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U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Raymond J. Donovan, Secretary
BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS
Janet L. Norwood, Commissioner
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RESEARCH LIBRARY!
Federai Heserve Bank
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW
of St. Louis
MARCH 1984
VOLUME 107, NUMBER 3
ÄPR
Henry Lowenstern, Editor-in-Chief
Robert W. Fisher, Executive Editor
0 6 1984
Allan Eck
3
New occupational data improve replacement estimates
BLS projections of job opening are greatly enhanced because separation rates
now include data on those workers who transfer to other occupations
N F Rytina and S Bianchi
11
Occupational reclassification and distribution by gender
During the 1970’s, the most important occupational shift by sex was the increase
in women managers; the share of ‘female-intensive’ occupations held steady
Constance Sorrentino
18
Japan’s low unemployment: an in-depth analysis
A BLS analysis of Japan's labor force data concludes, In contrast to a private
study, that jobless rates are only slightly understated by U.S. concepts
Michael Maccoby
28
Helping labor and a firm set up a quality-of-worklife plan
A consultant reports on his role in assisting the Communications Workers
and AT&T establish a continuing quality-of-worklife program
A S Herman and P.F. Otto
33
Productivity gains in switchgear industry slow after 1973
During 1963-73, the industry experienced a period of high growth,
but from 1973 to 1982 its rate of productivity increase fell sharply
REPORTS
J. M. Poterba and L.H. Summers
37
CPS response variation: caveats for unemployment analysts
Janet Macon
43
Work-related deaths in 1982
A. M. Young and H. Hayghe
46
More U.S. workers are college graduates
Norma W. Carlson
49
Pay in Mountain region coal mines outstrips national average
David Larson
52
High wages earned in the paper industries
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DEPARTMENTS
2
37
55
57
60
65
Labor month in review
Research summaries
Major agreements expiring next month
Developments in industrial relations
Book reviews
Current labor statistics
Labor M onth
In Review
RECOVERY REPORT. The Budget
Committee of the U.S. Senate called on
Commissioner of Labor Statistics Janet
L. Norwood to report on the effect of
the economic recovery on jobs and
prices. Here are excerpts from the com
missioner’s February 28 testimony.
Unemployment. Just as men ex
perienced the greatest increase in
unemployment during the recession,
their employment experience has im
proved the most during the expansion.
The severity of the recession in certain
industries caused the unemployment rate
for adult men to be more than a percen
tage point above that for adult women, a
statistical rarity. However, by January
1984, the rate for men (7.3 percent) was
only two-tenths of a point above that for
women.
The employment situation for adult
black men has improved considerably
during the recovery period. Their
employment has increased by more than
400,000, and their jobless rate has drop
ped from 20.7 to 14.8 percent. Im
provements for black women, which
began in mid-1983, are still relatively
modest.
The situation for black teenagers re
mains especially troublesome. Their
jobless rate has straddled the 50-percent
mark for more than a year and a half,
and long-term joblessness is a serious
problem among black youth. While
almost half of the white teens have jobs,
only one-sixth of all black teenagers
work.
Despite changes in living arrangements
over the past several decades, most
Americans continue to live in families,
and many families have more than one
worker. At the end of 1982, when
unemployment hit its peak, more than 11
million persons were jobless, and nearly
10 million of them lived in families. In
two-thirds of these families, someone else
was working. Relatives in husband-wife
families (typically teenage and young
adult children) accounted for about a
quarter of unemployed family members.
In 9 out of 10 cases, at least one of their
parents had a job.
Unemployed wives are also very likely
to have an employed person in their fami
2
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ly. In fact, in 1983, almost 8 out of 10
unemployed wives had someone in their
family working.
As married women have entered the
labor force in increasing numbers, the
likelihood of an unemployed husband
having a working family relative has also
increased markedly. Between 1977 and
1981, the proportion rose from 48 to 55
percent. It held about steady during the
recession and with recovery resumed its
upward course, reaching nearly 57 per
cent by the end of 1983.
Unemployment is a particularly severe
problem for families maintained by
women. Because there are generally few
persons of working age in these families,
there is little likelihood that there are any
employed persons present to cushion the
effects of their joblessness. Since data of
this type first became available in 1977,
the proportion of unemployed women
who maintain families that include some
one who is employed has never been
much higher than 20 percent. Because the
problem is largely structural in nature,
the business cycle does not bring about
substantial changes in this proportion.
Prices. The most important recent price
development affecting economic welfare
is the marked deceleration in the overall
Consumer Price Index which began in
October 1981. The CPI has increased at a
seasonally adjusted annual rate of only
3.9 percent for the 27-month period end
ing in December 1983. This rate is well
below the 11.0-percent increase recorded
for the 12 months prior to October 1981
and is the lowest rate since early 1973.
The price deceleration that occurred
in the 27 months through December
1983 has been particularly apparent in
the energy, shelter, and food com
ponents of the C PI. Advances in these
items were, of course, responsible for
much of the increase in the C PI in the
past decade. The index excluding the
energy, shelter, and food components
has also moderated.
Price differences. Has any particular
groups faced price experience that was
higher or lower than average? The BLS
has undertaken research in recent years
which may help to shed some light on
these issues. I want to caution, however,
that it is experimental. Any conclusions
it might suggest must be critically
evaluated.
The Bureau has constructed ex
perimental indexes for alternative
population groupings which focus solely
on the impact of different expenditure
patterns on measured price change. The
rate of price increase for individual con
sumption categories is assumed to be the
same for all consumers. The experimen
tal indexes use the rental equivalence ap
proach to measuring homeowner shelter
costs. Quarterly indexes were computed
for the 1979-1983 period and all indexes
were normalized to start at the same
level in the first quarter of 1979.
The experimental indexes for alter
native population groupings show no
evidence of large, persistent differences
among the inflation rates experienced by
different groups of the population.
When consumers are grouped by their
position in the income distribution, the
index for middle income consumers rises
slightly faster than that for either higher
or lower income consumers. The largest
absolute difference occurs in the fourth
quarter of 1981, just as prices started to
decelerate.
Experimental indexes by age and race
also present no real evidence of persis
tent differences between groups. When
households are separated by age of the
reference person (65 years and over,
compared with those under 65 years),
despite some small variations between
the first and the last periods, by the last
quarter of 1983 the indexes stand at the
same level. When households are
classified by the race of the reference
person, our indexes indicate a slightly
higher rate of increase for the white
group during 1979, and virtually iden
tical rates of increase since then.
Although a definitive conclusion must
await additional research, it is probably
safe to assume that the labor market ex
perience of different population groups
varies much more than the inflation ex
perience.
Single copies of the testimony are
available from BLS, 441 G Street N.W.,
Washington, D.C. 20212.
□
New occupational separation data
improve estimates of job replacement needs
BLS projections o f jo b openings are greatly enhanced
because separation rates, on which the estimates are based,
now include data on workers who transfer to other occupations
and those not working fo r any reason, except death
A lan E ck
Each year, many workers leave the occupation in which
they are employed. Many reasons prompt these separa
tions— some individuals change occupations to better utilize
their skills, improve their working environment, or earn
higher wages; others stop working to enjoy leisure time,
care for their families, or go to school. However, others
lose their jobs and subsequently may begin working in an
other occupation, become unemployed, or leave the labor
force. Many workers who leave an occupation are replaced.
Thus, information about replacement needs is valuable to
the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ occupational outlook pro
gram because in most occupations replacement requirements
provide more employment opportunities than job growth.
Information on replacement needs previously published
by the bls was confined almost exclusively to estimates of
the need to replace workers who permanently left the labor
force because of death or retirement.1 Sufficient data were
not available to develop estimates of replacement needs
resulting from workers who temporarily left the labor force
or transferred to another occupation.
Using the Current Population Survey (cps) as a data base,
the Bureau of Labor Statistics has developed a procedure
which improves estimates of the number of job openings
arising from workers who leave their occupations.2 The
procedure results in data which identify the numbers and
types of separations and the characteristics of workers who
change occupations, become unemployed, or leave the labor
force. The data are then used to calculate replacement needs,
Alan Eck is an economist in the Division of Occupational Outlook, Bureau
of Labor Statistics.
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a vital part of the bls occupational outlook program. Be
cause of the new procedure, projected replacement needs
now include occupational transfers and all labor force sep
arations, except deaths.
How the data are derived
At 1-year intervals, 50 percent of the households in the
sample are the same.3 Individuals who had not changed
residence were identified in each survey by matching the
household address and micro-data about the age, sex, and
race of the individuals. Data were then prepared which
described labor force changes of these matched individuals
over a 1-year period for each of 18 months beginning with
January 1979 to January 1980 and ending with June 1980
to June 1981. The monthly cps samples were combined to
create a matched sample of 665,000 persons age 15 and
older in the initial year of the matched data.4 The larger
sample increased the reliability of data for smaller occu
pational groups, and is called “ 1980-81 matched data.”
To produce weighted data, weights from the full cps
sample for each month were applied to each person and
divided by the number of months for which matched data
were prepared. The weighted numbers approximate 35 per
cent of those that would result if it were possible to match
a complete monthly sample each year.
In addition to identifying changes in labor force status,
the matched data identify workers who change occupations.4
However, actual movements are significantly overstated be
cause individuals may respond differently to the same cps
question about their occupation, response may be recorded
cps
3
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW March 1984 • Job Replacement Needs
differently among interviewers, or recorded information may
be coded differently among clerks.5
To eliminate the overstatement of occupational change,
the matched data were adjusted using the January 1981 cps
study of occupational mobility. In the January 1981 cps,
persons who said they were employed were asked to report
their labor force status in January 1980 and, if they were
employed, their occupation.6 Only employed persons were
asked to respond to these questions; therefore, separations
from the work force could not be determined— that is, the
survey could not identify individuals employed in January
1980 but not in January 1981. These longitudinal data on
occupational mobility from the January 1981 cps are called
“ retrospective data.”
Matched data about changes in labor force status were
adjusted using retrospective data about occupational mo
bility to produce data on labor force and occupational changes.
The results, termed “ merged data” , describe movements
into, out of, and between occupations over a 1-year period.
The following illustrates how “ merged data” were de
rived.7 Matched data for secretaries indicated their employ
ment in 1981 by labor force status in 1980:
Number
(in thousands)
Percent
.........................
1 ,3 3 3 ,8 0 7
1 0 0 .0
E m p l o y e d ........................................
1 ,1 8 9 ,5 9 6
8 9 .2
S a m e o c c u p a tio n a s
in 1981 ................................
8 1 1 ,7 4 7
6 0 .9
D if f e r e n t o c c u p a tio n
f r o m 1981 ...........................
3 7 7 ,8 4 9
2 8 .3
U n e m p lo y e d ................................
N o t in l a b o r f o r c e ....................
3 1 ,9 6 3
1 1 2 ,2 4 9
2 .4
E m p lo y e d in 1981
S ta tu s in 1 9 8 0 :
8 .4
The proportion who were in a different occupation in 1980
(28 percent) is excessively large. More reliable retrospective
data indicate that of the 89.2 percent of secretaries employed
in both years, 92.4 percent had been in the same occupation
in 1980.
When matched data are adjusted based on the proportions
in the retrospective data, the resulting merged data are as
shown in the following:
Number
(in thousands)
Percent
.........................
1 ,3 3 3 ,8 0 7
1 0 0 .0
E m p l o y e d ........................................
1 ,1 8 9 ,5 9 6
8 9 .2
1 ,0 9 8 ,5 9 2
8 2 .4
9 1 ,0 0 4
3 1 ,9 6 3
6 .8
2 .4
1 1 2 ,2 4 9
8 .4
E m p l o y e d in 1981
S ta tu s in 1 9 8 0 :
S a m e o c c u p a tio n a s
in 1981
................................
D if f e r e n t o c c u p a tio n
f r o m 1981 ...........................
U n e m p lo y e d ................................
N o t in la b o r f o r c e
....................
Separations were derived in the following manner. The
matched data for secretaries showed the distribution of em
ployment in 1980 by their labor force status in 1981:
4
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E m p lo y e d in 1 9 8 0
Number
(in thousands)
Percent
.........................
1 ,3 2 3 ,0 8 6
1 0 0 .0
.........................
1 ,1 8 9 ,4 2 8
8 9 .9
8 1 1 ,7 4 7
6 1 .4
3 7 7 ,6 8 1
2 8 .6
2 7 ,2 6 4
2 .1
1 0 6 ,3 9 5
8 .1
S ta tu s in 1 9 8 1 :
E m p lo y e d , to ta l
S a m e o c c u p a tio n a s
in 1 9 8 0
................................
D if f e r e n t o c c u p a tio n
th a n in 1 9 8 0 ......................
U n e m p lo y e d
................................
N o t in l a b o r f o r c e
....................
Retrospective data indicated that of the 89.9 percent of
secretaries employed in both years, 91 percent were in the
same occupation in 1980 and only 9 percent were in a
different occupation.
The number of secretaries who remained in the same
occupation developed in the merged data on entrants
(1,098,592) was divided by the proportion of the 1980 sec
retaries who were in the same occupation in 1981 (91 per
cent). This results in a revised total of secretaries employed
in 1980 who were employed in any occupation in 1981.
The difference between that total (1,206,978) and those
remaining in the same occupation (1,098,592) is the revised
total for those transferring out. Finally, the numbers em
ployed, unemployed, and not in the labor force in 1981
were totaled and a new percentage distribution was calcu
lated as shown in the following:
Number
Percent
(separation
rate)
1 ,3 4 0 ,6 3 7
1 0 0 .0
E m p l o y e d , t o t a l ...........................
1 ,2 0 6 ,9 7 8
9 0 .1
S a m e o c c u p a tio n a s
in 1 9 8 0 ...................................
1 ,0 9 8 ,5 9 2
8 2 .0
...........................
1 0 8 ,3 8 6
8 .1
U n e m p l o y e d ...................................
N o t in l a b o r f o r c e ......................
2 7 ,2 6 4
2 .0
1 0 6 ,3 9 5
7 .9
E m p lo y e d in 1 9 8 0 ...........................
S ta tu s in 1 9 8 1 :
D if f e r e n t o c c u p a tio n
fro m 1980
These are the separation rates for secretaries in table 1.
Data limitations
The cps is conducted primarily to obtain current, rather
than longitudinal, data on the labor force changes of indi
viduals over the period of a year. Therefore, there are sig
nificant limitations to the data which describe these changes.
One limitation is that the matched sample can only be de
veloped from the responses of individuals who do not change
residence, as the cps is a household survey. Movers tend
to change their labor force status more than nonmovers;
hence, the separation rates are biased downward. Also, sep
aration rates are biased downward because of the exclusion
of individuals who die between surveys.8 Response and
coding errors, however, bias the separation rates upward.
For example, if employed persons were incorrectly classi-
Table 1.
or more
Separation rates, 1980-81, and replacement rates, 1980-90, for selected occupations with 100,000 employees
Separation rates, 1980-811
Occupation
Total
Transfers
to another
occupation
Not working
Total
Unemployed
Not in the
labor force
Replacement
rates,
1980-902
Total employed, age 16 and over ........................................................
20.0
8.9
11.1
3.4
7.7
19.4
Professional, technical and kindred workers...................................................
11.2
8.2
8.7
5.3
6.9
4.1
14.6
6.2
4.9
15.0
4.2
9.8
9.7
1.2
6.9
1.4
10.2
10.2
10.3
10.0
8.4
11.7
7.9
16.3
26.3
11.0
23.2
9.3
12.6
11.4
13.5
32.4
14.7
18.1
20.8
24.4
12.3
20.8
5.2
4.0
4.7
4.0
4.3
1.6
9.5
4.4
2.6
5.0
1.8
6.6
5.2
.0
1.9
.0
2.3
4.4
4.5
1.7
4.1
7.3
2.9
9.1
14.5
3.8
9.6
4.0
6.7
6.6
7.2
5.4
8.1
9.6
6.6
13.8
5.0
13.3
6.0
4.2
4.0
1.2
2.6
2.4
5.2
1.9
2.3
10.0
2.4
3.2
4.4
1.2
5.0
1.4
7.9
5.8
5.8
8.3
4.3
4.4
5.0
7.2
11.8
7.2
13.7
5.3
5.9
4.8
6.3
27.0
6.6
8.5
14.2
10.6
7.3
7.5
1.2
1.0
1.4
.5
.6
.7
2.2
.5
.1
1.2
.4
.5
.8
.2
.2
.1
.9
1.0
1.6
1.2
.4
2.2
1.5
2.2
2.5
.6
1.9
.8
2.8
.7
1.6
7.7
1.5
2.4
4.7
1.1
2.8
2.1
4.8
3.2
2.6
.7
2.0
1.7
3.0
1.4
2.2
8.8
2.0
2.7
3.6
1.0
4.8
1.3
7.1
4.9
4.1
7.1
3.9
2.1
3.5
5.0
9.4
6.6
11.8
4.5
3.1
4.1
4.6
19.3
5.1
6.1
9.4
9.5
4.6
5.5
11.2
8.2
8.7
5.3
6.9
4.1
14.6
4.3
4.8
13.9
4.2
9.8
9.7
1.2
5.9
1.4
10.2
10.2
10.3
10.0
8.4
11.7
7.9
16.3
26.3
10.6
19.3
9.3
12.6
10.8
13.5
32.4
14.7
17.4
20.8
23.2
12.3
19.4
Managers and administrators, except fa rm ......................................................
11.6
9.6
15.3
9.2
11.4
19.9
14.0
10.2
13.6
9.6
18.9
15.2
12.0
9.7
7.1
10.8
5.9
5.3
8.6
5.1
6.9
7.2
8.2
3.4
5.1
5.6
9.8
8.5
8.3
6.4
3.9
5.3
5.7
4.2
6.8
4.1
4.5
12.7
5.9
6.9
8.6
4.0
9.1
6.7
3.7
3.3
3.2
5.5
1.5
1.5
1.9
.3
.5
1.4
1.5
.7
2.4
1.9
2.7
3.0
1.5
.8
.7
1.5
4.1
2.8
4.9
3.8
4.0
11.3
4.4
6.2
6.2
2.1
6.4
3.7
2.2
2.5
2.5
4.0
11.6
9.6
13.9
6.1
6.8
18.7
14.0
10.2
13.6
9.4
18.9
12.2
12.0
9.7
7.1
10.5
Salesworkers .................................................................................................
23.3
9.2
49.8
12.5
47.1
14.9
7.8
14.8
15.1
31.0
23.4
24.2
11.0
3.7
8.3
7.4
12.3
6.6
2.8
10.0
9.9
14.4
13.2
12.8
12.4
5.6
41.4
5.1
34.9
8.3
5.0
4.8
5.2
16.6
10.2
11.4
2.6
1.7
4.5
1.0
6.8
.6
.8
1.9
2.0
3.3
3.7
2.7
9.8
3.9
36.9
4.1
28.1
7.7
4.2
2.9
3.2
13.3
6.5
8.7
23.3
9.2
48.5
10.7
47.1
12.4
7.8
13.7
13.8
31.0
22.3
24.2
Clerical workers..............................................................................................
21.6
20.9
20.8
19.1
33.1
12.4
26.0
10.5
14.0
11.6
7.6
14.3
7.0
13.3
11.1
7.0
9.2
11.5
18.8
5.3
12.7
2.4
1.4
4.0
1.6
4.4
1.1
2.3
8.7
5.6
5.2
9.9
14.4
4.3
10.4
21.6
20.9
20.8
18.8
33.1
11.8
26.0
Accountants...................................................................
Computer programmers .......................................................
Computer systems analysts....................................................
Civil engineers ................................................................
Electrical engineers ...........................................................
Industrial engineers ............................................................
Mechanical engineers..........................................................
Lawyers .......................................................................
Librarians .....................................................................
Chemists.......................................................................
Operations and systems analysts .............................................
Personnel, labor relations workers ............................................
Dentists........................................................................
Pharmacists...................................................................
Physicians.....................................................................
Registered nurses .............................................................
Therapists .....................................................................
Clinical laboratory technicians .................................................
Radiologic technicians ........................................................
Clergy..........................................................................
Economists ...................................................................
Psychologists..................................................................
Social workers ................................................................
Recreation workers ............................................................
Elementary schoolteachers ....................................................
Preschool, kindergarten teachers .............................................
Secondary schoolteachers.....................................................
Drafters........................................................................
Electrical, electronic technicians...............................................
Vocational, educational counselors ................... ......................
Athletes and kindred workers..................................................
Designers .....................................................................
Editors and reporters ..........................................................
Musicians and composers.....................................................
Painters and sculptors ........................................................
Photographers ................................................................
Public relations specialists.....................................................
Bank, financial managers .....................................................
Buyers, wholesale and retail trade.............................................
Health administrators..........................................................
Inspectors, except construction, public administration.........................
Managers and superintendents, building.......................................
Office managers, nec...........................................................
Officials and administrators, public administrations............................
Officials of lodges, unions.....................................................
Purchasing agents, buyers, nec.................................................
Restaurant, cafe, bar managers ...............................................
Sales managers, retail trade ..................................................
Sales managers, except retail trade............................................
School administrators, college................................................
School administrators, elementary and secondary ............................
Managers and administrators, nec..............................................
Advertising agents, salesworkers .............................................
Hucksters and peddlers .......................................................
Insurance agents, brokers.....................................................
Newspaper carriers and vendors...............................................
Real estate agents, brokers....................................................
Stock and bond sales agents..................................................
Sales representatives, manufacturing..........................................
Sales representatives, wholesale trade.........................................
Salesclerks, retail trade........................................................
Salesworkers, retail trade, except clerks.......................................
Salesworkers, services and construction ......................................
Bank tellers ...................................................................
Billing clerks ..................................................................
Bookkeepers....................................................................
Cashiers .......................................................................
Clerical supervisors, nec........................................................
Counter clerks, except food....................................................
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5
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW March 1984 • Job Replacement Needs
Table 1. Continued— Separation rates, 1980-81, and replacement rates, 1980-90, for selected occupations with 100,000
employees or more
Separation rates, 1980-811
Occupation
Total
Not working
Transfers
to another
occupation
Total
Unemployed
Not in the
labor force
Replacement
rates,
1980-902
Dispatchers and starters, vehicle .............................................
Estimators and investigators, nec...............................................
Expeditors, production controllers.............................................
14.7
18.6
18.0
6.7
10.6
12.4
8.0
8.0
5.6
2.0
2.0
2.4
6.0
6.0
3.2
14.7
18.6
18.0
File clerks .....................................................................
Insurance adjusters, examiners ...............................................
Library attendants, assistants..................................................
Mail carriers, post office.......................................................
Mail handlers, except post office .............................................
Computer, peripheral equipment operators ....................................
Keypunch operators............................................................
Payroll and timekeeping clerks.................................................
Postal clerks ...................................................................
Receptionists ..................................................................
Secretaries, nec.................................................................
Shipping and receiving clerks..................................................
Statistical clerks ...............................................................
Stock clerks, storekeepers.....................................................
Teacher aides, except monitors ...............................................
Telephone operators............................................................
Ticket, station, and express agents............................................
Typists ........................................................................
38.1
10.4
27.3
6.4
29.0
16.6
24.9
15.4
8.3
16.8
6.2
2.2
17.6
9.5
15.3
9.3
2.5
21.2
4.2
18.3
4.2
11.4
7.1
9.6
6.1
5.9
5.5
.6
3.1
.5
2.4
2.0
2.8
1.6
.6
15.8
3.6
15.3
3.7
9.0
5.1
6.7
4.5
5.3
38.1
10.4
27.3
6.4
29.0
16.6
19.7
15.4
8.3
27.6
18.0
20.5
20.6
23.1
25.6
23.7
12.2
24.2
13.5
8.1
12.8
12.3
13.0
12.2
15.2
4.0
11.7
14.1
9.9
7.8
8.3
10.2
13.4
8.5
8.3
12.5
2.6
2.0
3.1
1.6
3.1
1.7
1.3
4.3
3.0
11.6
7.9
4.7
6.7
7.1
11.7
7.2
4.0
9.5
27.6
17.9
19.1
20.1
23.1
25.6
20.1
9.3
24.2
16.0
28.1
20.4
21.2
24.0
17.5
18.8
36.3
10.5
7.5
22.4
7.2
13.0
5.3
11.3
9.5
8.2
10.6
18.8
2.6
2.7
9.1
8.9
15.1
15.2
9.9
14.5
9.3
8.1
17.5
7.9
4.8
13.3
4.3
3.5
10.7
6.7
8.1
2.7
4.8
2.6
4.4
1.9
8.2
4.5
11.6
4.5
3.2
6.4
6.6
3.4
15.0
3.5
2.9
5.1
14 1
23 2
13 3
17 5
20 0
17 5
16 5
22 3
84
45
15.1
12.4
17.6
12.3
15.4
14.3
12.3
17.4
12.2
15.8
6.5
10.6
5.7
6.0
8.4
1.7
9.0
6.2
6.0
5.8
7.0
6.7
9.4
5.9
10.6
8.4
6.0
9.8
2.3
3.5
3.0
5.2
.9
7.1
4.5
3.0
3.1
3.5
3.5
3.7
4.2
5.0
3.5
3.8
3.0
6.7
11.4
15 6
11 6
10 9
80
12 3
15 1
12 2
9.9
18.5
19.8
22.7
11.7
15.8
21.1
13.0
13.8
8.6
10.7
14.1
3.0
7.4
2.9
10.1
7.2
4.6
8.3
7.0
4.4
4.4
16.8
15.4
8.8
5.7
13.8
8.3
5.5
1.6
6.3
1.1
11.0
6.6
5.1
1.8
7.5
5.6
2.3
.4
1.7
3.4
5.9
87
3.8
39
64
2.8
3.2
12
4.6
15 6
95
?? 7
98
1? 9
?n 3
11 1
11 9
¿2
6.0
24.0
29.1
18.2
20.8
17.3
33.2
25.0
44.5
27.8
12.0
9.7
11.8
7.7
5.2
5.6
3.4
10.1
21.5
9.5
4.6
14.4
17.2
10.5
15.6
11.7
29.8
14.9
23.0
18.3
7.4
7.1
10.0
4.7
5.3
6.4
2.6
9.3
9.2
5.5
2.5
7.3
7.2
5.9
10.4
53
27 2
5.6
13 7
12 8
4.9
20 9
23 4
16 1
19 6
17 3
16 0
21 6
43 5
25J3
12.0
21.1
26.3
28.8
21.0
18.0
30.0
27.8
22.4
28.7
18.7
13.5
11.0
14.5
9.3
8.4
14.9
13.3
5.2
12.9
6.7
7.6
15.3
14.3
11.8
9.6
15.2
14.5
17.3
15.8
12.1
5.2
6.7
9.4
6.6
4.9
10.6
6.9
6.0
7.1
8.8
2.4
8.6
4.9
51
4.7
4.6
7.6
11 2
87
3.3
21 1
?fi 3
24 4
18 5
14 3
24.4
19 5
?0 9
13 8
14.8
19.4
16.3
20.8
22.9
26.3
18.4
9.2
5.6
11.5
12.9
9.5
8.6
10.3
10.7
9.3
10.0
16.9
9.8
5.2
2.8
4.4
5.1
7.9
4.9
35
12.5
4.3
17 0
16 3
20 8
19 5
18 0
15.2
Craft and kindred workers .................................................................
Bakers ..........................................................
Brickmasons and stonemasons............................................
Bulldozer operators .......................................................
Carpenters..................................................
Compositors and typesetters ......................................
Crane, derrick, and hoist operators....................................
Decorators, windowdressers..................................
Electricians .....................................................
Electric line installers, repairers ......................................
Excavating machine operators, except bulldozer.........................
Blue-collar worker supervisors, nec.....................................
Inspectors, nec...................................................
Machinists....................................................
Air conditioner, heating, refrigeration repairers ...................
Aircraft mechanics............................................
Automobile body repairers...................................
Automobile mechanics .......................................
Heavy equipment mechanics, including diesel .......................
Household appliance repairers ..............................
Radio and TVrepairers....................................
Millwrights.................................
Painters, construction and maintenance.......................
Plumbers and pipe fitters ...............................
Printing press operators......................................
Roofers and slaters ...............................
Sheet-metal workers, tinsmiths .......................
Stationary engineers......................................
Telephone Installers, repairers ......................
Tool-and-die makers ..................................
Operatives except transportation......................................
Assemblers ............................................
Checkers, examiners, except manufacturing ...................
Clothing ironers and pressers .........................
Cutting operatives, nec............................
Dressmakers, except factory ......................
Filers, polishers, sanders, buffers..............................
Garage workers, gas station attendants .......................
Laundry, dry cleaning operators, nec.....................
Meat cutters, butchers, except manufacturing.................
Mine operatives, nec......................................
Packers, wrappers, except meat and produce ......................
Painters, articles......................................
Grinding machine operatives .......................
Lathe and milling machine operators.......................
Punch, stamping press operators....................
Sawyers ............................................
Sewers and stitchers ..................................
Spinners, twisters, winders............................
Welders and flame cutters............................
Transport equipment operatives ...........................
Bus drivers .......................................
Delivery and route drivers............................
Forklift, towvehicle operators ............................
Taxicab drivers, chauffers.......................................
Truckdrivers..........................................
6
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
9.0
6.6
4.4
5.5
Table 1. Continued— Separation rates, 1980-81, and replacement rates, 1980-90, for selected occupations with 100,000
employees or more
Separation rates, 1980-811
Not working
Replacement
rates,
1980-902
Total
Transfers
to another
occupation
Total
Unemployed
Not in the
labor force
Nonfarm laborers............................................................................................
33.1
37.6
29.7
35.0
35.1
35.4
25.5
13.8
14.3
14.2
12.2
15.4
16.0
13.5
19.3
23.2
15.5
22.8
19.8
19.4
11.9
8.2
13.0
8.3
6.9
6.3
10.3
5.9
11.1
10.3
7.2
15.9
13.5
9.1
6.0
30.4
31.6
29.7
35.0
35.1
35.4
25.5
Farmers and farm managers ........................................................................
12.4
12.2
2.1
1.8
10.2
10.4
.4
.3
9.9
10.1
9.1
9.1
Farm laborers and supervisors........................................................................
28.4
26.5
7.5
9.6
20.9
16.9
3.5
4.6
17.4
12.4
27.7
26.5
Service workers, except private household
27.5
30.7
27.7
21.7
33.1
57.7
30.2
51.8
47.2
40.2
26.8
23.6
17.3
25.5
13.9
43.0
6.8
41.7
12.8
18.9
4.1
25.2
8.8
10.7
8.7
9.6
6.3
17.6
24.2
13.7
19.8
22.3
18.7
8.6
8.5
8.1
10.1
2.4
18.2
1.0
7.2
3.4
5.9
1.8
10.6
5.5
16.8
22.0
18.2
15.4
15.4
33.6
16.4
32.0
24.9
21.6
18.2
15.2
9.3
15.4
11.6
24.8
5.8
34.5
9.4
13.0
2.3
14.6
3.3
3.9
5.3
4.9
4.2
5.3
10.1
4.5
10.8
6.1
4.9
4.2
3.6
2.4
3.1
1.5
6.1
.4
3.6
1.6
2.0
.3
4.4
.7
12.8
16.7
13.3
11.1
10.2
23.5
11.9
21.3
18.8
16.6
14.0
11.6
6.9
12.3
10.1
18.7
5.4
30.9
7.8
11.1
2.1
10.2
2.6
27.5
30.7
27.7
21.7
31.0
57.7
30.2
51.8
47.2
39.8
26.8
23.6
17.3
25.5
13.9
43.0
2.6
41.7
12.8
18.9
4.1
25.2
7.1
Private household workers...............................................................................
39.6
58.8
27.4
3.0
3.3
2.4
36.7
55.5
25.0
4.1
7.1
2.1
32.6
48.4
22.9
39.6
58.8
24.2
Occupation
Construction laborers, except carpenter helpers...............................
Freight, material handlers .....................................................
Gardeners, groundskeepers, except farm .....................................
Stockhandlers..................................................................
Vehicle washers, equipment cleaners..........................................
Warehouse laborers, nec........................................................
Farmers (owners and tenants) ................................................
Farmlaborers, wage workers..................................................
Lodging cleaners...............................................................
Building interior cleaners, nec...................................................
Janitors and sextons ..........................................................
Bartenders.....................................................................
Dining roomattendants .......................................................
Cooks ..........................................................................
Dishwashers....................................................................
Food counter, fountain workers ...............................................
Waiters and waitresses........................................................
Food service workers, nec......................................................
Dental assistants...............................................................
Health aides, except nursing ....................................... ........
Nursing aides, orderlies .......................................................
Practical nurses ...............................................................
Attendants, recreation and amusement.........................................
Barbers ........................................................................
Child-care workers.............................................................
Hairdressers, cosmetologists..................................................
Housekeepers..................................................................
Firefighters.....................................................................
Guards ........................................................................
Police officers, detectives .....................................................
Child-care workers.............................................................
Servants .......................................................................
1The occupational separation rate isthe percentage of individuals previously employed
inanoccupationwho arenot employedinthat sameoccupationayear later. Occupational
transfers occur if individuals remain employed, but in adifferent occupation.
Replacement rates exclude those resulting because of death.
fled as not in the labor force during the second survey, the
matched data would indicate movement where none oc
curred. Although the net effect of the biases on the move
ments is not known, the impact of the various limitations
are offsetting and significant distortions very likely do not
exist.9 The cps sample size also limits the number of oc
cupations for which reliable occupational separation data
can be developed. The merged data in this report are for
occupations having 100,000 or more workers in 1981.
The “ merged data” procedure was developed primarily
to improve the data on replacement needs which, in turn,
is used to develop information on future job opportunities
in the Bureau’s occupational outlook program. The use of
the cps merged data in the analysis of future job openings
is hindered because the occupational classification of the
cps differs from that of the Occupational Employment Sta
tistics (oes) surveys which is the source of data on occu
pational employment. For many occupations having the same
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Dueto rounding, sums of individual items may not equal totals,
nec = not elsewhere classified,
N o te:
title, cps and oes employment data are significantly different
because of response and sampling variability and conceptual
differences between the surveys.10 These differences, how
ever, do not preclude the use of cps-based data in analyzing
occupations for which the oes survey provides employment
data— many occupations are conceptually comparable.11
Occupational separations
Between 1980 and 1981, 20 percent of all employed
persons left their occupation and transferred to another or
stopped working for any reason except death. About 9 per
cent transferred to another occupation, while the remaining
11 percent became unemployed (3 percent) or dropped out
of the labor force (8 percent).
Separation rates differed significantly among occupa
tions. 12 (See table 1.) Occupations with high separation rates
(33 percent or more) typically require little education and
training and have a larger proportion of young workers.
7
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW March 1984 • Job Replacement Needs
Many of these jobs require only part-time workers and are
filled by youth ages 16 to 19 who are still in school.13
In contrast, occupations with very low separation rates
(under 9 percent), typically have extensive education re
quirements or a larger proportion of older male workers.
For example, physicians, dentists, and lawyers are in this
group. However, barbers and mail carriers also have low
separation rates— these occupations do not require extensive
education, but have relatively large proportions of workers
over 45 years of age and are dominated by males.
The following shows occupations with high and low sep
arations rates as measured by the percent of workers leaving
their occupation over a 12-month period during 1980-81:
Occupations with high rates:
Rate
Child-care workers, private household..................................58.8
Dining room attendants ...................................................... 57.7
Dishwashers.....................
51.7
Hucksters and peddlers.......................................................... 49.8
Food counter, fountain workers ............................................ 47.2
Newspaper carriers and vendors............................................ 47.1
Garage workers, gas station attendants ................................44.5
Attendants, recreation and amusement................................. 43.0
Child-care workers, except private household ..................... 41.7
Waiters and waitresses .......................................................... 40.2
File clerks ..............................................................................38.1
Construction laborers, except carpenter helpers....................37.6
Decorators and window dressers .......................................... 36.3
Vehicle washers, equipment cleaners ................................... 35.4
Stockhandlers ........................................................................ 35.1
Gardeners, groundskeepers ................................................... 35.0
Dressmakers, except factory ................................................. 33.2
Bartenders ..............................................................................33.1
Cashiers ................................................................................. 33.1
Occupations with low rates:
Rate
Dentists................................................................................... 1.2
Physicians ............................................................................. 1.4
Firefighters............................................................................... 4.1
Electrical engineers ................................................................. 4.1
Chemists...................................................................................4.2
Lawyers ...................................................................................4.9
Computer systems analysts ..................................................... 5.3
Mechanical engineers ............................................................ 6.2
Mail carriers/post office .......................................................... 6.4
Barbers .....................................................................................6.8
Civil engineers ........................................................................ 6.9
Pharmacists ..............................................................................6.9
School administrators, elementary and secondary.................. 7.1
Electric power line installers, repairs ................................... 7.5
Stock and bond sales agents ................................................... 7.8
Psychologists............................................................................7.9
Accountants............................................................................ 8.2
Postal clerks .......................................................................... 8.3
Clergy ..................................................................................... 8 . 4
Telephone installers, repairers .............................................. 8.6
Occupational transfers. During the 1980-81 period,
transfers to other occupations generally accounted for onethird of the separations for all workers except farmers, farm
8
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
laborers, and private household workers. Professional oc
cupations which had a large proportion of female workers
generally had lower transfer rates and higher labor force
separation rates, reflecting the greater tendency of women
to leave the labor force to care for young children. For
example, registered nurses and elementary school teachers,
occupational groups which require extensive training and
have large proportions of female workers, had low transfer
rates and fairly high labor force separation rates.
An occupation with a high transfer-out rate may identify
an entry level or career ladder position. For example, bank
tellers had a higher than average transfer-out rate (14 per
cent), but a lower than average proportion of persons who
were not working a year later (7 percent). This pattern—
transfers twice as high as total separations— indicates most
bank tellers who leave the occupation move to other jobs.
Not working group. Of the persons who stopped working
because they became unemployed or left the labor force,
professional and managerial workers had the lowest sepa
ration rates (6 percent) and private household workers the
highest (37 percent).
Movements into the not working category were a fairly
constant proportion of total separations for most occupa
tions. Movements into unemployment and out of the labor
force were less consistent. The difference is attributable
largely to the magnitude of the number who became un
employed.
Movement into unemployment ranged from 1 percent for
professional workers to 13 percent for construction laborers,
a reflection of the vulnerability of each occupation to eco
nomic conditions. Because professional workers usually are
not directly involved in the production process, they are not
released when product demand declines and, therefore, rel
atively few professional workers become unemployed. These
workers, if they do become unemployed, usually are able
to find a job relatively quickly. The opposite is true for
laborers, who generally are young, have little specialized
training, and are directly involved in producing goods or
services. Craftworkers and operatives have more specialized
training and experience than laborers, but they also are
subject to layoffs resulting from reduced demand for prod
ucts. Salesworkers, clerical workers, and service workers
are less directly involved in goods production and are less
likely to be immediately affected by variations in economic
conditions.
Influencing factors
Occupational separation rates reflect the interaction of the
unique characteristics of the occupation with various factors
associated with the characteristics of workers in the occu
pation. Sex, age, education, and race are among the vari
ables which interrelate with occupational attachment.
Age and sex.
The total separation rate over the period of
Table 2.
Occupational separation rates by sex, age, level of education, and race, 1980-81
Not working
Not in labor force
Characteristic
All employed persons, total
Men ...............................................
Women ............................................
Age:
16 to 19 ...........................................
Men ............................................
Women .........................................
20 to 24 ...........................................
Men ............................................
Women . .-......................................
25 to 29 ...........................................
Men ............................................
Women .........................................
30 to 34 ...........................................
Men ............................................
Women .........................................
35 to 44 ...........................................
Men ............................................
Women .........................................
45 to 54 ...........................................
Men ............................................
Women .........................................
55 to 64 ...........................................
Men ............................................
Women .........................................
65 and over .......................................
Men ............................................
Women .........................................
Education:
High school graduate or less:......................
Men ............................................
Women .........................................
Some college education:...........................
Men ............................................
Women .........................................
College graduate:...................................
Men ............................................
Women .........................................
Race:1
White ..............................................
Men ............................................
Women .........................................
Black ..............................................
Men ............................................
Women .........................................
Total
Transfer
to another
occupation
Total
Household
responsi
bilities
Going to
school
Other
reasons,
including
retire
ment
8.9
8.5
9.4
11.1
8.7
14.3
3.4
3.7
3.0
7.7
5.1
11.3
3.3
.1
7.8
1.5
1.3
1.7
2.9
3.7
1.8
48.3
47.7
48.9
32.1
30.1
34.3
21.0
17.3
25.8
16.4
12.8
21.6
12.8
9.8
16.1
10.6
7.9
14.4
15.0
14.0
16.6
29.1
28.2
30.6
22.2
22.0
22.5
17.0
17.3
16.5
10.9
10.9
11.0
9.0
8.7
9.4
6.3
6.0
6.0
3.9
3.5
4.4
2.3
2.5
2.0
1.1
.9
1.4
26.1
25.8
26.5
15.1
12.8
17.8
10.0
6.5
14.8
7.4
4.2
12.2
6.5
3.8
10.1
6.7
4.5
10.0
12.7
11.6
14.6
28.0
27.4
29.2
8.0
9.2
6.6
6.2
7.3
4.8
4.2
4.8
3.3
3.0
3.1
2.7
2.5
2.6
2.3
2.3
2.5
2.1
1.8
2.0
1.6
1.0
1.0
1.2
18.1
16.6
19.9
8.9
5.5
13.0
5.8
1.7
11.4
4.5
1.0
9.5
4.0
1.2
7.8
4.4
2.0
7.9
10.9
9.6
13.0
27.0
26.4
28.0
1.2
.1
2.6
3.8
.1
8.1
4.2
.1
9.7
3.4
.0
8.2
2.9
.1
6.7
2.7
.1
6.5
3.7
.1
9.3
7.4
.3
19.5
13.1
12.4
13.9
3.2
3.2
3.3
.6
.6
.7
.2
.1
.4
.2
.1
.3
.1
.0
.1
.0
.0
.0
.0
.0
.0
3.8
4.1
3.4
2.0
2.2
1.6
1.0
1.0
1.0
.9
.9
.9
.9
1.0
.8
1.7
1.9
1.3
7.2
9.4
3.7
19.5
26.0
8.5
21.8
19.5
24.7
20.8
17.7
25.0
12.8
10.1
17.6
8.8
8.6
9.0
10.8
10.1
11.6
7.6
7.1
8.5
13.0
10.9
15.7
10.0
7.6
13.3
5.2
3.1
9.1
4.2
4.7
3.4
2.8
3.1
2.5
1.1
1.0
1.3
8.8
6.2
12.3
7.2
4.5
10.8
4.1
2.1
7.8
3.8
.1
8.6
2.8
.1
6.6
2.0
.0
5.6
1.6
1.4
1.8
2.2
1.9
2.5
.5
.4
.8
3.5
4.7
2.0
1.2
2.6
1.7
1.6
1.6
1.4
19.8
16.9
23.9
21.7
21.2
22.1
9.1
8.6
9.8
7.2
7.6
6.8
10.7
8.3
14.2
14.5
13.6
15.3
3.1
3.4
2.7
5.9
6.9
4.8
7.6
4.9
11.5
8.6
6.8
10.5
3.3
.1
7.9
3.4
.1
6.8
1.5
1.3
1.8
1.5
1.5
1.6
2.8
3.6
1.8
3.7
5.1
2.1
The occupational separation rate Is the percentage of individuals previously
a year during 1980 to 1981 declined for both men and
women through the 45 to 54 age group, and then increased
in the 55 to 64, and 65 and over age groups. (See table 2.)
However, the transfer rate declined continuously, from 22
percent for the youngest men to 1 percent for the oldest.
(Transfer rates were similar for men and women within each
age group).
The proportion of separated workers who became un
employed declined consistently with age and was similar
for men and women. Although labor force separation rates
were higher for women than for men in every age group,
a ¿/-shaped pattern was evident for both sexes: rates were
high for young persons, declined for the middle age groups,
and rose as workers approached retirement age. This pattern
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Unemployed
20.0
17.3
23.7
1Datafor other races are not presented because of the limited sample size.
Note:
Total
employed in an occupation who are not employed in that same occupation ayear later.
Occupational transfers occur if individuals remainemployed but inadifferent occupation.
Duet° rounding, sums of individual Items may not equal totals.
is more exaggerated for men than for women. This differ
ence occurs because men are much less likely than women
to leave an occupation during the prime working ages.
Education. The greater the investment in education and
training, the lower the occupational separation rates. Rates
ranged from 22 percent for those with a high school edu
cation to 13 percent for college graduates. (See table 2.)
However, transfer rates were not so affected by education.
They were only slightly lower for college graduates than
for persons with a high school education or less, and were
similar for men and women within each educational group.
The proportion of persons becoming unemployed after
separation declined steadily as education increased. College
9
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW March 1984 • Job Replacement Needs
graduates became unemployed at a rate one-third less than
that for persons with a high school education or less.
At all levels of education, men had lower labor force
separation rates than women, again reflecting the tendency
of women to move out of the labor force because of family
responsibilities.
Race. Total occupational separation rates for whites was
slightly lower than that for blacks, 20 percent versus 22
percent. (See table 2.) Data for other nonwhites are not
shown because of the small sample size.
White men and women have higher transfer-out rates than
blacks. However, blacks were more likely to stop working,
although there are differences in the patterns for persons
becoming unemployed and moving out of the labor force.
Larger proportions of black men and women become un
employed, perhaps indicating that blacks may encounter
greater difficulty in finding other jobs. Larger proportions
of black than of white men also left the labor force.
Replacement needs
Employment opportunities result from the need for ad
ditional workers and the need to replace workers who leave
an occupation. Replacements are by far the more significant
source of job opportunities. Information about expected re
placement needs are crucial for describing future employ
ment opportunities and for assessing supply/demand
relationships. Therefore, b l s develops estimates of replace
ment needs whenever data are available.14
In developing estimates of replacement needs, the dis
'Tomorrow’s Manpower Needs, Vol. I, Bulletin 1606 (Bureau of Labor
Statistics, 1969), p. 47.
2Measuring Labor Force Movements: A New Approach, Report 581
(Bureau of Labor Statistics, 1980) discusses the need and provides a con
ceptual framework for improved replacement needs data.
3 For additional information about the survey, see The Current Popu
lation Survey: Design and Methodology, Technical Paper 40 (Bureau of
the Census, 1978).
4 A change o f occupation involves movement between any o f the detailed
3-digit occupations in the 1970 Census of Population Classified Index of
Industries and Occupations (Bureau of the Census, 1971).
5Cande L. Collins, “ Comparison of Month-to-Month Changes in In
dustry and Occupation Codes with Respondents Report of Change: cps
Jobs Mobility Study,” Response Research Staff Report No. 7 5 -5 (un
published, Bureau of the Census, May 15, 1975), table C, p. 7.
6Nancy Rytina, “ Occupational changes and tenure, 1981” Monthly
Labor Review, September 1982, pp. 2 9 -3 3 , presents additional infor
mation on occupational mobility data collected in the January 1981
cps .
7See Occupational Projections and Training Data, 1982 edition, Bul
letin 2202 (Bureau o f Labor Statistics, 1982), pp. 6 7 -6 9 , for a more
comprehensive discussion of the methodology.
8The occupational separations data in this article exclude deaths because
the data are not available. This exclusion biases the estimates of separations
downward .4 to .7 percent. See Occupational Projections, p. 74.
9Alan Eck, “ Estimating Occupational Movements: A Comparison of
10
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tinction between job separations and replacement needs can
not be overlooked. When employment in an occupation
increases over a 1-year period, job openings are equal to
growth and replacements. However, when employment de
clines, replacement needs trail separations. Employment de
clines indicate that some individuals leaving an occupation
were not replaced.15
When the 64 occupations in table 1 which showed em
ployment declines were adjusted to produce an estimated
average annual replacement rate, the adjustment varied from
0 to - 1 7 percent; the median was 2 percent. An additional
23 occupations had inordinate increases in the proportion
of persons who became unemployed during 1980-81, com
pared with 1977-78, even though employment did not de
cline. Occupational transfer and labor force separation rates
were about the same for both periods. The high rate of
movement into unemployment indicated the occupations were
sensitive to economic conditions. However, the economic
conditions of the 1977-78 period are more typical of as
sumptions about the 1980-90 projected period. To estimate
replacement rates, 1977-78 data about movement into un
employment were combined with 1980-81 transfer and la
bor force separation data. The resulting replacement rates
varied by —1 to —7 percent, with a median of 3 percent.
Average annual replacement rates for occupations having
100,000 or more employees, 1980-90, are shown in table
1. Projected openings resulting from replacement needs were
estimated by applying the projected average annual occu
pational replacement rate to employment at the midpoint of
the projection period.17
Longitudinal Data from the Current Population Survey,” memorandum,
Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 16, 1981. January 1977 to January 1978
cps matched longitudinal data and cps retrospective data for the same
persons were examined. The matched data indicated 86.9 percent o f in
dividuals employed in January 1978 were employed in January 1977; the
retrospective data indicated 87.9 percent.
10Occupational Projections, pp. 6 5 -6 6 .
"The Occupational Projection and Training Data, 1984 Edition, Bul
letin 2206 (Bureau of Labor Statistics, forthcoming) presents OES-based
employment data and cps data about the characteristics of workers for
occupations appearing in the Occupational Outlook Handbook, 1983-84
Edition and judged to be comparable.
12An occupational separation rate is the percentage of persons previously
employed in a 3-digit 1970 Census of Population occupation who are not
employed in that same occupation a year later. The occupational transfer
rate is the percentage employed in a different 3-digit occupation a year
later.
13Anne Kahl, “ Characteristics of Job Entrants in 1 9 8 0 -8 1 ,” Occupa
tional Outlook Quarterly, Spring 1983, pp. 22.
14Occupational Projections, chap. 4.
15Occupational Projections, pp. 7 0-71, provides more information about
the distinction.
16Employment change as measured by the merged
cps
data.
17Occupational Projections, chap. 4, presents projected replacement
needs for 55 occupations.
Occupational reclassification
and changes in distribution by gender
During the 1970's, the most important shift
in the distribution o f the sexes by occupation
was the larger female representation among managers;
the proportion o f specific occupations which were
male-dominated declined, but the share which
were female-intensive’ remained the same
N ancy F. Rytina and Suzanne M. B ianchi
It is well known that women are concentrated in different
occupations than men. Because this concentration plays a
crucial role in accounting for male-female earnings differ
entials, it is important to know the degree to which women
have been moving into jobs that have traditionally been held
by m en.1
The decennial censuses provide very detailed occupa
tional data and serve as the most important benchmarks for
assessing long-term changes in the distribution of the sexes
by occupation. The Current Population Survey (cps), con
ducted monthly for the Bureau of Labor Statistics by the
Bureau of the Census, also uses the Census occupational
classification system which was developed to facilitate com
parability in occupational data produced by the Federal Gov
ernment agencies. The cps is particularly useful for providing
information on year-to-year changes in occupational em
ployment in the years between decennial censuses.2
The extensive reclassification of occupations accompa
nying the 1980 census, however, complicates the analysis
of changes over time in sex composition. The Census Bu
reau’s new classification system is consistent with the 1980
Standard Occupational Classification (soc) system issued
Nancy F. Rytina is a demographer in the Office of Employment and Un
employment Statistics, Bureau of Labor Statistics. Suzanne M. Bianchi is
a demographer in the Center for Demographic Studies, Bureau of the
Census.
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by the Office of Federal Statistical Policy and Standards.3
Changes in occupational categories in previous censuses
have always posed problems for historical comparisons, but
the changes between the 1970 and 1980 censuses were more
far-reaching.4 The 1970 classification had 441 occupational
categories within 12 major groups compared with 503 cat
egories, divided among 13 major groups, in 1980. Detailed
1970 occupational codes are now split among several 1980
codes and this splitting crosses major group boundaries.5
This means that if 1970 data based on the 1970 classification
were compared with 1980 data based on the 1980 classifi
cation, it would be impossible to distinguish actual changes
in employment in a given occupation from changes resulting
from reclassification. These comparisons may be made,
however, using cps data, as that survey did not switch to
the new classification system until January 1983. However,
cps data for the 1970’s are based on the 1970 classification
system and, unless revised, will not be comparable with
data from 1983 or later.6
With regard to occupational statistics from the decennial
census, the gap between the old and new classification sys
tems can be bridged with the help of a sample of about
120,000 records from the 1970 census in which persons in
the experienced civilian labor force were assigned both a
1970 and 1980 occupational code (“ double coded” ). The
data available from this double-coded sample consist of a
11
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW March 1984 • Occupational Reclassification
cross-classification of 1970 and 1980 detailed occupational
codes disaggregated by sex only.
This article uses data from the 1970 double-coded sample
as well as published 1970 and 1980 census detailed occu
pational data by sex. We examine the effects of reclassifi
cation and actual changes in employment by sex between
1970 and 1980 using the new classification system. We
analyze the distribution of major occupational groups by
sex, the percent female in detailed occupations, and the 25
occupations employing the largest numbers of men and
women.
Data and method
From the double-coded sample of 1970 census data, we
use a matrix that shows a mapping of the male and female
labor force in each 1970 detailed occupational code into the
1980 codes. The matrix shows, for example, that the 1970
occupation of accountant (001), which is in the 1970 profes
sional and technical major group, branches out into five
1980 codes: financial managers (007); accountants and
auditors (023); other financial auditors (025); inspectors and
compliance officers, except construction (036); and book
keepers, accounting, and auditing clerks (337). This matrix
is used to reorder the published 1970 occupational distri
bution by sex into 1980 occupational categories.
The reordered 1970 data are compared with 1980 census
data to assess changes in the sex composition in major and
detailed occupations.7 By contrast, the effects of reclassi
fication are also assessed by comparing 1970 data coded to
the 1970 scheme with 1970 data coded to the 1980 scheme.
Because this analysis relies principally on a subsample
of 1970 data coded into the 1980 occupational classification
scheme, the reliability of the double-coded data is of some
concern. Errors in coding affect the quality of the data to
an unknown extent. And even though the sample of 120,000
is large, sampling variability becomes a problem when deal
ing with several hundred occupations. Our examination of
the double-coded data for completeness shows that more
than 90 percent of the 1970 and 1980 occupational codes
are represented.8
Another important consideration was the reliability of the
double-coded data when disaggregated by sex and detailed
occupations. We tested this by comparing the percent female
in the double-coded data with the percent female in each
occupation derived from published 1970 census data.9 If
the percent female deviated by less than 5 percentage points,
we regarded the double-coded data as reliable and repre
sentative of that occupation’s sex composition. In 312 of
the 1970 occupations— accounting for 87 percent of the
labor force in 1970— the percent female deviated by less
than 5 percentage points between the double-coded and pub
lished data. The reliability of the proportion of those in the
occupation who were female in the double-coded data was
lowest among those occupations employing small numbers
of men and women. When examining sex composition in
12
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detailed categories, the analysis is restricted to this subset
of 312 occupational codes in 1970 and the 457 correspond
ing codes in 1980.10
We view the findings presented below as preliminary.
Other research, relying on complex statistical techniques,
is underway to evaluate comparability between the 1970 and
1980 occupational classifications.11
Reclassification effects on major occupations
As shown in table 1, most major group categories under
went title changes between 1970 and 1980. For example,
the 1970 major occupational group “ clerical workers” co
incides most closely with the 1980 title “ administrative
support, including clerical.” However, the group known in
1970 as “ professional, technical, and kindred workers” is
split into two groups in 1980: “ professional specialty oc
cupations” and “ technicians and related support occupa
tions.” Agricultural occupations were expanded in the 1980
scheme to include related off-farm activities, such as animal
caretaking and gardening, and, to reflect this, the major
group title was changed to “ farming, forestry, and fishing
occupations.” Among service workers, “ protective service
workers” became a major group in 1980.
In the 1980 coding scheme, the “ executive, administra
tive, and managerial” major group was expanded to include
management-related occupations, such as accountants and
auditors and personnel, training, and labor relations spe
cialists, which were classified as professions in 1970. How
ever, this expansion was more than offset by the movement
of proprietors and other sales managers into the sales cat
egory and of precision production managers into the major
group, “ precision production, craft, and repair.” That is,
under the 1980 system, managers who perform some of the
same duties as the persons they supervise are classified under
the same major group as the persons they manage. Overall,
reclassification results in fewer managers under the 1980
coding scheme than under that of 1970.
Several changes affected the major groups which were
formerly referred to as blue-collar workers. Certain groups
classified as operatives in 1970, such as butchers and meatcutters, dressmakers, and dry wall installers, were moved to
the “ precision production, craft, and repair” major group
in 1980. Under the 1980 classification system, those who
set up machines for others are classified as machine oper
ators rather than craftworkers. The 1980 “ transportation and
material moving occupations” also contain several former
craft occupations. Finally, a number of operatives in 1970
were moved to the “ handlers, equipment cleaners, helpers,
and laborers” major group in 1980. Most of these transfers
came out of the large 1970 residual categories, that is, “ not
elsewhere classified.” 12
How did reclassification affect the distribution of em
ployment across major occupational groups? Distributions
of 1970 data coded into both 1970 and 1980 major groups,
shown in table 1, provide a rough indication. The first shows
the data sorted by 1970 major groups with “ professional
and technical” and “ service” workers subdivided to con
form more closely to the 1980 coding scheme. The second
shows the distribution by 1980 major groups. The differ
ences between these two columns can be viewed as a general
reflection of classification changes affecting major groups.13
The results show that the two distributions are similar
and suggest that census data for 1970 can be regrouped to
be moderately comparable with the 1980 major categories.
(The same holds true for the white-collar, blue-collar, ser
vice, and farm categories.) The regrouping of 1970 into
1980 major occupational categories obviously lacks com
plete precision. Reclassification shifted persons from man
agerial, professional, clerical, and operative major categories
into technical, sales, farming, transportation, and handler
(laborer) categories.14 However, the aggregate movements
are considerably larger than the net results and therefore the
characteristics of persons in the major occupational cate
gories have changed.
Changes in major occupational groups by sex
The percent of the experienced civilian labor force who
were women increased from 38 to 43 percent between 1970
and 1980. Still higher was the percent female among the
net additions to the work force: 57 percent of the workers
added in the 1970’s were women.
Given the increase in female workers, were there signif
icant changes in the distribution of the sexes in major cat
egories during the 1970’s? Before such a question can be
answered, the effect, if any, of reclassification on the pro
portion of women within major occupational groups must
be removed. The first two columns of table 2 show 1970
data classified into the 1970 major groups and into com
parable 1980 major groups (or proportions thereof as out
Table 1.
lined in table 1). By comparing the 1970 data under the two
coding schemes, we obtain an indication of the ways in
which the reclassification affected the female percentage in
major occupational categories.
The technical major occupational group was affected the
most by the reclassification, which increased the percent
female from 24 to 34 percent. Almost all of the 240,000
practical nurses, most of whom are women, were reclas
sified from the service group to technicians under the 1980
system. This largely accounts for the rise in the proportion
of women in the major category of technician.
The only other occupation in which reclassification changes
the female percentage by more than 2 or 3 points is among
handlers and laborers. Reclassification increases the wom
en’s proportion from 8 to 18 percent. One factor was the
movement of 92 percent of packers and wrappers— 63 per
cent of whom were women in 1970— from the operative
category to the handler (laborer) category.
By comparing 1970 data, coded into the 1980 scheme,
with 1980 data (columns 2 and 3 of table 2), actual changes
in the percent female within major groups can be examined
for the 1970’s .15 Relative to the overall increase in the
female proportion in the labor force, there was very little
change in this proportion within three of the major occu
pational groups with very high proportions of male work
ers— handlers (laborers), transportation workers, and precision
production (craft) workers. Likewise, among major groups
that are largely composed of women— administrative sup
port (clerical) and private household workers— there was
little change in the female proportion during the decade.
Increases in this percentage were slightly more substantial
than overall increases in the labor force in “ farming, for
estry, and fishing” and “ protective service” occupations,
both of which are predominantly male. In major groups in
Effects of reclassification on the distribution of employment across major occupational groups
1970 major occupational group
Total..........................................................
Managers and administrators, excluding farm(201-245)............
Part of professional and technical workers (001-076, 086-145,
174-195) ..........................................................
Part of professional and technical workers (080-085, 150-173) ....
Salesworkers (260-285)..............................................
Clerical workers (301-395) ..........................................
Private household (980-984).........................................
Part of service workers (960-965) ..................................
Part of service workers (901-954) ..................................
Farmers and farmmanagers, farmlaborers and farmforemen (801,
802 821-824) ....................................................
Craftworkers (401-575) ..............................................
Operatives, excluding transport (601-695) ...........................
Transport equipment operatives (701-715)...........................
Laborers, excluding farm(740-785) .................................
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1970 data
(1970 code)
1980 major occupational group
1970 data
(1980 code)
100.0
8.1
Total..........................................................
Executive, administrative, and managerial (003-307) ................
Professional specialty (043-199) ....................................
100.0
7.5
11.0
Technicians and related support (203-235)...........................
Sales occupations (243-285).........................................
Administrative support, including clerical (303-389).................
Private household (403-407).........................................
Protective service (413-427) .........................................
Service, excluding private household (433-469) ....................
Farming, forestry, and fishing occupations (473-499)................
2.3
10.1
16.6
1.5
1.3
9.9
3.8
Precision production, craft, and repair (503-699) ...................
Machine operators, assemblers, and inspectors (703-799) .........
Transportation and material moving occupations (803-859).........
Handlers, equipment cleaners, helpers, and laborers (863-889) ....
14.1
11.2
4.9
5.7
12.9
1.6
7.1
17.8
1.5
1.3
10.0
3.1
13.9
14.1
3.9
4.7
13
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW March 1984 • Occupational Reclassification
which the female component in 1970 hovered around the
overall female proportion in the labor force, that is, profes
sional specialties, technicians, and sales workers, increases
in female percentages were as great or slightly larger than
average. Although these major occupational groups appear
rather sex-neutral, a great degree of sex concentration exists
within detailed occupations within each major group. Nearly
one-half of female professionals are nurses or noncollege
teachers.16
The one large change for women during the decade of
the 1970’s was their increased representation among the
“ executive, administrative, and managerial” major group.
Whereas in 1970, only about 18 percent of managers were
women, a rise in the female percentage twice that for the
overall labor force occurred during the decade. By 1980,
women were still underrepresented in the managerial cat
egory by comparison with their overall representation in the
labor force but the female share among managers had risen
to 31 percent.
