
173
255

574 1,547 1,058
187
494
532
491
255
810

770
400
635

551
327
608

405
245
425

423
235
391

7.2

7.8

8.3

22.1

25.1

19.1

15.9

11.8

11.3

12.2

11.5

11.3

22.2

38.2

30.2

29.7

20.5

18.8

1,345 1,321 1,234 1,591 2,422 2,806 2,988 3,034 3,149
5.7
5.6
5.2
6.7 10.2 11.9 12.7 12.9 13.3

1 Rate per thousand employees.
2 From April 1983, the unemployment data reflect the effects of the Budget provisions for
some men aged 40 and over who no longer had to sign on at an unemployment benefit office.
Unemployment rates are based on registered unemployed as a percent of the wage and salary
labor force (excludes the self-employed and the Armed Forces).
Source : “Recent Trends in Redundancies," E m p lo y m e n t G azette, December 1986, tables
1 and 2, redundancy payments rate calculated from tables. Unemployment data from table 2.2
in E m p lo ym e n t G azette, July 1981 and July 1986.

by lowering the proportion of employer expenses reim­
bursed. In this way, public costs were decreased without
reducing the benefit levels to individuals. While this latter
feature may not have been intended, the history of decreased
reimbursement suggests that it had that effect.

The incidence of redundancies
There is no central reporting of the total number of re­
dundancies. The existence of the redundancy payments,
however, provides some useful indicators of the extent of
redundancies in Great Britain.
Three types of data arise from the operation of the Redun­
dancy Payments Act: advance notifications, confirmed re­

dundancies, and redundancy payments.13 While none of
these provides a direct estimate of the number of workers
who are actually made redundant, each contributes to our
understanding the incidence of redundancies.14 Table 1 pro­
vides statistics on these three indicators.
Employers are required to give 30 days’ advance notifica­
tion to the Department of Employment before a redundancy
involving 10 employees or more is to occur.(Ninety days is
required when the redundancies are to involve more than
100 employees.) Statistics on advance notifications under­
represent the number of redundancies because they exclude
actions affecting only a few people. They also may overrep­
resent the eventual redundancies because subsequent adjust­
ments often negate or reduce the eventual need for the
redundancies.
Confirmed redundancies are based on Department of Em­
ployment followup of the advance notifications. They also
exlude establishments of fewer than 10 employees, but are
more stable over time than the advance notifications. This
stability makes confirmed redundancies a useful indicator of
the incidence of redundancies over time.
Data on the number of redundancy payments provide the
19

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW

June 1987 •

Britain’s Redundancy Payments for Displaced Workers
followed by an increase in unemployment in subsequent
years.
The bulk of redundancies have occurred in manufactur­
ing. Table 2 shows the rates of redundancy in manufacturing
compared with those in the service sector from 1977 to
1985. Both rates show the same general trend over time in
chart 1, but it is clear that layoffs in manufacturing dominate
the picture. In addition, the ratio of manufacturing redun­
dancies to service sector redundancies increases with rises in
the overall numbers, indicating manufacturing’s dispropor­
tionate share of the sharp increase in redundancies in the
early 1980’s. It should be noted, however, that systematic
differences in the size of the establishments by industry may
limit the usefulness of industry comparisons of confirmed
redundancies. Redundancies in the service sector may be
underrepresented because of the greater prevalence of small
establishments than in manufacturing.

third source for estimating the extent of redundancies.
While these data include the smallest establishments, they
do not include redundant employees with fewer than 2 years
of service or those who have reached retirement age.
Although the number of redundancies is not directly
measured, we can use redundancy payments to make an
estimate. A study of British employment flow found that
almost 40 percent of those who became unemployed said
that they left their last job because of redundancy, but only
42.5 percent of that group said that they had received or
expected to receive a redundancy payment.15 Another
British study of companies applying to the Redundancy
Fund for reimbursement found a higher ratio of those receiv­
ing payments to those not receiving payments, but the au­
thors suggest that their sample overrepresents that ratio and
a one-to-one relationship between eligibles and ineligibles is
a more accurate assumption.16 Using this relationship, we
can estimate the number of redundancies by doubling the
number of payments.
In chart 1, this estimate is graphed over time, indicating
a peaking in 1981 at about 1.6 million redundancies. Overall
unemployment, included in table 1, is also displayed in
chart 1. Although the relationship is not necessarily direct,
we would expect increased redundancies to eventuate in
higher unemployment. The data provide some support for
this, with the sharp rise in the number of redundancies

Redundancies in Britain and the U.S.
Although the British data are not strictly comparable with
recent data on displaced workers in the United States, the
incidence of redundancies can be compared.
Most redundant British workers who do not receive pay­
ments are ineligible because they have been employed for
fewer than 2 years or, less often, they have reached retire­
ment age (60 for women and 65 for men). Data from the
United States suggest that from 1979 to 1983, approxi­
mately 11.5 million workers lost their jobs because of

Chart 1. Payments, redundancies, and unemployment in Great Britian, 1977-85
[In thousands]

[In thousands]

3500

3500

3000

3000
l

\
1,1'

|

Redundancies
Payments

2500

2500
Unemployment

J

2000

2000

1500

— 1500

1000 _

1000

500

500
0 •

y
1977

Digitized for20
FRASER
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

a

y

l

1978

1979

1980

l
1981

M
1982

B
1983

B
1984

0
1985

Table 2. Confirmed redundancies in the manufacturing
and service sectors, 1977-85
Rate per 1,000 employees
Year

1977
1978
1979
1980
1981
1982
1983
1984
1985

Manufacturing1

Service

13.8
16.7
19.9
59.6
65.9
48.7
40.2
28.4
25.3

2.1
2.2
1.9
3.9
5.9
5.8
5.0
4.2
3.6

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

Ratio of manufacturing
to service

6.6
7.6
10.5
15.3
11.2
8.4
8.0
6.8
7.0

1 Excluding construction, energy, and water supply.
Source : "Recent Trends in Redundancies,” E m p lo y m e n t G a ze tte , December 1986,
table 2.

closings or job cuts; 6.9 million (60 percent) had 2 years or
more on that jo b .17 Displaced workers with 3 years or more
on the job were analyzed in the U.S. data. Extrapolating
from these data, however, we can estimate how many work­
ers with 2 years or more who were below the British retire­
ment age were displaced in each of the years from 1979
through 1983.18 These data and the comparable British data,
based on redundancy payments, are displayed in table 3.
In both countries, the rates of displacement increased
sharply in the early 1980’s. The British rates are consider­
ably higher than those in the United States, particularly in
1981, when the British redundancies peaked. For the period
covered, however, the British rates display some downward
movement, while the U.S. rates continue upward.

Three payment levels
Statistics are available for the payments which are re­
quired by statute, but larger corporations typically provide
payments which increase the total amount which a redun­
dant worker receives. Payments can be roughly divided into
three levels: (1) statutory payments; (2) “extra payments,”
which are corporate plans which add to those statutory minimums; and (3) “super payments,” which are larger pay­
ments arising in nationalized industries, particularly those
associated with the European Coal and Steel Community.
It is estimated that somewhat more than one-half of those
who are receiving redundancy payments have no corporate
supplement.19 The average statutory payment in the 12month period ending in March 1986 was £1,758.20
Most larger companies provide extra payments to supple­
ment their statutory obligation. The amount of the payments
varies with the wage level, seniority, and age of the work
force affected, and this is usually not made public by com­
panies. It is estimated that the extra payments tend to result
in two to three times the level of payments mandated by
law.21
The calculation of extra payments range from ignoring
the limits used for statutory payments (for example, maxi­
mum wage level counted or number of years of service
credited) to the addition of a fixed amount to supplements


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based on combinations of age and length of service. The
actual structure of the extra payment programs can have a
pronounced effect on the distribution of payments across
age groups. Two programs in the auto industry offer an
example.22 Company A provides 18 weeks’ pay in addition
to the statutory payment. Company B uses a formula which
reflects the statutory approach of giving more weight to
years of service by older workers. For a worker made redun­
dant at age 38 after 20 years of service, Companies A and
B provide a total of 36 and 35 weeks’ pay, respectively. For
a worker who is displaced at age 58 after 30 years of service,
Company A provides 46.5 weeks’ pay while the payment
from Company B would be for 68 weeks.
The impact of the two different approaches in this exam­
ple varies with the age structure of the work force. For
younger workers (and those with shorter tenure with the
company) the plan in Company A is more generous (and
more costly for the company). If, however, the work force
is older, the extra payments in Company B are much more
attractive. In a cutback, rather than a total closing of a
facility, these higher payments for older workers, often
combined with relaxed pension eligibility, create strong in­
centives for older workers to volunteer for redundancy. This
has tended to reverse the traditional l if o (last in, first out)
order of redundancies as older workers with greater senior­
ity volunteer for redundancy.
As noted, “super payments” are found in nationalized
industries, particularly those tied to the European Coal and
Steel Community. These payments tend to be well above the
levels of other corporate payment plans. In addition, salary
continuance plans can provide up to 2 years’ continuing
salary (or salary supplements if the worker is reemployed at
a lower paying job). In a 1980 personnel reduction in a
Welsh steel company, for example, it was reported that male
workers 55 and older received an average payment of
£10,000; the lowest 20 percent received less than £5,000;
and the highest 20 percent received more than £15,000.23 In
addition, those workers received income supplements up to
90 percent of their former wage for the 2 years following
their job loss. During this period, £18,000 was the maxi­
mum redundancy payment which a British steelworker
could receive.24
These redundancy payment levels reflect the effect of
standards established by the European Coal and Steel Com­
munity and, to some extent, funds from the Community. As
part of attempts to nationalize coal and steel production in
Europe, Community funds have been used to ease the costs
involved in closing less productive facilities. The contribu­
tions have been applied to early retirement packages, train­
ing, and redeployment as well as to redundancy pay. In
1979, it was reported that the coal industry received £4.67
million (an average of £1,240 per redundant worker). In
the steel industry, £1.5 million was provided, £600 per
worker.25
Other nationalized industries which do not receive outside
21

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW

June 1987 •

Britain’s Redundancy Payments for Displaced Workers

support often have relatively large redundancy payments,
but these public sector payments tend to be within the range
of the most generous private sector plans. For example, the
average payment for workers who were made redundant by
British Shipbuilders in 1983 was about £7,500.26

Comparing two systems
The British layoff situation differs from that of the United
States. Britain’s redundancy rates have been two to three
times greater than those in the United States. In addition,
unemployment is more prevalent and regional unemploy­
ment is particularly severe. This is compounded by two
factors which limit geographic labor mobility: the relative
absence of a private sector rental market and very large
differentials in housing costs among regions. On the other
hand, differences in the social insurance systems result in
less dependence upon the workplace for health insurance,
eliminating one of the critical problems which displaced
workers face in the United States.27
Another significant difference between the two countries
is the Federal structure in the United States, which places
individual States in competition for attracting business. Al­
though some States and even cities have enacted plant­
closing legislation, concern about discouraging business in­
vestment with possible increased regulation and costs has
limited State-by-State initiatives.28
Given these differences, the Redundancy Payments Act
provides one model for an interplay between the private
policies of corporations and policies in the public sector.
Addressing social welfare needs through corporate policy
has been more characteristic of the United States than
Britain.29 The Act officially recognized an employee’s
“rights” to a job and quantified those rights in terms of
weeks of pay for years of service. It established a universal
entitlement program administered by corporations but with
the economic burden initially alleviated by partial reim­
bursement from a fund established with a surcharge to the
existing social insurance tax.

Payments and personnel decisions
Early critics of the Act feared that the costs would dis­
courage employers from imposing necessary redundancies.
But, in practice, it appears that the payments have facilitated
dismissals.30 The Act created an orderly process so that a
manager could reduce a work force “with an easier con­
science and reduced costs and arguments.”31
The statutory program not only created a universal pay­
ment which was considerably beyond the general standards
of the time, but it also appears to have stimulated the growth
of private-sector schemes which built upon this base. Extra
payments, a rarity before 1965, are now a normal part of the
redundancy plans of medium-sized and larger firms.32
The Redundancy Payments Act has also had secondary
effects on work force reductions. First, it changed the role
of unions. Prior to the Act, unions typically resisted the
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imposition of redundancies. With the growth of redundancy
payments, however, many workers have found the payment
attractive enough to justify volunteering for redundancy.
There has often been little rank-and-file support for oppos­
ing redundancies. The union role has shifted from fighting
redundancies to bargaining for larger payments.
Second, the Act changed the age profile of those affected
by redundancies. Seniority traditionally dominated the order
of redundancy selection. Age-based redundancy payments,
combined with an increase in the use of liberalized pension
eligibility, changed this by bolstering incentives for the
older worker to volunteer for redundancy. This is especially
true when the lump-sum payment represents more money
than the worker has ever amassed at any one time.
In the years since the passage of the Redundancy Pay­
ments Act, there has been increased targeting of redundan­
cies to older workers. Prior to the Act, only 19 percent of
employers in a national survey indicated that age was a
criterion in selection for redundancy. After the Act, that
percentage doubled. By 1974, a study by the British Insti­
tute of Management concluded that age was “the most im­
portant single mechanism for redundancy selection.”33
In addition to creating incentives for older workers to
elect voluntary redundancy, there also appears to be infor­
mal, social pressure on older workers to “make way” for the
young.34 Nevertheless, for the older worker who is still 10
or 15 years from retirement age, volunteering may mean
extended unemployment with little chance of finding other
work.
Statutory redundancy payments arose as an attempt to
encourage labor mobility. They were a consolation prize
designed to reduce employee resistance to industrial innova­
tions. In a growing economy with low levels of unemploy­
ment, the payments were appropriate for such a role. As
unemployment increased, however, redundant workers
found that the loss of a job was not followed by reemploy­
ment and payments were quickly exhausted. With 13Table 3. Comparison of rates of displacement (redun­
dancy) for workers with 2 years or more of service, Great
Britain and the United States, 1979-83
[Numbers in thousands]
Great Britain
Year

1979
1980
1981
1982
1983

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

United States1

Number

Rate per 1,000
employees

Number

Rate per 1,000
employees

255
491
810
635
608

11.3
22.2
38.2
30.2
29.7

686
895
1,290
1,721
1,789

6.9
9.0
12.8
17.3
17.7

1 1ncludes only those workers with at least 2 years of service and below retirement age for
British workers (60 for women; 65 for men).
Source: Data for Great Britain from “Recent Trends in Redundancies,” E m p lo ym e n t
May 1985, table 1, with rates calculated from data in tables 1 and 2. Data for the
United States based on the author's analysis of U.S. Department of Labor special household
survey of displaced workers, extrapolating those with at least 2 years of service who are below
the British retirement age. For a description of the data, see Paul 0. Flaim and Ellen Sehgal,
“Displaced workers of 1979-83: how well did they fare?” M o n th ly L a b o r R e view , June 1985,
pp. 3-16.
G azette,

percent unemployment and some regional rates at triple that
level, the statutory redundancy payment provides little eco­
nomic security.
Redundancy payments were created as labor policy. But
as long-term unemployment has become more common
among the workers affected, they have become more

closely associated with welfare policy. They have become,
in effect, an element of the British income mainte­
nance structure. This is not a role for which they were
created and the statutory redundancy payments do little to
address the economic needs of those facing long-term
unemployment.

FOOTNOTES

A cknowledgment : This research was carried out while the author was a
Visiting Fellow o f the Policy Studies Institute in London. The author is
indebted to W. W. Daniel, Bernard Casey, and Joan Brown for sharing their
knowledge and experience. Also, the author thanks Professor A.H. Halsey
for his help at Oxford and Professor William C. Birdsall who provided
criticisms o f and suggestions for an earlier manuscript version.
1 House o f Commons, P a r lia m e n ta r y D e b a te s (H a n s a r d ), Apr. 26,
1965, fifth series, volume 711, column 33. The H a n s a r d is the official
record o f proceedings in Parliament, recording debates and the text of
Parliamentary actions. The Redundancy Payments Act was later incorpo­
rated into the Employment Protection (Consolidation) Act.
2 H a n s a r d , Apr. 26, 1965, column 35.

3 The use o f “redundancy pay” rather than “severance pay” was based on
what the lawmakers felt was its greater precision. Before the passage of the
Act, “redundancy” was not such a common term.
4 For example, the Cotton Industry Act o f 1959 made government sup­
port of industries contingent upon compensating employees for their loss of
employment. See Santosh Mukherjee, T h ro u g h N o F a u lt o f T h e ir O w n
(London, Macdonald, 1973), p. 43.
5 S.R. Parker and others, E ffe c ts o f th e R e d u n d a n c y P a y m e n ts A c t (Lon­
don, Her Majesty’s Stationary O ffice, 1971), p. 4.
6 Mukherjee, T h ro u g h N o F a u lt o f T h e ir O w n , p. 53.
7 Hilda Kahn, R e p e r c u s s io n s o f R e d u n d a n c y (London, Allen and Unwin,
1964), pp. 2 1 -2 4 .
8 H a n s a r d , Apr. 16, 1965, column 37.
9 The Act does not require payments to workers who have reached
retirement age, 65 for men and 60 for women, irrespective of whether they
had planned to continue working beyond that age. This differential treat­
ment o f men and women has not yet been tested in court, although there
have been successful challenges in the European court to the policy of
different mandatory retirement ages based on sex.
10 In 1985, average weekly earnings were £164 for full-time working
men and £101 for full-time working women. See E m p lo y m e n t G a z e tte ,
July 1986, table 5.6, p. S50.
11 “Employment Topics— Redundancy Fund,” E m p lo y m e n t G a z e tte ,
July 1986, p. 284.
12 H a n s a r d , Apr. 26, 1965, columns 4 2 -4 3 .
13 Consistent statistics on redundancies have only been available since
1977. See discussion in “Statistics o f Redundancies and Recent Trends,”
E m p lo y m e n t G a z e tte , June 1983, p. 245.
14 For a discussion of these data, see “Recent Trends in Redundancies,”

19 John Bowers, David Deaton, and Jeremy Turk, L a b o u r H o a r d in g in
B r itis h I n d u s tr y (Oxford, Blackwell, 1982), p. 37. This finding is based on
a survey of limited size and may overrepresent larger concerns and, conse­
quently, the proportion of companies with extra payments.
20 “Employment Topics— Redundancy Fund,” E m p lo y m e n t G a z e tte ,
July 1986, p. 284.
21 “Redundancy Terms,” Income Data Services, Inc. (London 1980),
p. 4. This estimate is supported by the findings of the Institute o f Man­
power Studies survey which reports extra payments averaging 150 percent
of the statutory level. See Anderson, “Redundancy Provisions,” p. 351.
22 The information about the two programs is based on the author’s
interviews with the respective personnel directors in the companies.
23 Bill Bytheway, “Induced Voluntary Early Retirement: A Research
Report,” I n stitu te o f H e a lth C a r e S tu d ie s (Swansea, Wales, University
College of Swansea, January 1985), pp. 7 -9 .
24 B ritish B u s in e s s , Apr. 3, 1981, p. 654.
25 “Coal and Steel Workers Get European A id,” E m p lo y m e n t G a z e t t e ,
February 1979, p. 190.
26 B ritish B u s in e s s , Feb. 10, 1984, p. 244.
27 Flaim and Sehgal, “Displaced Workers, 1 9 79-83,” pp. 7 -8 .
28 For an example of one State program, see Nancy R. Forbre, Julia L.
Leighton, and Melissa R. Roderick, “Plant Closings and their Regulation
in Maine, 1971-1982,” 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 , Jan. 2,
1984, pp. 185-96.
29 For a discussion of this, see Lawrence S. Root, “Employee Benefits
and Social Welfare: Complement and Conflict,” A n n a ls . 479, May 1985,
pp. 101-18; and Lawrence Root, F r in g e B e n e fits : S o c ia l I n su ra n c e in th e
S te e l I n d u s tr y (Beverly Hills, CA, Sage, 1982).
30 Paul Lewis, T w e n ty Y e a r s o f S ta tu to r y R e d u n d a n c y P a y m e n ts in G r e a t
B rita in (Leeds, England, The Universities of Leeds and Nottingham,
1985), p. 38.
31 Parker and others, E ffe c ts , p. 29. The authors found that 46 percent
of employers and 79 percent of union leaders felt that the Act had decreased
worker resistance to redundancies (p. 147). Anderson, “Redundancy Provi­
sions,” p. 353, found a more neutral response.
32 It is estimated that 54 percent of U.S. employers o f more than 100
employees who have recently had layoffs provided some severance pay.
See D is lo c a t e d W o rk e rs : E x te n t o f B u s in e ss C lo s u r e s , L a y o ffs, a n d th e
P u b lic a n d P r iv a te R e s p o n s e (General Accounting Office, July 1986),
gao/hrd-86-1 1 16br , p. 18.

E m p lo y m e n t G a z e tte , May 1985, pp. 202-06.

15 W .W . Daniel, T h e U n e m p lo y e d F lo w : S ta g e 1 I n te rim R e p o r t (Lon­
don, Policy Studies Institute, May 1981), tables III—2 and IH—11.
16 Alan Anderson, “Redundancy Provisions,” E m p lo y m e n t G a z e tte , Au­
gust 1981, footnote 3, p. 352. The major trade union federation reached a
similar conclusion. See “Statutory Redundancy Payments: Discussion D oc­
ument,” Trades Union Congress, Circular No. 151, 1982-83 (London,
Feb. 3, 1983), p. 4.
17 Paul O. Flaim and Ellen Sehgal, “Displaced workers of 1979-83: how
well have they fared?” M o n th ly L a b o r R e v ie w , June 1985, pp. 3 -1 6 .
18 This is based on the author’s analysis of data provided by the Bureau
o f Labor Statistics in microcomputer format.


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33 J. Jolly, S. Creigh, and A. Mingay, “Age as a Factor in Employment,”
Research Paper No. 11 (London, Department of Employment), p. 97. See
also W.W. Daniel and Elizabeth Stilgoe, W h e re A r e T h ey N o w ? A F o llo w U p S tu d y o f th e U n e m p lo y e d (London, Political and Economic Planning,
1977), p. 89.
34 Bill Bytheway, “Making Way: The Disengagement of Older Work­
ers,” paper presented to the Annual Conference, British Society o f Geron­
tology, University of Keele, Sept. 2 7 -2 8 , 1985. This informal pressure on
older workers to step aside has also been observed in the operation of
retirement systems. For example, see Bernard Casey, “Recent Trends in
Retirement Policy,” in Pauline K. Robinson, Judy Livingstone, and James
E. Birren, A g in g a n d T e c h n o lo g ic a l A d v a n c e s (London, Plenum, 1984),
pp. 125-37.

23

The minimum wage: its relation
to incomes and poverty
In March 1985, one in five hourly wage workers
paid at or below the Federal minimum wage
of $3.35 per hour lived in households
with incomes below U.S. poverty levels
R alph

E.

S m it h

and

B ruce V

a v r ic h e k

Federal minimum wage legislation provides a floor on the
hourly wage rate that employers are allowed to pay most
workers. First enacted as part of the Fair Labor Standards
Act of 1938, this statute now requires a wage of at least
$3.35 per hour for the almost 90 percent of nonsupervisory
civilian workers to whom the act applies. Although the
minimum wage has been increased numerous times since it
was established, it has remained unchanged since January
1981. Because prices and wages have risen since that time,
the real value of the minimum wage has fallen.
In recent years, several proposals have been made to
change the minimum wage, including increasing it for all
workers, reducing it for younger workers just getting started
in the labor market, and eliminating it. These alternatives
are based on differing views about the effects of the mini­
mum wage at its current level. Some people believe it is too
low to provide low-wage workers with an adequate standard
of living, while others maintain that the present minimum
limits employment opportunities— especially for young
workers— by artificially raising wage costs to employers.1
One issue relevant to debates on the minimum wage is the
relation between that wage and poverty. Proponents of in­
creasing the minimum wage argue that it should be at least
high enough to provide above-poverty earnings to workers
with families to support. This article investigates empirical
evidence about the relationship among low wage rates, in­
come levels, and the incidence of poverty using data from

Ralph E. Smith and Bruce Vavrichek are economists at the U .S. Congres­
sional Budget Office. Roald Euller provided valuable technical assistance.

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the March 1985 Current Population Survey ( c p s ) . Unlike
wage surveys based on payroll and other business records of
employers, this household survey also provides information
on the demographic and social characteristics of the work­
ers, as well as their income and poverty status in the preced­
ing calendar year.2

Background of the minimum wage
Historically, changes in the minimum wage provisions of
the Fair Labor Standards Act have consisted primarily of
increases in the wage rate and expansions in coverage.3 The
minimum wage, which was originally set at $0.25 per hour
in 1938, reached $1 per hour in 1956, $2 per hour in 1974,
and the current level of $3.35 in 1981. (See table 1.) Cover­
age originally was limited to workers directly engaged in
interstate commerce, or in the production of goods for inter­
state commerce, but has been expanded considerably. In
1985, about 73 million nonsupervisory workers— or almost
90 percent of that work force— were subject to the minimum
wage. Major groups currently not subject to the minimum
wage include executive, administrative, and professional
personnel; employees in some small firms; and, of course,
the self-employed.
The remainder of this section analyzes the history and
current status of the minimum wage by considering its rela­
tion to average prices and wages in the economy, and to
Federal poverty thresholds.
Prices, wages, and the minimum wage. One perspective
on the size of the minimum wage today can be obtained by

Table 1. Minimum wage rates under the Fair Labor Stand­
ards Act of 1938, 1938-85
Effective
date

October 24, 1938
October 24,1939
October 24,1945
January 25,1950

Minimum
wage
...
...
. ..
...

$0.25
0.30
0.40
0.75

March 1,1956 .........
September 3,1961 .
Septembers, 1963 .
February 1,1967 . . .

1.00
1.15
1.25
1.40

S ource

Effective
date

Minimum
wage

February 1,1968 . . . .
May 1,1974 ...............
January 1,1975 .........

$1.60
2.00
2.10

January
January
January
January
January

1,1976 ........
1,1978 ........
1,1979 .........
1,1980 ........
1 ,1 9 8 1 ........

2.30
2.65
2.90
3.10
3.35

Social Security Administration, S o c ia l S e c u rity B ulletin, A n n u a l S ta tis tic a l S u p p le ­
p. 68.

m ent, 1 9 8 4 -8 5 ,

analyzing the real purchasing power of the wage over time,
and by examining its relation to average wages.
The purchasing power of the minimum wage— that is, its
value after taking account of inflation, here measured with
the Consumer Price Index— has fluctuated considerably
over time, but today is less than at any time since the
mid-1950’s. In 1985 dollars, the minimum wage was worth
just under $2 per hour when the legislation was enacted in
1938. (See chart 1.) By 1968, the real value of the wage had
reached a high of nearly $5 per hour, but by 1985, it had
declined to $3.35. In the 5-year period between January
1981— when the minimum wage was set at $3.35— January

Chart 1. Minimum wage rate in current and constant (1985) dollars, 1938-85
[Dollars]

[Dollars]

1 The minimum wage in constant 1985 dollars is equal to that wage divided by the Consumer Price Index (CPI),
where the CPI is adjusted to equal 1.00 in 1985. CPI data for 1938-77 are for urban wage earners and clerical workers;
beginning in 1978, CPI data are for all urban consumers.
N ote: In years when the minimum wage changed, the wage in this chart represents the weighted average of the
old and new rates.
S ources: Authors’ calculations based on the data from Social Security Administration, S o c ia l S e c u rity B u lle tin ,
A n n u a l S ta tistica l S u p p le m e n t 1 9 8 4 -8 5 , p. 68; Council of Economic Advisers, E c o n o m ic R e p o rt o f th e P reside nt, February
1986, p. 315; and Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census, H is to ric a l S ta tis tic s o f th e U n ite d S ta te s , C o lo n ia l
Tim es to 1 9 7 0 , Part t, p. 210.


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25

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW

June 1987 •

The Minimum Wage, Incomes, and Poverty

1986, average prices increased by about 26 percent. To have
the same purchasing power it had had at the start of 1981,
the minimum wage would have had to have been about
$4.22 per hour in January 1986.
In recent years, the minimum wage also has fallen as a
share of average wages. After hovering around 50 percent of
average hourly earnings in private nonagricultural industries
during the 1950’s and 1960’s, the minimum averaged just
over 45 percent in the 1970’s. By 1985, it had declined to
about 39 percent of average wages. Comparisons with the
broad private nonfarm series are less useful in the early
years, however, when minimum wage coverage was consid­
erably more limited.

Relationship to poverty thresholds. Another perspective
on the minimum wage comes from comparing the earnings
of a minimum wage worker with the Federal poverty
thresholds published by the Bureau of the Census. The
thresholds— first estimated in the early 1960’s, and updated
annually to account for inflation—reflect the consumption
requirements of families based on their size and composi­
tion. In 1985, poverty thresholds ranged from $5,160 for a
single elderly person to an average of $22,010 for families
with nine or more members.4
During most of the 1960’s and 1970’s, a person working
full time, year round at the minimum wage would have
received an income roughly equal to the poverty threshold

Chart 2. Poverty thresholds of income and annual earnings at the minimum wage,
1959-85
[Income in thousands of dollars]

[Income in thousands of dollars]

1 Annual earnings are for a worker employed 40 hours per week for 52 weeks per year.
2 For families of two or more persons, reported poverty thresholds are actually weighted averages of different thresholds
for families of the same size but with different numbers of children.
3 One-and-two-person poverty thresholds used here are those for the nonelderly.
Sources: Authors’ calculations based on data from Social Security Administration, S o c ia l S e c u rity B u lle tin , A n n u a l
S ta tis tic a l S u p p le m e n t, 1 9 8 4 -8 5 , pp. 68, 70; and Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census, unpublished data.

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for a three-person family, as shown in chart 2. Full-time,
year-round earnings at the minimum wage have declined
relative to poverty thresholds since then, however, because
these thresholds are adjusted to account for changes in
prices, while the minimum wage has not increased since
1981.
A person working 40 hours per week for 52 weeks at the
minimum wage would have earned about $7,000 in 1985.
This income level was well above the poverty threshold for
individuals living alone and about equal to the thresholds for
two-person families, but was well below the thresholds for
families of three or more people.

The minimum wage and family incomes
In March 1985, more than 5 million workers were paid at
or below the Federal minimum wage.5 Data from the March
1985 cps were used to examine the total incomes of these
workers, and particularly the extent to which they were
poor— that is, living in families with total cash incomes
below Federal poverty thresholds. This relationship between
a worker’s wage rate and his or her poverty status depends
on a number of factors, including the number of hours
worked per year, the amount of other income received by
the worker and other family members, and the applicable
poverty threshold for the worker’s family.
This analysis is complicated by several limitations of the
data on wage rates and incomes. The most important con­
straint is that the information on poverty pertain to 1984,
while data on wage rates relate to March 1985. The cps does
not provide sufficient information about the total number of
hours worked by employed people in 1984 to yield good
estimates of their hourly wage rates during that year. Only
in the case of workers who were employed full time, year
round is it possible to estimate hourly wage rates; even then,
the estimate is imprecise because the exact number of hours
worked each week is not known. Because of these limita­
tions, the relation between hourly wages and poverty can
only be approximated, either by linking March 1985 wage
rates with 1984 poverty status, or by relating an estimate of
the worker’s hourly wage rate in 1984 to his or her poverty
status in that year. For the following analysis, each of these
methods was applied.
An additional limitation of the analysis is that, in any
month, only one-quarter of the respondents in the full cps
sample are asked the questions about their hourly earnings.
Thus, the sampling errors associated with population esti­
mates derived from the responses in a single month are
larger than those that would result from asking the entire cps
sample the same questions.6 To test the robustness of our
findings, we repeated the entire analysis of the linkage be­
tween the March wage rates and annual poverty status, using
the March 1984 cps responses. The results, available from
the authors on request, confirmed the relationships reported
below, albeit with differences in the specific estimates.


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Table 2. Workers paid hourly rates, by 1984 family income,
and by March 1985 hourly earnings
March 1985 wage rate
Family income
in 1984

Total
Below
$3.35

$3.35

$3.36$4.35

Over
$4.35

Number of workers (in thousands)
T o ta l................................
Below poverty .......................
100-149 percent of poverty
lin e ......................................
150 percent or more of poverty
lin e ......................................

52,110
3,890

1,510
310

3,690
680

9,610
1,340

37,300
1,560

4,250

210

430

1,130

2,490

43,970

990

2,580

7,150

33,250

Percent distribution within 1985 wage group
T o ta l................................
Below poverty line .................
100-149 percent of poverty
lin e ......................................
150 percent or more of poverty
lin e ......................................

100.0
7.5

100.0
20.8

100.0
18.5

100.0
13.9

100.0
4.2

8.2

13.7

11.6

11.7

6.7

84.4

65.6

69.8

74.4

89.2

Percent distribution within 1984 income group
T o ta l................................
Below poverty line .................
100-149 percent of poverty
lin e ......................................
150 percent or more of
poverty lin e ..........................

100.0
100.0

2.9
8.1

7.1
17.6

18.4
34.3

100.0

4.9

10.1

26.5

58.6

100.0

2.3

5.9

16.3

75.6

71.6
40.0

Note : Due to rounding, sums of percentage distributions may not equal 100.
S ource : Authors’ tabulations of data from the March 1985 Current Population Survey.

Minimum wage workers and poverty. As shown in
table 2, 10 percent of all workers who were paid by the hour
in March 1985 reported being paid at or below the minimum
wage.7 Roughly 7 percent (about 3.7 million workers) re­
ported being paid exactly $3.35 per hour, and 3 percent
(about 1.5 million) reported earning less than that amount.
Most of the workers paid at or below the minimum wage
had not been poor in the previous year. Among those paid
exactly $3.35 in March 1985, 18.5 percent (680,000) were
in families whose incomes in 1984 were below the relevant
poverty thresholds; 11.6 percent had incomes between 100
percent and 150 percent of the poverty line; and the remain­
ing 69.8 percent had incomes well above the poverty line.
The distribution of income was similar among workers paid
below the minimum wage.
Even so, the likelihood of being poor was higher for
workers with low wage rates. Among the 5.2 million work­
ers who reported being paid at or below the minimum wage
in March 1985, about 1 million (19.2 percent) were in
families that would have been classified as poor in 1984.
Among the 9.6 million workers paid between $3.36 and
$4.35 an hour, 1.3 million (13.9 percent) would have been
so classified. The 1984 poverty rate among the 37.3 million
higher-paid workers was lower yet (4.2 percent).
Examination of some of the characteristics of workers
paid at or below the minimum wage— henceforth termed
“minimum wage workers”— and the activities of their
families in March 1985 suggests several reasons why being
a minimum wage worker and being poor are not synony­
mous. About 70 percent (3.6 million) of the 5.2 million
minimum wage workers were in families in which at least
27

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
Table 3.

June 1987 •

The Minimum Wage, Incomes, and Poverty

Selected characteristics of poor and nonpoor workers paid hourly rates, March 1985
Poverty rate
(In percent)1

Number of workers paid hourly rates
(in thousands)
Characteristics

Paid over $3.35

Paid at or below $3.35

Paid at

Paid

$3.35

$3.35

Total

Total
Poor

Total

Poor

Total

Total..................................................................

00,000
52,110

0,000
1,000

0,000
5,200

0,000
2,890

00,000
46,910

00.0
7.5

00.0
19.2

00.0
6.2

Age and sex:
Teenagers ........................................................
Adult m e n ..........................................................
Adult women ...................................................

4,970
24,080
23,060

210
300
490

1,670
1,340
2,190

310
1,260
1,320

3,300
22,740
20,860

10.4
6.5
7.9

12.5
22.0
22.5

9.3
5.5
6.3

Employment status:2
Full-tim e............................................................
Part-time ..........................................................

37,420
14,610

360
630

1,610
3,590

1,920
940

35,810
11,020

6.1
10.8

22.4
17.7

5.4
8.6

18,350
33,760

700
300

1,590
3,620

2,040
850

16,760
30,140

14.9
3.4

44.3
8.2

12.2
2.8

Other workers in family:
One or m o re .....................................................

' Percentages are calculated based on estimates prior to rounding.

Source : Authors' tabulations of data from the March 1985 Current Population Survey.

2 Information about the number of hours worked in March 1985 was not provided for about
70,000 workers.

Table 4. Work experience, presence of other workers in family, and poverty thresholds of poor and nonpoor workers paid
hourly rates, March 1985
___________ _________________________ ____ _________________________
Poverty rate
(In percent)1

Number of workers paid hourly rates
(in thousands)
Characteristics

Paid at
or below
$3.35

Paid over $3.35

Paid at or below $3.35

Total

Total
Poor

Total

Poor

Total

Paid
over
$3.35

Total..................................................................

52,110

1,000

5,200

2,890

46,910

7.5

19.2

6.2

Work experience in 1984:
Full-time, year-round.........................................
Part-time, year-round ......................................
Full-time, part-year...........................................
Part-time, part-year...........................................
No employment ...............................................

28,760
5,310
9,300
7,220
1,510

120
150
250
320
150

940
800
930
1,990
540

740
260
970
670
250

27,830
4,510
8,360
5,230
970

3.0
7.7
13.2
13.8
26.7

12.7
18.6
27.1
16.3
28.2

2.7
5.7
11.6
12.8
25.9

No other workers In family in 1984 .....................
Poverty threshold $10,500 or m o re .................
Other workers in family in 1984 ..........................
Poverty threshold $10,500 or m o re .................

16,190
2,720
35,910
18,180

710
200
280
150

1,600
330
3,600
2,120

2,000
650
890
650

14,590
2,400
32,310
16,060

16.8
31.3
3.3
4.4

44.5
61.7
7.9
7.0

13.7
27.2
2.7
4.1

1 Percentages are calculated based on estimates prior to rounding.

Table 5.

Source : Authors’ tabulations of data from the March 1985 Current Population Survey.

Selected characteristics of poor and nonpoor persons who worked full time, year round, 1984
Poverty rate
(in percent)2

Number of year round paid employees who worked
on full-time schedules (in thousands)1
Characteristics

Paid less than $7,000

Paid at least $7,000

Total

Total
Poor

Total

Poor

Total

Paid less
than
$7,000

Paid at
least
$7,000

Total......................................................................................................................

59,620

550

2,240

510

57,380

1.8

24.3

0.9

No other workers In family:
T otal......................................................................................................................
Poverty threshold less than $7,000 ....................................................................
Poverty threshold $7,000-$8,499 ......................................................................
Poverty threshold $10,500 or more3 ..................................................................

20,680
13,700
3,520
3,460

400
230
90
90

820
570
140
110

350
0
70
280

19,860
13,140
3,380
3,350

3.6
1.7
4.4
10.5

48.7
39.7
63.8
75.4

1.8
0.0
2.0
8.3

38,940
10,650
10,690
17,590

150
30
30
90

1,420
360
350
710

160
0
10
150

37,510
10,290
10,340
16,880

0.8
0.3
0.3
1.4

10.3
7.9
8.0
12.7

0.1
0.9

Other workers in family:
Poverty threshold less than $7,000 ....................................................................
Poverty threshold $7,000-$8,499 ......................................................................
Poverty threshold $10,500 or more3 ..................................................................

1 Workers recorded as having been employed for pay (other than self-employed) at least 50
weeks in 1984, with not more than five of these weeks on a part-time schedule.
2 Percentages are calculated based on estimates prior to rounding.


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0.4

0.0

3 There were no poverty thresholds between $8,500 and $10,500. The average poverty
threshold for a four-person family in 1984 was $10,609.

S ource : Authors tabulations of data from the March 1985 Current Population Survey.

one other member held a job in the survey reference month.
(See table 3.) Even though 70 percent of the minimum wage
employees worked only part time in March, most minimum
wage earners lived in families in which there were other
workers. Teenagers held almost one-third of all jobs paying
at or below the minimum wage in March 1985.
Minimum wage workers in general were employed fewer
hours and more intermittently than were other workers, but
were just as likely to be in families in which other members
worked during the year. (See table 4.) Looking at the 1984
employment experience of workers making the minimum
wage or less in March 1985, only 18 percent (940,000)
reported having worked full time, year round, compared
with 59 percent of the workers with wage rates above the
minimum. Likewise, more than 10 percent of the minimum
wage workers in March 1985 had not worked for pay in
1984, compared with only 2 percent of the other hourly
workers.
Among the 1 million minimum wage workers who were
poor by 1984 standards, only 12 percent had worked full
time, year round in that year; 73 percent had worked part
time or part year or both; and the remaining 15 percent did
not report any paid employment. Thus, even though the
poverty rate among year-round, full-time workers employed
at or below the minimum wage was almost 13 percent, there
were only 120,000 poor workers in this situation.
The likelihood of a minimum wage worker being poor in
1984 also was closely linked to the employment status of
other family members. As shown in table 4, minimum wage
workers who were the only jobholders in their families had
a poverty rate of 44.5 percent, compared with 7.9 percent
for those with other employed family members. This com­
parison was more dramatic for those in families of four or
more people (who had poverty thresholds of $10,500 or
more)— 61.7 percent versus 7.0 percent.
Low annual earnings and poverty. Examination of the
poverty status of full-time workers with low annual earnings
provides further information about the relationship between
low wages and poverty, and confirms the critical roles of
family size and the presence of other workers in the family
in determining whether a low-wage earner will be poor. For
this part of the analysis, persons who reported being em­

ployed full time, year round in 1984 were counted as lowwage workers if they earned less than $7,000. This amount
would correspond to the earnings of someone who worked
all year, 40 hours each week, and was paid the minimum
wage.
The Bureau of the Census reported that in 1984 there were
70.4 million people who worked at least 50 weeks primarily
on full-time schedules (that is, 35 hour or more per week).
Nearly 2.1 million of these workers were poor.8 Detailed
examination of the data revealed, however, that 8 million of
these people, including more than 800,000 poor workers,
reported that their primary activity was self-employment, or
that they had worked without pay. The incomes of these
workers would not be directly affected by a change in the
minimum wage. Another 2.8 million full-time employees,
including almost 200,000 of the poor workers, worked on
part-time schedules during at least 6 weeks of the year.9
Among the remaining 59.6 million workers who reported
that they had worked primarily for others in 1984 and that
they had worked year round and mostly full time, 1.1 mil­
lion had total family incomes below the poverty line. (See
table 5.) This number is much smaller than the 2.1 million
poor workers cited above, and indicates a poverty rate of 1.8
percent among these full-time, year-round workers.
Half of the year-round, full-time workers who were poor
(550,000) reported earning less than $7,000 in 1984. These
workers were probably earning average hourly wages of no
more than the minimum wage rate.10 Their poverty rate was
24.3 percent, compared with 0.9 percent for workers with
higher earnings.
The likelihood of being poor also depended heavily on the
number of other members of the worker’s family who were
employed and on the level of the family’s poverty threshold.
For example, among the 820,000 low-wage workers who
had no other earners in their families, almost half were poor,
whereas only one-tenth of their counterparts who were in
families with other workers were poor. In each group, the
poverty rate was highest among workers in families with
poverty thresholds of at least $10,500. Among ttye higherpaid workers, too, the greatest incidence of poverty was
among those in families with these poverty thresholds. [_

1
Raising the cost to employers of low-wage workers can reduce the
2 For more information, see Earl F. Mellor and Steven E. Haugen,
number o f those workers hired and the number o f hours they are employed.
“Hourly paid workers: who they are and what they earn,” M o n th ly L a b o r
For example, studies reviewed by staff of the Minimum Wage Study
R e v ie w , February 1986, pp. 2 0 -2 6 . Responses to the questions about
Commission typically estimated that a 10-percent increase in the minimum
hourly wages, combined with the regular information collected monthly
wage would result in a reduction in teenage employement of between
about members of households in the cps sample, provide the basis for
1 percent and 3 percent. Raising the minimum wage was estimated to have
tabulations published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics on hourly wage
a smaller effect on adult employment, although this effect is even less
rates of wage and salary workers by selected characteristics. The hourly
certain. See R e p o r t o f th e M in im u m W a g e S tu d y C o m m is s io n , vol. 1
wage rates reported do not include tips, premium pay for overtime,
(Washington, May 1981), ch. 2; and Charles Brown, Curtis Gilroy, and
bonuses, or commissions.
Andrew Kohen, “The Effect of the Minimum Wage on Employment and
Unemployment,” J o u r n a l o f E c o n o m ic L i te r a tu r e , June 1982, pp. 4 8 7 3 Coverage is important, not only because of the minimum wage provi­
528.
sions, but because of the overtime provisions that often accompany them.


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29

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW

June 1987 •

The Minimum Wage, Incomes, and Poverty

Under typical overtime provisions, employers are required to pay workers
at least one and one-half times the regular wage rate for work in excess of
40 hours in a workweek. (This requirement applies not only to low-wage
workers, but to all workers subject to the provisions of the act.)
4 In 1985, the poverty threshold for a single nonelderly person was
$5,590. For a two-person family, the threshold was $7,230 if the house­
holder was age 15 to 64, and $6,510 if the householder was age 65 or older.
The thresholds for three- and four-person families were $8,570 and
$10,990, respectively, regardless of the age of the householder.
5 Workers could legally be paid less than $3.35 per hour if they were not
subject to the minimum wage or if they were subject to a special lower rate.
Workers also might inaccurately report their wage rates.
6 One way o f reducing this source of sampling error would be to use
annual averages o f the responses— as was done in the analysis by Mellor
and Haugen cited above (footnote 2). The standard errors for the monthly
estimates are about 3.5 times the size of the standard errors for the corre­
sponding annual estimates. This was not feasible for the current study,
however, because it was necessary to match the hourly earnings responses
to the income questions that are asked only in March.
7 Data on hourly wage rates are available only for the 52.1 million
workers paid on an hourly basis. In March 1985, a total of 105.8 million

people were employed, including 96.2 million wage and salary workers.
8 C u r r e n t P o p u la tio n R e p o r ts , C o n s u m e r I n c o m e S e r i e s , P-60, no. 149
(Bureau of the Census, August 1985), p. 27.
9 About 700,000 poor employees who worked primarily full time, year
round worked part time for between 6 and 10 weeks, and 120,000 worked
part time for at least 11 weeks in 1984. For those who worked less than a
full year on a full-time basis, it is difficult to distinguish between low
annual earnings associated with low hourly wage rates and those associated
with low total hours. Therefore, these workers were excluded from the
analysis.
10 To be included in this group, persons must have reported working at
least 50 weeks, including no more than 5 weeks on part-time schedules.
Most of them (84 percent) reported that they did not work any weeks on a
part-time schedule. Those who worked all 52 weeks for 40 hours per week
at the minimum wage would have earned $6,968.
The difference between the previous estimate o f 120,000 poor among
full-time, year-round workers who reported hourly wage rates of no more
than $3.35 and these numbers could result from errors in responses,
changes in wage rates, or low earnings among workers who were not paid
on an hourly basis.

A note on communications
The Monthly Labor Review welcomes communications that supplement,
challenge, or expand on research published in its pages. To be considered
for publication, communications should be factual and analytical, not
polemical in tone. Communications should be addressed to the Editor-inChief, Monthly Labor Review, Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Depart­
ment of Labor, Washington, DC 20212.

30


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The mining machinery industry:
labor productivity trends, 1972-84
The average annual rate of productivity growth
in this industry was substantially below
that for all manufacturing; the industry has felt
the effects of falling coal prices
and fuel shortages over the past 10 to 15 years
B a r b a r a A . O ’N

e il

Productivity, as measured by output per employee hour, in
the mining machinery industry declined at an average an­
nual rate of 1.2 percent from 1972 to 1984.1 (See table 1.)
This trend was substantially below the rate for the manufac­
turing sector, which grew at a rate of 2.0 percent during this
period. Since 1972, the mining machinery industry has in­
troduced new technology and work methods. However,
major shifts in demand for coal have created wide variability
in capacity utilization rates. Periods of both strained and
excess supplies of coal have resulted in low productivity in
mining machinery.
The decline in productivity was accompanied by a drop in
output of 3.3 percent and a decline in employee hours of 2.2
percent. Although the productivity trend was negative, there
was significant year-to-year variation. Many of the annual
movements were associated with changes in output. In 5 of
the 6 years that output advanced, there were increases in
productivity. Similarly, productivity declined in 4 of the 6
years that output fell.
From 1972 to 1974, productivity in the mining machinery
industry advanced nearly 12 percent, as output surged 35
percent. Over the following 2 years, productivity declined
by 9 percent as employment in the industry increased sub­
stantially. From 1972 to 1976, employee hours increased
more than 50 percent.

Barbara A. O ’Neil is an economist in the Division of Industry Productivity
and Technology Studies, Bureau of Labor Statistics.


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The industry’s output rose in the early 1970’s in response
to increased energy-related demand for coal. From 1971 to
1975, coal production increased more than 17 percent. Pur­
chases of mining equipment grew significantly during this
period, leading to high levels of capacity utilization. How­
ever, by 1975, these rapid increases in demand also damp­
ened productivity advances as mining companies became
overbooked and capacity became strained.2
During the 1977-82 period, productivity fell at an aver­
age annual rate of 0.9 percent; both output and employee
hours dropped. The industry was particularly hard hit by the
economic downturn which occurred during this period.
The 1981-82 recession brought a substantial decline in
the demand for many metals and minerals during 1982. The
low level of construction activity and the decline in produc­
tion of durable goods— such as automobiles, construction
machinery, and electrical appliances— significantly reduced
the demand for steel, copper, aluminum, and other metals.
As many U.S. mines curtailed or halted production, the year
was marked, in particular, by a slowdown in the demand for
mineral processing equipment such as flotation machines
and crushers. Although there was expanding coal produc­
tion in 1982 which served to offset some of the decline in the
demand for equipment used in other types of mines, it was
not enough to prevent a severe drop in output and a decline
in employee hours. This resulted in a sharp decline in pro­
ductivity.
The recovery during the 1983-84 period was strong
31

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW

Productivity in the Mining Machinery Industry

Productivity and related indexes for mining machinery, 1972-

*300

Table 1.

June 1987 •

[1977=100]
Employee hours

Output per employee hour
Year

All
employees

Production
workers

Nonproduction
workers

Output

All
employees

Production
workers

Nonproduction
workers

1972
1973
1974
1975
1976

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

103.3
108.7
115.2
111.5
95.1

100.9
104.5
108.3
104.8
90.3

108.1
117.8
131.7
127.4
105.9

69.6
78.7
93.8
105.6
98.7

67.4
72.4
81.4
94.7
103.8

69.0
75.3
86.6
100.8
109.3

64.4
66.8
71.2
82.9
93.2

1977
1978
1979
1980
1981

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

100.0
93.9
95.6
98.6
97.8

100.0
96.0
97.7
102.8
102.5

100.0
90.0
91.7
91.5
89.7

100.0
90.9
90.3
92.4
87.5

100.0
96.8
94.5
93.7
89.5

100.0
94.7
92.4
89.9
85.4

100.0
101.0
98.5
101.0
97.6

1982 .............................................................................................................
1983 .............................................................................................................
1984 .............................................................................................................

91.0
96.1
98.9

104.4
115.7
110.7

73.1
72.5
81.9

68.1
49.5
51.9

74.8
51.5
52.5

65.2
42.8
46.9

93.2
68.3
63.4

1972 84 .......................................................................................................
1979 84 .......................................................................................................

-1 .2
0.1

0.6
2.9

-3.9
-15.5

1.0
-9.3

Average annual rates of change (percent)

enough to turn around the productivity decline, leading to a
rise of 4.3 percent. Although output continued to drop in
1983, an even steeper drop in employee hours resulted in a
productivity gain of nearly 6 percent. In 1984, both output
and employee hours reversed their long-term rates of de­
cline. Productivity advanced 2.9 percent as output rose 4.8
percent and employee hours increased 1.9 percent. Growth
of U.S. and foreign coal mine production in 1984 was a
major stimulant for sales of mining machinery, particularly
continuous miners, shuttle cars, roof bolters, and long wall
mining systems. Increased use of coal in electric power
generation, which now accounts for 50 percent of all fuel
used, has helped the demand for mining equipment.3

Employment and plant size
Over the 1972-84 period, employment in the mining
machinery industry decreased more than 20 percent, falling
at an average annual rate of 1.8 percent. For the first 4 years
of the period, employment increased steadily, rising from
21,300 employees in 1972 and peaking at 31,900 in 1976.
The 1976-84 period evidenced employment declines in
each year to 1983, with the number of employees dropping
to 16,900 and remaining unchanged in 1984.
According to the Census of Manufactures, there were 240
establishments in the mining machinery industry in 1972,
and 369 establishments in 1982, an increase of 54 percent
(or 129 establishments). The average number of employees
per establishment decreased from 89 in 1972 to 66 in 1982,
a decline of 26 percent. Production workers accounted for
67 percent of employment in 1972 and 58 percent in 1982.
Employment of nonproduction workers remained un­
changed between 1972 and 1984, even as their share of the
total industry work force rose. In the earlier 1972-80 pe­
riod, employment of nonproduction workers increased from
7,000 to slightly more than 11,000— an average annual
increase of 6.8 percent. However, since 1980, the total
Digitized for32
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-4.2
-4.1

-3.3
-13.0

-2.2
-13.1

number of nonproduction workers has declined to its 1972
level. Higher relative growth rates among nonproduction
workers reflect industry needs for computer-related techni­
cal support personnel, as well as the increased emphasis on
research and development activities. Further escalation of
nonproduction worker employment is anticipated, particu­
larly in the categories of computerized production, plan­
ning, technical help, and scheduling.
The establishments which produce mining machinery
vary in size but, generally, are rather small and are geo­
graphically concentrated in Pennsylvania, Ohio, West Virgina, and Virginia. No one manufacturer makes a complete
line of products. Because the availability of parts and serv­
ice is an important selling factor, most major manufacturers
have sales and service offices in all major mining areas. In
1982, more than 52 percent of the 369 establishments in the
industry employed fewer than 20 persons and accounted for
only 5 percent of industry value of shipments. In contrast,
larger establishments with more than 100 employees ac­
counted for 15 percent of all establishments and 74 percent
of sales. Since 1972, there has been a slight increase in the
percentage of establishments with fewer than 20 persons.
However, the percentage of industry value of shipments
attributed to these smaller establishments remains un­
changed from 1972, at 5 percent.

Earnings. Average hourly earnings in the mining machin­
ery industry have remained higher than those in all manufac­
turing. In 1972, average hourly earnings in the industry
were $4.22, compared with $3.82 for all manufacturing. In
the 1972-77 period, the industry’s average hourly earnings
rose about 52 percent to $6.42, and by 1984, had risen to
$11.32— an increase of 76 percent from 1977.4 This is sig­
nificantly higher than the average for all manufacturing,
which was up to $5.68 in 1977 and $9.19 in 1984.

Mining equipment
The term “mining machinery” refers to a line of equip­
ment which is specially designed for the underground min­
ing of ores and coal. The major types of extraction equip­
ment are percussion-type rock drills, rock drilling bits,
rotary face drills, augers, blast hole drills, continuous min­
ers, roof bolting machines, cutting machines, long wall min­
ing machinery, and supports. Haulage of the mined ore to
processors is in shuttle cars, loader hauler-dumper vehicles,
mine cars or belt conveyors. Depending on conditions and
applications, mining machinery uses electric, diesel, or bat­
tery power. In addition, hydraulic fluid power is replacing
compressed air power in some machinery to reduce noise
and improve efficiency.5
Coal and ore extraction methods— continuous mining,
conventional mining, and long wall mining— use different
types of equipment to do the actual mining. The choice of
the system used depends on the geology of the seam and the
amount of initial capital the mine operator wishes to invest.
The continuous miner is of major importance in under­
ground coal mining. In one operation, the continuous miner
cuts or rips the coal from the working face and loads it into
shuttle cars or onto a conveyor haulage system. From its
inception, the continuous miner processed much greater
amounts of coal than the machinery it superseded.6 It elim­
inates the need for coal cutters, face drills, blasting equip­
ment, loaders, and the mining crews needed to operate these
machines. Throughout the world, the room and pillar
method of coal mining is widely accepted; and the
American-made continuous miner remains very popular.7
Among the labor-saving machines being introduced is a new
generation continuous miner which can be set to mine coal
in an automated mode, and has the ability to simultaneously
mine coal and bolt the roof.
In conventional mining, coal is blasted rather than cut
from the working face, utilizing mechanical extraction pro­
cedures such as undercutting the face, drilling holes for
explosives, and loading the coal into shuttle cars with gath­
ering arm-type loading machines.8 Once America’s primary
coal mining method, conventional miners cut less than 25
percent of the coal mined underground today. Small mining
companies are the primary users of conventional mining
equipment, which is easier to repair and has less downtime
than continuous miners. Only one company in the United
States offers a full line of conventional equipment.9
Longwall mining machines are increasingly being used in
U.S. underground coal mines. Unlike a continuous miner,
which has a cutting width of about 10 feet, the longwall
machine is guided across a seam several hundred feet wide.
As it mines across the face, the coal drops onto a face
conveyor at the base of the longwall system. The mine roof
above the machine is temporarily supported by hydrauli­
cally-operated self-advancing roof supports. As the long­
wall cutter advances, the mine roof is allowed to cave in
behind the machine while, at each end of the face, haulage


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and air passageways are maintained.10 Considered to be
more efficient than the room and pillar system, the longwall
system increases mine safety by eliminating the need for
explosives. It also requires a much higher initial investment,
however; a complete longwall system often costs about $5
million.11 Longwall systems, more commonly used in Eu­
rope, are said to be best for large, relatively level seams.
Although longwall mining systems were almost nonexistent
in the United States prior to 1965, they now produce about
10 percent of all domestic coal mined underground.12
Extraction, haulage, and roof support systems are unit
operations common to both coal and hardrock mines. How­
ever, underground hardrock mining systems and equipment
are quite different from those used in coal mines. Under­
ground hardrock mines use a wide variety of equipment
types— the most common of which include jumbo-mounted
percussion drills and handheld rock drills. The selfpropelled jumbo vehicle supports one to three hydraulically
powered booms which position the drill against the rock
face. Rapidly oscillating pistons, driven by pneumatic or
hydraulic power, generate a series of impulsive blows, caus­
ing a stress wave to move through the drill bit into the rock,
which shatters under the tungsten carbide cutting edges of
the bit. Handheld hardrock drills are used especially in tight
quarters where jumbo-mounted drills cannot fit. Handheld
drills are smaller and less powerful than the jumbos, but the
operating principles are the same. Metallurgical improve­
ments in the 20th century have permitted the development of
high-strength rock drill components that impart tremendous
amounts of energy to the rock face.13
Other important products of the mining machinery indus­
try include beneficiation (ore-processing) and mineral pul­
verizing equipment. These products are used to transform
the mineral ore into a usable product by separating out the
mined minerals and metals, and include crushers, rod and
ball mills, classifiers, screens, feeders, grinding mills, flota­
tion devices, centrifuges, and dryers. Preparation plants
contain equipment that performs one of three primary func­
tions: crushing (size reduction), screening (size separation),
and dewatering. Additionally, many plants contain equip­
ment that separates valuable constituents (coal or ores) from
waste material through differences in their densities, physi­
cal properties, chemical properties, or magnetic properties
or through a combination of these.
Mine transport equipment includes hoists, mine cars, belt
conveyors, and locomotives that haul the coal and ores out
of the mines. When electrical power was introduced into the
mines, personnel haulage vehicles were developed. Typical
of these is the rail-mounted “mantrip” or “portal bus” that
carries workers from the mine portal to the face areas.14

Capital expenditures
Reduced levels of capital expenditures have accompanied
the productivity decline in the mining machinery industry.
Measured in constant dollars, capital expenditures fell 8
percent from $13.4 million in 1972 to $12.3 million in
33

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW

June 1987 •

Productivity in the Mining Machinery Industry

1984. The real annual rate of growth in new capital expend­
itures per employee averaged about 1 percent, a rate com­
parable to that of all manufacturing industries. However, in
1984, the level of capital expenditures per employee in the
mining machinery industry was less than one-half of the
level for all manufacturing industries. In 1982, the latest
year for which data are available, the industry allocated 73
percent of capital expenditures to the purchase of new ma­
chinery and equipment and used the remainder for new
structures and plant additions.
Mining machinery is generally sold to mine operators.
Occasionally, machinery may also be sold to equipment
leasing companies which, in turn, lease them to operators
who are too small to purchase the equipment themselves.
Because mining requires major capital investment, and be­
cause of rising costs of new machinery (a continuous miner
costs from about $510,000 to $525,000; a loader costs about
$300,000; and a face drill costs between $45,000 and
$60,000),15 mines often rely on service centers to extend the
life of their machines as an alternative to purchasing new
equipment. Consequently, the demand for repair and re­
placement parts has become a major market for the U.S.
mining industry.16 Parts and attachments for mining ma­
chinery and equipment accounted for 42 percent of the in­
dustry value of shipments in 1972 and 45 percent of the
industry value of shipments in 1982.
Manufacturers of new equipment, as well as independent
repair firms, are expanding their rebuilding facilities in
major mining areas, and service centers have become major
outlets for repair and replacement parts. Sales of new min­
ing machines often depend on convenient accessibility to the
manufacturer’s parts centers and on prompt repair service
provided by the manufacturer.

Advances in technology
The mining machinery industry has introduced some new
techniques and work methods which have not yet been re­
flected in overall productivity improvements. New techno­
logical developments in the industry have been generated by
research efforts conducted by the mining industry, equip­
ment manufacturers, the academic world, and government
agencies. These efforts continue to improve mining equip­
ment. Current research in the production of mining machin­
ery is aimed at increasing equipment flexibility, with safety
continuing to receive substantial emphasis. For instance,
longwall mining machines are operated with hydraulic roof
supports to protect both miners and equipment from roof
falls. These efforts to improve mining equipment have been
successful but have resulted in higher costs and may have
retarded productivity growth.
The gradual advent of numerical control in the mid1960’s has been an offsetting factor to the general decline in
industry productivity. Manufacture of the large, compli­
cated units which comprise an important segment of the
industry involves the assembly of parts— many of them
34

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machined by numerical control. Numerical control involves
the use of a tape-fed controlling mechanism to operate the
machine tools used in the manufacturing process. A major
advantage of numerically controlled manufacturing proce­
dures is that idle time in the factory is markedly reduced.
Numerical control results in more accurate work, better
repeatability of operations, higher speed, and a reduction in
tool setup time. Numerical control also makes possible a
substantial reduction in labor requirements and more effec­
tive machine utilization.
Although not widely diffused in the industry, some plants
have introduced into their operations computer assisted de­
sign ( c a d ) and computer assisted manufacturing ( c a m ) sys­
tems. The c a d /c a m systems have been termed a “marrying
of engineering and manufacturing.” They are particularly
well-suited to improving efficiency in the mining machinery
industry where there are frequent demands for equipment
design modifications.
In addition, some manufacturers of mining equipment are
phasing out the traditional “functional grouping” of machine
tools used in the production process. Direct-labor em­
ployees will be relocated to “work cells”— work stations at
which are grouped the various machine tools to be used in
all stages of production. This contrasts with the more con­
ventional functional grouping where tools are grouped ac­
cording to their specialized use, with the part being trans­
ferred from one work area to another. Use of the work cell
concept over the functional grouping method results in both
reduced handling and improved workflow of finished prod­
ucts. Employees, who are highly specialized and have, in
the past, operated one machine tool, will now have their
skills upgraded to run several pieces and will, in effect, be
responsible for all phases of production from beginning to
end. Introduced in the mid-1970’s, the work cell concept
has been well received in this industry where its use has
accelerated in the past 2 years.
This rethinking of work assignments and restructuring of
the workplace has improved product quality and reduced
in-process inspection and setup time. It has been instrumen­
tal in achieving control over inventories of parts and materi­
als. Manufacturers are undergoing a whole new change of
focus in their material movement operations, hoping to en­
hance output and productivity. Under traditional methods,
the amount of time spent actually working on an individual
part was only 5 percent. During the remaining time, the part
was held for further processing or was transported from one
work area to another.17

Outlook
Despite the use of some advanced technology in the work­
place, the mining machinery industry has still suffered nu­
merous declines in productivity since the mid-1970’s. Out­
put declines since 1977, brought about by reduced demand
for equipment, have overshadowed any improved produc­
tion methods used by equipment manufacturers. A highly

competitive business and dependent almost exclusively on
the coal industry as its main customer, the mining machin­
ery industry has felt not only the effects of falling coal
prices, but also the repercussion of fuel shortages and vari­
ous energy crises over the past 10 to 15 years. Currently, the
coal mining industry is faced with excess capacity which has
resulted in reduced demand for coal mining machinery.18
The general decline over the years of U.S. mining has re­
sulted in mining companies purchasing repair and replace­
ment parts, opting to retrofit and rebuild existing machinery
rather than purchase new equipment.
Computer-integrated manufacturing that allows a central
computer to operate shop-floor machines is only now being
introduced in some of the factories that produce mining
machinery. In 1985, a large plant was planning to use a
direct numerical control host computer, complemented by
the use of computer numerical controls ( cnc ). Work cells
and various machine tools in the plant are outfitted with
c n c ’s featuring microprocessor controls. An example of
cnc use is the machining center with maneuverable turrets
on which are mounted a number of cutting tools. This one
computer-directed machine, manned by one person, is capa­
ble of performing many different cutting operations on a
workpiece, eliminating the need to transfer the piece to
numerous individually manned cutting machines. One such

machining center can replace multiple conventional ma­
chines and their operators without loss of output. It also
assures better quality control, needs less floor space and
handling equipment, and requires lower in-process inven­
tory. Because the cnc has its own control and its own com­
puter, it can correct onsite production problems quickly,
thus reducing the amount of “downtime” formerly experi­
enced in the manufacturing process.
Future improvements in industry productivity will, in
large part, depend on increases in demand for the industry’s
output, the ability to introduce the aforementioned techno­
logical advances, and wider diffusion of cad /cam systems.
In addition, mining machinery companies hope to increase
demand for equipment used in the construction of tunnels
for underground subway systems and public utilities. Intro­
duction of diesel equipment should also aid productivity
growth. Because diesels require fewer parts, the manufac­
ture of such equipment would result in lower unit labor
requirements. Also in the future, more attention will be
focused on ocean mining. Specialized mining equipment is
now being developed to recover metal and mineral nodules
from the ocean floor. However, it appears that, in the fore­
seeable future, nodule mining would most likely not be
economical, and will not take place without significant fi­
nancial incentives.19

FOOTN O TES-

1 Average annual rates of change are based on the linear least squares
trend o f the logarithms of the index numbers. The mining machinery and
equipment industry is designated industry 3532 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 E d i t i o n , issued by the Office of Management
and Budget. The industry comprises establishments primarily engaged in
the manufacture of heavy machinery and equipment used by the mining
industries, such as coal breakers, mine cars, mineral cleaning machinery,
concentration machinery, core drills, coal cutters, portable rock drills, and
rock crushing machinery. The mining machinery industry excludes estab­
lishments primarily engaged in the manufacture of well drilling machinery
and o f coal and ore conveyors, which are classified in industries 3533 and
3535.
2 Industry spokesperson during 1985 tour of manufacturing facilities.

8 Bureau of Mines Information Circular 9004 (U .S. Department of the
Interior, 1985), pp. 9 -1 0 .
9 David Brezovec, “Conventional Output Falls in U . S . C o a l A g e , May
1982, p. 82.

10 U .S .

I n d u s tr ia l O u tlo o k (U.S. Department of Commerce, 1980), pp.

213-15.

11 U .S.

I n d u s tr ia l O u tlo o k (U.S. Department of Commerce, 1982),

pp. 199-201.
12 Bureau of Mines Information Circular 9004, p. 10.
13 I b i d . , p. 13.
14 I b i d . , p. 11.

3 U .S . I n d u s tr ia l O u tlo o k (U .S. Department of Commerce, 1985),
pp. 2 3 -3 — 2 3 -6 .

15 David Brezovec, “Conventional Output Falls in U .S .,” C o a l A g e ,
May 1982, p. 86.

4 Industry earnings figures are based on employee hour data from the
Bureau o f Labor Statistics.

16 U .S . I n d u s tr ia l O u tlo o k (U .S. Department of Commerce, 1982),
p p .199-201.

5 U .S . I n d u s tr ia l O u tlo o k (U .S. Department of Commerce, 1980),
p p .2 1 3-15.
6 Stanley Suboleski, “Boost Your Productivity by Adding Continuous
Miners,” C o a l A g e , March 1975, p. 78.
1 A m e r ic a n M in in g C o n g r e s s J o u r n a l , Mar. 27, 1985, pp. 12-14.


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17 Industry spokesperson during 1985 tour of manufacturing facilities.
18 Industry spokesperson.
19 E q u ip m e n t M a n a g e m e n t, April 1984, p. 65. See also Bureau o f Mines
Information Circular 9015 (U.S. Department of the Interior, 1985),
pp. 1-15.

35

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW

June 1987 •

APPENDIX:

Productivity in the Mining Machinery Industry

Measurement techniques and limitations

Indexes of output per employee hour measure changes in
the relation between the output of an industry and employee
hours expended on that output. An index of output per
employee hour is derived by dividing an index of output by
an index of industry employee hours.
The preferred output index of manufacturing industries
would be obtained from data on quantities of the various
goods produced by the industry, each weighted (multiplied)
by the employee hours required to produce one unit of each
good in some specified base period. Thus, those goods
which require more labor time to produce are given more
importance in the index.
In the absence of adequate physical quantity data, the
output index for this industry was constructed by a deflated
value technique. The value of shipments of the various
product classes was adjusted for price changes by appropri­

36

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ate Producer Price Indexes and Industry Sector Price In­
dexes to derive real output measures. These, in turn, were
combined with employee hour weights to derive the overall
output measure. The result is a final output index that is
conceptually close to the preferred output measure.
Employment and employee hour indexes were derived
from data published by the Bureau of the Census. Em­
ployees and employee hours are each considered homoge­
neous and additive, and thus do not reflect changes in the
qualitative aspects of labor, such as skill and experience.
The indexes of output per employee hour do not measure
any specific contributions, such as that of labor or capital.
Rather, they reflect the joint effect of factors such as
changes in technology, capital investment, capacity utiliza­
tion, plant design and layout, skill and effort of the work
force, managerial ability, and labor-management relations.

Research
Summaries
Decline in youth population does not
lead to lower jobless rates
T hom as N

ardone

During the first half of the 1980’s, the size of the youth
population has declined considerably. In combination with
the expected employment growth in industries that rely on
young workers, the decline in the number of such workers
was expected to improve their employment prospects. How­
ever, a review of the youth labor market trends during the
first 7 years of the population contraction presents a differ­
ent picture.
As persons bom during the “baby bust” period, which
started in the mid-1960’s, entered the 16- to 24-year-old age
group, the civilian noninstitutional youth population
dropped 8.0 percent from a level of 37.0 million in 1979 to
34.1 million in 1986; the extent of this decrease differed
between various age groups. (See chart 1.) While this de­
cline was taking place, two recessions caused sharp in­
creases in unemployment for all age groups in the labor
market, including the shrinking pool of young workers.
Although the economic recovery that began in late 1982
improved the employment situation for all groups, the un­
employment rates for youths, like those of their adult coun­
terparts, were higher in 1986 than in 1979.

Overview
Most 16- to 24-year-olds are in the midst of a major
transition from a school-centered to a work-centered life.
This transition has a direct impact on their participation and
success in the job market, as shown in the following tabula­
tion of data for October 1986:1
16 and 17 18 and 19 20 to 24
years
years
years
Percent enrolled in school . . .
Participation rate ..................
Employment-population
ratio ..................................
Unemployment r a te ..............

92.3
44.5

54.6
65.2

23.6
78.9

35.5
20.2

54.1
17.0

70.5
10.7

Thomas Nardone is an economist in the Division of Labor Force Statistics,
Bureau o f Labor Statistics.


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The youngest members of this age group, persons 16 and
17 years old, have limited ability to participate in the labor
force because most of these teens are still in school. Their
lack of work experience and training limits their appeal to
many employers. Many of these young teens are supported
by their families, and their employment is mainly a source
of spending money or savings for further education or
puchases of “big-ticket” items. As a result, many of these
younger persons work intermittently.
School attendance and lack of work experience also re­
strict the labor force activity of 18- and 19-year-olds and
young adults (persons 20 to 24 years old), but to a lesser
extent. Many 18- to 24-year-olds are out of school, and they
typically have some work experience and training; these
factors make it easier for these persons to find jobs. Older
out-of-school youths, however, bring higher expectations
and needs to the labor market. Many of these workers must
try for the first time to support themselves and, in many
cases, new families. Within 4 years of completing high
school, for example, about a quarter of the 1980 high school
class had been married.2 Thus, in line with increased partic­
ipation in the job market, the type of employment sought by
young people also changes significantly as they move
through their teens and into their early twenties.
Sixteen- and 17-year-olds are most likely to hold or seek
part-time jobs, while most 18- and 19-year-olds and 20- to
24-year-olds are in the full-time labor force. Teenagers also
tend to be confined to unskilled and lower skilled jobs, with
about half of employed teens working in service and opera­
tor, fabricator, or laborer occupations in 1986. Young
adults, by comparison, are much more likely to work in
managerial, professional, and precision production, craft,
and repair jobs. This movement from less skilled to more
skilled occupations and the increased value of youths to
employers as young people gain job experience typically
lead to rising earnings. In 1986, average weekly earnings for
men age 16 to 19 years were $185 while men age 20 to 24
years earned $264; average weekly earnings for women age
16 to 19 years were $169 while women age 20 to 24 years
earned $231.
One widely reported result of the declining youth popula­
tion has been recruiting difficulties in some retail trade and
services industries.3 The rapid job growth in industries such
as eating and drinking places, combined with the declining
number of young people available to fill the job openings,
37

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW

June 1987 •

Research Summaries

Chart 1. Growth of the youth civilian noninstitutional population, 1962-86
Percent

Percent

Chart 2. Labor force participation rates by age and sex, 1960-86
Percent
100

Percent
100
90

JVIen, 20 to 24

90

80

80

Men, 18 to 19
70

70

•

Women, 18 to 19

Women, 20 to 24

60

60

.

Men, 16 to 17
50

50

40

40

Women, 16 to 17

30

30

20

20

10

10

1962

38

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1964

1966

1968

1970

1972

J___ I___ L

J___ I___ L

J___I___L

J ___I___ I___L

n
1960

1974

1976

1978

1980

1982

1984

0
1986

has caused labor shortages in some areas of the country. The
numerous low-wage, low-skill jobs available in these indus­
tries are usually thought of as ideal jobs for many young
people, particularly those who desire flexible work sched­
ules and have other sources of support. Despite reported
shortages of young workers, however, most measures show
that a slack labor market continues to exist for young people
in the mid-1980’s. Some possible reasons for this problem
are examined below.

Slack labor market
Back-to-back economic downturns and a subsequent re­
covery largely determined events in the labor market during
the 1979-86 period. Between 1979 and 1982, unemploy­
ment rates for all persons, including youths, rose sharply as
a result of the two recessions. Although jobless rates for
youths as well as other workers fell somewhat during the
subsequent economic recovery, rates for most youth age
groups were still higher in 1986 than in 1979. (See table 1.)
Thus, jobless rates for youths continued to remain higher
despite 4 years of recovery and a substantially smaller num­
ber of teenagers and young adults competing in the labor
market. The following tabulation illustrates the change in
unemployment rates and the decline in population between
1979 and 1986 for persons 16 to 24 years old:
Age

Percentage-point Percent decline
change in
in population
unemployment rates

16 and 17 years . . . . .................. +2.1
18 and 19 years .. ................... +2.3
20 to 24 years ....... ................. +1.6

-12.0
-14.0
-3 .9

The failure of youth unemployment rates to return to 1979
levels would have been more easily understood if there had
been an increase in youth labor force participation (that is,
if the decreased competition due to the smaller number of
youths had drawn proportionately more youths into the job
market in the 1979-86 period). However, youth labor force
participation declined. A brief look at the long-term trend in
youth participation places current developments in a better
perspective.
During the 1960’s and 1970’s, the rising youth population
was accompanied by sharp increases in the labor force par­
ticipation of teenage men and both teenage and young adult
women. The already high participation of young adult men
was relatively stable. (See chart 2.) Rising youth participa­
tion contributed significantly to the near doubling of the
youth labor force between 1964 and 1979.4
Beginning in 1980, however, there was a sharp dip in the
long-run trend of rising youth participation, precipitated by
the two recessions that occurred in the early 1980’s.5 During
the 1979-83 period, the participation rates of teenagers of
both sexes and young adult men fell, while the rate for
young adult women remained little changed. The
percentage-point changes in labor force participation rates
(1979-83) for men and women age 16 to 24 years were:

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Age
16 and 17 years
18 and 19 years
20 to 24 years .

Men

Women

-8 .4
-3 .3

-5 .7

1.6

0.9

-

2.0

-

During the subsequent years of economic recovery, the par­
ticipation rates for young men and women in all youth age
groups did rise somewhat, but the increase has not been
what might be expected from a strong youth labor market.
The participation rates for teenage men, for example, have
failed to rise to their prerecession levels. (See chart 2.)
As shown in table 1, a similar pattern can be seen in the
employment-population ratios for youths. The ratios for
both younger and older groups declined from 1979 to 1982.
With the onset of the economic recovery, the ratios of each
group rose; however, they still remained below the prereces­
sion levels among men and teenage women.
Also, some evidence suggests that in the mid-1980’s,
more young people experienced trouble obtaining full-time
employment. The proportion of employed young persons
who work part time for economic reasons has increased. The
following tabulation shows, for selected years, the percent­
ages of employed men and women, 16 to 24 years old,
working part time involuntarily:
Age

1979 1982 1986

Men:
16 and 17 years................... ..........
18 and 19 years ................... ..........
20 to 24 years ..................... ..........

8.4
7.4
4.4

11.6
14.7
8.6

9.2
12.8
7.2

Women:
16 and 17 years................... ..........
18 and 19 years................... ..........
20 to 24 years ..................... ..........

7.4
9.3
5.8

10.6
16.3
9.1

8.6
14.1
8.4

For those young people who were not in school, and who
therefore were more likely to seek full-time employment,
there were across-the-board decreases between October
1979 and October 1986 in the proportion of youths working
full time. The percentages of employed men and women, 16
to 24 years old, working full time and not enrolled in school
are shown in the following tabulation:
Age

1979

1986

16 and 17 years ..........................
18 and 19 years ..........................
20 and 21 years..........................
22 to 24 years ............................

73.9
85.7
92.2
93.7

59.0
77.3
86.9
89.6

Women:
16 and 17 years ..........................
18 and 19 years ..........................
20 and 21 years..........................
22 to 24 years ............................

56.6
76.2
82.5
85.3

45.6
62.0
80.1
82.2

Men:

Relatively high unemployment rates, low participation
and employment ratios, and the increase in involuntary parttime work suggest a slackness in the youth labor market and
raise the question: How can the labor market data be: recon39

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW

June 1987 •

Research Summaries

Table 1. Civilian unemployment rates and employment-population ratios for persons 16 to 24 years old by age and sex,
annual averages, 1979-86
Age and sex

1979

1980

1982

1981

1983

1984

1985

1986

Unemployment rates

Total, 16 to 24 years ...................
16 to 19 years ..........................
16 and 17 years ...................
18 and 19 years ...................
20 to 24 years ..........................

11.8
16.1
18.1
14.7
9.1

13.9
17.8
20.0
16.2
11.5

14.9
19.6
21.4
18.4
12.3

17.8
23.2
24.9
22.1
14.9

17.2
22.4
24.5
21.1
14.5

13.9
18.9
21.2
17.4
11.5

13.6
18.6
21.0
17.0
11.1

13.3
18.3
20.2
17.0
10.7

Men, 16 to 24 y e a rs .....................
16 to 19 years ..........................
16 and 17 years ...................
18 and 19 years ...................
20 to 24 years ..........................

11.4
15.9
17.9
14.3
8.7

14.6
18.3
20.4
16.7
12.5

15.7
20.1
22.0
18.8
13.2

19.1
24.4
26.4
23.1
16.4

18.4
23.3
25.2
22.2
15.9

14.4
19.6
21.9
18.3
11.9

14.1
19.5
21.9
17.9
11.4

13.7
19.0
20.8
17.7
11.0

Women, 16 to 24 years ...............
16 to 19 years ..........................
16 and 17 years ...................
18 and 19 years ...................
20 to 24 years ..........................

12.2
16.4
18.3
15.0
9.6

13.0
17.2
19.6
15.6
10.4

14.0
19.0
20.7
17.9
11.2

16.2
21.9
23.2
21.0
13.2

15.8
21.3
23.7
19.9
12.9

13.3
18.0
20.4
16.6
10.9

13.0
17.6
20.0
16.0
10.7

12.8
17.6
19.6
16.3
10.3

Employment-population ratios (in percent)

Total, 16 to 24 years ...................
16 to 19 years ..........................
16 and 17 years ...................
18 and 19 years ...................
20 to 24 years ..........................

60.6
48.5
39.8
57.4
70.4

58.6
46.6
37.5
55.7
68.3

57.6
44.6
35.5
53.5
67.8

55.3
41.5
32.5
50.2
65.7

55.6
41.5
31.4
51.0
66.0

58.3
43.7
33.4
53.6
68.7

59.0
44.4
34.5
54.2
69.6

59.5
44.6
35.5
54.1
70.5

Men, 16 to 24 y e a rs .....................
16 to 19 years ..........................
16 and 17 years ...................
18 and 19 years ...................
20 to 24 years ..........................

66.5
51.7
42.3
61.6
78.9

63.5
49.5
39.8
59.4
75.1

62.2
47.1
37.3
57.2
74.2

58.7
42.9
33.4
52.2
71.0

59.2
43.1
32.3
53.4
71.3

62.3
45.0
34.0
55.7
74.9

62.7
45.7
35.2
56.6
75.3

63.0
45.7
35.9
56.2
76.3

Women, 16 to 24 years ...............
16 to 19 years ..........................
16 and 17 years ...................
18 and 19 years ...................
20 to 24 years ..........................

54.8
45.3
37.2
53.3
62.4

53.9
43.8
35.1
52.2
61.8

53.3
42.0
33.7
50.0
61.8

52.0
40.2
31.5
48.3
60.6

52.2
40.0
30.5
48.6
60.9

54.4
42.5
32.8
51.5
62.7

55.4
42.9
33.7
51.9
64.1

56.0
43.6
35.1
52.2
64.9

died with the expectation of improvement in the youth
employment situation and with the recent reports of short­
ages of young workers in some retail trade and services jobs.
In part, the answer lies in the underlying causes of the youth
employment problems.

Worker competition
To a great extent, the employment difficulties experi­
enced by youths arise from factors that are inherent to the
group. As mentioned earlier, the youngest members of the
labor force naturally have little or no job experience or
specialized training. They also are less settled and depend­
ent upon their own earnings than older workers and are
therefore more likely to leave jobs. For minority youths,
who have faced particularly bad employment prospects for
a long time, these disadvantages can be compounded by
other factors, such as low levels of educational preparation,
poor job search skills, reduced job opportunities in the inner
cities, and discrimination.
For the above reasons, young workers are especially sus­
ceptible to competition from other groups in the work force
and experience their best employment prospects during peri­
ods of high aggregate demand. During such periods, the
most preferred workers are in short supply, and employers
turn to less desirable, younger workers. Conversely, as the
supply of available adult workers increases during down­
Digitized for40
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turns, opportunities for youths decline.6 The effect of the
“baby bust” on job market competition among young people
during the first half of the 1980’s may have been offset by
the large number of people bom during the last few years of
the “baby boom,” who were not yet settled in jobs.7 In fact,
the number of 20- to 24-year-olds did not drop appreciably
until the mid-1980’s.
In some retail trade and services industries, young people
are not the “employees of last resort”; the demand for young
workers in these industries is great. However, for some
youths, particularly those who are not in school and are
seeking full-time, higher paying jobs, part-time jobs in retail
trade and services may not be acceptable. These young
people may prefer to invest their time in more training or job
search than in part-time work. Thus, shortages of young
workers could occur in such industries even as young people
experience difficulty finding full-time employment in other
sectors of the economy.

Sluggish manufacturing
The continuing difficulties in the industrial sector also
may have hurt the employment prospects for young work­
ers, despite their population decline. Prior to the recessions
of the early 1980’s, the manufacturing sector was a major
employer of youths, especially out-of-school young men.
However, between 1979 and 1986, manufacturing employ-

ment declined significantly, dampening the employment op­
portunities available to young people. The percentage of
out-of-school young men working full time in manufactur­
ing fell sharply between October 1979 and October 1986, as
shown in the following tabulation:
Age
16 and 17 years ..........................
18 and 19 years ..........................
20 and 21 years ..........................
22 to 24 years ............................

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

1979

1986

15.1
27.0
29.7
28.0

6.7
13.6
22.2
20.6

The disadvantages of young workers, such as lack of
experience and training, would have been especially pro­
nounced in manufacturing, where the lack of employment
growth created a substantial pool of available older workers.
And, the slow growth in manufacturing employment would
have affected young men more than women, because young
men made up about two-thirds of the youth work force in
manufacturing. This could explain in part why young men
were worse off in 1986 relative to their 1979 employment
status than were young women.
f ir s t h a l f of the 1980’s was the beginning of a period
of declining youth population, a development that will con­
tinue into the mid-1990’s. Although this decline was ex­
pected to lead to a better employment situation for youths,
no clear improvements are evident. While further decreases
in the youth population may yet lead to improvements, the
experience of the first half of the decade indicates that youth
employment problems are not easily overcome.

T he

---------- F O O T N O T E S --------1 The data used in the analysis for the most part are annual averages
derived from the Current Population Survey (cps), which is a monthly
sample survey o f 59,500 households nationwide and the principal source of
information on U .S. labor force and employment trends. The CPS is con­
ducted by the Census Bureau for the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Labor force
data by school enrollment are from the October supplement to the cps,
which has provided such information since 1959. Monthly estimates of the
school enrollment status of youths have been available starting with the
data for January 1985. See Anne McDougall Young, “New monthly data
series on school age y o u t h M o n th ly L a b o r R e v ie w , July 1985, pp. 4 9 -5 0 .
These data were not used due to the limited historical series.
2 F o u r Y e a r s A fte r H ig h S c h o o l: A C a p s u le D e s c r ip tio n o f 1 9 8 0 S e n io r s ,
cs 8 6 -2 1 0 (U.S. Department of Education, Center for Statistics, Office of
Educational Research and Improvement, August 1986), p. 9.
3 Martha Brannigan, “A Shortage of Youths Brings Wide Changes to the
Labor Market,” T h e W a ll S tr e e t J o u r n a l, Sept. 2, 1986, pp. 1 and 21; Dirk
Johnson, “Labor Scarcity Is Forcing Up Low Level Pay,” T h e N e w Y o rk
T im es, Mar. 17, 1986, pp. B l-2; and Caroline E. Mayer, “Low Level Jobs
Remain Unfilled,” T h e W a sh in g to n P o s t, Nov. 25, 1985, Washington
Business pp. 1 and 126-27.
4 If the participation rate of persons 16 to 24 years old had not changed
over the period, the increase in the youth labor force would have been only
about 50 percent.
5 For a discussion of the relation between youth labor force participation
and the business cycle, see Kim B. Clark and Lawrence H. Summers,
“Demographic Differences in Cyclical Employment Variation,” T h e J o u r ­
n a l o f H u m a n R e s o u r c e s , Winter 1981, pp. 6 1-77.


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

6 Arvil V. Adams, Garth L. Mangum, and Stephen F. Seninger, Th e
L in g e r in g C r is is o f Y ou th U n e m p lo y m e n t (Kalamazoo, mi, W.E. Upjohn
Institute for Employment Research, June 1978), p. 5.
7 David E. Bloom and Richard B. Freeman, “The ‘Youth Problem’ Age
or Generational Crowding?” Working Paper Series No. 1829 (Cambridge,
ma , National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc., February 1986);
Norman Bowers, “Young and marginal: an overview of youth employ­
ment,” M o n th ly L a b o r R e v ie w , October 1979, pp. 4-1 6 ; and Albert Rees,
“An Essay on Youth Joblessness,” J o u r n a l o f E c o n o m ic L ite r a tu r e , June
1986, pp. 613-28.

Weekly earnings in 1986:
a look at more than 200 occupations
E arl

F.

M

ellor

The Bureau of Labor Statistics has updated its series on the
weekly earnings of wage and salary workers who usually
work full time. This summary presents 1986 usual weekly
earnings in 230 occupations and, for many occupations, the
female-to-male earnings ratio. It is the only source from
which such detailed data are available on an annual basis.
Median earnings vary greatly among occupations. For
example, workers in three of the engineering specialties had
median weekly earnings of $700 or more in 1986— about
twice the overall median of $358. This was also the case for
such workers as economists, lawyers, and airplane pilots
and navigators. By comparison, private household workers
and those employed in “food counter, fountain, and related
occupations” had median earnings below $160 a week.
These data are shown in table 1, which provides information
on wage and salary workers (excluding the incorporated
self-employed) who usually work 35 or more hours per
week.
Within occupations, there is likely to be a wide range of
earnings because each occupation encompasses diverse jobs
with differences in educational requirements, skill levels,
market demand, and other variables. Also, workers in each
specialty may have different duties, responsibilities, work­
weeks, and job tenure. For example, included under physi­
cians are nearly 100 specific titles, ranging from interns to
neurosurgeons.
As was the case in previous years, the 1986 data are
limited to occupations in which there are at least 50,000
full-time wage and salary workers. There are not enough
observations to compute reliable medians for those occupa­
tions with fewer than 50,000 workers. Even for the median
earnings shown in table 1, caution must be used in interpret­
ing small differences between groups, particularly when the
number of workers in a job category is also relatively small.1
Information on weekly earnings of wage and salary work­
ers has been collected since 1967 through the Current Pop­
ulation Survey ( c p s ). Prior to 1979, these earnings data were
Earl F. Mellor is an economist in the Division of Labor Force Statistics,
Office of Current Employment Analysis, Bureau of Labor Statistics.

41

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW

June 1987 •

Research Summaries

Table 1. Median weekly earnings of wage and salary workers who usually work full time in occupations employing 50,000 or
more, by sex, 1986 annual averages
[Numbers in thousands]

Occupation

Women

Men

Both sexes
Number
of
workers

Median
weekly
earnings

Number
of
workers

Median
weekly
earnings

Number
of
workers

Median
weekly
earnings

Ratio
female/male
earnings
times 100

Percent
female
workers

T o ta l..........................................................

78,727

$358

46,233

$419

32,494

$290

69.2

41.3

Managerial and professional specialty occupations.............................................
Executive, administrative, and managerial occupations ..................................
Administrators and officials, public administration.........................................
Financial managers........................................................................................
Personnel and labor relations managers ......................................................
Purchasing managers ...................................................................................
Managers, marketing, advertising, and public relations................................
Administrators, education and related fie ld s .................................................
Managers, medicine and hea lth....................................................................
Managers, properties and real estate............................................................
Management-related occupations ................................................................
Accountants and auditors...........................................................................
Underwriters, and other financial officers .................................................
Management analysts ...............................................................................
Personnel, training, and labor relations specialists ..................................
Buyers, wholesale and retail trade, except farm products ........................
Inspectors and compliance officers, except construction ..........................

20,095
9,777
434
396
109
101
421
440
113
233
3,004
1,083
600
102
327
177
181

505
511
513
584
621
633
680
610
503
375
474
478
500
567
485
397
485

11,333
5,980
259
245
57
67
320
255
45
109
1,592
589
321
63
148
79
146

608
620
617
703
759
741
751
691
0)
407
565
554
617
673
606
501
508

8,762
3,797
176
150
52
33
101
185
67
124
1,412
493
279
40
179
98
36

414
395
414
458
474
(1)
470
495
463
343
390
398
394
ID
411
314
(1)

68.1
63.7
67.1
65.1
62.5
ID
62.6
71.6
0)
84.3
69.0
71.8
63.9
ID
67.8
62.7
(1)

43.6
38.8
40.6
37.9
47.7
32.7
24.0
42.0
59.3
53.2
47.0
45.5
46.5
39.2
54.7
55.4
19.9

Professional specialty occupations ..................................................................
Engineers, architects, and surveyors ............................................................
Architects .......................................................................................................
Engineers.......................................................................................................
Aerospace engineers.................................................................................
Chemical engineers...................................................................................
Civil engineers............................................................................................
Electrical and electronic engineers............................................................
Industrial engineers ....................................................................................
Mechanical engineers ...............................................................................

10,317
1,751
87
1,644
95
55
209
511
191
283

500
676
577
682
708
721
618
704
628
687

5,353
1,636
77
1,540
91
49
202
471
173
272

599
685
592
691
722
(1)
620
715
647
695

4,965
115
10
104
4
6
7
40
19
11

428
551
(1)
580
ID
(1)
ID
ID
ID
(1)

71.5
80.4
(1)
83.9
ID
(1)
(1)
(1)
ID
(1)

48.1
6.6
11.5
6.3
4.2
10.9
3.3
7.8
9.9
3.9

Mathematical and computer scientists..........................................................
Computer systems analysts and scientists ...............................................
Operations and systems researchers and analysts..................................
Natural scientists............................................................................................
Chemists, except biochemists ..................................................................
Biological and life scientists .......................................................................
Health diagnosing occupations ....................................................................
Physicians..................................................................................................
Health assessment and treating occupations...............................................
Registered nurses ......................................................................................
Pharmacists................................................................................................
Dietitians.....................................................................................................
Therapists..................................................................................................
Inhalation therapists...............................................................................

588
337
203
339
116
59
254
219
1,464
1,068
109
53
195
64

628
631
617
570
601
503
653
653
456
460
607
336
404
386

375
219
127
265
92
37
188
160
243
84
71
3
58
28

696
687
695
603
624
ID
722
728
497
490
613
(1)
415
(1)

213
118
77
74
24
22
66
59
1,220
984
38
50
136
36

521
537
511
471
(1)
(1)
499
505
449
458
(1)
342
400
(1)

74.9
78.2
73.5
78.1
(1)
(1)
69.1
69.4
90.3
93.5
0)
(1)
96.4
(1)

36.2
35.0
37.9
21.8
20.7
37.3
26.0
26.9
83.3
92.1
34.9
94.3
69.7
56.3

Teachers, college and university ..................................................................
Teachers, except college and university........................................................
Teachers, prekindergarten and kindergarten.............................................
Teachers, elementary school ....................................................................
Teachers, secondary school.......................................................................
Teachers, special education.......................................................................
Counselors, educational and vocational........................................................
Librarians, archivists, and curators................................................................
Librarians ..................................................................................................
Social scientists and urban planners ............................................................
Economists ................................................................................................
Psychologists..............................................................................................
Social, recreation, and religious workers .....................................................
Social workers............................................................................................
Recreation workers ...................................................................................
Clergy .........................................................................................................
Lawyers and judges ......................................................................................
Lawyers.......................................................................................................

443
2,884
240
1,173
1,076
198
146
150
139
229
96
100
750
423
60
226
342
314

600
437
274
422
481
424
494
425
423
569
704
491
389
399
232
396
767
767

322
836
4
172
518
29
72
27
21
131
59
51
413
163
23
210
256
234

656
501
(1)
490
508
ID
535
(1)
(1)
683
794
581
420
451
(1)
400
812
806

122
2,048
236
1,001
558
169
74
123
118
98
37
49
337
260
37
16
85
79

479
411
279
415
443
417
471
410
408
470
ID
(1)
350
369
ID
(1)
609
624

73.0
82.0
(1)
84.7
87.2
(1)
88.0
(1)
0)
68.8
(1)
(1)
83.3
81.8
(1)
(1)
75.0
77.4

27.5
71.0
98.3
85.3
51.9
85.4
50.7
82.0
84.9
42.8
38.5
49.0
44.9
61.5
61.7
7.1
24.9
25.2

Writers, artists, entertainers, and athletes......................................................
Designers ..................................................................................................
Actors and directors...................................................................................
Painters, sculptors, craft artists, and artist printmakers ............................
Photographers............................................................................................
Editors and reporters .................................................................................
Public relations specialists .........................................................................

979
292
55
86
59
199
130

455
490
423
385
392
425
518

589
182
32
49
42
107
67

504
574
ID
(1)
(1)
480
698

390
110
23
36
17
92
63

374
350
ID
ID
ID
373
440

74.2
61.0
(1)
ID
ID
77.7
63.0

39.8
37.7
41.8
41.9
28.8
46.2
48.5

Technical, sales, and administrative support occupations ..................................
Technicians and related support occupations .................................................
Health technologists and technicians............................................................
Clinical laboratory technologists and technicians......................................
Radiologic technicians ...............................................................................
Licensed practical nurses...........................................................................

24,060
2,821
852
239
94
281

320
416
328
388
383
300

8,977
1,597
167
68
32
9

437
490
405
436
ID
(1)

15,083
1,224
685
170
62
272

282
343
317
371
367
299

64.5
70.0
78.3
85.1
(1)
(1)

62.7
43.4
80.4
71.1
66.0
96.8

See footnotes at end of table.


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Table 1. Continued— Median weekly earnings of wage and salary workers who usually work full time in occupations employ­
ing 50,000 or more, by sex, 1986 annual averages

Occupation

Median
weekly
earnings

Women

Men

Both sexes
Number
of
workers

Number
of
workers

Median
weekly
earnings

Number
of
workers

Median
weekly
earnings

Ratio
female/male
earnings
times 100

Percent
female
workers

Engineering and related technologists and technicians............................
Electrical and electronic technicians .....................................................
Drafting occupations...............................................................................
Surveying and mapping technicians .....................................................
Science technicians........................................................................................
Chemical technicians.................................................................................
Technicians, except health, engineering, and science..................................
Airplane pilots and navigators....................................................................
Computer programmers.............................................................................
Legal assistants..........................................................................................

843
303
248
74
178
72
949
54
503
145

$447
477
412
381
423
459
499
754
519
372

699
265
198
67
133
57
598
53
332
34

$471
493
431
375
479
486
548
760
559
(1)

144
38
50
6
45
16
351
1
172
111

$356
(1)
351
(')
(1)
(1)
424
(1)
477
361

75.6
(1)
81.4
(1)
0)
(D
77.4
(1)
85.3
0)

17.1
12.5
20.2
8.1
25.3
22.2
37.0
1.9
34.2
76.6

Sales occupations ................................................................................................
Supervisors ......................................................................................................
Sales representatives, finance and business services ....................................
Insurance sa le s................................................................................... ..........
Real estate sales............................................................................................
Securities and financial services s a le s ..........................................................
Advertising and related sales.........................................................................
Sales occupations, other business services.................................................
Sales representatives, commodities, except retail, including sales engineers .
Salesworkers, retail and personal services .....................................................
Salesworkers, motor vehicles and boats .....................................................
Salesworkers, apparel...................................................................................
Salesworkers, furniture and home furnishings .............................................
Salesworkers, radio, television, hi-fi, and appliances ..................................
Salesworkers, hardware and building supplies.............................................
Salesworkers, p arts.......................................................................................
Sales counter clerks .....................................................................................
Cashiers.........................................................................................................
Street and door-to-door salesworkers ..........................................................

7,395
2,103
1,388
358
326
215
107
382
1,226
2,660
237
166
112
107
135
155
76
957
72

351
392
453
418
457
608
454
397
492
215
424
192
302
304
267
274
193
181
343

4,373
1,436
789
225
145
164
52
203
1,017
1,122
220
40
65
84
105
140
22
197
32

447
460
519
500
518
740
502
487
508
301
439
(D
318
313
292
286
0)
209
(1)

3,021
667
599
133
181
52
54
178
209
1,538
17
126
47
24
30
14
54
760
40

239
282
360
352
389
423
373
315
382
183
(1)
174
(D
(D
(1)
(D
170
174
(1)

53.5
61.3
69.4
70.4
75.1
57.2
74.3
64.7
75.2
60.8
(1)
(D
(1)
(1)
(1)
(D
(D
83.3
(D

40.9
31.7
43.2
37.2
55.5
24.2
50.5
46.6
17.0
b/.8
7.2
75.9
42.0
22.4
22.2
9.0
71.1
79.4
55.6

Administrative support occupations, including clerical .........................................
Supervisors, administrative support..................................................................
Supervisors, general office ...........................................................................
Supervisors, financial records processing.....................................................
Supervisors, distribution, scheduling, and adjusting clerks ..........................
Computer equipment operators.........................................................................
Computer operators .....................................................................................
Secretaries, stenographers, and typists............................................................
Secretaries ....................................................................................................
Typists ...........................................................................................................

13,844
709
416
91
153
722
716
3,893
3,210
651

300
424
404
472
447
318
318
287
288
276

3,006
296
139
24
105
236
234
65
34
28

403
521
515
0)
471
396
396
322
(D
(D

10,838
413
278
67
48
486
482
3,828
3,176
623

284
385
373
413
(1)
296
296
286
287
276

70.5
73.9
72.4
(1)
(1)
74.7
74.7
88.8
(1)
(D

78.3
58.3
66.8
73.6
31.4
67.3
67.3
98.3
98.9
95.7

Information c le rk s ..............................................................................................
Interviewers ..................................................................................................
Hotel clerks....................................................................................................
Transportation ticket and reservation agents ...............................................
Receptionists ................................................................................................
Records processing occupations, except financial ...........................................
Order clerks ..................................................................................................
Personnel clerks, except payroll and timekeeping.........................................
Library clerks ................................................................................................
File c le rk s ......................................................................................................
Records clerks ..............................................................................................

856
123
60
99
459
611
174
53
54
211
101

255
274
214
420
242
288
366
317
248
239
303

91
16
18
29
9
118
51
5
8
32
21

347
(D
(D
(D
(1)
342
404
(D
(D
(D
(D

766
107
42
70
450
492
123
48
46
179
80

250
266
0)
366
242
279
348
(D
(1)
237
292

72.0
d)
(D
(D
0)
81.6
86.1
(D
(1)
(D
(1)

89.5
87.0
70.0
70.7
98.0
80.5
70.7
90.6
85.2
84.8
79.2

Financial records processing occupations .......................................................
Bookkeepers, accounting and auditing cle rk s ...............................................
Payroll and timekeeping clerks ....................................................................
Billing clerks ..................................................................................................
Cost and rate clerks .....................................................................................
Duplicating, mail, and other office machine operators ....................................
Communications equipment operators..............................................................
Telephone operators.....................................................................................

1,706
1,319
149
135
71
60
191
181

290
287
316
294
291
266
307
315

169
127
14
14
13
28
28
25

366
343
(1)
(D
(D
(D
(1)
(1)

1,536
1,193
135
121
58
33
163
157

286
283
313
286
276
(D
296
304

78.1
82.5
(1)
(1)
(D
(1)
(1)
(1)

90.0
90.4
90.6
89.6
81.7
55.0
85.3
86.7

Mail and message distributing occupations .....................................................
Postal clerks, except mail carriers ................................................................
Mail carriers, postal service...........................................................................
Mail clerks, except postal service..................................................................
Messengers ..................................................................................................
Material recording, scheduling, and distributing clerks ....................................
Dispatchers....................................................................................................
Production coordinators.................................................................................
Traffic, shipping, and receiving clerks............................................................
Stock and inventory clerks.............................................................................
Weighers, measurers, and checkers ............................................................
Expediters......................................................................................................

754
274
280
119
81
1,455
166
178
421
479
65
91

445
479
477
268
271
322
347
458
297
315
279
318

520
164
229
62
65
908
82
100
312
299
39
37

465
484
482
291
279
359
402
506
317
347
(1)
(D

234
110
51
58
16
547
84
78
108
180
26
54

405
467
429
247
(D
285
307
346
243
285
(D
283

87.1
96.5
89.0
84.9
(D
79.4
76.4
68.4
76.7
82.1
(1)
(1)

31.0
40.1
18.2
48.7
19.8
37.6
50.6
43.8
25.7
37.6
40.0
59.3

Adjusters and investigators...............................................................................
Insurance adjusters, examiners, and investigators ......................................
Investigators and adjusters, except insurance .............................................
Eligibility clerks, social w elfare......................................................................
Bill and account collectors.............................................................................

743
238
334
64
107

321
356
323
300
284

203
75
89
7
32

460
487
465
(1)
(D

540
163
244
58
75

299
308
301
291
281

65.0
63.2
64.7
(1)
(D

72.7
68.5
73.1
90.6
70.1

See footnotes at end of table.


https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

43

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW

June 1987 •

Research Summaries

Table 1. Continued— Median weekly earnings of wage and salary workers who usually work full time in occupations employ­
ing 50,000 or more, by sex, 1986 annual averages
Women

Men

Both sexes

Median
weekly
earnings

Ratio
female/male
earnings
times 100

Percent
female
workers

1,800
425
329
269
69
171

$262
267
228
273
327
197

69.9
71.6
(1)
(1)
(1)
(1)

84.0
77.6
90.6
92.8
78.4
95.0

284
0)
(1)
(1)
402
528
575
461
469

4,074
320
146
149
156
8
5
4
4

191
119
90
146
292
(1)
(1)
(1)
(1)

67.3
(1)
(1)
(1)
72.6
(1)
(1)
O)
0)

50.5
95.8
98.6
94.9
9.8
4.8
5.6
1.8
1.9

579
367
71
142
479
456

443
481
410
370
272
275

69
24
10
34
75
59

350
(1)
(1)
(1)
231
254

79.0
(1)
(1)
(1)
84.9
92.4

10.6
6.1
12.5
19.3
13.5
11.4

209
186
238
214
172
196
152
166
164

2,540
973
68
100
103
447
16
15
65

239
205
294
245
209
212
0)
(1)
162

3,598
1,315
109
84
472
370
62
49
29

195
173
212
184
168
174
149
(1)
(1)

81.6
84.4
72.1
75.1
80.4
82.1
(1)
(1)
(1)

58.6
57.5
61.6
45.7
81.9
45.3
79.5
76.6
30.5

1,277
112
254
910
1,883
130
363
1,338
691
274
63
143

216
243
242
206
238
313
189
247
212
208
234
182

145
0
43
102
1,236
89
71
1,029
187
40
36
11

252
(1)
(0
253
266
348
229
261
255
(1)
(1)
(D

1,132
112
212
808
647
42
292
309
504
234
27
132

213
243
241
202
197
(1)
178
207
203
205
(1)
177

84.5
(1)
(1)
79.8
74.1
(1)
77.7
79.3
79.6
(1)
(1)
(1)

88.6
100.0
83.5
88.8
34.4
32.3
80.4
23.1
72.9
85.4
42.9
92.3

Precision production, craft, and repair occupations.............................................
Mechanics and repairers...................................................................................
Supervisors, mechanics and repairers ..........................................................
Mechanics and repairers, except supervisors...............................................
Vehicle and mobile equipment mechanics and repairers..........................
Automobile mechanics ...........................................................................
Bus, truck, and stationary engine mechanics.........................................
Aircraft engine mechanics.......................................................................
Small engine repairers ...........................................................................
Automobile body and related repairers .................................................
Heavy equipment mechanics ................................................................

10,851
3,723
219
3,504
1,444
658
310
96
52
130
157

408
414
524
408
375
324
402
505
301
354
438

9,973
3,588
199
3,388
1,426
647
307
94
52
129
156

418
413
523
408
375
326
402
508
301
355
437

878
136
20
116
19
10
3
3
0
0
1

277
431
(1)
420
(1)
(1)
(1)
(1)
(1)
0)
(1)

66.3
104.4
0)
102.9
(1)
(1)
O)
(1)
O)
(1)
(1)

8.1
3.7
9.1
3.3
1.3
1.5
1.0
3.1
.0
.0
.6

Industrial machinery repairers .......................................................................
Electrical and electronic equipment repairers...............................................
Electronic repairers, communications and industrial euqipm ent...............
Data processing equipment repairers ........................................................
Telephone line installers and repairers.....................................................
Telephone installers and repairers ............................................................
Heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics ................................
Miscellaneous mechanics and repairers........................................................
Office machine repairers ...........................................................................
M illwrights..................................................................................................

515
642
131
127
64
220
214
655
54
93

415
511
450
514
549
568
390
403
376
501

502
584
121
115
60
191
213
631
54
91

417
514
447
531
547
571
389
404
376
501

13
58
9
11
4
29
1
23
0
2

(D
486
(1)
(1)
(1)
(1)
0)
(1)
(1)
(1)

(1)
94.6
O)
(1)
(1)
0)
(1)
O)
(1)
(1)

2.5
9.0
6.9
8.7
6.3
13.2
.5
3.5
.0
2.2

Construction trades ..............................................................................................
Supervisors, construction occupations..............................................................
Construction trades, except supervisors ..........................................................
Brickmasons and stonemasons....................................................................
Carpet installers ............................................................................................
Carpenters .....................................................................................................
Drywall installers............................................................................................
Electricians.....................................................................................................
Electrical power installers and repairers........................................................
Painters, construction and maintenance........................................................

3,469
420
3,049
114
53
855
101
562
106
267

401
500
389
412
331
348
374
473
514
299

3,413
413
2,999
113
52
846
99
551
104
257

401
500
389
411
328
349
375
475
515
301

56
6
50
0
0
9
2
12
2
10

333
(1)
315
(1)
(1)
(1)
(1)
(1)
(1)
(1)

83.0
(1)
81.0
(1)
(1)
(1)
(1)
(1)
(1)
(1)

1.6
1.4
1.6
.0
.0
1.1
2.0
2.1
1.9
3.7

Number
of
workers

Median
weekly
earnings

Number
of
workers

Median
weekly
earnings

Miscellaneous administrative support occupations...............................................
General office cle rks..........................................................................................
Bank tellers .......................................................................................................
Data-entry keyers..............................................................................................
Statistical clerks ................................................................................................
Teachers aides..................................................................................................

2,144
548
363
290
88
180

$272
283
231
277
343
198

345
123
34
21
19
9

$375
373
(D
(D
(1)
(1)

Service occupations..............................................................................................
Private household occupations .........................................................................
Child care workers, private household..........................................................
Private household cleaners and servants......................................................
Protective service occupations .........................................................................
Supervisors, protective service occupations.................................................
Supervisors, police and detectives ............................................................
Firefighting and fire prevention occupations.................................................
Firefighting occupations.............................................................................

8,061
334
148
157
1,589
165
89
222
209

223
121
91
147
392
516
558
455
464

3,987
14
2
9
1,433
158
83
217
205

Police and detectives ...................................................................................
Police and detectives, public service..........................................................
Sheriffs, bailiffs, and other law enforcement officers ................................
Correctional institution officers ..................................................................
Guards ...........................................................................................................
Guards and police, except public services ...............................................

648
392
80
176
554
516

431
478
401
362
266
272

Service occupations, except protective and household....................................
Food preparation and service occupations...................................................
Supervisors, food preparation and service ...............................................
Bartenders..................................................................................................
Waiters and waitresses .............................................................................
Cooks, except short order .........................................................................
Food counter, fountain and related occupations ......................................
Kitchen workers, food preparation ............................................................
Waiters'/waitresses’ assistants..................................................................

6,138
2,288
177
184
576
817
78
64
95

Health service occupations ...........................................................................
Dental assistants........................................................................................
Health aides, except nursing ....................................................................
Nursing aides, orderlies, and attendants...................................................
Cleaning and building service occupations, except household ...................
Supervisors, cleaning and building service workers..................................
Maids and housemen.................................................................................
Janitors and cleaners.................................................................................
Personal service occupations .......................................................................
Hairdressers and cosmetologists ..............................................................
Attendants, amusement and recreation facilities.......................................
Child care workers, except private household...........................................

Occupation

See footnotes at end of table.

Digitized for44
FRASER
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

Number
of
workers

Table 1. Continued— Median weekly earnings of wage and salary workers who usually work full time in occupations employ*
ing 50,000 or more, by sex, 1986 annual averages
Both sexes
Occupation

Number
of
workers

Median
weekly
earnings

Men
Number
of
workers

Women

Median
weekly
earnings

Number
of
workers

Median
weekly
earnings

female/male
earnings
times 100

Percent
female
workers

Plumbers, pipefitters, steamfitters, and apprentices ....................................
Concrete and terrazzo finishers....................................................................
Insulation w orkers..........................................................................................
Roofers...........................................................................................................
Structural metalworkers.................................................................................

376
68
53
120
65

$470
343
369
303
467

374
67
52
118
65

$470
341
363
303
467

2
1
1
2
0

(1)
(1)
(1)
(1)
(1)

(1)
0)
(1)
(1)
(1)

.5
1.5
1.9
1.7
.0

Extractive occupations ..........................................................................................
Precision production occupations .........................................................................
Supervisors, production occupations................................................................
Precision metalworking occupations ................................................................
Tool and die makers .....................................................................................
Machinists......................................................................................................
Sheet metal workers .....................................................................................
Precision woodworking occupations ................................................................
Precision textile, apparel, and furnishings machine w orkers............................
Precision workers, assorted materials ..............................................................
Electrical and electronic equipment assemblers ...........................................
Precision food production occupations..............................................................
Butchers and meatcutters .............................................................................
Bakers ...........................................................................................................
Precision inspectors, testers, and related workers ...........................................
Inspectors, testers, and graders....................................................................
Plant and system operators...............................................................................
Stationary engineers .....................................................................................

155
3,504
1,308
862
151
468
128
67
134
471
311
336
241
69
104
99
223
103

520
403
474
432
506
419
408
285
242
284
271
293
299
292
463
468
493
493

152
2,821
1,127
814
149
450
120
55
73
194
98
254
192
51
86
82
218
102

517
445
495
441
508
422
410
299
268
329
305
327
338
316
481
483
493
493

2
684
181
48
2
18
8
11
61
277
213
82
49
18
18
17
5
1

(1)
$258
297
(1)
(1)
(1)
(1)
0)
211
259
255
208
(1)
(1)
(1)
(1)
(1)
(1)

(1)
58.0
60.0
(1)
ID
(1)
(1)
(1)
78.7
78.7
83.6
63.6
(1)
(1)
(1)
(1)
(1)
O)

1.3
19.5
13.8
5.6
1.3
3.8
6.3
16.4
45.5
58.8
68.5
24.4
20.3
26.1
17.3
17.2
2.2
1.0

Operators, fabricators, and laborers ....................................................................
Machine operators, assemblers, and inspectors...............................................
Machine operators and tenders, except precision.........................................
Metalworking and plastic working machine operators ..............................
Lathe and turning machine operators ...................................................
Punching and stamping press machine operators ................................
Grinding, abrading, buffing, and polishing machine operators...............

14,342
7,254
4,815
476
61
140
142

301
293
278
361
383
327
366

10,784
4,401
2,873
392
57
95
124

332
354
341
379
388
352
376

3,558
2,853
1,942
84
4
45
18

225
223
211
271
(1)
0)
(1)

67.8
63.0
61.9
71.5
(1)
(1)
(1)

24.8
39.3
40.3
17.6
6.6
32.1
12.7

Metal and plastic processing machine operators .........................................
Molding and casting machine operators ...................................................
Woodworking machine operators..................................................................
Sawing machine operators.........................................................................
Printing machine operators ...........................................................................
Printing machine operators.........................................................................
Typesetters and compositors ....................................................................

167
99
137
90
404
274
57

324
305
258
260
354
366
323

126
67
114
77
303
240
17

365
354
263
264
394
381
O)

40
32
22
12
101
34
40

(1)
0)
(1)
(1)
282
(1)
(1)

(1)
(1)
(1)
(1)
71.6
(1)
(1)

24.0
32.3
16.1
13.3
25.0
12.4
70.2

Textile, apparel, and furnishings machine operators....................................
Winding and twisting machine operators...................................................
Textile sewing machine operators..............................................................
Pressing machine operators......................................................................
Laundering and dry cleaning machine operators......................................
Machine operators, assorted materials..........................................................
Packaging and filling machine operators...................................................
Mixing and blending machine operators ...................................................
Separating, filtering, and clarifying machine operators..............................
Painting and paint spraying machine operators.........................................
Furnace, kiln, and oven operators, except fo o d .........................................
Crushing and grinding machine operators.................................................
Slicing and cutting machine operators .....................................................
Photographic process machine operators.................................................

1,155
82
676
108
137
2,450
367
87
61
174
109
54
216
60

195
237
179
199
194
305
253
342
431
310
421
243
270
253

225
19
69
33
43
1,696
141
81
53
141
106
42
165
28

247
(1)
205
ID
O)
343
324
345
446
328
425
0)
288
(1)

930
64
607
75
94
754
227
6
8
33
4
12
51
32

186
220
177
182
175
239
230
(1)
(1)
(1)
(1)
(1)
209
(1)

75.3
(1)
86.3
(1)
(1)
69.7
71.0
(1)
(1)
(1)
ID
(1)
72.6
(1)

80.5
78.0
89.8
69.4
68.6
30.8
61.9
6.9
13.1
19.0
3.7
22.2
23.6
53.3

Fabricators, assemblers, and hand working occupations ............................
Welders and cutters...................................................................................
Assemblers ................................................................................................
Production inspectors, testers, samplers, and weighers ..............................
Production inspectors, checkers, and examiners......................................
Production testers .....................................................................................
Graders and sorters, except agricultural ...................................................

1,659
534
1,001
780
653
51
70

319
376
299
323
334
420
230

1,131
499
567
396
321
39
33

365
382
350
421
438
(1)
(1)

527
34
434
384
332
12
37

251
(1)
254
260
266
(1)
(1)

68.8
O)
72.6
61.8
60.7
(1)
(1)

31.8
6.4
43.4
49.2
50.8
23.5
52.9

Transportation and material moving occupations.................................................
Motor vehicle operators ...................................................................................
Supervisors, motor vehicle operators............................................................
Truckdrivers, hea vy........................................................................................
Truckdrivers, light ..........................................................................................
Drivers-salesworkers.....................................................................................
Bus drivers ....................................................................................................
Taxicab drivers and chauffeurs ....................................................................
Transportation occupations, except motor vehicles .........................................
Rail transportation occupations ....................................................................
Locomotive operating occupations ............................................................
Water transportation occupations..................................................................
Material moving equipment operators ..............................................................
Operating engineers .....................................................................................
Crane and tower operators ...........................................................................
Excavating and loading machine operators .................................................

3,684
2,577
57
1,539
459
188
201
107
185
133
57
51
922
155
85
81

366
346
462
371
281
395
327
272
580
589
625
547
375
410
459
368

3,494
2,426
47
1,516
432
179
129
97
181
130
57
51
887
154
84
80

372
353
0)
371
287
400
389
274
583
593
630
545
377
410
458
366

190
151
10
23
27
9
71
10
4
3
1
1
36
1
1
1

287
275
(1)
0)
(1)
(1)
285
(1)
(1)
(1)
(1)
0)
(1)
0)
(1)
(1)

77.2
77.9
(1)
(1)
(1)
(1)
73.3
(1)
0)
(1)
(1)
(1)
(1)
(1)
(1)
(1)

5.2
5.9
17.5
1.5
5.9
4.8
35.3
9.3
2.2
2.3
1.8
2.0
3.9
.6
1.2
1.2

See footnotes at end ot table.


https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

45

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW

June 1987 •

Research Summaries

Table 1. Continued— Median weekly earnings of wage and salary workers who usually work full time in occupations employ­
ing 50,000 or more, by sex, 1986 annual averages

Occupation

Number
of
workers

Women

Men

Both sexes
Median
weekly
earnings

Number
of
workers

Median
weekly
earnings

Number
of
workers

Median
weekly
earnings

Ratio
female/male
earnings
times 100

Percent
female
workers

Grader, dozer, and scraper operators ..........................................................
Industrial truck and tractor equipment operators...........................................

90
381

$351
325

87
361

$345
327

3
20

O)
(1)

(1)
(1)

3.3
5.2

Handlers, equipment cleaners, helpers, and laborers .........................................
Helpers, construction and extractive occupations.............................................
Helpers, construction trades .........................................................................
Construction laborers ........................................................................................
Production helpers ............................................................................................
Freight, stock, and material handlers................................................................
Garbage collectors ........................................................................................
Stock handlers and baggers .........................................................................
Machine feeders and offbearers....................................................................
Garage and service station related occupations...............................................
Vehicle washers and equipment cleaners ........................................................
Hand packers and packagers ...........................................................................
Laborers, except construction ...........................................................................

3,404
161
143
642
59
1,020
51
363
86
185
139
238
921

263
240
236
287
271
263
286
214
266
200
215
233
283

2,890
158
139
624
44
870
50
288
57
178
116
90
772

271
237
233
288
ID
272
285
218
282
202
214
257
291

515
4
4
18
15
150
1
75
30
7
24
149
149

$226
(1)
(1)
(1)
(1)
221
(1)
199
(1)
(1)
(1)
222
232

83.4
(1)
(1)
(1)
O)
81.3
(1)
91.3
(1)
(1)
(1)
86.4
79.7

15.1
2.5
2.8
2.8
25.4
14.7
2.0
20.7
34.9
3.8
17.3
62.6
16.2

Farming, forestry, and fishing occupations ..........................................................
Farm operators and managers .........................................................................
Farm managers..............................................................................................
Other agricultural and related occupations........................................................
Farm occupations, except managerial ..........................................................
Farm workers ............................................................................................
Related agricultural occupations ..................................................................
Supervisors, related agricultural occupations ...........................................
Groundskeepers and gardeners, except fa rm ...........................................
Forestry and logging occupations..................................................................