Women in detailed occupations
The data in table 3 provide summary evidence both of
the effects of occupational reclassification and of actual changes
in the proportion of women in detailed occupations during
the 1970’s. The table has three panels showing the distri
bution of occupations, male employment, and female em
ployment. Within each panel are three columns. The first
two distributions are calculated from the double-coded data,
restricted to the 312 occupations in which the difference in
the female share in an occupation between the double-coded
and published 1970 data does not exceed 5 percentage points.
The third comes from the published 1980 data.
For purposes of discussion, occupations were classified
as male-intensive, female-intensive, and neutral. Such cat
egories have typically been defined arbitrarily by using a
5-, 10-, or 20-percentage point spread around the female
proportion of the total work force.17 We use the conservative
20-percentage point spread to define “ male-intensive” and
Table 2. Percent of women in major occupational groups,
1970, 1980
1970 data
(1970 code)
1970 data
(1980 code)
1980 data
(1980 code)
16.7
42.3
23.8
40.0
18.5
44.3
34.4
41.3
30.5
49.1
43.8
48.7
73.6
96.8
73.2
96.3
77.1
95.3
Protective service................
Other service....................
Farming, forestry, fishing........
Precision production, including
craft...........................
Machine operators ..............
Transportation ...................
Handlers, laborers ..............
6.2
62.2
10.0
6.6
61.2
9.1
11.8
57.2
14.9
5.0
39.2
4.4
8.3
7.3
39.7
4.2
17.5
7.8
40.7
7.8
19.8
Total ....................
38.0
38.0
42.5
Major occupational group
Executive, administrative,
managerial....................
Professional speciality...........
Technicians......................
Sales ............................
Administrative support, including
clerical ........................
Private household................
14
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Table 3. Percent of women in deciles by number of
occupations, male and female employment, 1970,1980
Percent
female in
occupation
Total .........
Percent female:
0— 10
11— 20
21— 30
31— 40
41— 50
51— 60
61— 70
71— 80
81— 90
91— 100
Total employment
1970 data
(1970 code)
1970 data
(1980 code)
1980 data
(1980 code)
100.0
100.0
100.0
47.4
11.2
9.0
5.8
3.2
2.2
3.8
4.2
4.8
8.3
48.4
10.1
9.2
6.6
5.9
1.8
3.3
4.2
4.2
6.6
34.8
13.3
10.3
9.6
7.9
5.2
4.2
5.5
4.6
4.6
Male employment
Total .........
Percent female:
0— 10
11— 20
21— 30
31— 40
41— 50
51— 60
61— 70
71— 80
81— 90
91— 100
1970 data
(1970 code)
1970 data
(1980 code)
1980 data
(1980 code)
100.0
100.0
100.0
52.6
20.4
7.6
7.2
2.1
2.2
4.1
1.0
2.2
.6
55.5
19.6
8.7
4.0
4.2
.9
2.2
1.6
2.6
.6
37.0
16.2
18.4
9.1
6.4
4.6
2.0
2.9
2.6
.7
Female employment
Total .........
Percent female:
0— 10
11— 20
21— 30
31— 40
41— 50
51— 60
61— 70
71— 80
81— 90
91— 100
1970 data
(1970 code)
1970 data
(1980 code)
1980 data
(1980 code)
100.0
100.0
100.0
3.2
5.2
4.4
5.8
3.1
4.0
12.9
5.1
21.9
34.2
3.5
5.5
4.9
3.6
6.2
1.5
6.9
7.9
26.1
33.7
2.1
4.0
8.6
6.6
7.5
7.9
5.1
11.9
21.6
24.7
“ female-intensive” occupations and select 40 percent as
the base because the work force was 37 percent female in
1970, and 42 percent female in 1980. Male-intensive, or
male-dominated, occupations are those in which 20 percent
or less of the work force was female in 1980; female-intensive, or female-dominated, occupations are those in which
60 percent or more of the workers were female in 1980;
and the remaining occupations in which 21 to 59 percent
of the workers were female in 1980 are considered neutral
occupations.
As shown in columns 1 and 2 of each panel of table 3,
reclassification had little effect on the distribution of detailed
occupations grouped by their female percentage. Under the
1970 coding scheme, 59 percent of all occupations were
male-intensive, 21 percent were female-intensive, and 20
percent were neutral. The only difference exhibited by the
1980 coding scheme is a slightly higher proportion of neutral
occupations and a slightly smaller proportion of female
intensive occupations. The number of male-intensive oc-
cupations as a fraction of the total remains the same under
both schemes.
Similarly, employment shares by the female proportion
in occupations were hardly affected by the occupational
reclassification. Among women, there was no change. Us
ing either the 1970 or 1980 codes, one finds about 75 percent
of women in female-intensive occupations, 16 percent in
neutral occupations, and 9 percent in male-intensive oc
cupations in 1970. Among men, the degree of occupational
segregation is increased slightly by the 1980 coding scheme.
In shifting from the 1970 to 1980 scheme, the proportion
of men employed rises slightly in male-intensive occupa
tions, drops by the identical magnitude in neutral occupa
tions, and remains the same in female-intensive occupations.
Actual changes in the female proportion in occupations
during the decade are indicated by comparisons between
columns 2 and 3 in each panel of table 3. The degree of
sex segregation declined.18 This was brought about by a
substantial drop in the proportion of all occupations which
were male-intensive, a modest rise in neutral occupations,
and no change in the fraction of female-intensive occupa
tions. In terms of employment, the most notable change
was an increase in the proportion of both sexes employed
in neutral occupations— up by about 20 percentage points
between 1970 and 1980. For men, the shift into neutral
occupations coincided with a decline in employment in male
intensive occupations. For example, in 1970 more than half
of all men worked in occupations that had 10 percent or
fewer women; by 1980, that fraction was down to 37 per
cent. Similarly, among women, movement into neutral oc
cupations paralleled a decline in their employment in female
intensive occupations.
Table 4.
1980
Large occupational categories
Tables 4 and 5 show how the percent female changed
during the decade in the 25 largest occupations for men and
women in terms of 1980 employment. The largest occu
pations for men accounted for 42 percent of the male work
force in 1980. (See table 4.) Fifteen of these occupations
had less than 20 percent women in 1980. The female share
rose most among accountants and auditors, an increase of
13 percentage points from 25 to 38 percent between 1970
and 1980. The female proportion changed less than 5 per
centage points in 12 of the occupations, increased in seven,
and decreased in two by more than 5 percentage points.
The 25 largest occupations for women employed 57 per
cent of the female work force in 1980. (See table 5.) Eight
een of these occupations were female-intensive in 1980, and
in 15 of these the percent female changed less than 5 per
centage points from 1970 to 1980. While the percent female
increased 5 percentage points or more in six occupations,
it declined 5 percentage points or more in three others.
Seven of the occupations overlap in tables 4 and 5 and
are among the largest employers of both men and women.
One of these occupations is managers, not elsewhere class
ified. It was the largest detailed occupation for men, the
sixth largest for women, and one which grew to 27 percent
female by 1980. However, this occupation has limited utility
in making comparisons among demographic groups. It in
cludes persons in quite diverse work settings inasmuch as
it accounted for more than half of all executives, admin
istrators, and managers (as did its 1970 counterpart, man
agers and administrators, not elsewhere classified, in relation
to the major group, managers and administrators, except
Female percentage and 1970-80 change in that percent in the 25 occupations with the largest numbers of men in
1970-80 change in
female percentage
Detailed 1980 occupational title and code
Number of men
Women’s proportion in
1980
Women's proportion In
1970
Managers, n.e.c. (019).........................................
Truckdrivers, heavy (804) ......................................
Janitors and cleaners (453)....................................
Supervisors, production (633) .................................
Carpenters (567)...............................................
Supervisors, sales (243).......................................
3,824,609
1,852,443
1,631,534
1,605,489
1,275,666
1,137,045
26.9
2.3
23.4
15.0
1.6
28.2
15.3
1.5
13.1
9.9
1.1
17.0
11.6
0.8
10.3
5.1
0.5
11.2
Laborers (889) .................................................
Sales representatives (259) ....................................
Farmers (473)..................................................
Auto mechanics (505) .........................................
Machine operators (779).......................................
Assemblers (785) ..............................................
1,128,789
1,070,206
1,032,759
948,358
933,201
858,542
19.4
14.9
9.8
1.3
33.5
49.5
16.5
7.0
4.7
1.4
35.6
45.7
2.9
7.9
5.1
-0.1
-2.1
3.8
Construction laborers (869)....................................
Welders and cutters (783)......................................
Farmworkers (479) ............................................
Supervisors, n.e.c. (558) ......................................
Accountants, auditors (023)....................................
Electricians (575) ..............................................
Cooks (436)....................................................
833,937
744,585
694,666
672,477
626,558
594,781
578,320
3.2
5.9
21.7
1.8
38.2
2.0
57.2
1.9
6.2
14.9
1.2
24.6
2.0
67.2
1.3
-0.3
6.8
0.6
13.6
0.0
-10.0
Teachers, elementary (156)....................................
Managers, marketing (013) ....................................
Stock handlers, baggers (877).................................
Truckdrivers, light (805).......................................
Machinists (637)...............................................
Guards, excluding public (426).................................
n.e.c. = not elsewhere classified.
569,823
567,362
560,360
512,671
500,294
499,152
75.4
17.6
21.0
6.8
4.9
13.5
83.9
7.9
12.5
4.7
3.0
4.0
-8.5
9.7
8.5
2.1
1.9
9.5
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15
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW March 1984 • Occupational Reclassification
Table 5.
in 1980
Female percentage and 1970-80 changes in that percent in the 25 occupations with the largest number of women
Detailed 1980 occupational title and code
Number of women
Women’s proportion in
1980
Women’s proportion in
1970
Secretaries (313)...............................................
Teachers, elementary school (156) ............................
Bookkeepers (337)..............................................
Cashiers (276) .................................................
Office clerks (379)..............................................
Managers, n.e.c. (019).........................................
3,949,973
1,749,547
1,700,843
1,565,502
1,425,083
1,407,898
98.8
75.4
89.7
83.5
82.1
26.9
97.8
83.9
80.9
84.2
75.3
15.3
1.0
-8.5
8.8
-0.7
6.8
11.6
Waitresses (435)...............................................
Salesworkers (274) ............................................
Registered nurses (095) .......................................
Nursing aides (447)............................................
Sewing machine operators (744).................................
Assemblers (785) ..............................................
Cooks (436)....................................................
1,325,928
1,234,929
1,232,544
1,209,757
860,848
841,158
771,878
88.0
72.7
95.9
87.8
94.1
49.5
57.2
90.8
70.4
97.3
87.0
94.9
45.7
67.2
-2.8
2.3
-1.4
0.8
-0.8
3.8
-10.0
Typists (315) ..................................................
Child-care workers (468).......................................
Receptionists (319) ............................................
Maids and housemen (449)....................................
Janitors and cleaners (453)....................................
Hairdressers (458)..............................................
716,449
570,794
525,290
510,277
498,623
490,785
96.8
93.2
95.8
75.8
23.4
87.8
94.8
92.5
95.3
94.3
13.1
90.0
2.0
0.7
0.5
-18.5
10.3
Teachers, secondary school (157)..............................
Machine operators (779).......................................
Bank tellers (383) ..............................................
Supervisors, sales (243).......................................
Practical nurses (207) .........................................
Hand packagers (888) ...........................................................
n.e.c. = not elsewhere classified.
486,603
471,011
464,139
445,492
420,412
415,925
56.5
33.5
91.1
28.2
96.6
66.8
49.6
30.2
86.9
17.0
96.1
67.0
farm). Further disaggregation might reveal considerably more
variability in the degree of sex concentration than is shown
by this one occupational category.19
Among the other six occupations which employed large
numbers of men and women, elementary school teachers
and cooks saw declines in the proportion of women. As
semblers and machine operators changed less than 5 per
centage points, and sales supervisors and janitors and cleaners
increased 10 percentage points or more during the 1970’s.
Reclassification and change
In this article, the effect of reclassification on the sex
composition of major and detailed occupational groups was
examined. The 1980 classification system was used to assess
changes in the sex composition of occupations during the
1970’s.
The major findings were:
• Reclassification increased the female proportion in the
major groups of “ technicians and related support oc
cupations” and among “ handlers, equipment cleaners,
and laborers.” It did not alter the proportion of detailed
occupations which were either male-intensive or female
1970-80 change in
female percentage
-2.2
6.9
3.3
4.2
11.2
0.5
-0.2
intensive; nor did reclassification have much effect on
the share of the male and female labor force in sexneutral versus sex-segregated detailed occupations.
• In terms of actual changes in employment during the
1970’s, the most significant change in the distribution
of the sexes among major groups was that there were
many more female managers. The proportion of detailed
occupations which were dominated by men declined
but the share that were female-intensive remained the
same.
• Occupational segregation in employment declined dur
ing the 1970’s, largely because the proportion of both
men and women in sex-neutral occupations increased.
Men were no more apt to be employed in female-in
tensive occupations in 1980 than in 1970, but fewer of
them were in occupations which were less than 20 per
cent female. The proportion of women employed in
male-intensive occupations did not change during the
decade but there were large increases in the female share
of a few professional and managerial occupations and
the proportion of the female labor force in female-in
tensive occupations declined.
■FOOTNOTES
'Mary Corcoran, Greg J. Duncan, and Michael Ponza, “ Work Expe
rience, Job Segregation and W ages,” revised version of paper prepared
for the National Academy of Sciences Conference on Job Segregation by
Sex, May 1982; Paula England, “ The Failure of Human Capital Theory
to Explain Occupational Sex Segregation,” Journal of Human Resources,
Summer 1982, pp. 358-70; Andrea H. Beller, “ Occupation segregation
by Sex: Determinants and Changes,” Journal of Human Resources, Sum-
16
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
mer 1982, pp. 371-91; Nancy F. Rytina, “ Occupational Segregation and
earnings differences by se x ,” Monthly Labor Review, January 1981, pp.
4 9 -5 3 ; Steven D. McLaughlin, “ Occupational Sex Identification and the
Assessment of Male and Female Earnings Inequality,” American Socio
logical Review, December 1978, pp. 909-21; and Donald J. Treiman and
Heidi I. Hartmann, eds., Women, Work, and Wages: Equal Pay for Jobs
of Equal Value (Washington, National Academy Press, 1981).
2 For detailed occupational data available in published tabulations of
annual averages from the Current Population Survey ( cps ) 1972-82, see
Labor Force Statistics Derived from the Current Population Survey: A
Databook, Volume I (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 1982), table B-20; and
Employment and Earnings, January 1983, table 23. For an analysis of
1972-80 change in occupations based on cps data see Carol Boyd Leon,
“ Occupational winners and losers; who they were during 1972-80,” Monthly
Labor Review, June 1982, pp. 18-28.
3 The Office o f Federal Statistical Policy and Standards is now in the
Office o f Management and Budget and was formerly in the Department of
Commerce.
4 Social Science Research Council, “ Alternative Methods for Effecting
the Comparability of Occupation Measurement over T im e,” Report of the
Subcommittee on Comparability of Occupation Measurement to the Social
Science Research Council Advisory and Planning Committee on Social
Indicators and the Bureau of the Census, July 1983.
-‘’John A. Priebe, “ Occupational Classification in the 1980’s ,” paper
presented at the Annual'Meeting of the Southern Sociological Association,
1980. Also see U.S. Department o f Commerce, Office o f Federal Statistical
Policy and Standards, Standard Occupational Classification Manual: 1980.
Twelve principles were followed in developing the Standard Occupational
Classification, the most important of which were that the classification
system should realistically reflect the current occupational structure of the
United States, and that an occupation should be classified on the basis of
the work performed. The size of occupational categories was not a crucial
determinant; large size was not sufficient reason for separate identification
o f a group, nor did small size necessarily preclude it.
6 To aid comparability between the 1982 and 1983 Current Population
Survey ( c ps ) occupational data, 20 percent of the sample in 6 months of
1981 and 1982 were double coded into both 1970 and 1980 codes, and
revisions o f annual average data using the 1980 codes for the 1970’s are
underway. However, the double-coded cps data are not considered reliable
at the detailed level when disaggregated by sex. For further discussion of
the effect o f the new occupational classification system on the c ps , see
John E. Bregger, “ Labor force data from the cps to undergo revision in
January 1983,” Monthly Labor Review, November 1982, pp. 3 -6 ; and
Gloria Peterson Green, Khan tan Dinh, John A. Priebe, and Ronald R.
Tucker, “ Revisions in the Current Population Survey beginning in 1983,”
Employment and Earnings, February 1983, pp. 7 -1 5 .
7 A tabulation o f 503 detailed occupations by sex from the 1980 census
can be found in: Detailed Occupation and Years of Schooling Completed
by Age for the Civilian Labor Force by Sex, Race and Spanish Origin:
1980, Supplementary Report PC 80-S1-8 (Bureau of the Census, 1983),
table 1. A tabulation of the 441 detailed occupations by sex from the 1970
Census can be found in: Characteristics of the Population: U.S. Summary,
PC (1)-D (Bureau of the Census, 1973), table 221.
8 Of the 441 detailed 1970 occupational codes, 407— representing 94
percent o f the 1970 work force— appear in the double-coded data. The
1970 codes excluded from the double-coded data were mostly apprentice
occupations or three-digit allocation codes for the major occupational groups.
In the double-coding operation, persons who had been given an allocation
code in the 1970 census were reassigned a three-digit code. Reassignment
was proportional to the relative size of detailed occupations within major
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
groups. Most apprentices were assigned the code for the trade. Excluded
from the double-coded file were persons with 1970 codes of armed forces,
unemployed, or last worked in 1959 or earlier.
The 407 codes map into 495 1980 codes. The 1980 codes which did
not appear in the double-coded data represented occupations which, com
bined, employed less than 1 percent of the 1980 work force. These codes
included: chief executives and administrators, public administration; ag
ricultural engineers; physicians’ assistants; communications equipment op
erators, not elsewhere classified; marine life cultivation workers; inspectors,
agricultural products; miscellaneous precision woodworkers; and marine
engineers.
9Standard errors for the double-coded data are not available.
10The 28 1980 codes eliminated (495-457) consisted o f occupations
with very few workers because the remaining 457 codes represent 99
percent of the 1980 work force.
11 For example, experimentation is currently underway in which the use
of logistic regression to impute 1980 occupational values is compared with
the traditional double-coding method. See Social Science Research Coun
cil, “ Alternative Methods.”
We also evaluated the degree of correspondence between the 1970 and
1980 codes. Using the double-coded matrix sorted by the 495 1980 codes
and 407 1970 codes (see footnote 8), we found that the 1980 codes traced
back into one 1970 code in about one-third of the 1980 codes. The extent
of noncomparability is much less when considered in terms of employment
flows. Defining correspondence as shifts where 80 percent or more of the
workers with a given 1980 code trace back to one 1970 code, we found
this the pattern of movement for seven-tenths of the 1970 work force. In
this respect the degree of correspondence is lowest among “ executives,
administrators, and managers” and “ operators, assemblers, and inspec
tors.”
l2Priebe, “ Occupational Classification.”
13We used the double-coded data because the 1970 employment distri
butions by major groups in the double-coded and published 1970 data are
close but not identical. The differences are all less than 1 percent with the
exception of operators (2.6 percent greater in the double-coded than in the
published distribution).
14Green and others, “ Revisions in the Current Population Survey.”
15The double-coded data were used as the base to compute actual change
because the percent female among major groups generally differs by less
than 1 percent between the double-coded and published 1970 data.
16Nancy F. Rytina, “ Earnings differences between men and women: a
look at specific occupations,” Monthly Labor Review, April 1982, pp.
2 5 -3 1 .
17See for example, Carol Jusenius, “ Occupational Change, 1 9 6 7 -7 1 ,”
ch. 2 in Dual Careers: Longitudinal Study of Labor Market Experience
of Women, Volume 3 (Columbus, Ohio, Center for Human Resource Re
search, 1975); and McLaughlin, “ Occupational Sex Identification.”
18These results are consistent with an analysis based on May 1971 and
March 1981 Current Population Survey data (using the 1970 occupational
classification) by Jerry Jacobs, “ Changes in Sex Segregation in the 1970’s ”
(Cambridge, M ass., Harvard University, Department of Sociology).
19See Jacobs, “ Changes in Sex Segregation.”
17
Japan’s low unemployment:
an in-depth analysis
A BLS analysis o f Japan s labor force data
concludes, in contrast to a private study,
that Japanese unemployment rates are only
slightly understated relative toU.S. concepts
C o n s t a n c e S o r r e n t in o
Japan’s unemployment rates have long been among the low
est in the world. From 1960 through 1974, joblessness in
Japan averaged 1.3 percent and never exceeded 1.7 percent,
according to the Japanese labor force survey. Among the
major industrial countries, only Germany had a better labor
market performance. Japan’s employment situation wors
ened after the 1973 world oil crisis and, since 1975, Jap
anese unemployment has been more than 2 percent, currently
2.6 percent. By contrast, unemployment rates in most West
ern industrial nations are now 3 to 5 times as high.
These relatively low Japanese unemployment rates, even
in times of recession, suggest that the rates may be under
stated as compared with Western countries because of def
initional or conceptual differences. Some recent articles or
studies have come to this conclusion.
For example, a thoughtful article by Koji Taira in the
July 1983 Review presented a timely analysis of Japan’s
low unemployment rate. Using data from Japan’s special
March labor force surveys and U.S. definitions of unem
ployment, Taira adjusted official Japanese rates to approx
imate U.S. concepts. He concluded that the Japanese jobless
rate would be “ nearly double the official unemployment
rate” if U.S. concepts were used.1
The b l s does not agree with Taira’s conclusion. We argue
that he does not give weight to the fact that March is a very
unusual month for the Japanese labor market. March is the
Constance Sorrentino is an economist in the Division of Foreign Labor
Statistics and Trade, Bureau of Labor Statistics.
18
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
end of the fiscal year, when firms there traditionally hire
new workers, and the end of the school year, when graduates
flood the labor market.
Taira’s major adjustment to the Japanese unemployed is
the addition of March school graduates who are waiting to
start jobs within 30 days. Although he is aware that promises
of employment to graduates in Japan are almost never with
drawn, Taira proceeds to abstract from this economic and
cultural effect and treat the graduates waiting to start jobs
as if they were in the United States where employment offers
are nowhere near as firm. Moreover, normally no such large
body of persons would be waiting to begin jobs in 30 days;
hence, it is more realistic not to count them as part of the
unemployed. Taking this and some other more minor dif
ferences with Taira into account, we find that Japanese un
employment rates are only slightly understated in relation
to U.S. concepts.
Although we challenge Taira’s conclusion that Japanese
unemployment is considerably understated, we agree that
the Japanese labor market is, in many ways, unique. Insti
tutions, attitudes, and economic and social structures are
certainly different in Japan than they are in the United States.
Indeed, it is in these differences, rather than in statistical
methods and definitions, where we find the real reasons for
the low unemployment rates in Japan. These differences
tend to push Japanese labor slack into underemployment
and hidden unemployment. After a detailed analysis of Tair
a’s work, this article presents expanded unemployment rates—
incorporating several forms of labor underutilization— which
draw the Japanese rate somewhat closer to U.S. levels.
These expanded rates include several of Taira’s adjustments
according to what we believe is the more appropriate con
text.
Current
bls
method
Since the early 1960’s, the Bureau of Labor Statistics has
prepared and published adjusted unemployment rates ap
proximating U.S. concepts for major industrial countries,
including Japan.2 Table 1 shows the annual figures for 1970—
82 as reported by Japan and as adjusted by bls to approx
imate U.S. concepts.
The method of adjustment is explained in detail in a 1978
bulletin, International Comparisons of Unemployment.3 The
bulletin outlines several differences between U.S. and Jap
anese unemployment concepts, but the Bureau made no
adjustments because relevant data were not then available.
It noted that Japan’s method of computing unemployment
“ results in a slight understatement of Japanese unemploy
ment under U.S. concepts.’’4
Since that bulletin was published, data from Japan’s 1977—
1980 special March surveys have become available, making
it possible, to some extent, to quantify the differences be
tween Japanese and U.S. unemployment concepts. How
ever, the March survey results have not been incorporated
into the bls adjustment method. There are several reasons
for this. First, the data are ambiguous in many respects and,
therefore, subject to different interpretations. Second, the
fact that they are for an atypical month of the year requires
caution in their use. Third, the relevant data are available
only for the period 1977 through 1980. Special March sur
veys were conducted before 1977 and after 1980, but these
surveys used somewhat different questionnaires and the in
formation required for adjustments was not collected. And
finally, because the bls analysis of the March surveys for
1977-80 shows that the Japanese unemployment rate is, at
most, understated by only 0.1 to 0.4 percentage point, it
Table 1. Japanese unemployments rates, official and
adjusted by b l s to approximate U.S. concepts, 1970-82
[In percent]
Adjusted rates, based on
Year
1970
1971
1972
1973
1974
1975
1976
1977
1978
1979
1980
1981
1982
........................................
.......................................
........................................
........................................
.......................................
.......................................
.......................................
.......................................
.......................................
.......................................
.......................................
........................................
.......................................
N ote:
Official
rates
1.1
1.2
1.4
1.3
1.4
1.9
2.0
2.0
2.2
2.1
2.0
2.2
2.4
Total
labor
force
Civilian labor
force
1.2
1.2
1.4
1.3
1.4
1.9
2.0
2.0
2.3
2.1
2.0
2.2
2.4
1.2
1.3
1.4
1.3
1.4
1.9
2.0
2.0
2.3
2.1
2.0
2.2
2.4
Official rates are on atotal labor force basis (including Armed Forces).
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
was decided that the official Japanese unemployment figures
provided a good enough basis for international comparisons.
The following tabulation shows the official Japanese un
employment rates as published by Japan and as adjusted by
Taira and bls to approximate U.S. concepts and rates for
the United States, March 1977-80, including Armed Forces
(the data are not seasonally adjusted):
Year
1977
1978
1979
1980
..................
..................
..................
..................
Official
rates
2.4
2.6
2.5
2.2
Taira
method
method
United
States
4.2
4.7
4.5
3.8
2.8
3.0
2.7
2.3
7.8
6.5
6.0
6.5
bls
Whether the Japanese rate is 2.4 or 2.8 percent, it is still
far lower than in most of the other industrial countries.
bls makes two adjustments in the official Japanese labor
force to put it on a U.S. basis: (1) unpaid family workers5
who worked fewer than 15 hours (about 500,000) are sub
tracted because such workers are excluded from the U.S.
labor force; and (2) for comparisons of civilian unemploy
ment rates, the National Defense Force (about 240,000) is
subtracted from the Japanese labor force. These adjustments
have very little effect, raising the official unemployment rate
by only 0.1 percentage point in a few years.
U.S. and Japanese surveys compared
Until 1967, the Japanese survey closely paralleled the
U.S. Current Population Survey. That year, the cps was
revised so that more specific questions on labor force status
were asked, and a 4-week time period was specified for
jobseeking activity on the part of unemployed persons.6 No
such questions have been added to the regular Japanese
survey.
In the United States, an enumerator visits a home during
the survey week, asks a series of questions, and fills out
the survey form. In contrast, the enumerator in Japan visits
the sample household prior to the survey week and leaves
the survey form for the respondent to complete. At the end
of the survey week, the enumerator visits the household
again and collects the questionnaire, checking over the en
tries at that time.
Unemployment. The unemployed in the monthly Japanese
survey are defined as all persons 15 years of age or over
who did not work at all in the reference week and who were
seeking work or awaiting the results of previous employment
applications.
The Japanese questionnaire lists the following answers to
the question “ Was this person engaged in work at all during
the survey week?”
1.
2.
3.
4.
Engaged mainly in work
Engaged partly in work besides attending school
Engaged partly in work besides home duties, etc.
Had a job but did not work
19
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW March 1984 • Japan’s Low Unemployment
5.
6.
7.
8.
Had no job but seeking one
Attending school
Engaged in home duties
Other
Persons checking response number 5— “ had no job but
seeking one” — are classified as unemployed. This response
is defined in the survey explanatory notes: “ Refers to the
person who had no job but was actually seeking work by
answering advertisements in the newspaper, applying at the
Public Employment Security Office, etc. Also refers to the
person who is waiting for an answer to an application and
is able to take up a job immediately after he finds one.”
The Japanese definition of unemployment appears to be
more restrictive than the U.S. definition. Excluded from the
unemployed in Japan, but included in the United States,
are:
• Persons on layoff who were waiting to return to their jobs
• Temporarily ill jobseekers who were not in a condition
to begin work immediately
• Persons who were actively seeking work in the past 4
weeks, but who took no active steps in the survey week
and were not awaiting the results of a previous job ap
plication
• Persons without a job and waiting to report to a new job
within 30 days. (In the United States, there is no direct
question on this point, but those who volunteer the in
formation that they are waiting to start a new job in 30
days are classified as unemployed).
However, there are persons classified as unemployed in
Japan who would be considered “ not in the labor force”
in the United States. The Japanese definition does not require
active workseeking within the past 4 weeks for classification
as unemployed. Such active workseeking is required in the
U.S. survey, except for persons on layoff who are awaiting
recall and persons waiting to begin a new job. Because these
latter two groups are not within the Japanese concept of
unemployment, all of the reported Japanese unemployed
would be subject to the “ workseeking in the past 4 weeks”
criterion for comparability with U.S. concepts.
Labor force. There are several differences between U.S.
and Japanese concepts of the labor force. The Japanese labor
force consists of all persons age 15 and over who worked,
had a job but did not work, or were seeking work in the
reference week. As noted, Japan includes and the United
States excludes unpaid family workers who worked less than
15 hours in the survey week. The number of such persons
is regularly reported in the Japanese survey. Persons with
a paid job but not at work during the survey week are in
the U.S. labor force whether or not they receive pay for the
time off; in Japan, these workers must have received pay
to be considered in the labor force (however, we do not
adjust for this because Japanese employees normally receive
pay when absent from work).
20
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The Armed Forces are included in the U.S. definition of
the labor force, effective beginning in January 1983. The
Japanese labor force also includes military personnel. Japan
includes and the United States excludes inmates of insti
tutions in the survey universe. However, Japan classifies
nearly all inmates as not in the labor force. Again, no ad
justment is necessary. A number of unemployed persons
officially classified as “ not in the labor force” — such as
those waiting to start a new job— should also be added to
the Japanese labor force for comparability with U.S. con
cepts. However, some of the officially unemployed should
be subtracted. The special March surveys provide these data.
The special March surveys
To supplement the regular monthly labor force survey,
the Japanese conduct special surveys each March which
probe deeper into the labor force status of the population
than do the regular monthly surveys. These special surveys
provide much greater detail concerning the conditions of
unemployment and underemployment, reasons for unem
ployment, jobseeking activities, and time of last job search.
Employed persons are questioned on their desire to change
jobs, and short-time workers are asked about their desire
for more work. The special surveys also delve into the job
desires of persons classified as “ not in the labor force.”
Reference periods and definitions are identical in both the
special surveys and the regular surveys. Both are self-enu
merations. The sample size of the March surveys was half
that of the regular surveys until 1980 when the size was
increased to about seven-eights that of the regular survey.
The surveys refer to the week ending March 31.
Results of the special surveys for 1977 through 1980 can
be used to analyze the magnitude of the differences between
U.S. and Japanese unemployment concepts. However, the
results do not allow for a complete and unambiguous ad
justment of Japanese unemployment to U.S. concepts.
March: a most unusual month. March is a time of exten
sive churning in an ordinarily calm labor market. The Jap
anese fiscal year begins on April 1. New hiring of permanent
staff by Japanese firms traditionally occurs in the month or
two prior to the beginning of the fiscal year, to be effective
April 1.7 In addition, graduation from junior and senior high
schools and colleges occurs in the late February to early
March period. The new school graduates receive and accept
job offers several months before leaving school.8 This prac
tice of job prearrangement is one of the reasons Japan main
tains very low levels of youth unemployment compared with
other countries where youth often do not prearrange their
job before leaving school (when they would not be classified
as unemployed because they are not currently available for
work). With graduation generally occurring in early March,
there is a period of a few weeks when the school graduates
are waiting to begin their new jobs. This explains why the
March surveys report a very large number of persons waiting
to begin new jobs— they are mainly new school graduates.
The March figures also include other persons who have been
hired to report at the beginning of the fiscal year. In no
other month but March would a similar situation occur.
Labor turnover data by month for 1977 through 1980
show that both accessions and separations are at yearly highs
in April— the accession rate is more than 3 times as high
as the annual average; the separation rate is nearly twice as
high. (See table 2.) Clearly, April is the month in which
labor turnover peaks and March is the month when the
number of persons waiting to begin a new job is the highest.
Also, Japanese monthly unemployment rates for 1977
through 1980 show March as the high month for unem
ployment. (See table 3.) Seasonal adjustment lowers the
March figures by 0.3 to 0.4 percentage point— a larger
seasonal adjustment than for any other month.
Because of the extensive hiring which occurs in March,
the special surveys most likely record larger than usual
numbers of persons who are classified as “ not in the labor
force” but who tested the job market that month. These
persons report in the March surveys that they had looked
for work earlier in the month, although not in the survey
week (the week ending March 31), and that they are avail
able for work. Many of them become discouraged and give
up jobseeking by the time of the survey week. Because they
sought work during the month and were available for work,
they would be classified as unemployed under U.S. con
cepts. However, their numbers are probably at a seasonal
high in March. They are attracted into the labor force by
the prospect of hiring for the beginning of the fiscal year.
In other months, when hiring falls to more normal levels,
the number of such jobseekers would also fall.
Table 2. Labor turnover in Japan by month, annual
averages, 1977-80
[Per 100 employees]
Month
1977
1978
1979
1980
Acces Separ Acces Separ Acces Separ Acces Separ
sions ations sions ations sions ations sions ations
January ......... 1.0
February......... 1.2
March ........... 1.9
April ............. 5.4
1.8
1.5
1.8
3.0
1.0
1.1
1.7
5.1
1.7
1.5
1.8
3.0
.9
1.0
1.7
5.1
1.6
1.4
1.7
2.8
.9
1.3
1.8
5.7
1.7
1.4
1.8
3.1
May..............
June .............
July..............
August...........
1.4
1.2
1.1
1.0
1.7
1.4
1.4
1.5
1.3
1.1
1.1
.9
1.6
1.3
1.2
1.1
1.7
1.4
1.4
1.5
1.5
1.2
1.2
1.1
1.7
1.3
1.3
1.4
September ......
October .........
November........
December........
1.2
1.3
1.1
.9
1.5
1.5
1.2
1.3
1.1
1.2
1.1
.9
1.7
1.3
1.3
1.3
1.4
1.4
1.1
1.1
1.3
1.4
1.3
.9
1.4
1.5
1.1
1.2
1.2
1.3
1.2
.9
1.4
1.4
1.1
1.3
Annual average . . 1.6
1.6
1.5
1.6
1.6
1.6
1.6
1.6
April as percent
of annual
average ........ 338
188
340
188
319
175
356
194
N ote : Data are for establishments with 30 employees or more Inthe Industrial and
service sectors.
S ource: Japanese Ministry of Labour, Y e a rb ook o f La b o u r Statistics, 1977 through
1980 editions.
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Table 3. Original and seasonally adjusted unemployment
rates in Japan, annual averages, 1977-80
[In percent]
1977
1978
1979
1980
Season
Season
Season
Season
Orig
Origi
Origi
ally
Origi
ally
ally
ally
adjust inal adjust
nal
adjust
nal
adjust nal
ed
ed
ed
ed
Month
January ......
February......
March ........
April .........
2.2
2.3
2.4
1.9
1.9
2.0
2.0
1.9
2.4
2.5
2.6
2.2
2.1
2.2
2.2
2.2
2.3
2.2
2.5
2.2
2.1
2.0
2.1
2.2
2.1
2.0
2.2
2.1
1.9
1.9
1.9
2.0
May...........
June .........
July...........
August........
2.0
2.0
1.9
1.9
2.1
2.1
2.1
2.0
2.2
2.2
2.1
2.2
2.3
2.3
2.2
2.3
2.0
1.9
2.0
2.1
2.0
2.1
2.2
2.1
1.9
1.8
1.9
2.0
2.0
2.0
2.1
2.1
September . . .
October ......
November . . . .
December . . . .
1.9
1.8
1.9
2.1
2.0
1.9
2.0
2.1
2.2
2.1
2.1
2.1
2.4
2.2
2.2
2.2
1.9
2.0
2.0
1.9
2.0
2.1
2.1
2.0
1.9
2.0
2.1
2.1
2.0
2.1
2.2
2.2
Annual average
2.0
-
2.2
-
2.1
-
2.0
-
Source:
Prime Minister's Office, Statistics Bureau, A n n u a l
1980, p. 189.
R e p o rt on the Lab our
Fo rc e S u rve y,
It is difficult to draw conclusions from Japanese labor
force data which are available only for March. (Unfortu
nately, the special surveys have not been conducted at any
other time of the year.)9 Only inferences can be made about
what the March special surveys would show in a more
typical month or on an annual average basis. In the following
section, bls takes into account the timing of the special
surveys and makes some estimates which put the results on
a more typical basis. In several instances, however, results
are presented as “ upper limits” because relevant data are
not available on a typical basis.
Adjustment to U.S. concepts
The bls method of adjusting the special March surveys
to U.S. concepts is compared with the Taira method in table
4. There are four adjustments with regard to Japanese un
employment. The first, “ inactive jobseekers” (Taira calls
them “ non-unemployed” ), are subtracted from the Japanese
unemployed count by both bls and Taira, but the bls ad
justment is larger. The second and third, “jobseekers not
in the labor force” (termed “job search in March and cur
rently available for work” by Taira) and “ persons waiting
to begin new jobs,” are added to the unemployed under
both methods, but the bls adjustments are smaller. The
fourth adjustment, persons on temporary layoff (termed
“ layoffs, employed but closed down” by Taira) are added
to the Japanese unemployed by Taira but not by bls .
Both the bls and Taira adjustments are presented on a
“ total labor force” basis which includes the Armed Forces.
(The adjusted rates on a civilian basis are virtually the same
as the rates using the total labor force concept because the
Japanese National Defense Force is relatively small.)
Both bls and Taira exclude unpaid family workers who
worked less than 15 hours. However, the figures differ
somewhat because bls ’ s figures are based on “ actual sta21
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW March 1984 • Japan’s Low Unemployment
tus,” while Taira’s are based on “ usual status.” The “ ac
tual status” figures were used because they conform to the
U.S. concept of employment. Furthermore, they are gen
erally closer to the annual average number of unpaid family
workers working less than 15 hours than the “ usual status”
figures. The size of the labor force is also affected by how
many persons “ not in the labor force” are reclassified as
unemployed and how many unemployed are reclassified as
“ not in the labor force.” (See table 4.)
Inactive jobseekers. These are persons who are reported
as unemployed in Japan but who did not actively seek work
during the month.
In the March special surveys, unemployed persons in
Japan were asked the following question: “ When did you
last request or apply?” Accompanying this question are the
instructions “ include inquiring or demanding the result.”
There are three possible responses: (1) within this week;
(2) in March; and (3) February or earlier. Thus, it is possible
to determine the number of persons reported as unemployed
in March whose last active search for work was prior to
that month. There are a large number of such persons,
amounting to more than 40 percent of the reported number
of unemployed each March.
The explanation for the large number of inactive work
seekers in Japan is that the survey questionnaire contains
the instruction that unemployed persons may include those
Table 4.
awaiting answers to applications for employment. Thus,
persons who made their last request or application for work
over 1 month ago but are still awaiting the answer (and did
not inquire about it) may count themselves as unemployed.
According to the March special surveys, nearly 30 percent
of the “ inactive workseekers” listed their major job search
method as applying to the Public Employment Service. An
other 30 percent applied to employers or made requests with
schools or acquaintances. Taira and bls agree that these
two groups— accounting for 60 percent of the “ inactive
jobseekers” — should be excluded from the Japanese un
employment count on the grounds that they did not take
active steps to find work in March. However, Taira does
not exclude the remaining persons who responded that their
main search method was to (1) study want ads or consult
with acquaintances; (2) prepare to start a business; or (3) other.
bls disagrees with Taira’s inclusion of these remaining
groups in the unemployed. These persons neither took an
active step to find work nor checked on any previous ap
plications during the month. U.S. concepts require specific
jobseeking activity within the past 4 weeks. Studying want
ads in the newspaper is not sufficient; the actual placement
or answering of an ad is required to be counted as unem
ployed. Checking with friends or relatives is considered as
active jobseeking in the U.S. survey if such checking was
done in the past 4 weeks. Those Japanese who “ consulted
with acquaintances” should also be held to the “ past 4
Adjustments of Japanese unemployment and labor force data to approximate U.S. concepts, March 1977-80
[Numbers inthousands]
Category
Reported unemployed ...............................
Less Inactive jobseekers1 .........................
Plus jobseekers not in labor force who intended to
start work immediately2.........................
Less those not available dueto housework or
school .......................................
Plus persons waiting to begin anewjob within 1
month ...........................................
Less newschool graduates .......................
1977
1979
1978
1980
Taira
BLS
Taira
BLS
Taira
BLS
Taira
BLS
1,270
330
1,270
520
1,410
420
1,410
640
1,350
370
1,350
600
1,240
310
1,240
540
510
510
560
560
490
490
430
430
50
740
—
740
3440
_
880
—
60
880
520
_
880
—
70
880
560
100
2,290
1,510
100
1,610
140
2,570
1,630
140
1,770
140
2,490
1,490
140
1,630
Reported labor force.................................
Less family workers working less than 15
hours6 ...........................................
Less inactive jobseekers ...........................
Plus unemployed classified “not in labor
force”7 .........................................
53,430
53,430
54,240
54,240
54,770
400
330
510
520
580
420
480
640
490
370
1,250
760
1,440
860
Adjusted labor force .................................
53,950
53,160
54,680
53,980
2.4
2.4
2.8
3.0
2.6
2.6
3.0
3.3
Adjusted unemployed I ..............................
Plus layoffs4.......................................
Adjusted unemployed II ..............................
Unemployment rates:
Reported ..........................................
Adjustment I .......................................
Adjustment II (including layoffs)...................
1Tairaterms them“non-unemployed.”
20r "jobsearch in March and currently available.”
Estimated by bls based on March 1978 proportions.
40r "layoffs, employed but closed down.”
5Not available.
22
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—
—
4.24
—
—
4.70
_
740
—
2,100
80
740
550
54,770
(5)
55,370
1,240
0
(5)
55,370
480
600
760
310
570
540
1,370
740
1,170
540
55,280
54,430
55,470
54,800
2.5
2.5
2.7
3.0
2.2
3.79
(5)
2.2
2.3
(5)
—
—
4.50
&
6Talra’s data are “usual status;" bls' s data are “actual status.”
7Sumof jobseekers not Inlabor force and persons waiting to begin anewjob (bls
figures are net).
N ote: Dashes indicate no adjustment.
Source: Professor Taira's data appeared in Koji Taira, “Japan’s low unemployment:
economic miracle or statistical artifact?”, M o n th ly L a b o r R e vie w , July 1983, p. 6.
weeks” test.
Thus, the bls adjustment to exclude “ inactive work
seekers” is higher than Taira’s: 540,000 in March 1980,
compared with Taira’s 310,000.
Jobseekers not in the labor force. These are persons re
ported as “ not in the labor force” who after further ques
tioning reveal that they have sought work in the past 4 weeks
and intend to begin work immediately. The bls adjustment
for these jobseekers is smaller than Taira’s because bls
excludes persons who said they intended to begin work
immediately but who were not available during the survey
week because of housekeeping or school.
In the March special surveys, persons not in the labor
force are asked the following probing questions:
a.
b.
c.
d.
Do you wish to do any work? (Question 8)
Do you intend to take up a job immediately if you find
one? (Question 8a)
Why are you not now seeking a job despite your in
tention of taking up one? (Question 8b)
Have you been to the Public Employment Security Of
fice, applied to other organizations, or consulted with
acquaintances for a job this month? (Question 8c)
Responses to these questions show that a substantial num
ber of persons classified as “ not in the labor force” were
actively seeking work during the month and currently avail
able for work. The reason for this is the wording of the
survey questionaire. Persons who regard themselves as mainly
keeping house, going to school, or retired may check such
responses rather than “ seeking a job,” even though they
have also actively looked for work. This possibility is even
more likely if the workseeking occurred earlier in the month
rather than in the survey week, because the original question
specifies “ the survey week.”
This entire section of the special survey is ambiguous.
The ambiguities involve subtleties of translation as well as
interpretation by respondents. Among those who said they
“ intend to take up a job immediately” in answer to item b
are a number who respond that they are “ unable to take up
a job due to housekeeping or school” in answer to item c.
The apparent explanation is that these persons would like
to take up a job even though they cannot do so in the survey
week.10
For an adjustment to U.S. concepts, it appears that some
persons classified as “ not in the labor force” should be
added to the Japanese unemployment count. Taira adds all
of those who said they looked for work in the month and
intended to take it up immediately. At the least, bls believes
that those who were “ unable to take up a job due to house
work or school” should be subtracted from this adjustment
because they were not currently available during the survey
week. Hence, bls ’ s adjustment for this category is lower
than Taira’s, but even this reduced figure may be overstated.
Because March is the traditional hiring period for Japanese
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
firms, it is likely that a number of persons tested the job
market in March and withdrew the following month after
they found that there was no work available “ near home”
or “ meeting their ability,” and so forth. Thus, although
these people were unemployed under U.S. concepts in March,
they are probably not representative of the average number
of such persons over the course of the year. Some further
downward adjustment seems warranted, but none is made
in table 4 because of the lack of relevant data.
Persons waiting to begin a new job. These are persons
classified as “ not in the labor force” who, after further
questioning, say they expect to start work within 1 month.
Taira adds all of these persons to the unemployed; bls adds
only a portion of them, adjusting for the overstatement which
results from the end of Japan’s school year.
Under Taira’s adjustment, the number of persons waiting
to begin a new job accounts for 35 percent of his adjusted
unemployed. In relation to results for other countries, this
proportion is unusually high. In the United States, Canada,
and France such persons make up only about 2 to 5 percent
of the unemployed.11
In the U.S. survey, persons waiting to begin a new job
within 30 days are classified as unemployed if they are
available to begin work immediately. The reasoning behind
this is that, in many cases, the anticipated job does not
materialize, and the waiting period actually represents the
beginning or continuation of a period of unemployment.
In the regular Japanese monthly survey, no mention is
made of the labor force classification of persons waiting to
begin a new job. They are most likely enumerated as not
in the labor force.
The special surveys elicit information on such persons in
the question “ Do you wish to do any work?” which is
asked of all persons classified as not in the labor force. The
possible responses to this question are as follows:
• Yes, if there is any
• Yes, if conditions are favorable
• A job is already available
to start within one month:
after graduation in March
other
to start after one month
The March surveys record a substantial number of persons
who respond that a job was available within 1 month. The
great majority are young persons who check “ after grad
uation in March.” There is nothing in the survey to indicate
that these school graduates wanted to begin work or were
even available to begin work earlier than April 1. In general,
new graduates are not interested in beginning work any
sooner than April 1. They generally travel during their last
school vacation. Although graduation ceremonies are over,
they are formally registered as students at school until March
31. Moreover, it is highly unlikely that there would be any
23
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW March 1984 • Japan’s Low Unemployment
of these school graduates in the “ waiting to start a new
job” category during any other month of the year.
The U.S. rationale for counting such persons as unem
ployed seems inapplicable to Japan, where, as Taira points
out, job promises to school graduates are very firm, and
cancellation of such promises is rare. Data on placement
activities by Japanese employment offices indicate that in
March 1977 through March 1980, there were virtually two
job openings for every school-leaver applicant, and more
than 99 percent of them were placed in jobs.12
Thus, it appears reasonable to omit the school graduates
from the upward adjustment of the unemployed for three
reasons: (1) they are probably not 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 are waiting to start will disappear.
Of the 740,000 persons “ waiting to begin a new job
within 1 month” in March 1980, 550,000 were school grad
uates. bls has omitted the school graduates from the upward
adjustment of Japanese unemployment. This leaves 190,000
persons who were not school leavers in March who were
also waiting to begin new jobs. Such persons are probably
slightly more open to the risk of their prospective jobs being
canceled, although the risk would still be rather low. If
included in the Japanese adjusted unemployed, they make
up 15 to 20 percent of the total. As mentioned previously,
such persons typically account for only 2 percent of U.S.
unemployment.
The number of nonschool-leavers who are waiting to be
gin a new job in March is most likely inflated in terms of
an annual average because April is the traditional hiring
month in Japan, bls includes all of them in the adjustment
shown in table 4, with the reservation that they represent
an upper limit for this adjustment.
Persons on layoff. Taira makes an adjustment to include
persons on layoff in the Japanese unemployment count on
the grounds that such persons are included in the U.S. con
cept of unemployment. Persons without work and awaiting
recall to their former jobs are included in the U.S. unem
ployed, whether or not they were actively seeking work.
However, the two countries’ concepts and practices of “ lay
off” are so different that bls believes no adjustment is
warranted.13 The reason for this is the overriding difference
in job attachment. Persons awaiting recall are appropriately
counted as unemployed in the United States because they
are “ jobless” — they are no longer on the firm’s payroll,
many are actively seeking work, and most are collecting
unemployment benefits. By contrast, in Japan persons on
layoff have work contracts or otherwise strong informal
commitments from their employers and continue to receive
their pay (partly subsidized through government payments
to the firm), they do not seek other work, and they answer
surveys to the effect that they have a job.
The bls exclusion of persons on layoff from the Japanese
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
unemployed is in accord with the recommendations of the
International Labour Organization’s 1982 Conference of La
bour Statisticians.14 In its revised standard definitions of
employment and unemployment, the ilo takes into consid
eration the question of formal job attachment. Under the
ilo standards, persons on temporary layoff are classified as
employed if they have a formal job attachment (as deter
mined by receipt of wages or salary or other factors). Per
sons on layoff with no formal job attachment are classified
as unemployed.
bls recognizes that persons on layoff represent a form of
labor underutilization in all countries, whether they are
classified as employed or unemployed. To enhance inter
national comparisons of how labor markets are functioning,
it would be desirable to measure and compare total labor
slack— that is,) unemployment, workers on layoff, workers
on part time for economic reasons, and discouraged work
ers.
The special labor force surveys for March 1977 through
March 1979 provide data on the number of Japanese class
ified as “ employed, with a job but not at work” who were
on temporary layoff. The category was dropped from the
special surveys in 1980 on the grounds that it was inappli
cable to the Japanese situation. Taira adds the persons on
layoff to the Japanese unemployed count. Although bls
believes they should not be added, an alternative adjustment
(II) is constructed in table 4 which includes these persons
in the unemployed.
The outcome. The bls adjusted rates are considerably lower
than Taira’s rates.15 The largest adjustments are for 1977
and 1978, when the published Japanese jobless rates are
increased by 0.4 percentage point by bls . In 1979, the
increase is 0.2 and in 1980, 0.1. It should be emphasized
that these include “ upper limit” adjustments in two cases—
persons waiting to begin a new job and jobseekers “ not in
the labor force.” Inclusion of persons on layoff raises the
Japanese rate by another 0.2 to 0.3 percentage point.
The bls estimates are considerably below the levels es
timated by Taira even if persons on layoff are included.
This is mainly because bls has made adjustments to put the
March surveys on a more typical basis by excluding the
new school graduates who were waiting to take up their
jobs. Taira’s method has the effect of using the March
surveys as representative of the Japanese labor market over
the course of the year. Such an approach would be similar
to using unadjusted data from a seasonally high unemploy
ment month for the United States— such as June when stu
dents flood the labor market— and presenting them as our
typical labor market situation for comparison with average
annual activities in other countries.
Unemployment rate double for women
Although the overall Japanese unemployment rate is
changed only slightly in our view when the March survey
data are adjusted to U.S. concepts, there is a marked dif
ference in the adjusted unemployment rates for men and
women. The conventional Japanese data by sex show vir
tually no difference between the unemployment rates for
men and women. According to the bls method, the malefemale differential is about the same as that obtained by
Taira: the female rates are about double the male rates. The
following tabulation shows unemployment rates for men and
women, March 1977-80 (based on the civilian labor force,
excluding layoffs):
Approximating
U.S. concepts
As published
Period
1977
1978
1979
1980
...........................
..........................
...........................
..........................
Men
2.4
2.7
2.5
2.2
Women
Men
Women
2.3
2.4
2.4
2.3
2.0
2.2
1.9
1.7
4.3
4.3
4.1
3.3
Thus, 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 adjustment is 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 unem
ployed who did not actively seek work in the month of the
survey.
Why is Japanese unemployment low?
Japanese unemployment rates are very low whether U.S.
or Japanese concepts are used. The low Japanese jobless
rates reflect, in part, the fundamental differences between
the Japanese economic system and culture and those of the
industrialized Western nations. Difference in labor force
mix are also significant.
Lifetime employment system. Under Japan’s “ lifetime em
ployment system,” regular, full-time workers (mostly men)
are shielded from unemployment. During periods of eco
nomic difficulties, companies refrain as much as possible
from laying off or dismissing their regular workers. For
example, during the 1974-75 recession and the slow-growth
years of the 1980’s, hundreds of thousands of unneeded
workers were kept on company payrolls, with subsidies
provided by the government. These workers were often
moved into jobs in different plants within the same firm or
even lent to other firms.16
Japanese corporations, labor, and the government co
operate to an unusual degree. This cooperation is partly
attributable to the broad social role assumed by Japanese
corporations which provide a wide range of social services,
including housing or financial help with mortgage payments,
recreational facilities, and even wedding halls in which em
ployees are married. Labor often accedes to wage and other
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Table 5. Expanded unemployment measures for the
United States and Japan, 1980
[Numbers in thousands]
Category
United States
(1980)
Japan
(March 1980)
Unemployed
Total, U.S. standard definition ................
Full-time jobseekers ........................
Part-time jobseekers....................
Half .................................
Part-time for economic reasons ............
Reduced hours ....................
Half ..............................
Zero hours ...........................
U-6 numerator5 ...........................
Plus discouraged workers .................
U-7 numerator........................
7,637
6,269
1,369
685
4,321
4,321
2,161
9,115
994
10,109
1.240
'740
1500
250
1,920
21,790
900
4130
2,020
1,100
3,120
106,940
91,296
15,644
7,822
99,118
100,112
54,560
46,740
7,820
3,910
50,650
51,750
7.1
2.3
9.2
4.0
10.1
6.0
($)
Civilian labor force
Total, U.S. standard definition ................
Full-time labor force ...................
Part-time labor force....................
Half ...................................
U-6 denominator6 .........................
U-7 denominator7 ...........................
(percent)
U-5: U.S. standard definition ................
U-6: Total full-time jobseekers plus Vi parttime jobseekers plus V2 total on part-time
for economic reasons8as apercent of
the civilian labor force less V2 of the
part-time labor force.......................
U-7: U-6 plus discouraged workers in
numerator and denominator................
Unemployment rates
breakdown into full-time and part-time jobseekers partially estimated.
includes reported number of persons usually working part timewhowant morework
(1,530,000) plus estimated number of persons usually working full-time who were on
reduced (but not zero) hours (260,000).
included in U.S. standard definition.
4Not reported in March 1980survey. Figureshown isestimated basedon March 1979
proportion.
5AII 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.
Civilian labor force less one-half the part-time labor force.
7U-6 denominator plus discouraged workers.
Japanese workers on “zero hours” are given full weight.
concessions during economic difficulties. In this social con
text, the Japanese responses to recession can be understood.
Nonregular workers. But what happens to employees who
are not regular workers? There is a large segment of parttime, temporary, and seasonal workers— mostly women and
“ retired” older workers— who tend to bear the brunt of
downturns because they do not come under “ lifetime em
ployment.” These workers provide a degree of flexibility
for Japanese firms, allowing them to accord more permanent
status to their regular employees. As Taira points out, these
“ nonregular” workers tend to bypass unemployment status,
moving from employment to “ not in the labor force” when
the economy slackens, and then back to employment when
the economy improves. While they are out of the labor force,
they are usually supported by their families. However, many
do show up as unemployed— the jobseekers not in the labor
force in the more probing March survey.
There is indirect evidence of this “ hidden” type of em25
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW March 1984 • Japan’s Low Unemployment
ployment in Japan’s labor force data. For example, partic
ipation rates for women fell off sharply in 1974-75, but
their unemployment rates rose only slightly. In the more
recent slow growth period, however, female participation
stabilized and even moved upward, as women joined the
labor force to supplement family income (among other rea
sons). 17 This was more in line with the U.S. situation, where
women continue to flow into the labor market during reces
sions.
Labor force mix. Besides the social and cultural factors,
other elements in Japan promote low unemployment rates
vis-a-vis the United States. For instance, the higher pro
portion of workers in the agricultural sector in Japan means
that a larger segment of the Japanese labor force is practi
cally immune to unemployment. Agricultural workers may
be underemployed but they are not as subject to unemploy
ment as are industrial workers because they usually spend
some hours at work each week. Also, the higher share of
self-employed and unpaid family workers in the Japanese
labor force has a similar effect. Furthermore, the share of
youth in the labor force is much smaller in Japan than in
the United States. (In all developed countries, including
Japan, youth under the age of 25 have higher unemployment
rates than adults.) Moreover, young workers in the United
States tend to change jobs much more often than their Jap
anese counterparts, further increasing the unemployment
differential between the two countries.
An expanded unemployment concept
International comparisons of conventionally defined un
employment rates should be understood for what they mea
sure— they compare the proportion of the labor force in
each country which is without work, available for work,
and actively seeking work. As such, they measure an im
portant part of labor market health. But they do not show
the entire picture.
Is the efficiency of the Japanese labor market really 3 to
5 times better than that of the Western nations? A strict
comparison of unemployment rates would arrive at that mis
leading conclusion. However, we have noted that a sub
stantial part of Japan’s labor underutilization falls into the
realm of underemployment (workers on reduced hours,
“ temporary layoffs” ) and discouragement, or labor force
withdrawal. These forms of labor slack do not show up in
the conventional unemployment rate.
A useful international comparison to supplement com
parisons of conventionally defined unemployment could be
made if the unemployment concept were expanded to en
compass these other types of labor underutilization. In the
United States, such measures exist within the unemployment
measures designated U-i to U -7. 18 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 represent expanded concepts. U-6 incorporates persons
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
on part-time schedules for economic reasons and U-7 brings
in discouraged workers as well.
Table 5 shows a comparison of U-6 and U-7 for the United
States and Japan. Data from the March 1980 special survey
are used for Japan; annual 1980 data are shown for the
United States. The Japanese figures should be viewed as
only approximate indicators of U-6 and U-7 because they
are partly estimated. One problem is that the March survey
does not give a comprehensive count of persons on part
time for economic reasons. The survey reports that of all
persons usually working fewer than 35 hours, 1.53 million
wished to work more hours. This is a good indicator of the
number of persons on part time for economic reasons who
usually work part time. However, the number of persons
usually working full time who were on part time for eco
nomic reasons is not fully available. The number on “ zero
hours,” or with no work at all during the week is reported
in the March 1977 through 1979 surveys, but not in the
March 1980 survey. We can estimate the March 1980 figure
at 130,000, based on the March 1979 proportion. There
must be a considerable number of other normally full-time
workers on reduced hours, but they are not enumerated in
the survey. For purposes of this comparison, we have dou
bled the number on “ zero hours,” to 260,000 persons.19
In the March 1980 survey, respondents not in the labor
force who desired work and were available, but who did
not look for work during the month, were asked why they
were not seeking jobs now. Those responding “ not likely
to find work” are close to the U.S. concept of discouraged
workers. Also within this concept are the “ inactive job
seekers’’ who were excluded from the Japanese unemployed
under U.S. concepts. This group has been added to U-7.
A comparison of the U-6 and U-7 rates in relation to the
conventionally defined rates shows that the Japanese “ ex
panded concept” rates are increased to a greater degree than
the U.S. U-6 and U-7 rates. In other words, there is a con
vergence in the “ unemployment rates” for the two countries
when the definition is broadened. Under the conventional
definition, the U.S. rate is triple the Japanese rate. Ex
panding the concept to U-6, the U.S. rate is around 2.3
times the Japanese rate. Defining unemployment even more
broadly to encompass discouraged workers (U-7), the U.S.
rate falls to 1.7 times the Japanese rate similarly defined.
Miracle or artifact?
The answer to Taira’s question— is Japan’s low unem
ployment an economic miracle or a statistical artifact?— is
that it is neither. Although the Japanese definition of un
employment is somewhat more restrictive than the U.S.
definition, the regular monthly survey gives a close ap
proximation of the rate of unemployment under U.S. con
cepts. Since the monthly survey understates some groups
and overstates others, the differences tend to cancel out,
with a slight upward adjustment remaining. However, the
Japanese labor force survey is misleading when it comes to
measuring women’s unemployment. Based on the March
surveys, there is a wide differential between men’s and
women’s unemployment which is not apparent from the
regular monthly survey. But Japanese unemployment rates
are still extremely low by Western standards, both for men
and for women.
Then, are these low Japanese rates an economic miracle?
The answer here is also “ no.” Jobless rates must be un-
derstood for what they are— only partial measures of total
labor slack. Expanding the unemployment concept to in
clude other elements of labor slack— economic part-time
and discouraged workers— draws the Japanese rate closer
to U.S. levels. The explanations for the remaining differ
ential lie in such differences as the composition of the labor
force, levels of frictional unemployment, and economic
growth rates.
Q
■FOOTNOTES
1Koji Taira, “ Japan's low unemployment: economic miracle or statis
tical artifact?” Monthly Labor Review, July 1983, pp. 3 -1 0 . See also
Henry Scott Stokes, “ Jobless Rate Reaches a High for Japan,” New York
Times, March 9, 1983, p. P -9 ; Jon Woronoff, “ There is Unemployment
in Japan,” The Oriental Economist, November 1981, pp. 4 0 -4 3 . See also
W oronoff’s book Japan’s Wasted Workers (Totowa, N.J., Allenheld, Osmun and C o., 1983).
2For example, see Joyanna Moy, “ Recent labor market developments
in the U.S. and 9 other countries,” Monthly Labor Review, January 1984,
pp. 4 4 -5 1 .