1,318
67
60
1,162
620
575
542
94
396
65

217
321
329
211
195
192
235
345
222
286

1,178
59
54
1,034
552
519
482
87
379
62

220
325
333
215
199
195
242
360
223
290

140
9
7
128
69
57
59
7
17
3

187
(1)
(1)
184
167
165
205
(1)
(1)
(1)

85.0
(1)
(1)
85.6
83.9
84.6
84.7
0)
(1)
(1)

10.6
13.4
11.7
11.0
11.1
9.9
10.9
7.4
4.3
4.6

1 Data not shown where base is less than 50,000.

collected annually, in May. In 1979, collection was ex­
panded considerably, with the data being gathered monthly
from one-fourth of the c p s sample, b l s publishes summary
results quarterly and disseminates more detailed information
based on annual averages after the end of the year.2
Earnings data for detailed occupations were first pub­
lished for 1981, but unpublished numbers are available back
to 1979.3 However, the 1986 data are fully comparable only
to those published for 1985 and to unpublished data for 1983
and 1984. They are not strictly comparable to prior years’
data for two reasons. First, in 1983, the classification sys­
tem developed for the 1980 Census of Population was intro­
duced to the c p s . It is markedly different from the previous
system.4 Second, in 1985, a change in the procedure for
computing medians was introduced to reduce both a system­
atic upward bias in the estimates and the sometimes erratic
movements of the medians over time. Both are the result of
a tendency of respondents to report rounded numbers.5 The
data for 1983 and 1984 have been revised using the new
procedure and are available from b l s . Because the change in
the occupational classification system precludes compara­
bility with pre-1983 data, medians were not revised for the
1979-82 period.
The Bureau of the Census classifies occupations at three
levels of detail. The least detailed level consists of only the
major occupational groups, for example, the professional
specialty occupations. An intermediate level of detail of the
professional specialty occupations has such groups as engi­
neers and natural scientists; the most detailed includes such
specific job titles as physicians, economists, and chemical
engineers.
O
Digitized for46
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1 For information or the merits and limitations of the data, see T e c h n ic a l
D e s c r ip tio n o f th e Q u a r te r ly D a ta o n W ee k ly E a rn in g s f r o m th e C u r re n t
P o p u la tio n S u rv e y , Bulletin 2113 (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 1982). For
information on other data series on earnings from the Current Population
Survey and other bls surveys, see bls M e a s u r e s o f C o m p e n s a tio n , Bulletin
2239 (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 1986).
2 The Current Population Survey is a monthly nationwide sample survey
of about 60,000 households conducted for the Bureau of Labor Statistics by
the Bureau of the Census. For information on the survey, particularly with
regard to earnings data, see Earl F. Mellor, T e c h n ic a l D e s c r ip tio n o f th e
Q u a r te r ly D a ta o n W ee k ly E a rn in g s f r o m th e C u r r e n t P o p u la tio n S u rv e y ,

and Earl F. Mellor, “Earnings Statistics from the Current Population Sur­
vey,” BLS M e a s u r e s o f C o m p e n s a tio n .
3 Data for 1981 appear in “ 1981 Weekly Earnings of Men and Women
Compared in 100 Occupations,” U .S . D e p a r tm e n t o f L a b o r N e w s R e le a s e
8 2 -8 6 , Mar. 7, 1982; and in Nancy F. Rytina, “Earnings of men and
women: a look at specific occupations,” M o n th ly L a b o r R e v ie w , April
1982, pp. 2 5 -3 1 . For 1982, 1983, and 1985 data, see the following
M o n th ly L a b o r R e v ie w articles or research summaries by Earl F. Mellor:
“Investigating the differences in weekly earnings of women and men,” June
1984, pp. 17-28; “Weekly earnings in 1983: a look at more than 200
occupations,” January 1985, pp. 54-59; and “Weekly earnings in 1985: a
look at more than 200 occupations,” September 1986, pp. 2 8-32. Revised
data for 1983 and 1984 are available from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
4 The system evolved form the Standard Occupational Classification
System (soc) which was adopted in 1977 and revised in 1980. See S ta n d ­
a r d O c c u p a tio n a l C la s s ific a tio n M a n u a l (U.S. Department of Commerce,
Office of Federal Statistical Policy and Standards, 1980). The relationship
between the 1980 census system and the soc is shown in C e n su s o f P o p u ­
la tio n : 1 9 8 0 , C la s s if ie d I n d e x o f I n d u s trie s a n d O c c u p a tio n s , Report
PHC80-R4 , final ed. (Bureau of the Census, 1983). For more information on
differences between the 1970- and 1980-based census classification sys­
tems, see Gloria Peterson Green and others, “Revisions in the Current
Population Survey Beginning in January 1983,” E m p lo y m e n t a n d E a rn ­
in g s, February 1983, pp. 7 -1 5 .
5 For information on the effects that differences in the grouping of the
data have on medians, see Sandra A. West, “Standard Measures of Central
Tendency for Censored Earnings Data from the Current Population Sur­
vey,” a bls statistical note, available from the Office of Research and
Evaluation, Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Foreign Labor
Developments

Japanese unemployment:
b l s updates its analysis
C onstance S orrentino

In a 1984 article in the Review, we presented an analysis of
Japan’s labor force data and concluded that the official
Japanese unemployment rates are only slightly understated
in relation to U.S. concepts.1 The data analyzed in the
article were from the “Special Survey of the Labour Force
Survey” (referred to as the special survey hereafter), con­
ducted in Japan in March 1977 through 1980.
This report updates the article by analyzing data from the
1984 through 1986 special surveys which were conducted in
February. Unlike the March surveys, the February surveys
indicate that official Japanese unemployment rates are
slightly overstated relative to U.S. concepts. In any event,
the February results confirm the broad conclusion drawn
from the earlier study: Japanese unemployment rates are
virtually unchanged when U.S. concepts are applied.
Our article noted that it was difficult to draw firm conclu­
sions from the March data because March is a very unusual
month for the Japanese labor market. It is both the end of the
fiscal year, when Japanese firms traditionally take on new
workers to start April 1, and the end of the school year,
when new graduates enter the labor market. Although
February is also a month of higher than average unemploy­
ment for Japan, there is less seasonality associated with this
month than with March, and the February results for 198486 provide new information about what may be expected in
a more typical month.
The original bls article was partially a response to a 1983
Review article by Koji Taira which also analyzed the March
1977-80 surveys.2 In contrast to the bls view of these
surveys, Taira concluded that the Japanese jobless rate
would be “nearly double the official unemployment rate” if
U.S. concepts were used. Although both bls and Taira
found it necessary to make several adjustments to Japanese
unemployment to bring it more in accord with U.S. con­
cepts, b l s , by contrast, found Japanese unemployment to be
only slightly understated.
Constance Sorrentino is an economist in the Division of Foreign Labor
Statistics, Bureau o f Labor Statistics.


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A 1984 article by Sadonari Nagayama, former director of
the Japanese Statistics Bureau, also reached conclusions
different from Taira’s.3 Nagayama argued that Taira’s ad­
justments were too large, particularly the adjustment in
which he classifies as unemployed more than 500,000 stu­
dents who graduated in March and would start work in
April. Information from the February 1984-86 surveys
throws further light on this issue.
The special surveys of February 1984-86 were not avail­
able to Taira or bls when the earlier articles were written.
After reviewing the surveys, bls believes they support the
contention that the Japanese unemployment rate is only
slightly changed when U.S. concepts are applied. This re­
port presents an analysis of the February surveys, including
a breakdown of the results by sex. In addition, unemploy­
ment rates using an expanded concept of unemployment are
calculated and compared.

Japan’s special survey
To supplement its monthly labor force survey, the Japa­
nese Statistics Bureau conducts special surveys once or
twice each year to investigate, in more detail, the labor force
status of the population and provide data needed for making
employment policies. The themes of the special surveys
change according to the social and economic circumstances
and data needs at the time of each survey.
The underlying purpose of the special surveys from 1977
through 1980 was to investigate, in detail, the rise in the
unemployment rate which began after the first “oil crisis.”
Later surveys had other emphases. For example, the March
1981 survey highlighted the situation of part-time workers
and the 1983 survey presented a current labor force status
versus usual status comparison. The differing underlying
themes necessarily influenced the whole structure of the
survey questionnaires. Modifications in questions and word­
ing were made, not without a sacrifice to the continuity of
the time series. As a result, the special surveys of 1977-80
were useful in quantifying the differences between Japanese
and U.S. unemployment concepts, while the 1981-83 sur­
veys were unsuitable for that purpose.
The 1984-86 special surveys returned to a questionnaire
format similar to that used in the 1977-80 surveys, again
producing the kind of data needed for adjustment to U.S.
concepts. Moreover, the 1984-86 surveys were taken in
47

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW

June 1987 •

Foreign Labor Developments

February instead of March, thus eliminating at least some of
the seasonality associated with the end of the fiscal and
school years.

Adjustment to U.S. concepts
Several adjustments are made to the special survey data to
bring them closer to U.S. concepts. Some persons counted
as unemployed in the surveys should be excluded from the
labor force, and some reported as not in the labor force
should be included among the unemployed. The magnitude
of each of the adjustments is significant, but, on balance,
they tend to cancel each other out, leaving the Japanese
unemployment rate virtually unchanged. Table 1 shows the
1984-86 adjustments for February along with the March
1980 figures, generally in the same format as table 4 in the
1984 article.

However, there are two groups of persons reported as not
in the labor force who, upon further questioning, reveal that
they should be counted as unemployed under U.S. concepts.
Both groups are classified as not in the labor force in the
Japanese survey because they initially respond that their
status is housewife, student, or retired, rather than job­
seeker. One group, responding to more probing questions
later in the survey, stated that they had sought work in the
past month and could have started work immediately if a job
had been found. These persons amounted to 7 percent of
adjusted unemployment in the February surveys and about
30 percent in the March surveys.
The other group from outside the labor force comprises
persons who were waiting to begin a new job within 1 month
and available for work. In March 1980, the following data
were reported in the survey results:
W o rk ers

Unemployment. Most of the adjustments relate to the un­
employed. The Japanese surveys report as unemployed a
number of persons who did not actively seek work during
the past month. The reasons for this relate to the wording of
the survey questions (this is explained in our March 1984
article). “Inactive jobseekers” are subtracted from the re­
ported unemployed for comparability with U.S. concepts.
They amounted to 20 to 25 percent of the reported unem­
ployed in the February surveys, compared with over 40
percent in the March surveys.
Table 1. Adjustment of Japanese unemployment and
labor force data to approximate U.S. concepts, March 1980
and February 1984-86
[Numbers in thousands]
Category

Reported unemployed ...............
Less inactive jobseekers...........
Plus jobseekers not in labor force
who intended to start work
immediately............................
Less those not available due
to housework or school..
Plus persons waiting to begin a
new job within 1 month .........
Less students awaiting jobs
after graduation1 .............

February
1984

February
1985

February
1986

1,240

1,710

1,640

1,640

540

430

370

360

430

130

130

120

March
1980

80

10

10

10

740

1,340

1,130

1,300

550

1,170

960

1,100

Adjusted unemployed ...............

1,240

1,570

1,560

1,590

Reported labor force .................
Less family workers working
less than 15 hours.................
Less inactive jobseekers...........
Plus unemployed classified “not
in labor force"2 .....................

55,370

57,240

57,990

58,400

570
540

560
430

520
370

500
360

540

290

290

310

Adjusted labor force .................

54,800

56,540

57,390

57,850

Unemployment rates:
Reported ..................................
Adjusted to U.S. concepts........

2.2
2.3

3.0
2.8

2.8
2.7

2.8
2.7

1 1n March 1980, these students had already graduated by the time of the survey. In the
February surveys, they were still in school.
2 Net sum of jobseekers not in labor force and persons waiting to begin a new job (less
students).
Source: Management and Coordination Agency, Japanese Statistics Bureau, R e p o rt o n the
March 1980, February 1984-86.

S p e c ia l S u rv e y o f th e L a b o u r F o rce S u rv e y ,

Digitized for 48
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( th o u s a n d s )

Total waiting to begin anew j o b .................................
Within 1 month .......................................................
After graduation inMarch ...................................
Other ...................................................................
After 1 month .........................................................

860
740
550
190
120

Taira’s adjustment on this point was to add 740,000 per­
sons— that is, all persons waiting to begin a new job within
1 month— to the Japanese unemployed. In contrast, the b l s
adjustment added only the 190,000 persons who were not
students to the unemployed figure, excluding those who
were waiting to start jobs after graduation in March, b l s
omitted school graduates rather than including them in the
upward adjustment to the unemployed for three reasons:
(1) although most had already attended graduation cere­
monies, it was questionable whether they were available for
work prior to April 1; (2) they would not be included in the
count in any month but March; and (3) there is hardly any
chance that the jobs they were waiting to start would disap­
pear (the surveys were taken during the last week of March
and new jobs traditionally begin the first week of April).
The availability of the graduates was open to question
because graduation ceremonies usually take place in early
March. The students were not asked whether they wanted to
begin work sooner than April 1, but this was a possibility.
However, we maintain that the compelling reason to ex­
clude them is to put the March surveys on a more typical
basis.
Taira’s method has the effect of using the March surveys
as representative of the Japanese labor market over the
course of the year. He compares the March results for Japan
with annual average data for the United States and other
countries.
When we turn to an analysis of the February surveys, the
situation becomes clearer. There is no longer any valid
argument to include the students waiting to begin new jobs
in the Japanese unemployed count. Because these surveys
are taken in February, students are still in school and, there-

fore, not available to take up their new jobs until after
graduation in March. U.S. concepts require that persons
waiting to begin new jobs within 30 days must be available
to start work during the survey’s reference week in order to
be classified as unemployed. We suggest that none of the
Japanese students should be included in the unemployed in
February even under Taira’s conceptual framework.
The following results were reported in the February
1984-86 surveys:
1984 1985 1986
(thousands)
Total waiting to begin a new j o b ......
Within 1 m o n th ................................
After graduation in March ........
Other ............................................
After 1 month ..................................

1,640
1,340
1,170
170
310

1,460 1,640
1,130 1,300
960 1,100
170
200
340
330

The 170,000 to 200,000 persons who were not students
waiting to begin a new job within 1 month are added to the
Japanese unemployed for comparability with U.S. concepts.
This adjustment accounted for 10 to 12 percent of the ad­
justed unemployed. The b l s adjustment to the March sur­
veys on this point represented 15 to 20 percent of the ad­
justed unemployed.
Japanese unemployment was higher in 1984-86 than in
the 1977-80 period. Nevertheless, all of the adjustments to
unemployment were smaller in the February surveys than
they were in the March 1977-80 surveys. There were fewer
inactive job seekers to subtract and fewer unemployed from
outside the labor force to add. These results are a reflection
of the higher seasonality of March compared with February.
Moreover, there are a greater number of inactive jobseekers
to subtract in the February surveys than there are jobseekers
not in the labor force to add. This is the reverse of the
situation in March 1977-80 when jobseekers outside the
labor force surpassed (1977-79) or balanced (1980) inactive
jobseekers.
The earlier b l s study presented the adjustments based on
the March surveys as “upper limits” because of the high
seasonality of the March period. The February surveys sup­
port this view.
Labor force. The adjustments to the labor force for com­
parability with U.S. concepts are relatively small. Japan
includes and the United States excludes unpaid family work­
ers who worked less than 15 hours in the survey week. As
indicated earlier, a number of unemployed persons officially
classified as not in the labor force should be added to the
Japanese labor force for comparability with U.S. concepts.
However, some of the officially unemployed should be sub­
tracted— the “inactive jobseekers.” On balance, these ad­
justments reduce the reported labor force by 1 percent in
both the February and the March surveys. (See table 1.)


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Table 2. Adjustment of Japanese unemployment and
labor force data to approximate U . S . concepts, by sex,
February 1985
[Numbers in thousands]
Category

Reported unem ployed .........................................................................
Less inactive jo b se e ke rs.....................................................................
Plus jobseekers not in labor force who Intended to start work
im m ediately........................................................................................
Less those not available due to housework or s c h o o l..............
Plus persons waiting to begin new job within 1 month .................
Less students awaiting jobs after graduation ............................

Men

Women

1,010
250

630
120

20
590
520

100
10
540
440

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

850

700

Reported labor fo rce ............................................................................
Less family workers working less than 15 hours ..........................
Less inactive jo b se e ke rs.....................................................................
Plus unemployed classified "not in labor force”1 ............................

35,320
40
250
90

22,670
480
120
190

A djuste d la bo r fo rce

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

35,120

22,260

Unem ploym ent rates:
Reported ...............................................................................................
Adjusted to U.S. co n c e p ts ..................................................................

2.9
2.4

2.8
3.1

A djuste d unem ployed

-

1 Net sum of jobseekers not In labor force and persons waiting to begin a new job (less
students).

Source: Management and Coordination Agency, Japanese Statistics Bureau, R e p o rt o n the
S p e cia l S u rv e y o f the L a b o u r F o rce S u rve y, February 1985.

The outcome. Whereas the March 1980 and earlier sur­
veys indicated that the reported Japanese unemployment
rates needed to be increased slightly to be in accord with
U.S. concepts, the later surveys of February 1984-86 indi­
cate that the Japanese rates should be decreased slightly.
The reported rate of 3 percent in February 1984 is reduced
to 2.8 percent after adjustment; the data for 1985 and 1986
are reduced from 2.8 to 2.7 percent. (See table 1.)

Comparisons by sex
Although the overall Japanese unemployment rate is
changed only slightly when the special survey data are ad­
justed to b l s concepts, there is a more noticeable difference
in the adjusted rates for men and women. The conventional
Japanese data by sex show virtually no difference between
the unemployment rates for men and women. However,
according to the b l s adjustments, there is a significant dif­
ferential between the male and female rates which may have
converged somewhat between the two periods under consid­
eration. For instance, in March 1977-80, the female rates
were about double the male rates, but in February 1984-86,
the rates for women are about one-third higher than the rates
for men. This convergence may be real, but it may also be
attributed to higher sex differentials in March than in Febru­
ary. Without February and March data for the same years,
it is impossible to tell. The following tabulation shows un­
employment rates for men and women from the March and
February surveys (based on civilian labor force):

49

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
Period

June 1987 •

Approximating
U.S. concepts

As published

March 1977 ............
March 1978 ............
March 1979 ............
March 1980 ............
February 1984 ........
February 1985 ..........
February 1986 ..........

Foreign Labor Developments
unemployed who did not actively seek work in the month of
the survey. (See table 2.)

Men

Women

Men

Women

2.4
2.7
2.5
2.2
3.0
2.9
2.8

2.3
2.4
2.4
2.3
3.0
2.8
2.8

2.0
2.2
1.9
1.7
2.5
2.4
2.4

4.3
4.3
4.1
3.3
3.3
3.1
3.3

An expanded unemployment concept
Japan’s unemployment rates, both on their official basis
and adjusted to U.S. concepts, are well below U.S. rates.
Annual U.S. jobless rates of 7.5 percent in 1984, 7.2 per­
cent in 1985, and 7.0 percent in 1986 contrast with adjusted
Japanese rates of 2.7-2.8 percent in February. These Febru­
ary rates for Japan were probably slightly higher than the
annual averages because published February rates were 0.2
percentage points above the annual average. Other Western
nations (Canada, France, the Netherlands, the United King­
dom) had rates in the 10- to 14-percent range during this
period.4 Is the efficiency of the Japanese labor market really
2 to 5 times better than that of the Western nations? A strict
comparison of unemployment rates would arrive at that mis­
leading conclusion. However, a substantial part of Japan’s

Thus, after adjustment, the Japanese situation appears more
like Western countries where women usually have higher
unemployment rates than men.
The reason for the wide male-female differential for
Japan after the adjustments are made is that women account
for the great majority of jobseekers classified as not in the
labor force, while men account for most of the reported
Table 3.

Expanded unemployment measures for the United States and Japan, 1980, 1984-86

[Numbers in thousands]
Japan

United States

Category
1980

1984

1985

1986

March 1980

February 1984

February 1985

February 1986

Unemployed
Total, U.S. standard d e fin itio n .........................................................
Full-time jobseekers .....................................................................
Part-time jobseekers .....................................................................
H a lf ...............................................................................................

7,637
6,269
1,369
685

8,538
7,057
1,481
741

8,312
6,793
1,519
760

8,237
6,708
1,529
765

1,240
'7 40
1500
250

1,570
11,170
M00
200

1,560
M ,130
M30
220

1,590
11,180
M10
210

Part-time for economic re a so n s.......................................................
Reduced h o u r s ............................................. .............................
H a lf ...............................................................................................
Zero hours ......................................................................................
U-6 numerator5 ...................................................................................
Plus discouraged workers ...........................................................
Japan: Discouraged workers I6 .............................................
Discouraged workers II7 .............................................
U-7 numerator ...................................................................................
Japan: 1 ......................................................................................
Japan: I I ......................................................................................

4,321
4,321
2,161
(3)

5,744
5,744
2,872
(3)

5,590
5,590
2,795
(3)

5,588
5,588
2,794
(3)

9,115
994
—
—
10,109
—

10,669
1,283
—
—
11,952
—

10,348
1,204
—
—
11,552
—

10,267
1,121
—
—
11,388
—

1,920
21,790
900
“ 130
2,020
—
1,620
2,620

2,070
21,900
950
4170
2,490
—
1,830
3,250

2,120
21,960
980
4160
2,490
—
2,240
4,020

—

—

—

—

106,940
91,296
15,644
7,822
99,118
100,112
—

113,544
97,632
15,912
7,956
105,588
106,871
—

115,461
99,178
16,283
8,142
107,319
108,523
—

117,834
101,085
16,750
8,375
109,459
110,580
—

—

—

—

7.1

7.5

7.2

—

—

—

3,640
4,640

4,320
5,740

4,730
6,510

2,350
22,060
1,030
290
2,710
—
2,340
4,190
—
5,050
6,900

54,560
46,740
7,820
3,910
50,650
—

56,300
49,770
6,530
3,270
53,040
—

57,150
50,210
6,940
3,470
53,680
—

57,620
51,030
6,590
3,300
54,320
—

—

52,270
53,270

54,870
56,290

55,920
57,700

56,660
58,510

7.0

2.3

2.8

2.7

2.8

Civilian labor force:
Total, U.S. standard d e fin itio n .........................................................
Full-time labor fo rc e .......................................................................
Part-time labor force .....................................................................
H a lf ...............................................................................................
U-6 denominator8 ..............................................................................
U-7 denominator9 ..............................................................................
Japan: 1 ......................................................................................
Japan: I I ......................................................................................

Unemployment rates (percent):
U-5: U.S. standard definition (civilian basis) ...............................
U-6: Total full-time jobseekers plus 1/2 part-time jobseekers
plus 1/2 total on part-time for economic reasons10 as a
percent of the civilian labor force less 1/2 of the part-time
labor fo rc e ........................................................................................
U-7: U-6 plus discouraged workers in numerator and
denominator ...................................................................................

9.2

10.1

9.6

9.4

4.0

4.7

4.6

5.0

10.1

11.2

10.6

10.3

117.0-8.7

117.9-10.2

118.5-11.3

118.9-11.8

1 Breakdown into full-time and part-time jobseekers partially estimated.
2 Includes reported number of persons usually working part time who want more work plus
reported number of persons on reduced (but not zero) hours due to slack work or other business
reasons.
3 Included in U.S. standard definition.
4 Not reported—, estimated as 10 percent of reported unemployment based upon March 1979
proportion.
5 All full-time jobseekers plus one-half part-time jobseekers plus one-half on reduced hours for
economic reasons plus all on zero hours for economic reasons.
6 For Japan, all persons not in the labor force who reported that they desired a job but were
not seeking work because there was no prospect of finding it excluded the following two groups:
(1) those who had sought earlier in the month and were immediately available (reclassified by

50


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bls as unemployed under U.S. concepts); and (2) persons who respond “no, or undecided" as
to whether they could take up a job now. Discouraged Workers-I comes as close as possible to
U.S. concepts.

7 For Japan, this group may include some persons who would not be classified as discour­
aged under U.S. concepts. It includes the persons in Discouraged Workers-I plus: (1) persons
who respond “no, or undecided" as to whether they could take up a job now; and (2) persons
reported as unemployed in the Japanese survey, but who were not seeking work in the past
month (reclassified by bls as not in the labor force under U.S. concepts).
8 Civilian labor force less one-half the part-time labor force.
9 U-6 denominator plus discouraged workers.
10 Japanese workers on “zero hours" are given full weight.
11 Range reflects two different groups of discouraged workers (I and II).

labor underutilization falls into the realm of underemploy­
ment (workers on reduced hours) and discouragement, or
labor force withdrawal. These forms of labor slack do not
show up in the conventional unemployment rate.
The March 1984 article provided comparisons based upon
expanded concepts of unemployment which exist in the
United States within the unemployment measures desig­
nated as U-l to U-7.5 These monthly measures include the
official unemployment rate U-5. While U-l to U-4 represent
narrower measures of unemployment, U-6 and U-7 repre­
sent expanded concepts. Persons on part-time schedules for
economic reasons are incorporated in U-6, and U-7 brings
in discouraged workers, that is, persons who want a job but
are not looking for work because they believe their search
would be fruitless.
Table 3 updates the expanded concepts comparisons to
1984-86, and revises the U-7 calculation for 1980. Data
from the February special surveys for Japan are compared
with annual average data for the United States. The Japanese
figures should be considered as only approximate indicators
of U-6 and U-7.6
Since publication of the 1984 article, b l s has reassessed
the Japanese data on discouraged workers and has con­
cluded that they should more properly be expressed as a
range. The Japanese survey questioning procedure differs
substantially from the U.S. procedure, and it is difficult to
make an exact fit to the U.S. concept. Discouraged workers
are, by nature, a subjective phenomenon, and precise meas­
urement in any country is an elusive proposition. An ap­
pendix to this article provides further information on the
discouraged worker comparison between the United States
and Japan.
In Table 3, the lower rate of the U-7 range includes
persons who seem to fall strictly within the U.S. concept of
discouraged workers; the upper rate of the range includes
some who may not be counted under the U.S. definition, but
they would fall under a broader concept of labor underuti­
lization.
Comparisons of the U-6 and U-7 rates in relation to the
conventionally defined rate (U-5) show that the Japanese
“expanded” rates are increased to a greater degree than the

U.S. U-6 and U-7 rates. In other words, there is a conver­
gence in the “unemployment rates” for the two countries
when the definition is broadened. The convergence was
somewhat greater in 1984-86 than in 1980.
Under the conventional definition of unemployment
(U-5), table 3 shows that the U.S. rate is 2.5 to 2.7 times the
Japanese rate in 1984-86. Expanding the concept to include
persons working part time for economic reasons (U-6), the
U.S. rate is about twice the Japanese rate. When defining
unemployment even more broadly to encompass discour­
aged workers (U-7), we find that the U.S. rate falls to only
1.2 to 1.4 times the Japanese rate at the low end of the U-7
range. At the higher end, the rates converge even more, to
the point that the Japanese rate surpasses the U.S. rate in
1985 and 1986. But it should be emphasized that the upper
Japanese U-7 includes some persons who might not be clas­
sified as discouraged under U.S. definitions.
Expanding the unemployment concept to include other
elements of labor slack—economic part time and discour­
aged workers— draws the Japanese rate closer to U.S. lev­
els. Explanations for any remaining differential lie in such
factors as the composition of the labor force, levels of fric­
tional unemployment, and economic growth rates.
---------- F O O T N O T E S ---------1 Constance Sorrentino, “Japan’s low unemployment: an-indepth analy­
sis,” M o n th ly L a b o r R e v ie w , March 1984, pp. 18-27.
2 Koji Taira, “Japan’s low unemployment: economic miracle or statisti­
cal artifact?” M o n th ly L a b o r R e v ie w , July 1983, pp. 3 -1 0 .
3 The Nagayama article was originally published in Japanese in N ih o n
R o d o K y o k a i Z a s s h i, March 1984. An English translation o f the article

appears in “Are Japan’s Unemployment Statistics Too Low?” E c o n o m ic
E y e (Economic Affairs, Keizai Koho Center), June 1984, pp. 14-18.
Copies are available from

bls

upon request.

4 For international unemployment rates approximating U .S. concepts,

see tables 45 and 46 in the “Current Labor Statistics” section of the M o n th ly
L a b o r R e v ie w .
5 The U -l to U-7 framework was introduced in Julius Shiskin,
“Employment and unemployment; the doughnut or the hole?” M o n th ly
L a b o r R e v ie w , February 1976, pp. 3 -1 0 .
6 See Sorrentino, p. 26, for further discussion of measurement problems
and estimating methods.

APPENDIX: A note on discouraged workers
Discouraged workers, as defined in the United States, are
persons outside the labor force who want a job but are not
seeking it because they believe their search would be futile.
Measuring the number of such workers is a difficult task
because it involves the measurement of subjective phenom­
ena, specifically, one’s desire for work and one’s percep­
tions of his or her chances of finding a job. These are
essentially “states of mind” rather than criteria which can be
objectively determined.

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Japan has no concept of discouraged workers, either in its
regular monthly survey or in the special surveys. However,
the special surveys make the construction of a discouraged
worker measure possible by providing detailed questions
concerning job desires and prospects of persons outside the
labor force.
Measurement problems are compounded when one at­
tempts to make international comparisons of discouraged
workers, particularly between the United States and Japan.
51

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW

June 1987 •

Foreign Labor Developments

This note presents a summary description of some of the
issues involved. A more detailed analysis is available upon
request to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Comparison of methods
The U.S. and Japanese methods of questioning persons
outside the labor force about their desire for work are differ­
ent in several respects. The following points should be
noted:
Method o f enumeration. In the U.S. Current Population
Survey ( c p s ) , respondents are asked a series of questions by
an enumerator. No “prompting” is allowed for the questions
leading to classification as discouraged workers. Respond­
ents are simply asked their reason(s) for not looking for
work, and the enumerator records all reasons. In the
Japanese survey, respondents fill out the questionnaires
themselves. Thus, the respondent sees all the possible rea­
sons for not looking for work, and he or she checks off the
main reason. This is a form of “prompting” which could
elicit results different from the U.S. procedure.
Wording of questions. The wording of the questions in the
U.S. and Japanese surveys are different. In the CPS, two
questions determine whether persons are classified as dis­
couraged workers. The first U.S. question, put to all persons
not in the labor force, is: “Does . . . want a regular job now,
either full time or part time?” “Now” is defined as this week,
and enumerators are instructed to emphasize “now” to stress
the time period involved. Those answering “yes,” or
“maybe, it depends,” are then asked the reasons they are not
looking for work.
In Japan, three questions are asked. The first question put
to persons not in the labor force is: “Did you wish to do any
work for pay or profit?” The word “now” used in the first
U.S. question is not conveyed in the Japanese question, but
a subsequent question asks “If you find a job now, can you
take it up?” In a strict sense, it would seem that only those
answering with the response “Yes, immediately” should be
potentially counted as discouraged workers under the U.S.
concept. However, there are factors which argue for a more
liberal approach which would also include “Yes, but later”
responses: (1) the often tentative— “maybe, it depends” re­
sponse to the first U.S. question and (2) the fact that a direct
question is not asked in the U.S. survey as to whether a
person can, in fact, take up a job now. The “no, or unde­
cided” group of responses to the second Japanese question
should probably be excluded from an estimate of discour­
aged workers comparable with U.S. procedures because of
the emphasis on wanting a job “now” in the c p s procedure.
However, a case can be made for including at least some on
the grounds that “undecided” corresponds to “maybe” as an
affirmative response to the first U.S. question. A third ques­
tion in the Japanese survey asks why persons who want a job
are not looking for work.

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Reasons for discouragement. There are two issues in­
volved here. First, the Japanese method allows only one
response to the question on reason for not seeking, while
multiple responses are encouraged in the c p s , with the final
classification determined by a hierarchy of responses in
which nondiscouragement outranks discouragement. In
other words, a person responding in the c p s that he or she
“believes no work is available” but also that he or she “can’t
arrange child care” is classified under the latter response,
and, therefore, is not counted as discouraged. In Japan, the
determination of the final classification is left up to the
responcjent because he or she is instructed to check off the
“main reason.”
A second issue is to decide which reasons for not looking
for work in Japan correspond with discouragement in the
United States. In the c p s , persons classified according to the
five following reasons for not seeking work are considered
to be discouraged workers: (1) Believes no work available
in line of work or area; (2) Couldn’t find any work;
(3) Lacks necessary schooling, training, skills, experience;
(4) Employer thinks he or she is too old or too young; and
(5) Other personal handicap. In Japan, the category “No
prospect of finding a job” corresponds closely to the five
reasons allowed under the U.S. concept.
Inactive jobseekers. In adjusting the special survey unem­
ployment data to U.S. concepts, one of the adjustments
made was to subtract those persons who did not actively
seek work in the past month. Because the Japanese initially
classify them as unemployed, they are not asked the later
questions on reasons for not seeking work. The “inactive
jobseekers” are certainly a part of a concept of labor slack
or labor underutilization, but they are not necessarily dis­
couraged workers. They were treated as such in the com­
parison for 1980 shown in the March 1984 article, but here
we have decided to treat them in a broader U-7 definition as
an upper limit because we cannot definitely say that they all
are discouraged.

Calculation of Japanese discouraged workers
Because of the many differences noted above, it was
decided to express the number of discouraged workers in
Japan as a range rather than as a precise level comparable
with U.S. concepts. Table A-l shows the composition of
each grouping of discouraged workers.
Discouraged workers I seems to fall strictly within U.S.
concepts. These are all the Japanese who reported, “No
prospect of finding a job” less (1) those who sought work in
the past month and were immediately available (reclassified
by b l s as unemployed under U.S. concepts), and (2) those
who responded “No, or undecided” as to whether they could
take up a job now (eliminated because of the c p s emphasis
on wanting a job “now”).
Discouraged workers II is a broader grouping which may
include some persons who would not be classified as dis­
couraged under U.S. concepts. It comprises the persons in

Table A-1. Japan: Calculation of discouraged workers,
March 1984 and February 1984-86
[In thousands]
Category

Persons reporting no prospect of finding a
job ............................................................
Less those who sought work in the past
month and were immediately available .
Less those who respond “No, or
undecided” as to whether they could
take up a job now ................................
Equals: Discouraged workers 1 .................
Plus those who respond “No, or undecided”
as to whether they could take up a job
now .....................................................
Plus persons reported as unemployed but
not seeking in past month ...................
Equals: Discouraged workers I I .................

March
1980

February
1984

February
1985

February
1986

2,350

2,880

3,740

3,920

270

60

90

90

460
1,620

990
1,830

1,410
2,240

1,490
2,340

460

990

1,410

1,490

540
2,620

430
3,250

370
4,020

360
4,190

Source : Management and Coordination Agency, Japanese Statistics Bureau, R e p o rt o n the
March 1980, February 1984-86.

S p e c ia l S u rv e y o f th e L a b o u r F o rce S u rv e y ,

discouraged workers I plus: (1) those who responded “No,
or undecided” as to whether they could take up a job now
(because the cps allows “maybe” as an answer to the ques­
tion about wanting a job “now”); and (2) the “inactive job­
seekers,” those persons reported as unemployed in the
Japanese survey, but who were not seeking work in the past
month.
For further information on problems of measuring labor
force discouragement, see Paul Flaim, “Discouraged work­
ers and changes in unemployment,” Monthly Labor Review,
March 1973, pp. 8-16; and “Discouraged workers: how
strong are their links to the job market?” Monthly Labor
Review, August 1984, pp. 8-11.

meeting calls for job growth,
flexibility, and readjustment
oecd

M elvin B rodsky

In their first meeting since 1982, labor ministers of the
Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development
(oecd )1 met in Paris to discuss job creation in a changing
economy. The specific issues addressed were new sources
of job growth; labor market flexibility; and education, train­
ing, and adjustment. The ministers met in November 1986
and some ministers plan to resume the dialogue in
Washington in September 1987. Other topics will include
demographic trends in the work force and small business
development.
During the November meeting, the ministers recognized
that no grand strategy for solving employment problems in
Melvin Brodsky is an economist in the Office of International Organiza­
tions, Bureau o f International Labor Affairs, and serves as the Depart­
ment’s o e c d coordinator.


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the 24 oecd countries was possible. However, they agreed
on some fundamental approaches to address the common
problems of unemployed youth and dislocated workers (par­
ticularly older workers) and the need to promote education
and training policies to help ensure a competent and adapt­
able work force.
The labor ministers face different employment problems.
While Secretary of Labor William E. Brock noted specific
U.S. problems related to youth unemployment, minority
unemployment, and older dislocated workers, many of the
European ministers reflected on Europe’s lack of job cre­
ation. Over the decade from 1973, the gross national
product in Europe grew almost as much as the gross national
product in the United States— 18 percent compared with 22
percent. Yet, the U.S. economy created 16 million net new
jobs and Europe did not create any.2 Long-term unemploy­
ment is another problem more characteristic of European
labor markets, although the number of long-term unem­
ployed has increased in the United States since the 1970’s.
For example, in 1985, those persons who were unemployed
for more than a year accounted for 45.3 percent of total
unemployment in Europe3 but only for 9.5 percent in the
United States.4

Job growth
Regarding new sources of job growth, many of the minis­
ters favored market-oriented strategies instead of renewing
calls for increased government intervention. The ministers
emphasized reforming the tax system to encourage risk­
taking among entrepreneurs; removing administrative
disincentives to self-employment; providing training and
advisory services for new businesses; providing access to
credit and capital markets to new businesses; and encourag­
ing local communities to become more involved in job
creation activities. (Labor Secretary Brock noted that in the
United States more than half of the net new jobs
created were in companies less than 4 years old.) Also, the
ministers identified the introduction of new technologies as
another potential basis for employment growth. The
ministers adopted a Declaration on the Social Aspects of
Technological Change, which stressed the importance of
cooperation among government, labor, and the business
community in the process of technological change. Because
of the ministers’ interest in this area, they asked the oecd
Secretary-General Jean Claude Paye to establish a group of
experts to examine the implications of new technologies
both for employment and for society.
All of the ministers agreed that economic growth was a
prerequisite for higher rates of job creation and that wage
moderation, investment in capital stock, flexible labor and
capital markets, and free international trade were important
contributors to such growth.
53

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW

June 1987 •

Foreign Labor Developments

Flexibility
The ministers recommended supporting more flexible
patterns of working time to facilitate efficiency and to assist
the increasing number of women with family and career
responsibilities; strengthening basic education and educa­
tion and training programs for young people and adults;
overcoming functional illiteracy; and modifying social secu­
rity, pension, and housing policies to facilitate mobility
between regions and enterprises.

Readjustment
In the area of education and training, ministers noted that
educational and training institutions needed to adapt curric­
ula to changing labor market requirements and stressed the
importance of increased employer investment in training
activities. Secretary Brock emphasized the importance of
high-quality basic education to the future employability of
young people. Furthermore, the ministers stressed helping
young people adapt to changing labor market requirements

mum wages should be set to encourage entry or reentry into
training or employment.
Finally, the ministers held a brief discussion on trade and
dislocated workers. The ministers supported international
cooperation to phase out protectionist measures and to de­
velop adjustment programs for workers in economic sectors
that have to adapt to freer international trade. Secretary
Brock proposed a minimum tariff under the General Agree­
ments on Trade and Tariffs to finance adjustment programs
for workers adversely affected by international trade.
In conclusion, the ministers agreed that each country’s
employment policy should be guided by the objectives of
increased, faster job growth; more flexibility; and stronger
efforts to readjust the labor force to changing economic
conditions. In addition, the ministers recognized that these
objectives could not be reached without cooperation among
government, industry, labor, different countries, and other
interested groups.
O
---------- F O O T N O T E S ----------

and helping dislocated workers find employment.

The ministers also called for the development of unem
ployment compensation policies and other labor market pro­
grams to help workers find jobs. They agreed that while
income maintenance programs were necessary, other meas­
ures such as job search, counseling, training, and relocation
assistance were also needed. The ministers noted that levels
of unemployment compensation, trainee wages, and mini­

Digitized for54
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1 The members of the OECD are Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada,
Denmark, Finland, France, the Federal Republic of Germany, Greece,
Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, New
Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, the
United Kingdom, and the United States.
2 Th e oecd E m p lo y m e n t O u tlo o k (OECD, September 1986), pp. 7 -8 .
^ I b id ., p. 33.
4 I b id ., p. 141.

M ajor Agreements
Expiring Next M onth

This list of selected collective bargaining agreements expiring in July is based on information
collected by the Bureau’s Office of Wages and Industrial Relations. The list includes agreements
covering 1,000 workers or more. Private industry is arranged in order of Standard Industrial
Classification.
Employer and location

Labor organization1

Number of
workers

Associated General Contractors and two others (Boston, MA)..............
Associated General Contractors (Saginaw, mi) .....................................
Associated General Contractors and one other (Boston, ma) ................
Association of Mechanical Contractors (Atlanta, ga) ............................
Nassau and Suffolk Contractors Association (New York) ....................
Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors National Association,
New York City Chapter (New York)
Southern Illinois Builders Association (Granite City, il) ......................
Southern Illinois Contractors Association (Illinois)................................
Southern Illinois Contractors Association (Illinois)................................

Carpenters .......................................
Carpenters .......................................
Bricklayers.......................................
Plumbers .........................................
Laborers...........................................
Sheet Metal Workers........................

5,000
1,300
1,000
1,200
2,000
2,000

Carpenters .......................................
Laborers...........................................
Operating Engineers ........................

1,550
4,000
2,700
2,000
2,300
1,250
1,400
1,150
1,300
3,000
4,400
4,000
1,300

Industry or activity
Private
Construction....................................

Food products ................................

Amalgamated Sugar Co. (Interstate) .....................................................
American Crystal Sugar Co. (Interstate) ...............................................
Bay Area Soft Drink Bottlers Association (California)..........................
Joseph E. Seagram & Sons, Inc. (Interstate) .......................................
Bowater Southern Paper Co. (Tennessee) .............................................

Fabricated metal products..............
Electrical products..........................
Transportation equipment ..............

Century Brass Products, Inc. (Waterbury, CT) .....................................
Allen-Bradley Co. (Milwaukee, wi) .....................................................
General Dynamics, Convair Division (Interstate) ..................................
A. 0. Smith Corp. (Milwaukee, w i ) .....................................................
Solar Turbines, Inc. (San Diego, CA) ...................................................

Grain Millers ....................................
Grain Millers ...................................
Teamsters (Ind.) ..............................
Distillery Workers............................
Paperworkers; Electrical Workers
(IBEW)
Auto Workers ..................................
Electrical Workers (UE-Ind.)............
Machinists .......................................
Smith Steel Workers ........................
Machinists .......................................

Trucking.........................................
Water transportation ......................
Air transportation ..........................
Communication ..............................
Utilities .........................................
Retail trade ....................................

United Parcel Service Inc. (Interstate)...................................................
Pacific Maritime Association (Interstate)...............................................
The Flying Tiger Line (Interstate) .........................................................
General Telephone Co. of Ohio (O hio).................................................
New York State Electric and Gas Corp. (New York)............................
Bradlees Department Stores (Washington, DC) .....................................
Portland Food Employers (Portland, OR)...............................................
Foodtown, Pathmark and others, mid Atlantic (Interstate)....................

Teamsters (Ind.) ..............................
Longshoremen and Warehousemen .
Machinists .......................................
Communications Workers................
Electrical Workers (ibew) ................
Food and Commercial Workers . . . .
Food and Commercial Workers . . . .
Food and Commercial Workers . . . .

71,000
9,750
1,200
2,250
2,900
2,000
4,000
6,000

General government ......................

California:

1,600

Education........................................

Florida:

Monterey County Employees’
Association (Ind.)
Teachers...........................................

1,400

Education Association (Ind.) ..........
Education Association (Ind.) ..........
Education Association (Ind.) ..........

2,000
2,950
1,500

Education Association (Ind.) ..........
Utah School Employees Association

1,750
1,700

Education Association (Ind.) ..........

1,000

Paper .............................................

Public

1 Affiliated with

afl-CIO except


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Monterey County general unit .......................................

Alachua County Board of Education, instructional
employees
Iowa:
Des Moines professional school employees....................
Kansas:
Wichita teachers .............................................................
Michigan:
Lansing School District Board of Education,
professionals
Montana:
Billings Board of Education, teachers ...........................
Utah:
Davis County Board of Education, noninstructional
employees
Washington: Edmonds teachers ...........................................................

where noted as independent (Ind.).

55

Developments in
Industrial Relations

Pay discrimination against women settled
The City of San Francisco and the Service Employees and
other unions negotiated a comparable worth agreement
providing for pay raises of 4.5 percent on July 1, 1987, and
5 percent on July 1, 1988. In general, the comparable worth
concept holds that pay for jobs held predominantly by
women and minorities should be equal to jobs predomi­
nantly held by men if the levels of skill, education, and
responsibility are comparable.
Paul M. Varacalli, president of the Service Employees
Council in the area, called the agreement “a very good first
step.” Mayor Diane Feinstein had vetoed past agreements
during 5 years of controversy over the issue, saying they
were too costly. She described the new agreement as “a
long-sought pay equity program for public employees in San
Francisco.”
The settlement came shortly after the city’s civil service
commission conducted a comparable worth survey, follow­
ing citizens’ approval that such surveys be conducted annu­
ally. The first survey, which was based on pay comparisons
among jobs in the city government and with jobs in other
jurisdictions that had negotiated or put into effect pay equity
plans, showed that some San Francisco jobs traditionally
held by women and minorities paid as much as 50 percent
less than comparable city jobs held mostly by men.
The pay adjustments applied to about 12,000 people in
job classifications “disproportionately occupied” (70 per­
cent or more) by women or minorities and paying less than
$45,000 a year; 11,000 employees were not eligible for the
adjustments.
At $35.4 million, the accord was the second most expen­
sive of its type, exceeded only by the 1985 settlement be­
tween the State of Washington and the State, County and
Municipal Employees which is expected to cost $482 mil­
lion through June 1992. San Francisco voters had reserved
$30 million for comparable worth adjustments in 1985.
At the Tennessee Valley Authority ( t v a ) , 5,000 em­
ployees share a $5 million payment settling a lawsuit against
the utility. The workers’ union, the Service Employees,
“Developments in Industrial Relations” is prepared by George Ruben of the
Division o f Developments in Labor-Management Relations, Bureau of
Labor Statistics, and is largely based on information from secondary
sources.

56

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initiated the action after t v a , in 1981, began basing pay
rates for clerical workers on surveys of wages paid to cleri­
cal employees throughout the seven State region served by
t v a , instead of following its past practice of surveying the
pay of employees of corporations in urban areas. The
change resulted in a wage freeze for the t v a employees,
most of whom are women.
The union contended that the change in survey coverage
was illegal and that t v a had continued to use urban surveys
in setting engineers’ pay, resulting in continuing pay
increases for employees in the largely male-dominated
occupation.
The settlement of the dispute came after the U.S. District
Court for Eastern Tennessee ruled in the union’s favor. The
settlement also re-established a provision for binding arbi­
tration of pay disputes that also had been dropped in 1981.
Elsewhere, Sumitomo Corp. of America agreed to pay a
total of $2.6 million to 1,200 current and former female
employees, ending a 10-year-old pay discrimination suit. In
addition, 240 of the employees who are still employed by
the firm will receive 16.5-percent pay increases. In the
settlement, Sumitomo, the U.S. branch of a Japanese trad­
ing company, denied any unlawful discrimination.

Kaiser Foundation in California settles
Lump-sum payments and adoption of a new wage-setting
mechanism were features of a 3-year contract between
Kaiser Foundation hospitals and Service Employees Local
399 in the Los Angeles-Orange County area of California.
The lump-sum payments apply to employees at the top of
the wage rate range for their job, or to about 63 percent of
the 10,000 employees, according to a union official. Full­
time employees receive a $600 payment in the first contract
year, $700 in the second year, and $800 in the third year.
Part-time employees receive $300, $360, and $400 pay­
ments in the respective years. Kaiser had originally sought
a two-tier pay system.
Although the wage rate structure was frozen, employees
below the top rate for their job will continue to receive 4- to
9-percent periodic progression increases until they attain the
top rate. According to the union, the average hourly pay rate
for the unit was $10.62 at the time of settlement.
Under the new wage-setting mechanism, top rates for the
various pay grades will be 3 percent above the maximum

rates of a group of 12 hospitals in Southern California. This
was not expected to result in a significant number of wage
changes for Kaiser employees because their top rates were
already about 25 percent above those at the other hospitals.
In another contract change, progression to top pay rates
was lengthened by adding new starting rates 10 to 13 percent
below the existing starting rates.
In a settlement for 1,400 clerical workers in Northern
California, Kaiser and the Office and Professional Em­
ployees agreed on lump-sum payments and provisions to
protect employees’ jobs if operations are moved or auto­
mated. For full-time employees, the lump-sum payments
are $1,000 on May 1, 1987, and $850 a year later, followed
by a 3-percent pay increase in March 1989. Casual and
part-time employees will receive smaller lump-sum pay­
ments but the same wage increase.
The new job protection provisions give employees the
right to follow their jobs if work is transferred to another
location and assure that the contract terms will continue to
cover them, even if the move is to a location where the
Office and Professional Employees Union does not now
have jurisdiction.
If jobs are eliminated because of automation, 5-year em­
ployees will be given 3 months’ notice and those with fewer
than 5 years’ service will be given 2 to 4 weeks’ notice.
Kaiser will be required to try to find jobs for displaced
5-year employees, and to provide a 60-day trial period and
training. Kaiser will not be obligated to offer jobs to termi­
nated employees with fewer than 5 years’ service, but is
expected to make an effort to do so, according to the union.
If new jobs are not available, all terminated employees will
be eligible for 2 to 30 days’ severance pay.
Other terms included tighter controls on subcontracting of
work, including use of binding arbitration to settle disputes
over the need for subcontracting particular jobs, and a new
provision limiting post-retirement health benefits to retirees
who had at least 15 years’ service. Previously, all retirees
were eligible.

Steelworkers get quarterly lump sums
In a departure from the cuts in wages and benefits that
occurred at most other steel producers in the 1986-87 round
of settlements, Allegheny Ludlum Steel Corp. and the Steel­
workers agreed on a wage freeze, moderated by quarterly
lump-sum payments. During the first year, each payment
will be calculated at 55 cents for each hour worked during
the preceding 3 months; in the second year, the calculation
rate will be 70 cents; and in the final year, 90 cents. The
3,200 workers also received a $200 immediate payment. A
committee was established to study replacing the lump-sum
payment system with profit sharing in the next contract.
Other provisions included suspension of the automatic
cost-of-living pay adjustment formula, a reduction in the
number of job classifications, tighter restrictions on con­
tracting out work, new successorship language to protect


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employees if operations are sold, and an expedited
grievance procedure.
The accord covers operations in Pennsylvania, Connecti­
cut, and Indiana.

Zenith agrees to return 200 jobs from Mexico
A planned transfer of 600 jobs from Springfield, m o , to
Mexico was averted when members of Local 1453 of the
International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers and Zenith
Electronics Corp. agreed to a 5-year contract which in­
cluded an immediate 8.1-percent pay cut. Wages will be
increased 3 percent in 1990, 4.3 percent in 1991, and 1.3
percent in January 1992. Prior to the new agreement, which
superseded the balance of a contract scheduled to expire in
March 1988, hourly pay ranged from $7.20 to $10.94.
In conjunction with the settlement, Zenith also agreed to
return 200 color television jobs from Mexico and to apply
the pay cut to its nonunion employees. Local 1453 repre­
sents 1,600 employees at the plant.

Health-Tex closes plants in Maine
In a settlement with the Amalgamated Clothing and Tex­
tile Workers, Health-Tex Corp. agreed to $660,000 in
severance pay and $340,000 in vacation pay for 1,000 em­
ployees who lost their jobs when the company closed its
plants in Portland, Gardner, and Brunswick, Maine. The
company, the Nation’s largest manufacturer of children’s
clothing, said it closed the plants because they were smaller
and less efficient than its 11 other plants, most of which are
located in the South and in Puerto Rico. The decision came
after the union, which represents employees at 10 of the
plants, proposed shifting work to the Maine plants to avoid
the closings.
Vacation pay was distributed immediately to employees,
but severance pay will be paid to the union in three install­
ments, the last in November 1987. In the meantime, the
union borrowed money from its Amalgamated Bank in New
York City to finance immediate distribution of severance
pay to the terminated employees.
The settlement also obligates Health-Tex to $1 million in
severance pay if Maine’s plant closing law is upheld in a
case now before the Supreme Court that was initiated by a
Maine poultry processor. Under the Maine law, terminated
employees with at least 3 years of service are entitled to 1
week of severance pay for each year of service. The law
applies to union-represented employees whose labor con­
tract does not contain severance pay provisions and to
nonunion employees.
Meanwhile, the State was proceeding with a lawsuit in
which it was seeking payments to employees and civil
penalties from Health-Tex for allegedly failing to comply
with the plant closing law’s requirement that employers give
60 days’ notice of shutdowns to employees, affected munic­
ipalities, and the State.
57

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW

June 1987 •

Developments in Industrial Relations

Strike ends at canning and frozen food company
An 18-month strike against the Watsonville, c a , Canning
and Frozen Food Co. ended when new owners— who re­
named the operation Norcal Frozen Foods, Inc.— negoti­
ated a 3-year contract with the Teamsters union. The settle­
ment fulfilled the new owners’ vow to settle quickly with the
union following the purchase from the Wells Fargo Bank,
which had foreclosed on the debt-stricken property. The
settlement also came shortly after the Teamsters’ national
leaders cut off $55 a week strike benefits to the strikers.
Reportedly, the union had paid out about $5 million.
The strike began in September 1985, when Watsonville
Canning imposed a $1.91 cut in the $6.66 an hour base pay
and a cut in benefits that had been part of a final offer that
was rejected by the union. The company contended the cut
was needed to help counter increasing competition from
lower cost packers in Mexico and Guatemala and from the
expanding canning and frozen foods industry in Texas.
The new 3-year contract provided for base pay of $5.85
an hour, which the union said was equal to the rate it re­
cently negotiated with other local food processors. The ac­
cord also established an incentive pay plan that could raise
pay to $6.61 and permits reopening of negotiations on eco­
nomic terms in February of 1988 and 1989.

Supreme Court upholds workplace searches
The Supreme Court held that public employers may
search their employees’ offices without a warrant if they
have “reasonable suspicion” of work-related wrongdoing.
The decision fell between the positions of the Reagan Ad­
ministration, which had argued that public employees do not
have a right to privacy at work, and the American Civil
Liberties Union and government employee unions, which
had joined the plaintiff in arguing that a warrant and proba­
ble cause should be required for a search.
Justice O’Connor, writing for herself, Chief Justice
Rehnquist, and Justices White and Powell, said, “In the case
of searches conducted by a public employer, we must bal­
ance the invasion of the employees’ rights against the gov­
ernment’s need for supervision, control, and the efficient
operation of the workplace.” Justice Scalia concurred in the
judgment, but did not join in the opinion, which he con­


58
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

tended was “so devoid of content that it produces rather than
eliminates uncertainty in this field.”
Justice Blackmun, joined in dissent by Justices Brennan,
Marshall, and Stevens, said that the new standard “makes
reasonable almost any workplace search by an employer.”
Despite these divergent opinions, the Justices unani­
mously held that employees have a “reasonable expectation
of privacy” in their offices, particularly regarding personal
effects in their briefcases or purses.
The case, O’Connor v. Ortega, arose in 1981, when
Magno Ortega, a physician employed by California’s Napa
State Hospital, filed a lawsuit against the institution, claim­
ing that officials illegally searched his office during an in­
vestigation of alleged sexual harassment by Ortega. A Fed­
eral district court dismissed the suit, but the appeals court
ruled in favor of Ortega, leading to the appeal to the
Supreme Court and its decision to remand the case to lower
courts for further review.

Disability, retirement suits subject to

e r is a

In two cases involving labor and management, the
Supreme Court ruled that law suits over retirement and
disability benefits must be tried under the Federal Employee
Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 ( erisa ), rather than
under State laws. One of the unanimous decisions involved
Everate W. Dedeaux, of Gulfport, m s , who was injured on
the job and later sued his employer’s insurance company
when it terminated his disability payments. A related case in
Michigan involved Arthur Taylor, who sued General Mo­
tors Corp. and Metropolitan Life Insurance Co. after
Metropolitan terminated his benefits based on medical find­
ings that his back and neck injuries from an automobile
accident were not permanent. Both suits were filed in State
courts.
Writing for the Court, Justice O’Connor said, “The policy
choices reflected in the inclusion of certain remedies and the
exclusion of others under the Federal scheme would be
completely undermined if ERiSA-plan participants and bene­
ficiaries were free to obtain remedies under State law that
the Congress rejected in er isa .”
dH

Book Reviews

Problems, prospects, and choices
Up from the Ashes: The Rise o f the Steel Minimill in the
United States. By Donald F. Barnett and Robert W.
Crandall. Washington, The Brookings Institution,
1986. 135 pp.
The padlocked steel plant, the cold blast furnace, and the
laid-off steelworker flipping hamburgers are popular images
of industrial decay. Donald F. Barnett and Robert W. Cran­
dall insist that the reader consider that even in this most
symbolic of declining industries there are growing firms, the
“minimills.” In those firms, they find a competitiveness that
belies the notion that the United States is losing its edge and
deindustrializing.
The minimills are a subsector of the steel industry with
several characteristics that distinguish them from “inte­
grated” Big Steel. The most obvious of these is size. Ac­
cording to Barnett and Crandall, about two-thirds of total
minimill capacity is in plants of under 600,000 tons capac­
ity. Compare that to a recent estimate that the minimum
efficient scale of a new integrated steel facility is 6 million
tons. Other distinguishing factors pointed to by the authors
as typical of minimills include the scrap-fed electric furnace
production process, a product range rather limited in scope
and quality, superior productivity, lower wages, and nar­
rower market specialization.
Of course, the factors that the authors think truly differen­
tiate the distinct steel subindustries are their current and
prospective viability. On one hand, they see an integrated
sector unlikely to “. . .break out of their mold as large-scale,
fully integrated producers. . . saddled with plants employing
older technology, built under assumptions about prices and
demand growth that have proved incorrect.” On the other
hand, they see a vibrant minimill industry marked by in­
creasing investment, new technology, international compet­
itiveness, productivity gains, and an increasingly sophisti­
cated product mix.
There are two issues that are disturbing in this analysis.
First, the characterization of the integrated steel industry is
an example of the currently popular you -have-lostAmerica’s-competitiveness style of criticism. Such harping,
quite understandably, raises the defensive hackles of those
who stand personally accused of creating a situation in


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

which “ . . .few U.S. integrated plants can be said to be of
‘world class’,. . .integrated firms were very slow to recog­
nize that circumstances were changing after the world steel
shortage of 1973-74,” and “. . .the union may have been
playing an end game, extracting as much of the quasi-rents
as possible from the industry.” Heaping the blame on the
policies of those who are now quite clearly the victims of the
restructuring of the steel industry seems counterproductive.
As members of a preeminent policy research institution,
Barnett and Crandall may have fallen into the trap of assum­
ing that policy, private or public, is what makes the world
go around. It seems more likely that changes in objective
circumstances are most responsible for the restructuring of
the U.S. steel industry, with policy, private and public,
playing basically reactive and peripheral roles.
Another troubling issue is the recurring theme that “the
minimill sector has the potential to continue growing for the
rest of this century. . .’’ if one assumes that costs of produc­
tion continue to fall and demand for steel remains at least
steady. There are problems with both assumptions. On the
matter of production cost, consider that in Appendix C,
Barnett and Crandall model the scrap market without a vari­
able that represents the proportion of steel production ac­
counted for by electric furnaces, despite the fact that their
own Appendix B shows clearly that a rising market share for
electric furnaces implies both lower supply and higher de­
mand for scrap. It would be interesting to assess the level of
minimill output at which the price of scrap would become a
significant restraint on expansion.
The supposition that steel demand will not fall is also
suspect. Barnett and Crandall suggest, for example, that the
minimills are poised to expand into the production of certain
sheet metal products. Is this a wise course at a time when
new polyarylate resins are bringing thermoplastic car bodies
closer to reality? The chemical industry may be doing more
to change the business environment of the American steel
industry than all the steel plants in Japan, and expanding in
the face of such forces may leave the minimills in a position
to be judged as harshly as the integrated companies have
been.
--------R ichard M . D e v e n s , J r .

Division of Labor Force Statistics
Bureau of Labor Statistics

59

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW

June 1987 •

Book Reviews

Publications received

Industrial relations

A griculture and natural resources

Balliet, Lee, S u r v e y o f L a b o r R e l a t i o n s . 2d ed. Washington, The
Bureau of National Affairs, Inc., 1987, 212 pp., bibliography.
$15, paper, plus $2.50 shipping charges. Available from BNA
Books Distribution Center, 300 Raritan Center Parkway,
C.N. 94, Edison, NJ 08818.

LeBlanc, Michael and James Hrubovcak, “The Effects of Tax
Policy on Aggregate Agricultural Investment,” A m e r i c a n J o u r ­
n a l o f A g r i c u l t u r a l E c o n o m i c s , November 1986, pp. 767-77.
Lee, Hyunok and Robert G. Chambers, “Expenditure Constraints
and Profit Maximization in U.S. Agriculture,” A m e r i c a n J o u r ­
n a l o f A g r i c u l t u r a l E c o n o m i c s , November 1986, pp. 857-65.

Bogue, Bonnie G., “Strike Damages Ruled Out by Supreme
Court,” C a l i f o r n i a P u b l i c E m p l o y e e R e l a t i o n s , December 1986,
pp. 15-18.

Schmitz, Andrew, Dale Sigurdson, Otto Doering, “Domestic Farm
Policy and the Gains from Trade,” A m e r i c a n J o u r n a l o f A g r i c u l ­
t u r a l E c o n o m i c s , November 1986, pp. 820-27.

Canby, William C., Jr., “The Status of Indian Tribes in American
Law Today,” W a s h i n g t o n L a w R e v i e w , January 1987, pp. 1-22.

Vasavada, Utpal and Robert G. Chambers, “Investment in U.S.
Agriculture,” A m e r i c a n J o u r n a l o f A g r i c u l t u r a l E c o n o m i c s ,
November 1986, pp. 950-60.

Chvany, Barbara, “Drug Testing: New Dilemma in Public Em­
ployment Relations,” C a l i f o r n i a P u b l i c E m p l o y e e R e l a t i o n s ,
December 1986, pp. 2-14.

Econom ic and social statistics

Abel, Andrew B., “Capital Accumulation and Uncertain Lifetimes
with Adverse Selection,” E c o n o m e t r i c a , September 1986, pp.
1079-97.
Andrews, Donald W. K., “Stability Comparisons of Estimators,”
E c o n o m e t r i c a , September 1986, pp. 1207-35.

Fuller, Andrew F., “The NLRB and the Negotiation Process: A
Proposal for a Procedural Fairness Standard of Review for Un­
fair Labor Practice Settlements,” W a s h i n g t o n L a w R e v i e w , Jan­
uary 1987, pp. 107-28.
Johnes, Geraint, “Error Removal, Loss Reduction and External
Effects in the Theory of Strikes,” A u s t r a l i a n E c o n o m i c P a p e r s ,
December 1985, pp. 310-25.

Bakus, David, “The Canadian-U.S. Exchange Rate: Evidence
from a Vector Autoregression,” T h e R e v i e w o f E c o n o m i c s a n d
S t a t i s t i c s , November 1986, pp. 628-37.
Bloom, David E., “Empirical Models of Arbitrator Behavior
Under Conventional Arbitration,” T h e R e v i e w o f E c o n o m i c s a n d
S t a t i s t i c s , November 1986, pp. 578-85.
Butler, Richard J. and James B. McDonald, “Trends in Unemploy­
ment Duration Data,” T h e R e v i e w o f E c o n o m i c s a n d S t a t i s t i c s ,
November 1986, pp. 545-57.
Choldin, Harvey M., “Statistics and Politics: The ‘Hispanic Issue’
in the 1980 Census,” D e m o g r a p h y , August 1986, pp. 403-18.

Martin, Warren, “Employment At Will: Just Cause Protection
Through Mandatory Arbitration,” W a s h i n g t o n L a w R e v i e w ,
January 1987, pp. 151-72.