3International Comparisons of Unemployment, Bulletin 1979 (Bureau
dent, which could result in some undercount of the number o f persons in
this category. Canada instituted a question on this point in 1976 and found
the number of persons reporting that they were waiting to start a new job
increased to about 5 percent of the unemployed, from around 2 percent
previously.
l2Japanese Ministry of Labour, Yearbook of Labour Statistics, 1977
through 1980 editions.
13In an earlier article, bls described in detail the international differences
in the treatment of layoffs. See Joyanna Moy and Constance Sorrentino,
“ Unemployment, labor force trends, and layoff practices in 10 countries,”
Monthly Labor Review, December 1981, pp. 8 -1 1 .
o f Labor Statistics, 1978), pp. 8 0 -8 5 .
4International Comparisons of Unemployment, p. 85.
5In the Japanese survey definition of “ family workers,” the term “ un
paid” was dropped in 1981. Now “ family workers” are defined as “ per
sons who work in an unincorporated enterprise operated by a member of
the fam ily.” Because of Japanese tax laws which allow a family business
or farm more favorable tax treatment if they report wages or salaries of
family workers, most are reported as “ paid” for tax purposes. However,
Japanese statisticians believe that there is no significant difference between
paid and unpaid family workers and no such distinction is made in the
survey statistics. The tax deductions do not necessarily mean that com
pensation was in fact paid.
6See Robert L. Stein, “ New Definitions for Employment and Unem
ployment,” Employment and Earnings, February 1967, pp. 3 -1 3 .
7Based on a communication with the U.S. Embassy in Tokyo, February
1979.
14International Labour Organization, Thirteenth International Confer
ence o f Labour Statisticians j Report of the Conference, Geneva, 18-29
October 1982.
15In a recent article, Eiji Shiraishi of the Japanese Ministry of Labor
analyzed Japanese unemployment rates on a U .S. concepts basis, using
the special March surveys of 1978 and 1980. He adjusted Japanese un
employment rates to U .S. concepts, arriving at 3.1 percent in March 1978
and 2.4 percent in March 1980. Both of these figures were just 0.1 per
centage point above the figures obtained in the foregoing bls analysis.
Like b l s , Shiraishi did not make an adjustment for layoffs because “ there
is no such practice in Japan. ” He also was in accord with the bls exclusion
of new school graduates from the adjustment for persons waiting to begin
a new job. See Eiji Shiraishi, “ International Comparison of Unemployment
Concepts,” Monthly Labour Statistics and Research Bulletin, March 1982,
pp. 13-20. (English translation available from b ls ).
16For examples of Japanese employment practices see Haruo Shimada,
8 Youth Unemployment: An International Perspective, Bulletin 2098 (Bu
reau o f Labor Statistics, September 1981), p. 24.
The Japanese Employment System, Japanese Industrial Relations Series 6
(Tokyo, the Japan Institute of Labour, 1980); T. Shirai and others, Con
temporary Industrial Relations In Japan, Japanese Industrial Relations
9 Employment Status Surveys are conducted every 2 or 3 years in Oc
tober, but they are not helpful here in that they show “ usual status” rather
than “ actual status” and they obtain no information on persons without a
job and desiring work.
Series 7 (Tokyo, the Japan Institute of Labour, 1980); Fujio John Tanaka,
“ Lifetime Employment in Japan,” Challenge, July-August 198 Land Don
Oberdorfer, “ Japanese Soft Touch on Layoffs,” The Washington Post,
March 9, 1975, p. G - l .
10Based on consultations with Japanese statisticians, the analysis of the
U .S. Embassy in Tokyo concluded that the whole series of questions noted
as items “ a” through “ d” in the text, suffers from some ambiguity with
respect to the words “ wish” and “ intend.” “ Intent” is perceived within
the overall context o f a wish. Thus, if conditions consistent with a person’s
wish arise (as to time, place, type of employment, and so forth), he or
she could respond “ I intend to take up a job immediately if I can find the
appropriate job; since I don’t see anything consistent with my wish, I am
now not seeking a job in spite of my intention.”
17 See Constance Sorrentino, “ International comparisons of labor force
participation,” Monthly Labor Review, February 1983, pp. 2 7 -2 8 .
11There is no direct question on waiting to begin a new job in 30 days
in the U .S. survey. This information must be volunteered by the respon
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
l8See Julius Shiskin, “ Employment and unemployment: the doughnut
or the h ole,” Monthly Labor Review, February 1976, pp. 3 -1 0 .
l9This is somewhat higher than a comparable ratio for the United States.
Using the 1980 U .S. ratio of persons on layoff to persons who usually
work full time but who are on reduced hours, the Japanese figure would
be estimated as 160,000 rather than the 260,000 used here. The Japanese
figure has been increased because hours reductions for economic reasons
are used more frequently in Japan than in the United States, where workers
are more likely to be laid off.
27
Helping labor and management
set up a quality-of-worklife program
A consultant reports on his role
in assisting American Telephone & Telegraph Co.
and the Communications Workers o f America
establish a quality-of-worklife program
designed to continue after divestiture
M
ic h a e l
M
accoby
EDITOR’S NOTE: D u rin g th e p a s t 3 years, the
A m erica n T elephone a n d T elegraph C o. (AT&T) a n d the
C o m m u n ica tio n s W orkers o f A m e ric a h ave c o o p e ra te d
in a q u a lity -o f-w o rk life p ro g ra m unique in sc o p e a n d in
ten sity. The p ro g ra m is b a se d on a m em oran d u m o f
a g reem en t coverin g h a lf a m illion w orkers in 21 B ell
S ystem com pan ies, including operatin g telep h o n e c o m
p a n ies, W estern E lectric, a n d B ell L a b o ra to ries. A b o u t
4 0 ,0 0 0 B ell S ystem e m p lo yees have p a r tic ip a te d in the
p ro g ra m , which su rv iv e d a 1983 strik e a n d in which the
p a r tie s agreed to con tin u e a fte r d ivestitu re o f AT&T. A
su b seq u en t su rvey in d ica ted th a t m o re than 80 p e rc e n t
o f th e e m p lo yees w o u ld volu n teer to p a rtic ip a te in the
p ro g ra m .
The M o n th ly L a b o r R ev ie w a sk e d M ich ael M a cco b y,
w ho has se rv e d as c o n su lta n t to b o th th e co m p a n y a n d
th e union, to re p o rt on th e origin a n d d e v e lo p m e n t o f
th is unusual exam ple o f labor-m an agem en t c o o p e ra
tio n . This is his first-p e rso n account.
My involvement in this project began in 1977 when the
management of American Telephone and Telegraph Co.
invited me to lecture on quality-of-worklife programs at a
corporate policy seminar. I was asked to talk about the
Bolivar project, a quality-of-worklife experiment in an auto
Michael Maccoby is Director of the Project on Technology, Work, and
Character, Washington, D.C.
28
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
parts factory in Tennessee, which was the first successful
American union-management experiment to improve the
quality of working life.1
However, most Bell System managers were not interested
in the Bolivar experiment. They wanted to hear about my
studies of managerial character.2 As company men/craftsmen, they felt threatened by the gamesmen-marketeers newly
recruited to the company, and wanted advice on how to
deal with them. However, a few recognized that the tra
ditional Bell System managerial character was too cautious
and inflexible for a fast-arriving competitive market.
Among the latter was Rex Reed, Bell System’s vice pres
ident of industrial relations. He saw the quality-of-worklife
experiment at Bolivar and at the g m assembly plant in Tarrytown, N.Y., as promising models for the Bell System.
He had surveyed Bell employees over a 5-year period and
found disturbing trends. Although satisfied with pay and
benefits and motivated to work productively, both workers
and supervisors were dissatisfied with technology and per
ceived too much supervisory control. They believed they
were mismanaged, pushed around, not listened to, and that
the spirit of service was being eroded by the drive to increase
profit.
Persuading managers
In January 1978, Reed met with Bell System regional
presidents to present new approaches to raising morale and
improving service. He cited examples from Ohio and Pacific
Northwest Bell, and asked me to describe how employee
involvement had increased both satisfaction and productivity
in other companies.
I
stressed to the Bell presidents the importance of co
operation with the union. Those present agreed they should
moderate the rigid bureaucratic system, but there was no
consensus about how to do so. Their concern at this point,
before competition and divestiture had forced a new outlook
on management, was as much humane as economic. They
mentioned their own work history, how some had started
as linesmen or clerks and had moved up with the help of
friends. “ Working for the Bell System has been more than
making a buck,” one said. “ We have the obligation to make
it a good place to work for others. Everyone should feel
important, respected, needed.”
This meeting, together with support from Charles L. Brown,
the Bell System’s new chief executive officer, reinforced
experimentation in participative management in some of the
Bell companies, but most of the experiments were without
union involvement. In fact, some middle managers reacted
with anger at the idea of cooperating with the union.
Relations between Communications Workers of America
(cwa ) and at &t had been stormy in some companies and
always complex. Strikes had caused violence and bitter feel
ings in certain areas. The processing of grievances had be
come a sizable business. Although relationships at the top,
between at&t vice president of industrial relations Rex Reed
and cwa President Glenn Watts, were cordial and respect
ful, at lower levels there was considerable distrust.
As in many American companies, management tended to
view the union as a symptom of failure to create a good
workplace. Bell System managers were proud of their
achievement— building a great company, providing effec
tive universal service, and creating new technology. In the
view of executives, management was identified with science
and productivity, while the union represented unproductive
politics. This sense of superiority seemed to divide union
and management, obscure shared values, and impede pro
ductive cooperation.
In the spring of 1978, Robert Gaynor, vice president of
Long Lines in Kansas City, began a change project with
his managers. Gaynor was a leader in shifting at&t to a
more market-oriented business. He believed this could not
be achieved by decree, that managers had to analyze the
new competitive demands together, combine knowledge,
and agree on goals. Through interviews with their peers, a
research team of managers defined problem areas, including
the need for innovative leadership; the need to maintain a
spirit of service; the need to make measurements and control
systems more flexible; and the need to improve the planning
process which, like most large companies at that time, was
mainly a matter of extrapolation.
Most managers believed change was essential, but were
concerned that at &t ’s positive values— caring about peo
ple, the spirit of service, high standards and integrity, and
technical excellence— be preserved. How to begin this pro
cess of change became the subject for task forces, and I
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
was asked to help create more open and participative man
agement, starting with Gaynor’s team. By January 1980,
we had improved management teamwork and addressed in
terdepartmental problems, but the process had not reached
the worker level and did not include the union.
cwa
becomes interested
In January 1980, Ronnie J. Straw, director of research
at cwa , asked if I was interested in studying the various
forms of union participation in management, with recom
mendation for the union on how it should approach at&t .
The cwa was interested in a range of possibilities, from
membership on the board to shop floor participation. Was
I interested?
Very much so. The cwa was an exceptionally forwardlooking union. Its members were affected by changing tech
nology and were asking the leadership to do something about
job stress. The union had a good research department and
creative leadership. I believed that a strong informed cwa
would both further the interests of its members and put
pressure on the Bell System to improve its management,
and that both union and management would benefit from
the project I was being asked to undertake.
But there was a problem: I had been an at &t consultant.
cwa President Watts would have to decide whether this
made a difference. Also, I would not take the job unless it
was approved by Rex Reed. There were two reasons for
this: first, I would be bringing knowledge of Bell System
management to the union; and second, I wanted to keep
alive the chance to work with both.
Defining quality of worklife
Q u a lity o f w o r k l i f e g r e w o u t o f th e c o l le c tiv e b a r g a in in g
p r o c e s s . It is a c o m m i t m e n t o f m a n a g e m e n t a n d u n io n
to s u p p o r t l o c a liz e d a c tiv itie s a n d e x p e r im e n ts to in
c r e a s e e m p l o y e e p a r t i c i p a t i o n in d e te r m in in g h o w to im
p r o v e w o r k . T h is p r o c e s s is g u id e d b y u n io n - m a n a g e m e n t
c o m m i t t e e s a n d f a c i l i ta t o r s , a n d r e q u ir e s e d u c a tio n a b o u t
th e g o a ls o f w o r k a n d t r a in in g in g r o u p p r o c e s s .
In th e B e ll c o m p a n y a n d a t & t , I s e e q u a lity o f w o r k lif e a s a m e a n s to m o v e f r o m th e b u r e a u c r a tic - in d u s tr ia l
m o d e l o f s c ie n tif ic m a n a g e m e n t w ith its f r a g m e n ta tio n
o f j o b s a n d h ie r a r c h ic a l c o n tr o l, to a f le x ib le , b r o a d ly
s k i l l e d , p a r ti c i p a t i v e te a m . T h is is a m o r e e f f e c tiv e w a y
o f m a n a g in g m a r k e t - d r i v e n t e c h n o s e r v ic e w o r k w h ile
p r o t e c t i n g t h e r ig h ts a n d d ig n ity o f e m p lo y e e s .
T h e n e w a u t o m a t e d w o r k p la c e r e q u ir e s d e c e n tr a liz a
ti o n , r e s p o n s i v e n e s s to c u s to m e r s , a n d a b ility o f w o r k e r s
to s o lv e p r o b le m s w h e r e th e y o c c u r w ith o u t w a itin g f o r
h ie r a r c h ic a l a p p r o v a l. Q u a lity o f w o r k lif e d e v e lo p s th e
f le x ib ility e s s e n t i a l f o r e f f e c tiv e n e s s a n d a t th e s a m e tim e
s tr e n g th e n s th e u n i o n . — m m
29
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW March 1984 • Setting Up a Quality-of-Worklife Program
Watts liked the idea that I was familiar with the Bell
System; it would save time. Furthermore, John Carroll, c w a
executive vice president, had attended the a t &t corporate
policy seminar at which I urged management to cooperate
with the union. Reed had no objections. In fact, he agreed
that a stronger, more knowledgeable union would push man
agement to improve, while a weaker, more reactive union
would be less able to understand and support change.
To develop a strategy for c w a , I proposed that Straw and
I together interview c w a leadership on its views of what
changes were needed. Previous recommendations to the union
had not been acted on, largely because those who had to
make use of the findings were not involved in the study
process. All proposals for change are a likely threat to those
who are adapted to the status quo. I wanted c w a to own
the study and the strategy, which meant that it had to par
ticipate from the start.
Straw and I, assisted by others, interviewed the union
executive board and more than 100 local officers from all
over the country. We asked a t &t for examples of partici
pative management projects, and asked the local union lead
ers for comments.
A consensus emerged: the union leaders believed that in
recent years, management had tightened to prepare for de
regulated competition; workers believed they could give
better service if there was less monitoring, both technolog
ical and supervisory.
The union noted a number of attempts to improve morale
through increased participation, but they were often short
lived. A few of the attempts tried to involve the union, and
some had become the cause of grievances, as “ participa
tion” resulted in actions considered in violation of the con
tract. (An example was one which encouraged employees
to criticize those who were less productive.)
The local presidents we interviewed did not favor partic
ipation on the board and were skeptical of joint committees
which in the past had done little. They liked the idea of a
quality-of-worklife program in offices and garages, based
on the Bolivar or Tarrytown models. In fact, the most en
thusiastic union leaders were those currently taking part in
joint initiatives of this sort.
Joint committee developed
When I reported these findings to the union executive
board in July 1980, Watts asked me to draft an article for
the contracts he was then negotiating with Reed. I recom
mended joint sponsorship of participative experiments, in
cluding a National Committee on Joint Working Conditions
and Service Quality Improvements with the following func
tion:
1. Developing and recommending principles and ob
jectives relative to working conditions and service quality
improvement which will guide experiments or projects such
as quality circles, problem-solving teams, and the like, in
30
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various work situations. These should be designed to en
courage teamwork, to make work more satisfying, and to
improve the work operation.
2. Reviewing and evaluating programs and projects
which involve improving the quality of the work environ
ment.
3. Arranging for any outside consultants which it feels
are necessary or desirable to assist it, the expenses thereof
to be shared equally by the company and the union.
The national committee first met in the fall of 1980. It
agreed on a set of principles but had trouble developing a
strategy. Some management members wanted to take a rel
atively passive role, basically supporting whatever local
companies initiated. They viewed quality-of-worklife pro
grams as a means toward healthy decentralization, and were
sensitive to playing the traditional controlling role. The union
distrusted this approach: it believed that Bell companies
interpreted quality-of-worklife projects as participative man
agement without union involvement, and union officials were
getting messages from local leaders that such programs were
causing problems. If the national committee was not to direct
the quality-of-worklife programs, c w a members wanted it
to at least control the quality of the programs and set min
imum standards. The union proposed that I be retained as
consultant to the committee. Management resisted the idea.
The debate was not so much about me as about the com
mittee’s role. When management agreed to hire me, it meant
a decision had been made to experiment with a more active
strategy. I organized a series of meetings with union leaders,
district vice presidents and their assistants, and company
counterparts, including personnel vice presidents and their
labor relations assistants. I described the quality-of-worklife
project to them, its potential benefits and risks, and the
development in skills and relationships necessary for both
management and union to make it work. I emphasized that
management had to share power, to treat the union as a
partner, and that the union had to learn more about the
business, to learn to work cooperatively, and to agree that
ongoing quality-of-worklife projects would not be held hos
tage during unrelated conflicts. Quality-of-worklife projects
should not be a substitute for collective bargaining, but a
development of bargaining into issues of mutual interest.
Union and management groups then met separately to
discuss what they wanted from quality-of-worklife projects,
and what they thought the other side wanted. Then they
shared their deliberations. There were high levels of trust
in some companies, especially in companies in which top
management invited union leaders to discuss changes and
ways of decreasing grievances. In other companies, there
was little trust or communication. Even in instances where
top leaders had created a good relationship, lower levels
might view each other warily. The fault might be in either
side or both. Managers might be insecure and inflexible,
overcontrolling, or paternalistic; union leaders might want
to make all the deals themselves, and fear giving more power
to members who might criticize them or discover they do
not need either managerial or union bosses.
We established quality-of-worklife committees in each
company, with union and management coordinators who
would communicate with the national committee. The strat
egy was to educate and train facilitators from both sides so
there would be no need to hire outside consultants. This
strategy avoided having to deal with approaches which might
distort the shared goals and principles. It strengthened in
ternal skills, gave a sense of ownership to both union and
management, and created a group of dedicated proponents.
The national committee developed a quality-of-worklife
training package, designed by cwa District 5 and Mountain
Bell. It included four modules which described quality-ofworklife, its implementation, how a group would identify
and solve problems, and how to deal with interpersonal
relations within the group. This became the basic training
required for all levels, from workers to the problem-solving
team.
The strategy announced by the national committee was
to start with voluntary leadership from both sides. The first
stage was to create successful models which could be copied
by others.
The committee planned a series of meetings to stimulate
union and management to consider quality-of-worklife proj
ects in relation to an organizational vision. The participants
were chief operating and personnel vice presidents from
each Bell company with the corresponding union vice pres
idents. Professor Richard Walton of the Harvard Business
School and I conducted the seminars, using Harvard Busi
ness School cases to describe a range of visions, from Jap
anese paternalism to European work councils. We persuaded
management that the union was not seeking control of their
decisions, and persuaded the union that management re
spected their role as representing workers’ needs for secu
rity, fair rewards, and a chance to develop skills. This was
the first time some of the operating officers had ever met
union leaders; they testified that these traditional adversaries
were responsible and intelligent about business needs, and
were potential allies in the task of making the Bell com
panies more competitive in a deregulated environment.
By the summer of 1982, the national committee had
achieved its first goals— designing a cooperative structure
and training for teams and facilitators— and were organizing
a meeting to showcase its success.
For the next stage, we invited leaders from both sides for
discussions. They concluded that good models existed, but
required initiative and involvement from management, and
only a few innovative leaders were willing to take the risk.
Support from the top was needed, including rewards for
risk-takers, and a roadmap showing how to manage the
process. To encourage support, the national committee
planned meetings with the top management of the new re
gional companies. To develop a roadmap, union and man
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
agement staff interviewed exemplary leaders, representing
levels from company president and regional vice president
to district manager and local union presidents.
Both management and union leaders believe that qualityof-worklife projects are meant to strengthen their organi
zations, and that a quality-of-worklife project requires team
work, trust, and coordinating committees that manage the
process, but not the content (which must come from the
workers). All the leaders interviewed had invested liberally
in training and used internal consultants. They stayed with
the process, holding frequent meetings, in contrast to some
managers who give their blessing and then withdraw.
Union leaders reported the quality-of-worklife projects
require them to gain new skills and knowledge. They also
commented that intra-union struggles over turf impede the
process. It is clear that quality-of-worklife projects deteri
orate unless union leadership maintains an active, informed
role.
The strike of August 1983 slowed down the momentum,
but quality-of-worklife programs emerged intact. Watts is
convinced the strike would have been longer and more vi
olent without them. Local presidents I have interviewed
agree. They say members recognized the difference between
areas which demand cooperation, and those, such as wages
and benefits, which are areas of disagreements. In one Bell
company where such projects have widespread support, the
company president talked to picketing workers and con
gratulated them for their loyalty to the union. Since the
strike, that company has made rapid strides to extend quality-of-worklife programs.
Will divestiture affect commitment?
Both union and management leaders in the divested Bell
companies have declared their commitment to quality-ofworklife projects. Internally, the union has used the process
to improve its own management at headquarters and in the
district teams. But further development depends on the will
ingness of management to work cooperatively with the union
on all factors that influence the quality of working life, and
the willingness of the union to understand the new problems
of a competitive market. Quality-of-worklife projects must
include the design of technology and the organization of
work. As management builds more efficient systems, it must
consider from the start whether such changes create good
jobs. Will workers be “ deskilled?” Will work be organized
to allow broad learning, including problem-solving skills
that are not made obsolete by change? In a monopoly that
has been able to maintain high levels of job security, how
will management deal with downturns and technological
unemployment?
The growth of quality-of-worklife projects requires a de
veloping relationship between management and union built
on mutual respect for institutional interests and values, cwa
leaders have seen that quality-of-worklife can strengthen the
union’s ability to serve all its members, not just those with
31
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW March 1984 • Setting Up a Quality-of-Worklife Program
grievances. Indeed, such projects make the union more at
tractive to educated service workers. But no union can op
erate if management threatens its existence. If the new Bell
companies pursue a strategy of cutting costs by becoming
nonunion, quality-of-worklife projects will wither. If man-
agement sees the union as a potential ally to be brought into
strategy, quality-of-worklife projects can guarantee the new
companies a highly motivated, flexible, and productive work
force.
□
■FOOTNOTES■
1In 1972, Irving Bluestone, then vice president of the United Automobile
Workers, and Sidney Harman, Bolivar chief executive officer, had asked
me to help them design and direct that project which pioneered many of
the practices subsequently used by G M , Ford, and a t & t . This included a
union-management plant-level committee and department-level teams trained
to analyze problems and to propose solutions. Bolivar went farther than
most subsequent programs in supporting general education and arts and
32
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
crafts, as well as technical training. The project was effective not only in
terms of work satisfaction, but also in union-management cooperation to
gain new business, cut costs, and achieve mutually beneficial early bar
gaining.
2 See Michael Maccoby, The Gamesman (New York, Simon & Schuster,
1976).
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 po
lemical in tone. Communications should be addressed to the Editor-inChief, Monthly Labor Review, Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department
of Labor, Washington, D.C. 20212.
Productivity growth in the
switchgear industry slows after 1973
During 1963-73, the industry experienced a period
o f high growth, but from 1973 to 1982 its rate
o f productivity increase fell sharply in response to
cyclical downturns in output, the energy crisis,
and an overall falloff in demand fo r switchgear
A rthur S. Herman and Phyllis F. Otto
Productivity, as measured by output per employee hour, in
the switchgear industry grew at an average rate of 2.0 per
cent per year between 1963 and 1982.' This gain is below
the corresponding 2.4-percent rate for all manufacturing.
Productivity growth was aided by the introduction of new
design and manufacturing technology, but moderated by the
impact of cyclical downturns in output and an overall falloff
in demand for the industry’s products beginning in 1973.
This industry manufactures such products as high capacity
switching units and circuit breakers. These are utilized by
electric utilities as part of their transmission systems and by
industry as components of control systems for much of the
manufacturing equipment being used. In addition, switchgear, generally in the form of low-voltage circuit breakers
and panelboards, is used in the construction of new build
ings. There also is a replacement market for switchgear,
mainly from electric utilities and industry, and to a lesser
extent, from building renovation.
Demand for switchgear is closely tied to changes in power
usage, particularly increases in demand for electric power,
which in turn lead to expansion of the power generating and
transmission network. New building construction requires
additional switchgear. New subdivisions are particularly im
portant sources of demand for switchgear, because they
require new switchgear installed by electric power utilities
as well as the equipment installed in individual new homes.
Arthur S. Herman and Phyllis F. Otto are economists in the Office of
Productivity and Technology, Bureau of Labor Statistics.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Demand is also tied to growth in the installation of new
capital equipment, because switchgear is installed along
with most new manufacturing, mining, and other fixed
equipment.
Output and productivity affected by energy crisis
Because of its energy-related markets, the switchgear in
dustry was particularly affected by the slowdown in demand
for electricity, which began with the oil embargo of 1973—
74. Because of sharply rising energy prices (the Consumer
Price Index for electricity almost tripled between 1972 and
1982), the growth in electric power production slowed dra
matically after 1973. Demand for electricity, which had
been growing at the very high rate of 8.0 percent per year
from 1958 to 1973 increased at less than half this rate, 3.1
percent, from 1973 to 1982. During the latter period, there
were additional factors affecting demand for switchgear—
economic slowdowns and a sharp drop in homebuilding
caused by high mortgage interest rates toward the end of
the period. As a consequence of this decrease in demand,
both output and productivity growth can be divided into two
distinct periods. (See table 1.)
A period o f high growth, 1963-73. Fueled by the contin
uing expansion of electric utility systems and growth in new
plant and equipment investment, as well as technological
changes in key products, output in the switchgear industry
grew at a rate of 6.1 percent per year, well above the all
manufacturing average over this period. The industry’s 3.533
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW March 1984 • Productivity in the Switchgear Industry
percent rate of productivity advance also was significantly
above the all-manufacturing rate of 2.6 percent per year.
Despite 2 years of productivity decline, including the reces
sion year of 1970, annual productivity gains in this period
tended to be much above those occurring in the post-1973
period. For example, productivity grew 8.6 percent in 1969,
7.1 percent in 1971, and 8.0 percent in 1972, but gains did
not exceed 5 percent in any year after 1973.
Slower growth, 1973-82. From 1973 to 1982, industry
output growth fell sharply, averaging zero. The productivity
trend paralleled the slowdown in output, increasing at the
low rate of 0.3 percent per year. The long recession of
1974-75, in association with the rapid expansion in energy
prices, resulted in two consecutive, steep declines in in
dustry output. In 1974, output decreased 7.3 percent, then
plummeted an additional 18.2 percent in 1975. In turn,
productivity recorded the largest decline over the period,
falling 4.3 percent in 1974, and dropping an additional 3.8
percent in 1975. At the end of the period, both output and
productivity posted 3 more consecutive declining years, re
flecting the energy crisis in 1979, the 1980 recession, and
the economic slowdown beginning in 1981. Output fell 5.3
percent in 1980, 6.2 percent in 1981, and an additional 10.2
percent in 1982. Productivity dropped 0.1 percent in 1980,
4.1 percent in 1981, and 1.3 percent in 1982.
Table 1. Output per employee hour and related indexes in
the switchgear industry, 1963-82
[1977 = 100]
Year
Output per hour
Employee hours
All
Produc Nonpro Output
All
Produc Nonpro
employ
tion
duction
employ
tion
duction
ees
workers workers
ees
workers workers
1963 .........
1964 .........
1965 .........
70.9
70.2
74.4
71.3
72.4
74.3
69.8
64.8
74.5
54.9
57.5
62.1
77.4
81.9
83.5
77.0
79.4
83.6
78.6
88.8
83.4
1966 .........
1967 .........
1968 .........
1969 .........
1970 .........
78.7
79.1
79.1
85.9
83.3
76.8
77.3
78.8
85.2
84.1
84.5
84.1
79.7
88.3
81.0
74.4
77.8
73.7
83.8
80.6
94.5
98.4
93.2
97.5
96.8
96.9
100.6
93.5
98.4
95.8
88.0
92.5
92.5
94.9
99.5
1971.........
1972 .........
1973 .........
1974 .........
1975 .........
89.2
96.3
101.5
97.1
93.4
90.7
97.1
100.7
96.2
99.2
85.6 83.8
94.4 94.4
103.5 108.0
99.8 100.1
80.8 81.9
93.9
98.0
106.4
103.1
87.7
92.4
97.2
107.2
104.1
82.6
97.9
100.0
104.3
100.3
101.3
1976 .........
1977 .........
1978 .........
1979 .........
1980 .........
95.3
100.0
102.4
102.7
102.6
99.1
100.0
102.6
104.2
107.1
86.5
100.0
101.8
98.9
92.2
84.9
100.0
107.0
109.8
104.0
89.1
100.0
104.5
106.9
101.4
85.7
100.0
104.3
105.4
97.1
98.1
100.0
105.1
111.0
112.8
1981.........
1982 .........
98.4
97.1
102.2
103.9
89.5
82.7
97.6
87.6
99.2
90.2
95.5
84.3
109.1
105.9
0.6
2.5
-0.8
1.5
2.4
1.0
Average annual percent change1
1963-82 ....
1963-73 ....
1973-82 __
2.0
3.5
0.3
2.3
3.5
0.8
1.4
3.6
-1.0
2.9
6.1
(2)
0.8
2.5
-0.3
1Based on the least squares trend of the logarithms of the index numbers.
2Less than 0.05 percent.
34
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Employment and hours
Employee hours in the switchgear industry grew 0.8 per
cent per year from 1963 to 1982. Changes in employee
hours reflect both changes in the number of employees and
in the average annual hours per employee. Employment
grew 1.1 percent per year while annual hours per employee
fell 0.3 percent per year.
The employment growth was similar for production work
ers and nonproduction workers, so that the proportion of
production workers to total employment remained about the
same, 70 percent, over the period measured. However, the
average hours for the two groups of workers moved at dif
ferent rates— for production workers, they fell 0.5 percent
per year while for nonproduction workers, they rose 0.1
percent per year. Therefore, the slower growth in total hours
as compared with employment can be traced to declines in
the annual hours of production workers.
In this industry, year-to-year changes in employee hours
and output tend to move in the same direction. However,
the changes in employee hours are generally not as great as
the changes in output, resulting in productivity changes. For
example, in every year that output recorded a decline, em
ployee hours fell also. With the exception of one year, the
declines in employee hours did not match the drops in out
put, and productivity recorded declines. Conversely, in ev
ery year that output grew, except one, employee hours
increased also. However, the gains in employee hours never
were as great as the increases in output, and productivity
posted gains.
This ability of the industry to adjust its employee hours
fairly rapidly to shifts in demand can be attributed to the
occupational makeup of the work force, which has a high
percentage of operatives. For example, operatives tend to
be more susceptible to layoff's, shortened workweeks, and
other staff reductions than craftworkers, who tend to be
retained when output slows because of the problem of re
placing their higher skill levels.
Occupational data exactly matching this industry are not
available. However, data on occupations are available at a
somewhat broader level of aggregation for electric trans
mission and distribution equipment, which includes trans
former as well as switchgear manufacturing.2 These aggregate
data should be representative of the switchgear industry
which is similar to the broader category in many respects.
Operatives make up a large proportion of total employ
ment in this group, accounting for 51 percent of total em
ployment in 1980, compared with 43 percent for all
manufacturing. The comparison is even more striking for
assemblers, who make up 27 percent of employment in
electric transmission and distribution, compared with only
8 percent for the all-manufacturing average. Although the
proportion of engineers in these two industries is higher than
the all-manufacturing average, craftworkers, at about 15
percent, are a somewhat smaller proportion than the 19percent average for all manufacturing.
Capital expenditures tend to be low
The level of capital expenditures in the switchgear in
dustry over the study period has been low. New capital
expenditures per employee rarely exceeded half the average
for all manufacturing industries from 1963 to 1981. While
expenditures for new plant and equipment in this industry
have grown over time, they fell off sharply after 1973 as
demand for switchgear slumped. For example, while av
erage capital expenditures per employee for all manufac
turing industries increased in every year during 1973-81,
expenditures in switchgear manufacturing posted a signifi
cant drop from 1974 to 1975. During that time, capital
expenditures per employee fell to a level less than a quarter
of the all-manufacturing average, and remained at less than
40 percent of that average through 1977. However, in recent
years, capital expenditures in the industry began to expand
somewhat more rapidly.
Industry structure dominated by large firms
Many establishments in this industry are owned by com
panies that manufacture many lines of electrical equipment.
The proportion of shipments accounted for by the four larg
est companies remained at about 50 percent from 1963 to
1977.3 Despite a recent trend to new facilities, many plants
in the industry tend to be old. In some cases, they are housed
in multistory buildings which have been refurbished by the
addition of new manufacturing equipment. While there are
a significant number of small establishments in the industry,
on the whole, plants are large. The average number of
employees per establishment in 1977 was 108, more than
double the average for all manufacturing industries. In re
cent years, a number of foreign manufacturers have formed
joint ventures with American firms or have purchased ex
isting facilities and are producing switchgear in the United
States. Plants in the industry tend to be concentrated along
the eastern seaboard and in the Midwest. However, there
are a significant number of plants located on the west coast,
and California has the largest number of establishments in
the United States.
Technology changes
Variety o f products. Technological change in the switchgear industry is affected by the diverse variety of products
manufactured. The small, simple items, such as panelboards
and low-voltage circuit breakers, can be made in long runs
and are amenable to assembly line equipment for manufac
ture. The larger units, such as transmission line circuit breakers
and power and industrial switchgear, tend to require semicustom production techniques. Generally, these units are
designed to fit specific needs and are built to order. For
example, a switchgear unit can contain such components as
gauges, relays, capacitors, fuses, transformers, and switches
all enclosed in a cabinet, which is generally made of steel
and can be as large as a room.4 Therefore, the production
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facilities for these larger units are set up to accommodate
short runs of large, heavy, complicated units requiring a
significant amount of manual assembly work.
Computer-assisted design. A key technological advance
affecting the production of most of the larger types of switchgear is computer-assisted design. A large amount of design
and engineering work is required to match the switchgear
units to the customer’s needs. Computer-assisted design cuts
design and engineering effort drastically. A contract pro
posal, including engineering drawings and circuit diagrams,
can be completed in minutes using computer-assisted de
sign, compared with weeks without it. Therefore, this tech
nique has greatly increased engineering and drafting
productivity. It also has assisted overall manufacturing op
erations by making production scheduling more flexible.5
Numerical control. An innovation that has been wide
spread in the industry for some time is numerical control
of machine tools. This technology was widely adapted be
cause of the large number of complicated parts that must
be built in order to assemble switchgear units. Many of
these parts require a large amount of machining and are
made in discrete batches adaptable to numerical control.
New plants. In recent years, a shift from old multistory
plants to new single-story facilities has been underway. This
has aided in the manufacture of larger-size units. Single
story plants result in much better workflow, cut materials
handling greatly, and provide better work layouts. The new
plants have also accelerated the impetus to install new,
modernized production equipment.
Shift to sulphur hexafluoride. A significant change in one
of the industry’s major products has aided manufacturing
techniques. Since the mid-1960’s, there has been a shift
from oil-type, air-blast circuit breakers for power transmis
sion use to units using sulphur hexafluoride as the extin
guishing medium. The new units are safer and much quieter
and because they are significantly smaller in size and weight,
they are easier to transport and install.6 For example, some
of the older, oil-based circuit breakers could be so large that
they had to be shipped one to a flatbed freight car, but the
new units are small enough to be shipped by truck. The
smaller circuit breakers are also easier to manufacture, be
cause they can be built by moving them from station to
station on an assembly line rather than having them assem
bled largely in a single location, with workers and parts
brought to them. Moreover, sulphur hexafluoride circuit
breakers are being improved. In recent years, they have
become even smaller and more modular. One plant, for
example, is producing sulphur hexafluoride puffer circuit
breakers, the capacity of which can be changed by the ad
dition of breaker modules. Based on this design, the plant
35
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW March 1984 • Productivity in the Switchgear Industry
is being completely revamped to introduce more automatic
manufacturing equipment. For the first time in this plant,
the circuit breaker modules will be built on a slowly moving
assembly line using conveyorization, rather than being as
sembled at stationary locations and moved by forklift truck
between work stations.7
Automatic computerized testing. An innovation that is be
coming more widespread in the industry is automatic com
puterized testing, which is particularly important in the
production of the large switchgear units and circuit breaker
assemblies. Because switchgear is designed for protection
or control of expensive equipment or large electric trans
mission systems, its failure could cause drastic problems.
In addition, the larger types of switchgear tend to be very
expensive. Therefore, they are extensively tested to meet
specifications and operating conditions prior to shipment.
In recent years, much of the manually operated electronic
testing equipment has been replaced by automatic comput
erized testing, significantly reducing the number of inspec
tors and testers needed.
Productivity hindered.
A factor retarding productivity is
1Average annual rates o f change are based on the linear least squares
trends o f the logarithms o f the index numbers. The switchgear industry is
designated as industry 3613 in the Standard Industrial Classification Man
ual, 1972, issued by the U.S. Office of Management and Budget. The
industry is made up o f establishments primarily engaged in manufacturing
switchgear and switchboard apparatus. A technical note describing the
indexes is available from the Office of Productivity and Technology, Bureau
o f Labor Statistics, Washington, D.C. 20212. The indexes for this industry
will be updated and included in the Bureau of Labor Statistics annual
bulletin, Productivity Measures for Selected Industries.
2“ National Industry-Occupational Employment Matrix,” 1980, Bureau
APPENDIX:
36
is unclear. In recent years,
the industry has experienced very poor demand, and, as a
result, output is currently at a level significantly below its
peak in 1973. Although demand from the construction mar
ket is expected to pick up in the next few years from its
current very low level, demand by utilities will probably
remain low. While the shift to new, more efficient manu
facturing facilities, computer-assisted design, advanced au
tomatic equipment, and easier to manufacture products
provides a basis for the industry to increase productivity,
in the near future, changes in productivity are expected to
be greatly affected by changes in demand, which are un
certain.
pi
t h e o u t l o o k fo r p r o d u c t iv it y
of Labor Statistics, unpublished.
1Concentration Ratios in Manufacturing, 1977 Census of Manufactures,
1, 1981, p. 9 -5 0 .
mc77—s r —
4Power Centers Including Type os Switchgear, Descriptive Bulletin 3 8 850 (Pittsburgh, Pa., Westinghouse Electric Corporation, 1978), pp. 15 Based on discussions with industry experts.
6U .5. Industrial Outlook, 1973 (U.S. Department of Commerce, 1973),
p. 273.
7Based on discussions with industry experts.
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 for 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 impor
tance in the index.
In the absence of physical quantity data, the output index
for the industry which produces switchgear was constructed
using a deflated value technique. The value of shipments
of the various product classes were adjusted for price changes
by appropriate Producer Price Indexes to derive real output
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the industry’s requirements for providing replacement parts
for in-service units. In many cases, these parts are built to
order, rather than kept in inventory. Currently, this is a
relatively inefficient use of manufacturing capacity because
a complicated machine tool may have to be set up to work
on just a single item. Conversely, because switchgear units
have long lives and have changed in design, it is difficult
and expensive for producing firms to keep an adequate in
ventory of replacement parts on hand.
measures. These, in turn, were combined with employee
hour weights to derive the overall output measure. These
procedures result in a final output index that is conceptually
close to the preferred output measure.
Employment and employee hour indexes were derived
from data from the Bureau of the Census. Employees and
employee hours are each considered homogeneous and ad
ditive, and thus do not reflect changes in the qualitative
aspects of labor such as skill and experience.
The indexes of output per employee hour relate total
output to one input— labor time. The indexes do not measure
the specific contribution of labor, capital, or any other single
factor. Rather, they reflect the joint effect of factors such
as changes in technology, capital investment, capacity uti
lization, plant design and layout, skill and effort of the work
force, managerial ability, and labor-management relations.
Research
Summaries
pa di
a
Response variation in the c p s :
caveats for the unemployment analyst
Ja m e s
M.
Poterba
and
Law rence
H.
Sum m ers
The Current Population Survey ( c p s ) , conducted by the
Census Bureau for the Bureau of Labor Statistics, is one of
the principal sources of data on U.S. labor markets. It has
been used in numerous investigations of unemployment,
because it provides descriptive information about the char
acteristics of jobless workers and about their unemployment
experience. Data on the duration of unemployment spells
and on the factors affecting reported unemployment spell
lengths have been subject to particularly intensive study to
determine how public policies can affect the amount of time
that workers spend in unemployment, and how the reason
for an individual’s entry into unemployment influences his
or her subsequent labor market activity.
Relatively little is known about the frequency of response
errors in c p s survey data and their implications for empirical
research. The Census Bureau’s c p s Reinterview Survey Pro
gram provides some indication of response variation by
helping to determine whether respondents answer questions
consistently within a particular survey month. However, the
Reinterview Survey does not indicate whether individuals
provide logically consistent survey responses from month
to month. The recent advent of panel data sets containing
information on survey participants for several consecutive
months makes it particularly important to determine if in
dividuals answer similar questions in similar ways in dif
ferent survey months. If reported durations of and reasons
for joblessness are logically inconsistent over time, analyses
that focus on changes in individual behavior are likely to
be flawed by spurious changes due to reporting error.
This article draws upon a potentially rich source of in
formation for evaluating survey answers, a 3-month matched
James M. Poterba is assistant professor of economics at the Massachusetts
Institute o f Technology. Lawrence H. Summers is professor of economics
at Harvard University.The National Bureau of Economic Research ( n b e r )
and the National Science Foundation provided financial support for this
research. However, the opinions expressed in this article are those of the
authors and not necessarily those of n b e r .
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a
o o
sample of respondents, to gauge the problem of response
variability in the c p s . Our analysis is divided into four parts.
The first section reviews evidence from the Reinterview
Survey on individuals’ reported labor market status. In the
second section, we examine the consistency across time of
reported unemployment durations and consider the salience
of the unemployment/not-in-the-labor-force ( n i l f ) distinc
tion. The third section presents evidence on the consistency
over time of individuals’ reported reasons for unemploy
ment. And the final section considers the implications of
our results for empirical research in labor economics, using
both the c p s and other data sets.
Unemployment status misreporting
Reporting errors are a substantial problem in the c p s . The
incidence of errors due to response and coding mistakes is
well documented by the Reinterview Surveys, during which
a subsample of the households included in each month’s
c p s are recontacted.1 These secondary interviews, which
usually occur about a week after the original survey, ask
respondents to describe their activities in the preceding week.
In some cases— those included in the “ nonreconciled”
component of the Reinterview Survey— no attempt is made
to determine which, if either, of two different responses on
the original and reinterview surveys is correct. However,
for the “ reconciled” subgroup of the Reinterview Survey,
which typically constitutes about one-third of the reinter
viewed households, the second interviewer compares the
responses from the first survey with the reinterview answers
before leaving the household, and attempts to resolve any
conflicts.2
The reconciled Reinterview Surveys permit analysis of
employment status coding errors. For May 1976, table 1
shows the fraction of individuals in each labor market cat
egory after reconciliation, by category as reported in the
initial survey. Most (99.1 percent) of the employed c p s
respondents had been correctly classified in the regular c p s ,
as had most of those who were truly out of the labor force
(99.2 percent). However, a substantial fraction of unem
ployed individuals had initially been reported in other cat
egories. Ten percent of the truly unemployed had been
classified as not in the labor force ( n i l f ) and an additional
3.6 percent had been recorded as employed. There is some
evidence that the mismeasurement problem was greater for
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW March 1984 • Research Summaries
women than for men.
The finding that some unemployed individuals are misclassified is important for studies of unemployment dynam
ics. If nearly 15 percent of unemployed individuals are
incorrectly classified in a given month, then the effect on
month-to-month transitions between labor force states must
be considered. Studies of labor market behavior based on
gross flows or panel data from the cps may be adversely
affected.3
In particular, the data in table 1 suggest that there is some
confusion between the states of “ unemployment” and “ not
in the labor force.” As we will show later, many unem
ployed persons who drop out of the labor force at some
point before again becoming unemployed report themselves
as experiencing one ongoing spell of unemployment. Ac
cording to the Reinterview Survey, only 0.25 percent of
individuals initially classified as nilf are actually unem
ployed, because many individuals in the population are gen
uinely not in the labor force and are rather unlikely to be
experiencing an unemployment spell. However, conditional
upon an individual’s having been unemployed the month
before, the measurement error rates for the nilf category
may be large— far larger than those in the table.4
Christopher Flinn and James Heckman have argued that
the states of unemployment and nilf are well-defined and
distinct.5 They draw evidence from models showing clear
differences between persons who are unemployed and those
who are not in the labor force in the probability of becoming
employed. However, this evidence is not relevant to un
derstanding whether a large fraction of those who are un
employed drift in and out of the nilf category with little or
no change in behavior. Again, the explanation of Heckman’s
and Flinn’s finding is that there are a large number of in
dividuals classified as nilf who are not casual entrants to
Table 1. Probabilities of reporting labor force status as
employed, unemployed, or n i l f in the regular c p s , by “ true”
status as determined by t he Reinterview Survey, May 1976
“True” status
Total:1
Employed .................
Unemployed................
NILF............................................
Men:2
Employed .................
Unemployed..............
NILE............................................
Women:3
Employed .................
Unemployed...........
NILF............................................
Status as reported In the regular c p s
Employed
Unemployed
NILF
.9905
.0356
.0053
.0016
.8602
.0025
.0079
.1041
.9923
.9922
.0474
.0062
.0013
.8720
.0048
0065
.0806
.9890
.9892
.0194
.0049
.0019
.8442
.0015
.0089
.1363
.9936
'Sample size = 7,079.
2Sample size = 3,329.
3Sample size = 3,750.
Source: Tables were computed from "General Labor Force Status in the cps Reinter
viewby Labor Force Status inthe Original Interview, Both Sexes, Total, After Reconcil
iation,” May 1976, Bureau of the Census (unpublished).
38
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the labor force. These persons— whether disabled, retired,
or otherwise unable or unfit to work— are conceptually dis
tinct from the unemployed, who are searching for work.
Thus, a small fraction of all nilf respondents, but a sub
stantial portion of those nilf respondents who were un
employed in the preceding month, may actually be searching
for work and ready to accept a job in a given current month.
These are the miscategorized workers on whom we focus.6
Reported spell durations
The Current Population Survey interviews individuals in
several consecutive months, and cps “ match files” contain
data on all interviews with a group of survey participants.
These data may be used to examine month-to-month changes
in individuals’ reported unemployment spell durations. Sur
vey respondents who report that they are unemployed are
asked how many weeks they have been “ without a job and
looking for work.” If individuals who are unemployed in
2 consecutive months accurately describe their labor market
experience, the reported unemployment spell duration in the
second cps monthly interview should exceed the first-month
reported duration by 4 or 5 weeks.7
We obtained data on survey participants who were un
employed in May 1976 and were interviewed again in June
1976. These data were used to compute the difference be
tween each individual’s reported unemployment spell du
rations in May and June:
DIFF = DURjune - DURMay
The measurement of d if f is complicated by several factors.
First, some survey participants who are unemployed on both
survey dates may report a much lower spell duration in the
second interview because at some point between surveys
they either found a job or stopped searching. Because there
is no way of determining whether inconsistent reports with
second-interview durations of less than 5 weeks are spu
rious, we report results which both include and exclude this
group from the calculations. Second, some respondents may
appear to make inconsistent responses because they have
been unemployed for so long that the duration values for
both months are coded “ 99.” Duration is recorded in a twodigit data field, so that spells of more than 99 weeks cannot
be reported. However, this problem did not appear to be
substantial in our data set. Only 1.7 percent of the respon
dents whose spell durations did not change from month to
month had reported “ 99” on the May survey, and a neg
ligible fraction had had May durations of between 96 and
98 weeks.
Summary statistics for d if f are displayed in table 2. The
top panel of the table shows the results of calculations which
excluded all individuals for whom DURJune was less than 5,
while the results in the lower panel include these respon
dents. Only one-third (31.8 percent) of the individuals in
the match sample reported spell durations which differed by
3 to 5 weeks between the two surveys. Nearly three-quarters
Table 2. Month-to-month differences in reported
unemployment spell durations, May-June 1976
[In percent]
Workers reporting unemployment of at
least 5 weeks in June'
Month-to-month difference in
reported spell duration
Total
Less than 0 weeks ....................
weeks ................................
to 2 weeks...........................
3to 5 weeks...........................
6 to 9 weeks...........................
10 to 15 weeks ........................
16 to 24 weeks ........................
25 weeks or more......................
0
1
14.26
7.41
9.86
31.78
15.97
7.74
4.65
8.31
Reported
May duration
greater than
20 weeks
Reported
May duration
less than 20
weeks
25.55
12.34
7.48
24.67
7.63
4.52
11.25
35.96
18.50
7.76
5.30
9.06
11.68
7.71
3.53
7.05
All workers unemployed in June,
regardless of spell duration2
Less than 0 weeks ....................
weeks ................................
1 to 2 weeks...........................
3to 5 weeks...........................
6 to 9 weeks...........................
10 to 15 weeks ........................
16 to 24 weeks ........................
25 weeks or more......................
0
19.62
9.19
12.09
27.99
13.55
6.57
3.94
7.00
29.29
11.72
7.11
23.45
11.09
7.32
3.76
6.28
14.60
7.97
14.60
30.33
14.80
6.21
4.24
7.25
'Calculations based on May 1976 cps questionnaire participants who were classified
as unemployed, who were more than 16 years of age, and who reported May unem
ployment durations of morethan 4weeks. Thesubsequent duration numbers arebased
on reported responses to the June 1976 survey. Atotal of 1,227 individuals who were
recorded as unemployed in May were reinterviewed, and found to beunemployed again
in June.
Calculations based on May 1976 cps questionnaire participants who were classified
as unemployed, and were more than 16 years of age. Atotal of 1,447 such individuals
were available on the May-June match.
spell durations. Table 3 reports estimates from regressions
of duration differences on individuals’ demographic char
acteristics and reasons for unemployment. Results for the
model without outlier adjustment were estimated using re
ported duration differences as the dependent variable. Those
for the model with outlier adjustments were based on data
for which the outlying values of DIFF were “ trimmed.”
Observations for which d if f exceed 25 weeks were replaced
with 25, and those for which d if f was less than - 5 were
replaced with —5.
Similar results obtain for both sets of data. According to
the “ trimmed” regression, the average values of the du
ration differences (regression constant + coefficient of the
independent variable) by reasons for unemployment are: job
losers, 6.24 weeks; job leavers, 5.64 weeks; workers on
layoff, 4.69 weeks; and reentrants and new entrants, 7.74
weeks. All of these values are larger than the 4.43 weeks
which actually separated the May and June surveys. There
is little evidence that demographic factors change reported
Table 3. Regression estimates of reported unemployment
spell duration differences on selected demographic
characteristics and reasons for unemployment, May-June
1976
[In weeks]
Independent variable1
Constant................................
of the respondents made inconsistent claims about their un
employment experience, and more than 20 percent reported
no increase, or a decrease, in their spell durations. Thirtyseven percent of the sample reported unemployment spell
durations in June which exceeded their May durations by
more than 5 weeks, and many reported much longer spells;
more than 10 percent of our sample reported that the length
of their unemployment spells had increased by more than
4 months.
Workers who have experienced long spells of unemploy
ment are particularly unreliable in reporting spell durations.
We discovered this by dividing the sample into two groups.
Individuals in the first group had reported being unemployed
for at least 20 weeks in May, while those in the second
group had been unemployed for fewer than 20 weeks. The
duration-difference calculations for these subgroups are also
shown in table 2. Twelve percent of the long-spell individ
uals reported the same duration in both months. Only 25
percent added between 3 and 5 weeks to their initial reported
spell lengths, and more than one-quarter of the first re
spondent group claimed shorter spell durations in June than
in May. These findings indicate substantial variation in the
reported unemployment durations of survey participants ex
periencing ongoing unemployment spells.
Regression models can be used to determine those factors
which are related to substantial aberrations in the reported
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Sex and age:
Men:
Age 16 to 19......................
Age 20 to 24......................
Age 25 to 59......................
Age 60 and over .................
Women:
Age 16 to 19......................
Age 20 to 24......................
Age 60 and over .................
Race (nonwhite = 1) .................
-¡Reason for unemployment:
Job loser............................
Job leaver ...........................
Layoff................................
R2 ......................................
Number of observations................
Without outlier
adjustment2
With outlier
adjustment2
9.12
(1 .6 6 )
7.74
( -81)
-.18
(1 .8 6 )
-1.28
(1.67)
.68
(1.37)
1.57
(2.75)
-.83
( -91)
-.43
( -82)
.38
( 67)
.53
(1.34)
-7.29
(2.64)
-.31
(2.13)
-2.90
(3.50)
-2.93
(128)
.40
(1.04)
-1.39
(1.71)
-1.62
(161)
( -78)
-2.18
(1-18)
-4.47
(1.62)
-4.51
(1.54)
-1.50
( .58)
- 2.10
( -78)
-3.05
( 75)
.022
1,227
.22
.022
1,227
'The dependent variable in the equation was ouR june - durMay- As indicated in text
footnote 8 , the specification of the equation also included control variables for the
respondents’ rotation group inthe cps . Thesevariables never proved statistically signif
icant,and are not reported here.
Estimateswithoutlier adjustmentsarebasedon‘‘trimmed” data; that is, observations
for which reported differences exceeded 25 weeks were replaced with ”25,” and those
for which differences were less than -5 were replaced with “ -5.”
N ote ; Standard error of the estimate indicated in parentheses.
39
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW March 1984 • Research Summaries
duration differences, the one exception being teenage women,
who appear to systematically underreport their duration in
crement. The reason for unemployment is a strong predictor
of duration differences. Workers who were on layoff re
ported differences which were up to 2 weeks less than those
for other unemployed individuals, while reentrants and new
entrants have the greatest tendency to overstate duration
differences.8
Beyond being interested in the average bias in reporting
increments to the unemployment duration, we might be
concerned about the absolute size of reporting errors. To
address this issue, table 4 reports the results of four regres
sion specifications explaining the absolute value of (DURJune
— (D U R May + 4)). We analyze the absolute value of (DiFF4) to prevent positive and negative errors in the duration
increment from cancelling each other, as they would if we
studied only the average duration increment.
The reported cause of unemployment affects the error in
reported durations in a significant and important way. Job
losers are about 2.5 weeks more accurate than the “ control”
group of reentrants and new entrants. Job leavers are 2
weeks more accurate than the controls, on average, and
persons on layoff have still smaller response errors. For
individuals on layoff, errors are on average between 3 and
6 weeks less than the control, and as many as 3 weeks less
than those of either losers or leavers. The salary that the
individual earned at his last job also has a statistically sig
nificant but economically small impact. A $10-per-week rise
in wages reduces an individual’s predicted inconsistency by
about one-tenth of a week.9
The most important finding is that the duration of the
Table 4.
unemployment spell affects the consistency of the individ
ual’s responses. An additional month of unemployment in
creases the absolute value of the difference between the
reported duration difference and “ truth” (4.43 weeks) by
about 5 days. However, the effect of duration is more com
plicated than this simple model suggests. We included three
linear segments in specification III to capture the possibly
different duration effects of short and long spells. These
linear segments are designed to allow the marginal effect
of longer duration to differ as duration changes. The three
variables we used, and their values for some representative
initial durations, are shown below:
Value o f variable if
V ariable
DURMay = 6
DURMay = 1 6
DURM ay.......................
DURMay - 12
if DURMay>
DURMay - 2 4
if DURMay>
DUR Ma, = 2 6
16
26
12 . . ..................0
4
14
24 . . ..................0
0
2
To compute the effect of spell duration on absolute error,
using the regression coefficients reported in column III of
table 4, we evaluated each of these duration variables and
multiplied them by their respective coefficients. For an in
dividual who had been unemployed for 30 weeks in May,
the calculation yields an absolute error contribution of:
.17(30) — .18(30—12) + .18(30 —24) = 2.94 weeks
This value, and the duration-related “ errors” for other
spell lengths, are presented below.
Regression estimates of the magnitude of spell duration reporting error on selected characteristics, May-June 1976
[In weeks]
Without outlier
adjustment2
Independent
variable
Model specification
1
Constant ..............................
Race (nonwhite = 1)...................
Reason for unemployment:
Job loser ............................
Job leaver.........................
Layoff ...........................
Spell duration reported in May (D U R May)
DURmay-1 2 , if DURmay >
.........................
II
7.77
(1.71)
2.42
(1.35)
10.61
(2.03)
2.80
(1.47)
-2.63
(1 .0 2 )
-3.20
(1.38)
-6.71
(1.32)
-3.27
(1 0 0 )
-3.19
(136)
-6.57
(1.30)
.13
( 02)
-3.10
(1 .0 1 )
-3.17
(139)
-6.35
(1.31)
.17
( 15)
-.18
( 25)
.18
( 14)
-3.35
(1.08)
-3.68
(1.41)
-6.72
(141)
.19
( -15)
-.2 2
( -25)
.19
( 14)
-.13
(.004)
.071
1,098
DURmay-24, if DURmay >24.......................................
—
—
—
—
.028
1,227
.065
1,227
Hourly earnings...........................
1The dependent variable in the equations was the absolute value of
(DURjune - DURMay ~ 4). All equations also included demographic
variables and rotation group dummies, as in table 3.
40
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Model specification
IV
7.81
(147)
2.44
(1.35)
—
R2 ......................................
Number of observations ...................
III
10.84
(1.43)
2.57
(1.38)
.......................................
1 2
With outlier
adjustment2
.066
1,227
1
6.80
( 62)
.32
( 59)
-1.52
( 44)
-2.17
( 60)
-3.46
( 57)
II
5.10
( -75)
.31
( 59)
- 1.66
( 44)
-2.17
( 60)
-3.43
( -57)
.027
(.008)
-1.80
( 45)
-2.18
( 60)
-3.46
( 58)
.19
( 06)
-.2 1
( .1 1 )
.03
( 06)
.035
1,227
.043
1,227
2Seefootnote 2, table 3.
Note:
III
6.17
( 64)
.29
( 59)
Standard error of the estimate indicated in parentheses.
.049
1,227
IV
6 42
( 91)
56
( 66)
-1 93
( 48)
-2.39
( 62)
-3 46
( 62)
19
( 07)
-2 1
( 11)
.14
( 06)
-.007
(.0 0 2 )
.060
1,098
0
6
12
20
30
50
Contribution of
Duration ( D U R M a y)
DURM ax t o \d i f f -4\
weeks ...........................................................
0
weeks ........................................................... 1.02
weeks ........................................................... 2.04
weeks ........................................................... 1.96
weeks ........................................................... 2.94
weeks ...................................
Additional weeks of unemployment spell duration are
particularly poorly reflected in responses of individuals who
have been unemployed for very long periods. For spells
which had lasted more than a year, the predicted absolute
value of the response error was over 6 weeks.
Further evidence on the reported spell durations of “ new
entrants” to unemployment can be obtained by studying the
individuals who were categorized as employed or nilf in
May and who became unemployed in June. Of those ex
periencing employment-to-unemployment transitions, 76
percent reported June spell durations of not more than 4
weeks. About 8 percent of this newly unemployed group,
however, reported durations of more than 25 weeks after
not more than 4 weeks of unemployment. Findings for the
NiLF-to-unemployment transitors were similar. Seventy-one
percent reported spells of less than 5 weeks, but 7 percent
reported very long spells (more than 25 weeks). This latter
category may include individuals who were misclassified as
nilf in May.
Distinguishing unemployment from
nilf
A third, but closely related, problem of response error
concerns the reported unemployment spell durations of in
dividuals making labor market transitions. Forty-four per
cent of unemployment spells end when jobseekers choose
to leave the labor force.10 However, there are frequent tran
sitions between the states of unemployment (u) and not in
the labor force. Of the individuals who were unemployed
in May 1976 and for whom three consecutive CPS ques
tionnaires were available, 3 percent were reported as nilf
in June and unemployed again in July. By comparison, 21
percent of the May unemployed sample were reported as
unemployed for 3 consecutive months.
An individual who leaves the labor force is technically
considered to have completed his spell of unemployment.
If, at some later date, he chooses to reenter the pool of the
unemployed to search for work, he begins a second un
employment spell. If survey respondents adhered to this
convention, individuals who were out of the labor force in
June would not report July spell durations which exceeded
4 weeks. As the lower panel of table 5 demonstrates, how
ever, only 26 percent of the u-nilf -u survey respondents
considered themselves to have begun new spells. One-third
of the U-NILF-U group reported lower spell durations in the
second survey, but this is not appreciably different from the
fraction of shorter spells discovered in the 1-month match
reported in table 2. However, it would also be incorrect to
characterize the data as suggesting that time out of the labor
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Table 5. Unemployment spell durations reported by
transitors from unemployment to not in the labor force and
back to unemployment, M ay-July 1976
Item
All u-nilf-utransitors1
Number of
Percent of
respondents
total
6.34 Difference in reported spell durations,
May-June
Total ...........................
81
Less than 0 weeks ....................
0 w
eeks ................................
1 to 6 weeks...........................
7to 9 weeks...........................
10 to 15 weeks ........................
More than 15 weeks ...................
28
10
20
7
9
7
100.0
34.6
12.3
24.7
8.6
11.1
8.6
Reported duration in July
Total ...........................
1to 4 weeks...........................
5to 12 weeks .........................
13 to 24 weeks ........................
25 to 48 weeks ........................
49 weeks or more......................
81
21
31
12
10
100.0
25.9
38.3
14.8
12.3
7
8.6
Transitors reporting durations of at
least 5weeks in July
Difference in reported spell durations,
May-June
Total ...........................
60
Less than 0 weeks ....................
0 w
eeks ................................
1 to 6 weeks...........................
7 to 9 weeks...........................
10 to 15 weeks ........................
Morethan 15 weeks ...................
15
6
16
7
9
7
100.0
25.0
10.0
26.7
11.7
15.0
11.7
1All calculations based on the May-June-July 1976 cps match file. A total of 81
Individuals were classified as unemployed (u) in May, not in the labor force (nilf) In
June, and were "unemployed” again on the July questionnaire. The reported statistics
are based ontheseindividuals' responses in May andJulyto questions about the length
of their present unemployment spell.
force is treated by respondents as the equivalent of time
spent unemployed. Fewer than 30 percent of the group added
a full 8 weeks to their reported May unemployment spell
duration. And among those individuals who did not report
spells of less than 5 weeks in July, the share of responses
for which DURJulv — DURMav is between 7 and 9 weeks is
only 12 percent.
The fact that about two-thirds of the unemployed indi
viduals who are classified as experiencing u -nilf -u transi
tions appear to view themselves as in the midst of an ongoing
unemployment spell implies that there is a substantial amount
of “ hidden unemployment” in the U.S. economy and that,
for many u nilf -u transitors, the state of “ not in the labor
force” is functionally equivalent to unemployment. This
emphasizes the ambiguity of current measures of labor mar
ket status, and helps to explain the strongly procyclical
behavior of labor force participation.
Reasons for unemployment
The cps match files also afford an opportunity to make
intermonth comparisons of respondents’ stated reasons for
entering unemployment. Using the May-June 1976 match
41
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW March 1984 • Research Summaries
Table 6. Reason for unemployment reported in June by
reason reported in May, 1976
Reason reported in June1
(percent of May respondents)2
Reason reported in May
Job loser ..............
Job leaver..............
Layoff .................
Newentrant............
Reentrant ..............
Job
loser
Job
leaver
Layoff
82.1
25.1
30.6
5.2
56.6
1.9
1.7
63.6
.6
17.5
1.8
9.5
6.0
.6
.9
New
entrant
0.7
1.7
0.0
79.9
6.2
Reentrant
6.3
14.8
4.3
17.2
66.0
'Reported unemployment InJune by reason was: job loser, 44.5 percent; job leaver,
11.3percent; layoff, 11.8percent; newentrant, 10.9percent; andreentrant, 21.5percent.
Calculations were performed using the 1,497 records on the May-June 1976 CPS
match tape for which the respondent was unemployed In both May and June. The
calculations show, for example, that thepercentageof Mayjob losers whoalso reported
themselves as job losers in June was 82.1 percent.
file, we cross-tabulated respondents’ May “ reasons” with
their June “ reasons.” " Table 6 shows that only about 70
percent of the respondents cited the same reason for un
employment in both May and June. The correlation between
the two responses is lowest for those originally reported as
job leavers; only 56 percent of the May job leavers reported
themselves as leavers again in June. Of those who changed
classification, 58 percent moved to the category of job loser
and 34 percent became reentrants. The groups with the
highest intermonth correlations were job losers and new
entrants; roughly 80 percent of the May respondents in these
groups provided similar responses in the June survey. The
largest intercategory movement was from layoff to job loser:
Thirty percent of those reported to be on temporary or per
manent layoff in May reported themselves as job losers in
June. There also appears to be a surprisingly large amount
of movement between the categories of reentrant and job
loser.
The large incidence of reported changes from the layoff
to the job loser category is of particular significance. Al
though the economic importance of temporary layoff un
employment has been proclaimed by several analysts, the
evidence here suggests that its significance may well have
been overstated. A natural interpretation of the frequent
changes in the responses of persons initially on layoff is
that, at some point, these individuals realize that they cannot
return to their original employers. If this interpretation is
correct, it implies that the reported amount of unemployment
attributable to layoffs in May substantially overstated the
proportion of the unemployed who would ultimately be able
to return to their original employers.
Conclusions
Our findings call into question some of the individual
responses to fundamental parts of the monthly cps ques
tionnaire. They buttress the evidence from Reinterview Sur
veys which suggests that misreporting or misrecording takes
place. While information of the type presented here cannot
be used to evaluate the bias in cps responses, it does imply
42
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that measures of behavioral change may be overstated be
cause of response error.
Our analysis also sheds light more generally on the prob
lem of response error in survey research. For a number of
reasons, the cps is likely to generate more accurate and
consistent responses than other sample surveys. For ex
ample, the cps questions ask only about recent behavior,
rather than behavior over the course of a year or a longer
interval. More safeguards are used to ensure reliability than
in most other studies of labor market behavior. And, to a
greater extent, cps questions probe objective behavior rather
than subjective intent. Our focus on the cps was motivated
solely by its widespread use by researchers and policymak
ers, and by the availability of data necessary for consistency
checks.
We believe that our findings suggesting the need for cau
tion in performing statistical analysis of these data are ap
plicable to other surveys of labor market behavior, although
more research on this question would be valuable. Espe
cially when investigations focus on period-to-period changes,
errors in variables problems are likely to be serious. Un
fortunately, most of the methods currently used to examine
aspects of dynamic labor supply behavior are not at all robust
with respect to errors in variables. Future research should
examine more thoroughly the causes of misreporting and
alternative techniques for developing consistent data. In the
meantime, statistical techniques for adjusting data, and for
constructing estimates in the presence of errors in variables,
should be improved.
□
---------- FOOTNOTES---------a c k n o w l e d g m e n t : The authors wish to thank Francis Horvath o f the
Bureau of Labor Statistics for comments on an earlier draft of this article.
'S ee Dorcas W. Graham, “ Estimation, Interpretation, and Use of Re
sponse Error Measurements” (Washington, U .S. Department o f Com
merce, 1974); Henry Woltman and Irv Schreiner, “ Possible Effects of
Response Variance on the Gross Changes Data,” Memo, Bureau o f the
Census, May 11, 1979; and The Current Population Survey Reinterview
Program: January 1961 through December 1966, Technical Paper 19
(Washington, U.S. Bureau of the Census, 1968).
2This procedure fails to detect those individuals who report consistent,
but incorrect, responses in both months.
3See J. M. Poterba and L. H. Summers, “ Spurious Transitions and
the Gross Flows Data,” mimeo, 1983, for a discussion of methods for
adjusting b l s gross flows data based on estimated response error proba
bilities.
4See J. M. Poterba and L. H. Summers, “ A Multinomial Logit Model
with Errors in Classification,” mimeo, 1983, for a description of analytical
procedures for studying labor market transitions when some responses are
measured with error.
■Christopher J. Flinn and James J. Heckman, Are Unemployment and
Out-of-the-Labor Force Behaviorally Distinct States? Working Paper 979
(Cambridge, M ass., National Bureau of Economic Research, 1982).
6
After completing this paper, we became aware of closely related
research by Norman Bowers and Francis Horvath. See “ Keeping Time: An
Analysis of Errors in the Measurement of Unemployment Duration,” un
published.
7
Between the May and June Surveys which are the focus of our work,
4.43 weeks elapsed.
8 We also experimented by adding the individuals’ reported May du-
ration to the regression models. This had a substantial negative effect on
the reported duration difference. However, it is difficult to determine whether
this is genuinely the result of the longer-duration unemployed responding
with smaller differences. An alternative explanation is that the finding is
purely a statistical artifact. Conditional on a high reported May duration,
the difference between the June and May durations is likely to be less than
if the value o f DURMtiy is low. This means that in a regression model for
diff, durMiiv will have a negative coefficient. This hypothesis also predicts
that, by similar reasoning, DURJum, should have a positive coefficient. Some
support for this view was provided when we substituted DURj,ni<, for DURM<iy
and observed a significant positive coefficient. Therefore, because the
results appear spurious, we have not reported equations which include
duration variables.
yOur equations also include control variables for the respondents’
rotation groups in the C P S . Rotation Group 1 indicates individuals who
participated in the survey in May, June, July, and August; Rotation Group
II denotes those who participated only in May, June, and July. The omitted
dummy variable is for those who participated only in the May and June
surveys. These variables, not reported in the tables, never proved statis
tically significant.
“’This was calculated as;
Prob(transition from unemployment to
nilf)______
Prob(transition from unemployment to employment or
nilf)
For further discussion of labor market dynamics in this framework, see
Kim B. Clark and Lawrence H. Summers, “ Labor Market Dynamics and
Unemployment; A Reconsideration,” Brookings Papers on Economic Ac
tivity, Vol. I, 1979, pp. 13-60.
"Job losers and leavers were categorized on the basis of the “ why
did . . . start looking for work?” question. Workers who explained that
they were on permanent or temporary layoff in response to the question
“ why was . . . absent from work last week?” were classified as on layoff.
New entrants were those nonleavers and nonlosers who claimed either that
(i) they had never worked at all, or (ii) they had never worked full time
for more than 2 consecutive weeks. Any workers who did not fall into
any of these four categories were classified as reentrants.
BLS’ 1982 survey
of work-related deaths
Ja n e t M
acon
The number of work-related deaths in private sector estab
lishments with 11 employees or more was 4,090 in 1982,
compared with 4,370 in 1981.1 The corresponding fatality
rate was 7.4 deaths per 100,000 full-time workers in 1982,
and 7.6 in 1981. (See table 1.)
Employers participating in the Bureau of Labor Statistics’
Annual Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses were
asked to supply specific information about deaths caused by
hazards in the work environment, that is, the object or event
most closely associated with the circumstances of the fa
tality. Estimates of the percentage of fatalities by cause
represent the average for the 1981 and 1982 surveys. Per
centages were calculated for the 2 years combined because
large sampling errors at the industry division level preclude
precise comparisons based on year-to-year changes.
The 4,090 fatalities in 1982 represent all reported deaths
Janet Macon is a statistician in the Office of Occupational Safety and Health
Statistics, Bureau of Labor Statistics.
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resulting from a job-related injury or illness in 1982, re
gardless of the time between the injury or onset of illness
and death. About 340 of these fatalities were related to
illness.
Among industry divisions, fatality rates ranged from 44.3
per 100,000 full-time workers in mining industries to 2.5
in finance, insurance, and real estate industries. Between
1981 and 1982, rates decreased in 5 of the 8 industry di
visions, and increased by more than 15 percent in agricul
ture, forestry, and fishing; transportation and public utilities;
and services.
Transportation and public utilities industries reported the
largest number of fatalities. The percentage of total fatalities
increased in three of the industry divisions, decreased in
three, and remained unchanged in two. Although the number
of fatalities decreased in construction and mining, the per
centage of the total remained unchanged.
Analysis by cause
More than half of all fatalities were caused by over-theroad motor vehicles, falls, heart attacks, or industrial ve
hicles or equipment. (See table 2.) About 1 of every 4
fatalities involved over-the-road motor vehicles. Falls, heart
attacks, and industrial vehicles combined contributed 32
percent of total fatalities; falls, 12 percent; heart attacks, 10
percent; and industrial vehicles or equipment, 10 percent.
Over-the-road motor vehicles were the major cause of
death in 5 of the 8 industry divisions. About 1 of every 3
of these fatalities occurred in transportation and public util
ities industries, which had only 7 percent of total employ
ment. (See table 3.)
Twelve percent of all fatalities involved falls. The con
struction and manufacturing industries together accounted
for about 2 of every 3 falls.
About 10 percent of all fatalities were due to heart attacks.
Heart attacks occurred at a slightly higher frequency in
construction and transportation and public utilities, based
on employment percentages.
Industrial vehicles or equipment were involved in 10 per
cent of all fatalities. More than half of these cases occurred
in construction and manufacturing industries. Another 14
percent occurred in oil and gas extraction, which accounts
for only 1 percent of total employment.
The “ all other” category accounted for 3 percent of total
fatalities. This category includes, for example, contact with
radiation or toxic substances, drowning, train accidents, and
death from various occupational illnesses.
Analysis by industry
Industrial vehicles or
equipment were involved in 27 percent of the fatalities,
while over-the-road motor vehicles contributed 18 percent
of the cases. Electrocution accounted for 16 percent and
falls, 12 percent.
A g r ic u ltu r e , f o r e s tr y , a n d fis h in g .
43
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW March 1984 •
or more b y ^ n d u s ™ ^
R e s e a r c h S u m m a rie s
and MlneSS fatalities’ and fatality incidence rates for employers with 11 employees
Employment1
Industry division
Number
(thousands)
Private sector
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing . .
Mining.............................
Construction......................
Manufacturing....................
Transportation and public utilities .
Wholesale and retail trade........
Finance, insurance, and real estate
Services...........................
Fatalities
1981
62,895
698
1,054
2,990
19,504
4,685
15,472
4,180
14,312
1982
Percent
100
1
2
5
31
7
25
7
23
Number
(thousands)
62,629
729
1,070
2,898
18,267
4,629
15,603
4,252
15,181
State Employment and Earnings Survey. Annual average employment for the agriculture,
forestry, andfishingdivisionisacompositeof employment datafor agricultural production
(sic 01 and 02) fromthe Annual Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses and em
ployment data for agricultural services (sic 07); forestry (sic 08); and fishing, hunting,
and trapping (sic 09) from State unemployment insurance programs. Employment esti
matesfor nonagricultural industrieshavebeenadjustedbasedonCountyBusinessPatterns
to exclude establishments with fewer than 1 1 employees. Adjustments were made to
agricultural industriesbasedondataprovidedbytheAnnual Surveyof Occupational Injuries
and Illnesses.
Accidents involving
over-the-road motor vehicles and industrial vehicles or
equipment were the cause of death in nearly half of the
cases. Falls and employees being struck by objects other
than vehicles or equipment each accounted for 9 percent of
all cases.
M in in g , o il a n d g a s e x tr a c tio n o n ly .
Falls from elevation or the same level con
tinued to be the major cause of death, accounting for nearly
1 of every 3 cases. Over-the-road motor vehicles and in
dustrial vehicles or equipment combined contributed an ad
C o n s tr u c tio n .
Fatality Incidence rate2
1981
Percent
Number
1982
Percent
4,370
130
500
800
990
750
730
100
1
2
5
29
7
25
7
24
Number
4,090
180
440
720
770
970
490
100
3
11
18
23
17
17
3
120
350
Percent
1982
7.6
7.4
28.4
44.3
28.7
4.5
21.9
3.8
2.5
3.5
100
4
11
18
19
24
12
100
2
420
8
1981
10
21.2
46.6
29.2
5.3
16.5
5.6
3.1
3.0
and were calculated as
(N /E H ) x
200,000,000,
w h e r e n is t h e n u m b e r o f f a t a l it i e s ; e h is t h e t o t a l h o u r s w o r k e d b y a ll e m p lo y e e s d u r
in g c a le n d a r y e a r ; a n d 2 0 0 , 0 0 0 , 0 0 0 is t h e b a s e f o r 1 0 0 , 0 0 0 f u l l - t i m e e q u i v a l e n t w o r k
e rs ( w o rk in g
h o u rs p e r w e e k,
w e e k s p e r y e a r).
40
Note:
50
Because of rounding, components may not add to totals.
ditional one-third of the cases. Electrocutions caused 11
percent of the fatalities.
Fatalities resulting from over-the-road motor
vehicles, falls, heart attacks, and plant machinery operations
combined were the cause of death in 50 percent of the cases;
20 percent were due to over-the-road motor vehicles. Falls,
heart attacks, and plant machinery operations each contrib
uted 10 percent of the total for the industry.
M an u factu rin g.
T r a n s p o r ta tio n a n d p u b lic u tilitie s.
As in previous years,
Table 2. Distribution of occupational fatalities in establishments in the private sector with 11 employees or more, by cause,
1981-82 average
[In percent]
Cause1
Total,
all
industries2
Agriculture,
forestry,
and fishing
Mining,
oil and gas
extraction
only
Construction
Manufactur
ing
Transporta
tion and
public
utilities3
Wholesale
and retail
trade
Finance,
insurance,
and
real estate
Services
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
12
12
10
6
Total, all causes ................
Over-the-road motor vehicles................
Falls ..............................
Heart attacks ......................
Industrial vehicles or equipment..............
Nonaccidental injuries.................
Struck by objects other than vehicles or
equipment............................
Electrocutions............................
Caught in, under, or between objects other
than vehicles or equipment..............
Aircraft crashes ........................
Fires................................
Plant machinery operations ..............
Explosions
........................
Gas inhalations ........................
All other ..............................
27
18
7
27
3
6
6
16
10
6
4
3
3
1
1
26
O I
8
44
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8
17
21
\
9
4
3
2
1
2
o
•)
3
4
3
6
9
6
3
20
5
12
2
4
30
5
8
11
4
2
2
52
10
2
8
2
20
)
(4 \
1Cause is defined as the object or event associated with the fatality.
railroads for which data are not
aDe'
Excludes railroads.
'aNahipdeS C°3 ’ meta 3nd nonmeta mmm9. an(J
15
3
5
12
6
1
5
3
9
8
6
1
6
2
r )
35
9
23
29
10
8
16
9
15
0
5
17
7
7
0
2
1
2
0
1
0
(4)
4
2
1
0
1
4
1
1
0
1
3
4
2
3
3
(4)
«Less than 1percent.
Note: It is impossible to estimate year-to-year changes precisely because at the industry division level sampling errors are large. Therefore, the results are for both years
ra^er than acomparison between them. Because of rounding, percentages may not add
2
10
< )
Table 3. Distribution of occupational fatalities in establishments in the private sector with 11 employees or more, by
Industry, 1981-82 average
[In percent]
Cause1
Total2
100
Fails
.................................
Agriculture,
forestry,
and fishing
3
4
3
Mining,
oil and gas
extraction
only
6
100
12
4
5
14
100
(4)
10
100
12
100
100
Struck by objects other than vehicles or
100
2
100
2
Caught in, under, or between objects other
All other ......................................
100
1
100
12
100
1
100
0
100
2
100
6
4
(4)
9
4
15
2
5
9
5
Cause is defined as the object or event associated with thefatality.
Excludes coal, metal and nonmetal mining, and railroads for which data are not
available.
Excludes railroads.
1
more than half of the cases were attributable to accidents
involving over-the-road motor vehicles. Employees caught
in, under, or between objects other than vehicles or equip
ment were the cause of 9 percent of the cases.
Wholesale and retail trade. Nearly 1 of every 3 fatalities
were nonaccidental cases where an employee was inten
tionally killed on the job. The majority of these cases in
volved gunshot injuries. Twenty percent of the fatalities
were caused by to over-the-road motor vehicle accidents.
Three of every four
cases were attributable to over-the-road motor vehicles, heart
attacks, or employees caught in, under, or between objects
other than vehicles or equipment.
F in a n c e , in s u r a n c e , a n d r e a l e s ta te .
Services. The major cause of death was over-the-road mo
tor vehicles, 29 percent of the cases. Heart attacks and
nonaccidental injuries accounted for another 31 percent of
the cases.
Background of survey
The Annual Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses
is a Federal-State Program in which reports are received
and processed by State agencies participating with bls . The
fatality data are based on the records which employers main
tain under the Occupational Safety and Heath Act of 1970.
The survey covers units in private industries. Excluded from
coverage under the act are working conditions which are
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Construction
Manufactur
ing
Transporta
tion and
public
utilities3
10
18
37
47
16
32
20
24
23
33
16
34
(4)
21
6
22
12
8
11
14
10
18
6
21
46
78
47
48
33
8
11
5
8
18
5
32
30
14
2
20
14
13
Wholesale
and retail
trade
Finance,
Insurance,
and
real estate
Services
11
4
11
6
18
6
31
3
63
2
7
0
0
0
6
3
5
20
8
16
9
3
8
20
19
9
3
1
2
7
2
0
8
0
12
0
(4)
6
5
1
8
16
4Less than 1percent.
N ote: It is impossible to estimate year-to-year changes precisely because at the in
dustry division level sampling errors are large. Therefore, the results are for both years
rather than acomparison betweenthem. Because of rounding, percentages may not add
to 1 0 0 .
covered by other Federal safety and health laws, the selfemployed, farmers with fewer than 11 employees, private
households, and employees in Federal, State, and local gov
ernment agencies. In a separate reporting system, agencies
of the Federal Government file reports comparable with
those of private industry with the Secretary of Labor.
The 1982 survey, to which response was mandatory, in
volved a sample of 280,000 units with 11 or more employ
ees. Estimates based on a sample may differ from figures
that would have been obtained if a complete census of es
tablishments had been possible using the same schedules
and procedures. Relative standard errors are calculated for
estimates generated from the Annual Survey of Occupa
tional Injuries and Illnesses and are available.
□
---------- FOOTNOTE---------'Since 1977, the fatality data have been published only for units with
11 employees or more because the reductions of the survey samples affected
primarily employers with fewer than 11 employees. The reductions were
in response to presidential directives on reducing the paperwork burden of
employers selected to participate in statistical surveys. Data for occupa
tional fatalities in coal, metal, and nonmetal mining and railroads were
provided by the Mine Safety and Health Administration of the U.S. De
partment of Labor and by the Federal Railroad Administration of the U.S.
Department of Transportation; however, data were not provided on the
objects or events which resulted in on-the-job deaths for these industrial
activities.
For an account of the 1981 survey, see Janet Macon. “ Number of
occupational deaths remained essentially unchanged in 1981,” Monthly
Labor Review, May 1983, pp 4 2 -4 4 .
45
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW March 1984 • Research Summaries
More U.S. workers
are college graduates
A nne M cD ougall Y oung and H oward Hayghe
From now until about the end of the decade, the last of the
enormous postwar birth cohort will pass through school and
into the adult labor force. Millions more workers will have
college degrees, as the anticipated number of bachelors’ and
higher degrees awarded will continue to exceed a million a
year for the rest of the 1980’s .1Thus, college graduates will
continue to represent a growing proportion of the labor
force.
Today, nearly 1 in 4 adult workers has completed college.
A little more than a decade ago, in 1970, just 1 in 7 had
as much formal schooling. During the 13-year interval, the
baby-boom generation— now concentrated in the 25- to 34years age group— went to college in record numbers, and,
in most of these years, over a million bachelors’ and ad
vanced degrees were awarded annually.2 This growth, to
gether with the fact that labor force participation rates of
college graduates are typically higher than the rates for
persons with fewer years of school, generated significant
increases in the college-educated work force.3
More college graduates
Between 1970 and 1983, the number of 25- to 64-yearold workers with 4 years or more of college increased by
11.5 million. Almost half of this rise was among 25- to 34year-olds, with 35- to 44-year-olds accounting for most of
the rest. While the proportion of working men ages 25 to
64 with a college degree rose by more than two-thirds over
the 1970-83 period, that of women almost doubled. (See
table 1.) Along with the increase in the number of graduates,
the sharp upward trend in women’s labor force participation
was a major factor contributing to this rise. From 1970 to
1983, the labor force participation rate increased for all but
the oldest group of female college graduates, with that of
25- to 34-year-olds rising the most:
Women
Men
A ge
1970
1983
1970
1983
25 to 64 years ................. .........
25 to 34 years.............. ........
35 to 44 years.............. ........
45 to 54 years.............. ........
55 to 64 years.............. ........
61
58
58
67
64
77
82
76
73
56
96
95
99
97
90
95
95
98
96
83
In the past, household and child-care responsiblities were
among the major reasons for women ages 25 to 34 to stay
at home. During the 1970’s, inflation and economic need,
among other factors, apparently became more compelling
Anne McDougall Young and Howard Hayghe are economists in the Di
vision o f Employment and Unemployment Analysis, Bureau of Labor
Statistics.
46
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reasons for women in this age cohort to work outside the
home. By 1983, not only did fewer married college grad
uates ages 25 to 34 have preschool children (53 percent
versus 68 percent in 1970), but those who did have children
under age 6 were far more likely to be in the labor force
(61 percent compared with 34 percent in 1970).4 The labor
force participation rate of 55- to 64-year-old college grad
uates generally paralleled the downward trend for all women
in this age group during most of the 1970-83 period.
In contrast to the situation among most women, there has
been a decrease in the labor force participation rates of adult
men in all educational attainment groups. For male college
graduates, however, the rate has slipped by only a per
centage point since 1970. This decline was considerably
less than for men in other educational attainment categories,
and, like that of the other men, it occurred primarily among
those in the older age brackets. One result of these con
trasting male-female labor force trends has been that wom
en’s share of the college-graduate work force increased,
from 27 percent in 1970 to 38 percent in 1983.
The ongoing decline in the number of school leavers—
workers who have not completed 12 years of formal school
ing— is an additional factor behind the growth in college
graduates’ share of the adult work force. Between March
1970 and 1983, the total number of school leavers in the
labor force declined by more than 7 million, mostly because
of retirement or death among older workers who have typ
ically completed fewer years of school than younger work
ers.
Black and Hispanic workers
Blacks and Hispanics have joined in the general upgrading
of the educational attainment of the population in recent
years. However, their proportions with college degrees con
tinue to be much lower than that of whites. In 1983, 13
percent of adult black workers and 10 percent of Hispanics
were college graduates, compared with 25 percent of whites.
Moreover, since 1970, the percentage-point increase for
blacks (5 points) and Hispanics (3 points) has been much
smaller than for whites (10 points). For both whites and
blacks, the proportions of adult workers who were school
leavers dropped by about half, while the share for Hispanics
declined by one-third. This difference in the size of the
decline between Hispanics on the one hand, and whites and
blacks on the other, may reflect recent immigration from
countries where the propensity to stay in school is not as
great as in the United States, and public educational op
portunities are not as widely available.5
Greater educational attainment was linked with higher
labor force participation rates for all race and ethnic groups.
However, labor force rates differed significantly for some
race and sex groups with the same general level of school
ing. Age was sometimes an important factor. For instance,
among dropouts in the adult labor force, almost 40 percent
of the male Hispanics were 25 to 34 years old, compared
Table 1. Labor force status of persons 25 to 64 years old by years of school completed, sex, race, and Hispanic origin,
March 1970 and 1983
[Numbers inthousands]
Labor force status and years
of school completed
Women
Men
Total
1970
1983
Black
White
19701
Hispanic origin
1970
1983
1970
1983
1970
1983
1983
19702
1983
57,794
96,864
19,677
39,516
16,755
20,914
9,335
5,564
2,471
662
639
11,739
4,323
4,430
1,756
1,230
3,542
2,328
802
243
169
6,258
3,219
1,799
721
519
Civilian noninstitutional population .........
Less than 4 years of high school ........
High school: 4 years only................
College: 1to 3years ....................
4years or more.................
87,983 111,658
34,092 24,633
33,470 44,815
9,844 18,996
10,577 23,213
42,049
16,520
14,077
5,025
6,427
53,862
11,945
19,224
9,229
13,463
45,934
17,572
19,393
4,819
4,150
25,590
9,768
9,749
78,576
28,454
31,001
9,182
9,939
Civilian labor force .........................
Less than 4years of high school ........
High school: 4 years only................
College: 1to 3 years ....................
4 years or more.................
61,760
22,288
23,508
7,261
8,703
83,615
14,857
33,397
15,159
39,302
14,757
13,557
4,811
6,177
47,903
9,303
17,404
8,459
12,738
22,458
7,531
9,951
2,450
2,526
35,712
5,556
15,993
6,702
7,462
55,043
18,537
21,613
6,728
8,145
72,750
11,976
29,301
13,304
18,171
6,724
3,735
1,895
535
559
8,592
2,525
3,459
1,483
1,127
2,320
1,415
572
191
142
4,378
1,989
1,378
578
434
Labor force participation rate ..............
Less than 4years of high school ........
High school: 4years only................
College: 1to 3 years ....................
4 years or more.................
70.2
65.4
70.2
73.8
82.3
74.9
60.3
74.5
79.8
87.0
93.5
89.3
96.3
95.6
96.3
88.9
77.9
90.5
91.7
94.6
48.9
42.9
51.3
50.8
60.9
61.8
43.8
62.5
76.5
70.0
65.1
69.7
73.3
81.9
75.1
60.9
74.1
79.4
86.9
72.0
67.1
76.7
80.8
87.5
73.2
58.4
78.1
84.5
91.6
65.5
60.8
71.3
78.6
84.0
70.0
61.7
76.6
80.2
83.6
Unemployed ...............................
Less than 4 years of high school ........
High school: 4 years only ................
College: 1to 3years ....................
4years or more.................
2,024
1,024
684
206
7,518
2,351
3,347
4,710
150
2,069
708
431
904
428
354
77
45
2,810
850
1,277
405
277
1,707
830
585
189
104
5,835
1,797
2,606
861
570
317
196
98
18
5
1,440
501
653
197
91
116
85
602
350
170
55
27
Unemployment rate.........................
Less than 4years of high school ........
High school: 4 years only ................
College: 1to 3 years ....................
4 years or more.................
3.3
4.6
2.9
9.8
16.1
11.9
8.4
3.4
4.0
5.7
3.6
3.1
7.9
15.3
6.0
2.8
4.7
5.2
5.2
3.4
.9
16.8
19.8
18.9
13.3
5.0
8.0
3.1
4.5
2.7
110
2.8
1.3
20,201
1,112
708
9.0
15.8
10.0
7.3
3.5
1,121
596
330
129
65
2.8
4.0
2.4
2.7
1.1
1Data refer to black and other workers.
with 25 percent of both whites and blacks. The preponder
ance of younger workers pushed the labor force participation
for Hispanic male dropouts to 87 percent, compared with
79 percent for whites and 72 percent for blacks. (See table
2 .)
Black women were much more likely to be in the labor
force than white or Hispanic women at every level of school
ing, with the difference rising from about 4 percentage points
Table 2. Labor force participation rates of persons 25 to
64 years old by years of school completed, sex, and race,
March 1983
[Percent]
White
Black
Hispanic
origin
89.8
79.3
91.0
92.1
94.7
81.7
71.5
86.5
87.6
93.4
90.4
86.5
93.7
95.4
93.8
61.1
42.9
61.4
67.2
75.6
66.4
47.3
71.9
81.9
90.1
52.2
41.8
62.0
64.6
72.7
MEN
Total............................
Less than 4years of high school . . .
High school: 4 years only ...........
College: 1to 3 years ................
4years or more............
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3.7
1.3
8.0
15.0
8.9
6.5
3.1
8.1
22
6
3
6.0
13.8
17.6
12.3
9.5
2.1
6.2
3.8
3.1
among dropouts to almost 15 percentage points among col
lege graduates. The persistence of higher labor force rates
among black women reflects, in part, financial need in fam
ilies where the men, on average, have lower earnings than
white men at all levels of education.6 Also, a larger pro
portion of black families were maintained by women, 42
percent in March 1983, compared with about 13 percent of
white families and 23 percent of Hispanic families.7
As can be seen, the overall participation rate for Hispanic
women was lower than that for either blacks or whites. This
is partly because more than half of the Hispanic women in
the population had not completed high school, compared
with only a fourth of the whites and a third of the blacks.
Because labor force participation rates of high school drop
outs are typically lower than for other education groups, the
concentration of Hispanic women in that category had the
effect of decreasing their overall labor force rate. Also,
relatively more Hispanic than white or black women had
children under age 6, whose presence tends to inhibit moth
ers’ labor force participation.
New occupational classification
WOMEN
Total.............................
Less than 4 years of high school . . .
High school: 4 years only ...........
College: 1to 3 years ................
4 years or more............
68.6
N ote: Detail for the above race and Hispanic-origin groups for 1983 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.
2Data are derived fromthe 1970 census.
Years of school completed and sex
1.8
12,688
The occupational classification system used since the 1970
decennial census has now been replaced by one that links
occupational titles more closely to job function. Beginning
in January 1983, the four traditional summary groups (white47
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW March 1984 • Research Summaries
Table 3. Employed civilians 25 to 64 years old by years of school completed, race, Hispanic origin, and occupation,
March 1983
[Percent distribution]
Years of school
completed, race, and
Hispanic origin
Employed
Number
(In
thousands)
Total ............
76,097
Less than 4 years of
high school
Total...................
White .................
Black .................
Hispanic origin ........
12,505
10,179
2,023
1,639
High School:
4years only
Total...................
White .................
Black .................
Hispanic origin ........
30,051
26,694
2,805
1,208
College: 1to 3years
Total...................
White .................
Black .................
Hispanic origin ........
14,047
12,446
1,287
523
College: 4years or more
Total...................
White .................
Black .................
Hispanic origin ........
19,492
17,599
1,035
407
Percent
Executive,
administrative
and managerial
Professional
specialty
Technical,
sales, and
administrative
support
Service
occupations
Precision
production,
craft, and
repair
Operators,
fabricators,
and laborers
Farming,
forestry,
and
fishing
100.00
12.6
15.1
30.2
11.3
12.7
15.3
3.0
20.6
19.1
34.9
34.3
38.6
38.7
6.6
100.0
4.1
4.6
1.4
100.0
2.2
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
1.3
.9
.9
13.4
14.4
9.4
9.9
17.6
33.7
23.2
8.7
9.1
4.7
7.5
3.1
3.1
3.0
36.9
38.1
27.5
34.7
13.1
11.9
24.2
15.1
14.3
15.0
8.9
13.0
11.4
41.3
41.4
41.7
42.6
9.7
9.0
14.9
9.4
22.7
3.5
3.3
22.8
23.3
18.7
21.4
1.2
1.6
11.8
8.5
7.8
45.0
45.2
45.6
42.0
collar, blue-collar, service, and farm) into which Current
Population Survey (cps) occupational data were divided,
were replaced by the system of six major groups— identified
in table 3— that was used for 1980 census data. Many of
the new occupational categories are different from the old
ones, and the introduction of the new system in 1983 breaks
the continuity somewhat of cps occupational data series.8
However, the data based on the new classification system
continue to confirm the well-known fact that educational
attainment is one of the most important determinants of
occupation. In March 1983 the largest proportion of school
dropouts of all races were operators, fabricators, and la
borers. High school graduates were concentrated in the tech
nical, sales, and administrative support category, with a
large proportion also working as operators, fabricators, and
laborers. Among workers who had attended but not grad
uated from college, most were in occupations similar to
those of high school graduates. But of those with 4 years
of college or more, 3 out of 5 were in managerial and
professional specialty occupations.
From a natio nal standpoint , a better trained work force
is highly desirable. However, with respect to the college
educated, the growth in the number of adult workers with
degrees carries with it the possibility of an uncertain future
for many young college graduates. This is because the great
est increase in the number of jobs over the decade to come
is projected for such occupations as janitors, sales clerks,
secretaries, and so forth.9 Thus, the potential exists for a
growing mismatch between actual educational levels and
48
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22.2
21.9
19.2
6.1
9.1
21.2
8.9
16.5
16.4
17.0
10.8
15.1
12.2
12.3
10.1
12.2
3.1
3.1
3.1
4.9
18.8
17.7
28.8
23.9
6.6
7.2
8.5
3.0
3.2
1.1
2.2
9.0
2.1
8.2
2.2
15.3
14.3
.6
.4
1.8
1. 1
1.6
1.2
4.4
2.5
.1
1.2
those required for occupations with the greatest anticipated
growth.10 In other words, many college graduates— perhaps
20 percent— will not be able to get jobs requiring a col
lege degree, continuing the situation that has prevailed in re
cent years. Such mismatches could seriously affect the
lives of many young workers and their families for years
to come.
□
---------- FOOTNOTES---------'Martin M. Frankel and Debra E. Gerald, Projections of Education
Statistics to 1990-91, Vol. 1 (National Center for Education Statistics,
1983).
2 Ibid.
3 Data in this report are based on tabulations from the March 1983 Current
Population Survey ( cps ), conducted for the Bureau of Labor Statistics by
the Bureau of the Census. The data relate to persons 25 to 64 years old,
unless otherwise specified. Because these estimates are based on a sample,
they may differ from those obtained if a complete census were conducted.
Sampling variability may be relatively large in cases where the estimates
are small. Small estimates, or small differences between estimates, should
be interpreted with caution. This report is the latest in a series on this
subject. The most recent was Anne McDougall Young, “ Recent trends in
higher education and labor force activity,” Monthly Labor Review, Feb
ruary 1983, pp. 3 9 -4 1 . A research summary, “ Educational attainment of
workers, March 1981,” detailed tables for March 1981, and summary
educational attainment tables for 1980 revised to the 1980 Census base are
included in Educational Attainment of Workers, March 1981, Bulletin 2159
(Bureau of Labor Statistics, January 1983).
4 Unpublished tables from the March supplement to the Current Popu
lation Survey (Bureau of Labor Statistics).
5George H. Brown, Nan L. Rosen, and Susan T. Hill, Conditions of
Education for Hispanic Americans (National Center for Education Statis
tics, February 1980).
6 "Money Income of Households, Families, and Persons in the United
States: 1981, Current Population Reports, Series P -6 0 , No. 137 (Bureau
of the Census, 1983), table 47.
7See Beverly L. Johnson and Elizabeth Waldman, “ Most women who
head families receive poor job market returns,” Monthly Labor Review,
December 1983, pp. 3 0 -3 4 .
8 See Gloria Peterson Green and others, “ Revisions in the Current Pop
ulation Survey Beginning in January 1983,” Employment and Earnings,
February 1983, pp. 7 -1 5 ; and John E. Bregger, “ Labor Force Data from
cps to Undergo Revision in January 1983,” Monthly Labor Review, No
vember 1982, pp. 3 - 6 .
9See George T. Silvestri, John M. Lukasiewicz, and Marcus E. Einstein,
“ Occupational employment projections through 1995,” Monthly Labor
Review, November 1983, pp. 3 7 -4 9 .
10See Occupational Projections and Training Data, Bulletin 2202 (Bu
reau o f Labor Statistics, 1982), pp. 10 and 11.
Pay in Mountain region coal mines
outstrips national average
Norma
W.
C arlson
Coal miners in the Mountain States' averaged $13.28 an
hour in July 1982, according to an occupational wage survey
by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. (See table 1.) This was
12 percent above the national average for bituminous coal
mining and translated into a regional pay advantage of 2
percent in underground mines and 24 percent in surface
mines.
At the time of the survey, mining in the Mountain States
employed some 15,000 production workers, double the
number recorded in an earlier survey conducted in January
1976. A preponderance of these workers were in mines with
at least 250 employees, and most were unionized. The re
gion’s nonunion workers, however, averaged as much or
more than their unionized counterparts, particularly among
the 7,725 workers employed in underground mines.
Historically, six States— Illinois, Kentucky, Ohio, Penn
sylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia— have accounted for
the bulk of the work force in bituminous coal mining. De
spite rapid growth in the Mountain States in recent years,
these six States still accounted for nearly 80 percent of the
Nation’s soft coal employment in July 1982; in the 1976
survey, the proportion was 85 percent.
National pay levels. Nationwide, straight-time earnings of
bituminous coal miners averaged $11.83 an hour in July
1982, up from $6.94 in January 1976. This represented a
70-percent increase over the 6 V2 years since the previous
survey2, or an average annual rise of 8.5 percent. By com
parison, the Bureau’s Employment Cost Index for all private
nonagricultural workers rose 61 percent, or approximately
Norma W. Carlson is a labor economist in the Division of Occupational
Pay and Employee Benefit Levels, Bureau of Labor Statistics
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7.7 percent a year, between the first quarter of 1976 and
the second quarter of 1982.
Workers in underground mines, nearly seven-tenths of
the 158,803 workers covered by the 1982 survey, averaged
$11.92 an hour— 2 percent more than the $11.65 recorded
in surface mines. (See table 1.) This pay relationship, how
ever, was mixed among sections of the country. For ex
ample, average earnings of underground-mine workers in
Pennsylvania and Kentucky exceeded those of surface-mine
workers by 20 percent and 11 percent, respectively. But
surface miners held a pay advantage averaging 19 percent
in the Mountain States and 4 percent in Illinois.
Earnings distributions narrow. Earnings of individual
workers in bituminous coal mines continued to be concen
trated within relatively narrow ranges. The middle 50 per
cent of the production work force earned between $11.36
and $12.43 an hour in underground mines, and between
$10.37 and $13.15 an hour in surface mines. The industry’s
pay systems contribute to this heavy concentration of earn
ings, as virtually all workers are under formal plans pro
viding single rates for specific groups of occupations.
Moreover, the custom of granting wage changes on a uni
form cents-per-hour basis has shrunk the industry’s wage
structure in relative terms.
Pay schedules from the pattern-setting contract between
the United Mine Workers of America ( u m w a ) and the Bi
tuminous Coal Operators’ Association ( b c o a ) illustrate the
single-rate arrangements for job groups as well as the effect
of uniform cents-per-hour increases (table 2). As of June
7, 1982, mining jobs in both branches of the industry were
grouped into five pay grades, with rates ranging from $11.348
to $12,415 in underground mines, and from $11,796 to
$13,178 in surface mines.
A comparison of the June 7, 1982, rates with those in
effect June 12, 1976, illustrates the pay compression effects
of uniform cents-per-hour increases. Pay differences be
tween grades 1 and 5 over this period declined from 15.7
percent to 9.4 percent in underground mines and from 19.0
percent to 11.7 percent in surface mines, while dollar dif
ferences among grades remained unchanged. A look at the
wage terms of the two most recent u m w a - b c o a agreements
shows why this is so.
The March 1978 agreement provided for an immediate
$l-an-hour general wage increase and a 28-cents-per-hour
cost-of-living adjustment, plus increases of 70 cents each
in March 1979 and March 1980. The 3-year agreement
negotiated in 1981 provided for general wage increases of
$1.20 an hour in June 1981, 50 cents in June 1982, and 40
cents in June 1983, plus nine quarterly increases consisting
of 15 cents in June 1982 and each quarter thereafter to March
1984, plus a final 30 cents in June 1984.
Union-nonunion pay. Union members accounted for nearly
four-fifths of the industry’s production work force. They
49
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW March 1984 • Research Summaries
averaged 5 percent more than nonunion workers in under
ground mines ($ 11.96 versus $ 11.58 an hour) and 26 percent
more in surface mines ($12.78 versus $10.16). A notable
exception to this pattern were the underground mines of the
Mountain States, where umwa contracts covered seventenths of the production workers3. In these mines, nonunion
workers averaged 7 percent more than the union average of
$11.91 an hour.
The umw a represented more than 90 percent of the union
workers in the industry, or seven-tenths of the production
work force. The Operating Engineers and the Progressive
Mine Workers Union together accounted for most of the
other union workers. According to the survey, contracts with
these unions are limited to surface mines, principally in the
Mountain States.
Occupational pay in 1982. A wide variety of jobs char
acterizes underground mining, which involves a series of
coordinated steps from extracting the coal to moving it above
ground to haulage points. Thirty-nine occupations, account
ing for two-thirds of the work force, were studied separately
to represent these activities and the wage structure in un-
Table 1. Number of workers and average straight-time hourly earnings1 in bituminous coal mining by selected characteristics, United States and selected coal centers, July 1982
Characteristics
Total......................................
United States2
Alabama
Illinois
Kentucky3
East Kentucky
West Kentucky
Workers Earnings Workers Earnings Workers Earnings Workers Earnings Workers Earnings Workers Earnings
158,803 $11.83
8,749
$11.83
13,291
$12.04
25,627
$11.58
18,419
$11.49
All workers.......................................
110,080
11.92
5,881
11.81
9,396
11.89
17,786
11.94
13,245
11.95
Size of mine:
Fewer than 250 workers....................
250-499 workers ...........................
500 workers or more.......................
37,849
36,766
35,465
11.89
11.95
11.91
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
3,963
4,684
11.87
11.91
11.92
9,414
3,035
11.92
12.07
Labor-management contracts:
Establishments with—
Majority of workers covered..............
None or minority of workers covered ....
98,000
12,080
11.96
11.58
5,881
—
11.81
—
9,396
—
11.89
—
13,232
4,554
12.15
11.32
9,154
4,091
12.27
11.25
All workers.......................................
48,723
11.65
2,8 6 8
11.88
3,895
12.41
7,841
10.75
5,174
10.30
2,667
11.63
Size of mine:
Fewer than 100 workers....................
100-249 workers ...........................
250 workers or more.......................
20,757
10.12
10,012
12.68
12.85
1,454
—
—
11.31
—
—
148
1,127
2,620
12.37
12.44
3,724
1,764
2,353
9.63
11.81
11.73
2,845
681
1,648
9.50
10.82
11.45
879
1,083
10 03
12 44
27,672
21,051
12.78
10.16
1,953
915
12.49
10.58
3,873
—
12.43
—
3,164
4,677
12.21
1,172
4,002
11.84
9.85
1992
675
1? 4?
9.30
Underground mines
Surface mines
Labor-management contracts:
Establishments with—
Majority of workers covered..............
None or minority of workers covered ....
17,954
Ohio
Total .......................................
_
12.22
10,010
4,529
—
Pennsylvania
12.01
9.77
Virginia
West Virginia
—
—
—
—
—
—
Mountai States4
17,084
$11.63
21,131
$11.39
8,646
$11.18
38,217
$12.05
15,302
$13.28
—
—
14,792
11.99
7,589
11.59
32,955
12.01
7,725
12.15
11.93
11.94
12.07
4,727
2,428
—
11.42
11.86
14,738
10,755
7,462
12.08
12.03
11.85
2,838
4,285
12 31
12 09
30,201
11.99
5 596
2,129
11 91
12.77
Underground mines
All workers ...................................
Size of mine:
Fewer than 250 workers ....................
250-499 workers............................
500 workers or more .......................
—
—
—
—
—
—
3,444
6,069
5,279
Labor-management contracts:
Establishments with—
Majority of workers covered ................
None or minority of workers covered ......
—
—
—
—
14,484
—
4,130
10.97
6,339
10.01
-
—
5,262
12.28
7,577
14.44
2,212
9.93
12.06
—
3,840
1,392
1,107
9.18
10.93
11.71
—
—
_
_
_
3,499
1,488
12.16
12.52
782
2,156
4,639
13 54
14 51
14.55
12.00
—
6,054
1,535
—
11.88
10.43
Surface mines
All workers ................................
Size of mine:
Fewer than 100 workers ....................
100-249 workers..............................
250 workers or more .......................
Labor-management contracts:
Establishments with—
Majority of workers covered ................
None or minority of workers covered ......
1,214
—
—
_
_
2,395 12.14
990 11.71
4,529 12.49 4 649 14 36
1,735
9.35 5,349
9.69
733 10.96 2,928 14.56
—
—
1Earnings exclude premiumpay for overtime and for work on weekends, holidays, and
4Mountain States include Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Montana NewMexico Utah and
late shifts. Workers refer to production and related employees,
Wyoming.
includes data for coal centers in addition to those shown separately.
Note: Dashes indicate that no data were reported or tha{ data did ROtmeet pub|icatj()n
includes data for both East and West Kentucky.
criteria.
50
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Table 2. Wage rates1 established under contract between
Bituminous Coal Mine Operators and United Mine Workers
of America, selected years
Effective date
Labor grade
June 7,
June 12,
March 27,
1982
1976
1979
Underground workers In deep mines
Labor grade:
$ 8.798
$11,348
$6,817
1 ...................................
8.870
11.420
6.890
2 ...................................
9
.0
9
3
11.643
7
.1
1
2
3 ...................................
12.010
9.460
7.480
4 ...................................
7.885
9.865
12.415
5 ...................................
High/lowdifference:
Dollars ............................
Percent............................
Labor grade:
1 ...................................
2 ...................................
3 ...................................
4 ...................................
5 ...................................
High/lowdifference:
Dollars ............................
Percent............................
1.067
1.067
1.068
9.4
12.1
15.7
Surface workers in strip and auger mines
$7,265
7.346
7.632
7.996
8.647
$ 9.245
9.326
9.612
9.976
10.627
$11,796
11.877
12.163
12.527
13.178
1.382
1.382
1.382
14.9
11.7
19.0
Workers at surface facilities for deep or
surface mines
Labor grade:
1 ...................................
2 ...................................
3 ...................................
4 ...................................
$7,226
7.306
7.589
7.833
High/lowdifference:
Dollars ............................
Percent............................
.607
8.4
$ 9.206
9.286
9,569
9.813
$11,757
11.837
.607
.607
5.2
6.6
12.120
12.364
1R
ates refer to base pay, including any cost-of-living adjustments and general wage
increases granted up through the effective date Indicated.
Source: b ls W age C h ro n o lo g y: B itum in ous C oal M ine Operators and United M ine
W o rk e rs, 1 9 33-81 , Bulletin 2062 (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 1980), pp. 25-26.
derground mining. Average hourly earnings among these
jobs ranged from $12.48 for continuous mining machine
operators and longwall operators to $11.31 for boom con
veyor operators. Roof bolters, the most populous group,
averaged $12.41. In addition to continuous mining machine
operator, occupational categories with at least 4,000 work
ers included underground maintenance mechanic ($12.47),
underground maintenance electrician ($12.46), shuttle car
operator ($11.72), and conveyor belt cleaner ($11.39).
The majority of workers in surface mines are operators
of heavy earth-moving equipment— bulldozers and power
shovels— and maintenance mechanics. Wage data were col
lected for 16 jobs which accounted for three-fourths of the
work force. Earnings averaged from $13.73 an hour for
maintenance electricians to $6.95 for slate pickers (found
at smaller sites). Bulldozer operators and truckdrivers, the
two most populous groups in surface mines, averaged $11.60
and $11.32 per hour. Other numerically important occu
pations (with at least 1,000 workers) included electrician
($13.73), maintenance welder ($12.82), maintenance me
chanic ($12.50), power shovel operator ($11.95), shot firer
($11.88), oiler and greaser ($11.42), and machine driller
($11.29).
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Employee benefits in 1982. Nearly all workers in under
ground mining received paid holidays, usually 11 days an
nually— the number provided under the umwa- bcoa national
wage agreement of June 1981. Paid holiday provisions ap
plied to more than nine-tenths of the surface-mine workers,
with just over one-half receiving 11 days. Less liberal hol
iday provisions typically applied to workers in both branches
of bituminous coal mining in East Kentucky and to surfacemine workers in Pennsylvania. The Mountain States had
the largest proportions of workers in establishments pro
viding 12 holidays per year— at least one-fourth in each
branch.
Virtually all production and related workers in both seg
ments of the bituminous coal mining industry were in es
tablishments providing paid vacations after qualifying periods
of service. Under the umwa - bcoa agreement, workers with
at least 1 year of service receive an annual vacation package
consisting of 14 consecutive days off with 12 days’ pay, 4
floating vacation days, and 5 personal leave days. Workers
also are eligible for graduated (additional) vacation days
ranging from 1 day after 6 years of service to 13 days after
18 years. Under the agreement, workers with less than 1
year of service receive a total of 6 days of paid vacation
annually.
For surveyed workers who were not covered by umwa
provisions, vacation provisions were typically 1 or 2 weeks
of vacation pay after 1 year of service, and at least 3 weeks
after 10 years of service.
Almost all workers in underground and surface mines
were in establishments providing hospitalization, surgical,
basic medical, and major medical insurance. At least fourfifths of the workers were in surface mines providing life,
accidental death and dismemberment, and dental insurance;
these three benefits, however, were more prevalent among
workers in underground mines.
In underground mines, employer-financed pension plans
were maintained for 95 percent of the workers. In surface
mining operations, pension plans covered approximately
four-fifths of the workers, but not all plans were fully funded
by the employer.
Pensions are provided for umwa miners who retired be
fore December 1974 under a 1950 Pension Plan and Trust;
for those who retired or who will retire after December 1974,
pensions are administered under the 1974 Pension Plan and
Trust. Both plans are funded by mine operators in accor
dance with provisions set forth in the collective bargaining
agreement.
on the 1982 survey, Industry
Wage Survey: Bituminous Coal, July 1982, Bulletin 2185
(Bureau of Labor Statistics, 1983) is for sale by the Su
perintendent of Documents, Government Printing Office
Washington, D.C. 20402. The report provides additional
information on occupational earnings and employee bene
fits. Price, $2.50.
□
a comprehensive report
51
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW March 1984 • Research Summaries
--------FOOTNOTES-------1The Mountain States include Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, New
Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming.
2 For details of both studies, see Industry Wage Survey: Bituminous Coal,
July 1982, Bulletin 2185, and Industry Wage Survey: Bituminous Coal,
January 1976—March 1981, Bulletin 1999 (Bureau of Labor Statistics).
Each survey covered establishments employing 10 workers or more which
were classified in Industry Group 1211, as defined in the 1972 edition of
the Standard Industrial Classification Manual prepared by the U .S. Office
o f Management and Budget. Included were underground, strip, and auger
mines, and coal cleaning, crushing, screening, and sizing plants operated
in conjunction with the mine served. Separate auxiliary units such as central
offices were excluded, as were establishments limited to coal cleaning and/
or preparation.
Wage data reported in this article exclude premium pay for overtime
and for work on weekends, holidays, and late shifts. The coal centers
studied separately were Alabama. Illinois, Kentucky, East Kentucky, West
Kentucky, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia, and the Mountain
States.
■'For reports on union activity in the soft coal industry in Western States,
see Everett M. Kassalow, “ Labor-Management Relations and the Coal
Industry," Monthly Labor Review, May 1979, pp. 23-27; William H.
Miernyk, " C oal,” in Gerald G. Somers, ed.. Collective Bargaining: Con
temporary American Experience (Madison, W is., Industrial Relations Re
search Association, 1980), pp. 1-48; and Susan Carey, " u m w Organizing
Bids Are Blunted by Aggressive Nonunion Operators," Wall Street Jour
nal, Aug. 3, 1983, section 2, p. 21.
Wages in the paper industries
among highest in manufacturing
D avid L arson
Average hourly earnings of production workers in pulp,
paper, and paperboard mills are among the highest found
in manufacturing industries covered by the Bureau’s indus
try wage survey program.1 Straight-time earnings of the
134,113 production workers in the three industries averaged
$10.22 an hour in July 1982.2 Among the individual in
dustries, average pay levels were $11.59 an hour in separate
pulp mills, $10.30 in paperboard mills, and $10.10 in paper
mills. Contributing to the relatively high wages paid in these
industries are the many skilled workers in both production
and maintenance occupations. Also, nearly all production
workers (96 percent) were employed in mills operating un
der labor-management agreements. Agreements with the
United Paperworkers International Union (afl- cio) were
predominant, with the exception of mills in the Pacific States.
There, employees were represented by the independent
Western Pulp and Paper Workers Union.
Average hourly earnings in July 1982 were 56 percent
above the $6.54 level recorded in a similar survey conducted
in the summer of 1977— a 9.3-percent annual rate of in
crease.3 By comparison, the wage and salary component of
the Bureau’s Employment Cost Index for nondurable goods
David Larson is an economist in the Division of Occupational Pay and
Employee Benefit Levels, Bureau of Labor Statistics.
52
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
manufacturing rose 46 percent (7.9 percent a year) from the
second quarter of 1977 to the second quarter of 1982.
For the six regions studied separately, average hourly
earnings in July 1982 ranged from $12.43 in the Pacific
States to $8.92 in the Middle Atlantic region. Pay in the
Southeast, where three-tenths of the production workers
were employed, averaged $10.53. Production worker em
ployment in the Great Lakes area accounted for about onefourth of the total while one-tenth each were found in New
England, the Middle Atlantic States, the Southwest, and the
Pacific States.
About three-eighths of the workers were located in met
ropolitan areas4 in July 1982. On a regional basis, the pro
portion ranged from 85 percent in the Middle Atlantic States
to 26 percent in New England. Nearly nine-tenths of the
workers were employed in mills with 250 employees or
more, and nearly one-half were in establishments with 1,000
workers or more.
Forty-nine occupations containing approximately one-half
of the production work force, were selected as representative
of the industries’ wage structures and manufacturing activ
ities. Average hourly earnings in these jobs ranged from
$13.14 for general maintenance mechanics to $8.45 for
janitors. (See table 1 for information on 23 of the 49 survey
occupations.) Pulp and paper millwrights, numerically the
largest survey occupation with 6,015 employees, averaged
$11.82. Averages of $11.74 or more were also attained by
other skilled maintenance workers including machinists,
electricians, and pipefitters.
With relatively few exceptions, production workers were
paid time rates, under formal plans providing single rates
for individual occupations. As a result, hourly earnings for
specific categories usually clustered within relatively narrow
ranges. Also contributing to the high degree of wage con
centration was the predominance of labor-management
agreements.
Wage rates within overall job categories varied by pro
cesses used in pulp making, grade of paper, or paperboard
produced, and size and speed of the machine used in making
the product. For example, workers using the sulphite process
to make pulp generally had earnings higher than those work
ing with the sulphate process. Many of the machine room
pay levels were higher as the machine wire width increased
from 100 inches to 301 inches or more.
In July 1982, the most common form of work schedule
was rotating shifts, affecting seven-tenths of the production
workers. Workers typically alternated among day, evening,
and night shifts, changing shifts every 7 days. Workers on
evening and night shifts almost always received cents-perhour differentials over day-shift work, typically between 10
and 20 cents on evening shifts and between 20 and 30 cents
on night shifts. Day-shift work schedules of 42 hours per
week were found in mills employing slightly less than onehalf of the production workers. Schedules of 40 hours ap
plied in mills with just over one-third of the workers, while
Table 1. Number of production workers and average hourly earnings1 in pulp, paper, and paperboard mills, by selected
characteristics, United States and selected regions,2 July 1982
United States3
Characteristic
All production
workers4 ........
Type of mill:5
Pulp mills.............
Paper mills...........
Paperboard mills......
Sizeof community:
Metropolitan areas6 . . .
Nonmetropolitan
areas..............
Sizeof mill:
100 to 249 workers . .
250 to 999 workers . .
1 ,000 w
orkers or
more..............
New England
Middle Atlantic
Great Lakes
Southwest
Southeast
Pacific
Number
of
workers
Average
hourly
earnings
Number
of
workers
Average
hourly
earnings
Number
of
workers
Average
hourly
earnings
Number
of
workers
Average
hourly
earnings
Number
of
workers
Average
hourly
earnings
Number
of
workers
Average
hourly
earnings
Number
of
workers
Average
hourly
earnings
134,113
$1 0 . 2 2
17,831
$ 9.18
11,691
$ 8.92
39,802
$10.53
14,264
$10.87
31,358
$ 9.42
14,944
$12.43
6,251
94,637
33,225
10.10
9.22
8.09
10,516
1,175
9.03
7.96
3,829
19,259
16,714
11.19
10.69
10.20
8,444
5,407
10.95
10.67
27,654
3,704
9.52
8.73
1,612
9,709
3,623
12.65
12.32
12.60
8.51
9,633
9.02
12,937
10.32
6,250
10.59
9,594
9.34
4,494
12.19
9.46
10,450
12.53
1.2.03
12.46
11.59
10.30
16,682
913
49,768
9.95
5,156
2,058
8.43
26,865
10.64
8,014
11.08
21,764
8.98
2,108
6,702
7.67
8.98
1,760
15,843
7.90
10.68
702
5,869
7.47
11.34
4,071
13,602
9.37
1,553
8,703
9.76
2,881
9.68
22,199
10.63
7,693
10.81
13,685
9.86
4,688
12.50
67
9.99
38
9.31
494
11.62
145
11.70
91
10.35
44
12.18
17
9.72
15
9.44
207
12.38
10.74
46
—
13.70
88
33
64
11.33
9.25
76
—
13.76
—
115
139
9.70
9.58
80
62
13.69
11.39
84,345
10.38
12,675
14,694
58,045
8.40
10.45
3,889
5,107
9.45
61,374
10.45
8,835
910
11.31
414
404
12.51
9.93
—
537
718
11.51
9.51
48
104
9.37
8.78
667
10.83
106
941
10.05
166
1,447
9.25
1,518
8.79
3,595
3,555
3,316
2,996
11.81
1,714
1,111
9.40
8.85
2,055
1,570
8.12
8.11
Pulp
Woodyard and wood
preparation:
Crane operators ....
Pulp making:
Cooks, batch
digester...........
Grinder operators . . .
Bleach-plant
operators.........
Pulp testers.............
—
—
—
—
43
58
9.60
8.81
174
251
12.14
9.30
48
82
12.74
9.60
10.44
54
9.21
190
11.40
54
10.59
182
9.61
77
13.91
9.35
143
8.89
114
10.83
46
11.73
350
9.64
84
12.56
279
8.41
216
8.32
257
9.95
109
9.85
374
8.71
145
11.70
216
8.01
116
8.36
148
8.21
81
7.78
707
8,67
212
11.20
605
627
489
428
10.36
9.49
9.36
8.89
467
462
414
357
9.42
8.70
8.37
622
621
564
532
12.96
11.92
11.42
10.17
268
257
263
251
13.60
12.42
11.16
10.03
1,132
1,091
10.69
9.91
9.24
8.88
411
407
389
349
15.79
14.43
12.76
11.64
230
9.45
8.82
249
209
8.29
7.87
240
211
120
9.19
8.53
64
41
10.08
9.19
706
439
9.29
9.15
165
52
11.32
10.40
9.45
220
8.49
242
8.52
536
9.61
190
9.79
640
9.19
172
11.70
8.45
203
7.86
186
8.00
450
8.31
8.53
136
10.34
14.67
Paper and paperboard
Stock preparation:
Head stock preparers,
group I ...........
Head stock preparers,
group II...........
Beater-operator
helpers.............
Hydrapulper
operators.........
Machine room:
Paper-machine
tenders...........
Backtenders.........
Third jands...........
Fourth hands........
Finishing, roll:
Rewinder operators . .
Rewinder helpers. . . .
Laboratory:
Paper testers........
10.88
10.16
9.49
10.00
1,100
997
Miscellaneous7
Janitors, porters, or
cleaners..............
Maintenance
electricians...........
Maintenance mechanics,
general..............
Maintenance
machinists...........
Maintenance pipefitters . .
Millwrights, pulp and
paper ................
Power-truck operators. . .
8.19
455
12.94
843
3,606
12.00
563
10.82
255
10.34
1,042
12.30
10.63
544
5,635
13.14
389
9.24
336
9.43
2,693
13.81
1,241
14.37
327
10.42
285
14.70
1,360
3,066
11.74
11.87
219
492
10.80
10.69
186
231
10.40
9.97
390
949
12.07
12.09
71
217
12.71
12.61
297
641
10.81
10.57
167
479
14.70
14.68
6,015
5,716
11.82
9.19
950
607
10.84
8.32
362
734
9.96
8.43
1,726
12.25
9.11
281
436
12.03
9.53
1,533
2,086
10.45
9.02
999
562
14.52
11.38
'Excludes premium pay for overtime and for work on weekends, holidays, and late
shifts.
2The regions used In this study include New England— Connecticut, Maine, Massa
chusetts, NewHampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont; Middle Atlantic— Hew Jersey,
NewYork, and Pennsylvania; Border Slates— Delaware, District of Columbia, Kentucky,
Maryland, and West Virginia; Southeast— Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, North
Carolina, SouthCarolina, Tennessee, andTexas; Great Lakes— Illinois, Indiana, Michigan,
Minnesota, Ohio, andWisconsin; Middle West— Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, North
Dakota, and South Dakota; Mountain— Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, NewMexico,
Utah, and Wyoming; and Pacific— California, Nevada, Oregon, and Washington. Alaska
and Hawaii were not Included Inthe study.
includes data for regions in addition to those shown separately.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
112
227
1,100
includes data for approximately 16,000 workers in converted paper product departments of paper and paperboard mills.