Dickie, Mark, Ann Fisher, Shelby Gerking, “Market Transactions
and Hypothetical Demand Data: A Comparative Study,” J o u r ­
n a l o f th e A m e r i c a n S t a t i s t i c a l A s s o c i a t i o n , March 1987, pp.
69-75.
Gastwirth, Joseph L. and Samuel W. Greenhouse, “Estimating a
Common Relative Risk: Application in Equal Employment,”
J o u r n a l o f th e A m e r i c a n S t a t i s t i c a l A s s o c i a t i o n , March 1987,
pp. 38-45.
Guillermina, Jasso and Mark R. Rosenzweig, “Family Reunifica­
tion and the Immigration Multiplier: U.S. Immigration Law,
Origin-Country Conditions, and the Reproduction of Immi­
grants,” D e m o g r a p h y , August 1986, pp. 291-311.

Register, Charles A. and Donald R. Williams, “Some Evidence on
the Impact of State-Level Equal Rights Legislation,” S o c i a l
S c i e n c e Q u a r t e r l y , December 1986, pp. 869-76.

Kim, Young J., “Examination of the Generalized Age Distribu­
tion,” D e m o g r a p h y , August 1986, pp. 451-61.
Land, Kenneth C. George C. Hough, Jr., Marilyn M. McMillen,
“Voting Status Life Tables for the United States, 1968—1980,”
D e m o g r a p h y , August 1986, pp. 381-402.
Marquardt, Donald W ., “The Importance of Statisticians,” J o u r n a l
o f th e A m e r i c a n S t a t i s t i c a l A s s o c i a t i o n , March 1987, pp. 1-7.
O’Hare, William, “Blacks and Whites—One Market or Two?”
A m e r i c a n D e m o g r a p h i c s , March 1987, pp. 44-48.
Svejnar, Jan, “Bargaining Power, Fear of Disagreement, and
Wage Settlements: Theory and Evidence from U.S. Industry,”
E c o n o m e t r i c a , September 1986, pp. 1055-78.

60

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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

Mitchell, Daniel J. B., “The Share Economy and Industrial Rela­
tions,” I n d u s t r i a l R e l a t i o n s , Winter 1987, pp. 1-17.
Oswald, Andrew J., “New Research on the Economics of Trade
Unions and Labor Contracts,” I n d u s t r i a l R e l a t i o n s , Winter
1987, pp. 30-45.
Peterson, Richard B ., “Swedish Collective Bargaining—A Chang­
ing Scene,” B r i t i s h J o u r n a l o f I n d u s t r i a l R e l a t i o n s , March
1987, pp. 31-48.

Russell, Gregory L., “Wrongful Termination of Benefits Under
the Longshore and Harborworkers’ Compensation Act: A Com­
promise Approach,” W a s h i n g t o n L a w R e v i e w , January 1987,
pp. 173-200.
Screpanti, Ernesto, “Long Cycles in Strike Activity: An Empirical
Investigation,” B r i t i s h J o u r n a l o f I n d u s t r i a l R e l a t i o n s , March
1987, pp. 99-124.
International econom ics

Chen, Tain-Jy, “Alternative Policies for Foreign Investment in the
Presence of Tariff Distortions,” A u s t r a l i a n E c o n o m i c P a p e r s ,
December 1985, pp. 394-403.
Kahn, George A., “International Policy Coordination in an Inter­
dependent World,” E c o n o m i c R e v i e w , Federal Reserve Bank of
Kansas City, March 1987, pp. 14-32.
LaCivita, Charles J., “Currency, Trade, and Capital Flows in
General Equilibrium,” T h e J o u r n a l o f B u s i n e s s , January 1987,
pp. 113-35.
Mine, Manabu, “The Social Impact of Microelectronics in Japan,”
I n t e r n a t i o n a l L a b o u r R e v i e w , July-August 1986, pp. 473-97.

Current
Labor Statistics
Schedule of release dates for major

bls

statistical series

Notes on Current Labor Statistics ....................................
Comparative indicators
1. Labor market indicators..................................................................................................................................................................................................

72

2. Annual and quarterly percent changes in compensation, prices, andproductivity
3. Alternative measures of wage and compensation changes ......................

73

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

73

Labor force data
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.

Employment status of the total population, data seasonally ad ju sted .................................................................................................................
Employment status o f the civilian population, data seasonally adjusted ..........................................................................................................
Selected employment indicators, data seasonally adjusted ...................................................................................................................................
Selected unemployment indicators, data seasonally adjusted ...............................................................................................................................
Unemployment rates by sex and age, data seasonally adjusted ..........................................................................................................................
Unemployed persons by reason for unemployment, data seasonally a d ju sted ...................................................................................................
Duration o f unemployment, data seasonally adjusted ............................................................................................................................................
Unemployment rates of civilian workers, by State .......................................................................................
Employment of workers by State ....................
Employment of workers by industry, data seasonally adjusted............................................................................................................................
Average weekly hours by industry, data seasonally adjusted ...............................................................................................................................
Average hourly earnings by industry .........................................................................................................................................................................
Average weekly earnings by industry.........................................................................................................................................................................
Hourly Earnings Index by industry..............................................................................................................................................................................

80
81
82
83
83

18.
19.
20.
21.

Indexes of diffusion: proportion of industries in which employment increased, seasonally adjusted ......................................................
Annual data: Employment status of the noninstitutional population
..........................................................................................................
Annual data: Employment levels by industry ........................................................................................................................................................
Annual data: Average hours and earnings levels by industry..............................................................................................................................

84
84
84
85

74
75

76
77

78
78
78
79
79

Labor compensation and collective bargaining data
22.
23.
24.
25.

Employment Cost Index, compensation, by occupation and industry group ....................................................................................................
Employment Cost Index, wages and salaries, by occupation and industry g r o u p ...........................................................................................
Employment Cost Index, private nonfarm workers, by bargaining status, region, and area s i z e ...............................................................
Specified compensation and wage adjustments from contract settlements, and effective wage adjustments,
situations covering 1 ,0 0 0 workers or more .......................................................................................................................................................

26. Average specified compensation and wage adjustments, bargaining situations covering 1,000 workers or m o r e ....................................
27. Average effective wage adjustments, bargaining situations covering 1,000 workers or more .....................................................................
28. Specified compensation and wage adjustments, State and local government bargaining
situations covering 1 ,0 0 0 workers or more ............................. ................................................................................................................
29. Work stoppages involving 1,000 workers or more ................................................................................................................................................

86

87
88
§9

89
90
90
90

Price data
30.
31.
32.
33.
34.
35.
36.
37.
38.
39.
40.
41.

Consumer Price Index: U.S. City average, by expenditurecategory and commodity and service groups ................................................
Consumer Price Index: U.S. City average and local data,all items ...................................................................................................................
Annual data: Consumer Price Index, all items and major groups .....................................................................................................................
Producer Price Indexes by stage of processing . .....................................................................................................................................
Producer Price Indexes, by durability of product ..............................................................................................................................................
Annual data: Producer Price Indexes by stage of p ro cessin g ..............................................................................................................................
U .S. export price indexes by Standard International Trade C lassification......................................................................................................
U.S. import price indexes by Standard International Trade C lassification......................................................................................................
U.S. export price indexes by end-use category ........................................................................................................................................................
U .S. import price indexes by end-use ca teg o ry .........................................................................................................................................................
U .S. export price indexes by Standard Industrial C lassification............................................................................................................................
U .S. import price indexes by Standard Industrial Classification ......................................................................................................................


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

91
94
95
95
97
97

98
99

IOO
100

100
101

61

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW

June 1987 •

Current Labor Statistics

Contents— Continued
Productivity data
101

42. Indexes o f productivity, hourly compensation, and unit costs, data seasonally adjusted
43. Annual indexes of multifactor productivity .............................................................................
44. Annual indexes of productivity, hourly compensation, unit costs, and p r ic e s ................

102
102

International comparisons
103
104
105

45. Unemployment rates in nine countries, data seasonally adjusted ......................................
46. Annual data: Employment status of civilian working-age population, ten countries ..
47. Annual indexes of productivity and related measures, twelve countries .........................

Injury and illness data
106

48. Annual data: Occupational injury and illness incidence r a te s.............................................

Schedule of release dates for
Series

Productivity and costs:
Nonfarm business and manufacturing ..

b ls

statistical series

Release
date

June 2

Period .
covered

Release
date

Period
covered

1st quarter

Release
date

Period
covered

MLR table
number

August 31

2nd quarter

2; 42-44

August 3

2nd quarter

2; 42-44

Employment situation ..............................

June 5

May

July 2

June

August 7

July

1; 4-21

Producer Price Index................................

June 12

May

July 10

June

August 14

July

2; 33-35

June 23

May

July 22

June

August 21

July

2; 30-32

June 23

May

July 22

June

August 21

July

14-17

July 28

1st 6 months

3; 25-28

July 28

2nd quarter

1-3; 22-24

July 30

2nd quarter

36-41

Major collective bargaining

U.S. Import and Export
Price Indexes......................................

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NOTES ON CURRENT LABOR STATISTICS
This section o f the R e v ie w presents the principal statistical series collected
and calculated by the Bureau o f Labor Statistics: series on labor force,
employment, unemployment, collective bargaining settlements, consumer,
producer, and international prices, productivity, international comparisons,
and injury and illness statistics. In the notes that follow, the data in each
group o f tables are briefly described, key definitions are given, notes on the
data are set forth, and sources of additional information are cited.

Adjustments for price changes. Some data— such as the Hourly
Earnings Index in table 17— are adjusted to eliminate the effect o f changes
in price. These adjustments are made by dividing current dollar values by
the Consumer Price Index or the appropriate component of the index, then
multiplying by 100. For example, given a current hourly wage rate o f $3
and a current price index number o f 150, where 1967 = 100, the hourly rate
expressed in 1967 dollars is $2 ($3/150 x 100 = $2). The $2 (or any other
resulting values) are described as “real,” “constant,” or “1967” dollars.

General notes
Additional information

The following notes apply to several tables in this section:

Seasonal adjustment.

Certain monthly and quarterly data are adjusted
to eliminate the effect on the data of such factors as climatic conditions,
industry production schedules, opening and closing of schools, holiday
buying periods, and vacation practices, which might prevent short-term
evaluation o f the statistical series. Tables containing data that have been
adjusted are identified as “seasonally adjusted.” (All other data are not
seasonally 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. (Season­
ally adjusted data appear in tables 1 -3 , 4 -1 0 , 13, 14, 17, and 18.) Begin­
ning in January 1980, the bls introduced two major modifications in the
seasonal adjustment methodology for labor force data. First, the data are
seasonally adjusted with a procedure called x - n arima, which was devel­
oped at Statistics Canada as an extension of the standard x - n method
previously used by bls . A detailed description o f the procedure appears in
T h e x - n arima S e a s o n a l A d ju s tm e n t M e th o d by Estela Bee Dagum (Statis­
tics Canada, Catalogue No. 12—564E, February 1980). The second change
is that seasonal factors are calculated for use during the first 6 months of
the year, rather than for the entire year, and then are calculated at midyear
for the July-December period. However, revisions of historical data con­
tinue to be made only at the end o f each calendar year.
Seasonally adjusted labor force data in tables 1 and 4 -1 0 were revised
in the February 1987 issue of the R e v ie w , to reflect experience through
1986.
Annual revisions of the seasonally adjusted payroll data shown in tables
13, 14, and 18 were made in the July 1986 R e v ie w using the x - ii arima
seasonal adjustment methodology. New seasonal factors for productivity
data in table 42 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.

Data that supplement the tables in this section are published by the
Bureau in a variety o f sources. News releases provide the latest statistical
information published by the Bureau; the major recurring releases are
published according to the schedule preceding these general notes. More
information about labor force, employment, and unemployment data and
the household and establishment surveys underlying the data are available
in E m p lo y m e n t a n d E a r n in g s , a monthly publication of the Bureau. More
data from the household survey are published in the two-volume data
book— L a b o r F o r c e S ta tis tic s D e r iv e d F ro m th e C u r r e n t P o p u la tio n S u r ­
v e y , Bulletin 2096. More data from the establishment survey appear in two
data books— E m p lo y m e n t, H o u r s , a n d E a rn in g s , U n ite d S ta te s , and E m ­
p lo y m e n t, H o u r s , a n d E a rn in g s , S ta te s a n d A r e a s , and the annual supple­
ments to these data books. More detailed information on employee com­
pensation and collective bargaining settlements is published in the monthly
periodical, C u r r e n t W a g e D e v e lo p m e n ts . More detailed data on consumer
and producer prices are published in the monthly periodicals, T h e cpi
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 I n d e x e s . Detailed data on
all of the series in this section are provided in the H a n d b o o k o f L a b o r
S ta tis tic s , which is published biennally by the Bureau. BLS bulletins are
issued covering productivity, injury and illness, and other data in this
section. Finally, the M o n th ly L a b o r R e v ie w carries analytical articles on
annual and longer term developments in labor force, employment, and
unemployment; employee compensation and collective bargaining; prices;
productivity; international comparisons; and injury and illness data.

Symbols
p = preliminary. To increase the timeliness o f some series, prelim­
inary figures are issued based on representative but incom­
plete returns.
r = revised. Generally, this revision reflects the availability o f later
data but may also reflect other adjustments,
n.e.c. = not elsewhere classified,
n.e.s. = not elsewhere specified.

COMPARATIVE INDICATORS
(Tables 1-3)
Comparative indicators tables provide an overview and comparison of
major bls statistical series. Consequently, although many of the included
series are available monthly, all measures in these comparative tables are
presented quarterly and annually.
Labor market indicators include employment measures from two ma­
jor surveys and information on rates of change in compensation provided
by the Employment Cost Index (eci) program. The labor force participation
rate, the employment-to-population ratio, and unemployment rates for
major demographic groups based on the Current Population (“household ”)
Survey are presented, while measures of employment and average weekly
hours by major industry sector are given using nonagricultural payroll data.
The Employment Cost Index (compensation), by major sector and by


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bargaining status, is chosen from a variety of bls compensation and wage
measures because it provides a comprehensive measure of employer costs
for hiring labor, not just outlays for wages, and it is not affected by
employment shifts among occupations and industries.
Data on changes in compensation, prices, and productivity are pre­
sented in table 2. Measures o f rates of change o f compensation and wages
from the Employment Cost Index program are provided for all civilian
nonfarm workers (excluding Federal and household workers) and for all
private nonfarm workers. Measures of changes in: consumer prices for all
urban consumers; producer prices by stage o f processing; and the overall
export and import price indexes are given. Measures o f productivity (output
per hour o f all persons) are provided for major sectors.

63

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW

June 1987 •

Current Labor Statistics

Alternative measures of wage and compensation rates of change,
which reflect the overall trend in labor costs, are summarized in table 3.
Differences in concepts and scope, related to the specific purposes of the
series, contribute to the variation in changes among the individual mea­
sures.

Notes on the data
Definitions o f each series and notes on the data are contained in later

sections of these notes describing each set o f data. For detailed descriptions
of each data series, see bls H a n d b o o k o f M eth o d s, Volumes I and II,
Bulletins 2134-1 and 2 1 3 4 -2 (Bureau o f Labor Statistics, 1982 and 1984,
respectively), as well as the additional bulletins, articles, and other publi­
cations noted in the separate sections of the R e v ie w 's “Current Labor
Statistics Notes.” Historical data for many series are provided in the H a n d ­
bo o k o f L a b o r Sta tistics, Bulletin 2217 (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 1985).
Users may also wish to consult M a jo r P ro gram s, B u rea u o f L a b o r S ta tis­
tics, Report 718 (Bureau o f Labor Statistics, 1985).

EMPLOYMENT DATA
(Tables 1; 4-21)

Household survey data

the various data series appear in the Explanatory Notes of E m p lo ym en t a n d
E arn in g s.

Description of the series
in this section are obtained from the Current Population
Survey, a program o f personal interviews conducted monthly by the Bureau
o f the Census for the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The sample consists of
about 59,500 households selected to represent the U .S. population 16 years
o f age and older. Households are interviewed on a rotating basis, so that
three-fourths o f the sample is the same for any 2 consecutive months.

Data in tables 4 -1 0 are seasonally adjusted, based on the seasonal
experience through December 1986.

employment data

Definitions
Employed persons include (1) 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 employed
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 unem­
ployment rate represents the number unemployed as a percent of the labor
force, including the resident Armed Forces. The civilian unemployment
rate represents the number unemployed as a percent o f 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 house­
work, those not working while attending school, those unable to work
because o f long-term illness, those discouraged from seeking work because
o f personal or job market factors, and those who are voluntarily idle. The
noninstitutional population comprises all persons 16 years of age and
older who are not inmates of penal or mental institutions, sanitariums, or
homes for the aged, infirm, or needy, and members of the Armed Forces
stationed in the United States. The labor force participation rate is the
proportion o f 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 comparabil­
ity o f historical data. A description of these adjustments and their effect on

64

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Additional sources of information
For detailed explanations of the data, see bls 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 1, and for
additional data, H a n d b o o k o f L a b o r S ta tis tic s , Bulletin 2217 (Bureau of
Labor Statistics, 1985). A detailed description of the Current Population
Survey as well as additional data are available in the monthly Bureau of
Labor Statistics periodical, E m p lo ym en t a n d E a rn in g s. Historical data
from 1948 to 1981 are available in L a b o r F o rce S ta tistics D e riv e d fr o m the
C u rre n t P o p u la tio n S u rvey: A D a ta b o o k , Vols. I and II, Bulletin 2096
(Bureau of Labor Statistics, 1982).
A comprehensive discussion of the differences between household and
establishment data on employment appears in Gloria P. Green, “Comparing
employment estimates from household and payroll surveys,” M o n th ly
L a b o r R eview , December 1969, pp. 9—20.

Establishment survey data
Description of the series
Employment, hours, and earnings data in this section are compiled from
payroll records reported monthly on a voluntary basis to the Bureau of
Labor Statistics and its cooperating State agencies by more than 250,000
establishments representing all industries except agriculture. In most indus­
tries, 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 ware­
house.) Self-employed persons and others not on a regular civilian payroll
are outside the scope of the survey because they are excluded from estab­
lishment records. This largely accounts for the difference in employment
figures between the household and establishment surveys.

Definitions
An establishment is an economic unit which produces goods or services
(such as a factory or store) at a single location and is engaged in one type
of economic activity.
Employed persons are all persons who received pay (including holiday
and sick pay) for any part of the payroll period including the 12th o f 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 working supervisors and
all nonsupervisory workers closely associated with production operations.
Those workers mentioned in tables 12-17 include production workers in
manufacturing and mining; construction workers in construction; and non­
supervisory workers in the following industries: transportation and public
utilities; wholesale and retail trade; finance, insurance, and real estate; and

services. These groups account for about four-fifths o f the total employ­
ment on private nonagricutural 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
in manufacturing (the only sector for which overtime data are available)
and the effects o f changes and seasonal factors in the proportion of workers
in high-wage and low-wage industries.
Hours represent the average weekly hours o f production or nonsupervi­
sory 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 the May 1983 R e v ie w , represents
the percent o f 185 nonagricultural industries in which employment was
rising over the indicated period. One-half o f the industries with unchanged
employment are counted as rising. In line with Bureau practice, data for
the 1-, 3-, and 6-month spans are seasonally adjusted, while those for the
12-month span are unadjusted. The diffusion index is useful for measur­
ing the dispersion o f economic gains or losses and is also an economic
indicator.

Notes on the data
Establishment data collected by the Bureau o f Labor Statistics are peri­
odically adjusted to com prehensive counts o f em ploym ent (called
“benchmarks”). The latest complete adjustment was made with the release
o f May 1986 data, published in the July 1986 issue o f the R eview . Conse­
quently, 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 1984; seasonally adjusted data have been revised back to January
1981. These revisions were published in the 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 (Bureau o f Labor Statistics, 1986). Unadjusted data from
April 1985 forward, and seasonally adjusted data from January 1982 for­
ward are subject to revision in future benchmarks.
In the establishment survey, estimates for the 2 most recent months are
based on incomplete returns and are published as preliminary in the tables
(13 to 16 in the R e v ie w ). When all returns have been received, the esti­
mates are revised and published as final in the third month o f their appear­
ance. Thus, August data are published as preliminary in October and
November and as final in December. For the same reason, quarterly estab­
lishment data (table 1) are preliminary for the first 2 months o f publication
and final in the third month. Thus, second-quarter data are published as
preliminary in August and September and as final in October.

Additional sources of information
Detailed data from the establishment survey are published monthly in the
periodical, E m p lo y m e n t a n d E a rn in g s. Earlier comparable unadjusted
and seasonally adjusted data are published in E m p lo ym en t, H o u rs, a n d
E a rn in g s, U n ited S ta tes, 1 9 0 9 -8 4 , Bulletin 1312-12 (Bureau o f Labor
Statistics, 1985) and its annual supplement. For a detailed discussion o f the
methodology o f the survey, see B L S H a n d b o o k o f M e th o d s, Bulletin 2134-1
(Bureau o f Labor Statistics, 1982), chapter 2. For additional data, see
H a n d b o o k o f L a b o r S ta tistics, Bulletin 2217 (Bureau of Labor Statistics,
1985).
bls

A comprehensive discussion of the differences between household and
establishment data on employment appears in Gloria P. Green, “Comparing
employment estimates from household and payroll surveys,” M o n th ly
L a b o r R eview , December 1969, pp. 9 -2 0 .

Unemployment data by State
Description of the series
Data presented in this section are obtained from two major sources— the
Current Population Survey ( cps) and the Local Area Unemployment Statis­
tics (laus) program, which is conducted in cooperation with State employ­
ment security agencies.
Monthly estimates o f the labor force, employment, and unemployment
for States and sub-State areas are a key indicator o f local economic condi­
tions and form the basis for determining the eligibility o f an area for
benefits under Federal economic assistance programs such as the Job Train­
ing Partnership Act and the Public Works and Economic Development Act.
Insofar as possible, the concepts and definitions underlying these data are
those used in the national estimates obtained from the cps .

Notes on the data
Data refer to State of residence. Monthly data for 11 States— California,
Florida, Illinois, Massachusetts, Michigan, New York, New Jersey, North
Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Texas— are obtained directly from the
cps , because the size o f the sample is large enough to meet bls standards
o f reliability. Data for the remaining 39 States and the District o f Columbia
are derived using standardized procedures established by bls . Once a year,
estimates for the 11 States are revised to new population controls. For the
remaining States and the District o f Columbia, data are benchmarked to
annual average cps levels.

Additional sources of information
Information on the concepts, definitions, and technical procedures used
to develop labor force data for States and sub-State areas as well as addi­
tional data on sub-States are provided in the monthly Bureau o f Labor
Statistics periodical, E m p lo ym en t a n d E a rn in g s, and the annual report,
G eog ra p h ic P ro file o f E m p lo y m e n t a n d U nem p lo ym e n t (Bureau o f Labor
Statistics). See ¡Aso 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 4.

COMPENSATION AND WAGE DATA
(Tables 1-3; 22-29)
Compensation and wage data are gathered by the Bureau from business
establishments, State and local governments, labor unions, collective bar­
gaining agreements on file with the Bureau, and secondary sources.

Employment Cost Index
Description of the series
The Employment Cost Index (eci) is a quarterly measure of the rate of
change in compensation per hour worked and includes wages, salaries, and
employer costs o f employee benefits. It uses a fixed market basket of


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labor— similar in concept to the Consumer Price Index’s fixed market
basket o f goods and services— to measure change over time in employer
costs o f employing labor. The index is not seasonally adjusted.
Statistical series on total compensation costs and on wages and salaries
are available for private nonfarm workers excluding proprietors, the selfemployed, and household workers. Both series are also available for State
and local government workers and for the civilian nonfarm economy,
which consists o f private industry and State and local government workers
combined. Federal workers are excluded.
The Employment Cost Index probability sample consists o f about 2,200
private nonfarm establishments providing about 12,000 occupational ob­
servations and 700 State and local government establishments providing

65

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW

June 1987 •

Current Labor Statistics

3,500 occupational observations selected to represent total employment in
each sector. On average, each reporting unit provides wage and compensa­
tion information on five well-specified occupations. Data are collected each
quarter for the pay period including the 12th day o f March, June, Septem­
ber, and December.
Beginning with June 1986 data, fixed employment weights from the
1980 Census o f Population are used each quarter to calculate the indexes
for civilian, private, and State and local governments. (Prior to June 1986,
the employment weights are from the 1970 Census o f Population.) These
fixed weights, also used to derive all o f the industry and occupation series
indexes, ensure that changes in these indexes reflect only changes in com­
pensation, not employment shifts among industries or occupations with
different levels o f wages and compensation. For the bargaining status,
region, and metropolitan/nonmetropolitan area series, however, employ­
ment data by industry and occupation are not available from the census.
Instead, the 1980 employment weights are reallocated within these series
each quarter based on the current sample. Therefore, these indexes are not
strictly comparable to those for the aggregate, industry, and occupation
series.

Definitions
Total compensation costs include wages, salaries, and the employer’s
costs for employee benefits.
Wages and salaries consist of earnings before payroll deductions, in­
cluding production bonuses, incentive earnings, commissions, and cost-ofliving adjustments.
Benefits include the cost to employers for paid leave, supplemental pay
(including nonproduction bonuses), insurance, retirement and savings
plans, and legally required benefits (such as Social Security, workers’
compensation, and unemployment insurance).
Excluded from wages and salaries and employee benefits are such items
as payment-in-kind, free room and board, and tips.

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, when combined with the wages and salaries
series, a measure o f the percent change in employer costs for employee
total compensation. State and local government units were added to the eci
coverage in 1981, providing a measure o f total compensation change in the
civilia n nonfarm economy (excluding Federal employees). Historical in­
dexes (June 1981 = 100) o f the quarterly rates o f change are presented in the
May issue o f the bls monthly periodical, C u rre n t W a g e D eve lo p m en ts.

Additional sources of information
For a more detailed discussion o f the Employment Cost Index, see the
H a n d b o o k o f M e th o d s, Bulletin 2 134-1 (Bureau o f Labor Statistics, 1982),
chapter 11, and the fo llo w in g M o n t h ly L a b o r R e v i e w articles:
“Employment Cost Index: a measure of change in the ‘price o f labor’,” July
1975; “How benefits will be incorporated into the Employment Cost In­
dex,” January 1978; “Estimation procedures for the Employment Cost
Index,” May 1982; and “Introducing new weights for the Employment Cost
Index,” June 1985.
Data on the eci are also available in bls quarterly press releases issued
in the month following the reference months o f March, June, September,
and December; and from the H a n d b o o k o f L a b o r S ta tistics, Bulletin 2217
(Bureau o f Labor Statistics, 1985).

(wage and benefit costs) and wages alone, quarterly for private industry and
semiannually for State and local government. Compensation measures
cover all collective bargaining situations involving 5,000 workers or more
and wage measures cover all situations involving 1,000 workers or more.
These data, covering private nonagricultural industries and State and local
governments, are calculated using information obtained from bargaining
agreements on file with the Bureau, parties to the agreements, and second­
ary sources, such as newspaper accounts. The data are not seasonally
adjusted.
Settlement data are measured in terms of future specified adjustments:
those that will occur within 12 months after contract ratification— firstyear— and all adjustments that will occur over the life of the contract
expressed as an average annual rate. Adjustments are worker weighted.
Both first-year and over-the-life measures exclude wage changes that may
occur under cost-of-living clauses that are triggered by future movements
in the Consumer Price Index.
Effective wage adjustments measure all adjustments occurring in the
reference period, regardless of the settlement date. Included are changes
from settlements reached during the period, changes deferred from con­
tracts negotiated in earlier periods, and changes under cost-of-living adjust­
ment clauses. Each wage change is worker weighted. The changes are
prorated over all workers under agreements during the reference period
yielding the average adjustment.

Definitions
Wage rate changes are calculated by dividing newly negotiated wages
by the average hourly earnings, excluding overtime, at the time the agree­
ment is reached. Compensation changes are calculated by dividing the
change in the value of the newly negotiated wage and benefit package by
existing average hourly compensation, which includes the cost o f previ­
ously negotiated benefits, legally required social insurance programs, and
average hourly earnings.
Compensation changes are calculated by placing a value on the benefit
portion of the settlements at the time they are reached. The cost estimates
are based on the assumption that conditions existing at the time of settle­
ment (for example, methods o f financing pensions or composition o f labor
force) will remain constant. The data, therefore, are measures of negotiated
changes and not o f total changes in employer cost.
Contract duration runs from the effective date of the agreement to the
expiration date or first wage reopening date, if applicable. Average annual
percent changes over the contract term take account o f the compounding of
successive changes.

Notes on the data
Care should be exercised in comparing the size and nature of the settle­
ments in State and local government with those in the private sector because
of differences in bargaining practices and settlement characteristics. A
principal difference is the incidence o f cost-of-living adjustment (cola)
clauses which cover only about 2 percent of workers under a few local
government settlements, but cover 50 percent of workers under private
sector settlements. Agreements without cola’s tend to provide larger speci­
fied wage increases than those with cola’s . Another difference is that State
and local government bargaining frequently excludes pension benefits
which are often prescribed by law. In the private sector, in contrast,
pensions are typically a bargaining issue.

Additional sources of information

Collective bargaining settlements
Description of the series
Collective bargaining settlements data provide statistical measures of
negotiated adjustments (increases, decreases, and freezes) in compensation

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For a more detailed discussion on the series, see the

bls 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 10.

Comprehensive data are published in press releases issued quarterly (in
January, April, July, and October) for private industry, and semi-

annually (in February and August) for State and local government. Histor­
ical data and additional detailed tabulations for the prior calendar year
appear in the April issue o f the bls monthly periodical, Current Wage

monthly periodical, Current Wage Developments . Historical data appear in
the b l s Handbook o f Labor Statistics.

Developments.

Other compensation data
Work stoppages

Other bls data on pay and benefits, not included in the Current Labor
Statistics section o f the Monthly Labor Review, appear in and consist o f the
following:

Description of the series
Data on work stoppages measure the number and duration o f major
strikes or lockouts (involving 1,000 workers or more) occurring during the
month (or year), the number o f workers involved, and the amount o f time
lost because o f stoppage.
Data are largely from newspaper accounts and cover only establishments
directly involved in a stoppage. They do not measure the indirect or second­
ary effect o f stoppages on other establishments whose employees are idle
owing to material shortages or lack o f service.

Definitions
Number of stoppages:

The number o f strikes and lockouts involving
or more and lasting a full shift or longer.
Workers involved: The number o f workers directly involved in the
stoppage.

1,000 workers

Number of days idle: The aggregate number o f workdays lost by
workers involved in the stoppages.
Days of idleness as a percent of estimated working time: Aggregate
workdays lost as a percent o f the aggregate number o f standard workdays
in the period multiplied by total employment in the period.

Notes on the data
This series is not comparable with the one terminated in 1981 that
covered strikes involving six workers or more.

Additional sources of information
Data for each calendar year are reported in a bls press release issued in
the first quarter o f the following year. Monthly data appear in the bls

Industry Wage Surveys provide data for specific occupations selected to
represent an industry’s wage structure and the types o f activities performed
by its workers. The Bureau collects information on weekly work schedules,
shift operations and pay differentials, paid holiday and vacation practices,
and information on incidence of health, insurance, and retirement plans.
Reports are issued throughout the year as the surveys are completed.
Summaries o f the data and special analyses also appear in the Monthly
Labor Review.
Area Wage Surveys annually provide data for selected office, clerical,
professional, technical, maintenance, toolroom, powerplant, material
movement, and custodial occupations common to a wide variety o f indus­
tries in the areas (labor markets) surveyed. Reports are issued throughout
the year as the surveys are completed. Summaries o f the data and special
analyses also appear in the Review.

The National Survey o f Professional, Administrative, Technical, and
Clerical Pay provides detailed information annually on salary levels and
distributions for the types o f jobs mentioned in the survey’s title in private
employment. Although the definitions o f the jobs surveyed reflect the
duties and responsibilities in private industry, they are designed to match
specific pay grades o f Federal white-collar employees under the General
Schedule pay system. Accordingly, this survey provides the legally re­
quired information for comparing the pay o f salaried employees in the
Federal civil service with pay in private industry. (See Federal Pay Com­
parability Act o f 1970, 5 u .s.c . 5305.) Data are published in a bls news
release issued in the summer and in a bulletin each fall; summaries and
analytical articles also appear in the Review.

Employee Benefits Survey provides nationwide information on the inci­
dence and characteristics o f employee benefit plans in medium and large
establishments in the United States, excluding Alaska and Hawaii. Data are
published in an annual bls news release and bulletin, as well as in special
articles appearing in the Review.

PRICE DATA
(Tables 2; 30-41)
Price data are gathered by the Bureau o f 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).

Consumer Price Indexes
Description of the series
The Consumer Price Index ( cpi) is a measure o f the average change in
the prices paid by urban consumers for a fixed market basket o f goods and
services. The cpi is calculated monthly for two population groups, one
consisting only o f urban households whose primary source o f income is
derived from the employment o f wage earners and clerical workers, and the
other consisting o f all urban households. The wage earner index (cpi- w) is
a continuation o f the historic index that was introduced well over a halfcentury ago for use in wage negotiations. As new uses were developed for
the cpi in recent years, the need for a broader and more representative index
became apparent. The all urban consumer index ( cpi- u ), introduced in
1978, is representative o f the 1982-84 buying habits o f about 80 percent
o f the noninstitutional population o f the United States at that time, com­
pared with 32 percent represented in the cpi- w . In addition to wage earners


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and clerical workers, the cpi- u covers professional, managerial, and tech­
nical workers, the self-employed, short-term workers, the unemployed,
retirees, and others not in the labor force.
The cpi is based on prices o f food, clothing, shelter, fuel, drugs, trans­
portation fares, doctors’ and dentists’ fees, and other goods and services
that people buy for day-to-day living. The quantity and quality o f these
items are kept essentially unchanged between major revisions so that only
price changes will be measured. All taxes directly associated with the
purchase and use o f items are included in the index.
Data collected from more than 21,000 retail establishments and 60,000
housing units in 91 urban areas across the country are used to develop the
“U .S. city average.” Separate estimates for 27 major urban centers are
presented in table 31. The areas listed are as indicated in footnote 1 to the
table. The area indexes measure only the average change in prices for each
area since the base period, and do not indicate differences in the level of
prices among cities.

Notes on the data
In January 1983, the Bureau changed the way in which homeownership
costs are measured for the cpi- u . A rental equivalence method replaced the

67

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW

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Current Labor Statistics

asset-price approach to homeownership costs for that series. In January
1985, the same change was made in the cpi- w . The central purpose o f the
change was to separate shelter costs from the investment component of
homeownership so that the index would reflect only the cost of shelter
services provided by owner-occupied homes. An updated cpi-u and cpi w
were introduced with release o f the January 1987 data.

Additional sources of information
For a discussion o f the general method for computing the

cpi,

see

bls

H a n d b o o k o f M eth o d s, V o lu m e II, T h e C o n su m e r P ric e I n d e x , Bulletin

2 1 3 4 -2 (Bureau o f Labor Statistics, 1984). The recent change in the mea­
surement o f homeownership costs is discussed in Robert Gillingham and
Walter Lane, “Changing the treatment of shelter costs for homeowners in
the CPI,” M o n th ly L a b o r R e v ie w , June 1982, pp. 9 -1 4 . An overview of the
recently introduced revised cpi, reflecting 1982—84 expenditure patterns, is
contained in T he C o n su m e r P ric e In d ex: 1 9 8 7 R e v is io n , Report 736 (Bu­
reau o f Labor Statistics, 1987).
Additional detailed cpi data and regular analyses of consumer price
changes are provided in the cpi D e ta ile d R e p o rt, a monthly publication of
the Bureau. Historical data for the overall cpi and for selected groupings
may be found in the H a n d b o o k o f L a b o r S ta tis tic s , Bulletin 2217 (Bureau
o f Labor Statistics, 1985).

Producer Price Indexes
Description of the series
Producer Price Indexes (ppi) measure average changes in prices re­
ceived in primary markets of the United States by producers of commodi­
ties in all stages o f processing. The sample used for calculating these
indexes currently contains about 3,200 commodities and about 60,000
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 stage o f proc­
essing structure o f Producer Price Indexes organizes products by class of
buyer and degree o f fabrication (that is, finished goods, intermediate
goods, and crude materials). The traditional commodity structure o f ppi
organizes products by similarity of end use or material composition.
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 o f the week containing
the 13th day o f the month.
Since January 1976, price changes for the various commodities have
been averaged together with implicit quantity weights representing their
importance in the total net selling value o f all commodities as o f 1972. The
detailed data are aggregated to obtain indexes for stage-of-processing
groupings, commodity groupings, durability-of-product groupings, and a
number o f special composite groups. All Producer Price Index data are
subject to revision 4 months after original publication.

Notes on the data
Beginning with the January 1986 issue, the R e v ie w is no longer present­
ing tables o f Producer Price Indexes for commodity groupings, special
composite groups, or sic industries. However, these data will continue to
be presented in the Bureau’s monthly publication P ro d u c e r P ric e In d e x e s
The Bureau has completed the first major stage o f its comprehensive
overhaul o f the theory, methods, and procedures used to construct the
Producer Price Indexes. Changes include the replacement of judgment
sampling with probability sampling techniques; expansion to systematic

Digitized for 68
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coverage of the net output o f virtually all industries in the mining and
manufacturing sectors; a shift from a commodity to an industry orientation;
the exclusion of imports from, and the inclusion o f exports in, the survey
universe; and the respecification of commodities priced to conform to
Bureau of the Census definitions. These and other changes have been
phased in gradually since 1978. The result is a system o f indexes that is
easier to use in conjunction with data on wages, productivity, and employ­
ment and other series that are organized in terms of the Standard Industrial
Classification and the Census product class designations.

Additional sources of information
For a discussion o f the methodology for computing Producer Price In­
dexes, see bls 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.
Additional detailed data and analyses of price changes are provided
monthly in P ro d u c e r P ric e In d exes. Selected historical data may be found
in the H a n d b o o k o f L a b o r Sta tistics, Bulletin 2217 (Bureau o f Labor
Statistics, 1985).

International Price Indexes
Description of the series
The bls International Price Program produces quarterly export and
import price indexes for nonmilitary goods traded between the United
States and the rest of the world. The export price index provides a measure
o f price change for all products sold by U .S. residents to foreign buyers.
(“Residents” is defined as in the national income accounts: it includes
corporations, businesses, and individuals but does not require the organiza­
tions to be U .S. owned nor the individuals to have U .S. citizenship.) The
import price index provides a measure of price change for goods purchased
from other countries by U .S . residents. With publication of an all-import
index in February 1983 and an all-export index in February 1984, all U .S.
merchandise imports and exports now are represented in these indexes. The
reference period for the indexes is 1977 = 100, unless otherwise indicated.
The product universe for both the import and export indexes includes raw
materials, agricultural products, semifinished manufactures, and finished
manufactures, including both capital and consumer goods. Price data for
these items are collected quarterly by mail questionnaire. In nearly all
cases, the data are collected directly from the exporter or importer, al­
though in a few cases, prices are obtained from other sources.
To the extent possible, the data gathered refer to prices at the U .S. border
for exports and at either the foreign border or the U .S. border for imports.
For nearly all products, the prices refer to transactions completed during the
first 2 weeks of the third month o f each calendar quarter— March, June,
September, and December. Survey respondents are asked to indicate all
discounts, allowances, and rebates applicable to the reported prices, so that
the price used in the calculation of the indexes is the actual price for which
the product was bought or sold.
In addition to general indexes o f prices for U .S. exports and imports,
indexes are also published for detailed product categories of exports and
imports. These categories are defined by the 4- and 5-digit level o f detail
of the Standard Industrial Trade Classification System ( sitc). The calcula­
tion of indexes by sitc category facilitates the comparison of U .S. price
trends and sector production with similar data for other countries. Detailed
indexes are also computed and published on a Standard Industrial Classifi­
cation (sic-based) basis, as well as by end-use class.

Notes on the data
The export and import price indexes are weighted indexes of the
Laspeyres type. Price relatives are assigned equal importance within each
weight category and are then aggregated to the srrc level. The values
assigned to each weight category are based on trade value figures compiled

by the Bureau o f the Census. The trade weights currently used to compute
both indexes relate to 1980.
Because a price index depends on the same items being priced from
period to period, it is necessary to recognize when a product’s specifica­
tions or terms o f transaction have been modified. For this reason, the
Bureau’s quarterly questionnaire requests detailed descriptions of the phys­
ical and functional characteristics o f the products being priced, as well as
information on the number o f units bought or sold, discounts, credit terms,
packaging, class o f buyer or seller, and so forth. When there are changes
in either the specifications or terms o f transaction o f a product, the dollar
value o f each change is deleted from the total price change to obtain the
“pure” change. Once this value is determined, a linking procedure is
employed which allows for the continued repricing o f the item.
For the export price indexes, the preferred pricing basis is f.a.s. (free
alongside ship) U .S . port of exportation. When firms report export prices
f.o.b. (free on board), production point information is collected which
enables the Bureau to calculate a shipment cost to the port o f exportation.

An attempt is made to collect two prices for imports. The first is the import
price f.o.b. at the foreign port o f exportation, which is consistent with the
basis for valuation o f imports in the national accounts. The second is the
import price c .i.f. (cost, insurance, and freight) at the U .S. port o f impor­
tation, which also includes the other costs associated with bringing the
product to the U .S. border. It does not, however, include duty charges.

Additional sources of information
For a discussion o f the general method o f computing International Price
Indexes, see bls H a n d b o o k o f M e th o d s , Bulletin 2134-1 (Bureau o f Labor
Statistics, 1982), chapter 8.
Additional detailed data and analyses o f international price develop­
ments are presented in the Bureau’s quarterly publication U .S. Im p o rt a n d
E x p o rt P ric e In d e x e s and in occasional M o n th ly L a b o r R e v ie w articles
prepared by bls analysts. Selected historical data may be found in the
H a n d b o o k o f L a b o r S ta tistic s , Bulletin 2217 (Bureau o f Labor Statistics,
1985).

PRODUCTIVITY DATA
(Tables 2; 42-47)
U. S. productivity and related data
Description of the series
The productivity measures relate real physical output to real input. As
such, they encompass a family of measures which include single factor
input measures, such as output per unit of labor input (output per hour) or
output per unit o f capital input, as well as measures o f multifactor produc­
tivity (output per unit o f labor and capital inputs combined). The Bureau
indexes show the change in output relative to changes in the various inputs.
The measures cover the business, nonfarm business, manufacturing, and
nonfinancial corporate sectors.
Corresponding indexes o f hourly compensation, unit labor costs, unit
nonlabor payments, and prices are also provided.

Definitions
Output per hour of all persons (labor productivity) is the value of
goods and services in constant prices produced per hour o f labor input.
Output per unit of capital services (capital productivity) is the value of
goods and services in constant dollars produced per unit o f capital services
input.

Multifactor productivity is the ratio output per unit o f labor and capital
inputs combined. Changes in this measure reflect changes in a number of
factors which affect the production process such as changes in technology,
shifts in the composition of the labor force, changes in capacity utilization,
research and development, skill and efforts o f the work force, manage­
ment, and so forth. Changes in the output per hour measures reflect the
impact o f these factors as well as the substitution of capital for labor.
Compensation per hour is the wages and salaries o f employees plus
employers’ contributions for social insurance and private benefit plans, and
the wages, salaries, and supplementary payments for the self-employed
(except for nonfinancial corporations in which there are no selfemployed)— the sum divided by hours paid for. Real compensation per
hour is compensation per hour deflated by the change in the Consumer
Price Index for All Urban Consumers.
Unit labor costs are the labor compensation costs expended in the
production o f a unit o f output and are derived by dividing compensation by
output. Unit nonlabor payments include profits, depreciation, interest,
and indirect taxes per unit o f output. They are computed by subtracting
compensation o f all persons from current dollar value o f output and divid­
ing by output. Unit nonlabor costs contain all the components o f unit
nonlabor payments e x c e p t unit profits.


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Unit profits include corporate profits and the value o f inventory adjust­
ments per unit of output.
Hours of all persons are the total hours paid o f payroll workers, selfemployed persons, and unpaid family workers.
Capital services is the flow o f services from the capital stock used in
production. It is developed from measures o f the net stock o f physical
assets— equipment, structures, land, and inventories— weighted by rental
prices for each type o f asset.
Labor and capital inputs combined are derived by combining changes
in labor and capital inputs with weights which represent each component’s
share o f total output. The indexes for capital services and combined units
of labor and capital are based on changing weights which are averages o f
the shares in the current and preceding year (the Tomquist index-number
formula).

Notes on the data
Output measures for the business sector and the nonfarm businesss sector
exclude the constant dollar value o f owner-occupied housing, rest o f world,
households and institutions, and general government output from the con­
stant dollar value o f gross national product. The measures are derived from
data supplied by the Bureau o f Economic Analysis, U .S. Department o f
Commerce, and the Federal Reserve Board. Quarterly manufacturing out­
put indexes are adjusted by the Bureau of Labor Statistics to annual esti­
mates o f output (gross product originating) from the Bureau o f Economic
Analysis. Compensation and hours data are developed from data o f the
Bureau o f Labor Statistics and the Bureau o f Economic Analysis.
The productivity and associated cost measures in tables 4 2 -4 4 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 o f goods and services produced per unit o f input.
Although these measures relate output to hours and capital services, they
do not measure the contributions o f labor, capital, or any other specific
factor o f production. Rather, they reflect the joint effect o f many influ­
ences, including changes in technology; capital investment; level o f output;
utilization of capacity, energy, and materials; the organization o f produc­
tion; managerial skill; and the characteristics and efforts o f the work force.

Additional sources of information
Descriptions o f methodology underlying the measurement o f output per
hour and multifactor productivity are found in the bls H a n d b o o k o f M e th ­
o d s , Bulletin 2134-1 (Bureau o f Labor Statistics, 1982), chapter 13. His­
torical data for selected industries are provided in the Bureau’s H a n d b o o k
o f L a b o r S ta tis tic s , 1985, Bulletin 2217.

69

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW

June 1987 •

Current Labor Statistics

INTERNATIONAL COMPARISONS
(Tables 45-47)
Labor force and unemployment
Description of the series
Tables 45 and 46 present comparative measures o f the labor force,
employment, and unemployment— approximating U .S. concepts— for the
United States, Canada, Australia, Japan, and six European countries. The
unemployment statistics (and, to a lesser extent, employment statistics)
published by other industrial countries are not, in most cases, comparable
to U .S . unemployment statistics. Therefore, the Bureau adjusts the figures
for selected countries, where necessary, for all known major definitional
differences. Although precise comparability may not be achieved, these
adjusted figures provide a better basis for international comparisons than
the figures regularly published by each country.

Definitions
For the principal U .S. definitions o f the labor force, employment, and
unemployment, see the Notes section on EMPLOYMENT DATA: House­
hold Survey Data.

Notes on the data
The adjusted statistics have been adapted to the age at which compulsory
schooling ends in each country, rather than to the U .S. standard o f 16 years
o f age and over. Therefore, the adjusted statistics relate to the population
age 16 and over in France, Sweden, and from 1973 onward, the United
Kingdom; 16 and over in Canada, Australia, Japan, Germany, the Nether­
lands, and prior to 1973, the United Kingdom; and 14 and over in Italy. The
institutional population is included in the denominator of the labor force
participation rates and employment-population ratios for Japan and Ger­
many; it is excluded for the United States and the other countries.
In the U .S. labor force survey, persons on layoff who are awaiting recall
to their job are classified as unemployed. European and Japanese layoff
practices are quite different in nature from those in the United States;
therefore, strict application o f the U .S. definition has not been made on this
point. For further information, see M o n th ly L a b o r R e v ie w , December
1981, pp. 8 -1 1 .
The figures for one or more recent years for France, Germany, Italy, the
Netherlands, and the United Kingdom are calculated using adjustment
factors based on labor force surveys for earlier years and are considered
preliminary. The recent-year measures for these countries are, therefore,
subject to revision whenever data from more current labor force surveys
become available.

Additional sources of information
For further information, see In te rn a tio n a l C o m p a riso n s o f U n em p lo y­
m e n t, Bulletin 1979 (Bureau o f Labor Statistics, 1978), Appendix B and

unpublished Supplements to Appendix B available on request. The statis­
tics are also analyzed periodically in the M o n th ly L a b o r R e v ie w . Additional
historical data, generally beginning with 1959, are published in the H a n d ­
b o o k o f L a b o r S ta tistic s and are available in unpublished statistical supple­
ments to Bulletin 1979.

Manufacturing productivity and labor costs
Description of the series
Table 47 presents comparative measures o f manufacturing labor produc­
tivity, hourly compensation costs, and unit labor costs for the United

70


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States, Canada, Japan, and nine European countries. These measures are
limited to trend comparisons— that is, intercountry series o f changes over
time— rather than level comparisons because reliable international com­
parisons of the levels o f manufacturing output are unavailable.

Definitions
Output is constant value output (value added), generally taken from the
national accounts of each country. While the national accounting methods
for measuring real output differ considerably among the 12 countries, the
use of different procedures does not, in itself, connote lack o f comparabil­
ity— rather, it reflects differences among countries in the availability and
reliability of underlying data series.
Hours refer to all employed persons including the self-employed in the
United States and Canada; to all wage and salary employees in the other
countries. The U .S. hours measure is hours paid; the hours measures for the
other countries are hours worked.
Compensation (labor cost) includes all payments in cash or kind made
directly to employees plus employer expenditures for legally required in­
surance programs and contractual and private benefit plans. In addition, for
some countries, compensation is adjusted for other significant taxes on
payrolls or employment (or reduced to reflect subsidies), even if they are
not for the direct benefit o f workers, because such taxes are regarded as
labor costs. However, compensation does not include all items o f labor
cost. The costs o f recruitment, employee training, and plant facilities and
services— such as cafeterias and medical clinics— are not covered because
data are not available for most countries. Self-employed workers are in­
cluded in the U .S. and Canadian compensation figures by assuming that
their hourly compensation is equal to the average for wage and salary
employees.

Notes on the data
For most o f the countries, the measures refer to total manufacturing as
defined by the International Standard Industrial Classification. However,
the measures for France (beginning 1959), Italy (beginning 1970), and the
United Kingdom (beginning 1971), refer to manufacturing and mining less
energy-related products and the figures for the Netherlands exclude
petroleum refining from 1969 to 1976. For all countries, manufacturing
includes the activities o f government enterprises.
The figures for one or more recent years are generally based on current
indicators of manufacturing output, employment, hours, and hourly com­
pensation and are considered preliminary until the national accounts and
other statistics used for the long-term measures become available.

Additional sources of information
For additional information, see the b l s H a n d b o o k o f M e th o d s , Bulletin
2134-1 (Bureau o f Labor Statistics, 1982), chapter 16 and periodic M o n th ly
L a b o r R e v ie w articles. Historical data are provided in the Bureau’s H a n d ­
b o o k o f L a b o r S ta tis tic s , Bulletin 2217, 1985. The statistics are issued
twice per year— in a news release (generally in May) and in a M o n th ly
L a b o r R e v ie w article (generally in December).

OCCUPATIONAL INJURY AND ILLNESS DATA
(Table 48)
Description of the series
The Annual Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses is designed to
collect data on injuries and illnesses based on records which employers in
the following industries maintain under the Occupational Safety and Health
Act o f 1970: agriculture, forestry, and fishing; oil and gas extraction;
construction; manufacturing; transportation and public utilities; wholesale
and retail trade; finance, insurance, and real estate; and services. Excluded
from the survey are self-employed individuals, farmers with fewer than 11
employees, employers regulated by other Federal safety and health laws,
and Federal, State, and local government agencies.
Because the survey is a Federal-State cooperative program and the data
must meet the needs o f participating State agencies, an independent sam­
ple is selected for each State. The sample is selected to represent all pri­
vate industries in the States and territories. The sample size for the
survey is dependent upon (1) the characteristics for which estimates are
needed; (2) the industries for which estimates are desired; (3) the charac­
teristics o f the population being sampled; (4) the target reliability o f the
estimates; and (5) the survey design employed.
While there are many characteristics upon which the sample design could
be based, the total recorded case incidence rate is used because it is one of
the most important characteristics and the least variable; therefore, it re­
quires the smallest sample size.
The survey is based on stratified random sampling with a Neyman
allocation and a ratio estimator. The characteristics used to stratify the
establishments are the Standard Industrial Classification (sic) code and size
o f employment.

Definitions
Recordable occupational injuries and illnesses are: (1) occupational
deaths, regardless o f the time between injury and death, or the length of the
illness; or (2) nonfatal occupational illnesses; or (3) nonfatal occupational
injuries which involve one or more o f the following: loss o f consciousness,
restriction o f work or motion, transfer to another job, or medical treatment
(other than first aid).
Occupational injury is any injury such as a cut, fracture, sprain, ampu­
tation, and so forth, which results from a work accident or from exposure
involving a single incident in the work environment.
Occupational illness is an abnormal condition or disorder, other than
one resulting from an occupational injury, caused by exposure to environ­
mental factors associated with employment. It includes acute and chronic
illnesses or disease which may be caused by inhalation, absorption, inges­
tion, or direct contact.
Lost workday cases are cases which involve days away from work, or
days o f restricted work activity, or both.
Lost workday cases involving restricted work activity are those cases
which result in restricted work activity only.
Lost workdays away from work are the number o f workdays (consec­
utive or not) on which the employee would have worked but could not
because o f occupational injury or illness.
Lost workdays— restricted work activity are the number o f workdays
(consecutive or not) on which, because o f injury or illness: (1) the em­
ployee was assigned to another job on a temporary basis; or (2) the em­


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ployee worked at a permanent job less than full time; or (3) the employee
worked at a permanently assigned job but could not perform all duties
normally connected with it.

The number of days away from work or days of restricted work
activity does not include the day of injury or onset of illness or any days
on which the employee would not have worked even though able to work.
Incidence rates represent the number o f injuries and/or illnesses or lost
workdays per 100 full-time workers.

Notes on the data
Estimates are made for industries and employment-size classes and for
severity classification: fatalities, lost workday cases, and nonfatal cases
without lost workdays. Lost workday cases are separated into those where
the employee would have worked but could not and those in which work
activity was restricted. Estimates o f the number o f cases and the number o f
days lost are made for both categories.
Most o f the estimates are in the form of incidence rates, defined as the
number of injuries and illnesses, or lost workdays, per 100 full-time em­
ployees. For this purpose, 200,000 employee hours represent 100 em­
ployee years (2,000 hours per employee). Only a few o f the available
measures are included in the H a n d b o o k o f L a b o r S ta tistic s . Full detail is
presented in the annual bulletin, O c c u p a tio n a l In ju rie s a n d Illn e sse s in the
U n ited S ta tes, b y I n d u s tr y .

Comparable data for individual States are available from the bls Office
o f Occupational Safety and Health Statistics.
Mining and railroad data are furnished to bls by the Mine Safety and
Health Administration and the Federal Railroad Administration, respec­
tively. Data from these organizations are included in bls and State publica­
tions. Federal employee experience is compiled and published by the Occu­
pational Safety and Health Administration. Data on State and local
government employees are collected by about half o f the States and territo­
ries; these data are not compiled nationally.

Additional sources of information
The Supplementary Data System provides detailed information describ­
ing various factors associated with work-related injuries and illnesses.
These data are obtained from information reported by em p lo yers to State
workers’ compensation agencies. The Work Injury Report program exam­
ines selected types of accidents through an employee survey which focuses
on the circumstances surrounding the injury. These data are not included
in the H a n d b o o k o f L a b o r S ta tistics but are available from the bls Office
o f Occupational Safety and Health Statistics.
The definitions o f occupational injuries and illnesses and lost workdays
are from R eco rd ke ep in g R eq u ire m e n ts un d er the O c c u p a tio n a l S a fe ty a n d
H e a lth A c t o f 1 9 7 0 . For additional data, see O c c u p a tio n a l In ju rie s a n d
Illn e sse s in the U n ited S ta tes, b y In d u s tr y , annual Bureau o f Labor
Statistics bulletin; bls H a n d b o o k o f M e th o d s , Bulletin 2134-1 (Bureau o f
Labor Statistics, 1982), chapter 17; H a n d b o o k o f L a b o r S ta tis tic s , Bulletin
2217 (Bureau o f Labor Statistics, 1985), pp. 411-14; annual reports in the
M o n th ly L a b o r R e v ie w , and annual U .S. Department o f Labor press
releases.

71

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW

June 1987 •

Current Labor Statistics:

Comparative Indicators

1. Labor market indicators
1985

I

IV

III

II

I

IV

III

II

1987

1986

1985
Selected Indicators

Employment data
Employment status of the civilian noninstitutionalized population
(household survey)1
Labor force participation r a te ...........................................................
Employment-population ratio............................................................
Unemployment r a t e .........................................................................—
M e n ..............................................- ....................................................
16 to 24 years ...............................................................................
25 years and o v e r.........................................................................
Women ..............................................................................................
16 to 24 y e a rs ...............................................................................
25 years and o v e r........................................................................
Unemployment rate, 15 weeks and o v e r....................................

64.7
60.1
7.2
7.0
14.0
5.3
7.4
12.9
5.9
2.0

64.9
60.3
7.1
6.9
14.2
5.2
7.3
13.1
5.6
1.9

65.1
60.5
7.1
6.9
13.5
5.3
7.3
13.1
5.7
1.9

65.2
60.6
7.1
7.0
14.2
5.3
7.2
13.1
5.7
1.9

65.3
60.8
6.9
6.9
13.7
5.4
6.9
12.6
5.4
1.9

65.4
60.9
6.9
6.9
13.4
5.4
6.8
12.5
5.3
1.8

65.5
61.1
6.7
6.7
13.4
5.2
6.6
12.6
5.1
1.8

2.0

5.5
1.9

64.7
60.0
7.2
7.0
14.0
5.3
7.5
12.9
6.0
2.0

Total .........................
Private sector ......
Goods-producing ..
Manufacturing ....
Service-producing

97,614
81,199
24,930
19,314
72,684

100,167
83,432
24,938
19,186
75,229

97,295
80,958
24,947
19,323
72,347

97,897
81,414
24,866
19,241
73,031

98,668
82,069
24,937
19,261
73,731

99,403
82,731
25,028
19,284
74,375

99,848
83,144
24,952
19,194
74,896

100,316
83,650
24,872
19,116
75,444

101,072
84,176
24,892
19,153
76,180

101,830
84,903
25,017
19,196
76,813

Average hours:
Private sec to r......
Manufacturing .
Overtim e........

34.9
40.5
3.3

34.8
40.7
3.4

34.9
40.4
3.2

34.9
40.6
3.3

34.9
40.8
3.5

34.9
40.7
3.4

34.8
40.7
3.4

34.7
40.7
3.5

34.7
40.8
3.5

34.9
41.1
3.6

Percent change in the ECI, compensation:
All workers (excluding farm, household, and Federal workers)
Private Industry workers ..............................................................
Goods-producing2 .....................................................................
Service-producing2 ...................................................................
State and local government workers.........................................

.7
.8
.7
1.0
.2

1.6
1.3
.6
1.8
3.4

.6
.6
.6
.5
.7

1.1
1.1
1.1
1.1
1.0

.7
.8
.9
.6
.6

1.1
.7
.6
.8
2.8

.6
.6
.5
.6
.8

.9
1.0
.5
1.3
.8

Workers by bargaining status (private industry):
U nion....................................................................
Nonunion .............................................................

.6
1.0

.8
1.4

.5
.6

1.0
1.2

.2
.9

.5
.8

.3
.7

.5
1.1

64.8
60.1
7.2
7.0
14.1
5.3
7.4
13.0
5.9

65.3
60.7
7.0
6.9
13.7
5.4
7.1

12.8

Employment, nonagricultural (payroll data), in thousands:1

Employment Cost Index

Quarterly data seasonally adjusted.
Goods-producing industries include mining, construction, and manufacturing. Service-

72


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

producing industries include all other private sector industries

2.

Annual and quarterly percent changes in compensation, prices, and productivity
1985

1987

1986

1985
Selected measures

1986
II

III

IV

II

I

IV

III

I

Compensation data 1, 2
Employment Cost Index-compensation (wages, salaries,
benefits):
Civilian nonfarm ...........................................................................
Private nonfarm .........................................................................
Employment Cost Index-wages and salaries
Civilian nonfarm ...........................................................................
Private nonfarm ..........................................................................

4.3
3.9

3.6
3.2

0.7
.8

1.6
1.3

0.6
.6

1.1
1.1

0.7
.8

1.1
.7

0.6
.6

0.9
1.0

4.4
4.1

3.5
3.1

.9
1.1

1.7
1.3

.6
.6

1.0
1.0

.8
.9

1.1
.7

.6
.5

1.0
1.0

3.8

1.1

1.0

.7

.9

- .4

.6

.7

.3

1.4

Price data1
Consumer Price Index (All urban consumers): All item s......

Producer Price Index:
Finished goods.............................................................................
Finished consumer goods........................................................
Capital equipment .....................................................................
Intermediate materials, supplies, components ......................
Crude materials...........................................................................

1.8
1.5
2.7
-.3
-5.6

.7
.7
.4
.2
-2.1

-2.3
-3.6
2.1
-4.4
-9.0

-1.4
-1.4
-1.4
-.5
-4.5

2.5
2.5
2.5
.4
4.3

-3.1
-4.1
.2
-2.9
-7.6

-.7
-.7
-.7
-.2
-.5

.5
.4
.6
-.9
-1.5

1.1
.8
2.0
-.4
.6

.7
.8
.1
1.4
3.9

Productivity data3
Output per hour of all persons:
Business sector.........................................................................
Nonfarm business sec to r.........................................................
Nonfinancial corporations 4 ......................................................

.7
.7
.1

1.0
.5
1.2

2.7
1.8
2.2

1 Annual changes are December-to-December change. Quarterly changes
are calculated using the last month of each quarter. Compensation and price
data are not seasonally adjusted and the price data are not compounded.
2 Excludes Federal and private household workers.
3 Annual rates of change are computed by comparing annual averages.

3.

3.4
2.2
4.9

-3.2
-3.5
-2.8

3.3
4.3
-.5

.5
.5
-.3

-.4
-.3
.2

-2.0
-1.5
1.4

1.8
1.7
0

Quarterly percent changes reflect annual rates of change in quarterly indexes. The data are seasonally adjusted.
4 Output per hour of all employees.

Alternative measures of wage and compensation changes
Four quarters ended-

Quarterly average
Components

1986

1985
IV

II

I

III

IV

1987

1985

I

IV

1987

1986
I

III

II

IV

I

Average hourly compensation:1
3.8
3.7

2.5
3.1

2.8
2.3

2.9
2.3

2.0
2.7

0.4
.1

4.4
3.9

3.9
3.6

3.4
3.1

3.0
2.8

2.6
2.6

2.0
1.8

.6
.6
.5
.6
.7

1.1
1.1
1.0
1.2
1.0

.7
.8
.2
.9
.6

1.1
.7
.5
.8
2.8

.6
.6
.3
.7
.8

.9
1.0
.5
1.1
.8

4.3
3.9
2.6
4.6
5.7

4.1
3.8
2.9
4.2
5.5

4.0
3.8
2.5
4.2
5.8

3.6
3.2
2.3
3.5
5.2

3.6
3.2
2.1
3.6
5.2

3.4
3.1
1.6
3.6
5.0

.6
.6
.5
.6
.8
.5
.1
.2
.1

1.0
1.0
.7
1.1
1.0
.6
(4)
.4
.2

.8
.9
.4
.9
.4
.7
.2
.6

1.1
.7
.6
.7
3.2
.5
.1
.5
(4)

.6
.5
.2
.7
.7
.5
.2
.2
.1

1.0
1.0
.4
1.2
.8
.4
(4)
.3
.1

4.4
4.1
3.1
4.6
5.6
3.3
.7
1.8
.7

4.2
3.9
3.2
4.3
5.5
3.1
.6
1.7
.8

4.1
3.7
2.5
4.1
5.7
2.9
.5
1.8
.7

3.5
3.1
2.3
3.4
5.4
2.3
.5
1.6
.2

3.5
3.1
2.0
3.5
5.4
2.3
.5
1.7
.2

3.5
3.2
1.7
3.5
5.2
2.0
.4
1.5
.1

2.1
1.9

.8
1.5

1.3
2.0

.8
1.5

2.0
2.1

.9
1.7

2.3
2.7

2.0
2.5

1.6
2.2

1.2
1.7

1.2
1.8

1.2
1.8

2.0
1.4

.6
1.2

.7
1.6

.7
1.2

2.7
2.4

1.7
2.4

2.6
2.7

2.3
2.5

1.4
2.0

.9
1.4

1.1
1.6

1.2
1.7

Employment Cost Index-compensation:

Employment Cost Index-wages and salaries:

(4)

Negotiated wage adjustments from settlements:3

Negotiated wage and benefit adjustments from settlements:5

1 Seasonally adjusted.
2 Excludes Federal and household workers.
3 Limited to major collective bargaining units of 1,000 workers or more. The
most recent data are preliminary.


https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

4 Data round to zero.
5 Limited to major collective bargaining units of 5,000 workers or more. The
most recent data are preliminary.

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
4.

June 1987 •

Current Labor Statistics:

Employment Data

Employment status of the total population, by sex, monthly data seasonally adjusted

(Numbers in thousands)
Annual average

1986

1987

Employment status
1985

1986

179,912
117,167
65.1
108,856

182,293
119,540
65.6
111,303

60.5
1,706
107,150
3,179
103,971
8,312
7.1
62,744

Apr.

May

June

July

181,843
118,987
65.4
110,664

181,998
119,274
65.5
110,852

182,183
119,685
65.7
111,293

182,354
119,789
65.7
111,559

182,525
119,821
65.6
111,764

182,713
119,988
65.7
111,703

182,935
120,163
65.7
111,941

183,114
120,426
65.8
112,183

183,297
120,336
65.7
112,387

61.1
1,706
109,597
3,163
106,434
8,237
6.9
62,752

60.9
1,695
108,969
3,199
105,770
8,323
7.0
62,856

60.9
1,687
109,165
3,151
106,014
8,422
7.1
62,724

61.1
1,680
109,613
3,164
106,449
8,392
7.0
62,498

61.2
1,672
109,887
3,124
106,763
8,230
6.9
62,565

61.2
1,697
110,067
3,057
107,010
8,057
6.7
62,704

61.1
1,716
109,987
3,142
106,845
8,285
6.9
62,725

61.2
1,749
110,192
3,162
107,030
8,222
6.8
62,772

61.3
1,751
110,432
3,215
107,217
8,243
6.8
62,688

86,025
65,967
76.7
61,447

87,349
66,973
76.7
62,443

87,120
66,770
76.6
62,253

87,195
66,854
76.7
62,201

87,288
66,937
76.7
62,318

87,373
66,968
76.6
62,402

87,460
66,911
76.5
62,483

87,556
67,128
76.7
62,528

87,682
67,130
76.6
62,565

71.4
1,556
59,891
4,521
6.9

71.5
1,551
60,892
4,530
6.8

71.5
1,541
60,712
4,517
6.8

71.3
1,533
60,668
4,653
7.0

71.4
1,525
60,793
4,619
6.9

71.4
1,518
60,884
4,566
6.8

71.4
1,541
60,942
4,428
6.6

71.4
1,560
60,968
4,600
6.9

93,886
51,200
54.5
47,409

94,944
52,568
55.4
48,861

94,723
52,217
55.1
48,411

94,803
52,420
55.3
48,651

94,895
52,748
55.6
48,975

94,981
52,821
55.6
49,157

95,065
52,910
55.7
49,281

50.5
150
47,259
3,791
7.4

51.5
155
48,706
3,707
7.1

51.1
154
48,257
3,806
7.3

51.3
154
48,497
3,769
7.2

51.6
155
48,820
3,773
7.2

51.8
154
49,003
3,664
6.9

51.8
156
49,125
3,629
6.9

Aug.

Sept.

Oct.

Nov.

Dec.

Jan.

Feb.

Mar.

Apr.

183,575
120,782
65.8
112,759

183,738
121,089
65.9
113,122

183,915
120,958
65.8
113,104

184,079
121,070
65.8
113,570

61.3
1,750
110,637
3,161
107,476
7,949
6.6
62,961

61.4
1,748
111,011
3,145
107,866
8,023
6.6
62,793

61.6
1,740
111,382
3,236
108,146
7,967
6.6
62,649

61.5
1,736
111,368
3,284
108,084
7,854
6.5
62,957

61.7
1,735
111,835
3,290
108,545
7,500
6.2
63,009

87,773
67,407
76.8
62,833

87,868
67,425
76.7
62,986

88,020
67,672
76.9
63,187

88,099
67,764
76.9
63,335

88,186
67,644
76.7
63,282

88,271
67,603
76.6
63,417

71.4
1,590
60,975
4,565
6.8

71.6
1,592
61,241
4,574
6.8

71.7
1,593
61,393
4,439
6.6

71.8
1,591
61,596
4,484
6.6

71.9
1,584
61,751
4,429
6.5

71.8
1,575
61,707
4,362
6.4

71.8
1,575
61,842
4,186
6.2

95,156
52,860
55.6
49,175

95,253
53,033
55.7
49,376

95,341
53,019
55.6
49,350

95,429
52,911
55.4
49,401

95,556
53,110
55.6
49,572

95,639
53,325
55.8
49,787

95,729
53,314
55.7
49,822

95,808
53,467
55.8
50,153

51.7
156
49,019
3,685
7.0

51.8
159
49,217
3,657
6.9

51.8
159
49,191
3,669
6.9

51.8
157
49,244
3,510
6.6

51.9
157
49,415
3,538
6.7

52.1
156
49,631
3,538
6.6

52.0
161
49,661
3,492
6.6

52.3
160
49,993
3,314
6.2

TOTAL
Noninstitutional population ’, 2 .......
Labor force2 .....................................
Participation rate 3 ..................
Total employed 2 ..........................
Employment-population
ratio 4 ......................................
Resident Armed Forces 1 .......
Civilian employed ......................
Agriculture ...............................
Nonagricultural industries.....
Unemployed..................................
Unemployment rate 5 ............
Not in labor force ...........................

Men, 16 years and over
Noninstitutional population 2 .......
Labor force2 .....................................
Participation rate 3 ..................
Total employed 2 ..........................
Employment-population
ratio 4 ......................................
Resident Armed Forces ' .......
Civilian employed ......................
Unemployed..................................
Unemployment rate 5 ............

Women, 16 years and over
Noninstitutional population ’, 2 .......
Labor force2 .....................................
Participation rate 3 ..................
Total employed2 ...........................
Employment-population
ratio 4 ......................................
Resident Armed Forces 1 .......
Civilian em ployed......................
Unemployed..................................
Unemployment rate 5 ............

The population and Armed Forces figures are not adjusted for seasonal variation.
Includes members of the Armed Forces stationed in the United States.
Labor force as a percent of the noninstitutional population.

74 FRASER
Digitized for
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

4 Total employed as a percent of the noninstitutional population.
5 Unemployment as a percent of the labor force (including
Forces).

the resident Armed

adjusted°yment StatUS ° Ÿ the Clv,,lan poPu,atlon’ bV sex, age, race and Hispanic origin, monthly data seasonally
(Numbers in thousands)
Annua I average

1986

Employment status

1987

1985

1986

Apr.

May

June

July

Aug.

Sept.

Oct.

Nov.

Dec.

Jan.

Feb.

Mar.

Apr.

178,20 6
115,46
64. 9
107,15 3

180,58 7
117,83 4
65. 3
109,59 7

180,14 8
117,29 2
65.
108,96 9

180,31
117,58 7
65. 2
109,16 5

180,50 3
118,00 5
65. 4
109,61 3

180,68 2
118,11 7
65. 4
109,88 7

180,82 8
118,12 4
65. 3
110,06 7

180,99 7
118,27 2
65. 3
109,98 7

181,18 6
118,41 4
65. 4
110,19 2

181,363
118,67 5
65. 4
110,43 2

181,54 7
118,58 S
65. 3
110,63 7

181,82 7
119,03 4
65. 5
111,01

181,99 8
119,34 9
65. 5
111,38 2

182,179
119,222
65 4
111,368

182 344
119 335
111,835

60.
8,31
62,74'

60.
8,23
7.(
62,75.

60. 5
8,32
7.
62,85

60. 5
8,42 2
7.
62,72'

60. 7
8,39 2
7.
62,49

60. 3
8,23 3
7.
62,56

60. 3
8,05
6.
62,70'

60.
8,28
7.
62,72,

60. 3
8,22 2
6.
62,77

60. 3
8,24
6.
62,68

60. 3
7,94 3
6. 7
62,96

61.
8,02 3
6. 7
62,79

61. 2
7,96 7
6.
62,64

61
7,85 4
6 B
62,95 7

61 3
7,500
63
63,009

77,19Î
60,277
78.1
56,56k:

78,523
61,32C
78.1
57.56E

78.30E
61,08(
78.C
57,392

78,38'
61,158
78.C
57,338

78,48'
61,338
78.1
57,522

78,588
61,35i
78.1
57,544

78,63'
61,218
77.8
57,588

78,722
61,412
78.C
57,607

78,802
61.40S
77.S
57,59£

78,87'
61,702
78.2
57,882

78,972
61,82f
78.2
58,101

79,132
61,946
78.2
58,22'

79,216
61,972
78
58,32£

79 302
61,982
78
58,416

73.3
2,278
54,284
3,715
6.2

73.3
2,292
55,277
3,751
6.1

73.C
2,31 S
55,073
3,688
6.0

73.1
2.27S
55.05S
3,820
6.2

73.C
2,308
55,213
3,808
6.2

73.2
2,278
55,269
3,811
6.2

73.2
2,188
55.40C
3,634
5.9

73.2
2,286
55,321
3,805
6.2

73.1
2,297
55,298
3,814
6.2

73.4
2,302
55.58C
3,820
6.2

73.6
2.28S
55,812
3,725
6.0

73.6
2,254
55,974
3,720
6.0

73.6
2,300
56,024
3,648
5.9

73
2 411
55,99S
3,572
5.8

56 155
3 409
5.5

86,506
47,283
54.7
44,154

87,567
48,589
55.5
45,556

87,355
48,181
55.2
45,094

87,444
48,433
55.4
45,335

87,547
48,739
55.7
45,657

87,629
48,879
55.8
45,869

87,689
48,950
55.8
45,956

87,779
48,920
55.7
45,905

87,856
49,014
55.8
46,020

87,933
49,043
55.8
46,067

88,016
48,923
55.6
46,058

88,150
49,161
55.8
46,261

88,237
49,348
55.9
46,475

88 321
49,355
55.9
46,498

49 466
56.0
46,751

51.0
596
43,558

52.0
614
44,943
3,032
6.2

51.6
585
44,509
3,087
6.4

51.8
604
44,731
3,098
6.4

52.2
583
45,074
3,082
6.3

52.3
607
45,262
3,010
6.2

52.4
622
45,334
2,994
6.1

52.3
614
45,291
3,015
6.2

52.4
612
45,408
2,994
6.1

52.4
675
45,392
2,976
6.1

52.3
621
45,437
2,865
5.9

52.5
628
45,633
2,900
5.9

52.7
641
45,835
2,873
5.8

45,909
2^857
5.8

46 164
2,715
5.5

54.5
6,434

14,496
7,926
54.7
6,472

14,484
8,031
55.4
6,483

14,480
7,996
55.2
6,492

14,472
7,936
54.8
6,434

14,467
7,883
54.5
6,474

14,505
7,955
54.8
6,526

14,496
7,940
54.8
6,475

14,527
7,991
55.0
6,577

14,557
7,929
54.5
6,482

14,558
7,837
53.8
6,478

14,545
7,926
54.5
6,524

14,546
8,028
55.2
6,582

14,555
7,884
54.2
6,460

7,894
54.2
6,518

44.4
305
6,129
1,468
18.6

44.6
258
6,215
1,454
18.3

44.8
295
6,188
1,548
19.3

44.8
268
6,224
1,504
18.8

44.5
272
6,162
1,502
18.9

44.8
242
6,232
1,409
17.9

45.0
250
6,276
1,429
18.0

44.7
242
6,233
1,465
18.5

45.3
253
6,324
1,414
17.7

44.5
237
6,245
1,447
18.2

44.5
251
6,227
1,359
17.3

44.9
264
6,260
1,402
17.7

45.2
295
6,287
1,446
18.0

44 4
284
6,176
1,424
18.1

292
6,226
1,376
17.4

153,679
99,926
65.0
93,736

155,432
101,801
65.5
95,660

155,122
101,237
65.3
95,095

155,236
101,531
65.4
95,283

155,376
101,946
65.6
95,720

155,502
102,015
65.6
95,861

155,604
102,122
65.6
96,177

155,723
102,158
65.6
96,000

155,856
102,297
65.6
96,147

155,979
102,455
65.7
96,281

156,111
102,503
65.7
96,533

156,313
102,746
65.7
96,717

156,431
102,893
65.8
96,995

156,561
102,797
65.7
96,998

156,676
102,894
65.7
97,340

61.0
6,191
6.2

61.5
6,140
6.0

61.3
6,142
6.1

61.4
6,248
6.2

61.6
6,226
6.1

61.6
6,154
6.0

61.8
5,945
5.8

61.6
6,158
6.0

61:7
6,150
6.0

61.7
6,174
6.0

61.8
5,970
5.8

61.9
6,029
5.9

62.0
5,898
5.7

62.0
5,799
5.6

62.1
5,554
5.4

19,664
12,364
62.9
10,501

19,989
12,654
63.3
10,814

19,916
12,687
63.7
10,809

19,943
12,721
63.8
10,839

19,974
12,712
63.6
10,818

20,002
12,611
63.0
10,822

20,028
12,553
62.7
10,716

20,056
12,652
63.1
10,799

20,089
12,720
63.3
10,895

20,120
12,719
63.2
10,910

20,152
12,707
63.1
10,968

20,187
12,831
63.6
10,997

20,218
12,957
64.1
11,101

20,249
12,844
63.4
11,053

20,279
12,743
62.8
11,090

53.4
1,864
15.1

54.1
1,840
14.5

54.3
1,878
14.8

54.3
1,882
14.8

54.2
1,894
14.9

54.1
1,789
14.2

53.5
1,837
14.6

53.8
1,853
14.6

54.2
1,825
14.3

54.2
1,809
14.2

54.4
1,739
13.7

54.5
1,833
14.3

54.9
1,855
14.3

54.6
1,791
13.9

54.7
1,653
13.0

TOTAL
Civilian noninstitutional
population1 ..............................
Civilian labor force.................
Participation rate ..........
Employed.............................
Employment-population
ratio2 ..............................
Unemployed.........................
Unemployment ra te ......
Not in labor force ..................

.

7.4

85 4

Men, 20 years and over
Civilian noninstitutional
population1 ..............................
Civilian labor force.................
Participation rate ..........
Employed..............................
Employment-population
ratio2 ...............................
Agriculture..........................
Nonagricultural industries .
Unemployed..........................
Unemployment ra te .......

79 387

61 976
58,567
73 8

Women, 20 years ond over
Civilian noninstitutional
population1 .............................
Civilian labor force................
Participation rate .........
Employed ............................
Employment-population
ratio2 .............................
Agriculture........................
Nonagricultural industries
Unemployed........................
Unemployment ra te ......

6.6

52 6

5? 9

589

Both sexes, 16 to 19 years
Civilian noninstitutional

1

population ..........................
Civilian labor force................
Participation rate .........
Employed............................
Employment-population
ratio2 .............................
Agriculture........................
Nonagricultural industries
Unemployed........................
Unemployment ra te ......

14,506

White
Civilian noninstitutional
population1 ..............................
Civilian labor force.................
Participation rate ...........
Employed .............................
Employment-population
ratio2 ..............................
Unemployed.........................
Unemployment ra te ......

Black
Civilian noninstitutional
population1 ............................. .
Civilian labor force................
Participation rate ..........
Employed.............................
Employment-population
ratio2 ..............................
Unemployed.........................
Unemployment ra te ......
See footnotes at end of table.


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

75

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW

June 1987 •

Current Labor Statistics:

Employment Data

5. Continued— Employment status of the civilian population, by sex, age, race and Hispanic origin, monthly data seasonally
adjusted
(Numbers in thousands)
Annual average

1986

1985

1986

Apr.

May

June

July

Aug.

11,915
7,698
64.6
6,888

12,344
8,076
65.4
7,219

12,255
7,969
65.0
7,129

12,290
8,006
65.1
7,136

12,326
8,085
65.6
7,224

12,362
8,121
65.7
7,269

12,397
8,130
65.6
7,248

57.8
811
10.5

58.5
857
10.6

58.2
840
10.5

58.1
870
10.9

58.6
861
10.6

58.8
852
10.5

58.5
882
10.8

Employment status

1987
Oct.

Nov.

Dec.

Jan.

Feb.

Mar.

Apr.

12,432
8,179
65.8
7,286

12,469
8,200
65.8
7,345

12,505
8,226
65.8
7,437

12,540
8,320
66.3
7,446

12,653
8,431
66.6
7,538

12,692
8,457
66.6
7,644

12,732
8,392
65.9
7,639

12,770
8,484
66.4
7,701

58.6
893
10.9

58.9
855
10.4

59.5
789
9.6

59.4
874
10.5

59.6
893
10.6

60.2
813
9.6

60.0
753
9.0

60.3
783
9.2

Sept.

Hispanic origin
Civilian noninstitutional

Em ployed......................................
Employment-population
Unemployed..................................
Unemployment ra te ...............

1 The population figures are not seasonally adjusted.
2 Civilian employment as a percent of the civilian noninstitutional population.
NOTE: Detail for the above race and Hispanic-origin groups will not sum to totals

6.

because data for the "other races" groups are not presented and Hispanics are included
in both the white and black population groups.

Selected employment indicators, monthly data seasonally adjusted

(In thousands)
Annual average
Selected categories
1985

1986

Apr.

May

June

July

Aug.

Sept.

Oct.

Nov.

Dec.

Jan.

Feb.

Mar.

Apr.

CHARACTERISTIC
Civilian employed, 16 years and
ove r................................................
M e n .............................................
Women ......................................
Married men, spouse present
Married women, spouse
present.....................................
Women who maintain families

107,150
59,891
47,259
39^248

109,597
60,892
48,706
39,658

108,969
60,712
48,257
39,504

109,165
60,668
48,497
39,582

109,613
60,793
48,820
39,613

109,887
60,884
49,003
39,634

110,067
60,942
49,125
39,735

109,987
60,968
49,019
39,691

110,192
60,975
49,217
39,780

110,432
61,241
49,191
39,952

110,637
61,393
49,244
40,093

111,011
61,596
49,415
40,102

111,382
61,7E>1
49,631
39,913

111,368
61,707
49,661
40,100

111,835
61,842
49,993
39,967

26,336
5^597

27,144
5,837

26,889
5,799

27,016
5,734

27,354
5,719

27,474
5,812

27,388
5,832

27,249
5,926

27,323
6,016

27,333
6,041

27,400
6,005

27,525
5,985

27,817
5,906

27,965
5,933

28,213
5,972

1,535
T458
185

1,547
1,447
169

1,539
1,467
173

1,489
1,472
177

1,508
1,492
163

1,504
1,434
171

1,509
1,387
174

1,521
1,460
159

1,562
1,451
164

1,582
1,425
198

1,621
1,400
152

1,650
1,370
136

1,647
1,454
126

1,739
1,418
150

1,589
1,505
175

95,871
16,031
79,841
1,249
78,592
7,811
289

98,299
16,342
81,957
1,235
80,722
7,881
255

97,858
16,231
81,627
1,309
80,318
7,634
251

98,047
16,333
81,714
1,261
80,453
7,793
235

98,314
16,377
81,937
1,267
80,670
7,832
236

98,312
16,582
81,730
1,241
80,489
8,019
258

98,586
16,446
82,140
1,247
80,893
7,956
271

98,692
16,333
82,359
1,229
81,130
7,939
275

98,846
16,264
82,582
1,216
81,366
7,993
265

98,869
16,457
82,412
1,183
81,229
8,179
252

99,164
16,443
82,721
1,189
81,532
8,056
239

99,550
16,412
83,138
1,269
81,869
8,192
246

99,748
16,532
83,216
1,204
82,012
8,187
255

99,834
16,568
83,265
1,227
82,038
8,050
273

100,112
16,484
83,628
1,266
82,362
8,117
268

5,590
2^430
2,819
13,489

5,588
2,456
2,800
13,935

5,853
2,534
2,922
13,900

5,825
2,605
2,843
13,853

5,538
2,437
2,813
14,142

5,442
2,473
2,661
13,967

5,471
2,417
2,741
13,981

5,544
2,472
2,772
13,922

5,740
2,481
2,826
14,178

5,563
2,510
2,714
14,021

5,596
2,444
2,867
13,877

5,505
2,473
2,695
14,170

5,780
2,535
2,828
14,061

5,456
2,440
2,698
14,167

3,391
2,322
2,746
13,862

5,334
2^273
2,730
13,038

5,345
2,305
2,719
13,502

5,567
2,382
2,806
13,528

5,569
2,485
2,749
13,412

5,322
2,307
2,727
13,613

5,222
2,317
2,609
13,578

5,269
2,283
2,678
13,606

5,303
2,314
2,710
13,520

5,450
2,314
2,739
13,736

5,319
2,366
2,626
13,567

5,342
2,286
2,765
13,455

5,201
2,281
2,599
13,750

5,459
2,340
2,742
13,597

5,164
2,218
2,595
13,682

5,110
2,137
2,662
13,399

MAJOR INDUSTRY AND CLASS
OF WORKER
Agriculture:
Wage and salary w orkers.......
Self-employed workers.............
Unpaid family w orkers..............
Nonagricultural industries:
Wage and salary w orkers.......
Government ............................
Private industries....................
Private households.............
O th e r.....................................
Self-employed workers............
Unpaid family w orkers.............

PERSONS AT WORK
PART TIME’
All industries:
Part time for economic reasons
Slack work .................................
Could only find part-time work
Voluntary part tim e .....................
Nonagricultural industries:
Part time for economic reasons
Slack work .................................
Could only find part-time work
Voluntary part time .....................

Excludes persons “with a job but not at work” during the survey period for such reasons as vacation, illness, or industrial disputes.

76

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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

7.

Selected unemployment indicators, monthly data seasonally adjusted

(Unemployment rates)
1987

1986

Annual average
Selected categories
1985

1986

Apr.

May

June

July

Aug.

Sept.

Oct.

Nov.

Dec.

Jan.

Feb.

Mar.

Apr.

Total, all civilian w o rke rs.............................................
Both sexes, 16 to 19 y e a rs ...................................
Men, 20 years and over ........................................
Women, 20 years and o v e r...................................

7.2
18.6
6.2
6.6

7.0
18.3
6.1
6.2

7.1
19.3
6.0
6.4

7.2
18.8
6.2
6.4

7.1
18.9
6.2
6.3

7.0
17.9
6.2
6.2

6.8
18.0
5.9
6.1

7.0
18.5
6.2
6.2

6.9
17.7
6.2
6.1

6.9
18.2
6.2
6.1

6.7
17.3
6.0
5.9

6.7
17.7
6.0
5.9

6.7
18.0
5.9
5.8

6.6
18.1
5.8
5.8

6.3
17.4
5.5
5.5

White, t o t a l...............................................................
Both sexes, 16 to 19 y e a rs ................................
Men, 16 to 19 years ......................................
Women, 16 to 19 y e a rs.................................
Men, 20 years and over .....................................
Women, 20 years and o v e r................................

6.2
15.7
16.5
14.8
5.4
5.7

6.0
15.6
16.3
14.9
5.3
5.4

6.1
16.3
17.1
15.4
5.2
5.5

6.2
15.9
17.0
14.7
5.4
5.5

6.1
15.9
17.1
14.6
5.4
5.4

6.0
15.2
15.6
14.7
5.4
5.3

5.8
15.4
16.6
14.2
5.1
5.2

6.0
15.9
16.6
15.1
5.4
5.3

6.0
15.4
15.7
15.2
5.4
5.2

6.0
16.0
16.3
15.7
5.4
5.2

5.8
15.1
15.5
14.6
5.3
5.0

5.9
15.0
16.1
13.8
5.3
5.1

5.7
15.2
16.0
14.3
5.2
4.9

5.6
15.5
17.1
13.9
5.1
4.8

5.4
14.9
16.7
13.1
4.8
4.6

Black, total ...............................................................
Both sexes, 16 to 19 y e a rs ................................
Men, 16 to 19 years ......................................
Women, 16 to 19 y e a rs.................................
Men, 20 years and over .....................................
Women, 20 years and o v e r ................................

15.1
40.2
41.0
39.2
13.2
13.1

14.5
39.3
39.3
39.2
12.9
12.4

14.8
41.9
41.2
42.7
12.8
12.5

14.8
40.5
40.5
40.5
12.9
12.7

14.9
39.5
39.7
39.4
13.3
12.7

14.2
38.0
40.5
35.0
12.9
12.1

14.6
40.3
38.8
41.9
13.2
12.5

14.6
38.4
38.6
38.3
13.4
12.4

14.3
35.8
37.8
33.8
13.1
12.4

14.2
36.0
35.0
37.0
12.9
12.5

13.7
36.5
36.1
36.9
11.8
12.3

14.3
39.5
36.5
43.2
12.2
12.8

14.3
38.9
38.3
39.5
12.0
12.9

13.9
37.6
36.5
38.8
11.5
13.0

13.0
38.0
39.3
36.5
10.9
11.5

Hispanic origin, to ta l...............................................

10.5

10.6

10.5

10.9

10.6

10.5

10.8

10.9

10.4

9.6

10.5

10.6

9.6

9.0

9.2

Married men, spouse p re se n t...............................
Married women, spouse p re s e n t..........................
Women who maintain fam ilies..............................
Full-time workers ....................................................
Part-time workers ...................................................
Unemployed 15 weeks and o v e r..........................
Labor force time lost' ............................................

4.3
5.6
10.4
6.8
9.3
2.0
8.1

4.4
5.2
9.8
6.6
9.1
1.9
7.9

4.2
5.3
9.5
6.7
9.4
1.8
8.1

4.4
5.3
10.1
6.9
9.1
1.9
8.2

4.5
5.2
10.0
6.7
9.1
1.9
8.1

4.4
5.2
9.5
6.6
9.2
1.9
7.8

4.2
5.1
10.1
6.4
9.3
1.9
7.7

4.3
5.1
9.8
6.6
9.3
2.0
7.9

4.6
5.0
8.9
6.6
9.2
1.8
7.8

4.5
5.0
9.7
6.6
9.1
1.9
7.7

4.3
4.8
9.8
6.3
8.8
1.8
7.6

4.2
4.8
9.8
6.4
9.0
1.8
7.6

4.2
4.8
9.5
6.3
8.7
1.8
7.6

4.1
4.5
9.7
6.2
9.2
1.7
7.4

4.1
4.4
9.3
5.9
8.6
1.7
7.3

7.2
9.5
13.1
7.7
7.6
7.8
5.1
7.6
5.6
3.9
13.2

7.0
13.5
13.1
7.1
6.9
7.4
5.1
7.6
5.5
3.6
12.5

7.1
12.4
12.3
6.9
6.9
6.9
5.5
7.9
5.8
3.6
13.4

7.2
13.6
13.0
7.4
7.3
7.5
5.3
7.9
5.5
3.6
15.3

7.1
17.3
12.4
7.2
7.0
7.5
5.4
7.7
5.5
3.6
13.2

7.1
16.6
13.0
6.9
6.7
7.2
5.5
7.8
5.7
3.3
11.4

6.9
16.6
12.4
6.9
6.8
6.9
4.8
7.5
5.6
3.3
13.3

7.0
13.9
12.9
7.0
6.5
7.7
4.7
7.6
5.6
3.5
12.9

7.0
14.5
13.8
7.3
7.2
7.3
5.2
7.4
5.4
3.7
11.9

7.0
14.5
15.1
7.1
6.6
7.9
4.4
7.2
5.4
3.6
10.1

6.8
14.1
13.7
6.9
6.4
7.7
4.6
7.2
5.1
3.3
11.5

6.7
14.0
12.2
6.8
6.8
6.8
4.8
7.5
5.2
3.6
11.6

6.6
12.4
11.6
6.8
6.8
6.9
4.0
7.2
5.4
3.7
11.2

6.5
9.3
12.5
6.9
6.7
7.3
4.6
7.3
4.9
3.4
10.7

6.2
11.1
11.9
6.2
6.2
6.2
4.8
7.0
4.7
3.6
9.0

CHARACTERISTIC

INDUSTRY
Nonagricultural private wage and salary workers ....
M ining........................................................................
Construction .............................................................
Manufacturing ..........................................................
Durable g o o d s ......................................................
Nondurable goods ...............................................
Transportation and public utilities ........................
Wholesale and retail tra d e ....................................
Finance and service in dustries.............................
Government w o rk e rs ...................................................
Agricultural wage and salary workers .......................

1 Aggregate hours lost by the unemployed and persons on part time for economic reasons as a percent of potentially available labor force hours.


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

77

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
8.

June 1987 •

Current Labor Statistics:

Employment Data

Unemployment rates by sex and age, monthly data seasonally adjusted

(Civilian workers)
Annual
average

Sex and age

1985

1987

1986
Apr.

1986

June

May

Aug.

July

Sept.

Nov.

Oct.

Dec.

Jan.

Mar.

Feb.

Apr.

Total, 16 years and over ........................................................................
16 to 24 y e a rs .......................................................................................
16 to 19 y e a rs ....................................................................................
16 to 17 years .................................................................................
18 to 19 years .................................................................................
20 to 24 y e a rs ....................................................................................
25 years and o v e r.................................................................................
25 to 54 years .................................................................................
55 years and o v e r ...........................................................................

7.2
13.6
18.6
21.0
17.0
11.1
5.6
5.8
4.1

7.0
13.3
18.3
20.2
17.0
10.7
5.4
5.7
3.9

7.1
13.7
19.3
20.8
18.4
10.8
5.4
5.7
3.9

7.2
13.8
18.8
20.8
17.4
11.2
5.5
5.9
3.7

7.1
13.5
18.9
20.7
17.5
10.7
5.5
5.9
3.8

7.0
13.2
17.9
19.8
16.2
10.8
5.4
5.7
3.8

6.8
12.9
18.0
19.8
16.8
10.3
5.4
5.7
3.7

7.0
13.6
18.5
20.0
17.2
11.1
5.4
5.6
4.0

6.9
13.0
17.7
19.3
16.5
10.5
5.5
5.7
4.1

6.9
12.9
18.2
20.6
16.7
10.2
5.5
5.8
3.8

6.7
12.9
17.3
18.8
16.3
10.7
5.2
5.5
3.5

6.7
13.1
17.7
20.1
16.2
10.7
5.2
5.6
3.2

6.7
13.1
18.0
20.3
16.6
10.5
5.1
5.5
3.0

6.6
12.9
18.1
20.0
16.5
10.2
5.1
5.4
3.4

6.3
12.6
17.4
19.2
16.3
10.1
4.8
5.0
3.4

Men, 16 years and o v e r ....................................................................
16 to 24 years .................................................................................
16 to 19 y e a rs ...............................................................................
16 to 17 y e a rs ............................................................................
18 to 19 y e a rs ............................................................................
20 to 24 y e a rs ...............................................................................
25 years and o v e r ...........................................................................
25 to 54 y e a rs ............................................................................
55 years and o v e r......................................................................

7.0
14.1
19.5
21.9
17.9
11.4
5.3
5.6
4.1

6.9
13.7
19.0
20.8
17.7
11.0
5.4
5.6
4.1

6.9
14.2
20.0
21.1
19.2
11.3
5.2
5.5
4.0

7.1
14.5
20.0
21.3
19.1
11.7
5.4
5.7
3.9

7.1
13.9
19.9
20.0
19.4
10.9
5.4
5.7
4.1

7.0
13.6
18.4
20.3
16.7
11.1
5.4
5.7
4.0

6.8
13.3
19.1
20.9
18.0
10.3
5.3
5.6
4.1

7.0
14.3
19.1
21.0
17.5
11.9
5.4
5.5
4.2

7.0
13.2
18.2
19.8
17.0
10.7
5.5
5.7
4.4

6.9
13.4
18.3
21.3
16.2
10.9
5.5
5.7
4.1

6.7
13.4
17.8
19.1
17.0
11.3
5.2
5.5
4.0

6.8
13.4
18.5
21.4
16.9
10.7
5.4
5.7
3.5

6.7
13.6
18.6
21.2
17.0
11.1
5.1
5.4
3.3

6.6
13.2
19.3
20.2
18.6
10.1
5.1
5.4
3.6

6.3
13.2
19.2
21.5
17.5
10.1
4.8
5.0
3.7

Women, 16 years and o v e r .............................................................
16 to 24 y e a rs ................................................................................
16 to 19 years .............................................................................
16 to 17 years ..........................................................................
18 to 19 years ..........................................................................
20 to 24 years .............................................................................
25 years and o v e r..........................................................................
25 to 54 years ..........................................................................
55 years and o v e r ....................................................................

7.4
13.0
17.6
20.0
16.0
10.7
5.9
6.2
4.1

7.1
12.8
17.6
19.6
16.3
10.3
5.5
5.9
3.6

7.3
13.1
18.5
20.4
17.6
10.2
5.7
6.0
3.8

7.2
13.1
17.5
20.3
15.5
10.8
5.6
6.0
3.5

7.2
13.0
17.9
21.4
15.6
10.4
5.6
6.0
3.3

7.0
12.7
17.3
19.2
15.6
10.4
5.4
5.8
3.6

6.9
12.4
16.7
18.7
15.4
10.2
5.4
5.8
3.3

7.0
12.8
17.7
18.8
16.9
10.2
5.5
5.8
3.6

6.9
12.7
17.2
18.6
16.0
10.3
5.4
5.7
3.6

6.9
12.4
18.2
19.8
17.2
9.4
5.5
5.8
3.4

6.7
12.4
16.8
18.4
15.7
10.0
5.2
5.5
2.9

6.7
12.7
16.8
18.7
15.3
10.6
5.1
5.5
2.7

6.7
12.4
17.4
19.2
16.1
9.8
5.1
5.6
2.6

6.6
12.5
16.7
19.7
14.2
10.3
5.0
5.4
3.2

6.2
12.0
15.6
16.7
15.1
10.1
4.7
5.0
3.0

9.

Unemployed persons by reason for unemployment, monthly data seasonally adjusted

(Numbers in thousands)

1985

1986

19 37

1986

Annual average
Reason for unemployment
Apr.

May

July

June

Aug.

Sept.

Oct.

Nov.

Jan.

Dec.

Mar.

Feb.

Apr.

4,139
1,157
2,982
877
2,256
1,039

4,033
1,090
2,943
1,015
2,160
1,029

4,035
1,057
2,978
1,071
2,188
1,048

4,214
1,118
3,096
979
2,200
1,046

4,272
1,074
3,198
1,009
2,107
1,050

4,063
1,078
2,985
1,025
2,205
989

3,824
1,017
2,807
990
2,199
1,014

4,044
1,029
3,015
1,041
2,145
1,038

3,984
1,072
2,912
1,027
2,190
972

3,947
1,073
2,874
1,056
2,119
1,076

3,890
1,078
2,812
1,036
2,019
1,015

3,971
1,118
2,854
891
2,054
1,084

3,839
998
2,842
1,046
2,042
1,040

3,822
1,011
2,811
1,000
2,111
956

3,732
958
2,774
923
1,940
911

49.8
13.9
35.9
10.6
27.1
12.5

48.9
13.2
35.7
12.3
26.2
12.5

48.4
12.7
35.7
12.8
26.2
12.6

49.9
13.2
36.7
11.6
26.1
12.4

50.6
12.7
37.9
12.0
25.0
12.4

49.1
13.0
36.0
12.4
26.6
11.9

47.6
12.7
35.0
12.3
27.4
12.6

48.9
12.4
36.5
12.6
25.9
12.6

48.7
13.1
35.6
12.6
26.8
11.9

48.1
13.1
35.1
12.9
25.8
13.1

48.9
13.5
35.3
13.0
25.4
12.8

49.6
14.0
35.7
11.1
25.7
13.6

48.2
12.5
35.7
13.1
25.6
13.1

48.4
12.8
35.6
12.7
26.8
12.1

49.7
12.8
37.0
12.3
25.8
12.1

3.6
.8
2.0
.9

3.4
.9
1.8
.9

3.4
.9
1.9
.9

3.6
.8
1.9
.9

3.6
.9
1.8
.9

3.4
.9
1.9
.8

3.2
.8
1.9
.9

3.4
.9
1.8
.9

3.4
.9
1.8
.8

3.3
.9
1.8
.9

3.3
.9
1.7

3.3
.7
1.7
.9

3.2
.9
1.7
.9

3.2
.8
1.8
.8

3.1
.8
1.6
.8

PERCENT OF UNEMPLOYED

On la y o ff...................................................................
Other job lo s e rs .......................................................

PERCENT OF
CIVILIAN LABOR FORCE

9

I_______

10.

Duration of unemployment, monthly data seasonally adjusted

Weeks of unemployment
1985

1986

19 B7

1986

Annual average
Apr.

May

June

July

Aug.

Sept.

Oct.

Nov.

Dec.

Jan.

Feb.

Mar.

Apr.

3,361
2,477
2,131
1,008
1,123

3,383
2,447
2,050
945
1,105

3,143
2,232
2,075
1,025
1,049

14.6
6.6

14.9
6.6

14.9
7.0

Less than 5 weeks ...............................................
5 to 14 weeks .......................................................
15 weeks and o v e r ...............................................
15 to 26 weeks ..................................................
27 weeks and o v e r ............................................

3,498
2,509
2,305
1,025
1,280

3,448
2,557
2,232
1,045
1,187

3,565
2,650
2,130
982
1,148

3,610
2,671
2,232
1,065
1,167

3,415
2,650
2,299
1,038
1,261

3,399
2,521
2,250
1,058
1,192

3,436
2,407
2,272
1,068
1,204

3,415
2,524
2,373
1,110
1,263

3,418
2,563
2,168
950
1,218

3,382
2,613
2,217
1,045
1,172

3,355
2,389
2,171
1,023
1,148

3,416
2,530
2,200
1,022
1,178

Mean duration in w e e k s .......................................
Median duration in w e e k s ....................................

15.6
6.8

15.0
6.9

14.7
6.6

14.8
6.8

15.2
7.2

15.1
7.1

15.6
7.1

15.5
7.1

15.2
7.0

14.8
7.0

15.0
7.1

15.0
7.0

Digitized for7o
FRASER
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

11. Unemployment rates of civilian workers by State, data not seasonally adjusted
S ta te
A la b a m a ...........................................................
A la ska .................................................................
A r iz o n a .....................................................
A rka nsa s ......................................................
C a lifo rn ia ...................................................
C o lo ra do ................................................................
C o n n e cticu t .........................................................
D e la w a r e .........................................
D istrict o f C o lu m b ia .......................................
Florida ..................................................................
G eorgia ....................................................
H a w a ii.......................................................
Idaho ........................................................
Illinois .........................................................
Indiana ........................................................

Mar.
1986

Mar.
1987

S tate

10.4
12.2
6.7
9.2
7.1

9.8
12.1
7.4
9.1
6.3

7.6
4.3
5.2
8.0
5.8

9.8
3.8
3.2
7.5
5.4

6.0
5.1
9.8
9.1
7.7

5.8
3.9
10.3
8 1
6.9

I o w a ..............................................................
K ansas .................................................
K e n tu c k y ..................................................................
L o u is ia n a .......................................................
M a in e .........................................................................

8.8
6.0
10.4
12.2
6.2

5.7
5.4
11.0
13.5
5.5

M aryland .......................................................
M a s s a c h u s e tts .......................................................
M ic h ig a n ...........................................
M in n e s o ta .........................................
M is s is s ip p i.......................................
M is s o u ri...........................................

5.0
4.3
9.6

5.0
4.5
8.4
6.1

6.9
11.5
6.7

Mar.
1986

Mar.
1987

N evada ...................................................................

6.7
3.4

6.3
2.6

N ew J e r s e y ..................................................

4.9

4.3

8.1

6.0

O hio ....................................................................

7.9

7.9

4.8

4.3

S outh C a ro lin a ..............................................

6.5

6.4

T exas ....................................................
Utah

8.4
6.3

8.2
7.3

V e r m o n t....................................................

5.9

4.7

8.9
13.5
8.6

9.3
11.4
7.5

9.6

10.6

W a sh ing ton .........................
W est V irg in ia ..............

11.1
6.3

NOTE: Some data in this table may differ from data
published elsewhere because of the continual updating of the

database,

12. Employment of workers on nonagricultural payrolls by State, data not seasonally adjusted
(In thousands)
State

Mar. 1986

Feb. 1987

Alabama................
Alaska ...................
Arizona ..................
Arkansas ...............
California...............

1,447.9
215.7
1,333.1
804.8
11,131.9

1,465.4
206.0
1,374.7
817.7
11,417.5

Colorado ................
Connecticut ...........
Delaware................
District of Columbia
Florida...................

1,409.6
1,571.5
292.0
631.4
4,584.3

1,394.5
1,613.6
305.3
641.0
4,758.5

Georgia ..................
Hawaii....................
Idaho .....................
Illinois ....................
Indiana ...................

2,624.2
436.4
327.7
4,714.5
2,178.0

2,723.4
447.0
331.2
4,777.3
2,241.6

Iowa.......................
Kansas ..................
Kentucky................
Louisiana................
Maine.....................

1,057.2
975.9
1,251.9
1,547.3
456.0

1,086.0
979.0
1,277.9
1,485.5
476.3

Maryland ................
Massachusetts......
Michigan.................
Minnesota..............
Mississippi..............
Missouri..................
Montana.................

1,905.8
2,936.8
3,591.9
1,841.8
845.7
2,102.2
270.3

1,948.7
2,986.1
3,640.0
1,880.6
849.3
2,108.8
270.2

- Data not available.
p = preliminary


https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

Mar. 1987p
1,466.7
206.5
1,377.6
823.9
11,498.6

State

Mar. 1986

Feb. 1987

Mar. 1987»

Nebraska ..........................................................
Nevada .............................................................
New Ham pshire..............................................

644.7
456.1
474.4

649.3
478.3
492.1

652.7
484.7
493.6

New Jersey .....................................................
New Mexico ....................................................
New Y o rk ..........................................................
North Carolina ................................................
North Dakota ..................................................

3,416.6
523.3
7,789.1
2,700.8
244.0

3,472.5
527.3
7,907.5
2,764.1
243.8

3,506.7
531.2
7,963.7
2,787.2
244.5

4,374.5
1,144.7
1,033.3
4,709.0
432.5

4,467.2
1,121.7
1,060.0
4,758.1
437.6

4,492.9
1,124.6
1,067.4
4,805.6
441.1

1,322.8
245.0
1,894.7
6,660.2
629.6

1,353.2
246.4
1,965.2
6,476.1
632.1

1,365.8
249.3
1,979.2
6,475.5
636.3

229.4
2,494.0
1,736.7
585.9
1,968.4

240.5
2,568.0
1,770.9
584.9
1,999.5

240.5
2,591.5
1,789.8
590.5
2,006.9

197.0
706.1
37.6

185.3
723.2
38.4

185.2
726.3

1,399.0
1,626.4
308.6
644.8
4,800.2 Ohio ..................................................................
O klaho m a.........................................................
2,734.5 O re g o n ..............................................................
450.6 Pennsylvania...................................................
333.5 Rhode Island...........................................
4,794.3
2,260.5 South C a ro lin a ................................................
South D a k o ta ..................................................
1,090.2 Tennessee .......................................................
988.6 Texas ................................................................
1,284.9 Utah ..................................................................
1,485.2
477.4 V e rm o n t............................................................
V irg in ia ..............................................................
1,970.7 Washington ......................................................
3,010.9 West V irg inia ...................................................
3,642.2 Wisconsin .........................................................
1,889.8
855.0 W yom ing...........................................................
2,126.2 Puerto Rico ......................................................
272.2 Virgin Islands ..................................................

-

NOTE: Some data in this table may differ from data published elsewhere
because of the continual updating of the database.

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW

June 1987 •

Current Labor Statistics:

Employment Data

13. Employment of workers on nonagricultural payrolls by industry, monthly data seasonally adjusted
(In thousands)
1986

Annual average
Industry

Mar.»

Apr.p

101,854
84,948

102,009
85,054

102,325
85,311

25,008
731
412

25,038
733
415

25,004
735
418

25,046
740
424

4,996
1,298

5,109
1,333

5,094
1,321

5,059
1,307

5,082
1,289

19,156
13,020

19,186
13,053

19,168
13,031

19,211
13,070

19,210
13,076

19,224
13,093

11,266
7,435

11,282
7,452

11,289
7,466

11,265
7,440

11,300
7,477

11,293
7,476

11,293
7,482

734
500
594
749

737
500
590
749

743
500
591
751

749
500
594
752

754
503
595
741

756
503
598
751

755
505
595
758

758
507
597
759

272
1,429

270
1,433

272
1,429

271
1,427

270
1,431

264
1,430

272
1,429

279
1,429

280
1,432

2,072

2,044

2,039

2,036

2,030

2,029

2,043

2,043

2,048
2,144
1,971
817
707

Dec.

Jan.

1
84,178

101,322
84,394

101,626
84,708

24,865
746
423

24,891
742
420

24,920
738
414

5,010
1,301

5,001
1,302

4.993
1,307

19,123
12,971

19,105
12,960

19,118
12,974

11,294
7,441

11,302
7,458

11,271
7,438

721
496
597
761

724
498
593
758

729
499
592
751

288
1,447

286
1,440

285
1,428

2,100

2,089

2,079

1985

1986

Apr.

May

June

July

Aug.

Sept.

Oct.

97,614
81,199

100,167
83,432

99,783
83,072

99,918
83,198

99,843
83,161

100,105
83,508

100,283
83,655

100,560
83,786

100,826
83,956

24,930
930
585

24,938
792
464

25,038
821
488

24,965
790
461

24,854
772
446

24,869
768
442

24,888
753
431

24,858
743
422

4,687
1,251

4,960
1,307

4,972
1,315

4,974
1,314

4,947
1,299

4,980
1,299

5,012
1,306

19,314
13,130

19,186
13,023

19,245
13,060

19,201
13,025

19,135
12,979

19,121
12,961

11,516
7,660

11,345
7,495

11,415
7,547

11,378
7,519

11,307
7,462

700
493
591
813

727
497
595
768

719
494
600
785

719
496
599
780

305
1,468

283
1,439

291
1,451

Machinery, except e lectrica l........
Electrical and electronic
equipm ent......................................
Transportation equipm ent............
Motor vehicles and equipment ...
Instruments and related products
Miscellaneous manufacturing
in d u strie s.......................................

2,182

2,082

2,111

Nondurable goods .

TOTAL ................
PRIVATE SECTOR
GOODS-PRODUCING ....
Mining ..........................
Oil and gas extraction

Construction .........................
General building contractors.

Manufacturing........
Production workers

Durable goods......
Production workers
Lumber and wood p ro d u c ts .........
Furniture and fix tu re s .....................
Stone, clay, and glass products ...
Primary metal industries ...............
Blast furnaces and basic steel
p roducts.........................................
Fabricated metal products...........

2,207
1,971
876
723

2,169
1,984
843
717

2,177
1,986
854
723

2,175
1,972
839
721

2,143
1,974
839
717

2,169
1,969
824
713

2,168
1,985
839
713

2,162
1,979
834
713

2,167
1,979
824
713

2,166
1.993
837
710

2,164
1,990
832
709

2,156
1,979
826
709

2,153
1,990
838
707

2,141
1,986
830
708

369

367

369

369

369

363

364

363

363

365

370

369

370

373

370

7,798
5,470

7,841
5,528

7,830
5,513

7,823
5,506

7,828
5,517

7,827
5,520

7,821
5,513

7,834
5,522

7,852
5,539

7,874
5,568

7,897
5,587

7,903
5,591

7,911
5,593

7,917
5,600

7,931
5,611

Food and kindred products
Tobacco manufactures .......
Textile mill p ro d u c ts ...........
Apparel and other textile
p roducts...............................
Paper and allied products ..

1,608
65
704

1,641
61
709

1,633
63
703

1,640
62
705

1,648
62
707

1,645
62
710

1,642
59
711

1,644
60
709

1,644
59
711

1,654
61
717

1,657
60
719

1,654
59
722

1,658
60
726

1,663
60
728

1,665
59
726

1,125
683

1,115
690

1,119
689

1,113
689

1,106
690

1,108
687

1,108
685

1,110
691

1,113
694

1,112

1.124
697

1,123
694

1,115
695

1.113
695

1,117
696

Printing and publishing.............
Chemicals and allied products .
Petroleum and coal products ...
Rubber and mise, plastics
products.....................................
Leather and leather products ..

1,435
1,046
178

1,479
1,027
164

1,472
1,028
166

1,474
1,024
166

1,477
1,026
164

1,483
1,025
163

1,481
1,026
163

1,485
1,025
162

1,491
1,023
161

1,493
1,023
160

1,493

1,505

159

1,500
1,021
159

159

1,506
1,019
158

1,514
1,019
158

797
151

792
152

794
152

797
151

805
151

809
151

815
153

819
152

820
153

822
153

824
153

Production workers .

SERVICE-PRODUCING .......
Transportation and public
utilities...............................
Transportation......................
Communication and public
u tilitie s ..................................

Wholesale trade ...
Durable g o o d s ......
Nondurable goods

Retail trad e................................
General merchandise s to re s .....
Food s to re s ..................................
Automotive dealers and service
s ta tio n s ........................................
Eating and drinking p la c e s ........

Finance, Insurance, and real
estate....................................
F in a n c e .....................................
In surance..................................
Real e s ta te ...............................

Services...............
Business services
Health se rv ic e s ....

Government
F e d e ra l........
S ta te ............
L o c a l............

1,020

1,020

790
166

801
155

800
157

796
154

72,684

75,229

74,745

74,953

74,989

75,236

75,395

75,702

75,961

76,177

76,402

76,618

76,816

77,005

5,242
3,006

5,286
3,068

5,266
3,040

5,265
3,037

5,167
3,035

5,288
3,057

5,255
3,063

5,316
3,088

5,316
3,094

5,351
3,117

5,359
3.125

5,382
3,140

5,394
3,150

5,412
3,164

5,415
3,169

2,236

2,218

2,226

2,228

2,132

2,231

2,192

2,228

2,222

2,234

2,234

2,242

2,244

2,248

2,246

5,864
3,495
2,369

5,877
3,499
2,378

5,877
3,500
2,377

5,882
3,499
2,383

5,740
3,409
2,331

5,853
3,482
2,371

5,864
3,485
2,379

5,872
3,488
2,384

5,829
3,454
2,375

5,849
3,483
2,366

5,863
3,485
2,378

5,859
3,485
2,374

5,864
3,489
2,375

5,859
3,489
2,370

5,859
3,491
2,368

17,360
2,320
2,779

17,978
2,350
2,932

17,851
2,342
2,910

17,911
2,344
2,917

17,944
2,350
2,932

17,992
2,354
2,938

18,030
2,359
2,951

18,065
2,362
2,952

18,143
2,379
2,963

18,197
2,367
2,968

18,206
2,341
2,979

18,289
2,333
2,990

18,368
2,354
3,005

18,402
2,359
3,006

18,469
2,362
3,025

1,892
5,715

1,954
5,921

1,940
5,859

1,944
5,889

1,945
5,918

1,950
5,931

1,962
5,923

1,970
5,948

1,973
5,982

1,977
6,006

1,984
6,035

1,988
6,080

1,992
6,104

1,989
6.113

1,988
6,123

5,953
2,979
1,830
1,144

6,305
3,159
1,934
1,211

6,228
3,120
1,910
1,198

6,261
3,137
1,918
1,206

6,295
3,159
1,927
1,209

6,334
3,176
1,945
1,213

6,364
3,192
1,952
1,220

6,388
3,202
1,962
1,224

6,409
3,212
1,971
1,226

6,429
3,220
1,979
1,230

6,472
3,236
1,990
1,246

6,495
3,239
2,002
1,254

6,519
3,249
2,007
1,263

6,544
3.264
2,016
1.264

6,581
3,286
2,024
1,271

21,974
4,452
6,310

23,072
4,809
6,586

22,825
4,750
6,511

22,924
4,755
6,543

23,072
4,792
6,571

23,176
4,835
6,601

23,255
4,848
6,634

23,300
4,883
6,649

23,359
4,908
6,677

23,451
4,926
6,695

23,578
4,966
6,726

23,670
4,990
6,757

23,752
5,038
6,788

23,815
5,054
6,807

23,918
5,074
6,834

16,415
2,875
3,848
9,692

16,735
2,899
3,937
9,899

16,711
2,914
3,938
9,859

16,720
2,899
3,936
9,885

16,682
2,875
3,927
9,880

16,597
2,866
3,921
9,810

16,628
2,875
3,919
9,834

16,774
2,901
3,932
9,941

16,870
2,896
3,959
10,015

16,890
2,899
3,965
10,026

16,928
2,907
3,983
10,038

16,918
2,914
3,983

16,906
2,917
3,980
10,009

16,955
2,931
3,984
10,040

17,014
2,937
4,003
10,074

p = preliminary
NOTE: See notes on the data for a description of the most recent benchmark revision.

80

https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

694

10,021

14. Average weekly hours of production or nonsupervisory workers on private nonagricultural payrolls by industry,
monthly data seasonally adjusted

Industry

Annual
average
1985

1986

1986
Apr.

May

June

July

Aug.

1987
Sept.

Oct.

Nov.

Dec.

Jan.

Feb.

Mar.p

Apr.p

PRIVATE SECTOR ..............................................

34.9

34.8

CONSTRUCTION..................................................

37.7

37.5

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

MANUFACTURING....................................................

40.5
3.3

40.7
3.4

40.7
3.4

40.7
3.4

40.6
3.3

40.6
3.4

40.8
3.5

40.8
3.5

40.7
3.5

40.8
3.5

40.8
3.5

41.0
3.6

41.3
3.6

41.0
3.7

40.5
3.4

Overtime h o u rs ...................................................
Lumber and wood p ro d u c ts ...................................
Furniture and fix tu re s ..............................................
Stone, clay, and glass p ro d u c ts ............................
Primary metal industries .........................................
Blast furnaces and basic steel p ro d u c ts..........
Fabricated metal products .....................................

41.2
3.5
39.9
39.4
41.9
41.5
41.1
41.3

41.3
3.5
40.3
39.6
42.3
41.9
41.6
41.3

41.3
3.6
40.3
39.1
42.4
41.3
40.5
41.2

41.2
3.4
40.3
39.4
42.3
41.7
41.5
41.1

41.2
3.5
39.9
39.4
42.2
41.6
41.1
41.1

41.1
3.5
40.1
39.4
42.2
41.3
41.2
41.1

41.4
3.5
40.2
39.9
42.5
41.9
41.5
41.2

41.4
3.6
40.1
40.0
42.5
42.0
41.6
41.5

41.3
3.6
40.3
39.8
42.3
42.3
42.3
41.2

41.4
3.6
40.7
39.6
41.9
42.4
42.5
41.4

41.3
3.6
40.4
39.6
42.1
42.5
42.7
41.1

41.6
3.7
40.7
40.2
42.9
42.7
42.8
41.5

41.9
3.7
41.2
40.1
43.2
42.7
42.2
41.8

41.6
3.8
40.9
40.0
42.7
42.7
42.3
41.4

41.2
3.6
40.7
39.2
42.1
42.2
41.9
40.9

Machinery except electrical ...................................
Electrical and electronic equipm ent......................
Transportation equipm ent.......................................
Motor vehicles and equipm ent............................
Instruments and related products .........................
Miscellaneous m anufacturing.................................

41.5
40.6
42.6
43.5
41.0
39.4

41.6
41.0
42.4
42.7
41.1
39.6

41.8
41.1
42.1
41.9
41.3

41.8
41.0
41.9
41.8
40.9

41.7
41.2
42.6
42.8
41.0
-

41.7
41.2
42.6
42.7
40.7
-

41.7
41.0
42.3
42.6
41.2
-

41.5
41.0
42.1
42.6
41.3

-

41.4
41.1
42.1
42.4
40.8
-

41.6
40.9
42.1
42.1
41.1

-

41.7
41.0
42.2
42.4
41.0
-

-

42.0
41.0
42.3
43.2
41.2
-

42.2
41.3
42.7
43.5
41.5
-

42.0
40.9
42.6
43.2
41.3
-

41.9
40.6
41.9
42.2
40.8
-

Nondurable goods ..................................................
Overtime h o u rs ...................................................
Food and kindred pro d u c ts....................................
Tobacco m anufactures...........................................
Textile mill p ro d u c ts ................................................
Apparel and other textile products........................
Paper and allied products ......................................

39.6
3.1
40.0
37.2
39.7
36.4
43.1

39.9
3.3
40.0
37.6
41.2
36.7
43.3

39.9
3.3
40.2
41.3
36.9
43.0

39.9
3.4
40.2
41.1
36.5
43.2

39.8
3.2
40.0
-

39.8
3.4
40.0
-

40.0
3.4
40.3
-

39.9
3.3
39.7
-

39.9
3.4
39.8
_

40.1
3.5
40.0
_

40.1
3.5
39.8
_

40.1
3.5
40.0
_

40.4
3.5
40.2
_

40.2
3.5
40.0
_

39.7
3.3
39.9
_

40.8
36.5
43.1

40.9
36.6
43.2

41.4
36.5
43.5

41.6
36.7
43.0

41.5
36.7
43.0

41.5
36.9
43.2

41.9
37.0
43.4

41.7
36.9
43.6

42.3
37.7
43.6

42.2
37.1
43.1

41.5
36.2
42.5

Printing and publishing............................................
Chemicals and allied products...............................
Petroleum and coal p roducts.................................
Leather and leather products ................................

37.8
41.9
43.0
37.2

38.0
42.0
43.7
36.9

38.0
41.9
43.6
-

38.0
42.0
43.4
-

37.8
41.9
44.0

38.0
42.1
44.3
-

38.0
42.0
43.4
-

38.0
42.2
43.7
-

38.1
42.5
43.8

38.1
42.2
43.6

37.9
42.1
44.4

37.9
42.3
44.0

-

38.0
42.3
45.0
-

38.2
42.2
44.4

-

37.9
41.9
43.5
-

TRANSPORTATION AND PUBLIC UTILITIES ....

39.5

39.2

39.2

39.2

39.1

39.2

39.1

38.9

39.1

39.3

39.0

39.1

39.4

WHOLESALE TRADE ...............................................

38.4

38.4

38.5

38.4

38.3

38.3

38.4

38.2

38.4

38.3

38.2

38.3

38.5

38.3

38.3

RETAIL TRADE ..........................................................

29.4

29.2

29.2

29.2

29.1

29.2

29.2

29.2

29.1

29.3

28.9

29.0

29.5

29.3

29.5

SERVICES .............................................................

32.5

32.5

32.5

32.5

32.4

32.4

32.4

32.3

32.4

32.5

32.4

32.4

32.5

32.4

32.3

Overtime h o u rs ...................................................

Durable goods .........................................................

- D ata n ot available.
p = prelim in a ry


https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

34.8

34.8

34.7

34.7

34.8

34.7

34.7

-

34.8

-

NO TE: S ee “ N o tes on the d a ta ”
b e n chm ark a djustm ent.