5Data for pulp mills are limited to workers in separate pulp making establishments;
datafor paper and paperboard mills includeworkers Inpulp making departments of these
mills.
Standard metropolitan statistical areas as defined by the U.S. Office of Management
and Budget through February 1974.
includes workers inall departments, Including converted paper products departments
of paper and paperboard mills.
Note: Dashes Indicatethat no datawere reported or that datadid not meet publication
criteria.
53
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW March 1984 • Research Summaries
the remaining mills had longer day-shift schedules, usually
48 hours.
Nearly all workers were in mills providing paid holidays,
paid vacations, and at least part of the cost of life, sickness
and accident, hospitalization, surgical, and basic and major
medical insurance, and retirement pension plans. Workers
generally received 11 to 13 paid holidays annually, as well
as from 1 to 6 weeks of vacation pay, depending on length
of service. A large majority of workers were also eligible
for dental insurance and paid funeral and jury-duty leave.
Two-fifths could receive technological severance pay.
A comprehensive report on the survey providing addi
tional data on occupational earnings and employee benefits,
Industry Wage Survey: Pulp, Paper, and Paperboard Mills,
July 1982 (Bulletin 2180) is for sale by the Bureau’s regional
offices and the Superintendent of Documents, Government
Printing Office, Washington, D.C. 20402. Price,
$4.50.
□
--------FOOTNOTES-------1Of 34 industry groupings studied regularly, average hourly earnings in
pulp, paper, and paperboard mills ranked seventh highest in July 1982,
according to data from the Bureau’s employment and earnings series.
Industry groupings with higher average hourly earnings were petroleum
refining, basic iron and steel, motor vehicles,.cigarettes, industrial chem
icals, and motor vehicle parts.
2The survey excluded establishments employing fewer than 100 work
ers. Earnings data exclude premium pay for overtime and for work on
weekends, holidays, and late shifts. The 364 mills within the scope of the
survey employed 150,200 production workers in July ¡982, including
16,087 in converted paper products departments of paper and paperboard
mills. The basic survey tabulations do not include separate data for workers
in these departments.
3 For an account of the earlier study, see Industry Wage Survey: Pulp,
Paper, and Paperboard Mills, Summer 1977, BLS Bulletin 2008; and for
a summary, see “ Occupational pay and benefits in the papermaking in
dustries,’’ Monthly Labor Review, May 1979, pp. 4 6 -4 7 .
4Standard metropolitan statistical areas as defined by the U.S. Office of
Management and Budget through February 1974.
Special jobs, special problems
It is obvious that excessive hours create far more serious problems for
people in arduous or dangerous occupations, and for special categories of
workers such as young persons and pregnant women, than for other work
ers. For this reason, it would seem that to demand, say, a 30-hour week
for all— and the demand is not a pure invention— is perhaps to miss the
point that something should be done urgently for those who most need
relief, and for whom a real working week of 40 hours would seem like
paradise. Nor should the needs of workers outside industry be overlooked.
Some of the worst examples of overwork are to be found in hotels, res
taurants, shops, offices, and small workshops, not to mention agriculture,
where conditions can be worse than in any factory.
— In ter n a tio n a l L a bor O rg an iza tio n
Working Conditions and Environment:
A Workers’ Education Manual
(Washington, International Labor
Organization, 1983), p. 24.
54
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
M ajor Agreements
Expiring Next M onth
This list of selected collective bargaining agreements expiring in April is based on contracts on
file in the Bureau’s Office of Wages and Industrial Relations. The list includes agreements covering
1,000 workers or more.
Employer and location
Industry
Labor organization1
Number of
workers
Fabricated metal products..........
M achinists.....................................
2,100
Associated General Contractors of America:
Baton Rouge Chapter, 3 agreements (Louisiana) ..........................................
Construction ................................
8,000
Colorado Building Chapter and others, 2 agreements ..................................
Construction ................................
Minnesota Chapter, 8 agreements .....................................................................
Construction ................................
New Orleans Chapter (Louisiana) .....................................................................
Construction ................................
Associated Mechanical Contractors of Chattanooga, Inc. (Interstate)............
Construction ................................
Laborers; Carpenters; and
Operating Engineers
Operating Engineers and
Laborers
Carpenters.....................................
Bricklayers; Carpenters;
Laborers; Iron Workers;
Operating Engineers; and
Teamsters (Ind.)
Bricklayers; Carpenters; Cement
Masons; Iron Workers;
Laborers; Operating
Engineers; and Teamsters
(Ind.)
Plum bers........................................
Builders Exchange of Rochester, N .Y., Inc. (New Y o rk )................................
Building Construction Agreement (Colorado)2 ....................................................
Buildings Trades Employers Association of Westchester and Putnum
Counties, N .Y ., Inc. (New York)
Boise Cascade Corp. (International Falls, M inn.)...............................................
Buckeye International, Inc., Buckeye Steel Castings Co. (Ohio)
Construction ................................
Construction ................................
Construction ................................
Laborers ........................................
Teamsters (Ind.) .........................
Carpenters.....................................
1,800
1,500
3,000
Paper ............................................
Primary m etals..............................
Woodworkers ..............................
Steelworkers ................................
1,000
1,350
California Conference of Mason Contractor Associations, Inc., 2 agreements
(Los Angeles, Calif.)
Carpenters General Contracting Agreement (Georgia and Florida)2 ...............
Central Maine Power Co. (Augusta, Maine) ......................................................
Chicago Beer Wholesalers Association (Illinois) ...............................................
Colorado Building Construction, Independent Employers (Colorado)2 ..........
Colorado Contractors Association, Inc. (Colorado) ..........................................
Consolidated Papers, Inc., Consoweld Corporation (Wisconsin) ....................
Construction Contractors Council— agc Labor Division Inc., 2 agreements
(District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia)
Contractors of Eastern Pennsylvania and Delaware2 ..........................................
Cummins Engine Company, Inc. (Columbus, Ind.) ..........................................
Construction ................................
Bricklayers ...................................
3,800
Construction ................................
U tilities..........................................
Wholesale tr a d e ...........................
Construction ................................
Construction ................................
Paper ............................................
Construction ......................
1,500
1,050
1,000
1,200
1,800
2,700
7,450
Construction ................................
M achinery.....................................
Carpenters.....................................
Electrical Workers (ibew) ..........
Teamsters (Ind.) .........................
Carpenters.....................................
Laborers ........................................
Paperworkers................................
Carpenters and Operating
Engineers
Operating Engineers....................
Diesel Workers (In d .)..................
Dehydration Industry (C alifornia)..........................................................................
Food products .............................
Teamsters (Ind.)
.........................
3,000
E.I. Du Pont De Nemours and Company (Waynesboro, V a . ) .........................
C hem icals.....................................
United Workers, Inc. (Ind.) . . .
1,400
Foodtown Supermarkets (New York and New Jersey)
.....................................
Retail trade ..................................
Food and Commercial Workers
4,100
General Dynamics, Convair Division (California and Florida)........................
General Portland, Inc. (Interstate)..........................................................................
Grand Union Co., Suburban Division (New Jersey)..........................................
Graphic Arts Association of Delaware Valley, Inc. (Pennsylvania) ...............
Transportation equipment ..........
Stone, clay, and glass products
Retail food ..................................
Printing and publishing...............
Machinists.....................................
Cement Workers .........................
Food and Commercial Workers
Graphics Arts ..............................
2,900
1,250
2,100
1,400
Hinky-Dinky Supermarkets, Inc. (Omaha, N e b r .)............................................
Ideal Basic Industries, Inc. (Interstate) ................................................................
Industrial Contractors Association of Baton Rouge and Vicinity, Inc.
(Louisiana)
Retail food ..................................
Stone, clay, and glass products
Construction ................................
Food and Commercial Workers
Cement Workers .........................
Plumbers........................................
2,650
1,850
1,200
11,000
5,000
23,200
11,000
1,450
6,000
6,700
See footnotes at end of table.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
55
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW March 1984 • Major Agreements Expiring Next Month
Continued— Major agreements expiring next month
Number of
workers
Employer and location
Industry
Jelïboat, Inc. (Jeffersonville. I n d .) ........................................................................
Transportation equipment ..........
Teamsters (Ind.)
Kroger Co.. Dallas Marketing Area (Texas) ......................................................
Retail food
Food and Commercial Workers
Lynchburg Foundry Co. (Radford, Va.) ..............................................................
Primary m etals..............................
Marquette Cement Manufacturing Co. (Interstate) ............................................
Martin Marietta Aluminum, Inc. (Torrance, Calif.) ..........................................
Metro Association of Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors, Inc. (Minne
apolis, Minn.)
Monsanto Co., John F. Queeny Plant (St. Louis, Mo.) ...................................
Stone, clay, and glass products
Primary m etals..............................
Construction ................................
Cement Workers .........................
1,050
1,550
1,100
Chemicals .....................................
Chemical Workers ......................
1,000
National Distillers and Chemical Corp. (Interstate) ..........................................
National Electrical Contractors Association, Inc., St. Paul Chapter (Minne
sota)
National Electrical Contractors Association, Inc., Washington, D.C. Chapter
Nevada Resort Association, 2 agreements (Las Vegas, Nev.)
Food products ..............................
Construction ................................
Distillery Workers ......................
Electrical Workers ( i b e w ) ...................
1,700
1,400
Construction ................................
H o te ls............................................
2,000
16,100
North Texas Contractors Association, 2 agreements (T e x a s)...........................
Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Co. (Milwaukee, Wis.) .........................
Construction ................................
Insurance .......................................
Electrical Workers ( i b e w ) ..........
Hotel Employees and Restaurant
Employees
Laborers and Carpenters............
Office and Professional Employ
ees
Owens-Coming Fiberglas Corp. (Kansas City, Kans.)
Stone, clay, and glass products
Building and Construction
Trades Council
1,050
Painting and Decorating Contractors Association, Minneapolis Chapter, Inc.
(Minnesota)
Public Service Company of Indiana, Inc. (Indiana) ..........................................
Public Service Electric and Gas Company (New Jersey)..................................
Pullman, Inc., Pullman-Standard (Interstate) ....................................................
Construction ................................
Painters.....................................
1,200
U tilities.....................................
U tilities..........................................
Transportation equipment ..........
Electrical Workers ( i b e w ) ...................
Steelworkers ..............................
2,200
4,400
4,800
Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors National Association (District
of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia)
Construction ................................
Sheet Metal Workers .................
1.150
Textron, Inc., Sheaffer Eaton Division (Io w a )....................................................
Miscellaneous manufacturing
'Affiliated with AFL-CIO except where noted as independent (Ind.).
industry area (group of companies signing same contract).
56
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Labor organization1
..................................
.........................
1,850
1,650
1,000
. . Auto Workers ...........................
7,800
1,500
1,050
y
Developments in
Industrial Relations
Accord ends 6-week strike at Greyhound
A 6-week strike against Greyhound Lines by 12,500 em
ployees ended when the Amalgamated Transit Union an
nounced that the drivers, mechanics, and service, terminal,
and office personnel had approved a 3-year contract. About
75 percent of the workers voted in favor of the settlement,
which was supported by the a tu ’ s Council of Greyhound
Local Unions. The accord differed in two major respects
from one the union members decisively rejected earlier: it
provided for the strikers to retain their seniority, giving them
precedence over 1,200 replacements Greyhound hired dur
ing the stoppage, and it called for increased pensions for
current retirees.
The overall outcome of the settlement was a reduction in
wages and benefits for the employees. Greyhound claimed
that its labor costs were 30 to 50 percent higher than other
large bus companies, and that the wage and benefit cuts
were necessary to enable it to compete effectively with other
bus lines and with airlines offering lower fares. Greyhound
said its drivers were paid an average of $27,437 a year plus
$8,307 in benefits, compared with averages of $22,985 and
$4,367 for the other bus lines. Union officials said that
Greyhound’s claimed costs were exaggerated.
A feature of the settlement is a new “ two-tier” pay struc
ture under which rates were cut 7.8 percent for employees
on the payroll on October 31, 1983. Rates for workers hired
later were reduced more than 7.8 percent.
In a benefit change, workers on the payroll on October
31, 1983, began contributing 4 percent of their gross earn
ings to the pension plan on January 1, 1984 (previously,
Greyhound paid the entire cost). Workers hired after Oc
tober 31, 1983, are required to contribute 3 percent of their
earnings to a separate new pension plan which provides
smaller benefits than the existing plan. Workers who retired
prior to the effective date of the new labor contract will
receive 3 percent increases in their pensions on May 1 of
1985 and 1986.
Paid holidays were reduced to 8 per year for all employees
(previously 10 for operating employees and 12 for some
office employees). Greyhound’s financing of health and wel
fare benefits was changed to a uniform $100 a month per
employee on November 1, 1983, $113 on November 1,
“ Developments in Industrial Relations” is prepared by George Ruben,
Division o f Developments in Labor-Management Relations, Bureau of
Labor Statistics, and is largely based on information from secondary sources.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
a
2nr
1984, and $120 on November 1, 1985. Previously, Grey
hound’s obligation was $76.17 a month in the Western
States and $77.34 in the other regions, plus periodic lump
sum payments into the plans.
Recent NLRB rulings
Several recent decisions of the National Labor Relations
Board drew criticism from union officials who asserted that
the Board was assuming an antiunion, probusiness attitude.
Max Zimny, general counsel of the Ladies’ Garment Work
ers, characterized the current board as the most proman
agement he had encountered during his 31-year career in
labor law.
Several management attorneys disputed that view, con
tending that the board was simply correcting a prounion
leaning that had developed when Carter Administration ap
pointees held a majority of the seats. The current board
consists of three members appointed by President Reagan—
Chairman Donald L. Dotson, Patricia Diaz Dennis, and
Robert P. Hunter— and one holdover from the Carter Ad
ministration— Don A. Zimmerman. The fifth seat is vacant.
In one of the decisions, the board held that an employer
may shift operations to a nonunion plant to escape the higher
labor costs of a union contract. This ruling does not apply
if the contract specifically prohibits relocation, and the em
ployer must satisfy all obligations to bargain on the issue
before actually moving.
The case arose in 1982, when the Illinois Spring Co.
moved 100 jobs from an auto parts plant in Milwaukee to
its headquarters in McHenry, 111., after the employees re
jected company requests for wage and benefit cuts. The
United Auto Workers union, the bargaining agent at the
Milwaukee plant, then filed a complaint with the board,
which blocked the move. The company appealed the de
cision to the U.S. District Court of Appeals in Chicago,
which later sent the case back to the board after the board
requested permission to reconsider its ruling.
The opinion, signed by three members of the board, noted
that the union’s contract with the company did not contain
a work preservation clause and that the board should not
“ create an implied work preservation clause in every Amer
ican labor agreement based on wage and benefits or (union)
recognition provisions.” The majority opinion maintained
the current decision will enhance the collective bargaining
process, in contrast to the 1982 decision which discouraged
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MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW March 1984 • Developments in Industrial Relations
“ truthful midterm bargaining over decisions to transfer unit
work’’ because a union could veto the transfer if an em
ployer admitted it was due to high union labor costs.
In a dissenting opinion, Zimmerman said that Illinois
Spring’s planned shift of work was illegal because it “ was
simply an attempt to modify the wage-rate provisions in the
contract, albeit indirectly. . . . ”
In another case, the same three members held that it was
contrary to Federal labor law for the board to intervene in
a labor-management dispute before the parties have ex
hausted their own arbitration procedures. The case had been
initiated by the International Association of Machinists on
behalf of an employee of United Technologies Corp. who
allegedly had been threatened with disciplinary action.
In the other ruling, also by a 3-to-l margin, the board
said it would defer to arbitrators’ awards even if such awards
are not “ totally consistent with board precedent. Unless the
award is ‘palpably’ wrong, . . . we will defer.” The de
cision supplanted a 1982 ruling to defer to arbitrators only
when they resolved disputes as the board would have. The
case involved the president of an Oil, Chemical and Atomic
Workers local union at an Olin Corp. facility who was fired
for allegedly violating a contractual no-strike provision by
directing and participating in a “ sick-out” job action.
In an earlier decision which drew criticism from organized
labor, the board ruled that employers are no longer required
to publicize the fact that an employee can solicit another
employee for union activities while at work, as long as both
are on their own time, such as during a break or lunch
period. Under the new approach, which overturned a 1981
ruling, an employer need only say, “ No soliciting on work
ing time.”
In a dissent to this ruling, Zimmerman contended that
many workers will mistakenly believe that the new rule
prohibits soliciting during the entire work shift, including
their own time.
This case involved an employee who was fired for passing
a union authorizing card to a coworker. One of the board’s
administrative law judges ruled that both workers were on
their own time and ordered the employee reinstated. The
judge also held that the rules of the employer, Our Way,
Inc., of Atlanta, were unclear on solicitation during working
time.
In overruling the judge, the board argued that its new
standard is adequate because workers will understand that
they are free to solicit on their own time.
The board overturned a 1975 decision by holding that an
employee can escape firing or other penalties for attempting
to correct unsafe working conditions only by first discussing
the problem with other employees and attempting to per
suade employers to correct the problem through joint action.
The ruling came in a case in which the board upheld the
firing of an employee who refused to drive a truck he be
lieved to be unsafe and reported the defects to State officials.
In the 1975 ruling, the board had reinstated a worker who
58
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
informed State health officials of adverse working condi
tions. Although he did not discuss the problem with other
workers, the board said that reinstatement was proper be
cause the employee was individually acting on a problem
that should have concerned all employees.
Gulf contract sets pattern in petroleum refining
A round of pattern settlements began in the petroleum
refining, pipeline, and petrochemical industries after Gulf
Oil Corp. and the Oil, Chemical and Atomic Workers ne
gotiated a 2-year contract. The wage and benefit terms were
expected to eventually apply to about 50,000 workers cov
ered by contracts with nearly 100 companies. The union’s
bargaining strength was diminished somewhat by the world
wide oversupply of petroleum, a factor in the closing of 80
U.S. refineries and the loss of 7,000 jobs in the last 2 years.
The ocaw also was faced with the problem that walkouts
to enforce its demands are not completely effective because
the high degree of automation in the industry permits man
agement to maintain more or less normal operation.
The Gulf accord, which covered 2,700 employees, pro
vided for a 20-cent-an-hour immediate wage increase and
a 35-cent increase at the beginning of the second contract
year. Based on the reported previous average hourly earn
ings of $13.61, the increases amounted to 1.5 and 2.5 per
cent.
The ocaw did not win its demand that Gulf assume the
full cost of health insurance premiums, but the company
did agree to raise its contribution toward family coverage
by $10 a month, effective immediately, and by another $5
a year later. Gulf had been paying $151.50 of the $174 a
month cost, which was expected to rise to $212 on February
1. Gulf’s obligation for single employees remained at $57
a month, which covered the full cost for these workers.
Among the first companies to settle on pattern contracts
were Atlantic Richfield, Amoco, and Mobil.
Efforts to aid auto workers continue
The automobile manufacturing industry and the United
Auto Workers (uaw ) continue efforts to counter the in
creasing competition from foreign producers and to aid dis
placed U.S. auto workers.
General Motors and the uaw moved to develop a do
mestically produced small car. Alfred S. Warren, g m ’ s vice
president for industrial relations, said the venture was vital
in proving that the company could produce small cars at a
competitive price.
Under the plan, gm and the uaw will establish a joint
study center to increase union and worker involvement in
all manufacturing and assembly plans for the new vehicle,
which will be called Saturn.
Both Warren and uaw vice president Donald F. Ephlin
said the overall effort will not displace the existing collective
bargaining relationship, but will develop “ innovative pro-
duction systems based on improved contractual arrange
ments and management practices” by improving the
relationship between the company and the union.
The study center will be directed by a joint steering com
mittee which will establish seven subcommittees to help
plan the manufacturing and assembly operations.
In a move to aid displaced workers, g m and the u a w
worked out a new $9.2 million tuition assistance plan which
will be available to 70,000 workers on indefinite layoff who
still have rehire or recall rights. Under the new plan, these
workers will receive “ up front” money for training— which
need not relate to their previous employment— in an ac
credited college, university, or vocational school. Previ
ously, laid-off workers were required to train in areas related
to their former employment, and they were not reimbursed
until completion of the training.
The new plan is financed by a company obligation for
various types of training specified in the March 1982 g m u a w collective bargaining agreement. The obligation is 5
cents for each straight-time hour worked by employees in
the bargaining unit.
The funds had earlier been used to establish training and
placement programs at Fremont and South Gate, Calif.,
following the closing of plants, and in Flint and Pontiac,
Mich.
Teamsters’ members accept pay cut for stock
Despite the inability of trucking management and the
Teamsters to agree on national approaches to improving the
industry’s financial condition, there continued to be in
stances where workers agreed to contract changes to aid
individual companies.
Under the voluntary aid plan negotiated by the Teamsters
and Branch Motor Express, 2,000 workers were offered
stock in exchange for a 15-percent pay cut lasting 5 years.
Branch said that 85 percent of the workers had decided to
participate and would receive 43 percent of the stock of the
parent Branch Industries, Inc. Employees who do not par
ticipate will continue to receive full pay.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Vice President Howard Kaske! said the plan will save the
company about $50 million over the 5-year period, which
will be applied to reducing debt and modernizing Branch’s
truck fleet. Kaskel said that the firm had not threatened
bankruptcy, but the employees were aware of the financial
losses Branch had suffered during the last 3 years.
Branch also has a small number of workers represented
by the Machinists and the International Longshoremen’s
Association. The offer was presented individually to those
workers.
Union leadership changes
Oil, Chemical and Atomic Workers’ President Robert F.
Goss and seven other staff members accepted an early re
tirement option offered as part of a program to reduce the
union’s staff. Goss, 62, was elected president of the union
in 1979, culminating a career which started in 1941 with a
laboring job in a petroleum refinery. Goss also was elected
to the AFL—c io ’s Executive Council in 1979. Joseph M.
Misbrener, vice president of the o c a w , was elected to com
plete Goss’ term. Misbrener, 59, also started his career in
a refinery and moved up through a succession of leadership
positions. In 1976, he was named assistant to the president
and, in 1979, was elected to the vice president post.
Cement, Lime and Gypsum Workers’ President Thomas
F. Miechur retired and was succeeded by SecretaryTreasurer Richard A. Northrip. Miechur, 60, joined the
union in 1942, served as a local and district representative
of the union, and from 1959 to 1971 was administrative
assistant to the president. He also served as a vice president
of the a f l —c io ’s Industrial Union Department and the Mar
itime Trades Department. Northrip, 54, joined the union in
1953, moved through several local union and regional posts
prior to being elected secretary-treasurer in 1975.
In other business, the union’s executive board authorized
a special convention in March to vote on a proposed merger
with the Boilermakers union, which already had member
ship authorization to proceed with a merger.
□
59
Book Reviews
Saint or sinner?
Walter Reuther and the Rise o f the Auto Workers. By John
Barnard; ed. Oscar Handlin. Boston, Little, Brown and
Co., 1983. 236 pp. $13.50.
Author Ambrose Bierce defined “ a saint” as a dead sin
ner, revised and edited. While the definition does not ac
curately describe this portrayal of the life of Walter Reuther,
it comes close. Author John Barnard, an obvious Reuther
admirer, occasionally excuses, defends, and apologizes for
the “ sins” committed by the labor leader. But that is a
common affliction among biographers, and Professor Bar
nard bridles his admiration enough to produce a concise and
well-written account of the leader of the United Auto Work
ers and his rise to power.
During his lifetime, the legendary Reuther shared the
labor spotlight with such luminaries as Philip Murray, John
L. Lewis, Sidney Hillman, and George Meany. One of the
most controversial figures of the labor movement, some
critics vilified him as a Communist menace, while others
labeled him a capitalist lackey. Reuther’s admirers called
him a genuis, a social architect, and one of the most out
standing men in America. A regular visitor to the White
House, he was admired, tolerated, or distrusted by presi
dents. Walter Reuther was that kind of person, and John
Barnard captures the essence of his character in this book.
Barnard traced the life of his subject from the cradle to
the grave. Bom in industrial Wheeling, W. Va., and weaned
on the Christian-Socialist philosophy of his Germanimmigrant father, the future uaw leader was the product of
a working-class environment. Moving to Detroit, Reuther,
already an experienced tool and die maker, secured a fore
man’s position at the Ford Motor Co. while still in his early
twenties, mostly on the basis of intellect, bravado, and
stamina. The economic collapse in 1929 and union organ
izing activities resulted in his discharge. With his brother
Victor, he left the United States to tour Europe, and even
tually worked in the Soviet Union for 18 months, ironically,
in a plant built and donated to the Russian people by Henry
Ford.
Reuther returned to the United States in 1935 and began
his steady climb to the presidencies of the Auto Workers
and Congress of Industrial Organizations (cio). With other
60
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
cio pioneers, including his brothers Victor and Roy, he
helped found the United Auto Workers. Walter Reuther
became a nationally known figure after a Detroit News pho
tographer captured on film the beating he and organizer
Richard Frankensteen received from company goons in the
immortal “ Battle of the Overpass” for trying to recruit Ford
Motor Co. workers into the union. Within a few years, as
Barnard clearly illustrates, Reuther and his uaw colleagues
brought the executives of Ford, General Motors, and Chrys
ler to the bargaining table.
After years of internecine power struggles among Com
munists, racketeers, and establishment factions, the uaw
chose Reuther as its president. Under his guidance, the union
pioneered in such areas as pension benefits, productivity
improvements, pay increases, cost-of-living allowances,
supplemental unemployment benefits, and the promotion of
racial equality in the shop. Many students of the labor move
ment believe that Reuther promoted the most progressive
socioeconomic labor program in U.S. history. According
to Barnard, the prescient labor leader predicted the problem
the American industrial sector would experience in the 1980’s
as early as the 1960’s and advocated reforms in the science
of management theory, productivity, and technological
planning to accommodate future changes. The author also
illustrates how these advanced theories, along with other
differences of opinion, led to the break in relations between
George Meany and Reuther, resulting in the departure of
the uaw from the afl - cio in 1968. An airplane crash in
1970 ended the life of the uaw president, but the union
carried on his legacy.
Barnard, in a conspicuously brief monograph, does a
good job of analyzing an intensely complex subject and
apparently portrays Reuther as some contemporaries often
viewed him. For example, the young unionist’s meteoric
rise to power— president of the uaw at the age of 39— his
aggressive, uncompromising drive, and temperance in a
field noted for its hard drinkers, caused resentment among
some colleagues as well as rivals. When President Franklin
D. Roosevelt, ebullient over Reuther’s plan to increase pro
ductivity in airplane manufacturing in World War II, greeted
him as his “ red-haired engineer,” disgruntled uaw Presi
dent R. J. Thomas shot back, “ . . . he’s just a tool and
die maker.” In another incident, President Harry S Truman
warned cio patriarch Philip Murray that Reuther was after
his job. Murray responded, “ No, Mr. President, he is really
after your jo b .” Barnard weaves these and other anecdotes
into the narrative, adding interest and insight to the generally
known incidents in the life of Walter Reuther.
Reuther, an intense and determined fighter, often altered
and even sacrificed loyalties to win a cause or protect his
image. He and his brother Victor wrote the “ Vic-Wal”
letters in the 1930’s praising the socialist system of the
Soviet Union; yet in later years, when socialist sympathies
were personal liabilities, they issued weak and unconvincing
disclaimers of parts of the letters. During his rise to power,
Reuther worked with and received the support of the u a w ’ s
Communist faction, then purged that group from the union
in the 1950’s. In fact, Reuther alienated most of his uaw
colleagues at some time or another. As Barnard states, “ All
the u a w ’ s prominent figures . . . had now drawn together
(by the early 1940’s) in a shaky defensive combination
against Reuther.” While Barnard covers these events in
lively prose, he has a tendency to whitewash what some
people believe was the dark side of Reuther’s personality.
This book has some minor annoyances. It is much too
brief considering the subject and abundance of resource
materials available. Apparently, the Library of American
Biography placed constraints on the author to maintain con
tinuity with other monographs in this biographical series.
The publishers admit that this is a “ concise, selective ac
count of Reuther’s life and stormy career.” Thus, some
incidents in the labor leader’s life are covered rather su
perficially. For example, the author covers the attempt on
Reuther’s life in 1948 when a shotgun blast ripped through
the kitchen window of the family home. By contrast, Frank
Cormier and William Eaton’s Reuther, published in 1970,
elaborates more on the dramatic preliminaries leading to the
attempt, providing the reader with a better perspective.
Another source of irritation is the lack of footnotes. The
author has compiled an excellent bibliography of both pri
mary and secondary sources, including the uaw papers in
the Archives of Labor History and Urban Affairs at Wayne
State University, but does not give the source of specific
citations. Serious scholars will want to know where the
author got some of his information, and how he formed
certain hypotheses. The other major Reuther biographies
often cited by scholars suffer from the same malady, and
publishers of future works should take note.
The final authoritative and comprehensive history of Wal
ter Reuther’s life has yet to be written. This book comple
ments other published biographies and, despite Professor
Barnard’s favorable interpretation of the subject, is more
objective than the work of some predecessors (for example,
Jane Gould and Lorena Hickock’s laudatory Walter Reuther:
Labor’s Rugged Individualist, and Eldorus Dayton’s highly
critical Walter Reuther: Autocrat o f the Bargaining Table).
Still, the most comprehensive study of the labor leader is
Reuther, which parallels the degree of objectivity in this
monograph. Thus, Walter Reuther and the Rise o f the Auto
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Workers is a good work that has a definite place in the
literature of the labor movement. Perhaps, it portrays the
labor leader as more saint than sinner, but future Reuther
biographers will probably revise and edit this and other
interpretations to define the man and his works according
to their perspectives.
— H enry P. G uzda
Historian
U.S. Department of Labor
An economic and social picture
Sociological Perspectives on Labor Markets. Edited by Ivar
Berg. New York, Academic Press, 1981. 374 pp. $31.
Professionals as Workers: Mental Labor in Advanced Cap
italism. Edited by Charles Derber. Boston, G. K. Hall
and Co., 1982. 231 pp. $25.
Professionals in Search o f Work: Coping with the Stress of
Job Loss and Underemployment. By H. G. Kaufman.
New York, John Wiley & Sons, 1982. 359 pp. $28.95.
Professionals Out o f Work. By Paula G. Leventman. New
York, The Free Press, 1981. 266 pp. $19.95.
Three of the four books reviewed here deal with the
changing labor market for professional workers. The authors
are academic social scientists, mainly sociologists and econ
omists.
The book edited by Ivar Berg is a collection of updated
papers presented at the 1979 and 1980 annual meetings of
the American Sociological Association and the Southern
Sociological Society. Berg hoped that these papers would
generate more systematic thinking among economists and
sociologists studying the same phenomena from different
perspectives, and introduce a sociological dimension in la
bor market studies.
Berg’s objectives have generally been met. In his paper,
Mark Granovetter has advocated more attention being paid
to the mechanisms of how both jobseekers and employers
are matched. He also maintains that the determinants of
labor market disequilibrium contain such sociological var
iables as resistance to migration and lack of information.
Paula England has demonstrated that while there has been
a decline in occupational sex segregation since 1900, World
War II had a more significant impact in the 1940’s than did
affirmative action programs and the women’s movement in
the 1970’s. Teresa Sullivan made a persuasive case for
placing more emphasis on nonmarket production, especially
self-sufficiency projects.
The most theoretical work was presented by Charles Der
ber in four of the book’s nine chapters. Derber’s main hy
pothesis is that professional workers are becoming
proletarianized and thus subject to the power and control of
61
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW March 1984 • Book Reviews
others. These workers are usually in large public or private
bureaucratic settings, not as self-employed individuals. The
loss of control over decisions concerning the objectives and
policy directions of their work has led to ideological pro
letarianization.
While this is not a new hypothesis, Derber differs from
the Marxist theorists in that he sees professionals retaining
control over their skills and technical expertise, unlike the
craftworkers of the 19th century who suffered technical pro
letarianization as well. His hypothesis, however, is con
firmed in the chapters on physicians, lawyers, academics,
engineers, and social workers.
H. G. Kaufman’s book also breaks new ground, for he
deals with the psychological effects of unemployment and
underemployment among highly educated workers, a ne
glected area. The study is based on a survey of engineers
and scientists who experienced long-term unemployment
and underemployment. Kaufman has compared his study to
earlier ones and thus his findings gain validity. It is an
extremely well-documented work.
He found that professionals experience more psycholog
ical stress than other workers. This includes lower self
esteem, motivation, and life expectancy, and higher levels
of anxiety, anomie, depression, isolation, and anger. There
are, of course, individual differences based upon such var
iables as age, marital status, education, occupation, and
career.
One chapter deals with the stages of unemployment. In
stage I, the individual experiences relief and relaxation,
followed by stage II of concerted effort to find employment.
In stage III, there is vacillation, self-doubt, and anger. The
final stage is one of resignation and withdrawal.
Underemployment may be an even greater problem than
unemployment, because professionals view their work as
having intrinsic value for their well-being and thus insuf
ficient utilization of their knowledge and skills creates con
siderable stress. Kaufman has presented a grim but accurate
picture.
Paula G. Leventman’s book parallels Kaufman’s work in
that it is based on two surveys of unemployed scientists,
engineers, and data systems analysts. The significant dif
ference is that she conducted indepth interviews which al
lows the reader to grasp a better understanding of the
sociopsychological difficulties faced by unemployed and un
deremployed professionals.
Leventman found that professionals suffered from the same
psychological stress mentioned by Kaufman and that fam
ilies experienced significant disruptions as well. Despite the
professionals’ feelings of confusion, alienation, and apathy,
they were not politically radicalized.
These works have broken new theoretical ground and
generated a lot of data. They are of great interest to labor
market economists and professional workers. Because labor
market projections indicate that employment problems will
62
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probably continue for many professionals, increased read
ership of these books may be expected.
— John D reijmanis
Humanities and Social Sciences Department
Wentworth Institute of Technology
Publications received
Economic growth and development
“ Appalachia: The Economic Outlook Through the Eighties,’’ Ap
palachia, November-December 1983, pp. 1-14.
Samuelson, Paul A., “ Thurien at Two Hundred,” Journal of Eco
nomic Literature, December 1983, pp. 1468-88.
Economic and social statistics
Carlson, Rodney L. and M. Michael Umble, “ Forecasting the
Demand for Automobiles, 1983-1985: A Disaggregate Ap
proach,” Akron Business and Economic Review, Winter 1983,
pp. 35-41.
Glick, Paul C., “ How American Families are Changing,” Amer
ican Demographics, January 1984, pp. 20-25.
Lancaster, Tony and Andrew Chesher, “ An Econometric Analysis
of Reservation Wages,” Econometricia, November 1983, pp.
1661-76.
Meyer, Robert H. and David A. Wise, “ Discontinuous Distri
butions and Missing Persons: The Minimum Wage and Un
employed Youth,” Econometricia, November 1983, pp. 1677—
98.
Riche, Martha Farnsworth, comp., “ 1984 Demographic Services
Directory,” American Demographics, January 1984, pp. 3241.
Industrial relations
Addison, John T., “ The Evolving Debate on Unions and Pro
ductivity,” The Journal of Industrial Relations, September
1983, pp. 286-300.
Booth, Alison, “ A Reconsideration of Trade Union Growth in the
United Kingdom,” British Journal of Industrial Relations,
November 1983, pp. 377-91.
Bradley, Keith and Stephen Hill, “ ‘After Japan’ : The Quality
Circle Transplant and Productive Efficiency,” British Journal
of Industrial Relations, November 1983, pp. 291-311.
Chelius, James R. and Marian M. Extejt, “ The Impact of Arbi
tration on the Process of Collective Bargaining,” Journal of
Collective Negotiations in the Public Sector, Vol. 12, No. 4,
1983, pp. 327-36.
Creighton, W. B. and E. J. Micallef, “ Occupational Health and
Safety as an Industrial Relations Issue: The Rank-General
Electric Dispute, 1981, “The Journal of Industrial Relations,
September 1983, pp. 255-68.
Dickinson, David S., “ The Unmaking of a Union,” Journal of
Collective Negotiations in the Public Sector, Vol. 12, No. 4,
1983, pp. 259-70.
Edwards, P. K., “ The End of American Strike Statistics,” British
Journal of Industrial Relations, November 1983, pp. 39294.
Eyraud, Francois, “ The Principles of Union Action in the Engi
neering Industries in Great Britain and France: Towards a
Neo-Institutional Analysis of Industrial Relations,” British
Journal of Industrial Relations, November 1983, pp. 358—
76.
Gospel, Howard F, “ Trade Unions and the Legal Obligation to
Bargain: An American, Swedish and British Comparison,”
British Journal of Industrial Relations, November 1983, pp.
343-57.
Great Britain, Department of Employment, “ Industrial Stoppages
1982: Analyses by Standard Industrial Classification Revised
1980,” Employment Gazette, November 1983, pp. 475-76.
Lewis, Donald E., “ The Measurement and Interpretation of the
Segregation of Women in the Workforce,” The Journal of
Industrial Relations, September 1983, pp. 347-52.
McGavin, P. A., “ The Measurement of the Occupational and
Industrial Segregation of Women: A Re-appraisal,” The Jour
nal of Industrial Relations, September 1983, pp. 339-46.
Mitchell, Daniel J. B., “ Unions and Wages in the Public Sector:
A Review of Recent Evidence,” Journal of Collective Ne
gotiations in the Public Sector, Vol. 12, No. 4, 1983, pp.
337-53.
Perry, James L. and Harold L. Angle, “ Collective Bargaining and
Organizational Performance: The Case of Public Transit,”
Journal of Collective Negotiations in the Public Sector, Vol.
12, No. 4, 1983, pp. 271-82.
Vaughan, Edward, “ Structure and Strategy in the Case for Worker
Participation,” The Journal of Industrial Relations, Septem
ber 1983, pp. 317-26.
International economics
Baranson, Jack, Robots in Manufacturing: Key to International
Competitiveness. Mt. Airy, Md., Lomond Publications, Inc.,
1983, 152 pp. $32.50, cloth; $16.50, microfiche.
Boothe, Paul, “ Speculative Profit Opportunities in the Canadian
Foreign Exchange Market, 1974-78,” The Canadian Journal
of Economics, November 1983, pp. 603-11.
Bos worth, Derek L ., ed., The Employment Consequences of Tech
nological Change. London, The Macmillan Press, Ltd., 1983,
236 pp. $34.50, Holmes & Meier Publishers, Inc., New York.
Dyson, Kenneth and Stephen Wilks, eds., Industrial Crisis: A
Comparative Study of the State and Industry. New York, St.
Martin’s Press, 1983, 283 pp. $32.50.
Gylfason, Thorvaldur and Michael Schmid, “ Does Devaluation
Cause Stagflation?” The Canadian Journal of Economics,
November 1983, pp. 641-54.
Lancaster, Carol, “ Africa’s Economic Crisis,” Foreign Policy,
Fall 1983, pp. 149-66.
Mossavar-Rahmani, Bijan, “ The
icy, Fall 1983, pp. 136-48.
o pec
Multiplier,” Foreign Pol
“ The 69th Session of the International Labor Conference, June
1983,” International Labour Review, November-December
1983, pp. 669-90.
Tumovsky, Stephen J., “ Wage Indexation and Exchange Market
Intervention in a Small Open Economy,” The Canadian Jour
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
nal of Economics, November 1983, pp. 574-92.
Wexler, Imanuel, The Marshall Plan Revisited: The European
Recovery Program in Economic Perspective. Westport, Conn.,
Greenwood Press, 1983, 327 pp. (Contributions in Economics
and Economic History, 55,) $35.
Labor force
Anker, Richard, “ Female Labor Force Participation in Developing
Countries: A Critique of Current Definitions and Data Col
lection Methods,” International Labour Review, NovemberDecember 1983, pp. 709-23.
Australia, Department of Employment and Industrial Relations,
“ The Human Resources Implications of Robots in the United
States,” by Marvin S. Katzman, Work and People, Vol. 9,
No. 1, 1983, pp. 19-22.
Carr, Shirley G. E., “ Sex-based Discrimination in Employment:
Problems and Progress in Canada,” International Labour
Review, November-December 1983, pp. 761-70.
Great Britain, Department of Employment, “ Regional and Age
Variations in Unemployment Flow,” Employment Gazette,
November 1983, pp. 470-74.
-------- Screening
in the Recruitment of Young Workers. By Rowland
Livock. London, England, Department of Employment, 1983,
51 pp. (Research Paper, 41.)
-------- The
Relative Pay and Employment of Young People. By Wil
liam Wells. London, England, Department of Employment,
1983, 102 pp. (Research Paper, 42.)
Hirsch, Werner Z. and Anthony M. Rufolo, eds., The Economics
of Municipal Labor Markets. Los Angeles, University of Cal
ifornia, Institute of Industrial Relations, 1983, 388 pp. (Mon
ograph and Research Series, 33.)
Meyer, Robert H. and David A. Wise, High School Preparation
and Early Labor Force Experience. Reprinted from The Youth
Labor Market Problem: Its Nature, Causes, and Conse
quences, edited by Richard B. Freeman and David A. Wise,
pp. 277-347. Cambridge, Mass., National Bureau of Eco
nomic Research, Inc., 1983. ( n b e r Reprint, 396.) $1.50.
New Jersey, Department of Commerce and Economic Develop
ment, New Jersey’s High Technology Economy: A Profile of
Recent Developments and Comparative Performance. By
Thomas A. Minde. Trenton, New Jersey Department of Com
merce and Economic Development, Office of Economic Re
search, 1983, 51 pp.
Ogawa, Naohiro and Daniel B. Suits “ Retirement Policy and
Japanese Workers: Some Results of an Opinion Survey,”
International Labour Review, November-December 1983,
pp. 733-46.
Queen’s University at Kingston, Canadian Labor Markets in the
1980’s (Proceedings of a Conference Held at Queen’s Uni
versity at Kingston, February 25-26, 1983). Kingston, On
tario, Canada, Queen’s University at Kingston, The Industrial
Relations Center, 1983, 253 pp. $20, paper.
Management and organization theory
Farley, Jennie, ed., The Woman in Management: Career and Fam
ily Issues. Ithaca, N.Y., Cornell University, New York State
School of Industrial and Labor Relations, 1983, 102 pp. $8.95,
paper, i l r Press, Box 1000, Ithaca, N.Y. 14853.
63
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW March 1984 • Book Reviews
Great Britain, Department of Employment, “ Employee Involve
ment in Work Redesign,” by Geoff White, Employment Ga
zette, November 1983, pp. 465-69.
King, Patricia, Performance Planning and Appraisal: A How-toBook for Managers. New York, McGraw-Hill Book Co.,
1984, 160 pp. $24.95.
Munson, Lawrence S., How to Conduct Training Seminars. New
York, McGraw-Hill Book Co., 1984, 185 pp. $24.95.
Page, Stephen Butler, Business Policies and Procedures Hand
book: How to Create Professional Policy and Procedure Pub
lications. Englewood Cliffs, N.J., Prentice-Hall, Inc., 1984,
183 pp. $19.95 cloth; $10.95, paper.
Taylor, A. Robert, How to Select and Use an Executive Search
Firm. New York, McGraw-Hill Book Co., 1984, 143 pp.
$24.95.
Productivity and technological change
Wilson, Marilyn with Miriam Rozen, “ What’s Coming Next in
Robotics?” Dun’s Business Month, November 1983, pp. 7072.
Wages and compensation
Gold, Michael Evan, A Dialogue on Comparable Worth. Ithaca,
N.Y., Cornell University, New York State School of Indus
trial and Labor Relations, 1983, 111 pp. $14, cloth; $7.50,
paper, i l r Press, Box 1000, Ithaca, N.Y. 14853.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Area Wage Surveys: Columbus,
Ohio, Metropolitan Area, October 1983 (Bulletin 3020-49,
37 pp., $3.75); Kansas City, Missouri-Kansas, Metropolitan
Area, September 1983 (Bulletin 3020-50, 42 pp., $3.75).
Available from the Superintendent of Documents, Washing
ton 20402, g p o bookstores, or b l s regional offices.
------- -Industry
Williamson, Nicholas C., “ Productivity—Another Japanese Ex
port,” Business, October-November-December 1983, pp.
3-10.
Wage Survey: Appliance Repair, November 1981.
Prepared by Harry B. Williams. Washington, 1983, 29pp.
(Bulletin 2177.) Stock No. 029-001-02790-7. $1, Super
intendent of Documents, Washington 20402.
Dissatisfaction— extent of the problem
The broad causes of [job] dissatisfaction are not hard to find . . . . In
1974, the Director-General of the International Labor Office stated:
Far too many workers are in deadend jobs, requiring the exercise of
little or no initiative or responsibility, with few prospects of advancement
or mobility to other types of work. Far too many workers perform tasks
which are far below their intellectual capacity, and which they consider
to be degrading in relation to the education which they have received. In
many industries and occupations, work has been “ rationalized” to an
extreme, broken down into simple, negative and monotonous jobs which
are fit for an unthinking robot, but which are an insult to the dignity, the
aspirations and the cultural level of 20th century man.
— T. M. F r a s e r
Human Stress, Work and Job Satisfaction:
A Critical Approach (Washington, International
Labor Office, 1983), p. 29.
64
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Current
Labor Statistics
Notes on Current Labor Statistics
. . . ■..............................................................................................................................................
66
Schedule of release dates for major BLS statistical series ...........................................................................................
66
Employment data from household survey. Definitions and notes .........................................................................
67
67
68
69
70
71
72
72
72
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
Employment status of the noninstitutional population, 16 years and over, selected years, 1950-83 ................................
Employment status of the population, including Armed Forces in the United States, by sex, seasonally adjusted . . . . .
Employment status of the civilian population, by sex, age, race, and Hispanic origin, seasonally adjusted ...................
Selected employment indicators, seasonally ad ju sted ......................................................................................................................
Selected unemployment indicators, seasonally ad ju sted ....................................................I ..........................................................
Unemployment rates, by sex and age, seasonally adjusted ...........
Unemployed persons, by reason for unemployment, seasonally adjusted...........................
Duration of unemployment, seasonally adjusted................................................................................................... > . . . ...................
Employment, hours, and earnings data from establishment surveys. Definitions and notes
...
Employment by industry, selected years, 1950-82 ........................................................................................................................
Employment by State .............................................................................................................. ............... i .............................................
Employment by industry division and major manufacturing group, seasonally a d ju sted .......................................................
Hours and earnings, by industry division, selected years, 1950-82 ...........................................................................................
Weekly hours, by industry division and major manufacturing group, seasonally adjusted ..................................................
Hourly earnings, by industry division and major manufacturing group ....................................................................................
Hourly Earnings Index, by industry division ..................................................................................................................
Weekly earnings, by industry division and major manufacturing g r o u p ....................................... ............................................
Indexes of diffusion: industries in which employment in creased ..................................................................................................
73
74
74
75
76
77
78
78
79
79
Unemployment insurance data. Definitions..............................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................
80
80
Price data. Definitions and notes ......................................................................................................
81
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18. Unemployment insurance and employment service operations
19.
20.
21.
22.
23.
24.
25.
26.
27.
Consumer Price Index, 1967-82 ................................................................
Consumer Price Index, U.S. city average, general summary and selected it e m s ....................................................................
Consumer Price Index, cross-classification of region and population size c l a s s ......................................................................
Consumer Price Index, selected areas ......................
Producer Price Indexes, by stage of processing ...............................................................................................................................
Producer Price Indexes, by commodity groupings .....................................................................................................................
Producer Price Indexes, by special commodity grou p in gs.............................................................................................................
Producer Price Indexes, by durability of product ..................
Producer Price Indexes for the output of selected SIC industries ...............................................................................................
Productivity data. Definitions and notes
28.
29.
30.
31.
.....................................................................................................................................
Annual indexes of productivity, hourly compensation, unit costs, and prices, selected years. 1950-83 .........................
Annual changes in productivity, hourly compensation, unit costs, and prices, 1972-83 .....................................................
Quarterly indexes of productivity, hourly compensation, unit costs, and prices, seasonally adjusted ............
Percent change from preceding quarter and year in productivity, hourly compensation, unitcosts, and p r ic e s...............
Wage and compensation data. Definitions and notes
32.
33.
34.
35.
36.
........................................................................... .......................
Employment Cost Index, total compensation, by occupation and industry group ..................................................................
Employment Cost Index, wages and salaries, by occupation and industry group ..................................................................
Employment Cost Index, private nonfarm workers, by bargaining status, region, and areasize .........................................
Wage and compensation change, major collective bargaining settlements, 1978 to d a te .............................
Effective wage adjustments in collective bargaining units covering 1,000 workers or more,1978 to date .......................
Work stoppage data. Definition
..........................................................................................................................................................
37. Work stoppages involving 1,000 workers or more, 1947 to date ...............................................................................................
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
82
82
88
89
90
91
93
93
94
95
95
96
96
97
98
99
100
101
102
102
103
103
65
NOTES ON CURRENT LABOR STATISTICS
This section of the R eview presents the principal statistical series
collected and calculated by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. A brief
introduction to each group of tables provides definitions, notes on
the data, sources, and other material usually found in footnotes.
Readers who need additional information are invited to consult
the BLS regional offices listed on the inside front cover of this
issue of the R eview . Some general notes applicable to several series
are given below.
quarter to quarter are published for numerous Consumer and Producer
Price Index series. However, seasonally adjusted indexes are not published
for the U .S. average. All Items CPI. Only seasonally adjusted percent
changes are available for this series. Adjustments for price changes. Some
data are adjusted to eliminate the effect of changes in price. These ad
justments are made by dividing current dollar values by the Consumer
Price Index or the appropriate component of the index, then multiplying
by 100. For example, given a current hourly wage rate of $3 and a current
price index number of 150, where 1967 = 100, the hourly rate expressed
in 1967 dollars is $2 ($3/150 x 100 = $2). The resulting values are
described as “ real,” “ constant,” or “ 1967” dollars.
Seasonal adjustment. Certain monthly and quarterly data are adjusted to
eliminate the effect o f such factors as climatic conditions, industry pro
duction schedules, opening and closing of schools, holiday buying periods,
and vacation practices, which might otherwise mask short-term movements
o f the statistical series. Tables containing these data are identified as “ sea
sonally adjusted.” Seasonal effects are estimated on the basis of past
experience. When new seasonal factors are computed each year, revisions
may affect seasonally adjusted data for several preceding years.
Seasonally adjusted labor force data in tables 3 - 8 were revised in the
February 1984 issue o f the Review, to reflect experience through 1983.
Beginning in January 1980, the BLS introduced two major modifications
in the seasonal adjustment methodology for labor force data. First, the
data are being seasonally adjusted with a new procedure called X -11/
ARIMA, which was developed at Statistics Canada as an extension of the
standard X -11 method. A detailed description of the procedure appears in
The X -ll ARIMA Seasonal Adjustment Method by Estela Bee Dagum
(Statistics Canada Catalogue No. 12-564E, February 1980). The second
change is that seasonal factors are now being calculated for use during the
first 6 months o f the year, rather than for the entire year, and then are
calculated at mid-year for the July-December period. Revisions of historical
data continue to be made only at the end of each calendar year.
Annual revision o f the seasonally adjusted payroll data shown in tables
11, 13, and 15 were made in July 1983 using the X -l 1 ARIMA seasonal
adjustment methodology. New seasonal factors for productivity data in
tables 29 and 30 are usually introduced in the September issue. Seasonally
adjusted indexes and percent changes from month to month and from
Availability of information. Data that supplement the tables in this section
are published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics in a variety of sources.
Press releases provide the latest statistical information published by the
Bureau; the major recurring releases are published according to the schedule
given below. More information from household and establishment surveys
is provided in Employment and Earnings, a monthly publication o f the
Bureau. Comparable household information is published in a two-volume
data book -Labor Force Statistics Derived From the Current Population
Survey, Bulletin 2096. Comparable establishment information appears in
two data books -Employment and Earnings, United States, and Employ
ment and Earnings, States and Areas, and their annual supplements. More
detailed information on wages and other aspects of collective bargaining
appears in the monthly periodical. Current Wage Developments. More
detailed price information is published each month in the periodicals, the
CPI Detailed Report and Producer Prices and Price Indexes.
Symbols
p = preliminary. To improve the timeliness of some series, pre
liminary figures are issued based on representative but in
complete returns.
r = revised. Generally, this revision reflects the availability of
later data but may also reflect other adjustments,
n.e.c. = not elsewhere classified.
Schedule of release dates for BLS statistical series
S e rie s
R e le a s e
P e rio d
R e le a s e
P e rio d
R e le a s e
P e rio d
date
c o ve re d
date
c o ve re d
date
c o ve re d
M L R ta b le
num ber
E m p lo ym e n t situation
...........................................
M arch 9
F eb ru a ry
Ap ril 6
M arch
M ay 4
April
1 -1 1
P ro d u c e r Price In d e x
...........................................
M arch 16
Feb ru a ry
Ap ril 13
M arch
M a y 11
Ap ril
2 3 -2 7
C o n s u m e r P rice I n d e x ...........................................
M arch 23
Feb ru a ry
Ap ril 24
M arch
M ay 22
April
1 9 -2 2
Real e a r n in g s .............................................................
M arch 23
Feb ru a ry
A p ril 24
M arch
M a y 22
Ap ril
1 2 -1 6
A p ril 26
1st q uarter
M a y 29
1st q uarter
P ro d u c tivity an d costs:
A pril 27
A p ril 30
66
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
2 8 -3 1
28 31
3 5 -3 6
1st q u arter
3 2 -3 4
EMPLOYMENT DATA FROM THE HOUSEHOLD SURVEY
E
in this section are obtained from the Current
Population Survey, a program of personal interviews conducted
monthly by the Bureau of the Census for the Bureau of Labor
Statistics. The sample consists of about 60,000 households selected
to represent the U.S population 16 years of age and older. House
holds are interviewed on a rotating basis, so that three-fourths of
the sample is the same for any 2 consecutive months.
m
p l o y m
e n t
rate for all civilian workers 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
housework, those not working while attending school, those unable to
work because of 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, sani
tariums, or homes for the aged, infirm, or needy, and members o f the
Armed Forces stationed in the United States. The labor force participation
rate is the proportion of the noninstitutional population that is in the labor
force. The employment-population ratio is total employment (including
the resident Armed Forces) as a percent of the noninstitutional population.
d a t a
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 em
ployed total. A person working at more than one job is counted only in
the job at which he or she worked the greatest number of hours.
Unemployed persons are those who did not work during the survey
week, but were available for work except for temporary illness and had
looked for jobs within the preceding 4 weeks. Persons who did not look
for work because they were on layoff or waiting to start new jobs within
the next 30 days are also counted among the'unemployed. The overall
unemployment rate represents the number unemployed as a percent of
the labor force, including the resident Armed Forces. The unemployment
1.
Notes on the data
From time to time, and especially after a decennial census, adjustments
are made in the Current Population Survey figures to correct for estimating
errors during the preceding years. These adjustments affect the compara
bility of historical data presented in table 1. A description of these ad
justments and their effect on the various data series appear in the Explanatory
Notes of Employment and Earnings.
Data in tables 2 - 8 are seasonally adjusted, based on the seasonal ex
perience through December 1983.
Employment status of the noninstitutional population, 16,years and over, selected years, 1950-83
[ N u m b e r s in t h o u s a n d s ]
L a b o r f o rc e
E m p lo ye d
N o n in s ti
Year
tu tion a l
p o p u la tio n
Num ber
p o p u la tio n
U n e m p lo y e d
N o t in
C ivilia n
P e rc e n t ot
To ta l
P erc en t of
p o p u la tio n
R e s id e n t
P e rc e n t of
N o n a g ri-
A rm e d
F o rc e s
To ta l
A g ric u ltu re
Num ber
c u ltu ra l
la b o r torce
la b o r
force
in d u s trie s
1950
..................
106,164
63,377
59.7
1955
1960
..................
..................
111.747
67,087
119,106
71,489
1965
..................
128,459
76,401
1966
..................
130,180
77,892
1967
..................
132,092
79,565
60.2
1968
..................
134,281
80,990
60.3
1969
..................
1 3 6,573
82,972
60.8
1970
1971
..................
..................
139,203
84,889
86,355
6 1.0
60.7
80,796
142,189
81,340
57.2
1,973
79,367
3,394
75.972
1972
..................
145,939
88,847
60.9
83,966
1,813
82,153
3,484
..................
..................
148,870
151,841
91,203
86,838
1,774
85,064
3,470
4,355
4.8
5 7 ,667
93,670
61.3
61.7
78,669
81.594
4,882
1973
1974
57.5
58.3
88,515
58.3
1,721
86,794
3,515
83,279
5,156
5.5
58,171
5 9 ,377
60,087
56.6
60.0
64,234
60.0
67,639
59 5
73,034
56.9
59.8
75,017
57 6
76,590
58.0
78,173
80,140
58.0
2,118
58,918
7,160
3 ,288
5.2
4 2 ,787
57.5
1,169
2,064
62,170
6.450
55,722
2,852
4.3
4 4 ,660
56.8
1,861
65,778
5,458
60,318
3 ,852
5.4
4 6 ,617
1,946
71,088
4,361
66,726
2,122
72,895
3,979
68,915
2 ,875
3.7
5 2 ,288
2,218
74,372
3,844
70,527
3.7
5 2 ,527
58.2
2,253
75,920
3,817
72,103
2,975
2,817
58.7
2,238
77,902
3 ,606
74,296
2,832
3.5
3.4
53,291
5 3 ,602
78,678
3,463
75,215
4,093
4.8
5,016
5.8
5.5
5 4 ,315
5 5 ,834
51,758
3 ,366
4.4
5 2 ,058
57,091
1975
..................
154,831
95,453
61.6
87,524
56.5
1,678
85,845
3,408
82,438
7,929
8.3
1976
..................
157,818
97,826
62.0
90,420
57 3
1,668
88,752
3,331
85,421
7,406
7.6
59,991
1977
..................
160,689
62.6
1,656
92,017
6,991
6.9
6 0 ,025
153,541
63.5
59.7
96,048
92,661
6,202
6.0
5 9 ,6 5 9
1979
..................
166,460
106,559
64.0
100,421
60.3
1,631
1,597
3,283
3,387
88,734
..................
93,673
97,679
58.3
1978
100,665
103,882
98,824
3,347
95,477
6,137
5.8
5 9 ,900
1980
..................
169,349
108,544
64.1
100,907
59.6
1,604
99,303
3,364
95,938
7,637
7.0
6 0 ,8 0 6
..................
1981
65.2
102,042
59.4
1,645
100,397
3,368
97,030
8,273
7.5
..................
1 71,775
1 73,939
110,315
1982
111,872
64.3
101,194
58.2
1,668
96,125
6 2 ,0 6 7
175,891
113,226
64.4
102,510
58.3
1,676
3,383
97,450
10,578
10,717
9 .5
..................
99,526
100,834
3,401
1983
9.5
6 2 .6 6 5
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6 1 ,4 6 0
67
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW March 1984 • Current Labor Statistics: Household Data
2.
Employment status of the population, including Armed Forces in the United States, by sex, seasonally adjusted
[Numbers in thousands]
1983
A n n u a l a ve ra g e
1984
E m p lo y m e n t statu s a n d s a x
1982
1983
Ja n .
Feb .
M ar.
A p r.
M ay
Ju n e
J u ly
Aug.
Sep t.
Oct.
Nov
D ec.
Ja n .
TO TA L
N on in s b tu tio n a l p o p u la tio n 1- 2 .............................
L a b o r fo rc e 2
..........................................................
P articipation rate3
................................
To ta l e m p lo y e d 2
E m p lo ym e n t-p o p u la tio n rate4 . . . .
173,939
175,891
175,021
175,169
175,320
175,465
175,622
175,793
175,970
176,122
176,297
176,474
176,636
176,809
1 77,219
111,872
113,226
112,344
112,352
112,399
112,646
112,619
113,573
113,489
113,799
113,924
113,561
113,720
113,824
113,901
64 .3
64.4
64.2
64.1
64.1
64.2
64.1
64.6
64.5
6 4.6
6 4.6
64.3
64.4
64.4
64 .3
101,194
102,510
100,821
100,836
100,980
101,277
101,431
102,411
102,889
103,166
103,571
103,665
104,291
104,629
104,876
58.2
57.7
57.8
58.3
58 5
58.6
58.7
R esid en t A rm e d F o rc e s 1 .........................
1,668
58 .3
1,676
5 7 .6
1,667
57.6
1,664
57.6
1,664
1,671
1,669
1,668
1,664
1,682
1,695
1,695
1,685
1,688
1,686
C ivilia n e m p l o y e d .......................................
99,526
100,834
99,154
99,172
99,316
99,606
99,762
100,743
101,225
101,484
101,876
101,970
58.7
102,606
102,941
1 0 3,190
59.0
59.2
59 .2
A g r i c u l t u r e ...............................................
3,401
3,383
3,420
3 ,415
3,386
3,479
3,499
3,449
3,308
3 ,240
3 ,257
3,356
3,271
96,125
97,450
95,734
95,757
95,930
3,392
96,214
3,374
N on a gric u ltu ra l i n d u s t r i e s ..................
96,388
97,264
97,726
98,035
98,568
98,730
99,349
99,585
9 9 ,9 1 8
U n e m p l o y e d ......................................................
10,678
10,717
11,523
11,516
11,419
11,369
11,188
11,162
10,600
10,633
10,353
9 ,896
9 ,429
9,195
9 ,0 2 6
U n e m p lo ym e n t rate5 .............................
N o t in la b o r fo rc e
...............................................
9.5
9.5
10.3
10.2
10.2
10.1
9.9
9.8
9.3
9 .3
9.1
8.7
8.3
8.1
79
62,067
62,665
62,677
62,817
62,921
62,819
63,003
62,220
62,481
62,323
62,373
62,913
62,916
62,985
6 3 ,3 1 8
84,173
64,807
84,261
84,344
84,423
84,506
8 4 ,745
64,877
64,709
64,846
64,838
6 4 ,9 3 0
M e n , 16 y e a r s a n d o v e r
.............................
83,052
84,064
83,652
83,720
83,789
83,856
83,931
84,014
84,099
..........................................................