34.6

34.8

fo r a d e scriptio n

35.0

-

34.8

39.3

34.7

39.0

o f th e m o st re ce nt

81

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW

June 1987 •

Current Labor Statistics:

Employment Data

15. Average hourly earnings of production or nonsupervisory workers on private nonagricultural payrolls by
industry
___________________________________ _____________
Annual
average
1985

1986

Apr.

May

June

July

Aug.

Sept.

Oct.

Nov.

Dec.

Jan.

Feb.

Mar.P

Apr.P

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

$8.57

$8.75

_

$8.72
8.72

$8.72
8.73

$8.71
8.74

$8.69
8.73

$8.70
8.77

$8.81
8.76

$8.81
8.80

$8.85
8.84

$8.83
8.82

$8.88
8.84

$8.89
8.86

$8.89
8.90

$8.89
8.88

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

11.98

12.45

12.43

12.44

12.50

12.46

12.51

12.52

12.51

12.57

12.60

12.67

12.60

12.56

12.43

12.53

12.46

12.55

12.54

P R IV A TE S EC TO R

M IN IN G

19E 7

1986

C O N S T R U C T IO N *

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

12.31

12.42

12.29

12.33

12.31

12.31

12.39

12.54

12.62

12.59

12.70

m a n u f a c t u r in g

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

9.53

9.73

9.70

9.71

9.70

9.74

9.68

9.73

9.72

9.77

9.84

9.83

9.83

9.84

9.87

10.39
8.33
7.55
10.15
11.88
13.71
9.98

10.38
8.30
7.55
10.14
11.93
13.78
9.97

10.39
8.36
7.55
10.26
12.11
14.10
9.96

Rubber and miscellaneous plastics p ro d u c ts .....

TRANSPORTATION AND PUBLIC UTILITIES
W H O LE S A LE T R A D E ..................................................
R E T A IL T R A D E

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

FINANCE, INSURANCE, AND REAL ESTATE
S E R V IC E S

p

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

Data not available
= preliminary


https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

10.10
8.22
7.17
9.84
11.68
13.34
9.70

10.29
8.37
7.44
10.05
11.93
13.82
9.87

10.28
8.32
7.36
10.00
12.00
13.82
9.84

10.28
8.37
7.39
10.04
12.02
13.86
9.85

10.26
8.43
7.46
10.04
11.94
13.88
9.88

10.27
8.36
7.44
10.06
12.06
14.08
9.84

10.22
8.40
7.46
10.07
11.85
13.83
9.82

10.30
8.42
7.52
10.11
11.92
13.93
9.87

10.28
8.37
7.50
10.10
11.84
13.78
9.86

10.33
8.39
7.52
10.13
11.87
13.78
9.93

10.40
8.36
7.60
10.17
11.91
13.83
10.00

10.38
8.29
7.57
10.18
11.86
13.67
9.98

10.29
9.47
12.72
13.42
9.16
7.30

10.56
9.67
12.86
13.52
9.46
7.56

10.55
9.62
12.83
13.54
9.41
7.50

10.55
9.64
12.79
13.47
9.40
7.54

10.55
9.61
12.78
13.41
9.41
7.54

10.57
9.68
12.78
13.40
9.47
7.59

10.57
9.67
12.75
13.36
9.45
7.52

10.58
9.73
12.87
13.50
9.51
7.59

10.56
9.72
12.87
13.49
9.54
7.60

10.59
9.75
12.92
13.52
9.61
7.65

10.65
9.85
13.00
13.63
9.62
7.71.

10.61
9.86
12.98
13.67
9.62
7.70

10.65
9.86
12.94
13.59
9.65
7.68

10.68
9.85
12.91
13.58
9.61
7.66

10.65
9.87
12.86
13.50
9.58
7.67

8.71
8.57
11.94
6.71
5.73
10.82

8.93
8.74
12.77
6.95
5.81
11.14

8.88
8.75
12.84
6.87
5.81
11.05

8.90
8.78
13.38
6.88
5.78
11.12

8.91
8.74
13.68
6.87
5.79
11.15

8.99
8.75
13.48
6.90
5.76
11.31

8.93
8.65
13.44
6.99
5.79
11.17

8.96
8.65
12.21
7.05
5.87
11.20

8.95
8.68
12.10
7.04
5.82
11.20

9.00
8.79
12.62
7.07
5.83
11.17

9.06
8.88
12.86
7.13
5.86
11.24

9.06
8.89
12.89
7.13
5.89
11.17

9.06
8.91
13.38
7.13
5.88
11.18

9.08
8.94
13.76
7.14
5.90
11.18

9.14
8.98
14.12
7.18
5.92
11.30

9.71
11.56
14.06
8.54
5.82

9.97
11.97
14.19
8.76
5.90

9.87
11.82
14.16
8.68
5.89

9.91
11.89
14.02
8.75
5.88

9.88
11.94
14.14
8.75
5.88

9.96
12.04
14.16
8.82
5.89

10.00
11.99
14.07
8.81
5.90

10.10
12.03
14.20
8.76
5.93

10.08
12.08
14.18
8.76
5.92

10.11
12.15
14.26
8.81
5.98

10.14
12.20
14.36
8.86
5.98

10.14
12.17
14.40
8.87
6.03

10.16
12.20
14.35
8.82
5.99

10.17
12.23
14.38
8.83
6.04

10.18
12.32
14.33
8.81
6.15

11.40

11.63

11.55

11.54

11.57

11.61

11.61

11.70

11.68

11.75

11.71

11.73

11.77

11.75

11.79

9.16

9.35

9.29

9.29

9.32

9.30

9.32

9.37

9.35

9.46

9.47

9.49

9.55

9.53

9.55

6.07

6.05

6.07

6.06

6.06

6.06

5.94

6.02

6.01

6.00

5.99

5.97

5.97

6.05

6.04

7.94

8.34

8.29

8.31

8.37

8.30

8.33

8.37

8.38

8.54

8.46

8.58

8.71

8.69

8.63

8.19

8.22

8.31

8.31

8.36

8.41

8.40

8.38

7.89

8.16

8.12

8.10

8.10

8.04

8.05

N0TE: See “ Notes on the data” for a description of the most recent
benchmark revision.

16. Average weekly earnings of production or nonsupervisory workers on private nonagricultural payrolls by industry
Annual average

1986

Industry
1985

1986

Apr.

May

June

July

Aug.

1987
Sept.

Oct.

Nov.

Dec.

Jan.

Feb.

Mar.p

Apr.p

PRIVATE SECTOR
Current d o lla rs......................................
Seasonally adjusted..................................
Constant (1977) dollars .................................

$299.09 $304.50 $301.71 $302.58 $303.98 $304.15 $305.37 $306.59 $305.71 $307.10 $308.17 $305.47 $307.59 $307.59 $306.71
303.46 303.80 303.28 302.93 305.20 303.97 305.36 307.63 305.17 307.63 310.10 309.72 308.14
170.42 170.88 170.94 170.85 170.78 170.97 171.36 171.28 170.69 171.28 171.78 169.14 169.66 168.91

MINING....................................

519.93

526.64

522.06

519.99

525.00

518.34

529.17

529.60

527.92

522.91

536.76

542.28

534.24

528.78

519.57

CONSTRUCTION.....................................

464.09

465.75

462.10

467.31

465.32

471.47

475.78

482.79

479.56

459.54

468.63

467.37

459.77

470.63

470.25

385.97
219.93

396.01
222.23

392.85
222.58

394.23
222.60

395.76
222.34

391.55
220.10

393.98
221.09

398.93
222.87

396.58
221.43

400.57
223.41

409.34
228.17

401.06
222.07

401.06
221.21

402.46
221.01

398 75

Lumber and wood products ............
Furniture and fix tu re s ...........................
Stone, clay, and glass p ro d u c ts ...........................
Primary metal industries .............................
Blast furnaces and basic steel p ro d u c ts ..........
Fabricated metal products ..............

416.12
327.98
282.50
412.30
484.72
548.27
400.61

424.98
337.31
294.62
425.12
499.87
574.91
407.63

423.54
334.46
286.30
425.00
499.20
569.38
403.44

423.54
338.99
288.21
428.71
501.23
576.58
404.84

424.76
342.26
294.67
429.71
499.09
577.41
408.04

417.99
334.40
287.93
427.55
495.67
582.91
398.52

420.04
341.04
298.40
432.00
491.78
569.80
402.62

428.48
342.69
303.81
435.74
501.83
579.49
410.59

424.56
338.99
303.00
431.27
496.10
571.87
407.22

429.73
338.12
300.80
424.45
503.29
580.14
412.10

438.88
338.58
310.84
427.14
512.13
590.54
421.00

430.77
331.60
299.77
424.51
505.24
578.24
413.17

431.19
337.37
296.72
425.29
507.28
579.93
412.17

431.81
337.81
300.49
428.92
510.60
584.27
412.76

427.03
339 42
294.45
432.97
514 68
602.07
405.37

Machinery, except electrical ................
Electrical and electronic equipm ent...............
Transportation equipm ent.........................
Motor vehicles and equipm ent............................
Instruments and related products .........................
Miscellaneous manufacturing.................................

427.04
384.48
541.87
583.77
375.56
287.62

439.30
396.47
545.26
577.30
388.81
299.38

437.83
392.50
542.71
574.10
385.81
297.75

437.83
393.31
537.18
567.09
382.58
297.08

439.94
394.01
540.59
572.61
385.81
298.58

431.26
391.07
530.37
560.12
382.59
294.49

436.54
395.50
531.68
555.78
384.62
294.78

441.19
401.85
544.40
573.75
388.96
300.56

438.24
397.55
540.54
567.93
390.19
302.48

443.72
403.65
549.10
575.95
398.82
307.53

454.76
414.69
564.20
599.72
406.93
310.71

445.62
405.25
551.65
590.54
396.34
304.15

448.37
403.27
548.66
584.37
398.55
301.82

450.70
403.85
551.26
588.01
397.85
301.04

443.04
397 76
541 41
576 45
387 99
297.60

344.92
342.80
444.17
266.39
208.57
466.34

356.31
349.60
480.15
286.34
213.23
482.36

351.65
346.50
469.94
278.92
211.48
474.05

354.22
352.08
504.43
282.08
210.97
479.27

355.51
350.47
523.94
283.04
213.65
480.57

356.00
350.00
483.93
278.07
209.09
486.33

358.09
352.06
486.53
290.78
211.91
483.66

360.19
349.46
470.09
295.40
215.43
484.96

358.00
347.20
473.11
293.57
214.76
482.72

362.70
353.36
484.61
296.23
216.88
484.78

368.74
358.75
484.82
302.31
219.16
496.81

362.40
353.82
482.09
296.61
216.75
485.90

361.49
351.05
488.37
298.03
218.74
481.86

363.20
353.13
528.38
300 59
218.89
479.62

360 12
352.91
518 20
292 94
211 34
479.12

367.04
484.36
604.58

378.86
502.74
620.10

374.07
495.26
615.96

374.60
499.38
605.66

370.50
502.67
622.16

374.50
502.07
618.79

381.00
501.18
623.30

386.83
505.26
626.22

384.05
506.15
621.08

388.22
517.59
626.01

393.43
520.94
627.53

382.28
514.79
643.68

384.05
513.62
628.53

386.46
516 11
637.03

384 80
521 14
629.09

350.99
216.50

361.79
217.71

356.75
213.81

360.50
215.80

361.38
221.68

357.21
217.93

362.97
216.53

364.42
218.22

362.66
217.86

367.38
222.46

374.78
227.84

368.99
224.92

366.03
222.83

367.33
226.50

359 45
223.25

MANUFACTURING
Current d o lla rs .....................................
Constant (1977) d o lla rs .........................

Durable goods ....................

Nondurable goods.........................
Food and kindred p roducts....................................
Tobacco m anufactures...........................................
Textile mill p ro d u cts.................................................
Apparel and other textile products........................
Paper and allied products .....................
Printing and publishing...............................
Chemicals and allied products.....................
Petroleum and coal p roducts.............
Rubber and miscellaneous
plastics pro d u cts ...................................
Leather and leather products ..............

TRANSPORTATION AND PUBLIC
UTILITIES................................

450.30

455.90

450.45

450.06

455.86

457.43

457.43

457.47

456.69

461.78

459.03

453.95

460.21

459.43

457.45

WHOLESALE TRADE.....................

351.74

359.04

355.81

356.74

358.82

358.05

358.82

358.87

359.04

363.26

363.65

361.57

363.86

363.09

363.86

RETAIL TRADE ..........................

174.64

175.78

173.69

174.60

176.71

178.50

178.50

176.66

175.16

176.64

178.48

172.39

174.53

175.13

176.95

FINANCE, INSURANCE, AND REAL
ESTATE .........................

289.02

304.41

301.76

301.65

306.34

302.95

304.88

304.67

306.71

313.42

309.64

313.17

317.92

316.32

314.13

SERVICES ...........................

256.43 J 265.20

263.09

262.44

264.06

263.71

264.04

264.54

266.33

269.24

269.24

269.19 J 271.64

271.32

269.84

p — n m iim inln & 6
- preliminary

NOTE: See “ Notes on the data” for a description of the most recent benchmark
revision.

17. The Hourly Earnings Index for production or nonsupervisory workers on private nonagricultural payrolls by
industry
Not seasonally adjusted

Seasonally adjusted
®
<9- o>

Industry

Apr.
1986

Feb.
1987

PRIVATE SECTOR (In current dollars).........................

168.4

171.8

171.8

172.2

Mining1 .................................................................................
C o nstruction........................................................................
Manufacturing .....................................................................
Transportation and public u tilitie s ...................................
Wholesale trade’ ................................................................
Retail trade .........................................................................
Finance, insurance, and real e s ta te '..............................
S e rvice s...............................................................................

181.2
149.9
172.2
169.0
171.3
157.8
178.9
173.1

181.4
151.1
174.1
173.0
175.9
159.0
187.5
179.1

181.3
152.3
174.1
172.7
175.6
159.1
186.9
179.0

180.9
152.7
175.2
173.3
176.1
159.5
185.6
178.8

PRIVATE SECTOR (In constant dollars) ......................

95.4

94.8

94.3

-

Mar.
1987»

1 This series is not seasonally adjusted because the seasonal component is small
relative to the trend-cycle, irregular components, or both, and consequently cannot
be separated with sufficient precision.
- Data not available.


https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

Apr.
1986

Dec.
1986

Jan.
1987

Feb.
1987

168.4

170.6

170.7

171.4

171.8

172.2

150.6
172.0
169.3

153.9
173.5
171.2

151.7
173.4
171.5

151.1
173.9
172.3

153.2
173.9
172.9

153.5
175.0
173.6

Mar.
1987p

Apr.
1987p

-

_

_

_

_

_

157.3

159.3

158.4

158.5

158.8

159.0

-

_

_

_

_

_

173.1

175.8

176.9

178.4

179.0

178.8

95.3

95.0

94.4

94.4

94.2

-

p = preliminary,
NOTE: See “ Notes on the data" for a description of the most recent benchmark
revision.

83

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW

June 1987 •

Current Labor Statistics: Employment Data

18. Indexes of diffusion: industries in which employment increased, data seasonally adjusted
(In percent)
Jan.

Time span and year

Feb.

Mar.

Apr.

June

May

Over
1985
1986
1987

1-month span:
..............................................................................
..............................................................................
..............................................................................

52.4
59.7
51.6

47.8
53.5
60.8

53.8
45.1
52.2

49.2
54.1
59.2

51.6
49.2
_

47.0
46.2

Over
1985
1986
1987

3-month span:
..............................................................................
..............................................................................
..............................................................................

51.1
58.1
60.5

49.7
54.3
56.8

46.2
51.1
60.8

46.2
49.7

45.1
48.4

51.4
44.9

Over
1985
1986
1987

6-month span:
..............................................................................
..............................................................................
..............................................................................

49.2
53.8
64.9

47.8
53.8

43.0
47.6

45.9
45.9

44.3
45.9

Over
1985
1986
1987

12-month span:
..............................................................................
..............................................................................
..............................................................................

46.2
50.3

45.7
51.1

46.8
52.2

43.8
52.4

44.9
52.7

- Data not available.
NOTE: Figures are the percent of industries with employment rising. (Half of
the unchanged components are counted as rising.) Data are centered within the

19.

_

_

_

Sept.

Oct.

Nov.

50.8
54.9
_

61.9
55.1
_

57.6
62.7
_

59.5
62.4

55.1
54.9
_

55.9
62.4
_

61.4
65.1
_

60.5
63.0

44.3
48.6

48.9
49.7

50.8
55.4

54.1
61.1

57.0
60.5

57.0
61.1

55.9
61.1

47.3
54.6

47.6
53.5

48.9
54.3

47.3
57.3

49.5
57.0

48.9

48.6

-

_

_

-

_

-

-

_

51.1
54.1

_

Employment status

1978

1979

1980

1981

1982

1983

1984

1985

1986

Noninstitutional pop ulation ........................................

163,541

166,460

169,349

171,775

173,939

175,891

178,080

179,912

182,293

Labor force:
Total (num ber)........................................................
Percent of pop ulation...........................................

103,882
63.5

106,559
64.0

108,544
64.1

110,315
64.2

111,872
64.3

113,226
64.4

115,241
64.7

117,167
65.1

119,540
65.6

97,679
59.7
1,631

100,421
60.3
1,597

100,907
59.6
1,604

102,042
59.4
1,645

101,194
58.2
1,668

102,510
58.3
1,676

106,702
59.9
1,697

108,856
60.5
1,706

111,303
61.1
1,706

96,048
3,387
92,661

98,824
3,347
95,477

99,303
3,364
95,938

100,397
3,368
97,030

99,526
3,401
96,125

100,834
3,383
97,450

105,005
3,321
101,685

107,150
3,179
103,971

109,597
3,163
106,434

Unemployed:
Total (num ber)................................................
Percent of labor fo r c e ...................................

6,202
6.0

6,137
5.8

7,637
7.0

8,273
7.5

10,678
9.5

10,717
9.5

8,539
7.4

8,312
7.1

8,237
6.9

Not in labor force (number) ...................................

59,659

59,900

60,806

61,460

62,067

62,665

62,839

62,744

62,752

Annual data: Employment levels by industry

(Numbers in thousands)
Industry

1978

1979

1980

1981

1982

1983

1984

1985

1986

Total em ploym ent...........................................................................
Private s e c to r................................................................................
G oods-producing.......................................................................
M in in g ....................................................................................
Construction .........................................................................
M anufacturing.......................................................................

86,697
71,026
25,585
851
4,229
20,505

89,823
73,876
26,461
958
4,463
21,040

90,406
74,166
25,658
1,027
4,346
20,285

91,156
75,126
25,497
1,139
4,188
20,170

89,566
73,729
23,813
1,128
3,905
18,781

90,200
74,330
23,334
952
3,948
18,434

94,496
78,472
24,727
966
4,383
19,378

97,614
81,199
24,930
930
4,687
19,314

100,167
83,432
24,938
792
4,960
19,186

Service-producing......................................................................
Transportation and public u tilitie s ......................................
Wholesale trade ....................................................................
Retail trade ............................................................................
Finance, insurance, and real e s ta te ..................................
S e rvices....................................... ...........................................

61,113
4,923
4,969
14,573
4,724
16,252

63,363
5,136
5,204
14,989
4,975
17,112

64,748
5,146
5,275
15,035
5,160
17,890

65,659
5,165
5,358
15,189
5,298
18,619

65,753
5,082
5,278
15,179
5,341
19,036

66,866
4,954
5,268
15,613
5,468
19,694

69,769
5,159
5,555
16,545
5,689
20,797

72,684
5,242
5,740
17,360
5,953
21,974

75,229
5,286
5,853
17,978
6,305
23,072

G overnm ent..........................................................................
F ederal.............................................................................
State .................................................................................
L o c a l................................................................................

15,672
2,753
3,474
9,446

15,947
2,773
3,541
9,633

16,241
2,866
3,610
9,765

16,031
2,772
3,640
9,619

15,837
2,739
3,640
9,458

15,869
2,774
3,662
9,434

16,024
2,807
3,734
9,482

16,415
2,875
3,848
9,692

16,735
2,899
3,937
9,899

NOTE: See “ Notes on the data” for a description of the most recent benchmark revision.

Digitized for84
FRASER
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

-

spans. Data for the 2 most recent months shown in each span are preliminary.
See the “ Definitions” in this section. See “ Notes on the data” for a description of
the most recent benchmark revision.

(Numbers in thousands)

20.

-

_

Annual data: Employment status of the noninstitutional population

Employed:
Total (num ber).................................................
Percent of population .....................................
Resident Armed Forces...............................
Civilian
Total .............................................................
A g riculture................................................
Nonagricultural industries.......................

Dec.

_

49.7
47.3

_

_

56.8
54.3

56.2
54.6

_

_

Aug.

July

21. Annual data: Average hours and earnings of production or nonsupervisory workers on nonagricultural
payrolls, by Industry
Industry

1978

1979

1980

1981

1982

1983

1984

1985

1986

35.8
5.69
203.70

35.7
6.16
219.91

35.3
6.66
235.10

35.2
7.25
255.20

34.8
7.68
267.26

35.0
8.02
280.70

35.2
8.32
292.86

34.9
8.57
299.09

34.8
8.75
304.50

43.4
7.67
332.88

43.0
8.49
365.07

43.3
9.17
397.06

43.7
10.04
438.75

42.7
10.77
459.88

42.5
11.28
479.40

43.3
11.63
503.58

43.4
11.98
519.93

42.3
12.45
526.64

36.8
8.66
318.69

37.0
9.27
342.99

37.0
9.94
367.78

36.9
10.82
399.26

36.7
11.63
426.82

37.1
11.94
442.97

37.8
12.13
458.51

37.7
12.31
464.09

37.5
12.42
465.75

40.4
6.17
249.27

40.2
6.70
269.34

39.7
7.27
288.62

39.8
7.99
318.00

38.9
8.49
330.26

40.1
8.83
354.08

40.7
9.19
374.03

40.5
9.53
385.97

40.7
9.73
396.01

40.0
7.57
302.80

39.9
8.16
325.58

39.6
8.87
351.25

39.4
9.70
382.18

39.0
10.32
402.48

39.0
10.79
420.81

39.4
11.12
438.13

39.5
11.40
450.30

39.2
11.63
455.90

38.8
5.88
228,14

38.8
6.39
247.93

38.5
6.96
267.96

38.5
7.56
291.06

38.3
8.09
309.85

38.5
8.55
329.18

38.5
8.89
342.27

38.4
9.16
351.74

38.4
9.35
359.04

31.0
4.20
130.20

30.6
4.53
138.62

30.2
4.88
147.38

30.1
5.25
158.03

29.9
5.48
163.85

29.8
5.74
171.05

29.8
5.85
174.33

29.4
5.94
174.64

29.2
6.02
175.78

36.4
4.89
178.00

36.2
5.27
190.77

36.2
5.79
209.60

36.3
6.31
229.05

36.2
6.78
245.44

36.2
7.29
263.90

36.5
7.63
278.50

36.4
7.94
289.02

36.5
8.34
304.41

32.8
4.99
163.67

32.7
5.36
175.27

32.6
5.85
190.71

32.6
6.41
208.97

32.6
6.92
225.59

32.7
7.31
239.04

32.6
7.59
247.43

32.5
7.89
256.43

32.5
8.16
265.20

Private sector
Average weekly h o u rs .................................................................
Average hourly earnings (in d ollars).........................................
Average weekly earnings (in dollars) .......................................

Mining
Average weekly hours ..........................................................
Average hourly earnings (in dollars) ...................................
Average weekly earnings (in d o lla rs )..................................

Construction
Average weekly hours ...........................................................
Average hourly earnings (in dollars) ...................................
Average weekly earnings (in d o lla rs )..................................

Manufacturing
Average weekly hours ...........................................................
Average hourly earnings (in dollars) ...................................
Average weekly earnings (in d o lla rs )..................................

Transportation and public utilities
Average weekly hours ...........................................................
Average hourly earnings (in d o lla rs )...................................
Average weekly earnings (in d o lla rs )..................................

Wholesale trade
Average weekly hours ...........................................................
Average hourly earnings (in dollars) ...................................
Average weekly earnings (in d o lla rs )..................................

Retail trade
Average weekly hours ...........................................................
Average hourly earnings (in d o lla rs )...................................
Average weekly earnings (in d o lla rs )..................................

Finance, Insurance, and real estate
Average weekly hours ...........................................................
Average hourly earnings (in d o lla rs )...................................
Average weekly earnings (in d o lla rs )..................................

Services
Average weekly hours ...........................................................
Average hourly earnings (in dollars) ...................................
Average weekly earnings (in d o lla rs )..................................


https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
22.

June 1987 •

Current Labor Statistics: Compensation and Industrial Relations Data

Employment Cost Index, compensation,' by occupation and industry group

(June 1981=100)
1987

1986

1985

Series
Mar.

June

Sept.

Dec.

Mar.

June

Sept.

Dec.

Mar.

Percent change
3
months
ended

12
months
ended

Mar. 1987

Civilian workers 2 ...................................................................

125.5

126.4

128.4

129.2

130.6

131.5

133.0

133.8

135.0

0.9

3.4

Workers, by occupational group:
White-collar workers .................................................................
Blue-collar w o rkers....................................................................
Service occupations..................................................................
Workers, by industry division:
Goods-producing.........................................................................
Manufacturing ............................................................................
Service-producing .......................................................................
S e rvices.....................................................................................
Health se rvice s......................................................................
H o spitals.................................................................................
Public administration 3 .............................................................
Nonmanufacturing.......................................................................

127.3
122.2
127.8

128.3
123.1
128.0

130.7
124.4
130.9

131.6
124.9
131.8

133.1
126.2
133.1

134.2
126.8
133.7

136.0
127.8
135.4

136.9
128.4
136.6

138.5
129.1
138.0

1.2
.5
1.0

4.1
2.3
3.7

123.2
123.9
126.9
131.9
130.1
126.2

123.9
124.6
127.9
132.6
130.3
127.2

124.9
125.5
130.7
136.4
134.2
129.7

125.5
126.0
131.5
137.1
134.8
130.6

126.9
127.7
132.9
138.8
136.8
131.9

128.1
128.7
133.7
139.4
138.0
132.8

128.8
129.3
135.6
142.4
140.6
134.6

129.5
130.1
136.5
143.6
141.6
135.4

130.2
130.7
138.1
145.2
144.1
136.9

.5
.5
1.2
1.1
1.2
1.0
1.8
1.1

2.6
2.3
3.9
4.6
4.7
5.3
3.8

Private industry workers....................................................

124.2

125.2

126.8

127.5

128.9

129.9

130.8

131.6

132.9

1.0

3.1

125.8
-

127.1
-

128.8
-

129.8
-

131.3
-

132.5
-

133.5
-

134.3
-

136.1
-

1.3
1.2
1.8
1.1

3.7
3.7
4.3
2.8

121.9
126.3

122.8
126.5

124.0
128.8

124.4
129.5

125.7
130.9

126.3
131.1

127.2
132.3

127.8
133.5

128.4
134.7

1.1
.5
.5
.5
.5
.3
.9

3.4
2.1
2.1
2.2
2.6
1.8
2.9

123.0
123.9
125.2
-

123.8
124.6
126.4
-

124.6
125.5
128.7
-

125.3
126.0
129.4
-

126.7
127.7
130.8
*
-

128.6
129.3
132.7
-

129.9
130.7
135.3
"

.5
.9
.5
.3
.8
1.3
.9
1.0
.9
.8
1.2
.6
2.6
1.5
1.3
1.1

2.5
3.4
2.3
1.9
3.4
3.4
1.9
1.2
2.6
2.8
3.9
2.3
4.9
4.3
4.9
“

Workers, by occupational group:
White-collar w o rkers...............................................................
Professional specialty and technical occu p a tio n s..........
Executive, administrative, and managerial occupations
Sales occupations.................................................................
Administrative support occupations, including
c le ric a l...................................................................................
Blue-collar w o rk e rs .................................................................
Precision production, craft, and repair occu p a tio n .........
Machine operators, assemblers, and in s p e c to rs............
Transportation and material moving occupations...........
Handlers, equipment cleaners, helpers, and laborers ....
Service occup ations...............................................................
Workers, by industry division:
G oods-producing......................................................................
Construction ............................................................................
M anufacturing..........................................................................
Durables .................................................................................
N ondurables...........................................................................
Service-producing ....................................................................
Transportation and public utilities........................................
Transportation........................................................................
Public u tilitie s .........................................................................
Wholesale and retail tra d e ....................................................
Wholesale trade ....................................................................
Retail trade ............................................................................
Finance, insurance, and real e s ta te ....................................
Service .....................................................................................
Health se rvice s......................................................................
Hospitals ...............................................................................

-

-

-

-

-

127.8
128.7
131.6
-

“

129.2
130.1
133.5
-

Nonmanufacturing ..................................................................

124.4

125.6

127.6

128.4

129.7

130.6

131.7

132.4

134.1

1.3

3.4

State and local government workers ..................................

131.7

132.0

136.5

137.5

138.9

139.7

143.6

144.7

145.9

.8

5.0

132.5
128.1

132.9
128.5

137.6
131.9

138.6
132.7

140.0
134.7

140.5
136.3

145.0
138.5

146.0
139.5

147.2
140.8

.8
.9

5.1
4.5

132.8
131.1
133.4
134.4
130.1

133.2
131.5
133.7
134.6
130.3

137.9
134.1
139.1
140.9
134.2

139.1
135.2
140.3
142.0
134.8

140.4
136.8
141.5
143.0
136.8

140.8
137.9
141.7
143.2
138.0

145.5
139.4
147.6
149.4
140.6

146.6
141.1
148.4
150.3
141.6

147.3
142.5
148.9
150.5
144.1

.5
1.0
.8
.3
.1
1.8

4.9
4.2
4.1
5.2
5.2
5.3

Workers, by occupational group:
White-collar w o rkers...............................................................
Blue-collar w o rk e rs .................................................................
Workers, by industry division:
Services ...................................................................................
Hospitals and other services4 ...........................................
Health se rvic e s ...................................................................
Schools .................................................................................
Elementary and s econ dary.............................................
Public administration3 .............................................................

1 Cost (cents per hour worked) measured in the Employment Cost Index
consists of wages, salaries, and employer cost of employee benefits.
2 Consist of private industry workers (excluding farm and household workers)
and State and local government (excluding Federal Government) workers.

86FRASER
Digitized for
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

-

-

3 Consist of legislative, judicial, administrative, and regulatory
4 Includes, for example, library, social, and health services.
- Data not available.

activities.

23.

Employment Cost Index, wages and salaries, by occupation and industry group

(June 1981 = 100)
1985

1986

1987

Series
Mar.

June

Sept.

Dec.

Mar.

June

Sept.

Dec.

Mar.

Percent change
3
months
ended

12
months
ended

Mar. 1987

Civilian workers 1 ..........................................................................
Workers, by occupational group:
White-collar workers .................................................................
Blue-collar w o rkers....................................................................
Service occupations..................................................................

123.1

124.2

126.3

127.0

128.3

129.3

130.7

131.5

132.8

1.0

3.5

125.2
119.3
124.8

126.4
120.5
125.3

128.8
122.0
128.0

129.8
122.3
128.6

131.2
123.4
129.8

132.4
124.1
130.0

134.1
125.0
131.7

135.0
125.6
132.8

136.6
126.2
134.2

1.2
.5
1.1

4.1
2.3
3.4

Workers, by industry division
G oods-producing.........................................................................
Manufacturing ............................................................................
Service-producing.......................................................................
S e rvice s...................................................................................
Health se rvices......................................................................
H ospitals.............................................................................
Public administration 2 ...........................................................
Nonmanufacturing .....................................................................

120.3
121.0
124.7
129.7
127.0
123.9

121.5
122.3
125.8
130.5
127.2
125.0

122.5
123.2
128.6
134.2
131.4
127.6

123.1
123.8
129.4
134.8
132.0
128.4

124.4
125.3
130.7
136.4
_
-

125.6
126.5
131.5
137.0
_
_

127.0
127.9
134.2
141.1
_
_

127.8
128.7
135.8
142.7

134.6
130.4

138.1
133.0

140.5
134.5

.6
.6
1.2
1.1
1.3
1.2
1.7
1.1

2.7
2.7
3.9
4.6
5.0

133.8
129.6

126.3
127.2
133.4
139.9
_
137.5
132.2

5.0
3.8

122.0

123.3

124.9

125.6

126.8

127.9

128.8

129.5

130.8

1.0

3.2

124.0
127.7

125.5
128.7

127.3
131.2

128.3
131.5

129.6
132.7

131.1
134.0

132.0
135.4

132.7
136.4

134.6
138.4

1.4
1.5

3.9
4.3

123.8
116.3

126.5
117.4

127.7
119.3

128.4
122.5

130.5
122.4

132.1
124.3

132.4
125.2

133.5
124.9

135.6
126.7

1.6
1.4

3.9
3.5

124.7

125.6

127.1

127.9

129.6

130.8

131.7

132.7

134.3

1.2

3.6

Private industry w o rk e rs ......................................................
Workers, by occupational group:
White-collar w o rke rs ............................................................
Professional specialty and technical occup ations......
Executive, administrative, and managerial
occu p a tio n s......................................................................
Sales occupations.............................................................
Administrative support occupations, including
c le ric a l...............................................................................
Blue-collar w o rk e rs ..............................................................
Precision production, craft, and repair
occup ations.....................................................................
Machine operators, assemblers, and in spectors........
Transportation and material moving occupations.......
Handlers, equipment cleaners, helpers, and
la b o re rs.............................................................................
Service occu p a tio n s............................................................

_

_

119.1

120.3

121.7

122.0

123.1

123.7

124.5

125.1

125.6

.4

2.0

120.8
118.9
114.5

122.0
120.1
115.7

123.7
121.1
117.7

123.8
121.6
117.8

125.3
122.6
118.0

125.7
123.6
118.9

126.7
124.1
119.8

127.4
124.9
120.1

127.9
125.5
120.5

.4

.5
.3

2.1
2.4
2.1

116.7
123.8

118.5
124.4

118.6
126.3

119.8
126.6

120.0
128.0

120.3
128.0

120.9
128.9

121.4
130.1

121.9
131.4

1.0

Workers, by industry division:
G oods-producing...................................................................
Construction .........................................................................
M anufacturing.......................................................................
D u rab les.............................................................................
Nondurables.......................................................................
Service-producing..................................................................
Transportation and public u tilitie s ..................................
Transportation..................................................................
Public utilities....................................................................
Wholesale and retail tra d e ..............................................
Wholesale trade .............................................................
Retail tra d e ....................................................................
Finance, insurance, and real e s ta te ..............................
S e rvices..................................................................
Health s e rv ic e s ................................................................
H o spitals..........................................................................

120.2
115.5
121.0
120.6
121.6
123.4
121.7
118.8
123.7
116.9
122.0
129.9
-

121.4
116.6
122.3
122.0
122.6
124.8
122.8
121.1
126.8
118.9
121.7
131.0
-

122.3
117.3
123.2
122.7
124.0
127.0
124.8
122.7
127.7
120.8
124.1
133.9
_

122.9
117.9
123.8
123.4
124.6
127.8
125.2
_
_
123.7
128.3
121.9
126.5
134.1
_

124.2
118.3
125.3
124.8
126.1
129.0
126.3
_
_

125.4
119.8
126.5
125.8
127.9
129.9
126.6
_
_

126.1
120.5
127.2
126.4
128.5
130.9
127.3
_
_

126.8
120.8
127.9
127.2
129.3
131.6
127.5

127.5
121.7
128.7
127.7
130.5
133.4
128.1

124.5
129.7
122.5
126.6
136.2

125.8
131.2
123.7
128.0
136.9

126.5
131.8
124.4
129.0
138.2

126.9
133.1
124.5
130.0
139.5

127.9
134.8
125.2
133.5
141.8

Nonmanufacturing...............................................................

122.6

123.9

State and local government w o rk e rs ................................
Workers, by occupational group
White-collar w o rk e rs .................................................
Blue-collar w o rk e rs ..............................................................
Workers, by industry division
Services ...............................................................
Hospitals and other services 3 .......................................
Health services .........................................................
S ch o o ls............................................................
Elementary and seco n d a ry..........................................
Public administration 2 .........................................................

1
2

-

-

125.9

-

_

-

_

-

_

-

_

-

_
_

_
-

1.6
2.7

.6
.7
.6
.4
.9
1.4
.5
.3
.7
.8
1.3
.6
2.7
1.6
1.4
1.3

2.7
2.9
2.7
2.3
3.5
3.4
1.4
.4
2.7
2.7
3.9
2.2
5.5
4.1
5.2

126.6

127.7

128.7

129.7

130.4

131.9

1.2

3.3

128.4

128.7

133.2

134.2

135.5

136.0

140.4

141.4

142.5

.8

5.2

129.3
124.2

129.6
124.5

134.3
127.9

135.3
128.4

136.6
130.4

137.0
131.9

141.8
134.5

142.8
135.1

143.9
136.3

.8
.9

5.3
4.5

129.4
127.7
129.9
130.8
127.0

129.7
128.0
130.2
131.1
127.2

134.5
130.2
135.8
137.5
131.4

135.6
130.9
_
137.0
138.5
132.0

136.8
132.4
_

137.1
133.3
_

142.1
135.8

143.3
137.3

143.9
138.6

.4

138.0
139.4
133.8

138.2
139.4
134.6

144.1
145.7
137.5

145.1
146.4
138.1

145.5
146.5
140.5

5.2
4.7
4.1
5.4
5.1
5.0

Consists of private industry workers (excluding farm and household workers)
and State and local government (excluding Federal Government) workers.
Consists of legislative, judicial, administrative, and regulatory activities.


https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

-

_
_

.4

_

_

3 Includes, for example, library, social and health services,
- Data not available.

.9
.7
.3
.1
1.7

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW

June 1987 •

Current Labor Statistics: Compensation and Industrial Relations Data

24. Employment Cost Index, private nonfarm workers, by bargaining status, region, and area size
(June 1981 =10 0)
1987

1986

1985

Percent change
3
months
ended

Series
Mar.

June

Sept.

Dec.

Mar.

June

Sept.

Dec.

Mar.

12
months
ended

Mar. 1987

COMPENSATION
Workers, by bargaining status1
Union ..............................................................................................
G oods-producing.......................................................................
Service-producing......................................................................
Manufacturing ............................................................................
Nonmanufacturing .....................................................................

124.8
123.6
126.7
124.2
125.3

125.5
123.9
128.0
124.2
126.6

126.5
124.6
129.5
125.0
127.8

127.1
125.2
130.2
125.5
128.6

128.4
126.4
131.6
127.0
129.7

128.7
126.7
131.9
126.9
130.4

129.4
127.3
132.8
127.5
131.2

129.8
127.5
133.4
127.9
131.5

130.5
128.0
134.4
128.0
132.6

0.5
.4
.7
.1
.8

1.6
1.3
2.1
.8
2.2

N o nunion .......................................................................................
G oods-producing.......................................................................
Service-producing......................................................................
Manufacturing ............................................................................
Nonmanufacturing .....................................................................

123.8
122.4
124.7
123.6
123.9

125.0
123.5
125.8
124.8
125.1

126.8
124.4
128.3
125.7
127.3

127.5
125.1
129.0
126.3
128.1

129.0
126.7
130.4
128.1
129.5

130.2
128.2
131.4
129.7
130.4

131.2
129.1
132.5
130.4
131.6

132.1
130.0
133.4
131.4
132.5

133.6
130.8
135.3
132.2
134.3

1.1
.6
1.4
.6
1.4

3.6
3.2
3.8
3.2
3.7

125.1
124.2
122.0
126.8

126.4
125.2
122.7
127.9

128.8
126.5
124.2
129.1

129.9
127.2
124.6
129.8

131.6
128.7
125.9
130.8

133.3
129.6
126.2
131.6

134.2
130.7
127.3
132.1

135.2
131.4
128.1
132.8

137.4
132.1
129.1
134.1

1.6
.5
.8
1.0

4.4
2.6
2.5
2.5

124.7
121.4

125.7
122.5

127.3
123.9

128.1
123.9

129.5
125.5

130.5
126.4

131.4
127.2

132.2
127.9

133.5
129.0

1.0
.9

3.1
2.8

Union ..............................................................................................
G oods-producing.......................................................................
Service-producing......................................................................
M anufacturing............................................................................
Nonmanufacturing .....................................................................

121.7
120.0
124.2
120.4
122.8

123.0
121.3
125.7
121.7
124.1

124.1
122.2
127.1
122.8
125.3

124.7
122.7
127.8
123.3
125.9

125.6
123.4
129.0
124.2
126.9

126.1
124.1
129.3
124.6
127.4

126.9
124.5
130.5
125.0
128.5

127.2
124.8
130.9
125.5
128.7

127.7
125.0
131.7
125.6
129.5

.4
.2
.6
.1
.6

1.7
1.3
2.1
1.1
2.0

N o nunion .......................................................................................
Goods-producing .......................................................................
Service-producing......................................................................
Manufacturing ............................................................................
N onm anufacturing.....................................................................

122.1
120.2
123.1
121.5
122.3

123.4
121.4
124.4
122.8
123.6

125.2
122.3
126.9
123.7
125.9

125.9
123.0
127.7
124.4
126.6

127.3
124.5
128.9
126.1
127.8

128.5
126.1
129.9
127.7
128.9

129.4
127.0
130.8
128.5
129.8

130.3
127.8
131.7
129.5
130.6

131.8
128.8
133.6
130.6
132.4

1.2
.8
1.4
.8
1.4

3.5
3.5
3.6
3.6
3.6

123.0
122.3
119.6
124.0

124.6
123.4
121.1
125.1

126.8
124.8
122.5
126.6

128.1
125.4
122.9
127.1

129.2
126.8
124.2
128.1

131.3
127.8
124.4
128.9

132.3
128.8
125.3
129.3

133.1
129.4
126.2
130.1

135.4
130.1
127.4
131.2

1.7
.5
1.0
.8

4.8
2.6
2.6
2.4

122.4
119.6

123.8
120.6

125.5
121.9

126.3
122.0

127.4
123.6

128.5
124.5

129.4
125.0

130.2
125.6

131.6
126.6

1.1
.8

3.3
2.4

Workers, by region 1
N ortheast.......................................................................................
South ..............................................................................................
Midwest (formerly North C e ntral)..............................................
W e s t................................................................................................

Workers, by area size 1
Metropolitan a re a s .......................................................................
Other a re a s ...................................................................................

WAGES AND SALARIES
Workers, by bargaining status 1

Workers, by region 1
N o rtheast.......................................................................................
South ..............................................................................................
Midwest (formerly North C e ntral)..............................................
W e s t................................................................................................

Workers, by area size1
Metropolitan a re a s .......................................................................
Other a re a s ...................................................................................

1 The indexes are calculated differently from those for the occupation and
industry groups. For a detailed description of the index calculation, see the

Digitized for
88 FRASER
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

M o n th ly L a b o r R e v ie w Technical
Employment Cost Index,” May 1982.

Note,

“ Estimation

procedures

for

the

25. Specified compensation and wage adjustments from contract settlements, and effective wage adjustments, private
industry collective bargaining situations covering 1,000 workers or more (in percent)
Quarterly average

Annual average

1984

1987

1986

1985

Measure
1985
II

III

IV

I

II

IV

III

lp

Specified adjustments:
Total compensation 1 adjustm ents,2 settlements
covering 5,000 workers or more:
First year of c o n tra c t...............................................
Annual rate over life of c o n tra c t............................

3.6
2.8

2.6
2.7

3.5
3.4

2.0
3.0

2.0
1.4

0.6
1.2

0.7
1.6

0.7
1.2

2.7
2.4

1.7
2.4

Wage adjustments, settlements covering 1,000
workers or more:
First year of c o n tra c t...............................................
Annual rate over life of c o n tra c t............................

2.4
2.4

2.3
2.7

2.5
2.8

2.0
3.1

2.1
1.9

.8
1.5

1.3
2.0

.8
1.5

2.0
2.1

.9
1.7

3.7
.8

3.3
.7

.8
.2

1.2
.2

.5
.1

.6
4.0

.7
.2

.5
.1

.5
.2

.4
4.0

2.0
.9

1.8
.7

.5
.1

.5
.4

.2
.1

.4
.2

.6
4.0

.5

4Q

.2
.1

.3
.1

Effective adjustments:
Total effective wage adjustment 3 ............................
From settlements reached in period .....................
Deferred from settlements reached in earlier
p e rio d s.......................................................................
From cost-of-living-adjustments c la u s e s ..............

1 Compensation includes wages, salaries, and employers’ cost of employee
benefits when contract is negotiated.
2 Adjustments are the net result of increases, decreases, and no changes in
compensation or wages.

3 Because of rounding, total may not equal sum of parts.
4 Between -0.0 5 and 0.05 percent.
p = preliminary.

26. Average specified compensation and wage adjustments, major collective bargaining settlements in private
industry situations covering 1,000 workers or more during 4-quarter periods (in percent)
Average for four quarters endingMeasure

1985
II

1986

III

IV

I

II

1987
III

IV

|p

Specified total compensation adjustments, settlements covering 5,000
workers or more, all industries:
First year of c o n tra c t...................................................................................
Annual rate over life of c o n tra c t................................................................

3.4
2.7

3.1
2.7

2.6
2.7

2.3
2.5

1.4
2.0

0.9
1.4

1.1
1.6

1.2
1.7

2.4
2.3
2.4
2.4
1.5
2.8

2.4
1.9
2.7
2.5
1.8
3.0

2.3
1.6
2.7
2.7
2.5
2.8

2.0
1.6
2.2
2.5
2.5
2.5

1.6
1.8
1.5
2.2
2.5
2.1

1.2
2.2
.8
1.7
2.0
1.6

1.2
1.9
.9
1.8
1.7
1.8

1.2
1.9
.8
1.8
1.8
1.8

2.0
1.9
2.2
1.5
1.0
3.0

1.5
1.5
1.5
1.6
1.4
2.4

.8
.8
.9
1.8
2.1
1.6

.8
.8
.9
1.8
2.1
1.5

.1
.7
-.4
1.4
2.0
.9

-1 .0
1.1
-2.0
.3
1.1
-.1

-1.2
1.3
-2.8
.2
.9
-.2

-1.7
1.2
-3.6
-.1
.8
-.6

2.7
4.3
2.5
2.9
3.8
2.8

3.2
4.0
3.0
3.3
3.9
3.2

3.3
3.6
3.3
3.3
3.6
3.3

2.8
3.5
2.7
3.0
3.6
2.8

2.6
3.4
2.4
2.8
3.3
2.6

2.1
2.7
1.9
2.3
2.5
2.2

2.0
2.1
2.0
2.3
2.1
2.4

2.2
2.2
2.2
2.4
2.2
2.5

1.6

2.3
1.1
2.4
2.5
1.2
2.6

2.3
1.4
2.4
2.6
1.6
2.6

2.2
1.4
2.3
2.5
1.6
2.5

2.4
1.6
2.4
2.5
1.4
2.6

Specified wage adjustments, settlements covering 1,000 workers or
more:
All industries
First year of contract ................................................................................
Contracts with COLA c la u s e s ...............................................................
Contracts without COLA clauses .........................................................
Annual rate over life of c o n tra c t.............................................................
Contracts with COLA c la u s e s ...............................................................
Contracts without COLA clauses .........................................................
Manufacturing
First year of contract ................................................................................
Contracts with COLA c la u s e s ...............................................................
Contracts without COLA clauses .........................................................
Annual rate over life of c o n tra c t.............................................................
Contracts with COLA c la u s e s ...............................................................
Contracts without COLA clauses .........................................................
Nonmanufacturing
First year of contract ................................................................................
Contracts with COLA c la u s e s ...............................................................
Contracts without COLA clauses .........................................................
Annual rate over life of c o n tra c t.............................................................
Contracts with COLA c la u s e s ...............................................................
Contracts without COLA clauses .........................................................
Construction
First year of contract ................................................................................
Contracts with COLA c la u s e s ...............................................................
Contracts without COLA clauses .........................................................
Annual rate over life of c o n tra c t.............................................................
Contracts with COLA c la u s e s ...............................................................
Contracts without COLA clauses .........................................................
1 Data do not meet publication standards.


https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

1.1
9.2
1.0
1.7
4.6
1.7

1.0
(’ )
O

1.5
(’ )
O

1.7
O
(')

O
(’ )
2.1

(’ )
(')
= preliminary.

2.2
(’ )
(’ )

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW

June 1987 •

Current Labor Statistics:

Compensation and Industrial Relations Data

27. Average effective wage adjustments, private industry collective bargaining situations covering 1,000
workers or more during 4-quarter periods (in percent)
Average for four quarters ending1987

1986

1985

Effective wage adjustment

II

III

IV

lp

III

IV

I

3.5
.9
1.8
.8

3.3
.7
1.8
.7

3.1
.6
1.7
.8

2.9
.5
1.8
.7

2.3
.5
1.6
.2

2.3
.5
1.7
.2

2.0
.4
1.5
.1

4.3
2.8
3.7
2.8

4.1
3.4
3.7
2.2

4.0
2.9
3.5
2.5

3.8
2.5
3.4
2.0

3.1
1.7
3.8
1.0

2.8
1.6
3.9
1.0

2.4
1.2
3.7
.6

For all workers:1
T o ta l................................................................................................................
From settlements reached in period ......................................................
Deferred from settlements reached in earlier period ..........................
From cost-of-living-adjustments c la u s e s ...............................................

For workers receiving changes:
T o ta l................................................................................................................
From settlements reached in period .....................................................
Deferred from settlements reached in earlier period ..........................
From cost-of-living-adjustments c la u s e s ...............................................
Because of rounding, total may not equal sum of parts.

p

= preliminary.

28. Specified compensation and wage adjustments from contract settlements, and effective wage adjustments, State and
local government collective bargaining situations covering 1,000 workers or more (in percent)
Annual average
Measure
1984

1985

1986

52
5.4

42
5.1

6.0

Wage adjustments, settlements covering 1,000 workers or more:
First year of contract ..........................................................................................................................................
Annual rate over life of contract ...............................................................................................

48
5.1

46
5.4

5.7

Effective adjustments:
Total effective wage adjustment 3 ...........................................................................................................................
From settlements reached in perio d ..................................................................................
Deferred from settlements reached in earlier periods ..................................................................
From cost-of-living-adjustment c la u s e s .....................................................................................................

5.0
1.9
3.1
(4)

5.7
4.1
1.6
(4)

5.5
2.4
3.0
(4)

Specified adjustments:
Total compensation 1 adjustments, 2 settlements covering 5,000 workers or more:
First year of contract ..................................................................................................
Annual rate over life of c o n tra c t...................................................................................

1 Compensation includes wages, salaries, and employers’ cost of employee
benefits when contract is negotiated.
2 Adjustments are the net result of increases, decreases, and no changes in

29.

compensation or wages.
3 Because of rounding, total may not equal sum of parts.
4 Less than 0.05 percent.

Work stoppages involving 1,000 workers or more
Annual totals

1986

1987p

Measure
1985
Number of stoppages:
Beginning in p e rio d .......................
In effect during p e rio d .................

Workers involved:
Beginning in period (in
thousands)....................................
In effect during period (in
thousands)....................................

Days idle:
Number (in thousands)................
Percent of estimated working
tim e1 ..............................................

1986

54
61

69
72

323.9
584.1

Apr.

June

May

4
8

6
10

533.1

7.2

899.5

18.3

7,079.0 11,861.0
.05

.03

July

Oct.

Sept.

Nov.

8
18

29.7

198.0

46.7

113.3

39.4

44.3

8.7

3.0

7.3

37.6

10.2

1.2

41.9

206.8

83.1

153.0

87.4

109.9

67.8

49.4

46.9

41.6

14.2

5.4

287.1

296.9

3,677.0

859.1

1,371.6

1,225.6

1,423.7

940.4

933.2

828.6

194.1

100.4

112.8

.01

.01

.18

.04

.07

.06

.06

.05

.04

.04

.01

.04

.05

= preliminary

1
6

Apr.

Mar.

Feb.

10
22

p

2
9

Jan.

13
22

pp. 54-56.

5
18

Dec.

11
15

1 Agricultural and government employees are included in the total employed and total
working time: private household, forestry, and fishery employees are excluded. An expla­
nation of the measurement of idleness as a percentage of the total time worked is found
in “ T otal economy’ measure of strike idleness,” M o n th ly L a b o r R e v ie w , October 1968,

Digitized for 90
FRASER
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

Aug.

2
7

5
7

2
4

1
3

30. Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers: U.S. city average, by expenditure category and commodity or
service group; and CPI for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers, all items
(1967=100, unless otherwise indicated)

Series

Annual
average

1986

1987

Apr.

May

June

July

Aug.

Sept.

Oct.

Nov.

Dec.

Jan.

Feb.

Mar.

Apr.

328.4
381.9

325.3
378.3

326.3
379.5

327.9
381.4

328.0
381.4

328.6
382.1

330.2
384.1

330.5
384.4

330.8
384.7

331.1
385.1

333.1
387.4

334.4
388.9

335.9
390.7

337.7
392.7

302.0
309.8
296.8
317.0
263.4
258.0
325.7
361.1
398.8
294.4
451.7
294.2
346.6
229.5

311.8
319.7
305.3
325.8
275.1
258.4
328.7
373.6
411.1
287.8
478.2
301.9
360.1
239.7

308.5
316.1
301.5
322.5
264.2
256.8
329.5
376.1
411.4
288.5
487.4
300.2
357.0
239.5

309.4
317.0
302.1
323.8
263.4
257.1
336.5
374.6
411.2
287.2
481.9
301.4
358.8
239.4

309.5
317.1
301.6
326.1
265.1
257.2
327.8
374.1
411.5
287.0
480.0
301.7
360.2
240.1

312.2
320.1
305.5
326.3
274.9
258.4
330.3
373.7
412.4
287.3
478.3
301.8
360.8
240.4

314.6
322.7
308.9
328.2
283.0
258.3
332.1
374.0
413.1
287.8
476.9
303.2
361.8
240.1

315.1
323.2
309.0
328.5
284.7
258.5
329.1
373.7
413.7
285.6
475.7
303.8
363.3
240.4

315.6
323.7
309.5
328.4
284.9
260.0
328.6
374.4
413.4
284.6
477.5
304.7
364.0
240.6

316.4
324.6
309.9
328.5
286.3
261.2
327.8
373.9
412.4
285.4
476.9
303.9
365.8
240.5

317.0
325.2
310.2
329.5
287.3
262.2
328.5
372.2
411.8
286.0
470.2
305.2
367.1
240.8

320.5
328.9
315.2
331.5
289.2
263.3
344.3
378.7
415.8
293.2
482.6
308.4
368.6
242.5

321.6
330.1
316.6
332.7
286.4
264.7
355.2
380.0
415.8
290.3
481.9
312.1
369.6
243.2

321.6
330.0
315.8
333.2
286.5
263.7
352.5
378.6
417.2
294.6
475.4
311.3
370.9
243.6

322.5
331.0
316.9
335.6
285.9
263.2
360.6
377.6
417.4
291.8
469.8
313.2
371.5
244.3

Housing .............................................................
Shelter .................................................................
Renters’ costs ( 1 2 /8 2 = 1 0 0 ) .......................................................
Rent, reside ntial.................................................................
Other renters’ costs .............................................
Homeowners’ costs ( 1 2 / 8 2 - 1 0 0 ) ...............................................
Owners’ equivalent rent (12/82 = 100) .....................................
Household insurance (12/82 = 1 0 0 )..........................................
Maintenance and re p a irs......................................................
Maintenance and repair services ..............................................
Maintenance and repair com m odities.......................................
Fuel and other u tilitie s ..............................................................
Fuels ..........................................................
Fuel oil, coal, and bottled g a s ..........................................
Gas (piped) and electricity ...............................................
Other utilities and public s e rv ic e s .........................
Household furnishings and ope ratio ns...........................................
H ousefurnishings.............................................................................
Housekeeping supp lie s...................................................................
Housekeeping services...................................................................

349.9
382.0
115.4
264.6
398.4
113.1
113.2
112.4
368.9
421.1
269.6
393.6
488.1
619.5
452.7
240.7
247.2
200.1
313.6
338.9

360.2
402.9
121.9
280.0
416.2
119.4
119.4
119.2
373.8
430.9
269.7
384.7
463.1
501.5
446.7
253.1
250.4
201.1
319.5
346.6

358.0
400.1
120.9
277.9
410.8
118.7
118.7
118.3
367.6
424.6
264.5
381.8
459.6
518.3
439.2
251.3
249.6
200.4
318.5
345.4

358.5
400.9
121.1
278.4
411.3
118.9
118.9
118.8
367.1
425.5
262.9
382.5
460.6
496.8
444.6
251.5
249.9
200.8
318.3
345.8

361.2
401.6
121.6
279.4
415.2
119.0
119.0
118.9
366.6
427.4
260.7
393.8
477.0
486.6
466.0
255.2
250.2
200.8
319.6
346.1

361.5
403.5
122.5
281.2
420.1
119.4
119.4
119.9
369.2
430.1
262.7
389.4
469.2
459.4
462.3
255.6
250.5
201.2
319.5
346.6

362.4
405.2
122.9
281.7
425.7
119.9
119.9
119.9
376.4
434.2
271.3
389.5
469.0
447.3
464.5
255.9
250.5
200.9
319.8
347.4

363.7
407.6
123.6
283.2
429.1
120.7
120.7
120.2
376.2
437.0
268.7
388.3
467.2
453.5
461.1
255.6
251.5
202.2
320.1
347.8

363.0
409.5
124.0
284.6
427.3
121.3
121.3
120.6
379.0
437.5
273.0
379.1
450.3
451.9
441.4
257.1
251.6
202.2
319.8
348.5

361.7
410.2
124.3
285.6
425.5
121.5
121.5
121.1
377.1
433.7
272.9
371.1
437.8
452.0
426.7
255.4
251.2
201.4
320.4
348.5

362.1
410.4
124.2
286.0
418.2
121.6
121.6
121.6
380.0
433.1
278.3
371.0
438.1
460.6
425.3
254.9
252.4
202.5
322.9
349.3

363.9
412.3
125.3
287.1
428.3
122.0
122.0
121.8
382.1
437.7
277.7
373.7
443.7
487.9
428.8
254.9
253.1
203.0
324.6
349.8

365.1
414.0
125.8
288.0
430.8
122.5
122.5
122.0
381.9
436.1
278.8
374.8
445.1
503.2
428.9
255.6
253.5
203.2
325.3
350.6

366.4
415.9
126.4
288.3
438.7
123.0
123.0
122.2
383.4
439.4
278.5
374.9
444.6
500.6
428.7
256.2
254.3
203.8
327.7
351.0

367.7
418.0
127.1
288.8
446.1
123.6
123.6
122.4
382.4
437.1
278.7
374.2
442.0
500.5
425.9
257.0
255.2
204.7
328.2
352.2

Apparel and upkeep ..........................................
Apparel commodities ..................................................
Men’s and boys’ a p p a re l................................................
W omen’s and girls’ apparel ....................................

206.0
191.6
197.9
169.5
299.7
212.1
215.5
320.9

207.8
192.0
200.0
168.0
312.7
211.2
217.9
334.6

207.3
191.7
199.7
168.0
316.6
211.4
215.3
332.9

206.4
190.7
200.2
164.9
318.5
211.5
215.4
333.6

204.5
188.4
198.1
161.3
319.7
210.0
215.8
334.3

203.2
187.0
195.8
159.8
307.5
209.1
218.1
334.6

207.0
191.2
197.8
167.2
310.6
209.6
221.6
334.7

212.1
196.6
203.2
175.7
309.7
212.0
221.1
336.7

213.2
197.6
204.3
176.4
312.0
215.1
219.8
338.3

213.1
197.4
205.3
175.0
307.0
215.1
221.1
339.0

210.9
194.9
202.3
171.7
312.7
214.0
220.0
339.5

207.1
190.9
199.2
166.6
301.8
209.9
223.2
342.5

208.4
192.1
199.9
167.8
304.5
211.0
226.0
343.2

215.2
199.1
203.5
177.0
319.6
216.5
227.4
344.7

218.7
202.6
205.6
182.2
319.1
219.2
227.0
344.7

Transportation .................................................
Private transportation.........................................................................
New ve h icle s....................................................................................
New c a rs ................................................ ........................................
Used c a r s .........................................................
Motor fuel ............................................
G aso lin e ...................................................
Maintenance and re p a ir..........................................
Other private tran sportation...................................................
Other private transportation com m o difies................................
Other private transportation services..........................
Public transportation.......................................................

319.9
314.2
214.9
215.2
379.7
373.8
373.3
351.4
287.6
202.6
312.8
402.8

307.5
299.5
224.1
224.4
363.2
292.1
291.4
363.1
303.9
201.6
333.9
426.4

303.3
295.3
221.0
221.2
364.8
279.5
278.6
360.6
301.6
202.2
330.9
422.2

305.7
297.8
222.8
223.0
363.6
289.3
288.7
361.3
301.3
202.4
330.4
423.7

308.6
300.8
224.0
224.2
362.5
299.4
299.1
362.1
303.0
201.5
332.8
425.4

304.7
296.5
224.5
224.7
360.3
280.2
279.8
363.4
304.5
201.6
334.6
428.0

301.3
292.8
224.5
224.7
358.0
265.9
265.3
364.3
304.5
201.8
334.6
428.0

302.2
293.7
224.2
224.5
359.5
271.1
270.6
365.0
302.3
200.3
332.3
428.5

302.6
294.1
226.7
227.1
360.6
263.2
262.6
365.7
307.6
198.9
339.3
428.7

304.3
295.8
230.2
230.7
361.0
260.9
260.2
368.4
311.6
200.0
344.1
431.7

304.8
295.9
231.7
232.2
356.6
261.9
261.2
370.7
312.0
200.4
344.5
437.5

308.5
299.8
232.3
233.0
354.6
275.8
275.1
371.3
314.9
202.2
347.7
438.9

310.0
301.3
229.9
230.2
356.9
288.1
287.5
373.0
314.0
201.8
346.7
439.8

310.6
301.9
229.2
229.4
363.0
290.0
289.4
373.0
314.4
202.3
347.0
441.4

313.3
304.8
229.9
230.4
371.6
297.2
296.7
376.1
315.1
200.8
348.6
440.8

Medical c a r e ..............................................
Medical care commodities ................................................................
Medical care se rvice s........................................................................
Professional s e rv ic e s ......................................................................
Hospital and related services .......................................................