63,979
64,580
64,017
64,077
64,096
64,311
64,348
64,778
64,840
N on in stitu tion a l p op u la tio n 1-2
L a b o r fo rc e 2
................................
77 .0
76.8
76.5
76.5
76.5
76.7
76.7
77.1
77.1
77.0
7 7.0
76.7
76.8
76.7
76 .6
To ta l e m p lo ye d 2 ...............................................
E m p lo ym e n t-p o p u la tio n rate4 . . . .
57,800
58,320
69.4
57,334
57,321
57,423
58,369
58,592
58,607
58,828
58,950
59,389
59,580
59,781
68 .5
68.5
57,589
68.7
57,744
68.5
68.8
69.5
69.7
69.6
6 9.8
69 .9
70.3
70.5
70 5
P a rticipation rate3
69 .6
R esid en t A rm e d F o rc e s 1 .........................
1,527
1,533
1,531
1,528
1,528
1,530
1,528
1,525
1,521
1,538
1,549
1,543
1,534
1,537
1,542
C ivilia n e m p l o y e d .......................................
56,271
56,787
55,803
55,793
55,895
56,059
56,216
56,844
57,071
57,069
57,279
57,407
57,855
58,043
5 8 ,239
U n e m p l o y e d ......................................................
6 ,179
6,260
6,683
6,756
6,673
6,722
6,604
6,409
6,248
6,200
6,049
5 ,759
5,457
5,258
5 ,149
U n e m p lo ym e n t rate5 .............................
9.7
9.7
10.4
10.5
10.4
10.5
10.3
9.9
9.6
9.6
9 3
8.9
8.4
8.1
7 .9
W o m e n , 16 y e a r s a n d o v e r
.............................
90,887
91,827
91,369
91,449
91,532
91,609
91,691
91,779
91,871
91,949
92,036
92,129
92,214
92,302
9 2 ,4 7 4
..........................................................
47,894
48,646
48,327
48,275
48,303
48,335
48,271
48,795
48,649
48,992
49,047
48,852
48,874
48,986
48,971
52.7
53.0
44,190
5 2.9
52.8
52.8
52.8
52.6
53.2
53.0
53.3
53.3
53 .0
53 .0
43,487
43,515
43,557
43,688
43,687
44,042
44,297
44,559
44,743
44,715
44,902
53.1
45,049
4 5 .094
48.1
4 7.6
47 .6
47.6
47.7
47.6
48.0
48.2
48.5
144
48.6
48.5
48.7
48.8
N on in stitu tion a l p o p u la tio n 1-2
L a b o r fo r c e 2
P articipation rate3
.................................
To ta l e m p lo y e d 2 ...............................................
43,395
47.7
E m p lo ym e n t-p o p u la tio n rate4 . . . .
530
R esid en t A rm e d F o rc e s 1 .........................
139
136
136
136
141
141
143
152
151
151
43,256
43,351
43,379
43,421
43,547
43.899
44,415
44,597
44,563
44,751
44.898
4 4 ,9 5 0
U n e m p l o y e d ......................................................
4,499
4,457
4,840
4,760
4,746
4,647
43,546
4,584
143
44,154
146
C ivilia n e m p l o y e d ........................................
143
44,047
4 8 .8
144
4,753
4,352
4,433
4,304
4,137
3,972
3,937
3 .8 7 6
U n e m p lo ym e n t rate5 .............................
9.4
9.2
10.0
9.9
9.8
9.6
9.5
9.7
8.9
9.0
8.8
8.5
8.1
8 .0
7 .9
1T h e p op u la tion and A rm e d F orc es figu re s are not a djusted fo r sea son a l va ria tio n.
i n c l u d e s m e m b e rs o f th e A rm e d F orc es stationed in the United States.
3 L a b o r fo rc e a s a p ercen t o f the non in stitu tion a l pop u la tion .
4 Total employed as a percent of the noninstitutional population.
5Unemployment as a percent of the labor force (including the resident Armed Forces).
#■
68
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
.
3.
Employment status of the civilian population by sex, age, race, and Hispanic origin, seasonally adjusted
[Num bers in thousands]
1984
1983
A n n u a l a ve ra g e
E m p lo y m e n t sta tu s
Feb.
M ar.
Ap r.
M ay
Ju n e
J u ly
Aug.
Sep t.
Oct.
N o v.
D ec.
Ja n .
173,354
110,677
63.8
99,154
57.2
11,523
10.4
62,677
173,505
110,688
63.8
99,172
57.2
11,516
10.4
62,817
173,656
110,735
63.8
99,316
57.2
11,419
10.3
62,921
173,794
110,975
63.9
99,606
57.3
11,369
10.2
62,819
173,953
110,950
63.8
99,762
57.3
11,188
10.1
63,003
174,125
111,905
64.3
100,743
57.9
11,162
10.0
62,220
174,306
111,825
64.2
101,225
58.1
10,600
9.5
62,481
174,440
112,117
64.3
101,484
58.2
10,633
9.5
62,323
174,602
112,229
64.3
101,876
58.3
10,353
9.2
62,373
174,779
111,866
64.0
101,970
58.3
9,896
8.8
62,913
174,951
112,035
64.0
102,606
58.6
9,429
8.4
62,916
175,121
112,136
64.0
102,941
58.8
9,195
8.2
62,985
175,533
112,215
63.9
103,190
58.8
9,026
8.0
63,318
74,872
58,744
78.5
53,4897
71.4
2,429
51,058
5,257
8.9
74,339
58,131
78.2
52,508
70.6
2,436
50,072
5,623
9.7
74,434
58,225
78.2
52,508
70.5
2,402
50,106
5,717
9.8
74,528
58,268
78.2
52,673
70.7
2,425
50,248
5,595
9.6
74,511
58,512
78.4
52,830
70.8
2,421
50,409
5,682
9.7
74,712
58,546
78.4
52,963
70.9
2,440
50,523
5,583
9.5
74,814
58,844
78.7
53,492
71.5
2,497
50,995
5,352
9.1
74,927
58,982
78.7
53,765
71.8
2,521
51,244
5,217
8.8
75,012
58,954
78.6
53,804
71.7
2,475
51,329
5,150
8.7
75,115
59,012
78.6
53,947
71.8
2,431
51,516
5,065
8.6
75,216
58,949
78.4
54,140
72.0
2,376
51,764
4,809
8.2
75,327
59,053
78,4
54,457
72.3
2,336
52,121
4,596
7.8
75,433
59,050
78.3
54,658
72.5
2,374
52,284
4,392
7.4
75,692
59,299
78 3
54,999
72.7
2,356
52,643
4,300
7.3
82,864
43,699
52.7
40,086
48.4
601
39,485
3,613
8.3
84,069
44,636
53.1
41,004
48.8
620
40,384
3,632
8.1
83,490
44,234
53.0
40,255
48.2
617
39,638
3,979
9.0
83,593
44,248
52.9
40,315
48.2
640
39,675
3,933
8.9
83,699
44,259
52.9
40,368
48.2
632
39,736
3,891
8.8
83,794
44,311
52 9
40,531
48.4
621
39,910
3,780
8.5
83,899
44,331
52.8
40,583
48.4
605
39,978
3,748
8.5
84,008
44,684
53.2
40.847
48.6
634
40,213
3.837
8.6
84,122
44,647
53.1
41,123
48.9
613
40,510
3,524
7.9
84,224
44,896
533
41,298
49.0
627
40,671
3.598
8.0
84.333
45,062
53.4
41,550
49.3
581
40,969
3.512
7.8
84,443
44,936
53.2
41,570
49 2
597
40,973
3,366
7.5
84,553
44,953
53.2
41,738
49.4
638
41,100
3,215
7.2
84,666
45,024
53.2
41,843
49 4
653
41,190
c3 .181
7.1
84.860
44,981
53.0
41,798
493
625
41,174
3,182
7.1
15,763
8,526
54.1
6,549
41.5
378
6,171
1,977
23.2
15,274
8,171
53.5
6,342
41.5
334
6,008
1,829
22.4
15,525
8,312
53.5
6,391
41.2
367
6,024
1,921
23.1
15.478
8,215
53.1
6,349
41.0
373
5,976
1,866
22.7
15,429
8,208
53.2
6,275
40.7
329
5,946
1,933
23.6
15.389
8,152
53.0
6,245
40.6
350
5,895
1,907
23.4
15,342
8,073
52 6
6,216
40.5
329
5,887
1,857
23.0
15.303
8,377
54.7
6.404
41.8
348
6.056
1,973
23.6
15,257
8,196
53.7
6.337
41.5
365
5,972
1,859
22.7
15,204
8.267
54.4
6.382
42.0
347
6,035
1.885
22.8
15.154
8.155
53.8
6,379
42.1
296
6.083
1.776
21.8
15.120
7.981
52.8
6.260
41.4
267
5.993
1.721
21.6
15.072
8,029
53 3
6.411
42.5
283
6,128
1.618
20 2
15,022
8.062
53.7
6.440
42.9
329
6.111
1,622
20.1
14.981
7.935
53.0
6.392
42.7
290
6.102
1,543
19.4
149,441
96,143
64.3
87,903
58 8
8,241
8.6
150,805
97,021
64.3
88,893
58.9
8,128
8.4
150,129
96,287
64.1
87,481
58.3
8.806
9.1
150.187
96,238
64.1
87,367
58.2
8,871
9.2
150.382
96,265
64.0
87,530
58 2
8.735
9.1
150,518
96.450
64.1
87,854
58.4
8,596
8.9
150.671
96,472
64.0
88,004
58.4
8.468
8.8
150.810
97,235
64.5
88.836
58.9
8.399
8.6
150,959
97,255
64.4
89.260
59.1
7,995
8.2
151.003
97.498
64.6
89,503
59.3
7,995
8.2
151.021
97,507
64.6
89.693
59.4
7.814
8.0
151,175
97,339
64.4
89.851
59.4
7,488
7.7
151.324
97.559
64.5
90.430
59.8
7.129
7.3
151.484
97,724
64.5
90.779
59.9
6.945
7.1
151.939
97.813
64,4
91.044
59.9
6.768
6.9
18,584
11,331
61.0
9,189
49.4
2,142
18.9
18,925
11,647
61.5
9,375
49.5
2,272
19.5
18,768
11,544
61.5
9,158
48.8
2,386
20.7
18,796
11,561
61.5
9,272
49.3
2,289
19.8
18,823
11,573
61.5
9,249
49.1
2,324
20.1
18.851
11,651
61.8
9,245
49.0
2.406
20.7
18.880
11.645
61.7
9,277
49.1
2,368
20.3
18.911
11.718
62 0
9,339
49.4
2.379
20.3
18.942
11,741
62.0
9,443
49.9
2,298
19.6
18.966
11,724
61.8
9.408
49.6
2.316
19.8
18.994
11.720
61.7
9.504
50.0
2.216
18 9
19.026
11.565
60.8
9,449
49.7
2,116
18.3
19.057
11.623
61.0
9.563
50.2
2.060
17.7
19,086
11.650
61.0
9.582
50 2
2.068
17.8
19.196
11.660
60 7
9.707
50.6
1.953
16.7
9,400
5,983
63.6
5,158
54.9
825
13.8
12,771
8,119
63.6
6,995
54.8
1,124
13.8
9,328
5,986
64.2
5,063
54.3
923
15.4
9,368
6,001
64.1
5,071
54.1
930
15.5
9,551
6,070
63.6
5,114
53.5
956
15.7
9,665
6.161
63.7
5,259
54.4
902
14.6
9,747
6,139
63.0
5,284
54.2
855
13.9
9.738
6,202
63.7
5,336
54.8
866
14.0
9,640
6,090
63.2
5,339
55.4
751
12.3
9.690
6,145
63.4
5,350
55.2
795
12.9
9.700
6,202
63.9
5.392
55.6
810
13.1
9.745
6.165
63.3
5,398
55.4
767
12.4
9.677
6.232
64.4
5,463
56.5
769
12.3
9.735
6.267
64.4
5.540
56.9
727
11.6
9.778
6.336
64.8
5.627
57.6
708
11.2
1982
1983
172,271
110,204
64.0
99,526
57.8
10,678
9.7
62,067
174,215
111,550
64.0
100,034
57.9
10,717
9.6
62,665
73,644
57,980
78.7
52,891
71.8
2,422
50,469
5,089
8.8
Ja n .
TO TA L
Civilian noninstltutional population1 ................
Civilian labor fo r c e .........................................
Participation r a t e ................................
Employed ...................................................
Employment-population ratio2 . . . .
U nem p lo ye d ................................................
Unemployment rate .........................
Not In labor force .........................................
M e n , 20 y e a rs an d o v e r
Civilian noninstitutlonal population1 ................
Civilian labor f o r c e .........................................
Participation r a t e ................................
Employed ...................... .........................
Employment-population ratio2 . . . .
A griculture................................................
Nonagricultural industries ...................
U nem p lo ye d ................................................
Unemployment rate .........................
W o m e n , 20 y e a rs an d o v e r
Civilian noninstitutlonal population1 ................
Civilian labor f o r c e .........................................
Participation r a t e ................................
Employed ...............................................
Employment-population ratio2 . . . .
A gricu lture ...............................................
Nonagricultural industries ...................
U n e m p lo ye d ...............................................
Unemployment rate .........................
B oth s e x e s , 16 to 19 ye a rs
Civilian noninstitutlonal population1 ................
Civilian labor f o r c e .........................................
Participation r a t e ................................
Employed ...............................................
Employment-population ratio2 . . . .
A gricu lture...............................................
Nonagricultural industries ...................
U n e m p lo ye d ...............................................
Unemployment rate .........................
W h ite
Civilian noninstitutlonal population1 ................
Civilian labor f o r c e .........................................
Participation r a t e ................................
Employed ..................................................
Employment-population ratio2 . . . .
U n e m p lo ye d ...............................................
Unemployment rate .........................
B lack
Civilian noninstitutlonal population1 ................
Civilian labor f o r c e .........................................
Participation r a t e ................................
Employed ...................................................
Employment-population ratio2 . . . .
U n e m p lo ye d ...............................................
Unemployment rate .........................
H is p a n ic o rig in
Civilian noninstltutional population1 ................
Civilian labor f o r c e .........................................
Participation r a t e ................................
Employed ..................................................
Employment-population ratio2 . . . .
U n e m p lo ye d ...............................................
Unemployment rate .........................
1The population figures are not seasonally adjusted.
the "other races" groups are not presented and Híspanles are included in both the white and black
C iv ilia n employment as a percent of the civilian noninstitutlonal population.
population groups.
NOTE:
Detail for the above race and Hispanic-origin groups will not sum to totals because data for
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
c = corrected.
69
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW March 1984 • Current Labor Statistics: Household Data
4.
Selected employment indicators, seasonally adjusted
[In thousands]
A n n u a l a ve ra g e
1983
1984
S e le c te d c a te g o rie s
1982
1983
99,526
56,271
43,256
38,074
24,053
5,099
100,834
56,787
44,047
37,967
24,603
5,091
Agriculture:
Wage and salary w o r k e r s ...................................
Self-employed workers ......................................
Unpaid family w o rk e rs .........................................
1,505
1,636
261
Nonagricultural industries:
Wage and salary w o r k e r s ...................................
G overnm ent...................................................
Private in d u s trie s .........................................
Private households ............................
Other ......................................................
Self-employed workers ......................................
Unpaid family w o rk e rs .........................................
Ja n .
Feb.
M ar.
99,154
55,803
43,351
37,498
24,182
5,029
99,172
55,793
43,379
37,491
24,129
5,016
99,316
55,895
43,421
37,545
24,220
5,093
1,579
1,565
240
1,616
1,589
231
1,617
1,562
230
88,462
15,562
72,945
1,207
71,738
7,262
401
89,500
15,537
73,963
1,247
72,716
7,575
376
87,865
15,428
72,437
1,180
71,257
7,440
374
90,552
72,245
5,852
2,169
3,683
12,455
92,038
73,624
5,997
1,826
4,171
12,417
90,726
71,764
6,678
2,138
4,540
12,284
A p r.
M ay
Ju n e
Ju ly
Aug.
S ep t.
O ct.
N ov.
D ec.
Ja n .
99,606
56,059
43,547
37,602
24,361
4,969
99,762
56,216
43,546
37,616
24,304
4,991
100,743
56,844
43,899
37,911
24,416
5,029
101,225
57,071
44,154
38,254
24,618
5,071
101,484
57,069
44,415
38,281
24,905
5,096
101,876
57,279
44,597
38,232
24,921
5,124
101,970
57,407
44,563
38,240
24,953
5,172
102,606
57,855
44,751
38,388
25,057
5,236
102,941
58,043
44,898
38,494
25,140
5,254
103,190
58,239
44,950
38,682
24,947
5,293
1,558
1,584
265
1,578
1,595
219
1,588
1,558
233
1,624
1,591
252
1,631
1,573
251
1,628
1,564
240
1,572
1,515
236
1,505
1,527
227
1,481
1,556
224
1,512
1,572
265
1,443
1,613
233
87,916
15,510
72,406
1,222
71,184
7,403
354
88,078
15,479
72,599
1,234
71,365
7,456
344
88,390
15,524
72,866
1,221
71,645
7,504
354
88,584
15,530
73,054
1,238
71,816
7,448
345
89,345
15,514
73,831
1,295
72,536
7,510
352
89,687
15,593
74,094
1,276
72,818
7,595
322
90,032
15,671
74,361
1,270
73,091
7,641
375
90,743
15,560
75,183
1,279
73,904
7,656
380
90,617
15,578
75,039
1,278
73,761
7,695
405
91,094
15,585
75,509
1,216
74,293
7,800
474
91,422
15,481
75,941
1,241
74,700
7,734
450
91,641
15,535
76,106
1,197
74,909
7,936
364
90,276
71,703
6,362
2,059
4,303
12,211
90,450
72,035
6,169
1,934
4,235
12,246
92,233
73,567
6,077
1,888
4,189
12,589
91,070
72,949
5,965
1,748
4,217
1 2 ,0 6
90,913
73,071
5,886
1,777
4,109
11,956
92,126
73,844
5,700
1,781
3,919
12,582
91,953
73,499
5,866
1,742
4,124
12,588
93,322
74,666
6,027
1,771
4,256
12,629
93,273
75,047
5,724
1,617
4,107
12,502
93,834
75,398
5,848
1,719
4,129
12,588
94,173
75,802
5,712
1,672
4,040
12,659
94,707
76,237
5,943
1,771
4.172
12,527
C H A R A C T E R IS T IC
Civilian employed, 16 years and over ......................
M e n .........................................................................
W o m e n ..................................................................
Married men, spouse p re s e n t............................
Married women, spouse p re s e n t......................
Women who maintain families .........................
M A J O R IN D U S T R Y A N D C L A S S O F W O R K E R
PERSONS A T W O R K 1
Nonagricultural in d u s trie s ............................................
Full-time schedules ............................................
Part time for economic reasons.........................
Usually work full time ...............................
Usually work part t im e ................................
Part time for noneconomic reasons................
1 Excludes persons "w ith a job but not at w ork" during the survey period for such reasons as
vacation, illness, or industrial disputes.
70
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
5.
Selected unemployment indicators, seasonally adjusted
[Unemployment rates]
A n n u a l a ve ra g e
1983
1984
S e le c te d c a te g o rie s
1982
1983
Ja n .
Feb .
M ar.
A p r.
M ay
Ju n e
J u ly
Aug.
S ep t.
Oct.
N ov.
Dec.
Ja n .
C H A R A C T E R IS T IC
Total, all civilian w o rk e rs ............................................
9.7
9.6
10.4
10.4
10.3
10.2
10.1
10.0
9.5
9.5
9.2
8.8
8.4
8.2
8.0
Both sexes, 16 to 19 y e a r s ...............................
Men, 20 years and o v e r ......................................
Women, 20 years and o v e r ................................
23.2
8.8
8.3
22.4
8.9
8.1
23.1
9.7
9.0
22.7
9.8
8.9
23.6
9.6
8.8
23.4
9.7
8.5
23.0
9.5
8.5
23.6
9.1
8.6
22.7
8.8
7.9
22.8
8.7
8.0
21.8
8.6
7.8
21.6
8.2
7.5
20.2
7.8
7.2
20.1
7.4
7.1
194
7.3
7.1
White, t o t a l............................................................
Both sexes, 16 to 19 years ......................
Men, 16 to 19 years .........................
Women, 16 to 19 years ...................
Men, 20 years and o v e r ............................
Women, 20 years and over ......................
8.6
20.4
21.7
19.0
7.8
7.3
8.4
19.3
20.2
18.3
7.9
6.9
9.1
20.3
21.5
19.0
8.5
7.9
9.2
20.1
21.4
18.7
8.8
7.7
9.1
21.1
22.6
19.6
8.5
7.5
8.9
20.3
21.4
19.1
8.5
7.3
8.8
19.9
20.4
19.4
8.4
7.2
8.6
20.1
20.4
19.7
7.9
7.4
8.2
19.4
20.3
18.4
7.7
6.8
8.2
19.5
20.7
18.2
7.7
6.7
8.0
18.2
18.9
17.4
7.7
6.6
7.7
18.5
19.8
16.9
7.3
6.3
7.3
17.2
17.6
16.6
6.9
6.0
7.1
17.0
17.5
16.5
6.7
5.9
6.9
16.2
17.8
14.5
6.3
6.0
Black, t o t a l ............................................................
Both sexes, 16 to 19 years ......................
Men, 16 to 19 years .........................
Women, 16 to 19 years ...................
Men, 20 years and o v e r ............................
Women, 20 years and over ......................
18.9
48.0
48.9
47.1
17.8
15.4
19.5
48.5
48.8
48.2
18.1
16.5
20.7
47.0
48.0
45.7
19.9
17.4
19.8
46.5
47.2
45.7
18.8
16.9
20.1
45.1
46.5
43.5
19.1
17.4
20.7
49.1
48 6
49 6
20.0
16.9
20.3
48.4
52.1
44.1
19.5
17.0
20.3
49.8
50.7
48.7
18.9
16.9
19.6
48.4
48.3
48 4
18.6
16.2
19.8
51.4
53.7
48.8
18.2
16.4
18.9
51.1
52.7
49.2
16.9
16.1
18.3
48.7
45.6
52.2
16.3
15.9
17.7
47.3
44 9
50.0
15.6
15.6
17.8
49.0
46 4
51.9
15.1
15.9
16.7
47.9
47.1
48.8
14.8
14.3
Hispanic origin, to ta l............................................
13.8
13.8
15.4
15.5
15.7
14.6
13.9
14.0
12.3
12.9
13.1
12.4
12.3
11.6
11.2
Married men, spouse p re s e n t.............................
Married women, spouse present ......................
Women who maintain families .........................
6.5
7.4
11.7
6.5
7.0
12.2
7.2
7.8
13.2
7.2
7.6
13.2
7.1
7.5
13.3
7.1
7.4
130
7.0
7.4
12.7
6.7
7.6
12.5
6.2
7.0
11.8
6.3
6.9
11.8
6.1
6.8
12.0
5.7
6.3
11.4
5.5
6.0
10.5
5.2
6.1
10.9
5.0
6.0
10.7
Full-time w o rke rs...................................................
Part-time workers ...............................................
Unemployed 15 weeks and over ......................
Labor force time lost1 .........................................
9.6
10.5
3.2
11.0
9.5
10.4
3.8
10.9
10.3
10.7
4.2
11.7
10.4
10.1
4.2
11.9
10.2
10.6
4.1
11.7
10.2
10.5
4.0
11.5
10.0
10.9
4.1
11.5
9.7
11.8
4.0
11.1
9.4
10.2
3.9
10.7
9.3
10.2
3.6
10.7
9.1
10.1
3.5
10.5
8.7
10.0
3.3
10.0
8.2
9.8
3.1
9.7
8.0
9.8
3.0
9.4
7.8
9.2
2.9
9.2
10.1
13.4
20.0
12.3
13.3
10.8
6.8
10.0
6.9
4.9
14.7
9.9
17.0
18.4
11.2
12.1
10.0
7.4
10.0
7.2
5.3
16.0
10.9
17.6
20.2
13.1
14.7
10.8
7.8
10.8
7.6
5.6
15.7
10.8
19.1
19.9
13.1
14.5
11.0
8.0
10.9
7.4
5.8
16.3
10.7
19.2
20.2
12.8
14.3
10.8
7.6
10.9
7.3
5.7
15.9
10.5
20.3
20.0
12.5
13.7
10.8
7.7
10.4
7.3
5.8
16.8
10.4
20.8
20.0
12.3
13.5
10.6
7.3
10.2
7.5
5.6
16.8
10.1
17.9
18.4
11.6
1 25
10.2
7.8
10.2
7.2
5.1
16.5
9.7
16.6
18.0
10.7
11.4
9.7
7.3
9.8
7.3
5.4
15.0
9.8
14.9
17.9
11.2
11.7
10.5
7.7
9.8
7.2
5.1
15.1
9.4
16.9
18.1
10.2
10.9
9.3
7.4
9.5
7.0
5.0
16.5
9.0
12.1
15.8
9.6
10.2
8.7
7.2
9.8
6.9
5.1
16.2
8.6
12.8
15.6
8.9
9.0
8.7
6.7
9.1
6.7
4.9
15.7
8.3
12.4
16.3
8.3
8.3
8.2
6.5
88
6.6
5.0
15.6
7.9
10.9
15.0
8.4
8.0
8.9
5.1
8.4
6.3
5.0
15.5
IN D U S T R Y
Nonagricultural private wage and salary workers . .
Mining ...................................................................
Construction .........................................................
Manufacturing ......................................................
Durable goods ............................................
Nondurable goods ......................................
Transportation and public u tilitie s ......................
Wholesale and retail tr a d e ...................................
Finance and service industries .........................
Government workers ...................................................
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
71
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW March 1984 • Current Labor Statistics: Household Data
6.
Unemployment rates by sex and age, seasonally adjusted
[Civilian workers]
A n n u a l a ve ra g e
1983
1984
S e x an d age
1982
1983
Ja n .
F eb .
M ar.
Ap r.
M ay
Ju n e
Ju ly
A u g.
S ep t.
Oct.
N o v.
D ec.
Ja n .
Total, 16 years and over ............................................
16 to 24 years .........................................................
16 to 19 y e a r s .....................................................
16 to 17 y e a rs ...................................................
18 to 19 y e a rs ..................................................
20 to 24 y e a r s ......................................................
25 years and over ...................................................
25 to 54 y e a rs ..................................................
55 years and over ............................................
9.7
17.8
23.2
24.9
22.1
14.9
7.4
7.9
5.0
9.6
17.2
22.4
24.5
21.1
14.5
7.5
8.0
5.3
10.4
18.4
23.1
24.5
22.0
16.0
8.1
8.7
5.4
10.4
18.3
22.7
24.0
21.8
16.1
8.2
8.7
5.4
10.3
18 2
23.6
25.4
22 6
15.4
8.1
8.7
5.4
10.2
18.1
23.4
25 8
21.9
15 4
8.0
8.5
5.5
10.1
18.0
23.0
25.6
21.3
15.5
7.9
8.5
5.3
10.0
17.6
23.6
25.6
22.3
14.5
7.9
8.3
5.5
9.5
16.8
22.7
25.1
20.8
13.9
7.4
7.9
5.3
9.5
17.2
22.8
24 8
21.6
14.4
7.3
7.8
5.1
9.2
16.5
21.8
24.0
20.5
13.8
7.2
7.7
5.2
8.8
16.3
21.6
24 0
20.3
13.6
6.8
7.2
5.0
8.4
15.4
20.2
21.9
19.3
13.0
6.5
6.9
4.9
8.2
14 9
20.1
229
18.8
12.2
6.4
6.8
4.9
8.0
14.8
19.4
21.9
17.6
12.5
6.2
6.5
4.7
Men, 16 years and o v e r ......................................
16 to 24 y e a rs ..................................................
16 to 19 years ............................................
16 to 17 y e a r s .........................................
18 to 19 y e a r s .........................................
20 to 24 years ............................................
25 years and over ............................................
25 to 54 y e a r s .........................................
55 years and over ...................................
9.9
19.1
24.4
26.4
23.1
16.4
7.5
8.0
5.1
9.9
18.4
23.3
25.2
22.2
15.9
7.8
8.2
5.6
10.7
19.8
24.3
24.8
23.7
17.6
8.3
8.8
5.8
10.8
19.8
24.0
24.4
23.5
17.6
8.5
9.0
5.8
10.7
19.4
25.1
26.3
24.4
16.6
8.4
9.0
5.8
10.7
19.5
24.4
26.9
22.9
17.0
8.4
8.9
6.1
10.5
19.5
23.9
26.7
22.3
17.3
8.2
8.8
5.8
10.1
18.6
24.0
26.0
22 8
15 9
7.9
8.4
5.5
9.9
18.4
23.8
27.3
21.2
15.8
7.6
8.1
5.5
9.8
18.6
24.3
26.0
23.2
15.7
7.5
8.0
5.4
9.6
17.6
22.8
23.9
22.2
15.0
7.5
8.0
5.6
9.1
17.3
22 5
24.3
21.6
14.7
7.0
7.4
5.4
8.6
15.9
20 2
22 0
19.6
13 8
6.8
7.1
5.4
8.3
15.6
20.4
23.3
18.9
13.3
6.5
6.7
5.4
8.1
15.6
20.8
21.6
19.6
13.1
6.2
6.6
4.8
Women, 16 years and o v e r ................................
16 to 24 y e a rs ..................................................
16 to 19 years ............................................
16 to 17 y e a r s .........................................
18 to 19 y e a r s .........................................
20 to 24 years ............................................
25 years and o v e r ...................................
25 to 54 y e a r s .........................................
55 years and over ...................................
9.4
16.2
21.9
23.2
21.0
13.2
7.3
7.7
4.8
9.2
15.8
21.3
23.7
19.9
12.9
7.2
7.7
4.7
10.0
16.8
21.8
24.1
20.1
14.2
8.0
8.6
4.9
9.9
16.7
21.3
23.6
19.9
14.3
7.8
8.3
4.9
9.9
16.8
21.9
24.4
20 6
14.1
7.7
8.3
4.8
9.6
16.6
22.3
24.7
20.7
13.6
7.5
8.0
4.6
9.5
16.3
22.0
24.4
20.2
13.4
7.5
8.1
4.7
9.8
16.4
23.1
25.2
21.7
12.9
7.8
8.1
5.5
9.0
15.0
21.5
22 6
20.5
11.7
7.1
7.6
5.1
9 1
15.7
21.1
23.4
19.9
12.8
7.0
7.5
4.7
8.8
15.2
20.6
24 0
18.5
12.5
6.9
7.3
4.5
8.5
15.1
20.5
23.6
18.8
12.3
6.5
7.0
4.4
8.2
14.7
20.1
21.8
19.0
12.0
6.2
6.6
4.1
8.1
14.0 ■
19.8
22 5
18.7
11.0
6.3
68
4.3
7.9
13.9
18.0
22 2
15.4
11.7
6.2
6.5
4.5
7.
Unemployed persons by reason for unemployment, seasonally adjusted
[N um bers in thousands]
1983
A n n u a l a ve ra g e
1984
R e a s o n fo r u n e m p lo ym e n t
Job lo s e r s ......................................................................
On layoff ...............................................................
Other job losers ...................................................
Job leave rs......................................................................
R e e n tra n ts......................................................................
New e n tra n ts ..................................................................
1982
1983
Ja n .
Feb .
M ar.
Ap r.
M ay
Ju n e
J u ly
A u g.
S ept.
Oct.
N o v.
D ec
Ja n .
6,258
2,127
4,141
840
2,384
1,185
6,258
1,780
4,478
830
2,412
1,216
6,810
2,151
4,659
826
2.557
1.199
6,864
2,084
4.780
830
2.505
1.188
6.848
2.005
4,843
888
2,460
1.182
6.767
1.979
4.788816
2.491
1,251
6.753
1.958
4.795
808
2.404
1.246
6.525
1.841
4.684
799
2.436
1.412
6.235
1.735
4.500
752
2.415
1.229
6.133
1.660
4.473
799
2.479
1.214
5.938
1.562
4.376
858
2.362
1.234
5.601
1.392
4.209
866
2.322
1.127
5.226
1.321
3.905
868
2.250
1.154
5.017
1.283
3.734
855
2.246
1.150
4.825
1.238
3.588
809
2.192
1.175
100.0
58.7
19.9
38.8
7.9
22.3
11.1
100.0
58.4
16.6
41.8
7.7
22.5
11.3
100.0
59.8
18.9
40.9
7.3
22.4
10.5
100.0
60.3
18.3
42.0
7.3
22.0
. 10,4
100.0
60.2
17.6
42.6
7.8
21.6
10.4
100.0
59.8
17.5
42.3
7.2
22 0
11.0
100 0
60.2
17.5
42.8
7.2
21.4
11.1
100.0
58.4
16.5
41.9
7.2
21.8
12.6
100.0
58.6
16.3
42.3
7.1
22.7
11 6
100 0
57.7
15.6
42.1
7.5
23 3
11.4
100.0
57.1
15.0
42.1
8.3
22 7
11.9
100 0
56.5
14.0
42 4
8.7
23.4
1 14
100.0
55.0
13 9
41.1
9.1
23.7
12.1
100.0
54.1
13.8
40.3
9.2
24.2
12.4
100.0
53.6
13.7
39 9
9.0
24.4
13.1
5.7
.8
2.2
1.1
5.6
.7
2.2
1.1
6.2
.7
2.3
1.1
6.2
.7
2.3
1.1
6.2
.8
2.2
1.1
6.1
.7
2.2
1.1
6.1
.7
2.2
1.1
5.8
.7
22
1.3
5.6
.7
2.2
1.1
5.5
.7
22
1.1
5.3
8
2.1
1.1
5.0
8
2.1
1.0
4.7
8
2.0
1.0
4.5
.8
2.0
1.0
4.3
7
2.0
1.0
P E R C E N T D IS T R IB U T IO N
Total u n e m p lo y e d .........................................................
Job lo s e r s ......................................................................
On layoff ...............................................................
Other job losers ..................................................
Job leave rs.....................................................................
R e e n tra n ts.....................................................................
New en tra n ts..................................................................
P ER C EN T OF
C IV IL IA N L A B O R F O R C E
Job iosers .....................................................................
Job leave rs.....................................................................
R e e n tra n ts......................................................................
New e n tra n ts ..................................................................
8.
Duration of unemployment, seasonally adjusted
[N um bers in thousands]
A n n u a l a ve ra g e
1983
W e e k s o f u n e m p lo ym e n t
Less than 5 w eeks.........................................................
5 to 14 w e e k s ...............................................................
15 weeks and over ......................................................
15 to 26 w e e k s......................................................
27 weeks and o v e r...............................................
Mean duration in w e e k s ...............................................
Median duration In w e e k s ............................................
72
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1984
1982
1983
Ja n .
Feb.
M ar.
Ap r.
M ay
Ju n e
J u ly
A u g.
S ept.
Oct.
N o v.
D ec.
Ja n .
3,883
3,311
3,485
1,708
1,776
15.6
8.7
3,570
2,937
4,210
1,652
2,559
20.0
10.1
3,600
3,331
4,623
1,954
2,669
19.4
11.3
3,732
3,169
4,613
1,928
2,685
19.1
9.8
3.535
3,173
4,587
1,861
2,726
19.2
10.4
3,595
3.139
4,396
1.691
2,705
19.2
10 8
3.568
3,012
4,510
1,774
2,736
20 2
11.9
3,630
2.950
4,486
1.593
2,893
21.4
10.8
3.529
2.841
4,398
1,794
2,604
21.3
10.1
3.633
2,951
4.078
1.597
2,481
19.9
9.4
3.740
2.784
3.889
1,383
2,506
20 2
9.4
3.504
2.725
3,655
1.372
2.283
20.1
9.5
3.328
2.616
3.527
1.337
2.190
20 2
9.4
3.382
2.504
3.369
1.284
2.085
19 6
9.0
3.233
2.556
3.201
1,166
2.035
20 5
9.2
EMPLOYMENT, HOURS, AND EARNINGS DATA FROM ESTABLISHMENT SURVEYS
Employment, hours, and earnings data in this section are com
piled from payroll records reported monthly on a voluntary basis
to the Bureau of Labor Statistics and its cooperating State agencies
by 189,000 establishments representing all industries except ag
riculture. In most industries, the sampling probabilities are based
on the size of the establishment; most large establishments are
therefore in the sample. (An establishment is not necessarily a
firm; it may be a branch plant, for example, or warehouse.) Selfemployed persons and others not on a regular civilian payroll are
outside the scope of the survey because they are excluded from
establishment records. This largely accounts for the diiference in
employment figures between the household and establishment sur
veys.
Definitions
Employed persons are all persons who received pay (including holiday
and sick pay) for any part of the payroll period including the 12th of the
month. Persons holding more than one job (about 5 percent of all persons
in the labor force) are counted in each establishment which reports them.
Production workers in manufacturing include blue-collar worker su
pervisors and all nonsupervisory workers closely associated with produc
tion operations. Those workers mentioned in tables 12-16 include production
workers in manufacturing and mining; construction workers in construc
tion; and nonsupervisory workers in transportation and public utilities; in
wholesale and retail trade; in finance, insurance, and real estate; and in
services industries. These groups account for about four-fifths of the total
employment on private nonagricultural payrolls.
Earnings are the payments production or nonsupervisory workers re
ceive during the survey period, including premium pay for overtime or
late-shift work but excluding irregular bonuses and other special payments.
Real earnings are earnings adjusted to reflect the effects of changes in
consumer prices. The deflator for this series is derived from the Consumer
Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W). The
Hourly Earnings Index is calculated from average hourly earnings data
adjusted to exclude the effects of two types of changes that are unrelated
to underlying wage-rate developments: fluctuations in overtime premiums
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
in manufacturing (the only sector for which overtime data are available)
and the effects of changes and seasonal factors in the proportion of workers
in high-wage and low-wage industries.
Hours represent the average weekly hours of production or nonsuper
visory workers for which pay was received and are different from standard
or scheduled hours. Overtime hours represent the portion of gross average
weekly hours which were in excess of regular hours and for which overtime
premiums were paid.
The Diffusion Index, introduced in table 17 of the May 1983 issue,
represents the percent of 186 nonagricultural industries in which employ
ment was rising over the indicated period. One-half of the industries with
unchanged employment are counted as rising. In line with Bureau practice,
data for the 3-, 6-, and 9-month spans are seasonally adjusted, while that
for the 12-month span is unadjusted. The diffusion index is useful for
measuring the dispersion of economic gains or losses and is also an eco
nomic indicator.
Notes on the data
Establishment data collected by the Bureau of Labor Statistics are pe
riodically adjusted to com prehensive counts of em ploym ent (called
“ benchmarks” ). The latest complete adjustment was made with the release
of May 1983 data, published in the July 1983 issue of the Review. Con
sequently, data published in the Review prior to that issue are not necessarily
comparable to current data. Unadjusted data have been revised back to
April 1981; seasonally adjusted data have been revised back to January
1978. Unadjusted data from April 1982 forward, and seasonally adjusted
data from January 1979 forward are subject to revision in future bench
marks. Earlier comparable unadjusted and seasonally adjusted data are
published in a Supplement to Employment and Earnings (unadjusted data
from April 1977 through February 1983 and seasonally adjusted data from
January 1974 through February 1983) and in Employment and Earnings.
United States, 1909-78. BLS Bulletin 1312-11 (for prior periods).
A comprehensive discussion of the differences between household and
establishment data on employment appears in Gloria P. Green. “ Com
paring employment estimates from household and payroll surveys." Monthly
Labor Review. December 1969. pp. 9 -2 0 . See also BLS Handbook of
Methods. Bulletin 2134-1 (Bureau of Labor Statistics. 1982).
73
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW March 1984 • Current Labor Statistics: Establishment Data
9.
Employment by industry, selected years, 1950-82
[Nonagricultural payroll data, inthousands]
S e rvic e -p ro d u c in g
G o o d s -p ro d u c in g
T ra n s p o rTo ta l
Year
P riva te
s ec tor
To ta l
M in in g
C o n s tru c
M a n u fa c
tion
tu rin g
W h o le s a le a n d reta il tra d e
ta tion
To ta l
W h o le
and
p u b lic
To ta l
s a le
tra d e
u tilitie s
G o ve rn m e n t
F in a n c e ,
in s u ra n ce ,
R eta il
an d real
trade
estate
S e rvic e s
F e d e ra l
S ta te an d
To ta l
lo ca l
1950 ...................................
1955 ...................................
I9 6 0 1 ................................
1964 ...................................
1965 ...................................
45,197
50,641
54,189
58,283
60,765
39,170
43,727
45,836
48,686
50,589
18,506
20,513
20,434
21,005
21,926
901
792
712
634
632
2,364
2,839
2,926
3,097
3,232
15,241
16,882
16,796
17,274
18,062
26,691
30,128
33,755
37,278
38,839
4,034
4,141
4,004
3,951
4,036
9,386
10,535
11,391
12,160
12,716
2,635
2,926
3,143
3,337
3,466
6,751
7,610
8,248
8,823
9,250
1,888
2,298
2,629
2,911
2,977
5,357
6,240
7,378
8,660
9,036
6,026
6,914
8,353
9,596
10,074
1,928
2,187
2,270
2,348
2,378
4,098
4,727
6,083
7,248
7,696
1966
1967
1968
1969
1970
...................................
...................................
...................................
...................................
...................................
63,901
65,803
67,897
70,384
70,880
53,116
54,413
56,058
58,189
58,325
23,158
23,308
23,737
24,361
23,578
627
613
606
619
623
3,317
3,248
3,350
3,575
3,588
19,214
19,447
19,781
20,167
19,367
40,743
42,495
44,160
46,023
47,302
4,158
4,268
4,318
4,442
4,515
13,245
13,606
14,099
14,706
15,040
3,597
3,689
3,779
3,907
3,993
9,648
9,917
10,320
10,798
11,047
3,058
3,185
3,337
3,512
3,645
9,498
10,045
10,567
11,169
11,548
10,784
11,391
11,839
12,195
12,554
2,564
2,719
2,737
2,758
2,731
8,220
8,672
9,102
9,437
9,823
1 9 7 1 ...................................
1972 ...................................
1973 ...................................
1974 ...................................
1975 ...................................
71,214
73,675
76,790
78,265
76,945
58,331
60,341
63,058
64,095
62,259
22,935
23,668
24,893
24,794
22,600
609
628
642
697
752
3,704
3,889
4,097
4,020
3,525
18,623
19,151
20,154
20,077
18,323
48,278
50,007
51,897
53,471
54,345
4,476
4,541
4,656
4,725
4,542
15,352
15.949
16,607
16,987
17,060
4,001
4,113
4,277
4,433
4.415
11,351
11,836
12,329
12,554
12,645
3,772
3,908
4,045
4,148
4,165
11,797
12,276
12,857
13,441
13.892
12,881
13,334
13,732
14,170
14,686
2,696
2,684
2,663
2,724
2,748
10,185
10,649
11,068
11.446
11.937
1976
1977
1978
1979
1980
...................................
...................................
...................................
...................................
...................................
79,382
82,471
86,697
89,823
90,406
64,511
67,344
71,026
73,876
74,166
23,352
24,346
25,585
26,461
25,658
779
813
851
958
1,027
3,576
3,851
4,229
4,463
4,346
18,997
19,582
20,505
21,040
20,285
56,030
58,125
61,113
63,363
64,748
4,582
4,713
4,923
5.136
5,146
17.755
18,516
19,542
20,192
20.310
4,546
4.708
4.969
5.204
5,275
13,209
13,808
14,573
14,989
15,035
4,271
4,467
4,724
4.975
5,180
14,551
15,303
16.252
17.112
17,890
14,871
15,127
15,672
15.947
16.241
2,733
2.727
2,753
2,773
2.866
12,138
12,399
12.919
13,147
13.375
1 9 8 1 ...................................
1982 ...................................
91,156
89,596
75,126
73,793
25,497
23,907
1,139
1,143
4,188
3,911
20,170
18,853
65,659
65,689
5,165
5,081
20.547
20.401
5,358
5.280
15.189
15,122
5.298
5.340
18.619
19.064
16.031
15,803
2.772
2.739
13.259
13.064
1 Data include Alaska and Hawaii beginning in 1959.
10.
Employment by State
[N onagricultural payroll data, in thousands]
State
D e c e m b e r 1982
N o v e m b e r 1983
D e c e m b e r 1983P
State
A lab am a............................................................
Alaska ...............................................................
Arizona ............................................................
Arkansas .........................................................
California .........................................................
1 ,3 1 0 .1
1 ,3 2 4 . 2
1 ,3 2 6 .3
1 9 5 .5
2 1 0 .3
2 0 4 .7
M ontana............................................................
Nebraska ........................................................
Nevada ............................................................
New H am pshire...............................................
New J e r s e y ......................................................
Colorado .........................................................
C o n n e cticu t.....................................................
Delaware .........................................................
District of Columbia ......................................
F lo rid a ...............................................................
1 ,0 4 3 . 5
1 ,0 7 8 . 6
1 ,0 8 8 .0
7 1 9 .7
7 5 6 .0
7 5 3 .9
9 , 8 2 8 .0
1 0 ,0 6 6 .0
1 0 , 1 0 3 .4
1 ,3 2 3 . 2
1 ,3 4 5 .9
1 , 3 5 1 .8
1 ,4 3 9 . 9
1 . 4 5 7 .7
1 .4 6 7 .0
2 6 1 .5
2 6 6 .2
2 6 6 .0
5 9 3 .5
5 9 3 .9
5 9 5 .9
3 , 8 3 4 .4
3 ,9 6 8 .6
4 . 0 1 4 .7
Georgia ............................................................
H a w a ii...............................................................
Idaho ...............................................................
Illin o is ...............................................................
Indiana ............................................................
2 ,2 2 6 .5
2 ,2 8 7 .5
2 , 2 9 5 .6
4 0 2 .8
4 0 0 .1
4 0 2 .1
3 1 2 .7
3 2 6 .1
3 2 2 .9
4 ,5 2 7 . 8
4 ,5 5 0 .4
4 ,5 4 6 .4
1 ,9 7 9 . 8
2 ,0 2 2 . 2
2 ,0 1 9 .5
Io w a ..................................................................
Kansas ............................................................
Kentucky .........................................................
Louisiana .........................................................
M a in e ...............................................................
1 ,0 2 3 . 0
1 ,0 2 9 . 7
1 ,0 2 5 .6
Maryland .........................................................
Massachusetts ...............................................
Michigan .........................................................
M inn esota.........................................................
Mississippi .....................................................
M is s o u ri............................................................
p = preliminary.
74
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
9 0 8 .9
9189
9 1 8 .3
1 , 1 6 5 .6
1 , 1 8 6 .2
1 , 1 9 4 .3
1 ,6 0 7 .1
1 , 5 9 7 .1
1 ,5 9 4 .8
4 0 7 .9
4 1 5 .6
4 1 4 .5
1 ,6 8 0 . 5
1 , 7 0 1 .6
1 , 7 0 4 .8
2 , 6 3 3 .1
2 , 6 6 5 .9
2 , 6 7 6 .3
3 , 1 6 5 .9
3 , 2 6 6 .7
3 , 2 7 6 .9
1 ,6 9 3 .9
1 , 7 4 4 .6
1 , 7 4 4 .6
7 9 3 .6
7 9 8 .9
8 0 0 .8
1 ,9 0 8 . 6
1 ,9 3 8 . 3
1 ,9 3 2 .6
D e c e m b e r 1982
N o v e m b e r 1983
D e c e m b e r 1983P
2 7 1 .3
2 7 3 .6
2 7 2 .3
5 9 8 .3
6 0 5 .4
6 0 1 .1
4 0 5 .1
4 2 4 .6
4 2 4 .7
3 9 1 .7
4 0 0 .5
4 0 2 .1
3 . 0 8 9 .6
3 . 1 4 7 .9
3 . 1 5 2 .6
New M e x ic o .....................................................
New Y o r k .........................................................
North Carolina ...............................................
North D a k o ta ..................................................
O h io ..................................................................
7 . 2 6 1 .7
7 .3 0 9 .4
7 . 3 3 1 .8
2 . 3 5 2 .4
2 .4 1 2 .7
2 .4 1 6 .8
O kla hom a.........................................................
Oregon ............................................................
Pennsylvania ..................................................
Rhode Is la n d ..................................................
South Carolina ...............................................
9 5 0 .2
9 6 4 .7
9 5 7 .9
4 . 4 7 5 .7
4 ,5 3 9 .2
4 .5 4 0 0
3 9 1 .4
4 0 1 .8
400 9
1 . 1 5 9 .7
1 . 1 8 0 .8
1 . 1 8 4 .7
2 2 8 .7
2 3 6 .0
4 7 6 .5
4 8 5 .0
4 8 5 .9
2 4 9 .6
2 5 4 .4
2 5 2 .0
4 . 1 0 2 .5
4 . 1 8 7 .0
4 . 1 8 3 .3
1 . 2 1 8 .6
1 . 2 0 6 .5
1 . 2 1 0 .8
South D a k o ta ..................................................
Tennessee .........................................................
Texas ...............................................................
U ta h ..................................................................
V e rm o n t............................................................
1 .6 6 8 .1
1 . 7 2 0 .7
1 . 7 1 3 .5
6 , 2 1 9 .7
6 . 2 3 1 .7
6 .2 6 3 .4
5 6 3 .1
5 7 3 .0
5 7 2 .6
2 0 3 .4
2 0 6 .5
2 0 7 .6
Virginia
2 .1 4 0 .2
2 . 1 9 0 .5
2 . 1 9 8 .5
1 564 1
1 599 7
1 596 6
............................................................
2 3 3 .7
West V ir g in ia ..................................................
W isco nsin.........................................................
Wyoming .........................................................
5 9 5 .7
5 9 6 .1
596 1
1 ,8 4 6 .0
1 ,8 9 5 .8
1 . 8 8 9 .4
2 1 0 .7
2 1 5 .4
2 1 5 .3
Virgin Is la n d s ..................................................
3 6 .2
3 5 .5
35 2
11.
Employment by industry division and major manufacturing group, seasonally adjusted
[Nonagricultural payroll data, inthousands]
1984
1983
A n n u a l a ve ra g e
In d u s try d iv is io n a n d g rou p
TO TA L
........................................................................
P R IV A T E S E C T O R
G O O D S -P R O D U C IN G
M in in g
..................................................................................
1981
1982
Ja n .
Feb.
M ar.
Ap r.
M ay
Ju n e
J u ly
Aug.
S ep t.
Oct.
N o v.
D e c .A
J a n .A
91,156
89,596
88,885
88,746
88,814
89,101
89,421
89,844
90,152
89,735
90,851
91,087
91,355
91,583
91,870
75,126
73,793
73,132
73,004
73,090
73,377
73,677
74,123
74,472
74,074
74,990
75,312
75,579
75,815
76,163
23,030
23,159
23,347
23,518
23,724
23,830
23,935
24,168
24,311
24,412
24,612
1,006
997
994
1,003
1,017
1,023
1,026
1,044
1,045
1,046
1,043
25,497
23,907
23,186
23,049
1,139
1,143
1,037
1,014
........................................................................
4,188
3,911
3,905
3,790
3,757
3,786
3,860
3,933
3,974
4,014
4,038
4,060
4,094
4,091
4,194
M a n u f a c t u r i n g ....................................................................
20.170
14,020
18,853
12,790
18,244
12,291
18,245
12,303
18,267
12,323
18,376'
12,435
18,493
12,531
18,582
12,615
18,733
12,756
18,793
12,803
18,871
12,859
19,064
13,043
19,172
13,147
19,275
13,227
19,375
13,328
............................................
12,109
8,294
11,100
7,350
10,594
6,931
10,608
6,949
10,617
6,961
10,689
7,035
10,788
7,115
10,844
7,169
10,961
7,278
11,022
7,329
11,081
7,378
11,235
7,522
11,320
7,601
11,405
7,667
11,463
7,726
Lumber and wood products ................................
Furniture and fix tu r e s ............................................
Stone, clay, and glass products .........................
Primary metal industries ......................................
Fabricated metal prod ucts......................................
666
464
638
1,122
1,590
603
433
578
922
1,435
625
430
557
817
1,364
631
427
557
810
1,364
638
433
559
816
1,362
651
440
565
820
1,369
662
446
570
828
1,379
679
450
573
830
1,384
688
459
577
839
1,391
699
457
582
840
1,410
703
459
585
849
1,411
712
465
590
867
1,430
714
470
590
871
1,438
716
473
589
880
1,449
718
476
593
872
1,457
Machinery, except electrical ................................
Electric and electronic equipment ......................
Transportation equipm ent......................................
Instruments and related products ......................
Miscellaneous m anufacturing................................
2,498
2,094
1,898
730
408
2,267
2,016
1,744
716
386
2,048
1,974
1,710
695
374
2,042
1,981
1,729
693
374
2,030
1,988
1,723
691
377
2,031
1,999
1,743
690
381
2,064
2,010
1,757
689
383
2,066
2,030
1,762
687
383
2,094
2,047
1,794
687
385
2,109
2,043
1,807
692
383
2,115
2,082
1,801
696
380
2,131
2,107
1,848
699
386
2,158
2,128
1,862
701
388
2,176
2,146
1,882
702
392
2,195
2,165
1,895
705
387
............................................
8,061
5,727
7,753
5,440
7,650
5,360
7,637
5,354
7,650
5,362
7,687
5,400
7,705
5,416
7.738
5,446
7,772
5,478
7,771
5,474
7,790
5,481
7.829
5.521
7,852
5,546
7,870
5,560
7,912
5,602
Food and kindred p ro d u c ts ...................................
Tobacco manufactures .........................................
Textile mill p ro d u cts...............................................
Apparel and other textile p ro d u c ts ......................
Paper and allied p ro d u c ts ......................................
1,671
70
823
1,244
689
1,638
68
750
1,164
662
1,626
69
726
1,150
653
1,620
67
726
1,148
652
1.619
67
730
1,143
652
1,633
66
733
1,149
654
1.632
66
736
1,153
656
1.643
65
745
1,159
657
1,638
65
746
1,180
658
1,627
62
752
1,175
659
1,630
63
753
1,177
662
1,628
64
759
1,191
665
1,633
61
758
1,199
666
1,628
62
760
1.206
670
1.640
61
765
1,212
671
Printing and p u b lis h in g .........................................
Chemicals and allied products ............................
Petroleum and coal p ro d u c ts ...............................
Rubber and miscellaneous plastics products . .
Leather and leather p ro d u c ts ................................
1,266
1,109
214
737
238
1,269
1,079
201
701
221
1,266
1,057
200
688
215
1,265
1,056
199
691
214
1,269
1,056
199
699
216
1,274
1,058
199
707
214
1,276
1,058
198
716
214
1,281
1.056
198
721
213
1,284
1.059
197
732
213
1,289
1,056
195
739
217
1,290
1,060
195
742
218
1.297
1,061
193
753
218
1,301
1,061
193
762
218
1,303
1,063
192
769
217
1.310
1.067
192
777
217
65,659
65,689
65,699
65,697
65,784
65,942
66.074
66,326
66,428
65,905
66.916
66,919
67,044
67,171
67.258
5,165
5,081
4,979
4,966
4,963
4.988
4,993
4,992
4.984
4,341
5,031
5,019
5.019
5,005
5.031
20,547
20,401
20,355
20,343
'20,350
20,329
20,356
20,494
20,529
20,580
20.612
20.666
20,718
20,773
20,837
5,358
5,280
5,185
5,181
5,176
5,180
5,197
5.222
5,229
5,249
5,274
5,287
5,291
5.312
5.340
15,189
15,122
15,170
15,162
15,174
15,149
15,159
15,272
15,300
15.331
15.338
15,379
15.427
15,461
15,497
5,298
5,340
5,374
5,384
5,391
5,423
5,435
5,451
5,465
5,488
5,499
5,503
5,515
5.524
5,540
18,619
19,064
19,238
19,262
19,356
19,478
19,546
19,668
19,770
19.835
19.913
19,956
20.016
20.101
20,143
16,031
2.772
13,259
15,803
2,739
13,064
15,753
2,748
13,005
15,742
2,742
13,000
15,724
2,742
12,982
15,724
2,749
12,975
15,744
2,756
12,988
15,721
2,742
12,979
15,680
2,738
12,942
15,661
2.733
12,928
15,861
2,773
13.083
15.775
2.764
13.011
15,776
2,763
13,013
15,768
2,771
12.997
15.707
2.760
12.947
C o n s tru c tio n
Production workers
D u ra b le g o o d s
............................................
................................................................
Production workers
N o n d u ra b le g o o d s
Production workers
S E R V IC E -P R O D U C IN G
Tra n s p o rta tio n an d p u b lic u t i l i t i e s ............................
W h o le s a le an d re ta il tra d e
W h o le s a le t r a d e .................................................................
R e ta il tra d e
F in a n c e , in s u ra n c e , an d re a l esta te
S e r v ic e s
...............................................................................
G o ve rn m e n t
F e d e ra l......................................................................
State and lo c a l.........................................................
p = preliminary.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
NOTE: See "Notes on the data" for a description of the most recent benchmark revision.
75
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW March 1984 • Current Labor Statistics: Establishment Data
12.
Hours and earnings, by industry division, selected years, 1950-82
[Gross averages, production or nonsupervisoryworkers onnonagricultural payrolls]
Year
A ve ra g e
A ve ra g e
A ve ra g e
A ve ra g e
A ve ra g e
A v e ra g e
A ve ra g e
A v e ra g e
w e e k ly
w e e k ly
A ve ra g e
h o u rly
w e e k ly
w e e k ly
h o u rly
w e e k ly
w e e k ly
h o u rly
w e e k ly
w e e k ly
h o u rly
e a rn ip g s
h o u rs
e a rn in g s
e a rn in g s
h o u rs
e a rn in g s
e a rn in g s
h o u rs
e a rn in g s
e a rn in g s
h o u rs
e a rn in g s
P riva te se c to r
A v e ra g e
M in in g
A v e ra g e
C on stru c tio n
A ve ra g e
M a n u fa c tu rin g
1950 ......................
1955 ......................
I9 6 0 1 ...................
1964 ......................
1965 ......................
$53.13
67.72
80.67
91.33
95.45
39.8
39.6
38.6
38.7
38.8
$1.34
1.71
2.09
2.36
2.46
$67.16
89.54
105.04
117.74
123.52
37.9
40.7
40.4
41.9
42.3
$1.77
2.20
2.60
2.81
2.92
$69.68
90.90
112.57
132.06
138.38
37.4
37.1
36.7
37.2
37.4
$1.86
2.45
3.07
3.55
3.70
$58.32
75.30
89.72
102.97
107.53
40.5
40.7
39.7
40.7
41.2
$1.44
1.85
2.26
2.53
2.61
1966
1967
1968
1969
1970
......................
......................
......................
......................
......................
98.82
101.84
107.73
114.61
119.83
38.6
38.0
37.8
37.7
37.1
2.56
2.68
2.85
3.04
3.23
130.24
135.89
142.71
154.80
164.40
42.7
42.6
42.6
43.0
42.7
3.05
3.19
3.35
3.60
3.85
146.26
154.95
164.49
181.54
195.45
37.6
37.7
37.3
37.9
37.3
3.89
4.11
4.41
4.79
5.24
112.19
114.49
122.51
129.51
133.33
41.4
40.6
40.7
40.6
39.8
2.71
2.82
3.01
3.19
3.35
1 9 7 1 ......................
1972 ......................
1973 ......................
1974 ......................
1975 ......................
127.31
136.90
145.39
154.76
163.53
36.9
37.0
36.9
36.5
36.1
3.45
3.70
3.94
4.24
4.53
172.14
189.14
201.40
219.14
249.31
42.4
42.6
42.4
41.9
41.9
4.06
4.44
4.75
5.23
5.95
211.67
221.19
235.89
249.25
266.08
37.2
36.5
36.8
36.6
36.4
5.69
6.06
6.41
6.81
7.31
142 44
154.71
166.46
176.80
190.79
39.9
40.5
40.7
40.0
39.5
3.57
3.82
4.09
4.42
4.83
1976
1977
1978
1979
1980
......................
......................
......................
......................
......................
175.45
189.00
203.70
219.91
235.10
36.1
36.0
35.8
35.7
35.3
4.86
5.25
5.69
6.16
6.66
273.90
301.20
332.88
365.07
397.06
42.4
43.4
43.4
43.0
43.3
6.46
6.94
7.67
8.49
9.17
283.73
295.65
318.69
342.99
367.78
36.8
36.5
36.8
37.0
37.0
7.71
8.10
8.66
9.27
9.94
209.32
228.90
249.27
269 34
288.62
40.1
40.3
40.4
40.2
39.7
5.22
5.68
6.17
6.70
7.27
1 9 8 1 ......................
1982 ......................
255.20
266.92
35.2
34.8
7.25
7.67
439.75
459.23
43.7
42.6
10.04
10.78
299.26
426.45
36 9
36.7
10.82
11.62
318 00
330.65
39.8
38 9
7.99
8.50
Tra n s p o rta tio n an d p u b lic
1950 ......................
1955 ......................
I9 6 0 1 ...................
1964 ......................
1965 ......................
F in a n c e , in s u ra n ce , an d
W h o le s a le a n d reta il tra d e
u tilitie s
S e rvic e s
re a l estate
$118.78
125.14
41.1
41.3
$2.89
3.03
$44.55
55.16
66.01
74.66
76.91
......................
......................
......................
......................
......................
128.13
130.82
138.85
147.74
155.93
41.2
40.5
40.6
40.7
40.5
3.11
3.23
3.42
3.63
3.85
79.39
82.35
87.00
91.39
96.02
37.1
36.6
36.1
35.7
35.3
2.14
2.25
2.41
2.56
2.72
92.13
95.72
101.75
108.70
112.67
37.3
37.1
37.0
37.1
36.7
2 47
2.58
2.75
2.93
3.07
77.04
80.38
83.97
90.57
96.66
35.5
35.1
34.7
34.7
34.4
2.17
2.29
2.42
2.61
2 81
1 9 7 1 ......................
1972 ......................
1973 ......................
1974 ......................
1975 ......................