403.1
256.7
435.1
367.3
224.0

433.5
273.6
468.6
390.9
237.4

428.0
271.3
462.3
386.9
234.2

429.7
272.3
464.2
388.3
234.4

432.0
273.3
466.8
390.3
235.0

434.8
275.4
469.8
391.7
237.4

437.5
276.0
473.0
393.3
239.5

439.7
276.7
475.7
396.1
240.1

442.3
277.5
478.8
398.0
242.3

444.6
278.2
481.5
399.8
243.8

446.8
280.8
483.4
401.0
245.0

449.6
282.4
486.5
403.7
246.7

452.4
283.9
489.6
406.8
248.1

455.0
286.3
492.1
409.6
249.0

457.3
287.5
494.7
412.5
250.1

Entertainment ................................................................
Entertainment commodities ..............................................................
Entertainment se rvice s......................................................................

265.0
260.6
271.8

274.1
265.9
286.3

272.3
264.8
283.5

272.9
265.3
284.2

273.9
266.1
285.5

274.4
265.8
287.0

274.7
266.1
287.3

275.3
265.9
289.2

276.5
266.7
290.8

277.4
267.6
291.8

277.4
267.4
292.2

278.3
268.1
293.3

278.7
268.1
294.1

279.8
269.9
294.5

281.3
270.8
296.6

Other goods and services ................................
Tobacco products ........................................
Personal c a re ..................................................
Toilet goods and personal care appliances................................
Personal care services ...................................
Personal and educational expenses.....................
School books and supp lie s.......................................
Personal and educational s e rv ic e s ....................

326.6
328.5
281.9
278.5
286.0
397.1
350.8
407.7

346.4
351.0
291.3
287.9
295.4
428.8
380.3
440.1

341.8
346.5
290.5
287.7
294.1
418.9
374.4
429.5

342.1
346.5
290.9
287.9
294.7
419.5
374.5
430.2

342.6
347.1
291.0
287.0
295.7
420.4
375.7
431.0

344.9
354.3
291.1
287.1
295.8
421.2
375.9
431.9

346.4
356.2
292.3
289.1
296.2
422.9
376.9
433.7

353.3
356.8
292.0
288.2
296.5
445.2
389.4
457.8

354.6
357.2
293.1
289.9
297.1
447.6
392.3
460.2

354.9
357.3
293.4
289.6
297.9
448.2
392.5
460.8

355.2
357.6
293.6
289.6
298.2
448.8
392.6
461.6

358.1
364.9
295.7
291.3
300.8
450.6
400.7
462.8

359.7
368.3
296.4
292.1
301.3
452.0
403.4
464.2

360.3
369.6
296.4
292.0
301.5
452.8
403.9
465.0

361.1
370.4
297.3
292.9
302.3
453.8
404.4
466.0

1985

1986

322.2
374.7

Food and beverages ...............................................................
F o o d ...................................................................
Food at home .....................................................
Cereals and bakery pro d u c ts ......................................................
Meats, poultry, fish, and e g g s .....................................................
Dairy p ro d u cts.............................................................................
Fruits and vegetables...................................................................
Other foods at h o m e ....................................................................
Sugar and sw e e ts ....................................................
Fats and o ils .......................................................................
Nonalcoholic beverages............................................................
Other prepared fo o d s ................................................................
Food away from home ..............................................................
Alcoholic beverages.......................................................................

CONSUMER PRICE INDEX FOR ALL URBAN CONSUMERS:
All ite m s ...............................................................
All items (1 9 5 7 -5 9 = 1 0 0 ).......................................

Infants’ and toddlers’ apparel....................
F ootw ear...............................................
Other apparel com m odities.....................................
Apparel se rvice s.............................................

See footnotes at end of table.


https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

91

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW

June 1987 •

Current Labor Statistics:

Price Data

30. Continued— Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers: U.S. city average, by expenditure category and commodity or
service group; and CPI for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers, all items
(1967 = 100, unless otherwise indicated)

Series

1987

1986

Annual
average

Oct.

Nov.

Dec.

Jan.

Feb.

Mar.

Apr.

330.2
283.5
315.1
262.3
261.5
196.6
299.5
269.3

330.5
283.6
315.6
262.1
260.4
197.6
297.2
270.5

330.8
284.0
316.4
262.4
260.0
197.4
296.7
271.8

331.1
284.2
317.0
262.4
260.0
194.9
298.0
271.7

333.1
286.3
320.5
263.7
261.8
190.9
304.8
272.4

334.4
287.7
321.6
265.2
265.4
192.1
310.3
271.2

335.9
289.5
321.6
267.9
269.7
199.1
311.9
271.7

337.7
291.4
322.5
270.4
273.2
202.6
315.0
273.0

403.7
120.9
115.3
357.3
473.0
330.8

405.5
121.7
114.9
356.2
475.7
337.9

406.1
122.2
112.9
360.5
478.8
339.5

406.1
122.4
111.0
364.4
481.5
340.3

406.6
122.5
110.8
366.2
483.4
340.8

408.6
123.1
111.3
368.5
486.5
342.2

409.9
123.6
111.5
368.5
489.6
343.1

411.2
124.1
111.5
369.0
492.1
343.7

412.8
124.8
111.4
370.5
494.7
345.0

328.0
306.1
111.0
322.1
260.2
257.3
292.2
287.1
119.5
392.5
366.5
326.9
326.9
262.0
306.6
397.7

328.1
306.4
111.2
322.6
259.0
255.6
287.9
287.4
119.8
393.6
358.6
328.3
327.9
262.9
292.4
399.0

330.0
307.9
111.7
324.2
261.1
258.9
290.2
289.4
120.2
395.4
360.6
330.0
329.9
264.5
297.7
401.4

330.2
307.8
111.7
324.4
260.9
257.8
288.1
289.0
120.1
395.7
348.6
331.4
331.6
265.5
290.6
403.7

330.4
308.0
111.8
324.5
261.2
257.4
287.7
289.2
120.0
395.4
341.7
332.3
332.5
266.1
288.5
405.0

330.6
308.3
111.9
324.8
261.2
257.5
288.9
289.5
120.2
395.8
342.4
332.6
332.8
265.8
290.5
405.7

332.2
310.3
112.7
326.7
262.5
259.2
294.9
292.1
120.8
397.6
352.2
334.0
333.6
265.5
306.1
407.5

333.6
311.5
113.1
328.0
264.0
262.6
299.6
294.6
121.1
398.8
359.2
334.9
334.5
265.7
319.2
408.9

335.4
312.9
113.6
329.4
266.5
266.4
301.0
296.8
121.3
400.0
360.0
336.5
336.4
268.4
320.9
410.4

337.3
314.6
114.2
331.1
268.9
269.6
303.7
299.1
121.6
401.5
362.4
338.2
338.3
270.3
328.0
412.3

30.5
26.2

30.5
26.2

30.4
26.2

30.3
26.0

30.3
26.0

30.2
26.0

30.2
26.0

30.0
25.8

29.9
25.7

29.8
25.6

29.6
25.5

321.4
373.7

323.0
375.6

322.9
375.5

323.4
376.1

324.9
377.8

325.0
378.0

325.4
378.4

325.7
378.8

327.7
381.1

329.0
382.6

330.5
384.4

332.3
386.5

308.3
315.6
299.9
320.9
263.5
255.5
-325.0
376.0
410.9
287.8
487.0
301.6
360.2
242.3

309.0
316.4
300.4
322.1
262.6
255.8
331.6
374.3
410.6
286.6
481.2
302.7
362.0
242.2

309.3
316.6
300.0
324.5
264.2
255.9
323.5
373.9
410.9
286.4
479.5
303.0
363.5
242.9

312.0
319.5
303.9
324.6
274.0
257.0
325.6
373.4
411.9
286.6
477.6
303.1
364.2
243.4«

314.5
322.3
307.3
326.7
282.2
256.9
327.2
373.9
412.6
287.1
476.9
304.5
365.2
243.0

315.0
322.8
307.5
326.8
284.0
257.1
324.2
373.5
413.0
285.1
475.5
305.2
366.6
243.4

315.4
323.3
307.9
326.8
284.4
258.6
322.9
374.4
412.8
284.1
477.7
305.9
367.3
243.5

316.2
324.2
308.4
327.0
285.8
259.9
322.2
373.9
411.9
284.5
477.1
305.3
369.2
243.4

316.8
324.8
308.7
328.0
286.6
260.9
323.4
372.2
411.2
285.5
470.3
306.6
370.5
243.9

320.3
328.4
313.4
330.0
288.5
262.0
338.2
378.9
414.9
292.6
483.7
309.7
372.2
245.4

321.3
329.5
314.6
331.2
285.8
263.6
348.2
380.0
414.8
289.9
482.5
313.3
373.2
246.2

321.2
329.4
313.8
331.6
285.6
262.4
346.0
378.8
416.5
293.9
476.9
312.6
374.3
246.5

322.1
330.2
314.9
334.1
285.2
262.0
353.6
377.8
416.5
291.3
471.3
314.5
374.8
247.2

353.2
390.7
109.5
279.1
416.0
108.8
108.8
109.4
369.4
425.3
262.5
385.4
462.7
504.5
445.6
253.8
246.5
198.4
317.1
348.2

351.1
388.1
108.6
277.0
411.6
108.1
108.1
108.5
364.6
419.2
259.4
382.6
459.1
521.5
438.0
252.1
246.0
198.1
316.3
347.1

351.6
388.8
108.8
277.5
411.3
108.3
108.3
109.0
363.8
420.0
258.0
383.0
459.7
499.9
443.0
252.2
246.1
198.4
315.7
347.4

354.3
389.4
109.3
278.5
415.5
108.4
108.4
109.1
363.2
422.6
255.7
394.9
477.3
489.9
465.7
255.8
246.2
198.2
316.8
347.8

354.5
391.5
110.0
280.3
420.4
108.8
108.8
110.1
366.7
425.2
259.0
390.3
469.1
462.9
461.4
256.3
246.5
198.4
317.1
348.4

355.4
392.9
110.3
280.8
426.1
109.3
109.2
110.1
371.5
428.6
263.5
390.6
469.3
450.7
464.1
256.6
246.6
198.3
317.3
349.1

356.6
395.2
110.9
282.2
428.9
110.0
110.0
110.4
370.6
430.7
261.1
389.1
467.1
456.6
460.3
256.2
247.5
199.4
317.9
349.5

355.6
397.1
111.4
283.6
426.7
110.5
110.5
110.8
373.1
431.1
264.3
379.3
449.2
454.8
439.6
257.8
247.5
199.3
317.8
350.1

354.3
397.8
111.7
284.6
424.8
110.7
110.7
111.3
372.4
428.2
265.0
371.3
437.1
455.0
425.3
255.8
247.2
198.5
318.4
350.1

354.8
398.1
111.6
285.1
417.3
110.8
110.8
111.7
374.6
428.1
268.0
371.1
437.3
463.5
423.8
255.3
248.5
199.7
320.6
350.8

356.3
399.6
112.3
286.1
424.9
111.1
111.1
111.9
377.3
434.5
267.6
373.9
442.7
489.3
427.4
255.6
248.9
200.0
322.0
351.2

357.5
401.2
112.7
287.0
427.6
111.6
111.5
112.1
376.9
432.5
268.4
374.9
443.7
503.9
427.3
256.5
249.4
200.2
323.1
352.0

358.8
403.2
113.3
287.3
439.0
112.1
112.1
112.4
378.5
436.8
267.9
375.1
443.2
501.4
427.0
257.1
250.1
200.7
325.2
352.3

360.0
405.1
113.8
287.8
448.1
112.7
112.7
112.5
378.0
435.7
267.9
374.3
440.7
501.1
424.4
257.8
250.8
201.4
325.7
353.3

206.5

206.1

205.1

203.0

201.8

205.9

211.0

211.9

211.5

209.6

205.8

206.9

213.7

217.4

Apr.

May

June

July

Aug.

328.4
283.9
311.8
264.7
265.2
192.0
307.3
270.2

325.3
281.2
308.5
262.5
262.0
191.7
302.6
269.2

326.3
282.1
309.4
263.4
263.3
190.7
305.2
269.6

327.9
282.8
309.5
264.3
264.7
188.4
308.4
269.9

328.0
281.9
312.2
261.4
259.8
187.0
301.7
269.6

328.6
281.9
314.6
260.1
258.1
191.2
296.9
269.0

381.5
113.9
111.2
337.0
435.1
314.1

400.5
120.2
112.8
356.3
468.6
331.8

396.8
119.4
111.6
353.2
462.3
327.6

397.9
119.7
112.3
353.4
464.2
328.2

401.0
119.9
115.2
355.3
466.8
329.2

402.3
120.5
114.9
357.1
469.8
330.1

Special indexes:
All items less food .............................................................................
All items less shelter .........................................................................
All items less homeowners’ costs ( 1 2 /8 2 - 1 0 0 ) ..........................
All items less medical c a re ...............................................................
Commodities less f o o d ......................................................................
Nondurables less food ......................................................................
Nondurables less food and apparel ...............................................
Nondurables........................................................................................
Services less rent of’ shelter (12/82 = 1 0 0 )..................................
Services less medical c a r e ...............................................................
E nergy...................................................................................................
All items less energy .........................................................................
All items less food and energy ........................................................
Commodities less food and e n e rg y ................................................
Energy commodities ..........................................................................
Services less ene rgy..........................................................................

323.3
303.9
109.7
317.7
272.5
277.2
319.2
293.2
113.5
373.3
426.5
314.8
314.4
259.7
409.9
375.9

328.6
306.7
111.2
322.6
263.4
262.2
297.1
289.6
118.7
390.6
370.3
327.0
327.1
263.2
322.4
397.1

325.7
303.6
110.1
319.7
261.2
259.2
292.9
286.3
117.4
387.2
361.8
324.4
324.8
262.1
313.3
393.8

326.7
304.7
110.4
320.6
262.1
260.5
295.2
287.4
117.8
388.3
367.6
325.0
325.3
262.2
319.3
394.5

328.6
306.5
111.1
322.2
263.0
261.8
298.1
288.2
119.2
391.3
380.6
325.5
325.9
262.0
327.1
395.9

Purchasing power of the consumer dollar:
1 9 6 7 -$ 1 .0 0 ........................................................................................
1957-59 —$ 1 .0 0 ..................................................................................

31.0
26.7

30.5
26.2

30.7
26.4

30.6
26.4

All items ..................................................................................................
All items (1957-59 = 1 0 0 )........................................................................

318.5
370.4

323.4
376.1

320.4
372.6

Food and beverages ............................................................................
F o o d ......................................................................................................
Food at home ..................................................................................
Cereals and bakery pro d u c ts ......................................................
Meats, poultry, fish, and e g g s ....................................................
Dairy p ro d u cts...............................................................................
Fruits and vegetables...................................................................
Other foods at h o m e ....................................................................
Sugar and sw e e ts ......................................................................
Fats and o ils ...............................................................................
Nonalcoholic beverages............................................................
Other prepared fo o d s ................................................................
Food away from h o m e ...................................................................
Alcoholic beverages...........................................................................

301.8
309.3
295.3
315.4
262.7
256.9
320.3
361.5
398.3
293.9
453.2
295.7
349.7
232.6

311.6
319.2
303.7
324.2
274.4
257.1
323.8
373.5
410.5
287.2
478.1
303.2
363.4
242.5

Housing ...................................................................................................
Shelter ..................................................................................................
Renters' costs (12 /8 4 —1 0 0 )........................................................
Rent, reside ntial............................................................................
Other renters’ costs .....................................................................
Homeowners’ costs (12/84 —1 0 0 )...............................................
Owners’ equivalent rent ( 1 2 /8 4 = 1 0 0 ) .....................................
Household insurance ( 1 2 /8 4 = 1 0 0 )..........................................
Maintenance and re p a irs ................................................................
Maintenance and repair services ..............................................
Maintenance and repair com m odities.......................................
Fuel and other u tilitie s .......................................................................
Fuels ..................................................................................................
Fuel oil, coal, and bottled g a s ...................................................
Gas (piped) and e le c tric ity ..........................................................
Other utilities and public services ................................................
Household furnishings and ope ratio ns...........................................
Housefurnishings .............................................................................
Housekeeping supp lie s...................................................................
Housekeeping services...................................................................

343.3
370.4
103.6
263.7
397.9
103.1
103.0
103.2
364.1
415.0
261.1
394.7
487.5
622.0
451.6
241.6
243.4
197.6
310.7
340.2

Apparel and upkeep .............................................................................

205.0

1985

1986

All ite m s .....................................................................................................
Com m odities..........................................................................................
Food and beverages..........................................................................
Commodities less food and beverages..........................................
Nondurables less food and beverages .......................................
Apparel com m odities....................................................................
Nondurables less food, beverages, and apparel ....................
D urables............................................................................................

322.2
286.7
302.0
274.6
282.1
191.6
333.3
270.7

S e rvices...................................................................................................
Rent of shelter (1 2 /8 2 —1 0 0 )...........................................................
Household services less rent of’ shelter (1 2 /8 2 —1 0 0 )..............
Transportation se rvic e s .....................................................................
Medical care se rvice s........................................................................
Other services ....................................................................................

Sept.

CONSUMER PRICE INDEX FOR URBAN WAGE EARNERS
AND CLERICAL WORKERS:

See footnotes at end of table.


https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

30. Continued— Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers: U.S. city average, by expenditure category and commodity or
service group; and CPI for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers, all items
(1967 = 100, unless otherwise indicated)

Series

Oct.

Nov.

Dec.

Jan.

Feb.

Mar.

Apr.

196.2
202.3
178.1
326.2
212.0
209.0
334.2

197.1
203.6
178.1
329.2
215.3
207.9
335.6

196.6
204.6
176.2
323.8
215.6
208.9
336.2

194.5
202.1
173.1
329.3
214.9
207.8
336.6

190.5
198.6
168.2
319.1
211.1
210.1
339.7

191.5
198.9
169.2
322.2
212.4
212.1
340.5

198.3
201.9
178.6
337.3
217.7
214.1
341.8

202.1
204.3
184.4
336.3
220.0
213.9
341.6

300.9
294.4
223.6
223.9
358.0
266.7
266.1
365.7
302.2
204.0
330.9
418.4

301.8
295.3
223.3
223.7
359.5
271.9
271.4
366.6
299.7
202.7
328.1
418.8

302.2
295.7
225.7
226.3
360.6
264.0
263.4
367.2
305.2
201.1
335.4
418.9

304.0
297.5
229.4
230.0
361.0
262.0
261.3
369.7
309.5
202.3
340.7
421.1

304.2
297.5
230.7
231.4
356.6
263.2
262.5
372.3
309.9
202.8
341.0
425.8

308.2
301.6
231.2
232.0
354.7
277.7
277.1
373.4
312.6
204.3
344.0
426.7

309.9
303.4
228.9
229.3
357.0
289.5
288.9
375.1
311.5
204.0
342.6
427.2

310.8
304.2
228.2
228.5
363.1
291.3
290.7
374.9
311.7
204.3
342.9
428.7

313.9
307.4
229.0
229.5
371.7
298.7
298.3
377.9
312.1
202.6
344.1
428.9

432.4
274.6
466.9
392.3
234.2

435.0
275.2
470.1
394.0
236.3

437.1
275.8
472.6
396.6
236.8

439.7
276.6
475.6
398.4
239.1

441.7
277.0
478.2
400.2
240.4

443.9
279.8
480.1
401.5
241.6

446.7
281.4
483.2
404.2
243.2

449.7
282.9
486.5
407.4
244.6

452.3
285.1
489.2
410.2
245.4

454.9
286.2
492.1
413.3
246.5

268.4
259.8
284.8

269.0
259.6
286.5

269.2
259.8
286.7

270.0
259.8
288.9

271.1
260.6
290.7

272.1
261.7
291.6

272.3
261.7
292.0

272.9
262.2
292.7

273.4
262.3
293.9

274.4
263.7
294.2

276.0
264.7
296.6

338.0
346.0
288.6
288.6
289.0
422.0
379.1
432.8

338.4
346.7
288.6
287.6
290.0
422.9
380.2
433.6

341.2
354.0
288.8
287.8
290.2
423.8
380.5
434.6

342.6
355.9
289.9
289.7
290.5
425.1
381.4
436.0

347.5
356.5
289.5
288.7
290.8
446.1
393.9
458.7

348.8
356.8
290.8
290.5
291.6
448.7
396.7
461.3

349.2
356.9
291.2
290.5
292.4
449.4
396.9
462.1

349.5
357.2
291.3
290.3
292.7
450.0
397.1
462.8

352.8
364.7
293.2
292.0
294.9
452.0
406.5
464.3

354.6
368.0
294.1
293.2
295.4
453.7
409.3
465.9

355.1
369.2
293.9
292.7
295.5
454.3
409.6
466.6

356.0
370.0
294.7
293.6
296.2
455.5
410.1
467.8

320.4
280.4
308.3
261.9
262.0
191.2
301.6
263.3

321.4
281.3
309.0
262.9
263.6
190.1
304.5
263.5

323.0
282.0
309.3
263.8
265.2
187.7
308.0
263.6

322.9
281.1
312.0
260.7
260.1
186.3
301.0
263.2

323.4
281.1
314.5
259.4
258.1
190.8
295.9
262.6

324.9
282.6
315.0
261.5
261.5
196.2
298.4
263.0

325.0
282.6
315.4
261.1
260.2
197.1
296.0
264.0

325.4
283.1
316.2
261.5
259.7
196.6
295.6
265.3

325.7
283.3
316.8
261.5
259.9
194.5
296.9
265.0

327.7
285.5
320.3
262.9
262.3
190.5
304.4
265.4

329.0
287.0
321.3
264.6
266.0
191.5
310.2
264.5

330.5
288.6
321.2
267.2
270.0
198.3
311.5
265.3

332.3
290.7
322.1
269.9
273.7
202.1
315.0
266.8

395.7
109.0
103.9
350.1
465.7
326.9

392.2
108.3
102.7
347.5
459.5
322.9

393.2
108.5
103.4
347.3
461.3
323.6

396.4
108.7
106.4
348.9
464.0
324.6

397.7
109.2
106.0
350.6
466.9
325.6

399.0
109.6
106.4
350.7
470.1
326.0

400.4
110.3
106.0
349.2
472.6
332.2

401.0
110.8
103.8
353.8
475.6
333.8

401.0
111.0
102.0
357.9
478.2
334.7

401.5
111.1
101.8
359.5
480.1
335.1

403.3
111.5
102.3
361.7
483.2
336.4

404.5
111.9
102.5
361.3
486.5
337.5

405.9
112.5
102.5
361.6
489.2
338.0

407.3
113.0
102.4
363.2
492.1
339.4

319.4
303.4
101.8
314.3
272.8
279.0
320.3
293.9
102.6
369.0
426.3
309.9
308.7
256.8
410.9
371.1

323.0
305.1
102.8
318.0
262.9
262.7
296.9
289.8
107.1
385.9
367.5
321.2
320.3
259.8
322.9
391.9

320.2
302.1
101.8
315.2
260.7
259.4
292.2
286.3
105.9
382.7
358.4
318.8
318.3
258.8
312.9
388.8

321.2
303.0
102.1
316.1
261.6
260.9
294.9
287.5
106.2
383.6
364.6
314 2
318.6
258.8
319.8
389.4

323.2
304.8
102.7
317.7
262.6
262.4
298.0
288.4
107.6
386.8
378.1
319.7
319.1
258.5
328.1
390.8

322.3
304.3
102.6
317.4
259.6
257.7
291.8
287.2
107.8
387.9
363.1
321.1
320.1
258.5
307.2
392.6

322.2
304.6
102.7
317.8
258.3
255.8
287.3
287.5
108.1
389.0
354.8
322.4
321.0
259.3
292.9
393.7

323.9
305.9
103.2
319.3
260.3
259.1
289.6
289.5
108.3
390.3
356.9
323.9
322.7
260.9
298.2
395.7

324.0
305.7
103.2
319.3
260.0
257.8
287.4
289.0
108.2
390.6
344.8
325.3
324.4
261.7
290.9
398.2

324.2
305.9
103.2
319.6
260.3
257.4
287.0
289.2
108.1
390.4
338.5
326.3
325.4
262.4
289.1
399.6

324.4
306.3
103.4
319.8
260.4
257.6
288.2
289.6
108.3
390.7
339.2
326.5
325.6
262.1
291.1
400.2

326.0
308.4
104.0
321.8
261.8
259.9
294.8
292.5
108.8
392.5
349.8
327.8
326.3
261.7
307.2
401.9

327.4
309.6
104.5
323.0
263.5
263.3
299.7
294.9
109.0
393.5
356.9
328.7
327.1
262.0
319.9
403.2

329.3
311.0
104.9
324.5
265.9
266.9
300.9
296.9
109.2
394.7
357.7
330.2
329.0
264.6
321.5
404.7

331.3
312.8
105.5
326.2
268.5
270.4
303.9
299.2
109.5
396.1
360.8
331.9
330.9
266.6
328.9
406.5

31.4
27.0

30.9
26.6

31.2
26.8

31.1
26.8

31.0
26.6

31.0
26.6

30.9
26.6

30.8
26.5

30.8
26.5

30.7
26.4

30.7
26.4

30.5
26.2

30.4
26.1

30.3
26.0

30.1
25.9

Apr.

May

June

July

Aug.

191.5
199.7
169.4
329.4
211.8
206.1
332.0

191.2
199.3
169.3
331.3
212.1
204.1
330.2

190.1
200.0
165.9
334.3
212.0
203.8
330.9

187.7
198.0
162.0
335.6
210.6
204.5
331.9

186.3
195.4
160.8
323.7
209.6
206.5
332.2

190.8
197.1
169.3
328.6
209.9
209.5
332.3

321.6
317.4
214.2
214.5
379.7
375.4
375.0
352.6
287.7
204.7
312.3
391.7

307.6
301.5
223.3
223.6
363.2
293.1
292.5
364.7
302.2
203.9
330.9
416.3

303.5
297.4
220.2
220.4
364.8
280.1
279.1
362.2
300.4
204.6
328.5
413.0

305.9
299.9
222.0
222.3
363.6
290.3
289.6
362.8
299.8
204.9
327.7
413.8

308.7
302.8
223.2
223.4
362.5
300.6
300.3
363.6
301.2
203.9
329.6
415.1

304.6
298.3
223.7
223.9
360.3
280.9
280.5
365.0
302.4
203.8
331.2
418.0

Medical c a r e ..........................................................................................
Medical care com m o dities................................................................
Medical care se rvice s........................................................................
Professional se rvice s......................................................................
Hospital and related s e rv ic e s ........................................................

401.2
256.3
432.7
367.7
221.2

431.0
272.8
465.7
391.4
234.2

425.7
270.7
459.5
387.4
231.0

427.3
271.7
461.3
388.8
231.2

429.6
272.5
464.0
390.8
232.1

E n tertainm ent........................................................................................
Entertainment commodities ..............................................................
Entertainment se rvice s......................................................................

260.1
254.2
271.6

268.7
259.5
286.0

266.9
258.4
283.0

267.3
258.7
283.6

Other goods and services ...................................................................
Tobacco p ro d u c ts ..............................................................................
Personal c a re ......................................................................................
Toilet goods and personal care appliances................................
Personal care services ...................................................................
Personal and educational expenses...............................................
School books and supp lie s...........................................................
Personal and educational s e rv ic e s ..............................................

322.7
328.1
279.6
279.0
280.5
399.3
355.7
410.1

341.7
350.7
289.0
288.6
289.8
430.7
384.8
442.0

337.6
346.0
288.2
288.4
288.4
421.2
379.1
431.8

All ite m s .....................................................................................................
Com m odities..........................................................................................
Food and beverages..........................................................................
Commodities less food and beverages..........................................
Nondurables less food and beverages .......................................
Apparel com m odities....................................................................
Nondurables less food, beverages, and apparel ...................
D urables.............................................................................................

318.5
286.5
301.8
274.9
283.8
191.3
334.2
265.2

323.4
283.1
311.6
264.2
265.6
191.5
306.7
264.0

S e rvices...................................................................................................
Rent of shelter ( 1 2 / 8 4 - 1 0 0 ) ...........................................................
Household services less rent of shelter (1 2 /8 4 —1 0 0 )...............
Transportation se rvice s.....................................................................
Medical care se rvice s........................................................................
Other services ....................................................................................

377.3
103.2
102.6
332.2
432.7
310.1

Special indexes:
All items less food .............................................................................
All items less shelter .........................................................................
All items less homeowners' costs (12/84 = 10 0 )..........................
All items less medical c a re ...............................................................
Commodities less fo o d ......................................................................
Nondurables less food ......................................................................
Nondurables less food and apparel ...............................................
Nondurables........................................................................................
Services less rent of shelter (12 /8 4 —1 0 0 )...................................
Services less medical c a r e ...............................................................
Energy...................................................................................................
All items less energy .........................................................................
All items less food and energy .......................................................
Commodities less food and e n e rg y ................................................
Energy commodities ..........................................................................
Services less ene rgy..........................................................................
Purchasing power of the consumer dollar:
1 9 6 7 -$ 1 .0 0 ........................................................................................
1957-59 —$ 1 .0 0 ..................................................................................

1985

1986

Apparel com m o dities.........................................................................
Men’s and boys’ a p o a re l................................................................
Women’s and girls’ apparel ...........................................................
Infants’ and toddlers’ a p p a re l.......................................................
Footw ear...........................................................................................
Other apparel com m odities............................................................
Apparel se rvices.................................................................................

191.3
198.2
171.3
311.7
212.5
203.1
318.5

Transportation .......................................................................................
Private transportation.........................................................................
New ve h icle s....................................................................................
New c a rs ........................................................................................
Used c a r s .........................................................................................
Motor f u e l.........................................................................................
G asoline.........................................................................................
Maintenance and re p a ir..................................................................
Other private transportation..........................................................
Other private transportation com m o dities................................
Other private transportation services........................................
Public transportation..........................................................................


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

1987

1986

Ann ual
aver age

Sept.

93

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
31.

June 1987 •

Current Labor Statistics.

Price Data

Consumer Price Index: U.S. city average and available local area data: all items

(1967 = 100, unless otherwise indicated)
Urban Wage Earners

All Urban Consumers
Area1

U.S. city ave ra g e .....................

Pricing
sche­
dule2

Other
index
base
Apr.

May

Dec.

Jan.

Feb.

Mar.

Apr.

Apr.

May

Dec.

Jan.

Feb.

Mar.

Apr.

M

-

325.3

326.3

331.1

333.1

334.4

335.9

337.7

320.4

321.4

325.7

327.7

329.0

330.5

332.3

M

12/77

173.7

177.2

178.4

179.0

179.9

181.0

171.1

174.3

175.5

176.0

177.0

178.2

M

12/77

171.0

174.7

176.1

176.8

177.5

178.8

166.9

170.3

171.6

172.3

173.0

174.4

M

12/77

174.7

178.3

179.3

179.1

180.7

182.3

171.7

175.1

176.2

176.2

177.7

179.3

M
M

12/77
12/77

183.0
173.9

186.3
177.1

187.1
178.3

187.4
178.5

188.8
179.5

188.9
180.4

187.4
170.0

190.5
173.0

191.4
174.3

191.7
174.4

193.1
175.3

193.1
176.2

M

12/77

177.8

181.0

182.1

182.5

183.2

184.0

172.1

175.3

176.3

176.6

177.3

178.3

1987

1986

1987

1986

Region and area size3
Northeast u rb a n ........................
Size A - More than
1,200,000 ................................
Size B - 500,000 to
1,200,000 ................................
Size C - 50,000 to
500,000 ...................................
North Central urban ................
Size A - More than
1,200,000 ................................
Size B - 360,000 to
1,200,000 ................................
Size C - 50,000 to
360,000 ...................................
Size D - Nonmetro­
politan (less
than 50,0000 ..........................
South u rb a n ...............................
Size A - More than
1,200,000 ................................
Size B - 450,000 to
1,200,000 ................................
Size C - 50,000 to
450,000 ...................................
Size D - Nonmetro­
politan (less
than 50,000) ...........................
West u rb a n ................................
Size A - More than
1,250,000 ................................
Size B - 330,000 to
1,250,000 ................................
Size C - 50,000 to
330,000 ...................................
Size classes:
A ...............................................
B ...............................................
C ..............................................
D ..............................................

-

-

M

12/77

172.1

176.1

177.2

177.2

177.8

179.5

167.7

171.5

172.7

172.6

173.1

174.6

M

12/77

168.5

171.9

173.9

173.6

175.3

176.1

165.1

168.4

170.3

169.9

171.5

172.2

M
M

12/77
12/77

170.0
175.1

171.6
177.9

172.5
178.7

172.9
179.5

174.0
180.2

174.6
180.9

171.4
174.1

172.7
176.5

173.7
177.5

174.1
178.3

175.1
179.0

175.7
179.7

-

-

M

12/77

175.5

177.9

178.6

179.4

180.4

181.5

174.9

177.0

177.8

178.7

179.6

180.7

M

12/77

177.0

179.9

180.8

181.7

182.3

183.0

173.2

175.6

176.5

177.4

178.1

178.7

M

12/77

173.6

176.4

177.5

178.5

178.8

179.2

174.3

176.7

177.9

179.0

179.3

179.8

M
M

12/77
12/77

173.2
176.8

176.6
179.6

177.4
180.6

177.3
182.0

177.8
182.7

178.0
183.8

174.0
174.5

177.0
177.0

177.9
177.9

177.9
179.3

178.4
180.1

178.6
181.1

M

12/77

179.6

182.6

183.6

185.3

186.1

187.2

174.9

177.5

178.4

180.2

181.0

182.1

M

12/77

176.7

178.9

179.9

180.6

181.4

182.7

177.1

179.0

180.0

180.8

181.5

182.8

M

12/77

170.5

-

172.9

173.8

174.8

175.2

175.8

168.9

-

171.1

171.9

172.7

173.3

173.8

M
M
M
M

12/77
12/77
12/77
12/77

175.6
173.4
172.7

-

100.0
178.7
176.5
175.4

100.6
179.6
177.7
176.1

101.1
180.1
178.2
176.4

101.6
181.0
179.1
176.9

102.2
182.1
179.6
177.4

320.4
172.7
173.4
173.6

321.4
-

325.7
175.5
176.2
175.9

327.7
176.5
177.5
176.7

329.0
177.0
178.0
177.1

330.5
177.8
178.9
177.6

332.3
178.9
179.4
178.1

-

-

-

-

Selected local areas
Chicago, ILNorthwestern IN ......................
Los Angeles-Long
Beach, Anaheim, C A ............
New York, NYNortheastern N J ......................
Philadelphia, P A -N J.................
San FranciscoOakland, C A .............................

M

323.7

324.2

331.0

334.3

334.2

335.5

337.1

309.1

324.2

315.8

319.1

319.0

320.1

321.6

M

326.8

329.4

332.9

335.1

338.8

341.4

342.8

320.2

322.7

325.3

327.4

331.2

333.4

334.8

-

321.4
317.8

320.6
318.9

329.1
325.2

331.6
327.7

333.2
329.0

334.7
329.4

337.0
333.8

313.2
319.7

312.3
320.8

320.1
326.6

322.3
329.1

324.0
329.9

325.7
330.4

328.2
334.9

-

339.3

-

343.6

345.8

348.8

349.6

353.0

333.2

-

337.0

339.0

342.2

343.4

346.9

333.2
334.7
333.3
178.6
324.3
340.1

-

M
M
M

Baltimore, MD ...........................
Boston, MA ...............................
Cleveland, O H ...........................
Miami, F L ...................................
St. Louis, M O -IL ........................
Washington, DC-MD-VA .........

1
1
1
1
1
1

Dallas-Ft. Worth, T X ................
Detroit, M l ..................................
Houston, TX ..............................
Pittsburgh, PA ...........................

2
2
2
2

_
11/77
-

_
“

_
346.9
341.4
318.8
330.0
328.1

329.1
322.6
173.0
318.6
329.6

_
321.7
-

_
351.8
342.8
324.7
331.0
333.0

334.1
333.2
352.9
177.2
326.7
335.7

_
-

1 Area is the Consolidated Metropolitan Statistical Area (CMSA), exclu­
sive of farms and military. Area definitions are those established by the Of­
fice of Management and Budget in 1983, except for Boston-Lawrence-Salem, MA-NH Area (excludes Monroe County); and Milwaukee, Wl Area (in­
cludes only the Milwaukee MSA). Definitions do not include revisions made
since 1983.
2 -Foods, fuels, and several other items priced every month in all areas;
most other goods and services priced as indicated:.
M - Every month.
1 - January, March, May, July, September, and November.
2 - February, April, June, August, October, and Deceqnber.

Digitized for94
FRASER
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

_
347.8
327.6
334.9
335.2

335.9
336.8
356.8
178.4
328.8
338.0

_
-

_
-

_
324.4
-

-

-

351.8
330.5
341.1
338.2

334.1
308.1
327.7
307.8

326.8
319.3
173.4
314.2
330.2

_
311.0
“

_
328.9
335.0
314.0
328.5
311.8

331.1
330.9
330.1
177.6
321.9
337.7

_
“

_
341.1
316.5
333.0
314.2

_
“

_

344.4
319.9
338.5
316.6

3 Regions are defined as the four Census regions.
- Data not available.
NOTE: Local area CPI indexes are byproducts of the national CPI pro­
gram. Because each local index is a small subset of the national index, it
has a smaller sample size and is, therefore, subject to substantially more
sampling and other measurement error than the national index. As a result,
local area indexes show greater volatility than the national index, although
their long-term trends are quite similar. Therefore, the Bureau of Labor Sta­
tistics strongly urges users to consider adopting the national average CPI
for use in escalator clauses.

32.

Annual data: Consumer Price Index all items and major groups
Series

1978

1979

1980

1981

1982

1983

1984

1985

1986

195.4
7.7

217.4
11.3

246.8
13.5

272.4
10.4

289.1
6.1

298.4
3.2

311.1
4.3

322.2
3.6

328.4
1.9

206.3
9.7

228.5
10.8

248.0
8.5

267.3
7.8

278.2
4.1

284.4
2.2

295.1
3.8

302.0
2.3

311.8
3.2

202.8
8.7

227.6
12.2

263.3
15.7

293.5
11.5

314.7
7.2

323.1
2.7

336.5
4.1

349.9
4.0

360.2
2.9

159.6
3.5

166.6
4.4

178.4
7.1

186.9
4.8

191.8
2.6

196.5
2.5

200.2
1.9

206.0
2.9

207.8
.9

185.5
4.7

212.0
14.3

249.7
17.8

280.0
12.1

291.5
4.1

298.4
2.4

311.7
4.5

319.9
2.6

307.5
-3.9

219.4
8.4

239.7
9.3

265.9
10.9

294.5
10.8

328.7
11.6

357.3
8.7

379.5
6.2

403.1
6.2

433.5
7.5

176.6
5.3

188.5
6.7

205.3
8.9

221.4
7.8

235.8
6.5

246.0
4.3

255.1
3.7

265.0
3.9

274.1
3.4

183.3
6.4

196.7
7.3

214.5
9.0

235.7
9.9

259.9
10.3

288.3
10.9

307.7
6.7

326.6
6.1

346.4
6.1

195.3
7.6

217.7
11.5

247.0
13.5

272.3
10.2

288.6
6.0

297.4
3.0

307.6
3.4

318.5
3.5

323.4
1.5

Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers:
All items:

Food and beverages:

Housing:

Apparel and upkeep:

Transportation:

Medical care:

Entertainment:

Other goods and services:

Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and
Clerical Workers:
All items:


https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
33.

June 1987 •

Current Labor Statistics:

Price Data

Producer Price Indexes, by stage of processing

(1967 = 100)
1987

Annual average

Grouping
1985

Finished goods ....................................
Finished consumer goods ....................
Finished consumer fo o d s ...................
Finished consumer goods excluding
foods ....................................................
Nondurable goods less food .........
Durable g o o d s ..................................
Capital equipm ent..................................

Intermediate materials, supplies, and
components..............................................
Materials and components for
manufacturing .............................................
Materials for food m anufacturing..........
Materials for nondurable manufacturing
Materials for durable m anufacturing.....
Components for m anufacturing.............
Materials and components for
construction................................................
Processed fuels and lu bricants.................
Containers.....................................................
S u pplies........................................................

Crude materials for further processing
Foodstuffs and feedstuffs .......................
Crude nonfood materials......... ................

1986

Intermediate materials less foods and
fe e d s ........................................................
Intermediate foods and fe e d s ...............
Intermediate energy goods ...................
Intermediate goods less energy ..........
Intermediate materials less foods and
e n e rg y ......................................................
Crude energy m ate rials.........................
Crude materials less energy ...............
Crude nonfood materials less energy .

96 FRASER
Digitized for
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

June

July

Aug.

Sept.

Oct.

Nov.

Dec.

Jan.

Feb.

Mar.

Apr.
295.0
290.3
283.3

293.7
291.8
271.2

289.6
284.9
278.0

288.9
284.1
274.8

289.3
284.5
275.1

287.6
282.3
280.4

288.1
283.0
284.0

287.3
282.5
282.9

290.7
285.2
283.6

290.7
285.1
283.1

290.4
284.8
282.9

291.7
286.2
280.0

292.3
287.1
279.6

292.3
287.2
280.4

297.3
339.3
241.5
300.5

283.4
311.1
246.9
306.5

284.0
313.0
245.5
305.7

284.4
313.5
245.9
306.1

278.3
302.6
246.2
306.4

277.5
301.6
245.8
306.2

277.4
304.5
241.7
303.9

281.0
301.9
253.5
309.9

281.2
302.2
253.5
310.4

280.8
302.1
252.8
310.1

284.5
307.7
252.9
311.2

286.0
311.6
250.4
310.5

285.7
311.7
249.6
310.3

288.9
315.2
252.1
311.7

318.7

307.6

306.7

306.8

304.8

304.5

306.1

304.8

304.8

305.0

307.1

308.9

309.4

310.9
301.3
255.3
286.3
320.3
297.1

299.5
258.8
285.9
320.2
291.5

296.1
250.9
279.2
313.8
294.4

295.4
248.7
278.2
313.2
294.1

295.1
247.9
277.8
312.9
294.1

295.6
251.7
277.7
313.0
294.6

296.0
255.5
277.1
313.6
294.9

296.2
254.3
277.0
314.9
295.0

296.4
253.9
277.5
315.3
294.9

296.4
253.2
278.0
314.9
294.9

296.4
253.2
278.3
313.9
295.2

297.7
251.0
280.9
316.2
295.6

298.3
250.6
282.1
316.5
296.1

299.4
250.0
283.4
317.9
297.1

315.2
548.9
311.2
284.2

317.5
430.3
315.1
287.3

318.3
424.2
313.6
287.1

317.8
426.7
314.0
287.3

317.9
401.1
314.6
287.2

317.6
395.0
316.2
287.1

317.6
409.1
317.4
288.0

317.3
394.9
318.1
287.5

317.5
392.8
319.0
288.0

316.9
395.5
319.2
288.2

317.2
408.2
321.4
289.0

318.2
420.2
323.3
289.8

319.0
416.4
324.5
290.0

319.3
420.8
325.3
290.7

306.1
235.0
459.2

280.0
230.6
386.8

279.4
229.9
386.9

276.9
227.1
384.8

277.7
234.4
370.8

276.3
238.1
358.3

275.4
233.5
365.6

277.2
235.0
367.9

279.2
236.8
370.3

277.0
233.5
370.6

284.0
227.1
392.9

288.8
229.2
401.7

287.7
229.1
399.2

295.5
239.4
405.4

299.0
720.9
269.2'
261.3
268.7

291.1
518.5
275.6
267.8
274.9

291.2
534.1
274.0
266.1
274.0

291.6
536.4
274.3
266.3
274.3

287.4
461.6
276.4
268.9
275.0

286.8
456.2
277.2
270.0
274.8

286.1
471.7
275.5
268.5
272.9

290.4
452.1
280.0
272.6
278.9

290.7
453.7
280.0
272.4
279.1

290.4
454.6
279.6
272.0
278.7

293.2
478.4
279.6
271.6
279.7

294.0
497.9
279.0
271.0
279.0

293.8
493.8
279.2
271.5
279.1

296.4
511.5
281.1
273.4
280.5

258.4

257.5

257.7

258.7

258.4

256.7

262.6

262.6

262.2

263.2

262.6

262.7

264.1

252.1

257.6

258.2

Special groupings
Finished goods, excluding fo o d s ...................
Finished energy goods ...................................
Finished goods less e n e rg y ...........................
Finished consumer goods less e n e rg y ........
Finished goods less food and e n e rg y .........
Finished consumer goods less food and
e n e rg y ..............................................................
Consumer nondurable goods less food and
e n e rg y ..............................................................

May

246.2

252.9

252.3

252.5

253.9

253.8

254.2

254.8

254.9

254.7

256.2

256.8

325.0
232.8
528.3
304.0

313.3
230.2
414.5
303.5

312.4
229.3
409.1
303.0

312.5
229.0
411.1
302.9

310.4
230.3
386.6
303.3

309.9
232.1
380.7
303.5

311.5
233.2
393.8
304.0

310.4
230.3
380.3
303.9

310.3
231.0
378.3
304.1

310.5
231.5
380.7
304.1

312.9
229.7
392.8
305.2

314.8
229.8
404.2
306.0

315.4
227.9
400.6
306.8

316.8
232.3
404.9
308.2

305.2

304.4

304.0

303.8

304.1

304.2

304.6

304.8

304.9

304.8

306.2

307.0

308.1

309.3

748.1
233.2
249.7

575.8
228.9
245.6

570.6
229.2
249.3

563.9
227.3
250.1

528.8
232.8
250.0

520.4
232.4
235.9

533.9
229.7
239.1

534.4
231.6
242.3

537.0
233.3
244.4

533.2
231.5
247.1

571.6
227.9
251.0

586.2
230.3
254.6

581.2
230.3
254.6

590.9
238.4
257.6

34.

Producer Price indexes, by durability of product

(1967 = 100)
1987

1986

Annual average

Grouping
1985

Total raw or slightly processed goods ........

35.

1986

May

June

Aug.

July

Sept.

Oct.

Nov.

Dec.

Jan.

Feb.

Mar.

Apr.

302.1
294.7

303.0
298.2

303.5
301.0

303.9
300.8

304.3
304.5

297.3
317.2

300.0
298.7

299.6
297.9

299.7
297.7

300.0
294.5

299.9
294.2

298.8
295.6

302.2
294.4

302.4
294.8

304.3
298.1
310.5

297.6
300.9
294.0

296.7
300.4
292.6

296.9
300.5
293.0

295.2
300.9
289.1

295.5
300.8
289.7

296.0
299.6
292.1

297.0
303.1
290.4

297.1
303.3
290.5

297.2
302.9
291.0

299.3
303.7
294.4

300.7
304.1
296.9

300.9
304.6
296.8

302.9
305.0
300.4

327.9
252.2
332.4

305.3
252.0
308.3

306.2
252.1
309.3

304.2
251.2
307.2

303.2
249.6
306.2

300.4
252.0
303.0

299.0
252.8
301.6

299.2
252.0
301.8

300.6
254.4
303.1

298.6
255.4
300.9

302.0
260.3
304.1

305.6
264.2
307.7

305.2
262.2
307.4

308.9
263.2
311.4

Annual data: Producer Price Indexes, by stage of processing

(1967 = 100)

Index

1977

1978

1979

1980

1981

1982

1983

1984

1985

181.7
180.7
184.6

195.9
194.9
199.2

217.7
217.9
216.5

247.0
248.9
239.8

269.8
271.3
264.3

280.7
281.0
279.4

285.2
284.6
287.2

291.1
290.3
294.0

293.7
291.8
300.5

201.5

215.6

243.2

280.3

306.0

310.4

312.3

320.0

318.7

195.4
203.4
282.5
188.3
188.7

208.7
224.7
295.3
202.8
198.5

234.4
247.4
364.8
226.8
218.2

265.7
268.3
503.0
254.5
244.5

286.1
287.6
595.4
276.1
263.8

289.8
293.7
591.7
285.6
272.1

293.4
301.8
564.8
286.6
277.1

301.8
310.3
566.2
302.3
283.4

299.5
315.2
548.9
311.2
284.2

209.2
192.1
245.0
372.1

234.4
216.2
272.3
426.8

274.3
247.9
330.0
507.6

304.6
259.2
401.0
615.0

329.0
257.4
482.3
751.2

319.5
247.8
473.9
886.1

323.6
252.2
477.4
931.5

330.8
259.5
484.5
931.3

306.1
235.0
459.2
909.6

Finished goods:

Intermediate materials, supplies, and
components:
Materials and components for
Materials and components for construction ....

Crude materials for further processing:


https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
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97

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
36.

June 1987 •

Current Labor Statistics:

Price Data

U.S. export price indexes by Standard International Trade Classification,

(June 1977=100, unless otherwise Indicated)

Category

1974
SITO

ALL COMMODITIES (9/83 = 1 0 0 ).....................................................................

1984
Sept.

1985
Dec.

Mar.

June

1986

Sept.

Dec.

Mar.

June

1987

Sept.

Dec.

Mar.

99.3

98.1

97.5

97.5

96.5

96.7

97.0

96.7

95.1

96.2

97.2

0
01
03
04
05
08
09

103.5
105.6
98.0
101.2
125.6
83.5
109.5

96.5
104.4
98.7
92.9
114.7
82.4
108.4

95.8
103.9
101.0
92.4
119.5
72.8
110.6

94.0
104.7
103.6
90.3
120.2
68.6
109.2

90.2
106.1
102.6
82.6
126.9
75.7
108.1

93.6
112.2
101.8
87.1
118.9
83.4
107.7

90.5
111.5
102.2
82.1
115.3
88.5
106.0

89.5
114.7
106.2
79.1
125.8
85.5
104.7

77.2
122.0
111.2
59.0
131.4
90.2
106.6

81.2
122.6
116.9
64.8
131.9
87.4
108.2

79.8
123.4
118.5
62.9
130.8
85.7
108.6

1
11
12

102.8
103.3
102.7

101.3
103.7
101.1

99.9
104.0
99.5

100.1
105.3
99.6

99.7
101.8
99.5

98.6
100.9
98.4

95.6
101.9
95.1

96.5
103.0
95.9

96.3
102.2
95.8

101.6
102.9
101.4

101.7
104.7
101.4

Raw hides and skins (6 /8 0 —100) ..................................................................
Oilseeds and oleaginous fruit (9/77 = 1 0 0 )...................................................
Crude rubber (including synthetic and reclaimed) (9/83 = 1 0 0 ).................
W o o d ....................................................................................................................
Pulp and waste paper (6 /8 3 —100) ................................................................
Textile fib e rs ........................................................................................................
Crude fertilizers and m inerals..........................................................................
Metalliferous ores and metal scrap ................................................................

2
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28

105.2
153.7
79.9
104.1
123.8
120.8
109.4
163.0
93.2

101.4
133.6
74.8
104.0
125.4
114.2
106.7
163.2
92.4

97.5
121.0
71.0
106.4
128.7
100.5
102.4
165.6
89.2

96.8
126.2
71.2
106.3
125.7
96.1
105.8
167.9
82.0

93.3
129.0
64.2
107.1
124.5
93.8
103.6
169.4
80.1

92.5
139.9
63.9
106.0
128.1
92.7
97.7
165.5
78.7

95.8
138.9
66.9
106.0
128.7
98.8
101.6
168.0
83.4

95.6
148.9
65.8
106.1
128.7
109.7
98.6
166.1
80.5

92.3
138.0
64.5
105.3
129.7
119.8
74.7
164.3
84.6

94.8
148.3
62.9
104.4
135.5
121.2
92.2
162.8
80.7

97.3
168.8
60.4
139.3
133.0
99.7
155.6
82.2

Mineral fuels...............................................................................................

3

99.7

99.7

100.1

99.2

97.6

96.6

91.9

86.7

85.7

84.7

85.6

Animal and vegetables oils, fats, and waxes.........................................

4
42

145.7
159.0

147.9
156.7

142.0
152.9

144.5
164.8

114.5
128.8

101.4
108.7

90.8
95.4

84.4
95.3

76.5
80.8

86.8
87.0

88.9
89.1

5
51
56

98.3
97.4
97.4

97.7
94.7
94.8

97.0
93.8
92.5

96.8
96.5
87.9

97.1
97.1
89.8

96.6
95.4
90.0

96.5
93.5
88.6

95.4
89.3
84.0

93.1
88.0
77.4

92.2
89.4
68.7

06.6
99.5
75.4

102.0
80.8
148.9
160.0
96.8
90.4
105.1

100.4
79.0
148.5
159.5
96.5
82.5
105.0

99.4
82.5
150.2
155.0
95.5
79.7
105.4

99.2
79.2
149.0
151.6
95.3
79.6
105.2

99.2
75.9
148.3
149.6
95.9
79.8
105.4

99.1
78.5
148.7
148.2
98.2
78.2
104.4

100.3
77.8
151.0
152.2
98.4
80.2
105.3

101.2
82.5
150.0
158.7
99.4
79.1
105.5

102.2
84.2
150.4
165.3
100.2
79.4
105.6

102.7
88.0
151.3
167.9
100.1
78.8
105.7

104.4
96.3
152.1
174.4
101.5
80.3
105.7

67
68
69
7
71
72
73
74
75
76

140.1
160.6
153.7
151.7
149.3
99.8
134.4
113.8
131.0
189.6

141.5
167.5
153.4
151.9
150.2
101.4
134.3
114.6
131.8
191.7

142.3
165.3
155.0
153.4
152.4
100.9
133.3
114.9
133.1
195.5

142.9
167.4
155.7
155.1
152.0
100.0
133.3
116.1
133.9
196.6

143.1
167.1
156.0
156.3
152.4
99.9
134.1
115.3
133.8
199.3

143.3
167.5
156.2
158.4
152.2
99.4
134.5
113.8
135.0
200.7

144.0
169.1
155.5
159.0
152.3
99.9
136.5
115.1
135.5
203.3

144.2
169.2
154.7
158.9
153.3
99.2
137.0
114.2
136.4
206.8

144.6
169.5
155.0
160.4
154.4
98.9
137.8
114.4
136.5
207.4

145.5
171.4
155.7
161.8
155.3
98.1
139.7
114.9
137.9
209.7

146.3
173.0
154.7
165.0
157.7
96.0
141.3
117.6
138.0
211.4

77
78
79

100.7
103.9
175.8

99.3
103.4
171.7

99.5
104.7
175.5

100.4
104.7
178.3

100.3
105.0
178.7

100.3
105.3
178.8

102.6

103.4

104.1

182.1

183.8

183.8

104.3
110.0
184.8

186.4

8

132.7

130.3

128.0

129.1

127.5

128.5

131.6

132.9

132.7

132.0

133.4

Miscellaneous manufactured articles, n.e.s....................................................

84

95.2

94.1

92.4

93.1

93.1

92.4

95.6

95.6

97.6

97.7

98.1

Gold, non-monetary (6 /8 3 = 1 0 0 )..............................................................

971

81.7

79.5

69.1

75.4

77.4

77.5

81.8

82.2

97.5

94.5

98.2

Food ( 3 /8 3 - 1 0 0 ) .................................................................................................
Meat ( 3 /8 3 - 1 0 0 ) ...............................................................................................
Fish (3/83 = 100) ................................................................................................
Grain and grain preparations (3 /8 0 = 1 0 0 ) ...................................................
Vegetables and fruit (3/83 = 100) ...................................................................
Feedstuffs for animals (3/83 = 10 0 )................................................................
Misc. food products (3/83 = 1 0 0 )....................................................................

Beverages and tobacco ( 6 /8 3 - 1 0 0 ) .............................................................
Beverages (9 /8 3 —1 0 0 )....................................................................................
Tobacco and tobacco products ( 6 /8 3 - 1 0 0 ) ...............................................

Crude materials ( 6 /8 3 - 1 0 0 ) ............................................................................

Fixed vegetable oils and fats (6 /8 3 = 1 0 0 ) ...................................................

Chemicals ( 3 /8 3 - 1 0 0 ) ......................................................................................
Organic chemicals (1 2 /8 3 -1 0 0 ) ....................................................................
Fertilizers, manufactured ( 3 /8 3 - 1 0 0 ) ............................................................

Intermediate manufactured products (9/81 = 10 0 )....................................
Leather and furskins (9/79 —1 0 0 )...................................................................
Rubber manufactures .......................................................................................
Paper and paperboard products ( 6 /7 8 = 1 0 0 ) ...............................................
Iron and steel (3 /8 2 —100) ..............................................................................
Nonferrous metals (9/81 = 100) ......................................................................
Metal manufactures, n.e.s. (3 /8 2 —100) ........................................................

Machinery and transport equipment, excluding military
and commercial aircraft (12 /7 8 —1 0 0 ).........................................................
Power generating machinery and equipment (1 2 /7 8 —100) ......................
Machinery specialized for particular industries (9 /7 8 = 1 0 0 ) ......................
Metalworking machinery (6 /7 8 -1 0 0 ) ............................................................
General industrial machines and parts n.e.s. 9 / 7 8 - 1 0 0 ) ..........................
Office machines and automatic data processing equipment .....................
Telecommunications, sound recording and reproducing e q u ipm ent........
Electrical machinery and equipm ent...............................................................
Road vehicles and parts ( 3 /8 0 - 1 0 0 ) ............................................................
Other transport equipment, excl. military and commercial a v ia tio n ........

Other manufactured articles....................................................................
Apparel (9 /8 3 = 1 0 0 ) ..........................................................................................
Professional, scientific, and controlling instruments and apparatus.........
Photographic apparatus and supplies, optical goods, watches and
clocks (1 2 /7 7 = 1 0 0 )........................................................................................

-

Data not available.

Digitized for 98
FRASER
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

6
61
62
64
-

-

-

-

-

105.3
-

37.

U.S. import price indexes by Standard International Trade Classification

(June 1977 = 100, unless otherwise indicated)

Category

1974
SITC

ALL COMMODITIES ( 9 /8 2 - 1 0 0 ; .....................................................................
Food ( 9 /7 7 - 1 0 0 ) ................................................................................................
M e a t.....................................................................................................................
Dairy products and eggs (6 /8 1 -1 0 0 ) .........................................................
F is h .......................................................................................................................
Bakery goods, pasta products, grain and grain preparations
(9 /7 7 -1 0 0 ) .......................................................................................................
Fruits and vegetables .......................................................................................
Sugar, sugar preparations, and honey (3 /8 2 —1 0 0 )....................................
Coffee, tea, c o c o a .............................................................................................

Beverages and tobacco............................................................................
Beverages ...........................................................................................................

Crude materials..........................................................................................
Crude rubber (inc. synthetic & reclaimed) (3 /8 4 —1 0 0 )..............................
Wood (9 /8 1 -1 0 0 ) ............................................................................................
Pulp and waste paper (12/81 —1 0 0 ) ..............................................................
Crude fertilizers and crude minerals (1 2 /8 3 —100) .....................................
Metalliferous ores and metal scrap (3 /8 4 —1 0 0 ).........................................
Crude vegetable and animal materials, n.e.s.................................................

Fuels and related products ( 6 /8 2 - 1 0 0 ) ......................................................
Petroleum and petroleum products (6 /8 2 -1 0 0 ) ..........................................

Fats and oils ( 9 /8 3 - 1 0 0 ) .................................................................................
Vegetable oils ( 9 /8 3 - 1 0 0 ) ..............................................................................

Chemicals ( 9 /8 2 - 1 0 0 ) ......................................................................................
Medicinal and pharmaceutical products (3 /8 4 —100) .................................
Manufactured fertilizers (3 /8 4 —1 0 0 )..............................................................
Chemical materials and products, n.e.s. ( 9 /8 4 - 1 0 0 ) .................................

Intermediate manufactured products (1 2 /7 7 —100) .................................
Leather and furskins .........................................................................................
Rubber manufactures, n.e.s..............................................................................
Cork and wood manufactures .........................................................................
Paper and paperboard products .....................................................................
T extiles.................................................................................................................
Nonmetallic mineral manufactures, n.e.s........................................................
Iron and steel (9 /7 8 = 1 0 0 ) ..............................................................................
Nonferrous metals (12/81 = 100) ....................................................................
Metal manufactures, n.e.s.................................................................................

Machinery and transport equipment (6/81 —100)................................
Machinery specialized for particular industries (9 /7 8 -1 0 0 ) ......................
Metalworking machinery (3 /8 0 = 1 0 0 ) ............................................................
General industrial machinery and parts, n.e.s. (6/81 = 100) ......................
Office machines and automatic data processing equipment
( 3 /8 0 - 1 0 0 ) ......................................................................................................
Telecommunications, sound recording and reproducing apparatus
( 3 /8 0 - 1 0 0 ) ......................................................................................................
Electrical machinery and equipment (1 2 /8 1 -1 0 0 ) .....................................
Road vehicles and parts (6/81 — 1 0 0 )............................................................

Mlsc. manufactured articles (3 /8 0 —1 0 0 ).....................................................
Plumbing, heating, and lighting fixtures (6 /8 0 —100) ..................................
Furniture and parts (6 /8 0 —100) .....................................................................
Clothing (9 /7 7 = 1 0 0 ) ........................................................................................
F ootw ear..............................................................................................................
Professional, scientific, and controlling instruments and
apparatus (1 2 /7 9 —1 0 0 )..................................................................................
Photographic apparatus and supplies, optical goods, watches, and
clocks ( 3 /8 0 - 1 0 0 ) ..........................................................................................
Mise, manufactured articles, n.e.s. (6 /8 2 —1 0 0 )..........................................

Gold, non-monetary (6 /8 2 -1 0 0 ).............................................................


https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

1986

1985
Mar.

June

Sept.

Dec.

Mar.

June

1987

Sept.

Dec.

Mar.

93.5

93.0

92.9

94.2

88.5

83.2

83.9

86.0

91.6

0
01
02
03

98.5
130.4
98.3
132.9

96.8
118.2
97.9
129.4

94.9
120.6
99.1
129.7

102.8
131.2
100.5
132.7

113.4
122.7
106.7
139.3

104.7
118.5
107.1
144.8

109.1
126.9
109.4
149.6

105.3
134.4
111.5
157.1

100.2
132.1
116.8
161.6

04
05
06
07

131.8
127.1
118.4
57.0

132.3
129.4
122.6
56.0

136.3
120.2
123.1
54.4

141.9
131.3
111.9
64.6

146.9
119.4
124.6
85.9

149.2
119.4
121.6
69.2

154.0
127.1
123.9
71.8

155.3
125.5
124.3
61.0

161.0
120.5
126.0
50.9

1
11

156.2
154.2

157.1
154.3

158.0
156.0

162.1
159.1

163.2
161.8

165.5
163.9

165.8
165.5

168.0
168.2

170.8
171.5

2
23
24
25
27
28
29

94.0
77.6
100.7
84.0
100.3
90.4
104.3

93.6
76.4
106.9
80.4
101.7
87.6
104.9

91.5
68.9
101.6
76.8
102.7
89.5
102.5

91.2
73.2
99.4
75.8
102.1
90.1
102.5

94.2
78.8
104.3
74.9
101.5
94.5
103.6

95.3
75.5
106.3
79.9
100.0
95.6
104.4

98.1
76.9
109.4
86.0
100.4
98.2
104.8

98.5
78.5
107.2
92.8
100.2
95.4
104.7

103.2
79.1
115.0
100.5
99.5
98.0
113.4

3
33

82.9
83.8

80.9
81.6

79.8
80.3

79.1
80.1

55.3
54.7

37.5
36.1

33.6
32.1

38.4
37.9

49.7
49.9

4
42

89.9
89.5

76.7
75.9

57.6
56.2

50.6
48.9

41.4
39.3

39.3
37.4

35.5
33.5

51.6
50.0

50.8
49.2

5
54
56
59

95.7
91.6
94.2
96.1

94.9
95.1
82.0
95.6

94.5
95.3
80.8
96.9

94.2
96.7
78.5
97.8

94.6
102.9
79.2
99.9

93.3
104.9
79.7
100.3

93.4
110.0
77.4
101.0

93.2
110.1
79.7
102.8

95.9
116.2
81.8
104.3

6
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69

133.1
135.3
139.5
121.3
157.6
130.4
154.2
121.0
81.9
117.4

132.4
133.3
138.6
121.2
157.2
127.5
151.7
120.1
82.3
117.8

133.6
137.0
137.3
123.4
157.8
126.5
157.6
119.1
83.7
119.5

133.4
141.3
138.1
124.0
156.5
128.1
162.2
118.3
80.4
121.6

134.0
141.6
136.5
130.8
157.1
131.2
164.2
117.3
79.4
124.4

135.6
143.0
137.7
134.3
157.1
132.9
169.6
118.1
78.9
127.8

138.8
147.4
138.1
137.4
157.5
135.1
178.2
119.0
83.5
129.1

139.4
143.3
138.1
142.7
164.8
135.3
180.2
118.5
81.6
129.1

142.2
149.5
140.8
146.1
165.2
138.8
183.1
122.3
82.4
133.4

7
72
73
74

101.6
96.2
86.3
89.2

102.6
97.0
90.5
91.1

103.5
101.4
94.2
94.3

107.2
104.9
98.1
98.0

111.5
112.1
105.0
103.8

115.3
115.4
107.7
109.0

118.1
120.1
110.7
112.8

120.2
121.0
115.7
113.9

124.0
128.0
122.4
120.8

75

89.6

89.4

90.3

93.7

96.9

101.3

102.5

102.4

103.5

76
77
78

90.0
82.1
111.5

88.8
83.9
112.1

88.3
81.4
112.7

88.6
83.1
117.8

89.4
84.5
123.4

91.6
87.5
127.1

93.7
89.5
129.8

93.9
91.7
133.2

94.6
93.6
137.0

8
81
82
84
85

97.0
113.9
137.4
136.7
137.4

98.0
114.1
136.7
133.9
136.7

99.6
117.8
142.1
134.5
142.1

100.8
115.0
142.7
134.5
142.7

103.3
120.1
147.0
133.4
147.0

104.8
123.5
142.2
135.3
142.2

109.5
125.5
145.8
137.8
145.8

109.6
125.5
146.9
139.1
146.9

114.3
125.5
148.9
145.5
148.9

87

89.2

92.3

98.8

102.4

106.4

112.5

118.3

118.0

125.6

88
89

88.9
91.2

89.5
95.2

91.1
96.4

94.5
97.9

99.3
102.1

103.2
103.4

106.9
112.3

107.6
111.0

111.8
116.9

971

90.1

98.3

101.1

101.0

106.7

107.3

126.9

123.3

128.0

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
38.

June 1987 •

Current Labor Statistics:

Price Data

U.S. export price indexes by end-use category

(September 1983 = 100 unless otherwise indicated)

Category

Percentage
of 1980
trade
value
16.294
30.696
21.327
9.368
30.186
7.483
7.467
3.965
3.501

39.

Sept.

June

Mar.

81.5
97.6
99.6
92.6
106.2
106.7
100.9
99.1
102.7

80.9
97.2
99.5
91.6
106.6
108.0
101.1
99.2
103.0

1987

1986

1985

76.2
96.5
98.7
91.1
106.6
108.1
101.9
100.4
103.3

77.5
95.9
97.9
91.0
106.6
109.2
101.4
99.5
103.3

Sept.

June

Mar.

Dec.

75.5
96.0
97.5
92.5
107.4
109.5
103.7
101.8
105.5

74.7
94.9
96.1
91.9
107.5
110.4
104.5
101.8
107.2

66.0
93.3
93.7
92.5
107.7
110.8
104.5
102.1
106.9

Mar.

Dec.

68.4
94.8
95.4
93.2
108.3
111.8
105.7
102.7
108.5

67.1
98.2
99.5
95.1
109.0
111.9
106.9
103.9
109.8

U.S. import price indexes by end-use category

(December 1982=100)

Category

Percentage
of 1980
trade
value
7.477
31.108
19.205
9.391
9.814
13.164
11.750
14.250
5.507
8.743

40.

Mar.

June

102.1
84.4
96.3
95.0
97.7
94.8
105.4
99.5
97.0
103.0

100.4
82.1
95.8
93.9
97.8
96.3
105.9
99.4
97.0
102.5

1987

1986

1985

Sept.

99.0
80.9
95.4
93.5
97.4
97.6
106.4
101.0
98.9
103.9

Dec.

106.0
80.5
93.9
91.8
96.2
100.0
111.4
102.4
100.7
104.7

Mar.

June

115.8
55.4
94.5
91.1
98.1
102.8
115.6
104.5
103.4
106.0

108.2
36.8
94.0
89.7
98.7
106.7
119.0
106.5
106.5
106.6

Sept.

112.3
32.6
95.3
89.5
101.4
109.4
121.0
110.1
111.2
108.6

Dec.

109.2
38.3
94.9
89.7
100.3
110.7
123.9
110.6
111.6
109.2

U.S. export price indexes by Standard Industrial Classification 1
1985

1986

Industry group
Mar.
Manufacturing:
Food and kindred products (6 /8 3 = 1 0 0 ) .............................
Lumber and wood products, except furniture
(6 /8 3 = 1 0 0 ) ..............................................................
Furniture and fixtures (9/83 = 100) .......................................
Paper and allied products (3 /8 1 = 1 0 0 ) ................................
Chemicals and allied products (1 2 /8 4 = 1 0 0 )......................
Petroleum and coal products (1 2/83= 100 ) ........................
Primary metal products (3 /8 2 = 1 0 0 ) ....................................
Machinery, except electrical (9 /7 8 = 1 0 0 ) ............................
Electrical machinery (1 2/80= 100 ) .......................................
Transportation equipment (1 2 /7 8 = 1 0 0 )..............................
Scientific instruments; optical goods; clocks
(6 /7 7 = 1 0 0 ) ............................................................................
1 SIC - based classification.

Digitized for 100
FRASER
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

June

Sept.

Dec.

Mar.

June

1987
Sept.

Dec.

Mar.

99.5

99.5

96.7

98.1

97.0

95.0

95.2

97.6

99.0

99.9
105.2
97.1
100.3
101.3
87.9
140.4
111.3
160.4

99.5
106.5
94.7
99.6
102.7
87.5
140.5
112.4
161.8

98.3
107.1
93.2
99.7
102.0
88.1
140.6
111.9
162.6

101.2
108.4
92.1
99.2
99.1
87.9
140.5
111.2
164.1

101.5
109.2
95.7
98.9
93.5
89.8
140.6
112.6
165.1

101.2
109.7
101.5
98.3
83.1
89.8
140.3
112.3
167.1

102.1
110.1
106.1
96.2
83.1
90.7
140.5
112.6
167.4

105.7
110.4
108.7
95.9
82.2
89.9
140.7
113.6
169.4

109.8
113.4
113.7
100.3
83.5
91.7
140.9
115.7
170.0

154.9

156.6

156.2

156.7

159.7

161.2

161.5

162.3

163.3

Mar.

104.7
50.5
96.9
91.8
102.3
115.4
126.2
114.3
114.8
113.7

41.

U.S. import price indexes by Standard Industrial Classification 1
1985

1986

1987

Industry group
Mar.
Manufacturing:
Food and kindred products (6/77 —100) ....................................
Textile mill products (9 /8 2 —1 0 0 ).................................................
Apparel and related products ( 6 /7 7 = 1 0 0 ) .................................
Lumber and wood products, except furniture
(6 /7 7 = 1 0 0 ) ...................................................................................
Furniture and fixtures ( 6 /8 0 = 1 0 0 ) ...............................................
Paper and allied products (6/77 = 1 0 0 ).......................................
Chemicals and allied products (9 /8 2 = 1 0 0 ) ...............................
Rubber and miscellaneous plastic products
(1 2 /8 0 = 1 0 0 ) .................................................................................
Leather and leather products .......................................................
Primary metal products (6/81 =10 0) ...........................................
Fabricated metal products (12/84 = 1 0 0 )....................................
Machinery, except electrical ( 3 /8 0 = 1 0 0 ) ...................................
Electrical machinery (9/84 = 1 0 0 )..................................................
Transportation equipment (6/81 = 100) .......................................
Scientific instruments; optical goods; clocks
( 1 2 /7 9 = 1 0 0 ) .................................................................................
Miscellaneous manufactured commodities
( 9 / 8 2 - 1 0 0 ) ...................................................................................

June

Sept.

Dec.

Mar.

June

Sept.

Dec.

Mar.

118.8
102.8
135.6

115.0
101.0
133.0

114.2
100.4
133.9

115.1
101.8
134.4

117.7
104.7
133.4

115.6
106.4
135.1

118.0
107.1
137.8

122.4
108.0
139.3

122.7
111.7
145.9

116.3
93.9
141.5
95.3

120.6
96.1
139.8
93.9

117.5
97.7
138.7
93.3

115.8
98.2
137.4
95.8

122.1
101.2
137.6
98.6

124.8
103.5
139.4
102.1

127.9
105.4
142.2
103.8

127.9
105.6
150.3
102.4

135.0
109.7
154.0
104.7

96.9
139.1
84.1
99.0
91.8
95.1
113.1

96.7
138.9
84.1
99.1
93.4
95.8
114.2

96.6
142.3
84.3
101.0
96.6
94.5
114.8

97.5
144.0
82.6
102.6
100.0
95.8
119.6

100.9
145.8
82.0
104.9
105.5
97.0
123.9

100.6
144.6
82.4
108.5
109.0
100.2
128.0

101.9
147.7
84.9
110.3
112.5
102.6
130.4

102.1
148.7
84.0
111.1
114.2
104.0
133.2

104.4
151.8
85.4
115.5
119.4
105.7
136.5

90.7

91.7

94.6

98.8

103.9

109.1

113.7

113.7

119.1

95.1

95.1

96.6

98.7

99.9

101.7

106.9

108.1

110.3

1 SIC - based classification.

42.

Indexes of productivity, hourly compensation, and unit costs, quarterly data seasonally adjusted

(1977 = 100)
Quarterly Indexes
Item

1984
III

1985
IV

I

II

1986
III

IV

I

II

1987
III

IV

I

Business:
Output per hour of all p e rs o n s ................................
Compensation per h o u r............................................
Real compensation per h o u r ...................................
Unit labor costs ...................................................
Unit nonlabor p a y m e n ts...........................................
Implicit price deflator ................................................

105.5
169.0
98.1
160.2
157.0
159.0

105.5
170.6
98.2
161.7
157.7
160.3

105.7
172.3
98.4
163.1
158.3
161.4

106.4
174.5
98.6
164.0
160.0
162.6

107.3
176.4
99.0
164.4
161.4
163.4

106.4
178.0
99.0
167.3
159.6
164.6

107.3
179.1
99.2
167.0
162.2
165.3

107.4
180.4
100.2
168.0
161.9
165.8

107.3
181.7
100.4
169.3
163.4
167.2

106.8
182.6
100.2
171.0
159.7
167.0

107.2
182.8
99.0
170.4
164.3
168.2

104.4
168.7
97.9
161.5
157.2
160.0

104.3
170.4
98.1
163.3
157.9
161.4

104.4
172.1
98.3
164.8
158.9
162.7

104.9
174.0
98.3
165.9
160.8
164.1

105.4
175.4
98.5
166.3
163.0
165.2

104.5
177.0
98.4
169.3
160.3
166.2

105.6
178.3
98.8
168.8
163.9
167.1

105.7
179.3
99.7
169.6
163.7
167.5

105.7
180.4
99.6
170.7
165.9
169.0

105.3
181.6
99.6
172.5
162.2
168.9

105.7
181.6
98.4
171.8
167.2
170.2

105.5
166.6
96.7
162.6
157.9
176.4
130.3
160.3
158.7

105.8
168.3
96.9
163.8
159.1
177.5
130.5
161.0
159.8

106.0
169.9
97.0
164.9
160.3
178.5
129.3
161.3
160.6

106.5
171.6
96.9
165.8
161.1
179.8
130.2
162.5
161.6

107.8
173.1
97.2
165.0
160.5
178.3
141.7
165.5
162.2

107.0
174.5
97.0
167.2
163.0
179.8
131.2
162.8
162.9

106.9
175.4
97.1
168.3
164.0
181.1
131.7
163.8
164.0

106.8
176.1
97.8
168.6
164.8
179.9
132.3
163.2
164.3

106.9
176.8
97.7
169.8
165.4
182.6
135.8
166.2
165.7

107.2
177.8
97.6
169.6
165.8
180.9
136.8
165.5
165.7

107.2
177.6
96.2
169.5
165.6
181.0
147.8
181.0
166.9

117.8
169.1
98.1
143.5

118.2
171.5
98.7
145.1

119.3
173.8
99.2
145.7

121.7
175.6
99.2
144.3

123.0
178.1
100.0
144.8

122.9
179.3
99.7
145.8

123.7
180.2
99.8
145.7

124.7
181.4
100.8
145.5

125.8
182.5
100.8
145.1

125.8
183.5
100.7
145.9

126.2
183.0
99.2
145.0

Nonfarm business:
Output per hour of all p e rs o n s................................
Compensation per h o u r............................................
Real compensation per h o u r ...................................
Unit labor costs ....................................................
Unit nonlabor payments ...........................................
Implicit price deflator ................................................

Nonflnanclal corporations:
Output per hour of all em plo yees...........................
Compensation per h o u r............................................
Real compensation per h o u r ...................................
Total unit c o s ts ...........................................................
Unit labor costs .......................................................
Unit nonlabor c o s ts ................................................
Unit p ro fits ....................................................
Unit nonlabor payments ...................................
Implicit price deflator ...............................................

Manufacturing:
Output per hour of all p e rs o n s ................................
Compensation per h o u r...................................
Real compensation per h o u r ..................................
Unit labor costs ..............................................


https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

101

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
43.

June 1987 •

Current Labor Statistics:

Productivity Data

Annual indexes of multifactor productivity and related measures, selected years
____________

(1977 = 100)
Item

1960

1970

1973

1975

1977

1979

1980

1981

1982

1983

1984

1985

Private business
Productivity:
Output per hour of all p e rs o n s .............................
Output per unit of capital s e rv ic e s .......................
Multifactor p roductivity...........................................
O u tp u t..........................................................................
Inputs:

Combined units of labor and capital in p u t.........
Capital per hour of all persons................................

67.3
102.4
78.2
55.3

88.4
102.0
92.9
80.2

95.9
105.3
99.1
93.0

95.7
93.8
95.0
89.3

100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0

99.5
99.8
99.7
107.9

99.2
94.2
97.4
106.6

100.6
92.4
97.7
108.9

100.3
86.6
95.2
105.4

103.0
88.3
97.6
109.9

105.4
92.4
100.6
118.9

106.5
91.5
101.0
122.8

82.2
54.0
70.7
65.7

90.8
78.7
86.3
86.7

96.9
88.3
93.8
91.1

93.2
95.1
93.9
102.0

100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0

108.4
108.0
108.2
99.7

107.5
113.1
109.4
105.3

108.2
117.8
111.5
108.8

105.2
121.7
110.7
115.7

106.7
124.4
112.6
116.7

112.8
128.7
118.1
114.1

115.3
134.1
121.6
116.3

70.7
103.7
80.9
54.4

89.2
102.8
93.7
79.9

96.4
106.0
99.6
92.9

96.0
93.8
95.3
88.9

100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0

99.2
99.0
99.1
107.9

98.7
93.4
96.9
106.6

99.6
91.1
96.7
108.4

99.1
85.1
94.1
104.8

102.4
87.3
97.0
110.0

104.3
90.9
99.6
118.9

104.8
89.7
99.4
122.5

77.0
52.5
67.3
68.2

89.6
77.7
85.3
86.8

96.3
87.6
93.3
91.0

92.6
94.8
93.4
102.3

100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0

108.8
109.0
108.9
100.1

108.0
114.1
110.0
105.6

108.8
119.0
112.2
109.4

105.7
123.2
111.4
116.5

107.4
126.1
113.5
117.4

114.0
130.8
119.4
114.7

116.9
136.6
123.3
116.8

62.2
102.5
71.9
52.5

80.8
98.6
85.2
78.6

93.4
111.4
97.9
96.3

92.9
90.1
92.0
84.9

100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0

101.4
99.7
101.0
108.1

101.4
91.2
98.7
103.2

103.6
89.2
99.8
104.8

105.9
81.8
99.2
98.4

112.0
86.9
105.1
104.7

116.6
94.4
110.7
116.0

121.7
96.0
114.7
120.4

84.4
51.2
73.0
60.7

97.3
79.7
92.2
82.0

103.1
86.4
98.4
83.8

91.4
94.2
92.2
103.1

100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0

106.5
108.4
107.0
101.7

101.7
113.1
104.5
111.2

101.1
117.5
105.0
116.2

92.9
120.3
99.2
129.4

93.5
120.6
99.7
129.0

99.5
122.9
104.8
123.6

98.9
125.4
105.0
126.7

Private nonfarm business
Productivity:
Output per hour of all p e rs o n s .............................
Output per unit of capital s e rv ic e s .......................
Multifactor p roductivity...........................................
O u tp u t..........................................................................
Inputs:
Capital services ......................................................
Combined units of labor and capital in p u t.........
Capital per hour of all persons................................

Manufacturing
Productivity:
Output per hour of all p e rs o n s .............................
Output per unit of capital s e rv ic e s .......................
Multifactor p roductivity...........................................
O u tp u t..........................................................................
Inputs:
Hours of all persons...............................................
Capital services ......................................................
Combined units of labor and capital in p u ts .......
Capital per hour of all persons................................

44.

Annual indexes of productivity, hourly compensation, unit costs, and prices, selected years

(1977 = 100)
Item

1960

1970

1973

1975

1977

1979

1980

1981

1982

1983

1984

1985

1986

Business:
Output per hour of all p e rs o n s................................
Compensation per h o u r............................................
Real compensation per h o u r ...................................
Unit labor c o s ts ..........................................................
Unit nonlabor p a y m e n ts ...........................................
Implicit price deflator ................................................

67.6
33.6
68.9
49.7
46.4
48.5

88.4
57.8
90.2
65.4
59.4
63.2

95.9
70.9
96.7
73.9
72.5
73.4

95.7
85.2
95.9
89.0
88.2
88.7

100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0

99.6
119.1
99.4
119.5
112.5
117.0

99.3
131.5
96.7
132.5
118.7
127.6

100.7
143.7
95.7
142.7
134.6
139.8

100.3
154.9
97.3
154.5
136.6
148.1

103.0
161.5
98.2
156.8
146.3
153.0

105.3
168.1
98.1
159.7
156.3
158.5

106.4
175.3
98.8
164.8
159.7
163.0

107.1
180.9
100.0
168.8
161.8
166.3

71.0
35.3
72.3
49.7
46.3
48.5

89.3
58.2
90.8
65.2
60.0
63.4

96.4
71.2
97.1
73.9
69.3
72.3

96.0
85.6
96.4
89.2
86.7
88.3

100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0

99.3
118.9
99.2
119.7
110.5
116.5

98.8
131.3
96.6
132.9
118.5
127.8

99.8
143.6
95.7
144.0
133.5
140.3

99.2
154.8
97.2
156.0
136.5
149.2

102.4
161.5
98.2
157.7
148.1
154.3

104.3
167.9
98.0
161.0
156.1
159.3

104.8
174.6
98.4
166.7
160.6
164.6

105.5
179.8
99.4
170.4
163.9
168.1

73.4
36.9
75.5
49.4
50.2
47.0
59.8
51.5
50.7

91.1
59.2
92.4
64.8
65.0
64.2
52.3
60.1
63.3

97.5
71.6
97.6
72.7
73.4
70.7
65.6
68.9
71.9

96.7
85.9
96.7
90.3
88.8
94.9
77.0
88.6
88.7

100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0

99.8
118.7
99.1
118.2
119.0
115.8
94.5
108.4
115.4

99.1
131.1
96.4
133.4
132.3
136.7
85.2
118.6
127.6

99.6
143.3
95.5
147.7
143.8
159.1
98.1
137.8
141.7

100.4
154.3
96.9
159.5
153.8
176.4
78.5
142.1
149.8

103.5
159.9
97.3
159.5
154.5
174.3
110.9
152.1
153.7

105.6
165.9
96.8
161.5
157.0
174.6
133.4
160.1
158.1

106.8
172.3
97.0
165.8
161.2
179.1
133.1
163.0
161.8

106.9
176.5
97.5
169.1
165.0
181.2
134.1
164.7
164.9

62.2
36.5
74.8
58.7
60.0
59.1

80.8
57.4
89.5
71.0
64.1
69.0

93.4
68.8
93.8
73.7
70.7
72.8

92.9
85.1
95.9
91.7
87.5
90.5

100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0

101.4
118.6
99.1
117.0
98.9
111.7

101.4
132.4
97.4
130.6
97.8
121.0

103.6
145.2
96.7
140.1
111.8
131.8

105.9
157.5
98.9
148.7
114.0
138.6

112.0
162.4
98.8
145.0
128.5
140.2

116.6
168.2
98.1
144.2
136.9
142.1

121.7
176.7
99.5
145.1
134.4
142.0

125.0
181.9
100.5
145.5
-

Nonfarm business:
Output per hour of all p e rs o n s ................................
Compensation per h o u r............................................
Real compensation per h o u r ...................................
Unit labor c o s ts ..........................................................
Unit nonlabor payments ...........................................
Implicit price deflator ................................................

Nonfinancial corporations:
Output per hour of all em plo yees...........................
Compensation per h o u r............................................
Real compensation per h o u r ...................................
Total unit c o s ts ...........................................................
Unit labor costs ......................................................
Unit nonlabor c o s ts ................................................
Unit p ro fits ...................................................................
Unit nonlabor payments ...........................................
Implicit price deflator ................................................

Manufacturing:
Output per hour of all p e rs o n s................................
Compensation per h o u r............................................
Real compensation per h o u r ...................................
Unit labor costs ..........................................................
Unit nonlabor payments ...........................................
Implicit price deflator ................................................


102
Data
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

not available.

45. Unemployment rates, approximating U.S. concepts, in nine countries, quarterly data
seasonally adjusted
Annual average

1985

1986

Country
1985

1986

III

IV

I

II

1987
III

IV

I

Total labor force basis
United S ta te s ........................................
Canada ...........................................
Australia .........................................
Japan ............................................

7.1
10.4
8.2
2.6

6.9
9.5
8.0
2.8

7.1
10.2
8.1
2.6

7.0
10.1
7.8
2.9

7.0
9.7
7.9
2.6

7.0
9.5
7.7
2.8

6.8
9.6
8.2
2.9

6.8
9.4
8.3
2.9

France .............................................
G erm any......................................
Italy 1, 2 ...............................................
Sweden ...................................
United Kingdom ..................................

10.2
7.7
5.9
2.8
11.3

10.4
7.4
6.1
2.6
11.5

10.2
7.7
5.8
2.7
11.3

10.2
7.7
6.1
2.7
11.2

10.2
7.6
6.0
2.7
11.4

10.4
7.5
6.0
2.6
11.6

10.5
7.4
5.9
2.6
11.6

10.6
7.2
6.5
2.6
11.3

United S ta te s ........................................
Canada ..................................................
Australia ..........................................
Japan .................................................

7.2
10.5
8.3
2.6

7.0
9.6
8.1
2.8

7.2
10.2
8.1
2.7

7.1
10.1
7.9
2.9

7.1
9.7
8.0
2.7

7.1
9.6
7.8
2.8

6.9
9.7
8.3
2.9

6.9
9.4
8.4
2.9

France ...............................................
G erm any...........................................
Italy1, 2 ...........................................
Sweden ............................................
United Kingdom ...................................

10.4
7.9
6.0
2.8
11.3

10.7
7.6
6.2
2.7
11.5

10.5
7.9
6.0
2.8
11.3

10.4
7.8
6.2
2.7
11.3

10.4
7.8
6.1
2.8
11.5

10.6
7.7
6.1
2.6
11.7

10.8
7.5
6.0
2.6
11.6

10.8
7.4
6.6
2.6
11.3

6.6
9.6
11.0
7.3

11.0

Civilian labor force basis

1 Quarterly rates are for the first month of the quarter.
2 Major changes in the Italian labor force survey, intro­
duced in 1977, resulted in a large increase in persons enu­
merated as unemployed. However, many persons reported
that they had not actively sought work in the past 30 days,
and they have been provisionally excluded for comparability
with U.S. concepts. Inclusion of such persons would about


https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

6.7
9.6
11.2
7.4

11.1

double the Italian unemployment rate shown.
- Data not available.
NOTE: Quarterly figures for France, Germany, and the
United Kingdom are calculated by applying annual adjust­
ment factors to current published data and therefore should
be viewed as less precise indicators of unemployment under
U.S. concepts than the annual figures.

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW

June 1987 •

Current Labor Statistics:

International Comparison Data

46. Annual data: Employment status of the civilian working-age population, approximating U.S. concepts,
10 countries
(Numbers in thousands)
Employment status and country

1977

1978

1980

1979

1981

1982

1983

1984

1985

1986

Labor force
United S ta te s ..............................................................
Canada ........................................................................
A u stralia.......................................................................
Japan ...........................................................................
France ..........................................................................
G e rm any......................................................................
Ita ly ...............................................................................
N etherlands.................................................................
S w eden........................................................................
United K ingdo m ..........................................................

99,009
10,500
6,358
53,820
22,300
25,870
20,510
4,950
4,168
26,050

102,251
10,895
6,443
54,610
22,470
26,000
20,570
5,010
4,203
26,260

104,962
11,231
6,519
55,210
22,670
26,250
20,850
5,100
4,262
26,350

106,940
11,573
6,693
55,740
22,790
26,520
21,120
5,310
4,312
26,520

108,670
11,904
6,810
56,320
22,930
26,650
21,320
5,520
4,326
26,590

110,204
11,958
6,910
56,980
23,150
26,710
21,410
5,600
4,350
26,740

111,550
12,183
6,997
58,110
23,130
26,740
21,590
5,730
4,369
26,780

113,544
12,399
7,133
58,480
23,290
27,890
21,670
5,720
4,385
27,120

115,461
12,639
7,272
58,820
23,340
27,090
21,800
5,830
4,418
27,300

117,834
12,870
7,562
59,410
23,540
27,280
21,970

62.3
61.6
62.7
62.5
57.6
53.4
48.2
49.0
65.9
62.7

63.2
62.7
61.9
62.8
57.5
53.3
47.8
48.8
66.1
62.8

63.7
63.4
61.6
62.7
57.5
53.3
48.0
49.0
66.6
62.6

63.8
64.1
62.1
62.6
57.2
53.2
48.2
50.2
67.0
62.5

63.9
64.8
61.9
62.6
57.1
52.9
48.3
51.4
66.8
62.2

64.0
64.1
61.7
62.7
57.1
52.7
47.7
51.5
66.8
62.3

64.0
64.4
61.4
63.1
56.6
52.5
47.5
52.1
66.7
62.1

64.4
64.8
61.5
62.7
56.6
52.6
47.3
51.4
66.6
62.4

64.8
65.2
61.8
62.3
56.4
53.2
47.2
52.1
67.1
62.6

65.3
65.7
63.0
62.1
56.4
53.5
47.5

92,017
9,651
6,000
52,720
21,180
24,970
19,670
4,700
4,093
24,400

96,048
9,987
6,038
53,370
21,260
25,130
19,720
4,750
4,109
24,610

98,824
10,395
6,111
54,040
21,300
25,470
19,930
4,830
4,174
24,940

99,303
10,708
6,284
54,600
21,320
25,750
20,200
4,980
4,226
24,670

100,397
11,006
6,416
55,060
21,200
25,560
20,280
5,010
4,218
23,800

99,526
10,644
6,415
55,620
21,230
25,130
20,250
4,970
4,213
23,710

100,834
10,734
6,300
56,550
21,170
24,750
20,320
4,900
4,218
23,600

105,005
11,000
6,490
56,870
20,980
24,800
20,390
4,920
4,249
23,960

107,150
11,311
6,670
57,260
20,900
24,960
20,490
5,080
4,293
24,210

109,597
11,634
6,952
57,740
21,030
25,210
20,610

57.9
56.6
59.2
61.2
54.7
51.6
46.3
46.5
64.8
58.7

59.3
57.5
58.0
61.3
54.4
51.5
45.9
46.3
64.6
58.8

59.9
58.7
57.8
61.4
54.0
51.7
45.9
46.4
65.3
59.2

59.2
59.3
58.3
61.3
53.5
51.7
46.1
47.0
65.6
58.1

59.0
59.9
58.4
61.2
52.8
50.8
45.9
46.6
65.1
55.7

57.8
57.0
57.3
61.2
52.3
49.6
45.2
45.7
64.7
55.3

57.9
56.7
55.3
61.4
51.8
48.6
44.7
44.6
64.4
54.7

59.5
57.4
56.0
61.0
51.0
48.5
44.5
44.2
64.6
55.2

60.1
58.4
56.6
60.6
50.5
49.0
44.4
45.4
65.2
55.5

60.7
59.4
57.9
60.4
50.4
49.4
44.6

6,991
849
358
1,100
1,120
900
840
250
75
1,660

6,202
908
405
1,240
1,210
870
850
260
94
1,650

6,137
836
408
1,170
1,370
780
920
270
88
1,420

7,637
865
409
1,140
1,470
770
920
330
86
1,850

8,273
898
394
1,260
1,730
1,090
1,040
510
108
2,790

10,678
1,314
495
1,360
1,920
1,580
1,160
630
137
3,040

10,717
1,448
697
1,560
1,960
1,990
1,270
830
151
3,180

8,539
1,399
642
1,610
2,310
2,090
1,280
800
136
3,170

8,312
1,328
602
1,560
2,440
2,130
1,310
750
125
3,090

8,237
1,236
610
1,670
2,510
2,070
1,360

7.1
8.1
5.6
2.0
5.0
3.5
4.1
5.1
1.8
6.4

6.1
8.3
6.3
2.3
5.4
3.4
4.1
5.2
2.2
6.3

5.8
7.4
6.3
2.1
6.0
3.0
4.4
5.3
2.1
5.4

7.1
7.5
6.1
2.0
6.4
2.9
4.4
6.2
2.0
7.0

7.6
7.5
5.8
2.2
7.5
4.1
4.9
9.2
2.5
10.5

9.7
11.0
7.2
2.4
8.3
5.9
5.4
11.3
3.1
11.8

9.6
11.9
10.0
2.7
8.5
7.4
5.9
14.5
3.5
11.9

7.5
11.3
9.0
2.8
9.9
7.8
5.9
14.0
3.1
11.7

7.2
10.5
8.3
2.6
10.4
7.9
6.0
12.9
2.8
11.3

7.0
9.6
8.1
2.8
10.7
7.6
6.2

-

4,437
27,310

Participation rate1
United S ta te s ..............................................................
Canada ........................................................................
A u stralia.......................................................................
Japan ...........................................................................
France ..........................................................................
G erm any......................................................................
Ita ly ...............................................................................
N etherlands.................................................................
S w e d e n ........................................................................
United K ingdo m ..........................................................

-

67.3
62.6

Employed
United S ta te s ..............................................................
Canada ........................................................................
A u stralia.......................................................................
Japan ...........................................................................
France ..........................................................................
G e rm any......................................................................
Ita ly ...............................................................................
N etherlands.................................................................
S w e d e n ........................................................................
United K ingdo m ..........................................................

-

4,319
24,160

Employment-population ratio2
United States ..............................................................
Canada ........................................................................
A u stralia.......................................................................
Japan ...........................................................................
France ..........................................................................
G erm any......................................................................
Ita ly ...............................................................................
N etherlands.................................................................
S w e d e n ........................................................................
United K ingdo m ..........................................................

-

65.5
55.4

Unemployed
United S ta te s ..............................................................
Canada ........................................................................
A u stralia.......................................................................
Japan ...........................................................................
F ra n ce ..........................................................................
G erm any......................................................................
Ita ly ...............................................................................
N etherlands.................................................................
S w e d e n ........................................................................
United K ingdo m ..........................................................

-

118
3,150

Unemployment rate
United States ..............................................................
Canada ........................................................................
A u stralia.......................................................................
Japan ...........................................................................
France ..........................................................................
G erm any......................................................................
Ita ly ...............................................................................
N etherlands.................................................................
S w e d e n ........................................................................
United K ingdo m ..........................................................

1 Labor force as a percent of the civilian working-age population.
2 Employment as a percent of the civilian working-age population.

104

https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

-

Data not available.

-

2.7
11.5

47.

Annual indexes of manufacturing productivity and related measures, 12 countries

(1977 = 100)
Item and country

1960

1970

1973

1974

1975

1976

1978

1979

1980

1981

1982

1983

1984

1985

62.2
50.3
23.2
32.8
37.2
36.4
40.3
36.5
32.4
54.6
42.3
55.4

80.8
76.8
64.8
59.9
65.5
69.6
71.2
72.7
64.3
81.7
80.7
79.9

93.4
91.3
83.1
78.2
83.2
82.2
84.0
90.9
81.5
94.6
94.8
95.7

90.6
93.4
86.5
82.6
86.0
85.2
87.4
95.3
88.1
97.7
98.8
97.2

92.9
91.0
87.7
85.9
94.6
88.5
90.1
91.1
86.2
96.8
100.2
*95.3

97.1
96.2
94.3
95.1
98.2
95.0
96.5
98.9
95.8
99.7
101.7
99.6

101.5
101.4
108.0
106.3
101.5
105.7
103.1
103.0
106.4
101.8
102.8
101.5

101.4
104.2
114.8
112.3
106.5
110.3
108.2
110.5
112.3
107.1
110.9
102.6

101.4
101.9
122.7
119.7
112.3
112.0
108.6
116.9
113.9
106.7
112.7
102.1

103.6
104.0
127.2
128.1
114.2
116.4
111.0
121.0
116.9
107.0
113.2
107.5

105.9
101.0
135.0
135.7
114.6
123.5
112.6
123.4
119.4
109.8
116.5
113.2

112.0
107.6
142.3
144.7
117.0
128.8
119.1
126.6
127.5
116.3
125.5
121.5

116.6
111.5
152.2
149.8
118.2
133.8
123.5
133.5
141.2
119.3
131.0
126.9

121.7
115.1
159.9
156.7
119.1
138.3
130.4
137.6
145.6
120.5
134.5
131.3

52.5
41.5
19.2
41.6
49.2
35.4
50.0
37.4
44.8
55.1
52.6
71.2

78.6
75.1
69.9
78.0
82.0
73.3
86.6
78.0
84.4
86.9
92.5
95.0

96.3
94.6
91.9
95.7
95.9
88.6
96.1
90.5
95.8
99.5
100.3
104.8

91.7
98.0
91.7
99.5
97.4
91.8
95.4
96.3
100.0
104.0
105.7
103.5

84.9
92.3
86.2
92.0
95.0
90.0
91.0
86.9
92.7
101.0
106.1
96.3

93.1
98.1
94.8
99.4
99.6
96.1
98.0
97.9
99.0
101.4
106.1
98.2

106.0
104.9
106.7
101.6
99.7
103.4
101.8
101.8
102.8
98.2
97.3
100.6

108.1
110.9
113.9
104.4
105.4
106.1
106.6
108.6
106.1
100.3
103.6
100.5

103.2
107.7
124.1
107.3
110.1
106.6
106.6
115.4
106.6
98.8
104.0
91.7

104.8
108.8
129.8
106.0
106.6
105.9
104.9
114.3
106.7
97.7
100.6
86.2

98.4
96.4
137.3
110.5
108.3
106.0
102.4
111.6
105.0
97.4
100.1
86.4

104.7
101.7
148.2
112.1
111.9
107.4
103.6
109.2
107.0
96.4
105.2
88.9

116.0
110.1
165.2
114.1
118.4
108.4
106.4
113.2
112.9
98.8
111.5
92.4

120.4
115.2
175.8
115.1
124.7
108.6
111.7
115.3
115.3
101.2
113.8
95.3

84.4
82.6
82.7
127.1
132.4
97.2
123.8
102.3
138.4
101.0
124.4
128.5

97.3
97.7
107.9
130.2
125.1
105.3
121.7
107.4
131.2
106.4
114.6
118.9

103.1
103.6
110.7
122.3
115.2
107.8
114.4
99.6
117.6
105.1
105.7
109.5

101.2
105.0
106.1
120.4
113.2
107.8
109.2
101.0
113.5
106.5
107.0
106.5

91.4
101.4
98.2
107.1
100.4
101.7
101.0
95.4
107.6
104.3
105.9
101.1

95.9
102.0
100.6
104.6
101.4
101.2
101.6
99.0
103.3
101.7
104.3
98.6

104.4
103.4
98.8
95.5
98.3
97.8
98.7
98.8
96.6
96.5
94.6
99.2

106.5
106.4
99.3
93.0
99.0
96.2
98.5
98.2
94.4
93.6
93.4
98.0

101.7
105.7
101.2
89.6
98.1
95.2
98.1
98.7
93.6
92.6
92.3
89.9

101.1
104.6
102.0
82.8
93.4
91.0
94.6
94.5
91.2
91.3
88.9
80.3

92.9
95.4
101.7
81.4
94.5
85.8
91.0
90.4
88.0
88.6
85.9
76.3

93.5
94.6
104.2
77.5
95.7
83.4
87.0
86.2
83.9
82.9
83.9
73.2

99.5
98.7
108.5
76.2
100.2
81.0
86.2
84.8
79.9
82.8
85.1
72.8

98.9
100.1
110.0
73.5
104.7
78.6
85.7
83.8
79.2
84.0
84.6
72.6

36.5
27.1
8.9
13.8
12.6
15.1
18.8
8.3
12.5
15.8
14.7
15.2

57.3
46.5
33.9
34.9
36.3
36.6
48.0
26.1
39.0
37.9
38.5
31.5

68.8
59.2
55.1
53.5
56.1
52.3
67.5
43.7
60.5
54.5
54.2
48.3

76.2
68.5
72.3
65.2
67.9
62.0
76.9
54.5
71.9
63.6
63.8
57.8

85.1
78.2
84.2
79.0
81.0
76.7
84.5
70.2
82.2
77.2
77.3
77.4

92.1
89.9
90.7
89.5
90.4
88.9
91.3
84.2
91.9
88.8
91.5
89.4

108.2
106.7
106.6
107.8
110.2
113.5
107.8
114.5
108.4
110.0
111.4
116.4

118.6
118.3
113.4
117.5
123.1
129.3
116.1
134.7
117.0
116.0
120.1
138.8

132.4
130.6
120.7
130.4
135.9
148.2
125.6
160.2
123.6
128.0
133.6
168.6

145.2
151.5
129.8
144.5
149.6
171.5
134.5
197.1
129.1
142.8
148.1
193.0

157.5
167.1
136.6
150.7
162.9
202.3
141.0
237.3
137.5
156.0
158.9
212.6

162.4
179.3
140.7
159.8
174.3
227.0
148.4
276.4
144.0
173.5
173.3
227.9

168.2
182.1
144.8
173.1
184.0
246.9
155.5
299.7
151.0
188.3
189.7
244.2

176.7
191.4
148.3
181.4
194.2
261.4
164.9
330.4
159.0
202.7
208.9
262.0

58.7
53.9
38.4
42.0
33.8
41.6
46.6
22.8
38.5
29.0
34.8
27.4

70.9
60.6
52.3
58.2
55.4
52.6
67.4
36rf>
60.7
46.4
47.7
39.4

73.7
64.8
66.4
68.4
67.4
63.6
80.3
48.1
74.3
57.6
57.2
50.4

84.1
73.3
83.6
78.9
79.0
72.8
88.0
57.2
81.6
65.2
64.6
59.5

91.7
86.0
96.0
91.9
85.6
86.7
93.8
77.1
95.4
79.7
77.1
81.2

94.9
93.5
96.2
94.2
92.1
93.6
94.6
85.1
96.0
89.1
90.0
89.8

106.6
105.3
98.7
101.4
108.6
107.4
104.5
111.2
101.8
108.1
108.4
114.7

117.0
113.5
98.8
104.7
115.7
117.3
107.3
121.9
104.1
108.2
108.3
135.3

130.6
128.1
98.4
109.0
121.0
132.3
115.7
137.0
108.5
120.0
118.6
165.1

140.1
145.7
102.0
112.8
131.1
147.4
121.2
162.9
110.4
133.4
130.9
179.6

148.7
165.4
101.2
111.1
142.2
163.8
125.2
192.4
115.2
142.1
136.3
187.7

145.0
166.7
98.9
110.5
149.0
176.2
124.6
218.3
113.0
149.2
138.1
187.6

144.2
163.2
95.1
115.6
155.6
184.5
125.9
224.5
106.9
157.8
144.8
192.4

145.1
166.3
92.7
115.8
163.1
189.1
126.5
240.1
109.2
168.3
155.3
199.6

58.7
59.0
28.5
30.2
29.5
41.7
25.9
32.5
25.1
21.7
30.1
44.1

70.9
61.7
39.1
42.0
44.4
46.8
42.9
50.6
41.2
34.5
41.1
54.1

73.7
68.8
65.6
63.1
67.2
70.4
70.4
73.1
65.6
53.4
58.7
70.8

84.1
79.7
76.8
72.7
77.9
74.5
79.1
77.6
74.6
62.8
65.1
79.7

91.7
89.8
86.7
89.7
89.6
99.5
88.7
104.3
92.8
81.4
83.2
103.3

94.9
100.7
86.9
87.5
91.5
96.3
87.3
90.5
89.1
86.9
92.3
92.8

106.6
98.1
126.8
115.6
118.4
117.3
121.0
115.6
115.7
109.7
107.2
126.1

117.0
103.0
121.3
127.9
132.0
135.5
135.9
129.5
127.4
113.8
112.9
164.6

130.6
116.4
116.8
133.7
129.0
154.1
147.9
141.4
134.2
129.3
125.3
220.1

140.1
129.1
123.8
109.2
110.3
133.2
124.9
126.3
'108.9
123.6
115.4
208.4

148.7
142.3
108.8
86.9
102.3
122.4
119.7
125.4
105.8
117.1
96.9
188.1

145.0
143.7
•111.5
77.4
97.7
113.7
113.3
126.8
97.1
108.7
80.4
163.0

144.2
133.9
107.2
71.7
90.2
103.8
102.7
112.8
81.8
102.9
78.2
147.4

145.1
129.4
104.2
69.9
92.4
103.5
99.8
111.1
80.7
104.2
80.6
148.4

Output per hour
United S ta te s ..............................................................
Canada ........................................................................
Japan ...........................................................................
B e lgium ........................................................................
D e nm a rk......................................................................
F ra n ce ..........................................................................
G erm any......................................................................
Ita ly ...............................................................................
N etherlands.................................................................
N o rw ay.........................................................................
S w e d e n ........................................................................
United K ingdo m ..........................................................

Output
United S ta te s ..............................................................
Canada ........................................................................
Japan ...........................................................................
B e lgium ........................................................................
D e nm a rk......................................................................
F ra n ce ..........................................................................
G erm any......................................................................
Ita ly ...............................................................................
N etherlands.................................................................
Nonway.........................................................................
S w e d e n ........................................................................
United K ingdo m .........................................................

Total hours
United S ta te s ..............................................................
Canada ........................................................................
Japan ...........................................................................
B e lgium ........................................................................
D e n m a rk......................................................................
France ..........................................................................
G erm any......................................................................
Ita ly ...............................................................................
N etherlands.................................................................
N o rw ay.........................................................................
S w e d e n ........................................................................
United K ingdo m ..........................................................

Compensation per hour
United S ta te s ..............................................................
Canada ........................................................................
Japan ...........................................................................
B e lgium ........................................................................
Denmark ......................................................................
F ra n ce .........................................................................
G erm any......................................................................
Ita ly ...............................................................................
N etherlands.................................................................
N o rw ay............................................................
S w e d e n ....................................................................
United K ingdo m ..........................................................

Unit labor costs: National currency basis
United S ta te s ..............................................................
Canada ........................................................................
Japan ...........................................................................
B e lgium ........................................................................
D e n m a rk......................................................................
F ra n ce ..........................................................................
G erm any......................................................................
Ita ly ...............................................................................
N etherlands.................................................................
N o rw ay.........................................................................
S w e d e n ........................................................................
United K ingdo m ..........................................................

Unit labor costs: U.S. dollar basis
United States ..............................................................
Canada ........................................................................
Japan ...........................................................................
B e lgium ........................................................................
Denmark ......................................................................
France ..........................................................................
G erm any......................................................................
Ita ly ...............................................................................
N etherlands..............................................................
N o rw ay.........................................................................
S w e d e n ........................................................................
United K ingdo m ..........................................................


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105

MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
48.

June 1987 •

Current Labor Statistics:

Illness and Injury Data

Occupational injury and illness incidence rates by industry, United States
Incidence rates per 100 full-time workers2
Industry and type of case1
1977

1978

1979

1980

1981

1982

1983

1984

1985

PRIVATE SECTOR3
Total c a s e s ..........................................................................................................
Lost workday c a s e s ...........................................................................................
Lost w o rkdays.....................................................................................................

9.3
3.8
61.6

9.4
4.1
63.5

9.5
4.3
67.7

8.7
4.0
65.2

8.3
3.8
61.7

7.7
3.5
58.7

7.6
3.4
58.5

8.0
3.7
63.4

7.9
3.6
64.9

11.5
5.1
81.1

11.6
5.4
80.7

11.7
5.7
83.7

11.9
5.8
82.7

12.3
5.9
82.8

11.8
5.9
86.0

11.9
6.1
90.8

12.0
6.1
90.7

11.4
5.7
91.3

10.9
6.0
128.8

11.5
6.4
143.2

11.4
6.8
150.5

11.2
6.5
163.6

11.6
6.2
146.4

10.5
5.4
137.3

8.4
4.5
125.1

9.7
5.3
160.2

8.4
4.8
145.3

15.5
5.9
111.5

16.0
6.4
109.4

16.2
6.8
120.4

15.7
6.5
117.0

15.1
6.3
113.1

14.6
6.0
115.7

14.8
6.3
118.2

15.5
6.9
128.1

15.2
6.8
128.9

15.0
5.7
100.2

15.9
6.3
105.3

16.3
6.8
111.2

15.5
6.5
113.0

15.1
6.1
107.1

14.1
5.9
112.0

14.4
6.2
113.0

15.4
6.9
121.3

15.2
6.8
120.4

16.0
5.7
116.7

16.6
6.2
110.9

16.6
6.7
123.1

16.3
6.3
117.6

14.9
6.0
106.0

15.1
5.8
113.1

15.4
6.2
122.4

14.9
6.4
131.7

14.5
6.3
127.3

15.6
6.1
115.5

15.8
6.6
111.0

16.0
6.9
124.3

15.5
6.7
118.9

15.2
6.6
119.3

14.7
6.2
118.6

14.8
6.4
119.0

15.8
7.1
130.1

15.4
7.0
133.3

13.1
5.1
82.3

13.2
5.6
84.9

13.3
5.9
90.2

12.2
5.4
86.7

11.5
5.1
82.0

10.2
4.4
75.0

10.0
4.3
73.5

10.6
4.7
77.9

10.4
4.6
80.2

22.3
10.4
178.0

22.6
11.1
178.8

20.7
10.8
175.9

18.6
9.5
171.8

17.6
9.0
158.4

16.9
8.3
153.3

18.3
9.2
163.5

19.6
9.9
172.0

18.5
9.3
171.4

17.2
6.0
92.0

17.5
6.9
95.9

17.6
7.1
99.6

16.0
6.6
97.6

15.1
6.2
91.9

13.9
5.5
85.6

14.1
5.7
83.0

15.3
6.4
101.5

15.0
6.3
100.4

16.9
6.9
120.4

16.8
7.8
126.3

16.8
8.0
133.7

15.0
7.1
128.1

14.1
6.9
122.2

13.0
6.1
112.2

13.1
6.0
112.0

13.6
6.6
120.8

13.9
6.7
127.8

16.2
6.8
119.4

17.0
7.5
123.6

17.3
8.1
134.7

15.2
7.1
128.3

14.4
6.7
121.3

12.4
5.4
101.6

12.4
5.4
103.4

13.3
6.1
115.3

12.6
5.7
113.8

19.1
7.2
109.0

19.3
8.0
112.4

19.9
8.7
124.2

18.5
8.0
118.4

17.5
7.5
109.9

15.3
6.4
102.5

15.1
6.1
96.5

16.1
6.7
104.9

16.3
6.9
110.1

14.0
4.7
69.9

14.4
5.4
75.1

14.7
5.9
83.6

13.7
5.5
81.3

12.9
5.1
74.9

10.7
4.2
66.0

9.8
3.6
58.1

10.7
4.1
65.8

10.8
4.2
69.3

8.6
3.0
46.7

8.7
3.3
50.3

8.6
3.4
51.9

8.0
3,3
51.8

7.4
3.1
48.4

6.5
2.7
42.2

6.3
2.6
41.4

6.8
2.8
45.0

6.4
2.7
45.7

11.8
5.0
79.3

11.5
5.1
78.0

11.6
5.5
85.9

10.6
4.9
82.4

9.8
4.6
78.1

9.2
4.0
72.2

8.4
3.6
64.5

9.3
4.2
68.8

9.0
3.9
71.6

7.0
2.4
37.4

6.9
2.6
37.0

7.2
2.8
40.0

6.8
2.7
41.8

6.5
2.7
39.2

5.6
2.3
37.0

5.2
2.1
35.6

5.4
2.2
37.5

5.2
2.2
37.9

11.5
4.0
58.7

11.8
4.5
66.4

11.7
4.7
67.7

10.9
4.4
67.9

10.7
4.4
68.3

9.9
4.1
69.9

9.9
4.0
66.3

10.5
4.3
70.2

9.7
4.2
73.2

Agriculture, forestry, and fishing3
Total c a s e s ..........................................................................................................
Lost workday cases ...........................................................................................
Lost w o rkda ys.....................................................................................................

Mining
Total c a s e s ..........................................................................................................
Lost workday cases ...........................................................................................
Lost w o rkda ys........................................... .................*.......................................

Construction
Total c a s e s ..........................................................................................................
Lost workday cases ...........................................................................................
Lost w o rkda ys.....................................................................................................
General building contractors:
Total c a s e s ..........................................................................................................
Lost workday c a s e s ...........................................................................................
Lost w o rkdays.....................................................................................................
Heavy construction contractors:
Total c a s e s ..........................................................................................................
Lost workday cases ...........................................................................................
Lost w o rkda ys.....................................................................................................
Special trade contractors:
Total c a s e s ..........................................................................................................
Lost workday c a s e s ...........................................................................................
Lost w o rkda ys.....................................................................................................

Manufacturing
Total c a s e s ..........................................................................................................
Lost workday c a s e s ............................................................................ ..............
Lost w o rkda ys......................................... ...........................................................

Durable goods
Lumber and wood products:
Total c a s e s ..........................................................................................................
Lost workday cases ...........................................................................................
Lost w o rkda ys..................................... ....................... ........................................
Furniture and fixtures:
Total c a s e s ..........................................................................................................
Lost workday cases ...........................................................................................
Lost w o rkda ys.....................................................................................................
Stone, clay, and glass products:
Total c a s e s ..........................................................................................................
Lost workday c a s e s ...........................................................................................
Lost w o rkda ys.....................................................................................................
Primary metal industries:
Total c a s e s ..........................................................................................................
Lost workday c a s e s ...........................................................................................
Lost w o rkda ys.....................................................................................................
Fabricated metal products:
Total c a s e s ..........................................................................................................
Lost workday c a s e s ...........................................................................................
Lost w o rkda ys.....................................................................................................
Machinery, except electrical:
Total c a s e s ..........................................................................................................
Lost workday cases ...........................................................................................
Lost w o rkda ys.....................................................................................................
Electric and electronic equipment:
Total c a s e s ..........................................................................................................
Lost workday c a s e s .................................................................. ..................
Lost w o rkda ys.....................................................................................................
Transportation equipment:
Total c a s e s ...... ;..................................................................................................
Lost workday c a s e s ...........................................................................................
Lost w o rkda ys.....................................................................................................
Instruments and related products:
Total c a s e s .........................................................................................................
Lost workday c a s e s ..........................................................................................
Lost w o rkda ys...................................................................................................
Miscellaneous manufacturing industries:
Total c a s e s .........................................................................................................
Lost workday c a s e s ..........................................................................................
Lost w o rkda ys....................................................................................................
See footnotes at end of table.

106


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48. Continued— Occupational injury and illness incidence rates by industry, United States
Incidence rates per 100 full-time workers2
Industry and type of case1
1977

N ondurable goods
Food and kindred products:
Total c a s e s ...........................................................
Lost workday c a s e s ...........................................
Lost w o rkda ys......................................................
Tobacco manufacturing:
Total c a s e s ...........................................................
Lost workday c a s e s ............................................
Lost w o rkdays......................................................
Textile mill products:
Total c a s e s ...........................................................
Lost workday c a s e s ............................................
Lost w o rkda ys......................................................
Apparel and other textile products:
Total c a s e s ...........................................................
Lost workday c a s e s ............................................
Lost w orkdays......................................................
Paper and allied products:
Total c a s e s ............................................................
Lost workday c a s e s ............................................
Lost w orkdays.......................................................
Printing and publishing:
Total c a s e s ............................................................
Lost workday c a s e s ............................................
Lost w o rkdays.......................................................
Chemicals and allied products:
Total c a s e s ............................................................
Lost workday c a s e s ............................................
Lost w o rkda ys.......................................................
Petroleum and coal products:
Total c a s e s ............................................................
Lost workday c a s e s ............................................
Lost w o rkda ys.......................................................
Rubber and miscellaneous plastics products:
Total c a s e s ............................................................
Lost workday c a s e s ............................................
Lost w o rkdays.......................................................
Leather and leather products:
Total c a s e s ............................................................
Lost workday cases ............................................
Lost w o rkda ys.......................................................

1978

1979

1980

1981

1982

1983

1984

1985

19.5
8.5
130.1

19.4
8.9
132.2

19.9
9.5
141.8

18.7
9.0
136.8

17.8
8.6
130.7

16.7
8.0
129.3

16.5
7.9
131.2

16.7
8.1
131.6

16.7
8.1
138.0

9.1
3.8
66.7

8.7
4.0
58.6

9.3
4.2
64.8

8.1
3.8
45.8

8.2
3.9
56.8

7.2
3.2
44.6

6.5
3.0
42.8

7.7
3.2
51.7

7.3
3.0
51.7

10.2
2.9
57.4

10.2
3.4
61.5

9.7
3.4
61.3

9.1
3.3
62.8

8.8
3.2
59.2

7.6
2.8
53.8

7.4
2.8
51.4

8.0
3.0
54.0

7.5
3.0
57.4

6.7
2.0
31.7

6.5
2.2
32.4

6.5
2.2
34.1

6.4
2.2
34.9

6.3
2.2
35.0

6.0
2.1
36.4

6.4
2.4
40.6

6.7
2.5
40.9

44.1

13.6
5.0
101.6

13.5
5.7
103.3

13.5
6.0
108.4

12.7
5.8
112.3

11.6
5.4
103.6

10.6
4.9
99.1

10.0
4.5
90.3

10.4
4.7
93.8

4.7
94.6

6.8
2.7
41.7

7.0
2.9
43.8

7.1
3.1
45.1

6.9
3.1
46.5

6.7
3.0
47.4

6.6
2.8
45.7

6.6
2.9
44.6

6.5
2.9
46.0

6.3
2.9
49.2

8.0
3.1
51.4

7.8
3.3
50.9

7.7
3.5
54.9

6.8
3.1
50.3

6.6
3.0
48.1

5.7
2.5
39.4

5.5
2.5
42.3

5.3
2.4
40.8

5.1
2.3
38.8

8.1
3.3
59.2

7.9
3.4
58.3

7.7
3.6
62.0

7.2
3.5
59.1

6.7
2.9
51.2

5.3
2.5
46.4

5.5
2.4
46.8

5.1
2.4
53.5

5.1
2.4
49.9

16.8
7.6
118.1

17.1
8.1
125.5

17.1
8.2
127.1

15.5
7.4
118.6

14.6
7.1
117.4

12.7
6.0
100.9

13.0
6.2
101.4

13.6
6.4
104.3

13.4
6.3
107.4

11.5
4.4
68.9

11.7
4.7
72.5

11.5
4.9
76.2

11.7
5.0
82.7

11.5
5.1
82.6

9.9
4.5
86.5

10.0
4.4
87.3

10.5
4.7
94.4

10.3
4.6
88.3

9.7
5.3
95.9

10.1

10.0

9.0
5.3

100.6

8.5
4.9
96.7

8.8

5.9
107.0

9.4
5.5
104.5

8.2

5.7
102.3

4.7
94.9

5.2
105.1

8.6
5.0
107.1

7.7
2.9
44.0

7.9
3.2
44.9

8.0
3.4
49.0

7.4
3.2
48.7

7.3
3.1
45.3

7.2
3.1
45.5

7.2
3.1
47.8

7.4
3.3
50.5

7.4
3.2
50.7

8.5
3.6
52.5

8.9
3.9
57.5

8.8
4.1
59.1

8.2
3.9
58.2

7.7
3.6
54.7

7.1
3.4
52.1

7.0
3.2
50.6

7.2
3.5
55.5

7.2
3.5
59.8

7.4
2.7
40.5

7.5
39.7

7.7
3.1
44.7

7.1
2.9
44.5

7.1
2.9
41.1

7.2
2.9
42.6

7.3
3.0
46.7

7.5
3.2
48.4

7.5
3.1
47.0

2.0
.8
10.4

2.1

2.1

2.0

1.9

2.0

.8

.9
13.3

.8
12.2

.8
11.6

.9
13.2

2.0
.9

12.5

12.8

1.9
.9
13.6

.9
15.4

5.5
2.2
35.4

5.5
2.4
36.2

5.5
2.5
38.1

5.2
2.3
35.8

5.0
2.3
35.9

4.9
2.3
35.8

5.1
2.4
37.0

5.2
2.5
41.1

6.7

2.6

10.2

Transportation and public utilities
Total c a s e s ..........................................................................
Lost workday c a s e s ..........................................................
Lost workdays ...................................................................

Wholesale and retail trade
Total c a s e s ..................................................................
Lost workday c a s e s ...................................................
Lost w o rkda ys.............................................................
Wholesale trade:
Total c a s e s ...................................................................
Lost workday c a s e s .................................... ...............
Lost w o rkda ys..............................................................
Retail trade:
Total c a s e s ...................................................................
Lost workday cases ...................................................
Lost w o rkdays..............................................................

2.8

Finance, Insurance, and real estate
Total c a s e s ...........................................................................
Lost workday cases ...........................................................
Lost w o rkda ys......................................................................

2.0

Services
Total c a se s..............
Lost workday cases
Lost w o rkda ys........
1 Total cases include fatalities.
2 The incidence rates represent the number of injuries and illnesses or lost
workdays per 100 full-time workers and were calculated as:
(N/EH) X 200,000, where:
N = number of Injuries and illnesses or lost workdays.


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5.4

2.6
45.4

EH = total hours worked by all employees during calendar year.
200,000 = base for 100 full-time equivalent workers (working 40 hours per
week, 50 weeks per year.)
3 Excludes farms with fewer than 11 employees since 1976.

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