168.82
187.86
203.31
217.48
233.44
40.1
40.4
40.5
40.2
39.7
4.21
4.65
5.02
5.41
5.88
101.09
106.45
111.76
119.02
126.45
35.1
34.9
34.6
34.2
33.9
2.88
3.05
3.23
3.48
3.73
117.85
122.98
129.20
137.61
148.19
36 6
36.6
36.6
36.5
36.5
3.22
3.36
3.53
3.77
4.06
103.06
110.85
117.29
126.00
134.67
33.9
33.9
33.8
33.6
33.5
3.04
3.27
3.47
3.75
4.02
1976
1977
1978
1979
1980
......................
......................
......................
......................
......................
256.71
278.90
302.80
325.58
351.25
39.8
39.9
40.0
39.9
39.6
6.45
6.99
7.57
8.16
8.87
133.79
142.52
153.64
164.96
176.46
33.7
33.3
32.9
32.6
32.2
3.97
4.28
4.67
5.06
5.48
155.43
165.26
178.00
190.77
209.60
36.4
36.4
36.4
36.2
36.2
4.27
4.54
4 89
5.27
5.79
143.52
153.45
163.67
175.27
190.71
33.3
33 0
32.8
32.7
32 6
4.31
4.65
4.99
5.36
5.85
1 9 8 1 ......................
1982 ......................
382.18
401.70
39.4
39.0
9.70
10.30
190.62
198.10
32.2
31.9
5.92
6.21
229.05
245.44
36.3
36.2
6.31
6.78
208.97
224.94
32.6
32.6
6.41
6.90
1966
1967
1968
1969
1970
1Data include Alaska and Hawaii beginning in 1959.
76
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
40.5
39.4
38.6
37.9
37.7
$1.10
1.40
1.71
1.97
2.04
$50 52
63 92
75.14
85.79
88.91
37 7
37 6
37 2
37.3
37.2
$1 34
1 70
2 02
2.30
2.39
$70.03
73.60
36.1
35.9
$1.94
2.05
13.
Weekly hours, by industry division and major manufacturing group, seasonally adjusted
[Gross averages, production or nonsupervisory workers onprivate nonagricultural payrolls]
1983
A n n u a l a ve ra g e
1984
In d u s try d iv is io n a n d g ro u p
1981
1982
Ja n .
Feb.
M ar.
A p r.
M ay
Ju n e
Ju ly
Aug.
Sep t.
Oct.
N ov.
D e c .F
Ja n .F
......................................................
35.2
34.8
35.1
34.5
34.8
34.9
35.1
35.1
35.0
35.0
35.2
35.3
35.2
35.3
35.6
Overtime h o u r s ............................................
39.8
2.8
38.9
2.3
39.7
2.4
39.2
2.4
39.5
2.6
40.1
2.9
40.0
2.7
40.1
2.9
40.2
3.0
40.3
3.1
40.8
3.3
40.6
3.3
40.6
3.3
40.5
3.4
40.9
3.4
Overtime h o u r s ............................................
40.2
2.8
39.3
2.2
40.1
2.2
39.7
2.3
39.9
2.5
40.5
2.8
40.4
2.6
40.6
2.8
40.8
3.0
40.8
3.1
41.5
3.4
41.2
3.4
41.2
3.5
41.2
3.5
41.6
3.6
Lumber and wood p ro d u c ts ................................
Furniture and fixtures .........................................
Stone, clay, and glass products ......................
Primary metal ind u strie s......................................
Fabricated metal p ro d u c ts ...................................
38.7
38.4
40.6
40.5
40.3
38.0
37.2
40.0
38.6
39.2
40.5
38.6
41.4
38.9
39.9
39.5
37.9
40.5
39.1
39.6
39.5
38.3
40.6
39.4
39.7
40.0
39.3
41.0 •
39.9
40.5
39.8
39.2
41.2
40.3
40.4
40.0
39.6
41.6
40.3
40.5
39.9
39.7
41.7
40 8
40.7
40.2
39.7
41.7
40.9
40.9
40.5
40.1
42.1
41.2
41.6
40.3
39.8
41.7
41.7
41.2
39.7
39.7
41.7
41.6
41.4
399
40.2
41.6
42 0
41.4
40.9
40.5
42.1
41.7
41.6
Machinery, except e le c tric a l................................
Electric and electronic e q u ip m e n t......................
Transportation e q u ip m e n t...................................
Instruments and related p ro d u c ts ......................
40.9
40 0
40.9
40.4
39.7
39.3
40.5
39.8
39.6
39.9
41.6
40.4
39.4
39.5
41.2
39.7
39.7
39.8
41.7
40.0
40.2
40.4
42.3
40.5
40.0
40.3
41.6
40.4
40.4
40.5
41.9
40.1
40.7
40.8
42.0
40.7
40.7
40.7
41.8
40.4
41.2
41.1
43.5
41.0
41.3
41.1
42.5
40 7
41.3
41.1
42.5
40.6
41.4
40.9
41.9
40.7
41.9
41.4
42 8
41.2
Overtime h o u r s ............................................
39.1
2.8
38.4
2.5
39.1
2.6
38.5
2.6
39.0
2.7
39.5
3.0
39.4
2.9
39.6
3.0
39.5
3.0
39.5
3.1
39.9
3.1
39.7
3.1
39.7
3.1
39 7
3.2
39.8
3.1
Food and kindred products ................................
Textile mill p ro d u c ts ............................................
39.7
39.6
39.4
37.5
39.3
39.7
39.0
39.0
39.2
39.6
39.6
40.6
39.4
40.4
39 8
40.7
39.4
40.7
39.6
40.9
39 9
41.3
39.7
40.7
39.5
40.7
39.6
40 7
39.5
40 7
Apparel and other textile products
...................
35.7
34.7
36 6
35.2
35.6
36.2
36.1
36.1
35.8
36.2
36.8
36.5
36 4
36.4
37.1
Paper and allied p ro d u c ts ...................................
42.5
41.8
41.8
41.4
42.1
42.4
42.7
42.8
42.9
42 9
43.3
43.2
43.0
42.9
43.1
Printing and publishing ......................................
Chemicals and allied prod ucts.............................
Petroleum and coal p r o d u c ts .............................
Leather and leather products ............................
37.3
41.6
43.2
36.7
37.1
40.9
43.9
35.6
37.5
41.0
44.5
36.3
37.1
41.0
44 4
34.9
37.4
41.2
44.9
36.0
37.7
41.5
43.5
37.0
37.4
41.6
43.6
36.8
37.6
41.9
43.8
36.8
37.7
41.8
43.7
37.4
37.5
41.6
43.5
37.2
37 8
41.7
43.2
37.7
38 0
41.7
43.5
37.5
37.9
41 8
43.6
37.2
37.6
41.9
44.5
36.9
37.8
41.8
44.7
36 2
T R A N S P O R T A T I O N A N D P U B LIC U T IL IT IE S
39.4
39.0
38.6
38.6
38.8
38.8
38 9
38 9
38.9
39.3
39.4
39.4
39.2
39.3
39.6
W H O L E S A L E A N D R E TA IL TR A D E
32.2
31.9
31.9
31.4
31.7
31.7
31.9
32.0
31.9
31.8
31.8
32.1
32.0
32 3
32.4
W H O L E S A L E TR A D E
38.5
38.4
38.5
38.2
38.4
38.5
38 6
38.7
38.6
38.5
38.7
38.7
38.7
38.7
38.8
P R IV A TE S E C TO R
M A N U F A C T U R IN G
D u ra b le g o o d s
.................................................................
N o n d u ra b le g o o d s
..........................................................
R E T A IL T R A D E
30.1
29.9
29.9
29.3
29.7
29.6
29.9
29.9
29 8
29.7
29 7
30.0
30.0
30 3
30.4
S E R V IC E S
32.6
32.6
32.9
32.5
32.7
32.7
32.9
32.7
32 6
32.7
32 8
32.9
32.7
32 6
32.8
p = preliminary.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
NOTE: See "Notes on the data" for a description of the most recent benchmark revision.
77
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW March 1984 • Current Labor Statistics: Establishment Data
14.
Hourly earnings, by industry division and major manufacturing group
[Gross averages, production or nonsupervisoryworkers onprivatenonagricultural payrolls]
A n n u a l a ve ra g e
1983
1984
In d u s try d iv is io n a nd g rou p
1981
1982
Ja n .
F eb .
M ar.
A p r.
M ay
Ju n e
Ju ly
Aug.
S ep t.
Oct.
N o v.
D e c .l1
Ja n .F
$7.25
(1)
$7.67
(1)
$7.90
7.88
$7.92
7.91
$7.90
7.91
$7.94
7.95
$7.97
7.97
$7.97
8.00
$8.00
8.03
$7.94
7.98
$8.11
8.08
$8.15
8.13
$8.16
8.13
$8.15
8.16
$8.24
8.21
M IN IN G
10.04
10.78
11.21
11.25
11.19
11.28
11.20
11.25
11.29
11.28
11.35
11.35
11.43
11.45
11.56
C O N S T R U C T IO N
10.82
11.62
11.95
12.00
11.95
11.90
11.80
11.74
11.78
11.84
12.03
12.04
11.89
12.01
12.04
P R IV A TE SEC TO R
Seasonally adjusted......................................
7.99
8.50
8.71
8.75
8.74
8.77
8.78
8.81
8.86
8.79
8.90
8.92
8.99
9.06
9.07
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 in d u s trie s ............................
Fabricated metal p ro d u c ts .........................
8.54
6.99
5.91
8.27
10.81
8.19
9.06
7.46
6.31
8.86
11.33
8.78
9.26
7.68
6.49
9.10
11.56
8.98
9.31
7.72
6.50
9.10
11.53
9.04
9.29
7.68
6.51
9.13
11.24
9.05
9.31
7.74
6.51
9.16
11.25
9.07
9.34
7.78
6.52
9.20
11.28
9 08
9.37
7.85
6.60
9.28
11.23
9.11
9.40
7.82
6.65
9.34
11.37
9.10
9.34
7.83
6.67
9.31
11.28
9.12
9.48
7.88
6.73
9.43
11.33
9.21
9.49
7.87
6.71
9.39
11.28
9.22
9.56
7.80
6.72
9.41
11.31
9.27
9.62
7.80
6.77
9.41
11.32
9.38
9.62
7.89
6.77
9.44
11.36
9.34
Machinery, except e le c tric a l......................
Electric and electronic e q u ip m e n t.............
Transportation equipment .........................
Instruments and related p ro d u c ts .............
Miscellaneous manufacturing ...................
8.81
7.62
10.39
7.42
5.97
9.29
8.21
11.12
8.10
6.43
9.40
8.53
11.40
8.42
6.72
9.44
8.56
11.49
8.48
6.73
9.46
8.60
11.49
8.47
6.75
9.48
8.60
11.53
8.46
6.76
9.59
8.60
11.52
8 48
6.82
9.63
8.63
11.63
8.48
6.81
9.65
8.69
11.62
8.57
6.82
9.61
8.64
11.53
8.53
6.81
9.71
8.75
11.80
8.61
6.85
9.74
8.73
11.88
8.60
6.85
9.81
8.78
12.02
8.62
6.86
9.91
8.85
12.06
8.70
6.99
9.90
8.88
11.96
8.67
7.05
N o n d u ra b le g o o d s ......................................................
7.18
7.44
8.88
5.52
4.97
8.60
7.73
7.89
9.78
5.83
5.20
9.32
7.97
8 09
9.87
6.08
5.33
9.65
7.99
8.11
9.96
6.10
5.33
9.65
8.00
8.16
10.43
6.11
5.33
9.67
8.03
8.20
10.61
6.14
5.35
9.72
8.03
8.18
10.74
6.14
5.33
9.81
8.04
8.17
10.91
6.16
5 36
9.91
8.11
8.17
10.84
6.17
5.35
10.06
8.05
8.12
10.24
6.19
5.35
10.02
8.11
8.14
9.90
6.23
5 39
10.11
8.11
8.13
9.67
6.24
5.43
10.10
8.18
8.23
10.74
6 26
5.45
10.19
8.24
8.31
10.28
6.31
5.47
10.24
8 28
8 36
10.67
6.40
5.51
10.23
8.19
9.12
11.38
8.75
9.96
12.46
8.97
10.34
13.16
8.99
10.41
13.25
9.03
10.39
13.28
9.03
10.43
13.27
9.05
10.50
13.17
9.06
10.52
13.17
9.10
10.58
13.20
9.14
10.61
13.16
9.25
10 69
13.36
9 24
10.78
13.36
9.27
10 86
13.44
9.32
10 89
13.60
9 29
10.90
13.63
7.17
4.99
7.65
5.32
7.91
5.50
7.91
5.50
7.92
5.52
7.95
5.52
7.97
5.51
7.96
5.49
8 06
5.52
8.03
5.50
8 08
5.56
8.12
5.55
8.10
5.56
8.20
5.57
8.23
5.65
T R A N S P O R T A T I O N A N D P U B LIC U T IL IT IE S
9.70
10.30
10.69
10.72
10.68
10.72
10.74
10.73
10.86
10 68
10.90
10.93
11.01
11.00
11.05
W H O L E S A L E A N D R E T A IL T R A D E
5.92
6.21
6.42
6.45
6 43
6.45
6.46
6.46
6.48
6.47
6.54
6.57
6.58
6.54
6.67
W H O LES A LE TR A D E
7.56
8.02
8.31
8.28
8.27
8.34
8.36
8.35
8.42
8.41
8.48
8.54
8 54
8 60
8.67
M A N U F A C T U R IN G
D u ra b le g o o d s .............................................................
Food and kindred products ......................
Tobacco m anu factures................................
Textile mill products
................................
Apparel and other textile pro d u cts.............
Paper and allied products .........................
Printing and p u blishing...............................
Chemicals and allied p ro d u c ts ...................
Petroleum and coal products ...................
Rubber and miscellaneous
plastics p ro d u cts......................................
Leather and leather products ...................
.........................................................
R E TA IL T R A D E
5.25
5.47
5.65
5.69
5.68
5.69
5.71
5.71
5.72
5.71
5.77
5.78
5.81
5.77
5.86
F IN A N C E . IN S U R A N C E , A N D R E A L E S T A T E
6.31
6.78
7.19
7.22
7.19
7.23
7.31
7.26
7.30
7.25
7.33
7.45
7.39
7.42
7.56
S E R V IC E S
6.41
6.90
7.18
7.19
7.17
7.20
7.23
7.20
7.18
7.18
7.31
7.39
7.41
7 43
7 54
1Not available.
p = preliminary.
15.
NOTE: See "Notes on the data" for a description ot the most recent benchmark revision.
Hourly Earnings index, for production workers on private nonagricultural payrolls, by industry
[1977 = 100]
N ot s e a s o n a lly a d ju sted
S e a s o n a lly a d ju s ted
Perc en t
P erc en t
c h a n ge
In d u s try
c h a n ge
Ja n .
N o v.
D ec.
Ja n .
from :
Ja n .
S ept.
Oct.
N o v.
D ec.
Ja n .
fro m :
1983
1983
1983 F
1984P
J a n . 1983
1983
1983
1983
1983
1983P
1984P
D e c . 1984
to
to
Ja n . 1984
J a n . 1984
..............
153.4
157.1
157.6
158 8
3.6
152.7
155.9
156.8
156.9
157.5
158.2
0.5
M in in g ............................................................
C o n s tru ctio n ..................................................
M an u fa ctu rin g ...............................................
Transportation and public utilities ............
Wholesale and retail trade .........................
Finance, insurance, and real esta te............
Services .........................................................
164.7
144.2
157.0
155.0
149.4
156.7
153.5
169.8
145.0
1597
159.8
153.8
161.0
158.5
170.1
145.8
160.4
159.9
153.9
161.7
159.0
171.6
146.0
161.1
160.9
155.2
164.8
161.2
4.2
1.3
2.6
3.8
3.8
5.2
5.0
(1)
144.0
156.5
154.4
148.9
(1)
152.2
(1)
145 5
158.3
157.2
153.1
(1)
157.1
(1)
145.1
158 9
158 4
154.1
(1)
158.4
( ')
144 6
159.7
158 7
154.1
(1)
158.1
(1)
145.2
160.1
159.2
154.6
<1)
159.0
( ')
145.8
160.6
160 2
154.7
(1)
159.9
(1)
.4
.4
6
.0
(1)
6
P R I V A T E S E C T O R (In c o n s ta n t d o l l a r s ) ..............
95.3
94.6
94.9
<2)
(2)
94.7
94 2
94 4
94 3
94 5
<2)
<2)
P R I V A T E S E C T O R (in c u rre n t d o lla rs )
'Th is series is not seasonally adjusted because the seasonal component Is small relative to the trendcycle, irregular components, or both, and consequently cannot be separated with sufficient precision.
2Not available.
78
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
p = preliminary,
NOTE: See "Notes on the data" for a description of the most recent benchmark revision.
16.
Weekly earnings, by industry division and major manufacturing group
[Gross averages, production or nonsupervisory workers onprivatenonagricultural payrolls]
1984
1983
A n n u a l a ve ra g e
In d u s try d iv is io n a n d g rou p
1981
1982
Ja n .
Feb.
M ar.
A p r.
M ay
Ju n e
Ju ly
Aug.
S ep t.
Oct.
N o v.
D e c .P
J a n .P
$255.20
(1)
170.13
$266.92
(1)
167.87
$273.34
276.59
169.88
$270.86
272.90
168.24
$274.13
275.27
169.85
$275.52
277.46
169.55
$278.15
279.75
170.33
$280.54
280.80
171.37
$283.20
281.05
172.37
$281.08
279.30
170.35
$286.28
284.42
172.77
$287.70
286.99
173.31
$286 42
286.18
172.44
$289 33
288.05
174.19
$289.22
292.28
<1)
M I N I N G ...................................................................................
438.75
459.23
476.43
464.63
467.74
469.25
472.64
478.13
475.31
481.66
489.19
490 32
490.35
499 22
500.55
C O N S T R U C T IO N
399.26
426.45
440.96
424.80
434.98
436.73
441.32
444.95
450.00
449.92
455.94
449.09
431.61
441.97
437.05
318.00
212.00
330.65
207.96
341.43
212.20
339.50
210.87
346.10
214.44
349.05
214.80
350.32
214.53
355.04
216.88
354.40
215.70
353.36
214.16
363.12
219.14
363.04
218.70
366.79
220.82
373.27
224.73
366.43
(1)
Lumber and wood products ................................
Furniture and fix tu r e s ............................................
Stone, clay, and glass products .........................
Primary metal industries ......................................
Fabricated metal p rod ucts......................................
343.31
270.51
226.94
335.76
437.81
330.06
356.06
283.48
234.73
354.40
437.34
344.18
367.62
300.29
243.38
364.91
450.84
354.71
366.81
299.54
243.10
358.54
450.82
354.37
372.53
302.59
251.29
368.85
456.23
361.10
375.19
308.05
253.89
374.64
451.13
364.61
377.34
312.76
254.28
380 88
452.33
366 83
382.30
320.28
263.34
390 69
454.82
371.69
379.76
313.58
258.69
391.35
460.49
365.82
380.14
319.46
267.47
391.95
457.97
372.10
392.47
320.72
271.22
399.83
469.06
381 29
391.94
318.74
271.08
395.32
464.74
380.79
396.74
308.88
269.47
395.22
470.50
385.63
404.04
312.00
278.25
394.28
479.97
396.77
396.34
311 66
266.06
385.15
473.71
384.81
Machinery except e le c tric a l...................................
Electric and electronic equipment ......................
Transportation equipm ent......................................
Instruments and related products ......................
Miscellaneous m anufacturing...............................
360.33
304.80
424.95
299.77
231.64
368.81
322.65
450.36
322.38
247.56
372.24
338 64
468.54
337.64
260.06
371 94
336.41
469.94
335 81
253.72
377.40
344.00
480.28
340.49
263.25
379.20
344.86
484.26
339.25
263.64
382.64
345.72
482.69
341.74
264.62
388.09
350.38
491.95
340.90
264 91
386.97
350.21
484.55
344.51
264.62
387.28
349 92
475.04
343.76
266 27
399 08
358.75
505.04
353.01
270.58
400.31
358.80
506.09
350.02
272.63
408.10
363.49
515.66
353.42
273.71
422.17
369.93
522.20
360 18
279.60
414.81
365 86
505 91
354.60
274 25
280.74
295.37
344.54
218.59
177.43
365.50
296.83
310.87
369.68
218.63
180.44
389.58
307.64
315.51
360.26
237.12
188.68
402.41
305.22
312.24
339.64
236.07
185.48
396.62
311.20
316 61
378.61
242.57
190.28
406.14
313.97
318.98
395.75
246 83
192 07
410.18
315.58
321.47
401.68
248.67
192.41
415.94
319.19
325.17
420.04
253.18
196.18
425.14
319.53
322.72
398.91
248 03
193.14
429 56
319.59
324.80
386.05
254.41
195.81
428.86
325.21
328.86
380.16
257.92
198.35
439.79
323 59
323.57
370.36
256.46
199 82
436 32
327.20
327.55
431.75
256.66
200.02
440.21
330.42
333.23
387 56
258.71
200.20
447.49
325.40
328.55
389 46
255.36
197.81
439.89
305.49
379.39
491.62
324.63
407.36
546.99
332.79
421.87
572.46
330.83
425.77
573.73
338.63
428.07
584.32
337.72
432.85
581.23
337.57
435.75
575.73
338.84
440.79
579.48
341.25
440.13
584.76
344.58
439 25
572.46
351.50
447.91
591 85
351.12
449 53
585.17
353.19
457.21
590 02
357.89
461.74
603.84
347.45
453.44
595.63
288.95
183.13
302.94
189.39
317.19
196.90
314.03
190 30
321.55
197.06
326.75
201.48
327.57
204.42
328.75
207.52
329.65
207.00
330.84
206 25
338.55
208.50
340.23
206.46
340 20
207.39
347.68
207 20
345.66
201.14
382.18
401.70
409.43
411.65
413.32
413.79
415.64
419.54
425.71
421.86
429.46
430.64
432 69
435.60
433.16
210.60
209 63
209 28
210.24
209.90
213.20
212.11
326.70
325 47
328 18
331.35
331.35
335.40
334.66
P R IV A T E S E C T O R
Current d o lla rs ......................................................
Seasonally a d ju s te d .........................................
Constant (1977) d o lla r s ......................................
M A N U F A C T U R IN G
Current d o lla rs ......................................................
Constant (1977) d o lla r s ......................................
D u ra b le g o o d s
.................................................................
N o n d u ra b le g o o d s
Food and kindred p ro d u c ts ...................................
Tobacco manufactures .........................................
Textile mill pro d u cts...............................................
Apparel and other textile p ro d u c ts ......................
Paper and allied p ro d u cts......................................
Printing and p u b lis h in g .........................................
Chemicals and allied products ............................
Petroleum and coal p ro d u c ts ...............................
Rubber and miscellaneous
plastics p ro d u c ts ...............................................
Leather and leather p ro d u c ts ...............................
T R A N S P O R T A T I O N A N D P U B LIC U T IL IT IE S
W H O LE S A L E A N D R E TA IL T R A D E
190.62
198.10
201.59
199.31
201.90
203.18
205 43
207.37
W H O LE S A L E TR A D E
291.06
307.97
318.27
313.81
316.74
319.42
321 86
323.15
R E T A IL T R A D E
158.03
163.55
164.98
163.30
166.42
167.29
169 59
171.87
175.03
174.16
172 52
172.82
173.14
177.14
174.04
F IN A N C E , IN S U R A N C E , A N D R E A L E S T A T E
229.05
245.44
262.44
260.64
258.84
261.00
265.35
262 09
264 99
261 73
263 88
270.44
266 78
268 60
276.70
S E R V IC E S
208.97
224.94
234.79
232.96
233.74
234.72
236.42
236 88
237.66
237.66
239.04
242 39
241.57
242.22
245.80
1 Not available.
p = preliminary.
17.
NOTE:
See ' Notes on the data” for a description of the most recent benchmark revision.
Indexes of diffusion: industries in which employment increased
[In percent]
T im e
Year
span
Ja n .
Feb .
M ar.
Ap r.
M ay
Ju n e
J u ly
Aug.
S ep t.
O ct.
N o v.
D ec.
32 0
64.5
-
42.2
P64.2
-
Over
1-month
span
1982
1983
1984
....
....
....
28.5
56.5
P66.7
45.4
45.7
36.0
62.4
39.0
69.1
47.6
71.0
32.8
64.5
38.4
68.5
37.1
68.0
—
—
—
—
—
—
34.1
60.8
-
29.3
70.7
—
Over
3-month
span
1982
1983
....
....
25.3
45.4
28.8
55.1
32.0
65.6
34.1
75.8
32.5
76.1
33.6
77.2
27.2
73.9
27.2
79.6
26.1
79.6
25.5
74 2
24.7
P71.2
40.6
P73.1
Over
6-month
span
1982
1983
....
....
20.2
50.5
23.7
63.2
25.3
73.4
29.8
76.3
26.1
79.3
26.1
83.6
23.4
82.5
19.1
80 4
21.2
P82.5
26.1
P82.3
26.6
35 8
—
—
Over
12-month
span
1982
1983
....
....
22.0
48.9
20.7
58.3
18.0
62.6
19.4
73.4
18.3
76.1
20.7
P80.6
20.7
P83.3
22.8
24.2
31.5
37 6
44.1
“
p = preliminary.
NOTE:
-
Figures are the percent of industries with employment rising. (Half of the unchanged components
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
are counted as rising.) Data are centered within the spans. See the "Definitions" in this section.
See “ Notes" on the data" for a description of the most recent benchmark revision.
79
U N EM PL O Y M EN T IN SU R A N C E DA TA
N a t i o n a l u n e m p l o y m e n t i n s u r a n c e d a t a are compiled monthly
by the Employment and Training Administration of the U.S. De
partment of Labor from monthly reports of unemployment insur
ance activity prepared by State agencies. Railroad unemployment
insurance data are prepared by the U.S. Railroad Retirement Board.
persons in unemployment insurance programs to indicate they are out of
work and wish to begin receiving compensation. A claimant who continued
to be unemployed a full week is then counted in the insured unemployment
figure. The rate of insured unemployment expresses the number o f in
sured unemployed as a percent of the average insured employment in a
12-month period.
Definitions
Average weekly seasonally adjusted insured unemployment data are
computed by BLS’ Weekly Seasonal Adjustment program. This procedure
incorporated the X -11 Variant of the Census Method II Seasonal Adjust
ment program.
Data for all programs represent an unduplicated count of insured un
employment under State programs, Unemployment Compensation for ExServicemen, and Unemployment Compensation for Federal Employees,
and the Railroad Insurance Act.
An application for benefits is filed by a railroad worker at the beginning
o f his first period of unemployment in a benefit year; no application is
required for subsequent periods in the same year. Number of payments
are payments made in 14-day registration periods. The average amount
of benefit payment is an average for all compensable periods, not adjusted
for recovery of overpayments or settlement of underpayments. However,
total benefits paid have been adjusted.
Under both State and Federal unemployment insurance programs for
civilian em ployees, insured workers must report the completion of at least
1 week o f unemployment before they are defined as unemployed. Persons
not covered by unemployment insurance (about 10 percent of the labor
force) and those who have exhausted or not yet earned benefit rights are
excluded from the scope o f the survey. Initial claims are notices filed by
18.
Unemployment insurance and employment service operations
[All Items except average benefits am ounts are in thousands]
1982
1983
Item
D ec .
All programs:
Insured unem ploym en t............................
State unemployment insurance program:1
Initial claims2 ............................................
Insured unemployment (average
weekly v o lu m e )......................................
Rate of insured unem ploym ent................
Weeks of unemployment compensated ..
Average weekly benefit amount
for total unemployment ......................
Total benefits paid ..................................
State unemployment insurance program:1
(Seasonally adjusted data)
Initial claims2 ............................................
Insured unemployment (average
weekly v o lu m e )......................................
Rate of insured unem ploym ent................
Unemployment compensation for exservicemen:3
Initial claims1 ............................................
Insured unemployment (average
weekly v o lu m e )......................................
Weeks of unemployment compensated...
Total benefits paid ...................................
Unemployment compensation for
Federal civilian employees:4
Initial c la im s ...............................................
Insured unemployment (average
weekly v o lu m e )......................................
Weeks of unemployment compensated..
Total benefits paid ..................................
Railroad unemployment insurance:
A p p lic a tio n s ...............................................
Insured unemployment (average
weekly v o lu m e )......................................
Number of p a y m e n ts ...............................
Average amount of benefit payment . . .
Total benefits paid ...................................
Employment service:5
New applications and renew als................
Nonfarm placements ...............................
Ja n .
Feb.
M ar.
A p r.
Ju ly
Aug.
Sep t.
Oct.
N o v.
D e c .F
5,459
5,437
5,134
4,642
3,947
3,481
3,275
2,917
2.580
2,478
2,620
2,915
3,080
3,143
2,065
2,075
1,874
1,666
1.740
1,804
1,668
1,381
r1,522
1,714
2,191
4,581
5.2
17,836
4,923
5.6
18,307
4,759
5.5
16,895
4,401
5.0
19,529
3,906
4.5
14,986
3,361
3.9
13,133
3,063
3.5
12,819
3,049
3.5
10,959
2,766
3.2
11,305
2,449
2.8
r9,383
2,358
2.7
8.417
2,508
29
9,264
2.805
3.3
10 739
r$123.55
$124.29
$124.47
$125.47
$124.85
$124.49
$123.44
$121.59
$121.42
$121.36
r$122.94
r$2,137,986 $2,205,551 $2,052,415 $2,367,752 $1,816,539 $1,587,888 $1,549,758 $1,298,189 $1,337,442 $1,104,362 r$1.001.668
122.04
1.094.196
125.11
1.297.911
2,586
2,187
2,138
2,148
1.952
1,993
1.836
1,723
1.841
1.664
r1.656
1.702
1.687
4,355
5.0
3,980
4.6
3,979
4.6
3,884
4.5
3,774
4.3
3,538
4.1
3,301
3.8
3,303
3.8
3,026
3.5
3.088
3.6
2.617
3.1
2.677
3.1
2,721
3.2
24
21
16
18
15
14
16
16
19
17
16
15
15
26
90
$11,210
37
132
$16,807
37
143
$18,032
34
156
$19,588
30
117
$14,776
26
104
$13,111
25
107
$13,588
25
94
$12,118
26
108
$13,855
27
106
$13,519
28
r104
r$14,122
28
115
15.144
27
115
15.031
15
16
10
11
10
9
13
12
11
11
15
13
13
33
r145
r$16,118
35
142
$16,045
33
131
$15,083
31
146
$16,871
26
109
$12,422
22
93
$10,603
21
90
$10,272
23
85
$9,640
22
94
$10,760
22
83
$9,522
25
r88
r10.228
27
109
12 390
29
120
13 960
17
20
7
8
94
4
30
55
14
9
7
8
8
83
172
$217.00
$39,500
102
219
$220.32
$44,514
72
158
$214.54
$33,100
65
169
$213.44
$36,243
79
172
$203 87
$27,783
90
183
$215.15
$29,411
49
123
$203.54
$14,984
49
92
$199.87
$17,551
46
107
$214.21
$21,789
41
103
$214.77
$20,239
48
92
$211.41
$19,531
40
92
$212.36
$19,536
43
95
$213 71
$19,870
4,527
642
3 Excludes data on claims and payments made jointly with other programs.
E xclu des data or claims and payments made jointly with State programs.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Ju n e
5,074
8,381
1,184
11nitial claims and State insured unemployment include data under the program for Puerto Rican
sugarcane workers.
2 Excludes transition claims under State programs.
80
M ay
11,987
1,921
15.595
3,012
5Cumulative total for fiscal year (October 1-September 30) Data computed cuarterlv
NOTE. Data for Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands included. Dashes indicate data not available.
p = preliminary.
r _ revjSe(j
PRICE DATA
P r i c e d a t a are gathered by the Bureau of Labor Statistics from
retail and primary markets in the United States. Price indexes are
given in relation to a base period (1967 = 100, unless otherwise
noted).
To the extent possible, prices used in calculating Producer Price Indexes
apply to the first significant commercial transaction in the United States,
from the production or central marketing point. Price data are generally
collected monthly, primarily by mail questionnaire. Most prices are ob
tained directly from producing companies on a voluntary and confidential
basis. Prices generally are reported for the Tuesday of the week containing
Definitions
the 13th day of the month.
In calculating Producer Price Indexes, price changes for the various
commodities are averaged together with implicit quantity weights repre
senting their importance in the total net selling value of all commodities
as of 1972. The detailed data are aggregated to obtain indexes for stage
of processing groupings, commodity groupings, durability of product
groupings, and a number of special composite groupings.
The Consumer Price Index is a monthly statistical measure of the average
change in prices in a fixed market basket of goods and services. Effective
with the January 1978 index, the Bureau of Labor Statistics began pub
lishing CPI’s for two groups of the population. It introduced a CPI for All
Urban Consumers, covering 80 percent of the total noninstitutional pop
ulation, and revised the CPI for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers,
covering about half the new index population. The All Urban Consumers
index covers in addition to wage earners and clerical workers, professional,
managerial, and technical workers, the self-employed, short-term workers,
the unemployed, retirees, and others not in the labor force.
The CPI is based on prices of food, clothing, shelter, fuel, drugs,
transportation fares, doctors’ and dentists’ fees, and other goods and ser
vices that people buy for day-to-day living. The quantity and quality of
these items is kept essentially unchanged between major revisions so that
only price changes will be measured. Data are collected from more than
24,000 retail establishments and 24,000 tenants in 85 urban areas across
the country. All taxes directly associated with the purchase and use of
items are included in the index. Because the CPI’s are based on the ex
penditures o f two population groups in 1972-73, they may not accurately
reflect the experience of individual families and single persons with dif
ferent buying habits.
Though the CPI is often called the “ Cost-of-Living Index,” it measures
only price change, which is just one of several important factors affecting
living costs. Area indexes do not measure differences in the level of prices
among cities. They only measure the average change in prices for each
area since the base period.
Producer Price Indexes measure average changes in prices received in
primary markets of the United States by products of commodities in all
stages o f processing. The sample used for calculating these indexes contains
about 2,800 commodities and about 10,000 quotations per month selected
to represent the movement of prices of all commodities produced in the
manufacturing, agriculture, forestry, fishing, mining, gas and electricity,
and public utilities sectors. The universe includes all commodities produced
or imported for sale in commercial transactions in primary markets in the
United States.
Producer Price Indexes can be organized by stage of processing or by
commodity. The stage of processing structure organizes products by degree
o f fabrication (that is, finished goods, intermediate or semifinished goods,
and crude materials). The commodity structure organizes products by sim
ilarity o f end-use or material composition.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Price indexes for the output of selected SIC industries measure av
erage price changes in commodities produced by particular industries, as
defined in the Standard Industrial Classification Manual 1972 (Washing
ton, U .S. Office of Management and Budget, 1972). These indexes are
derived from several price series, combined to match the economic activity
of the specified industry and weighted by the value of shipments in the
industry. They use data from comprehensive industrial censuses conducted
by the U .S. Bureau of the Census and the U.S. Department o f Agriculture.
Notes on the data
Regional CPI’s cross classified by population size were introduced in
the May 1978 Review. These indexes enable users in local areas for which
an index is not published to get a better approximation of the CPI for their
area by using the appropriate population size class measure for their region.
The cross-classified indexes are published bimonthly. (See table 20.)
For details concerning the 1978 revision of the CPI. see The Consumer
Price Index: Concepts and Content Over the Years, Report 517. revised
edition (Bureau of Labor Statistics. May 1978).
As of January 1976, the Producer Price Index incorporated a revised
weighting structure reflecting 1972 values of shipments.
Additional data and analyses of price changes are provided in the CPI
Detailed Report and Producer Prices and Price Indexes, both monthly
publications of the Bureau.
For a discussion of the general method of computing producer, and
industry price indexes, see BLS Handbook of Methods, Bulletin 2134-1
(Bureau of Labor Statistics, 1982). chapter 7. For consumer prices, see
BLS Handbook of Methods for Surveys and Studies (1976). chapter 13.
See also John F. Early, "Improving the measurement of producer price
change,” Monthly Labor Review, April 1978. For industry prices, see also
Bennett R. Moss, "Industry and Sector Price Indexes.” Monthly Labor
Review, August 1965.
81
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW March 1984 • Current Labor Statistics: Consumer Prices
19.
Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers, annual averages and changes, 1967-82
[1967= 100]
F o o d and
A ll terns
A p p a re l and
H o u s in g
b e v e ra g e s
T ra n s p o rta tio n
up ke ep
M e d ic a l ca re
O th e r g o o d s
E n te rta in m e n t
an d s e r v ic e s
Year
In d e x
1967 ...................
1968 ...................
1969 ...................
1970 ...................
1971
1972
1973
1974
1975
P erc en t
In d e x
c h a n ge
100.0
P erc en t
c h a n ge
In d e x
P erc en t
c h a n ge
In d e x
P erc en t
P erc en t
In d e x
c h a n ge
c h a n ge
In d e x
P e rc e n t
c h a n ge
In d e x
P e rc e n t
c h a n ge
In d e x
P e rc e n t
change
109.8
116.3
4.2
5.4
5.9
100.0
103.6
108.8
114.7
3.6
5.0
5.4
100.0
104.0
110.4
118.2
4.0
6.2
7.1
100.0
105.4
111.5
116.1
5.4
5.8
4.1
100.0
103.2
107.2
112.7
3.2
3.9
5.1
100.0
106.1
113.4
120.6
6.1
6.9
6.3
100.0
105.7
111.0
116.7
5.7
5.0
5.1
100.0
105.2
110.4
115.8
5.2
4.9
5.8
...................
...................
...................
...................
...................
121.3
125.3
133.1
147.7
161.2
4.3
3.3
6.2
11.0
9.1
118.3
123.2
139.5
158.7
172.1
3.1
4.1
13.2
13.8
8.4
123.4
128.1
133.7
148.8
164.5
4.4
3.8
4.4
11.3
10.6
119.8
122.3
126.8
136.2
142.3
3.3
2.1
3.7
7.4
4.5
118.6
119.9
123.8
137.7
150.6
5.2
1.1
3.3
11.2
9.4
128.4
132.5
137.7
150.5
168.6
6.5
3.2
3.9
9.3
12.0
122.9
126.5
130.0
139.8
152.2
5.3
2.9
2.8
7.5
8.9
122.4
127.5
132.5
142.0
153.9
4.8
4.2
3.9
7.2
8.4
1976
1977
1978
1979
1980
...................
...................
...................
...................
...................
170.5
181.5
195.3
217.7
247.0
5.8
6.5
7.6
11.5
13.5
177.4
188.0
206.2
228.7
248.7
3.1
8.0
9.7
10.9
8.7
174.6
186.5
202.6
227.5
263.2
6.1
6.8
8.6
12.3
15.7
147.6
154.2
159.5
166.4
177.4
3.7
4.5
3.4
4.3
6.6
165.5
177.2
185 8
212 8
250.5
9.9
7.1
4.9
14.5
17.7
184.7
202.4
219.4
240.1
287.2
9.5
9.6
8.4
9.4
11.3
159 8
167.7
176.2
187.6
203.7
5.0
4.9
5.1
6.5
8.5
162.7
172.2
183.2
196 3
213.6
5.7
5.8
6.4
7.2
8.8
1981
1982
...................
...................
272.3
288.6
10.2
6.0
267.8
278.5
7.7
4.0
293.2
314.7
11.4
7.3
186.6
190 9
5.2
2.3
281.3
293.1
12.3
4.2
295.1
326.9
10,4
10.8
219.0
232.4
7.5
6.1
233.3
257.0
9.2
10.2
1 0 4 .2
-
20. Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers and revised CPI for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers,
U.S. city average— general summary and groups, subgroups, and selected items
[1967= 100unless otherwisespecified]
A ll U rb a n C o n s u m e rs
G e n e ra l s u m m a r y
1982
D ec.
U rb a n W a g e E a rn e rs a n d C le ric a l W o rk e rs
1983
Ju ly
A u g.
S ept.
1982
Oct.
N o v.
D ec.
D ec.
1983
Ju ly
A u g.
S ept.
Oct.
N o v.
D ec
A ll i t e m s ....................................................................
292.4
299.3
300.3
301.8
302.6
303.1
303.5
292.0
298.2
299.5
300.8
301.3
301.4
301.5
Food and beverages ......................................................
Housing ............................................................
Apparel and u p k e e p ...............................................
T ransportation......................................................
Medical c a r e ......................................................
Entertainment .........................................
Other goods and se rvic e s.........................................
279.1
316.3
193.6
294.8
344.3
240.1
276.6
284.7
324.5
195.0
300.4
357.7
246.0
287.5
284.9
324.8
197.3
302.4
360.0
246.6
289.0
285.3
326 4
200.4
303.7
361.2
247.5
294 4
285.7
326.8
200.7
305.0
362.9
249.1
296.8
285.3
327.0
200.7
306.3
364.9
249.5
298.1
286.5
327.4
199.3
306.3
366.2
249.5
298.6
279.6
316.8
192.8
296.3
341.8
236 5
274.0
285 0
323.1
194.0
301.9
355 6
242.5
286.4
285.1
324.3
196.3
304.1
357 9
243.1
288.0
285.6
325.3
199.3
305.5
359.2
244.1
292.0
285.9
325.2
199.8
306 9
360.9
245.4
294.1
285.6
324.5
199.7
308.2
362.9
245.7
295.5
286.8
324 2
198 1
308.2
364 3
245.8
295 9
C om m odities...............................................
Commodities less food and beve ra g e s...................
Nondurables less food and beverages . . .
D u ra b le s ............................................
267.7
258.0
270.0
247.3
272.5
262.3
273.5
252.9
273.4
263.6
274.7
254.3
274.5
265.1
275.8
256.4
275.0
265.8
275.2
258.7
275.2
266.3
274.5
261.0
275.5
266.0
273.5
261.8
268.2
258.8
271.9
247.0
274.2
264.9
275.7
254.8
275.1
266.1
276.9
256.0
275.9
267 2
277.9
257.0
276.1
267 3
277.4
257.7
276 2
267 5
276.6
258.7
276 3
267 1
275 4
258.9
335 6
230.8
100.0
299.4
373.4
270.0
345.6
237.1
104.8
302.3
387.2
276.3
346.8
238.2
104.8
304.0
389.8
276.9
349.0
239.5
105 1
305 4
391.0
282.5
350.2
240.4
104.8
307.8
392.9
285.2
351.0
241.3
104.2
310.1
395.0
286.5
351.6
242.0
104.1
310.8
396.3
287.2
336.2
230.3
342.8
236 5
344.8
237.6
346.9
238.9
348.1
239 8
348.2
240 7
348 4
241 3
296.7
370.1
267 5
298.4
384.4
274.2
300.2
387 0
274.8
301.4
388.3
279.6
303.9
390.2
282.2
306 0
392.3
283 6
306 9
393 8
284.3
292.1
299.3
102.3
300.5
102.7
302 3
103.2
303.2
103.5
303.9
103.6
304.0
103.7
Services .........................................................
Rent, residential .........................................
Household services less rent of shelter (12/82 = 100)
Transportation services ...............................
Medical care services .........................................
Other services ...............................................
. .
S p e c ia l in d e xe s :
All items less fo o d .........................................
All items less homeowners' costs . . . .
All Items less mortgage interest costs . . . .
Commodities less food .........................
Nondurables less food . . . .
Nondurables less food and apparel . . .
N ond urables............................................
Services less rent of shelter (12/82 = 100)
Services less medical care .........................
Domestically produced farm fo o d s .........................
Selected beef c u t s ...............................................
Energy1 ................................................
Energy commodities1 .........................................
All Items less energy .........................................
All items less food and e n e rg y......................
Commodities less food and e n e rg y ............
Services less e n e rg y ...................................
Purchasing power of the consumer dollar, 1967 = $1
See footnote at end of table.
82
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
292.1
298.5
300.0
301.5
302 1
302 3
302 1
278.3
256.6
266.6
306.5
276.8
285.3
262.7
270.6
312.1
281.4
286.3
263 9
271.7
312.7
282.1
287.5
264.9
272.8
312.8
282.8
288.1
265.1
272 3
311.9
282 7
288.3
264 9
271 5
310.9
282 1
288.5
264 9
255.8
264.7
305.2
275 8
100.0
329.3
264.8
270.0
419.9
425.4
282.5
279.9
237.1
329.6
260.2
268 4
310.4
280.3
103.1
338.9
269.6
275.8
430.1
423.4
289.2
286.8
242.7
337.9
261.4
269 6
310.9
281 0
103.5
339.9
269.2
270.5
429.8
423.7
290.3
288 2
244.2
339.3
262.9
270.6
311.0
281.8
104.2
342.2
269.2
267.5
429.3
422.1
292.1
290.2
246.2
341.6
263.6
270.2
310.2
281.7
104.5
343.3
268.5
265.6
425.1
418.2
293.4
291.8
247.6
343.3
264.1
269.5
309.3
281.1
104.7
344.1
267.7
265.3
419.9
414.4
294.4
293.2
248.9
344 9
263.8
268.5
308.6
281.2
104.8
344.5
269.7
265.5
418.0
411.8
295.0
293.6
249.0
345.5
330.4
264.0
271.2
420.8
425.6
281.5
279.0
236.8
330.1
336.1
268 5
277.2
430.9
424.5
287.4
284.9
243.8
334.5
338.1
268.0
271.6
430.7
424.9
288.8
286.6
245.1
336.8
340 2
268.1
268 9
430.2
423.4
290 3
288.3
246.4
339.0
341 3
267 4
266.7
425 8
419.6
291 3
289 5
247.1
340 8
341 3
266 7
266.4
420.8
415 8
291 8
290 3
247 8
341.6
247 7
341.8
$0.342
$0.334
$0 333
$0.331
$0.330
$0.330
$0.329
$0.342
$0.335
$0.334
$0.332
$0.332
$0.332
$0 332
270 4
310 1
282 2
268 7
266.6
418.7
412 9
292 1
20.
Continued— Consumer Price Index— U.S. city average
[1967= 100unlessotherwisespecified]
U rb a n W a g e E a rn e rs a n d C le ric a l W o rk e r s
A ll U rb a n C o n s u m e rs
G e n e ra l s u m m a r y
1982
1983
1982
1983
D ec .
J u ly
Aug.
S ept.
Oct.
N o v.
D ec.
D ec .
Ju ly
Aug.
Sep t.
O ct.
N o v.
D ec.
FOO D AN D B EVERAGES
279.1
284.7
284.9
285.3
5
285.7
285.3
286.5
279.6
285.0
285 1
285.6
285.9
285 6
286.8
F o o d .........................................................................................................................................
286.5
292.0
292.2
292.6
292.9
292.5
293.9
286.7
292.1
292.2
292.6
292.9
292.6
294.0
282.3
294.0
158.1
141.4
177.6
145.5
154.8
254.4
149.8
154.4
156.2
156.0
147.7
155.8
281 4
295.7
157.9
140 8
177.3
146.1
156.0
257.0
151.9
155.7
157.9
157.6
147.8
156.8
283.0
297.1
158.2
140.1
178.0
146.8
156.9
257.4
152.0
157.8
159.7
159.2
148.1
157.7
277.1
284 9
154.2
139 8
170.1
146.5
149.6
243.9
149.6
147.6
149.7
154.6
145.5
152.9
281.5
292.5
159.5
144.6
179.5
146.8
153.3
248 7
152.2
149.6
153.3
158 5
152.8
158.0
281.5
292.3
159.3
143.4
179.7
147.1
153.1
248.5
151.9
148.7
153 5
1586
149 5
158.6
281.3
292.6
158.8
141.9
179 8
146.6
153.5
250.0
151.8
150.6
154.5
156.8
149.1
158.5
280.5
294.3
158.6
141.3
179.4
147.2
154 8
252.7
154.1
151.7
156.2
158.4
149.2
159.6
282.1
295.7
158.9
140.4
180.1
148.0
155.7
253.2
154.1
153.7
157.9
159.9
149.6
160.4
282.5
293.7
158.5
142.9
177.5
146.0
154.4
252.9
149.8
152.6
155.2
157.6
148.3
155.9
159.4
159.4
161.3
161.9
160.6
161.5
148 4
152.5
152.5
154.3
154.9
154.0
154.9
260.4
267.2
267.8
275.8
261.4
277,6
240.7
257.8
285.2
168.8
251.2
267.3
232.9
108.3
318.9
256.8
140.0
266 9
265.9
154.0
137.1
138 4
198.1
198 7
129 6
126 0
368.9
135.7
143.3
177.9
258.8
265.0
264.2
270.7
256 5
272.4
232.4
250.3
280.9
166.6
249.6
264.7
232.4
109 6
313.9
254.0
138.4
264 6
266.7
153.2
136.4
133.8
200.5
202 1
131.7
125.7
372.7
135.9
145.5
183.7
258 7
264.2
262.6
268.0
254.3
269.5
230.3
247.4
277.3
164 8
250 2
269.5
229.6
111.0
311.3
252.8
139.0
262.6
259 8
153.0
136.1
133.9
204.4
209.6
135.9
122 9
372.6
133.9
146.7
193.3
257.1
261.9
260 4
266 2
250.9
265.8
234.4
251.5
268 4
164 0
246 4
262.5
227.2
111.6
307.4
251.9
134.4
262.2
260.8
152.8
135.2
133 7
199.6
199.1
132.2
126 0
374.1
133.5
147.8
200.1
256 6
260 8
258.6
265.7
251 6
266.2
235.3
250.0
265.3
163.2
241.1
253.7
222.3
109.1
305.0
248 0
131.5
262.6
259.7
152.8
135 8
134.6
201.7
207.6
134.1
120.6
374 9
132.6
148.8
208.2
259.3
261.8
258.3
266.0
251.3
266.9
231.3
249 9
262.7
164.7
240.3
253.0
219.0
111.8
303.4
246.5
129.9
261.3
259.0
150.4
134.7
136.1
209.8
219.4
139.4
122 3
376 4
132.5
149 9
234.0
261.5
268.6
270 8
270.6
262 7
289.6
246.4
251.3
252.7
161.2
269.5
296.1
240.8
126.4
332.5
276 9
144 9
269 8
268 4
155.1
139 8
137 5
188 4
183.5
123.1
125.3
368.2
138.2
141.5
173.3
260.1
266.8
267 3
276.5
262.7
286.3
243.8
256.5
287.5
167.4
250 8
271.6
231.1
105.5
320 0
262.6
139.3
266 6
264 9
154.1
135.2
141.6
196.1
196.6
127.7
125.3
367.3
135.2
142.8
178.7
258.4
264.4
263.7
271.1
258.0
280 6
235.0
248.5
281 8
165.1
249.3
268 8
230.5
106.8
315.3
259 8
137.8
264.4
265.9
153.3
134.5
136.6
198.5
200.0
129.9
125.1
370.8
135.4
144 8
184 6
258.4
263.8
262 2
268.7
255 9
277.4
232.8
245 7
280.1
163.7
249.7
273.6
227.9
108.1
312.2
258.8
138.2
262.4
258.6
152 9
134.2
136.9
202.6
207.2
134.2
122.7
370.7
133.4
146.0
194 3
256.6
261 4
260.0
266 7
252.1
273.1
237.2
250.9
270.1
162.6
246 0
266 4
225.6
108 8
308.4
257.7
133.9
262.0
259 7
152.8
133.3
136.8
197.6
196 7
130.5
125.5
372.0
132.9
147.1
201 0
256.1
260.2
258.1
266.1
252.5
274.0
238.1
248.6
266.9
161.8
240.7
256.8
220.3
106.4
305.9
254.3
131.1
262.4
258.8
152.8
133.9
137.8
199 7
205 1
132.1
120 3
373.4
132.1
148.5
209 3
258.6
261.0
257.7
266.4
251.7
275.2
233.9
248 0
264.1
163.5
239.8
256.4
217 5
108.8
304.2
252.0
129.3
260.7
257 5
150.2
132 8
139.3
207.8
216.7
137.2
122.1
374.9
132.0
149.5
235.3
249.8
136.2
222.8
136 4
148 2
253.3
146.9
151.6
144.5
250.2
136.5
223.2
136 8
148.4
254.2
146 4
152 5
145.9
250.2
136.1
222.6
136.4
149.0
253.9
146.8
154 4
146.0
250.1
135.9
221 9
136 6
149.2
256.2
146.7
154 9
145.2
250.2
135.9
222.1
136.4
149 3
254.8
146.8
155.3
145.7
249.9
135.9
222.3
136.2
148.8
254.1
146.4
154.0
146.0
247.1
135.0
221.1
134.7
146 9
254.5
144.9
150.8
142.4
249 0
135.7
222 0
135.8
148 5
255.8
147.3
150.7
145.1
249 4
135.9
222.3
136.2
148.6
256.8
146.7
151.5
146 5
249 4
135 5
221.7
135 8
149.3
256 4
147.1
153.5
146.5
249 2
135.2
220.9
136.0
149 4
258.7
147.0
154 0
145 8
249.3
135 3
221 2
135.8
149.5
257.4
147.1
154.2
146 1
249 0
135.3
221.4
135 6
149.0
256.6
146.7
153.0
146 5
277.6
272.3
273.9
243.7
242.6
313.0
144.8
270.8
241.3
334 6
272.8
142.2
298.7
310.6
326.5
287.5
325.2
347.9
173.3
295 8
320.7
280 5
243.1
167.6
299.4
310.7
328.9
310.0
291.0
359.8
173.2
293 8
342.2
293 9
200.5
163.6
297.6
306.6
316.7
320.2
278.6
337.0
164.1
297.2
336.1
337.0
212.2
158 0
296.7
304.9
304.4
271.8
272.8
299.0
171.1
305.5
316 9
360 4
241.9
163.0
288 9
288.7
279.5
265.9
233.1
307 8
148 5
297.4
305.0
329 8
243.0
163.0
292.6
294 2
270.4
270 0
230.0
283.4
143.0
316 6
317.6
371.8
222.2
177.2
273.6
266.6
262.5
243 7
242.0
283.0
138 7
270.4
237.5
336.0
278.4
141.5
294.7
304.8
315.3
288 8
323.1
321.5
166 6
295.5
318.2
280.6
247.3
167.3
295 1
304.3
317.5
311.9
290.7
329 9
166.3
292.5
338 2
294.2
204 0
162.5
293.3
300.3
305.9
321.3
276 5
307 1
157.7
295 4
330 9
338.2
216 2
156.3
292 7
298 9
293.4
273 8
270.3
271.3
164.7
303.9
311.7
360 9
246.8
161.7
285.1
283.4
269.3
267.3
230.7
279 3
142 9
296 2
300.1
330.0
246 9
162.3
289 3
289 8
261.1
270.8
227.8
257.5
137.8
315.7
314.3
375.0
224 7
176.1
286.0
149.5
143.6
154.0
149.6
138.0
147.5
288 2
150.6
140.6
156.4
152.6
139.0
151.7
289 5
150.7
141.1
155.6
153.5
140.2
152.8
290 2
151.0
142.2
155.2
153.8
140.6
152.4
290.3
150.6
142 1
155.1
152.9
141.1
150.6
291.6
151.2
143.3
155.5
153 2
141.8
151.8
293 3
152.0
143.6
155.7
155.0
142.8
151.5
283 8
149 2
142.6
153.1
150 2
136.8
148.9
285.9
150.2
139 8
155 4
153.1
137.9
153.3
287.4
150.4
140.3
154.7
153 8
139.1
154.5
288 0
150.6
141.4
154.2
154.3
139.4
153 9
288 2
150.3
141.3
154.0
153 4
140.0
152.0
289.5
150.8
142.6
154.6
153.5
140 7
153.4
291.2
151.6
142.9
154.8
155.1
141.6
153.2
277.8
286.3
153.4
139.5
168.0
145.3
150 9
248.1
147.6
151.6
151.5
153.7
144.1
150.4
155.2
Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs ..................................................................
Meats, poultry, and f i s h .....................................................................
Meats ............................................................................................
Beef and v e a l............................................................................
Ground beef other than cann ed.........................................
Chuck roast .........................................................................
Round r o a s t .........................................................................
Round s te a k .........................................................................
Sirloin s te a k ........................................................................
Other beef and veal (12/77 = 100) ...............................
P o r k ...........................................................................................
Bacon ..................................................................................
Chops ..................................................................................
Ham other than canned (12/77 = 1 0 0 ) .........................
Sausage ...............................................................................
Canned h a m .........................................................................
Other pork (12/77 = 100) ...............................................
Other meats ............................................................................
Frankfurters ........................................................................
Bologna, liverwurst, and salami (12/77 = 100) . . . .
Other lunchmeats (12/77 = 100) ...................................
Lamb and organ meats (12/77 = 100) .........................
P o u ltry ............................................................................................
Fresh whole chick e n ............................................................
Fresh and frozen chicken parts (12/77 = 1 0 0 ) .............
Other poultry (12/77 = 1 0 0 ) ............................................
Fish and seafood .........................................................................
Canned fish and seafood ..................................................
Fresh and frozen fish and seafood (12/77 = 100) . . .
E g g s ........................................................................................................
261.6
268.8
271.1
270.2
261.7
281.0
243.0
253.5
253.0
162.8
270.1
290.8
242.4
129.6
332.0
272.4
145.6
269.7
268.9
155.3
141.8
134.3
190.4
185.4
124.8
126,0
369.6
138.9
141.9
172.5
Dairy p ro d u c ts ...............................................................................................
Fresh milk and cream (12/77 = 1 0 0 )...............................................
Fresh whole milk .........................................................................
Other fresh milk and cream (12/77 = 1 0 0 )............................
Processed dairy products ..................................................................
Butter ............................................................................................
Cheese (12/77 = 1 0 0 ) ...............................................................
Ice cream and related products (12/77 = 1 0 0 )......................
247 8
135.5
221.9
135.2
146 6
252.1
144.6
151.8
141.7
Fruits and vegetables ..................................................................................
Fresh fruits and vegetables ...............................................................
Fresh fruits ..................................................................................
Apples ..................................................................................
Bananas ...............................................................................
Oranges ...............................................................................
Other fresh fruits (12/77 = 1 0 0 )......................................
Fresh vegetables .........................................................................
P o ta to e s ...............................................................................
L e ttu c e ..................................................................................
Tomatoes ............................................................................
Other fresh vegetables (12/77 = 1 0 0 ) ............................
Processed fruits and vegetables.........................................................
Processed fruits (12/77 = 1 0 0 ) ...............................................
Frozen fruit and fruit juices (12/77 = 1 0 0 ) ...................
Fruit juices other than frozen (12/77 = 100) ................
Canned and dried fruits (12/77 = 1 0 0 ) .........................
Processed vegetables (12/77 = 1 0 0 ) ......................................
Frozen vegetables (12/77 = 100) ..................................
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
281.8
292.3
159.2
143.3
178.8
147.7
153.2
249.9
151.6
149.6
153.6
157.9
151.8
156.9
282.5
294.0
158.6
143.9
177.2
145.6
154.5
253.1
150.1
153.4
154.9
157.6
151.4
155.3
Food at home ........................................................................................................
Cereals and bakery products .....................................................................
Cereals and cereal products (12/77 = 100) ...................................
Flour and prepared flour mixes (12/77 = 1 0 0 ) ......................
Cereal (12/77 - 100) ...............................................................
Rice, pasta, and cornmeal (12/77 = 100) ............................
Bakery products (12/77 = 1 0 0 ) .........................................................
White b r e a d ..................................................................................
Other breads (12/77 = 1 0 0 ) ......................................................
Fresh biscuits, rolls, and muffins (12/77 = 100) ................
Fresh cakes and cupcakes (12/77 = 100) ............................
Cookies (12/77 = 100) ............................................................
Crackers, bread, and cracker products (12/77 = 100) . . .
Fresh sweetrolls, coffeecake, and donuts (12/77 = 100) . .
Frozen and refrigerated bakery products and
fresh pies, tarts, and turnovers (12/77 = 1 0 0 ) ................
282.8
293.7
158.3
142.8
176.7
146.5
154.4
254.3
149.5
153.2
155.4
157.0
150.3
154.1
83
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW March 1984 • Current Labor Statistics: Consumer Prices
20.
Continued— Consumer Price Index— U.S. city average
[1967 = 100 unless otherwise specified]
A ll U rb a n C o n s u m e rs
G e n e ra l s u m m a ry
1982
U rb a n W a g e E a rn e rs a n d C le ric a l W o rk e rs
1983
1982
D ec.
Ju ly
Aug.
S ept.
Oct.
N o v.
D ec .
D ec .
140.3
132.0
333.7
369.2
149.5
164.3
151.7
258.6
256.5
151.7
130.3
424.3
307.2
142.4
361.4
346.1
139.0
270.7
136.9
149.0
152.7
157.4
152.6
151.0
146.1
140.9
131.7
338.7
376.1
151.8
169.7
153.0
259.0
259.5
150.5
130.3
428.7
310.3
145.1
356.6
351.4
140.4
276.8
141.9
154.4
159.3
158.5
156.1
151.6
146.8
142.0
132.9
339.1
375.8
151.6
169.7
152.8
258.1
257.2
149.8
130.3
430.7
312.4
146.3
356.0
352.3
140.5
276.9
141.8
155.1
159.3
158.3
156.0
151.5
146.5
141.8
134.0
340.7
376.4
151.9
170.3
152.7
264.8
259.3
148.9
136.9
431.2
312.7
147.6
353.7
348.3
141.0
277.8
141.4
155.7
159.9
158.9
156.3
152.2
147.2
142.4
135.7
342.7
375.5
151.8
169.3
152.2
271.1
264.6
151.6
140.7
436.4
317.2
150.8
352.8
350.2
141.9
276.8
141.3
154.7
159.0
159.6
156.0
151.8
146 2
143.2
136.0
343.4
3?6.0
152.0
170.4
151.7
275.4
268.9
151.8
143.8
435.2
315.7
149.4
355.4
352.4
141.8
277.9
142.0
156.4
158 6
160.7
155.4
152.8
147.0
145.8
136.8
343.6
377.7
152.8
171.1
152.3
278.2
273.7
151.4
145.4
433.7
314.3
148.8
354.2
351.2
141.8
278.2
142.8
155.5
158.9
160 6
155.5
153.3
148.0
137.8
130.5
334.6
369.1
149.6
165.6
149.4
258.7
255.4
150.2
130 8
426.1
304.8
140.2
356.2
345 6
139.2
272.4
138.9
148.5
154.8
156.4
154.4
151.2
147.3
Food away from home ...............................................................
Lunch (12/77 = 1 0 0 ) ..................................................
Dinner (12/77 = 1 0 0 ) ..................................................................
Other meals and snacks (12/77 = 1 0 0 ) ...............................................
312.6
152.2
150.4
153.0
319.8
154.9
153.4
158.6
321.0
155.4
153.9
159.5
322.2
155.9
154.9
159.4
323.9
156.7
155.5
160.7
324.8
157,1
156.2
160.8
325.5
157.5
156.5
161.0
A lc o h o lic b e v e r a g e s
210.9
217.2
217.1
218.4
218.9
218.6
136.1
212.6
150.2
235.6
120.2
144.2
140.7
224.8
152.1
237.1
121.7
146.1
140.3
224.4
151.6
234.8
122.4
147.3
141.2
225.4
153.7
235.7
122.5
148.4
141.4
226.1
153.5
237.1
122.3
148.7
140.9
225.9
152.9
234.8
121.5
149.9
1983
Ju ly
Aug.
S ep t.
Oct.
N o v.
D ec.
138.6
130.2
339.3
376.0
C151.8
171.0
150.8
258.7
257.6
148.8
130.9
430 3
307.8
142.6
351.7
350.7
140.7
278.4
143.7
153.5
161.3
157.5
157.9
151.8
148.0
139.5
131.5
339.9
375.7
151.8
171.0
150.6
257.8
255.1
148.1
130.9
432.5
309.9
144.1
350.8
351.5
140.8
278.5
143.7
154.2
161.4
157.4
157.9
151.8
147.7
139.3
132.6
341.5
376.2
151.6
171.6
150.5
264.7
257.3
147.2
137.5
433.1
310.2
145.3
348.4
347.5
141.3
279.4
143 3
154.9
162.0
158.1
158.2
152 5
148.4
140.0
134 2
343.5
375.3
151.6
170.8
150.1
271.2
262.6
149.8
141.5
438.4
314.7
148.7
347.6
349.3
142 2
278.2
143.2
153.7
160 8
158.7
157 9
152.0
147.4
140 8
134.5
344.2
375.7
151.8
171.7
149.5
275.5
267.1
150.1
144.5
437.3
313.2
147.5
350.2
351.6
142.1
279.4
143.9
155.7
160.7
159.9
157.2
153.0
148 2
143.2
135.3
344.4
377.6
152.7
172.4
150.0
278.2
271.7
149.6
146.1
435.7
311.6
146.9
349,0
350.5
142.2
299.7
144.6
154.5
161.0
159.5
157.4
153.5
149 2
315 8
153.8
152.1
153.7
323 0
156.5
155.1
159.1
324.3
157.1
155 6
160.0
325.4
157.5
156 6
159.9
327.2
158.3
157.2
161.2
328.0
158.7
157.9
161.2
328.7
159.0
158.3
161.4
218.1
213.0
219 8
219.7
221.3
221.8
221.5
221 2
140.4
225.5
152.4
232 1
121.4
150.4
137.4
211.7
150 7
243 3
120.1
145.3
142.5
223.6
152 6
245.2
121.8
147.1
142.1
223.2
152.1
242 4
122.4
148.5
143.2
224.8
154.2
243.7
122.3
149.6
143.4
225.3
154.0
245.5
122.2
149.8
143.0
225.2
153.4
242 3
121 5
150.9
142.6
224 8
152.9
239 9
121 3
151.5
316.8
323 1
324.3
325.3
325 2
324.5
324.2
347.6
347.1
346.6
F O O D A N D B E V E R A G E S — C on tin u e d
F o o d — C o n tin u e d
F ood
at home— Continued
Fruits and vegetables— Continued
Processed vegetables— Continued
Cut corn and canned beans except lima (12/77 = 100)
Other canned and dried vegetables (12/77 = 100) . . . .
Other foods at h o m e .....................................................................................
Sugar and sweets ...............................................................................
Candy and chewing gum (12/77 = 100) ...............................
Sugar and artificial sweeteners (12/77 = 1 0 0 ) ......................
Other sweets (12/77 = 1 0 0 ) ......................................................
Fats and oils (12/77 = 100) ............................................................
M a rg a rin e .........................................................................
Nondairy substitutes and peanut butter (12/77 = 100) . . .
Other fats, oils, and salad dressings (12/77 = 1 0 0 ) ............
Nonalcoholic beverages .....................................................................
Cola drinks, excluding diet cola ...............................................
Carbonated drinks, Including diet cola (12/77 = 100) . . . .
Roasted coffe e...............................................................
Freeze dried and Instant c o ffe e ...................................................
Other noncarbonated drinks (12/77 = 100) .........................
Other prepared fo o d s ............................................................................
Canned and packaged soup (12/77 = 1 0 0 ) ............................
Frozen prepared foods (12/77 = 100) ...................................
Snacks (12/77 = 1 0 0 ) ...............................................................
Seasonings, olives, pickles, and relish (12/77 = 100) . . .
Other condiments (12/77 = 1 0 0 ) ......................................
Miscellaneous prepared foods (12/77 = 100) ......................
Other canned and packaged prepared foods (12/77 = 100) .
......................................................
Alcoholic beverages at home (12/77 = 100) ......................................
Beer and ale ...............................................
W hiskey...............................................
Wine ..................................................................
Other alcoholic beverages (12/77 = 1 0 0 ) ...................
Alcoholic beverages away from home (12/77 = 100) ......................
H O U S IN G
S h e lte r (C P I-U )
................................................................
Renters’ c o s t s ..................................................
Rent, residential ..................................................
Other renters’ costs ......................................
Homeowners’ costs2 ......................................
Owners’ equivalent r e n t ...............................................
Household Insurance...............................................
Maintenance and repairs ......................................
Maintenance and repair services .........................
Maintenance and repair com m odities......................
S h e lte r ( C P I-W )
316.3
324.5
324.8
326.4
326.8
327.0
327.4
335.9
345.3
346.6
348.5
349.8
351.1
351.8
100.0
230.8
333.0
100 0
103.1
237.1
352.3
102.7
103.7
238.2
355 8
103.0
104.4
239.5
361.3
103.5
104.8
240.4
362 0
103.9
105.0
241.3
359.8
104.3
105.1
242.0
356 1
104.5
100.0
102.7
103 0
103.5
103.8
104 2
104.5
100.0
337.8
371.4
258.5
102.7
346.1
383.3
262.6
103 5
347.9
388.6
261.2
104.0
346.6
387.6
259.9
105.5
351.1
397.2
259.5
106.1
353.4
398 5
262 3
106.1
354.7
400.8
262.6
338.0
344.1
346.4
347.5
Rent, re sid e n tia l..................................................
230.3
236 5
237 6
238.9
239.8
240.7
241.3
Other renters' costs ...............................................
Lodging while out of to w n ...............................................
Tenants' insurance (12/77 = 1 0 0 ) .........................
330.7
341.4
149.3
350.4
370.7
153.8
354.0
375.7
155.4
358.6
374.8
156.2
359.3
374 2
158.6
357.3
370 9
159 4
352.9
363 9
159.4
H om eow nership......................................
Home purchase ..................................................
Financing, taxes, and insurance............................
Property in s u ra n c e ...................................
Property taxes .........................................
Contracted mortgage interest c o s t s ............................
Mortgage interest ra te s ............................................
Maintenance and re p a irs ...............................
Maintenance and repair services......................
Maintenance and repair com m odities......................
Paint and wallpaper, supplies, tools, and
equipment (12/77 = 1 0 0 ) ............................
Lumber, awnings, glass, and masonry (12/77 = 100) . . .
Plumbing, electrical, heating, and cooling
supplies (12/77 = 100) ......................................
Miscellaneous supplies and equipment (12/77 = 100)
376.8
290.9
495.7
412.1
228 8
633.5
215.9
333.7
371.7
252.6
382.5
303.3
491.3
430.8
235.1
622.5
203.8
342.0
381.4
258.0
385.2
304.1
496 6
430.8
237.1
629.8
205.5
344.3
385.1
257.5
386.1
303 4
500.0
434 9
238 5
634.2
207 2
343.7
385.5
255.2
385.9
301.3
500.6
437.4
239.1
634.7
208 8
348.1
392.5
254.7
384.9
300 0
499.2
438 0
239.6
632.2
208.6
349 1
393.3
255 9
384.1
298 9
497.6
437.2
240.7
629 4
208.7
351 n
395.6
257 0
146.5
121.3
149.2
1258
147.6
126.8
145.8
125.3
145.7
124.2
147 3
123.8
149 1
123.7
136 2
141.2
138.7
143.3
139.5
143.3
140.7
142.2
141.3
141.9
139.1
144.0
138 4
143.7
84
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
20.
Continued— Consumer Price Index— U.S. city average
[1967 = 100 unless otherw ise specified]
U rb a n W a g e E a rn e rs a n d C le ric a l W o rk e rs
A ll U rb a n C o n s u m e rs
G e n e ra l s u m m a r y
1982
1982
1983
1983
D ec.
J u ly
A u g.
S ept.
Oct.
N o v.
D ec.
D ee.
Ju ly
Aug.
Sep t.
O ct.
N o v.
D ec.
364.1
464.0
688.5
708.7
190.4
410.6
319.6
549.6
375.5
477.7
619.3
627.2
189.3
440.5
341.1
593.0
375.1
476.5
619.0
626.5
190.0
439.1
340.7
589.8
376.4
478.3
623.2
631.2
190.2
440.5
342.3
590.5
374.4
474.4
624.7
632.6
191.0
435.6
339.2
582.4
371.3
468.1
623.9
631.5
191.4
428.2
331.8
576.3
370.6
467.4
623.9
631.5
191.4
427.5
329.8
578.2
365.5
463.9
690.8
710.6
191.6
410.0
318.7
547.6
377.3
477.9
621.7
629.5
190.2
440.3
341.6
589.5
376.8
476.6
621.5
628.9
190.8
438.7
341.2
585.8
378.1
478.3
625.6
633.7
191.0
440.0
342.6
586.4
375.7
474.0
627 2
635.1
191.9
434.5
338.8
578.3
372.8
467.8
626.4
633.9
192.4
427.5
330.8
574.0
372.0
467.2
626.4
633.9
192.3
426.7
329.0
575.7
Other utilities and public services .....................................................................
Telephone servic es.........................................................................................
Local charges (12/77 = 1 0 0 ) ............................................................
Interstate toll calls (12/77 = 100) ..................................................
Intrastate toll calls (12/77 = 100) ..................................................
Water and sewerage m aintenance...............................................................
206.6
168.2
137.8
119.7
111.5
335.8
214.2
173.8
141.8
121.9
118.2
353.5
214.8
173.9
142.1
121.9
118.3
355.9
215.4
174,4
142.6
121.9
118.6
356.8
215.8
174.1
142.2
121.5
119.0
361.7
217.3
175.4
143.8
121.5
119.8
363.6
216.5
174.3
142.2
121.4
119.7
364.3
207.3
168.6
138.1
120.2
111.3
338.9
215.3
174.3
143.8
122.3
118.2
357.7
215.9
174.5
142.6
122.4
118.3
360.2
216.4
175.0
143.1
122 3
118.7
361.0
216 9
174.7
142.8
121.9
119.1
366.2
218.4
176.0
144.4
121.9
119.8
367.8
217.4
174.7
142.6
121.9
119.8
368.5
H o u s e h o ld fu rn is h in g s an d o p e ra tio n s
235.7
238.9
238.0
238.9
239.4
239.9
240.5
232.3
235.8
234 8
235.8
236.2
236.7
237.3
Housefurnlshings ..................................................................................................
Textile housefurnishings...............................................................................
Household linens (12/77 = 1 0 0 ) ......................................................
Curtains, drapes, slipcovers, and sewing
materials (12/77 = 100) ...............................................................
Furniture and b e d d in g ............................................................................................
Bedroom furniture (12/77 = 100) ..................................................
Sofas (12/77 = 100) .........................................................................
Living room chairs and tables (12/77 = 1 0 0 ) ...............................
Other furniture (12/77 = 100) .........................................................
Appliances including TV and sound equipment ......................................
Television and sound equipment .....................................................
Television .....................................................................................
Sound equipment (12/77 = 1 0 0 ) ..............................................
Household appliances .........................................................................
Refrigerators and home fre e z e rs ...............................................
Laundry e q u ip m e n t.....................................................................
Other household appliances (12/77 = 1 0 0 ) .........................
Stoves, dishwashers, vacuums, and sewing
machines (12/77 = 1 0 0 ) ..................................................
Office machines, small electric appliances, and
air conditioners (12/77 = 100) ......................................
Other household equipment (12/77 = 1 0 0 ) ............................................
Floor and window coverings, infants', laundry,
cleaning, and outdoor equipment (12/77 = 1 0 0 ) ......................
Clocks, lamps, and decor items (12/77 = 1 0 0 ) ............................
Tableware, serving pieces, and nonelectric
kitchenware (12/77 = 1 0 0 ) ............................................................
Lawn equipment, power tools, and other
hardware (12/77 = 100) ...............................................................
195.3
222.0
132.7
198.1
227.3
134.4
196.7
226.1
133.4
197.6
231.2
138.1
198.0
228.8
136.0
198 4
229.6
135.7
198.8
230.3
135.6
193.2
224.9
134.0
196.1
231.1
135.6
194.7
229.6
134.5
195.6
234.6
139.0
196.0
232.0
137.0
196.4
233.0
136.4
196 9
233.1
136.2
144.4
215.4
147.4
118.2
122.2
140.4
151.5
107.2
102.6
112.4
186.1
193.3
141.0
123.2
149.3
220.5
156.5
117.7
123.9
141.1
150.9
105.2
100.1
110.8
188.6
192.7
143.0
125.6
149.0
217.2
151.3
117.3
123.5
139.8
150.6
105.1
100.1
110.6
188.0
191.4
142.0
125.4
150.5
217.9
152.5
117.6
124.2
139.4
151.0
105.1
99.6
111.1
189.2
192.4
142.7
126.2
149 6
219.8
152.9
118.8
125.4
141.2
151.2
104.9
99.1
111.0
190.3
194.0
142.7
127.0
151.1
220.1
152.6
119.8
125.6
141.4
151.0
105.0
98.8
111.6
189.2
193.0
144.1
125.9
152.0
221.3
154.9
120.2
124.4
142.3
150.9
104.8
99.0
111.0
189.4
195.8
144.4
125.5
147.6
211.6
143.4
118.8
122.5
135.6
151.4
106.3
101.4
111.4
186.7
199.1
141.4
121.5
154.0
217.6
153.0
118.0
125.0
137.1
151.2
104.3
99.0
109 8
189.0
199.2
143.5
123.6
153.3
214.3
148 2
117.6
124.5
135.6
150.8
104.3
99 0
109.7
188.0
197.2
142.8
123 4
154.8
215.1
148.9
118.1
125.2
135.8
151.2
104.2
98.3
110.2
189.1
198.0
143.6
124.2
153 6
216.6
149.0
119 2
126.5
137.2
151.7
1039
97.8
110.0
190.5
200.0
144.1
125.2
155.6
217.1
149.5
120.0
126.6
137.1
151.6
104.1
97 4
110.7
190.1
198 9
145.2
124 6
156.1
218.3
151.3
120.3
125.7
138.2
151.7
103.9
97.6
110.1
190 5
201 7
145.1
124.2
121.5
124.0
123.7
125.4
125.9
125.8
124.5
120.1
122.6
122.1
123.6
124.1
124 6
123.5
125.1
139.2
127.3
142.0
127.2
141.2
127.3
141,0
128.3
141.3
126.2
142.1
126.6
142.3
123.0
137.1
124.8
139.7
124.8
138 9
124.9
138.8
126.4
138.9
124.6
139.7
124 9
140.1
142.7
131.0
145.1
133.6
144.4
132.3
144.2
132.9
146.5
134.0
147.3
135.5
146.6
134.1
134.3
126.6
137.3
129.3
136.4
128.3
136.0
128.4
138.2
129.3
138.8
131.0
1384
129 6
145.1
149.1
148.7
147.7
145.6
146.2
147.4
141.2
144.9
144.4
143.6
141.7
142.4
143.6
134.1
135.5
134.2
134.7
135.9
136.6
137 2
139.5
140.4
139.3
140 2
141,2
141.8
142.4
Housekeeping supplies ........................................................................................
Soaps and detergents ..................................................................................
Other laundry and cleaning products (12/77 = 100) ............................
Cleansing and toilet tissue, paper towels and napkins (12/77 = 100)
Stationery, stationery supplies, and gift wrap (12/77 = 100) ............
Miscellaneous household products (12/77 = 100) ................................
Lawn and garden supplies (12/77 = 1 0 0 ) ...............................................
292.3
285.3
148.0
148.6
137.9
152.3
145.7
296.8
294.6
151.4
148.1
140.3
153.9
146.6
295.8
294.4
151.0
148.1
139.5
154.1
144.6
295.7
296.1
152.0
148.0
139.5
154.9
140.8
296.6
295.2
151.6
147.8
139.5
155.9
144.1
297.0
296.7
151.5
148.2
140.9
155.5
143.0
298.6
295.9
152 7
148.6
141.7
156.6
145.4
288.8
281 5
146 9
148.5
141.0
146 9
138.5
293 5
290.3
150 2
148.2
143.2
148.6
139.7
292.7
290.2
149.8
148.1
142.5
148.8
137.8
293.1
292 0
150.9
148.2
142 6
149.5
134.9
293.6
291.1
150 5
148.0
142.6
150 4
137.2
293.9
292.7
150.2
148.3
144 0
150.0
136.0
295 3
291.8
151.5
148.6
144.7
151.1
138 3
Housekeeping services ........................................................................................
P o stage............................................................................................................
Moving, storage, freight, household laundry, and
drycleaning services (12/77 = 1 0 0 ) ......................................................
Appliance and furniture repair (12/77 = 1 0 0 ) .........................................
315.0
337.5
318.7
337.5
319.3
337.5
320.9
337.5
321.6
337.5
322.3
337 5
322.8
337.5
314.5
337 5
318.3
337.5
319.1
337.5
320 8
337.5
321.7
337.5
322.3
337.5
322 9
337.5
158.6
140.2
162.2
144.0
162.8
144.9
165.9
145.4
167.1
145.8
168.1
146.2
168.4
147.1
158.7
138 5
162.3
142.2
163.1
143.1
166.0
143.6
167.3
144.0
168.2
144.3
168.5
145.2
F u e l a n d o th e r u t i l i t i e s .....................................................................................................
F u e ls ........................................................................................................................
Fuel oil, coal, and bottled g a s .....................................................................
Fuel oil ..................................................................................................
Other fuels (6/78 = 100) ..................................................................
Gas (piped) and electricity............................................................................
E le c tric ity ...............................................................................................
Utility (piped) gas ...............................................................................
H O U S IN G
F u e l a n d o th e r u tilitie s
A P P A R EL AND UPKEEP
193.6
195.0
197 3
200.4
200.7
200.7
199.3
192.8
194.0
196.3
199.3
199 8
199 7
198.1
A p p a re l c o m m o d itie s
182.3
178.4
187.4
118.3
108.7
103.2
141.5
126.5
111.9
120.7
112.2
132.4
122.8
159.6
105.5
166.3
159.0
182.8
179.3
188.2
118.3
110.7
98.2
145.3
120.9
112.8
123.0
114.9
134.9
124.6
158.8
105.5
164.8
161.4
185.3
181.9
188.3
118.5
111.4
99 5
144.8
121.6
112.3
122.6
115.4
134.2
123.5
164.2
109.5
171.6
171.4
188.5
185.3
190.8
120.1
112.3
104.4
145.4
125.6
112.4
124.1
119.0
135.1
123.7
168.8
112.8
176.6
176.7
188.7
185.4
192.1
120.8
113.7
105.7
145.7
125.1
113.1
125.4
120 9
136.2
124.7
168.6
112.3
175.9
173.8
188.6
185.2
193.0
121.6
114.8
105.5
147.3
125.2
113.9
125.2
119.9
137.6
124,4
167.0
110.9
173.3
171.9
186.9
183.4
191.8
120 9
112.9
104.4
147 8
125.7
112.9
123.9
118.8
137.0
122.7
164.9
109 5
170.3
172.0
181.9
177 8
187.6
118.8
101.7
105.5
137 9
129.2
117.5
119.0
113.3
128.3
120.0
161.3
106.8
171.0
144.9
182.4
178.7
188.1
118.7
103.3
100 7
141.3
124.2
118.4
120 9
115.5
130.4
121.6
160.8
107.0
169 4
147.2
184.7
181.2
188 3
118.9
104.4
101.7
140 8
124.7
118.1
120.7
116.2
129.9
120.7
165 8
111.1
175.3
158.7
188.0
184.6
191.1
120.7
105.5
107.5
141.6
128.6
118.2
122.4
120.5
130.7
120 8
170.2
114.3
181.6
162 6
188.4
185.0
192.5
121.4
106.9
108.9
141.9
127.8
119.1
123.9
122.7
131.9
121.8
170.4
114.0
181.2
158.9
188 2
184.5
193.4
122.2
107.7
108.8
143.6
127.8
120.1
123.8
122.1
133 3
121.6
168.6
112.4
177.4
158.0
186.3
182.5
192.1
121.5
105.8
107.6
144.1
128 5
118.8
122.4
120 6
132.9
120.0
166 0
110.8
174 8
157.1
Apparel commodities less fo o tw e a r............................................................
Men's and b o y s '............................................................................................
Men’s (12/77 = 100) .........................................................................
Suits, sport coats, and jackets (12/77 = 1 0 0 ) ......................
Coats and ja c k e ts ........................................................................
Furnishings and special clothing (12/77 = 1 0 0 ) ...................
Shirts (12/77 = 1 0 0 )..................................................................
Dungarees, jeans, and trousers (12/77 = 100) ...................
Boys' (12/77 = 100) .........................................................................
Coats, jackets, sweaters, and shirts (12/77 = 1 0 0 ) ............
Furnishings (12/77 = 100) ......................................................
Suits, trousers, sport coats, and jackets (12/77 = 100) . .
Women's and girls’ .....................................................................................
Women's (12/77 = 100) ..................................................................
Coats and ja c k e ts ........................................................................
Dresses ........................................................................................
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
85
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW March 1984 • Current Labor Statistics: Consumer Prices
20.
Continued— Consumer Price Index— U.S. city average
[1967= 100unless otherwise specified]
A ll U rb a n C o n s u m e rs
G e n e ra l s u m m a ry
1982
U rb a n W a g e E a rn e rs a n d C le ric a l W o rk e r s
1983
1982
1983
D ec.
J u ly
A u g.
S ep t.
Oct.
N o v.
D ec .
D ec.
J u ly
Aug.
S ep t.
Oct.
N o v.
D ec.
A P P A R E L A N D U P K E E P — C o n tin u e d
A p p a re l C o m m o d itie s — C o n tin u e d
Apparel commodities less footwear— Continued
Women’s— Continued
Separates and sportswear (12/77 = 100) ............................
Underwear, nightwear, and hosiery (12/77 = 100) ............
Suits (12/77 = 1 0 0 ) ..................................................................
Girls' (12/77 = 1 0 0 ) ............................................................................
Coats, jackets, dresses, and suits (12/77 = 1 0 0 ) ................
Separates and sportswear (12/77 = 100) ............................
Underwear, nightwear, hosiery, and
accessories (12/77 = 1 0 0 ) ..................................................
Infants’ and toddlers' ..................................................................................
Other apparel commodities .........................................................................
Sewing materials and notions (12/77 = 100) ................................
Jewelry and luggage (12/77 = 100) ...............................................
97.1
130.8
82.8
109.5
103.7
104.1
96.3
131.7
81.0
106.2
100.1
99.8
99.4
133.2
87.3
107.7
101.9
102.0
102.5
135.1
94.3
104.5
101.6
106.3
103.9
135.6
89.9
111.4
105.8
106.8
102.0
136.1
85.7
111.8
106.2
107.6
98.9
136.5
81.7
110 2
101.8
106.7
97.9
130.5
99.7
109.2
102.0
105.1
96.9
131.4
99 8
106.6
100.0
101.3
99.7
132.9
108.1
106.8
98.7
102.9
102.9
134.8
115.0
108.3
98.5
106 8
104.2
135 3
112.6
1104
103.1
107.4
102.4
135.7
105.8
110.8
103.3
108.3
99.4
136.2
100 2
108 8
98.8
106.3
129.1
273.1
210.1
120.8
142.2
127.7
282.4
215.9
123.0
146.7
127.8
281.9
216.2
121.6
147.5
128.4
287.4
217.4
121.9
148.5
129.0
289.0
215.5
120.4
147.4
128.7
288.7
216.6
118.6
149.2
130.5
282.7
215.6
121.4
147.0
128.0
284.2
199.2
118.5
133.5
126.8
293.1
204.6
121.0
137.4
126.7
292.3
204.6
119.8
138.0
127.0
297.9
205.9
120.2
139.0
127.6
299.9
204.0
118.5
138.0
127.5
298.1
205.2
116.8
140.0
129.1
292.1
204 2
119.3
137.8
F o o tw e a r..................................................................................................................
Men's (12/77 = 1 0 0 ) ..................................................................................
Boys’ and girls' (12/77 = 1 0 0 ) ..................................................................
Women's (12/77 = 1 0 0 ) ............................................................................
205.9
132.0
129.0
126.8
203.8
132.8
128.9
122.9
205.7
132.3
130.3
125.3
208 0
134.8
130.4
126.8
208.6
135.0
131.1
127.1
209.1
135.8
131.8
126.7
207.9
134.7
132.9
125.2
205.8
133.7
131.5
122.9
203.7
134.7
131.0
118.9
205.5
134.2
132 6
121.1
207.6
136.7
132.9
122.3
208.1
136 9
133.2
122.6
209.1
137 6
134.0
122.9
208.3
136.6
135.2
121.7
A p p a re l s e r v ic e s
...............................................................................................................
282.8
291 8
292.3
293.4
294.6
296.2
297.0
281.1
290 0
290.4
291.5
292.6
294.3
295 0
Laundry and drycleaning other than coin operated (12/77 = 100) ............
Other apparel services (12/77 = 1 0 0 ) ...............................................................
168.9
147.7
174.1
152.7
174.5
152.7
174.4
153.7
176.0
153.8
177.0
154.5
177.7
154.5
167.5
148.8
172.5
153.9
172.9
153.9
173.3
154.8
174.3
154.9
175,4
155.6
176.0
155.6
T R A N S P O R T A T IO N
294.8
300.4
302.4
303.7
305.7
306 3
306.3
296.3
301.9
304.1
305.5
306 9
308 2
308.2
P r i v a t e .....................................................................................................................................
290.4
296.0
298 0
299.2
300.4
301.7
301.8
293.1
298 6
300.8
302.2
303.6
304 9
305 0
New c a r s ..................................................................................................................
Used cars ...............................................................................................................
Gasoline ..................................................................................................................
Automobile maintenance and repair ..................................................................
Body work (12/77 = 100) ........................................................................
Automobile drive train, brake, and miscellaneous
mechanical repair (12/77 = 100) .........................................................
Maintenance and servicing (12/77 = 1 0 0 ) ...............................................
Power plant repair (12/77 = 100) ............................................................
Other private transportation..................................................................................
Other private transportation commodities ...............................................
Motor oil, coolant, and other products (12/77 = 100) ................
Automobile parts and equipment (12/77 = 100) .........................
Tires ..............................................................................................
Other parts and equipment (12/77 = 1 0 0 ) ............................
Other private transportation s e rv ic e s .........................................................
Automobile insurance ........................................................................
Automobile finance charges (12/77 = 100) ...............................
Automobile rental, registration, and other fees (12/77 = 100) .
State registration ........................................................................
Drivers’ licenses (12/77 = 1 0 0 ) ...............................................
Vehicle inspection (12/77 = 1 0 0 ) .........................................
Other vehicle-related fees (12/77 = 1 0 0 ) ...............................
200.1
312.6
381.3
323.1
161.4
201.4
329.6
389.3
329 8
166.6
202.1
336.8
389.5
331 0
167.1
202.7
343.9
387.1
332.3
167.7
204.3
350.4
382.4
333.5
169.0
206.2
356.1
378.1
335.2
169.5
207.0
357.6
375.2
335 4
169.6
199 9
312.6
383.0
323.8
160.2
201.0
329 6
390.6
330.4
165.6
201.7
336.8
391.0
331.7
166.0
202 3
343.9
388 8
333.0
166.5
203 8
350.4
384.3
334.1
167.8
205 7
356.1
380.1
335.6
168.2
206.5
357.6
377.0
335.9
168.3
154.3
149.9
154.2
259.6
214.3
153 3
136.5
190.0
133.8
274.2
288.8
173.8
139.3
183.8
132.8
128.5
155.2
158.3
152.0
157.3
258.6
209.6
155.3
132 7
183.5
132.3
274.1
302.4
151.7
145.6
194.8
152 9
139.0
157 9
158.9
152.8
157.5
260.0
208.9
153.5
132.4
183.4
131.6
276.0
302.9
155.4
146.0
194.6
153.0
139.0
158.8
160.7
152 6
158.4
260.8
208 3
154.2
131.9
181.7
132 9
277.3
303 8
156.4
146.9
195.3
153.0
139.8
160.5
161.9
152.5
159.1
263.3
208.1
152.7
131.9
181.7
133.0
280.5
309.4
157 2
147.1
195.4
154.0
139.8
160.2
163.4
152.7
160.2
265.6
209.2
152.9
132.7
183.1
133.0
283.1
312.8
159.1
147.3
195.4
154.5
139.8
160.5
163.6
152.8
160.1
266 8
208.4
153.3
132.4
182.7
132.9
284.8
315.0
160.0
147.5
195.6
154.5
139.8
160 7
158.3
149.2
153.7
261.6
216.9
152 3
138.4
193.7
133.9
276 0
288.2
173.0
140.1
183.4
133.1
129 8
163 2
162 2
151.3
156.6
259 4
212.1
154.1
134.5
187.2
132.1
274.5
302.0
151.1
146.9
194.7
153.4
139 8
165 5
162.8
152.2
156.9
261.1
211.2
152.6
134.1
186.9
131.3
276.8
302.5
155.0
147.2
194.5
153.4
139 8
166.3
164.5
151.9
157.8
261.8
210.9
153.2
133 8
185.4
132.8
277.8
303.4
155.8
147.9
195.2
153.4
140.5
167 8
165.7
151.7
158.5
264.4
210.7
152.2
133.8
185 4
132 8
281.1
308 8
156.8
148.2
195.2
154.4
140.5
167 6
167 2
151.9
159.5
266.6
211.7
151.7
134.6
187.0
132.9
283.7
312.1
158.7
148.3
195.2
154.8
140.5
167.7
167.4
152 0
159.5
267.9
211.4
152 3
134.3
186 5
132.7
285 4
314.3
159.7
148.6
195 4
154.8
140.5
167 9
355.6
363.2
365.0
366 6
368.2
370.3
369.0
348.0
354.4
355 7
357 2
358.5
359 9
359 0
408.8
377.7
317.7
300.8
351.3
418.8
404.2
322 6
301.0
361.3
420.7
412.8
323.7
302.4
364.5
423.3
415.1
324.6
303.5
364 8
426.6
417.7
324.8
303.1
365.4
431.6
416.0
324.3
304.7
364.8
428.5
405.5
324.5
307.6
370.7
405.9
379.3
316.7
310.5
351.9
415.9
404.1
320.7
311.0
362.3
417.1
412.7
321 6
311.8
365.2
419.5
415.3
322 5
312.7
365.4
422.5
417.6
323.0
312.2
366.1
427.2
416.9
322.5
313.5
365.6
424.4
402.6
322.7
316.7
371.3
366.2
341.8
355.6
357.9
359.2
360 9
362.9
364.3
P u b lic
............................................................................................................
Airline f a r e ............................................................................
Intercity bus fare ..................................................................
Intracity mass t r a n s it ...............................................................
Taxi fare ..................................................................
Intercity train f a r e ........................................................................................
M E D IC A L C A R E ...........................................................................
344.3
357.7
360.0
361.2
362.9
364.9
M e d ic a l c a re c o m m o d i t i e s ......................................................
213.7
224.2
225.4
226.3
227.5
228.9
229 9
214.0
224 5
225.8
226.7
227.8
229 1
230.1
Prescription d ru g s .....................................................................
Anti-infective drugs (12/77 = 1 0 0 ) ......................................
Tranquilizers and sedatives (12/77 = 100) ......................
Circulatorles and diuretics (12/77 = 1 0 0 ) .........................
Hormones, diabetic drugs, biologicals, and
prescription medical supplies (12/77 = 1 0 0 ) ......................................
Pain and symptom control drugs (12/77 = 1 0 0 ) ...............................
Supplements, cough and cold preparations, and
respiratory agents (12/77 = 1 0 0 ) ......................................
202.8
150.9
165.8
144.9
214.5
157.2
177.6
154.0
215.7
157.9
179.1
155.4
216.7
158.1
179.9
155.8
218.6
158.6
182.8
158.1
220.8
159.1
186.9
159.9
222 3
161.2
188.4
160.6
203.9
153.1
165.5
144 8
215.6
159.2
177.2
153.9
216 9
160.1
178.7
155.4
218 0
160.3
179.7
155.7
219.9
160.8
182 6
157 9
222 1
161.5
186 7
159.7
223 1
163 5
188 3
160.3
185.5
166.2
198.1
175.1
199.2
175.7
200.0
177.5
201 9
178.7
204.0
180.5
205.0
181.1
187.0
168 0
199 8
176.8
201.1
177.5
201.9
179.4
204 0
180.6
206.1
182.4
207 1
183.0
154.2
162.3
162.6
163.8
164.2
164.7
165.7
154 5
162.5
162 9
164.1
164.5
165.1
166.2
Nonprescription drugs and medical supplies (12/77 = 100) . . . .
Eyeglasses (12/77 = 100) ...............................................
Internal and respiratory over-the-counter d r u g s ......................
Nonprescription medical equipment and supplies (12/77 = 100)
149.7
133.0
241.3
145.2
155.9
135.8
253.5
150.3
156.7
136.2
255.0
151.0
157.3
137.7
255.6
151.2
157.5
137.3
256.1
151.8
157.9
137.8
256.4
152.7
158.3
137.7
257.5
152.6
150.3
131.8
242.2
146.3
156.7
134.6
254.9
151.3
157.5
135.1
256.3
152.4
159.1
136.7
256 9
152.3
158.3
136.2
257.4
153.0
158.8
136.6
257 7
154.1
159 1
136 5
258 8
154.0
86
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
...
20.
Continued— Consumer Price Index— U.S. city average
[1967= 100unlessotherwise specified]
U rb a n W a g e E a rn e rs a n d C le ric a l W o rk e rs
A ll U rb a n C o n s u m e rs
G e n e ra l s u m m a ry
D ec.
1982
1983
1982
J u ly
A u g.
S ept.
O ct.
N o v.
D ec.
D ec.
1983
Ju ly
Aug.
Sep t.
O ct.
N ov.
D ec.
....................................................................................................
373.4
387.2
389.8
391.0
392.9
395.0
396.3
370.1
384.4
387.0
388.3
390.2
392.3
393.8
Professional services ............................................................................................
Physicians’ s e rv ic e s .....................................................................................
Dental s e rv ic e s ...............................................................................................
Other professional services (12/77 = 100) ............................................
309.4
336.6
290.1
147.6
324.2
353.9
303.8
153.0
326.0
354.9
306.5
154.0
327.6
356.5
308.3
154.3
329.7
358.5
310.7
155.4
331.7
360.5
312.9
155.9
332.9
362.0
314.0
156.2
309.5
339.9
288.0
144.4
324.6
357.6
301.6
149.6
326.5
358.8
304.3
150.5
328.0
360.5
306.1
150.8
330.1
362.3
308.5
151.8
332.0
364.3
310.7
152.5
333.3
365.9
311.8
152.7
Other medical care services..................................................................................
Hospital and other medical services (12/77 = 1 0 0 ) ...............................
Hospital r o o m ............................................................................................
Other hospital and medical care services (12/77 = 100) ................
450.8
183.2
588.5
178.7
463.3
193.8
619.1
189.9
466.9
196.7
627.6
193.0
467.8
197.8
633.8
193.3
469.3
■199.4
638.0
195.1
471.5
201.0
641.9
197.1
473.0
202.2
643.5
198.8
446.3
181.5
581.3
177.5
459.4
191.9
611.2
188.4
462.9
194.6
619.5
191.2
463.9
195.7
626.1
191.4
465.6
197 3
630.2
193.3
467.9
199.0
633.9
195.4
469.5
200.1
635.9
197.0
M e d ic a l c a re s e r v ic e s
240.1
246.0
246.6
247.5
249.1
249.5
249.5
236.5
242.5
243.1
244.1
245.4
245.7
245.8
..........................................................................................
241.8
246.7
248.0
248 0
249.3
249.0
248.7
236 0
241.4
242 5
242.6
243.7
243.4
243.1
Reading materials (12/77 = 100) .....................................................................
Newspapers ..................................................................................................
Magazines, periodicals, and books (12/77 = 100)...................................
154.3
294.7
159.3
158.5
302.7
163.6
160.9
303.5
168.4
161.2
304.0
168.6
163.4
306 9
171.7
162.9
307.7
170.2
162.3
308.2
168.6
153.8
294.8
159.2
158.0
302.7
163.6
160.2
303.4
168.5
160.5
303.9
168.8
162.8
307.0
172.0
162.3
307.8
170.4
161.8
308.3
168.7
Sporting goods and equipment (12/77 = 1 0 0 ) ...............................................
Sport vehicles (12/77 = 100) ..................................................................
Indoor and warm weather sport equipment (12/77 = 1 0 0 )...................
B icyc les............................................................................................................
Other sporting goods and equipment (12/77 = 1 0 0 ) ............................
131.6
133.3
120.0
197.1
130.6
134.2
137.1
118.6
199.8
132.8
134.1
136.4
118.5
199 9
133.1
134.6
137.4
118.6
200.1
134.6
134.5
137.3
118.6
199.9
134.0
134.7
137 8
118.1
198.6
134.5
135.0
138.5
117.4
198.2
134.8
124.3
122.0
117.7
198.5
130 0
128.3
127.8
116.4
200 7
132 7
128.3
127.8
116.6
200 7
132.9
128.9
128.5
116.3
200 9
134.5
128.6
128.2
116.4
200.7
133.8
128.7
128.5
116.0
199 3
134.4
129.1
129.2
115.3
199 0
134.7
Toys, hobbies, and other entertainment (12/77 = 100) ...............................
Toys, hobbies, and music equipment (12/77 = 1 0 0 ) ............................
Photographic supplies and equipment (12/77 = 100) .........................
Pet supplies and expenses (12/77 = 1 0 0 ) ...............................................
136.8
135.5
129.7
144.2
139.0
137.7
131.6
146.6
139.3
137.7
131.6
147.5
138.8
136.7
131.0
148.5
139.3
137.3
131.9
148.5
139.1
136.7
131.7
148.8
138.8
136.6
130.2
148.9
135.6
132.0
130.8
145.1
137.7
134.0
132.7
147.6
138.0
133 9
132 8
148.6
137.7
133.0
132.1
149.6
138.1
133.5
133.0
149.6
137.8
132.8
132.7
149.9
137.6
132 9
131.2
150.1
E n te rta in m e n t s e r v i c e s ....................................................................................................
238.2
245.4
245.0
247.2
249.2
250.5
251.1
238.5
245.8
245 4
247 8
249.7
251.0
251.7
Fees for participant sports (12/77 = 1 0 0 ).........................................................
Admissions (12/77 = 1 0 0 ) ..................................................................................
Other entertainment services (12/77 = 100) ..................................................
148.9
137.3
129.6
151.8
146.4
130.6
152.2
145.4
129.8
154.4
145.2
131.0
155.6
145.8
132.6
156.4
146.6
133.3
156.9
147.2
133.0
150.0
136.4
130.6
152.8
145.4
131.4
153 2
144.5
130.7
155.5
144.2
132.3
156.9
144.8
133.6
157.7
145.6
134.4
158.1
146.3
134.0
O T H E R G O O D S A N D S E R V IC E S
276.6
287.5
289.0
294.4
296.8
298.1
298 6
274.0
286 4
288 0
292.0
294 1
295 5
295 9
T o b a c c o p r o d u c t s ...............................................................................................................
272.3
294.6
297.7
298.0
299.0
299 9
299 9
271 9
294 3
297.5
297 8
298 8
299.7
299 6
Cgarettes ...............................................................................................................
Other tobacco products and smoking accessories (12/77 = 1 0 0 ) ................
279.0
143.8
302.8
150.5
306 1
150.9
306 4
151.2
307 4
151.4
308.2
152.7
308.0
153 9
278.0
143.9
301.7
150.5
305 2
150.9
305.5
151.2
306 5
151.4
307.3
152.7
307.0
153.9
E N T E R T A IN M E N T
E n te rta in m e n t c o m m o d itie s
P e rs o n a l c a re
254.8
261.3
262.1
263.0
263.3
265.6
266.3
252.5
259.4
260.1
260 9
261.5
263.7
264.4
Toilet goods and personal care appliances.........................................................
Products for the hair, hairpieces, and wigs (12/77 = 100) ................
Dental and shaving products (12/77 = 100) .........................................
Cosmetics, bath and nail preparations, manicure and
eye makeup implements (12/77 = 1 0 0 )...............................................
Other toilet goods and small personal care appliances (12/77 = 100) . . .
252.2
146.8
156.2
262.3
152.5
162.6
261 9
152.8
160.0
262 4
153.0
160.8
263.0
152.7
163.1
265.7
154.5
166.7
266.3
154.0
167.3
253.1
146.2
154.6
263.0
151.7
160.8
262.6
151 9
158.5
263 0
152.0
159.1
263 9
151.9
161.2
266.6
153.6
165.1
267.1
153.1
165 6
142.2
143.2
148.8
147.9
148.6
148.9
148.3
149.9
147.7
150.5
148.9
150.5
149.8
150.7
143.0
147.0
149.5
151.6
149.2
152.4
148.9
153.4
148.9
154.1
150.1
154.1
151.1
154.4
Personal care services ........................................................................................
Beauty parlor services for women ............................................................
Haircuts and other barbershop services for men (12/77 = 100)
258.0
262.1
141.6
261.5
264.3
145.1
263.3
266.5
145.6
264.6
268.1
146.0
264.6
267.5
146.8
266.6
269.8
147.5
267.4
270.7
147.8
252 4
254.7
140.4
256.4
257 5
143.9
258.1
259 7
144.4
259.3
261.1
144.8
259.6
260 7
145.6
261.4
262.9
146.3
262.1
203.7
146.7
P e rs o n a l a n d e d u c a tio n a l e x p e n s e s ...........................................................................
320.5
327.2
328.1
344 6
350 9
351.3
352.1
321.7
329.4
330.5
345 6
352 4
352.9
353.7
Schoolbooks and supplies ..................................................................................
Personal and educational services .....................................................................
Tuition and other school f e e s .....................................................................
College tuition (12/77 = 1 0 0 ) ............................................................
Elementary and high school tuition (12/77 = 100) ......................
Personal expenses (12/77 = 1 0 0 ) ............................................................
283.3
329.1
167.2
166 8
168.7
175.4
294.2
335.1
168.0
167.8
168.9
187.9
294.6
336.2
168.2
168.0
169.2
189.8
306.6
353.5
178.6
180.7
170.9
192.6
308.5
360.6
182.9
182.7
183.9
193.4
308.8
361.0
182.9
182.7
183 9
194.6
308.9
361 9
182.9
182.8
183.9
196.8
287.0
330.3
167.7
166.9
169.7
175.2
298 3
337.3
168.5
167.9
169.9
188.3
298 8
338.6
168.8
168.0
170.3
190.4
310.8
354.3
178.4
180 5
172.7
193.0
312.9
362 0
183.3
182.6
184.9
193.9
313.0
352.9
183 3
182 6
184.9
195.2
313.0
363 6
183 3
182.7
184.9
197.3
377.0
384.3
384.5
382.3
377.8
373.7
370.9
326.0
354.0
343.6
358.9
343.6
360.1
344.7
361.6
343.0
363.4
340.7
364.2
339.8
364.9
378.5
414.7
325.1
354.4
385.4
411.4
343.1
361.7
385.9
415.6
342.9
364.2
383.9
418.2
343.8
365.2
379.5
419.7
341.8
369.7
375.5
419.8
339.4
370.4
372.5
419,4
338.5
372 0
S p e c ia l in d e xe s :
Gasoline, motor oil, coolant, and other p ro d u c ts ............................................
Insurance and fin a n c e ............................................................................................
Utilities and public transportation.........................................................................
Housekeeping and home maintenance services ...............................................
1Excludes motor oil, coolant, and other products as of January 1983.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
87
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW March 1984 • Current Labor Statistics: Consumer Prices
21. Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers: Cross classification of region and population size class by expenditure
category and commodity and service group
[Decem ber 1977 = 100]
S iz e c la s s A
S ize c la s s B
S iz e c la s s C
S iz e c la s s O
(1.25 m illio n o r m o re )
( 3 8 5 ,0 0 0 -1 ,2 5 0 m illio n )
(7 5 ,0 0 0 -3 8 5 ,0 0 0 )
(7 5,000 o r l e u )
C a te g o ry an d gro u p
1983
Aug.
I
Oct.
1983
| D ec.
A u g.
I
O ct.
1983
D ec.
Aug.
1983
Oct.
D ec.
A u g.
Oct.
D ec.
N o rth e a s t
E X P E N D IT U R E C A T E G O R Y
All items .................................................................................................................................
Food and beverages ..............................................................................................................
H o u s in g ..................................................................................................................
Apparel and upkeep ..................................................................................................
Transportation ..............................................................................................................
Medical care ........................................................................................
Entertainm ent..................................................................................
Other goods and services ...........................................................................................
155.0
147.5
159.6
123.2
164.2
164.4
144.3
160.3
156.5
148.2
160.5
125.5
165.8
166.5
145.8
166.9
157.2
148.8
161.7
122.7
166.5
168.3
145.9
167.9
161.5
147.4
169.7
125.8
171.4
167.1
139.6
162.8
163.1
147.3
171.4
130.0
173.4
167.3
142.8
167.1
163.7
146.7
172.6
129.5
174.2
170.7
140.3
167.7
165.5
151.6
176.7
128.6
169.5
171.2
143.8
165.9
167.1
150.7
178.4
132.3
172 0
171.4
146.2
170.5
168.3
151.9
179.5
133.0
172.9
174.2
149.0
172.3
160.0
147.7
164.2
128.8
169.7
171.9
149.3
166.7
161.6
146.6
166.3
131.9
171.9
172.6
153.0
171.3
162.3
147.6
166.4
134.1
172.5
177.5
152.3
171.8
150.1
C151.6
161.3
151.2
153.0
163.2
151.4
152.9
164.4
156.0
159.8
169.8
157.4
162.1
171.8
157.1
162.0
173.6
155.4
156.8
181.7
156 4
158.9
184.2
157.0
159.2
186.3
153.9
156.3
169.2
154.7
158.3
171.9
155.5
159.0
172.7
C O M M O D IT Y A N D S E R V IC E G R O U P
C o m m o d itie s............................................................................................
Commodities less food and beverages ...............................................................
Services............................................................................................
N orth C en tra l R e g io n
E X P E N D IT U R E C A T E G O R Y
All items .........................................................................................
Food and beverages .....................................................................
H o u s in g ..................................................................................
Apparel and upkeep ...............................................................
Transportation ........................................................................................
Medical care ..................................................................................
Entertainm ent...............................................................................
Other goods and services ............................................................................
166.6
144.5
186.3
119.5
167.4
168.4
143.3
158.1
167.3
144.6
185.6
122.3
168.8
169.8
144.3
162.9
167.6
145.2
185 8
120.3
168 9
172.4
144.2
163.8
162.2
143.6
171.7
128.9
168.6
172.4
131.8
170.4
162.6
142.8
170.3
131.8
170.1
173.1
134 7
175.8
163 6
143.8
171.5
131.2
171.6
173 9
133.6
177.4
159.6
145.0
165.7
129.9
169 8
167.5
148.4
158.3
161.1
144.8
167 8
131.6
171.8
167.6
149 9
161.1
161.6
144.7
169.0
132.3
172.1
168.0
148.4
161.7
160.7
151.9
165.2
125.4
167.8
175.4
136.6
169.3
162.1
153.2
165.9
129.2
169.4
175.5
138.9
172 4
162.8
152 9
167.0
127.5
170.8
177.6
139.1
172 3
154.7
159.7
184.3
155.6
161.2
184.6
155 6
160 9
185 2
153.1
157.1
176.8
153.7
158 4
176.9
154.2
158 7
178.6
151.5
154.5
172.8
152.7
156.5
174.7
152.6
156.3
176.2
151.3
151.0
175.6
153.0
153.0
176.5
152.9
153.0
178.3
C O M M O D IT Y A N D S E R V IC E G R O U P
C om m o d itie s............................................................................
Commodities less food and beverages .........................................
Services.........................................................................................
Sou th
E X P E N D IT U R E C A T E G O R Y
All items ............................................................................
Food and beverages ............................................
H o u s in g .........................................................
Apparel and upkeep .........................................................
Transportation ......................................................
Medical care .....................................................................
Entertainm ent.....................................................................
Other goods and services .........................................
162.4
150 9
169.7
131.8
168.7
170.0
140.7
162.1
163.3
151.4
169.6
130.7
171.1
171.7
143.4
166 2
163.5
151.9
169.3
130.5
171.5
173.6
142.9
166 6
162.9
149.9
168.4
126 2
172.2
169.0
154.4
164.9
164.9
150.5
171.0
129.0
174.2
172.4
153.7
168.5
164.9
149.8
170 9
128.7
174.4
174.0
154.6
169.1
162 3
147.8
169.5
124.1
170.3
180.0
146.2
161.6
163.5
148 3
169 6
126.5
172 4
182.3
148,1
166 2
163.7
148.5
169.4
126 7
172.5
182.7
150.0
167.5
162.8
150.7
171.9
111.3
167.3
184.2
146.4
162 9
165.1
151.4
173.9
116.3
170.4
187.8
148.6
164 0
165.7
152.3
174.6
116.0
170.2
189 9
147.5
167.3
155.0
156.8
172.7
155.5
157.3
174.1
155.9
157.7
174.0
155.6
157.9
173.9
157.2
160.1
176.6
156 9
160.1
176.9
153.7
156.4
175 6
154.8
157 9
177.1
154.8
157.8
177.5
153.2
154.2
177.1
155.4
157.1
179.6
155 6
157.1
180.8
155.2
148.3
152.9
156.3
150.2
153.9
123.4
171.1
180.9
148.8
166.2
162.2
154.1
163.2
142.4
167.8
179.2
158.5
173 4
163.9
154.9
164.9
146.2
169.8
179 0
160.6
175.3
164 0
156.0
164 4
144 4
171.1
178.9
161 2
174.5
154.3
156.0
158.8
152.4
151.7
176.6
153 8
153.4
178.6
154 3
153.6
178.3
C O M M O D IT Y A N D S E R V IC E G R O U P
C om m o d itie s..................................................................
Commodities less food and beverages .........................
Services............................................................................
W est
E X P E N D IT U R E C A T E G O R Y
All items ............................................................
Food and beverages ...............................................
H o u s in g .........................................................
Apparel and upkeep .....................................................
Transportation ...............................................
Medical care ............................................................
E ntertainm ent...............................................
Other goods and services ............................................
162.7
150 9
168.3
123 3
173.0
177.3
139.8
165.0
163.5
151.9
170.0
8
172.0
C177.4
141.3
168.0
164.0
152.7
169.4
122.7
174.2
178.0
142.6
16.8 8
162.5
152.8
165.4
126.9
174.4
175.8
146.7
165.5
163.8
153.6
168.1
127.6
174.3
175.6
146.8
168.4
164.0
154,4
167.2
127.9
175.3
176.5
147.5
170.0
170.6
180.0
148.7
161.2
155.9
149.4
154.2
125.0
169.9
C180.6
147.4
164 6
152.6
153.6
175.9
152.4
152.7
177.8
153.5
153.9
177.8
155.2
156 4
172.6
155.7
156 8
174.9
156.3
157.2
174.7
153.3
155.4
157.6
1534
155.0
159.1
122
122.8
C O M M O D IT Y A N D S E R V IC E G R O U P
C om m o d itie s...............................................................
Commodities less food and beverages ............
Services.........................................................
c = corrected.
88
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
22.
Consumer Price Index— U.S. city average, and selected areas
[1967 = 100 unless otherwise specified]
U rb a n W a g e E a rn e rs a n d C le ric a l W o rk e r s ( re vis e d )
A ll U rb a n C o n s u m e rs
A re a 1
U.S. city average2 ............................................................................
Anchorage, Alaska (10/67 - 100) ...............................................
Atlanta, Ga............................................................................................
Baltimore. Md.......................................................................................
Boston. Mass........................................................................................
Buffalo, N.Y..........................................................................................
D ec.
Ju ly
Aug.
S ept.
Oct.
N o v.
D ec.
D ec.
Ju ly
Aug.
S ep t.
O ct.
N o v.
D ec .
292.4
299.3
300.3
301.8
302.6
303.1
303.5
292.0
298.2
299.5
300.8
301.3
301.4
301.5
307.3
297.8
Detroit, M ich.........................................................................................
292.6
Miami, Fla. (11/77 - 100) ............................................................
Milwaukee, W is....................................................................................
Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minn.-W is......................................................
New York, N.Y.-Northeastern N.J.....................................................
Northeast, Pa. (S c ra n to n )...............................................................
299.6
312.4
301.6
298.4
298.8
294.5
273.5
324.0
301.3
295.2
Philadelphia, Pa.-N.J...........................................................................
Pittsburgh, Pa.......................................................................................
Portland, Oreg.-Wash.........................................................................
St. Louis, M o.-Ill.................................................................................
San Diego, Calif...................................................................................
281.6
302.1
San Franclsco-Oakland, Calif.............................................................
Seattle-Everett, Wash..........................................................................
Washington, D.C.-Md.-Va..................................................................
293.9
289.1
283.4
288.3
299.2
298.2
296.4
276 4
324.3
303.3
297.0
316.2
289.5
289.9
310.2
292.1
297.2
291.4
308.8
297.0
1The areas listed include not only the central city but the entire portion of the Standard Metropolitan
Statistical Area, as defined for the 1970 Census of Population, except that the Standard Consolidated Area is
used for New York and Chicago.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
275.1
291.8
330.7
317.6
315.0
299.4
300.1
288.7
296.5
278.4
320.7
303.0
297.7
271.0
316.1
288.6
288.0
291.2
313.7
293.9
288.5
291.7
285.1
296.4
308.0
297.4
306 1
280.3
303.7
293.2
278.2
321.6
299.3
293 7
291.8
314.3
281.0
301.7
286.1
286 5
291.1
308.5
288 4
293.3
304.2
307.3
309.5
298.6
293.6
298 9
296.7
285.9
322.4
303.9
299.0
288.1
290.0
294.2
314.9
313.5
301.8
301.3
297.8
288.2
317.9
300.0
299.9
164.9
328.9
312.7
288 7
294.2
304.7
288.2
299.1
c323 9
287.3
290.9
294.8
312.5
288.2
294.3
302.6
289.6
299 3
323 7
301.4
297 7
300 9
294.2
338.4
304.6
301.6
294.2
300.0
285.6
295.7
316.0
317.6
314.7
164.3
329 1
286.4
296.7
320.0
293.9
299.6
342.3
294.5
337.3
162.8
325.0
317.5
294.3
302.4
292.5
c286.8
299.1
311.2
317.6
309.0
303.8
309.7
306.3
299.5
288.6
331.7
299 9
305.7
306.0
306.3
296.8
316.8
292.9
293 3
302.0
340.4
291.5
299.3
335.2
288.2
303.9
164.0
312.5
162 9
313.9
160 8
310.1
' 303.9
316.8
339.8
339.4
335.8
306.1
281.8
c302.3
332.5
318.5
327.3
315.9
317.6
303.3
269.9
318.1
290.6
285.3
288.5
303.0
314.6
264.0
260.8
304.3
297.4
288.0
304.7
294 0
302.9
290.6
285.9
277.8
293.1
304.4
303.9
300.4
289.1
257.5
270.4
c267.9
265.8
296.1
Chicago, III.-Northwestern Ind...........................................................
Cincinnati, Ohio-Ky.-Ind.....................................................................
Cleveland, O h io ..................................................................................
Dallas-Ft. Worth, Tex..........................................................................
Denver-Boulder, Colo..........................................................................
Honolulu, H a w a ii......................................... ................................
Houston, Tex........................................................................................
Kansas City, Mo.-Kansas ...............................................................
Los Angeles-Long Beach, Anaheim, Calif........................................
1983
1982
1983
1982
306.1
299.0
302.7
2Average of 85 cities.
c = corrected
89
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW March 1984 • Current Labor Statistics: Producer Prices
23.
Producer Price Indexes, by stage of processing
[1967 = 100]
Annual
C o m m o d ity g ro u p in g
1983
1984
a ve ra g e
1983
Ja n .
Feb.
M ar.
Ap r.
M ay
Ju n e
Ju ly
Aug.
Finished g o o d s ..................................................................................
285.2
283.9
284.1
283.4
283.1
284.2
285.0
285.7
286.1
Finished consumer goods ......................................................
Finished consumer foods ..................................................
Crude ..................................................................................
Processed .........................................................................
Nondurable goods less f o o d s ............................................
Durable goods .....................................................................
Consumer nondurable goods less food and energy . . .
Capital e q u ip m e n t.....................................................................
284.6
261.8
259.5
259.9
335.3
233.1
231.4
287.3
283.5
258.4
232.9
258.5
336.6
231.7
228.3
285.2
283.7
261.0
240.8
260.7
333.7
232.9
228.9
285.6
282.7
261.1
247.9
260.1
332.0
231.9
229.4
285.6
282.3
262.9
265.8
260.5
328.7
232.2
230.1
286.2
283.6
262.6
267.2
260.1
332.0
232.9
230.3
286.5
284.6
261.2
251.2
260.0
335.7
233.1
' 230.7
286.7
285.2
260.7
247.1
259.8
337.7
233.4
232.0
287.2
Intermediate materials, supplies, and com ponents......................
312.4
309.2
309.9
309.5
308.7
309.7
311.3
312.8
Materials and components for m anufacturing......................
293.3
288.6
291.1
290.2
291.0
291.9
292.4
Materials for food m an u fa ctu rin g ......................................
Materials for nondurable manufacturing .........................
Materials for durable manufacturing ...............................
Components for m an u fa ctu rin g .........................................
258.4
279.9
319.3
280.3
250.9
277.0
312.0
276.8
254.1
277.0
319.2
277.6
252.8
276.6
315.7
278.3
255.1
277.3
316.6
278.9
257.0
277.7
318.4
279.4
257.0
277.7
319.0
280.3
Materials and components for c o n s tru ctio n .........................
301.7
296.5
298.8
299.6
300.9
301.2
302.4
Processed fuels and lu b ric a n ts...............................................
Manufacturing indu stries......................................................
Nonmanufacturing industries ............................................
566.8
481.9
641.1
577.9
485.2
659.4
565.4
475.5
644.6
564.2
480.6
637.2
543.3
460.4
615.9
547.8
462.9
622 2
562.0
475.9
637.5
S e p t .1
Oct.
N o v.
D ec.
285.1
287.9
286.8
287.1
289.4
285.7
260.7
259.9
258.7
338.6
233.8
232.7
287.7
285.1
r263.0
r267.4
r260.5
338.6
r229.2
r233.0
r285.1
287.1
264.3
289.8
259.9
337.9
235.4
233.3
290.9
285.8
261.8
272.8
258.7
336.6
235.3
233.7
290 3
286.1
264.0
269.1
261.5
335.3
235.7
233.7
290.5
288.8
272.2
309.2
266.7
335.0
235.9
235.8
291.5
314.0
r315.5
316.0
315.7
315.8
316.6
294.1
294.7
r296 7
296.4
296.1
297.0
298.6
257.4
279.7
320.9
281.6
260.5
281.1
320.9
281.5
r269.4
r282.7
r323.1
281.8
264.0
283.5
322.2
282.2
260.4
284.1
321.1
282.5
262.5
284.7
322.6
283.1
268.3
287.0
322.9
284.0
302.9
303.7
r303.1
303.5
304.0
304.6
305.4
567.9
480.9
644.1
572.0
485.1
648.0
r573.4
r487.2
r648.8
579.9
498.7
650.4
574.0
493.4
643 9
568.5
488.8
637.6
562.4
482,8
631.5
Ja n .
F IN IS H E D G O O D S
IN T E R M E D IA T E M A T E R IA L S
C ontainers..................................................................................
286.6
285.0
285.3
285.2
284.8
285.8
285.9
286.1
286 3
r287 1
288.3
289.3
289.5
291.5
S u p p lie s ............................................................................
Manufacturing indu stries.....................................................
Nonmanufacturing industries ............................................
Feeds ..................................................................................
Other s u p p lie s ..................................................................
277.0
269.9
280.9
225.5
292.7
273.1
267.4
276.4
206.5
290.9
273.5
267.8
276.8
207.4
291.2
273.9
268.1
277.1
207.7
291.6
275.5
268.6
279.3
219.8
291.9
275.6
268.9
279.3
218.1
292.2
275.6
269.8
278.8
213.4
292.5
276.2
270.1
279.6
216.2
291.9
277.9
270.5
282.0
230.7
293 0
r280 2
r270.8
r285.3
r249,6
r293 4
280.4
271.8
285.1
245.6
293.9
281.0
271.9
296.0
249 6
294 2
281.0
272.6
285.6
244.0
294.8
282.5
274.0
287.1
244.5
296.5
Crude materials for further processing .........................................
323.6
313.9
320.2
321.6
325.8
325.8
323.3
320.6
327.1
r328.5
324.5
324.1
327.8
333.7
Foodstuffs and fe e d stu ffs.........................................................
252.3
239.6
249.3
249.1
256.8
256.5
252.1
248.4
256.4
r257.2
253.9
252.0
256 2
264.2
Nonfood m aterials.....................................................................
477.2
473.6
473.0
477.7
474.6
475.4
476.8
476.2
479.6
r482 5
476.7
479.5
482.1
483.6
Nonfood materials except f u e l............................................
Manufacturing industries ............................................
C o n s tru ctio n .....................................................................
372.0
381.6
271.1
368.0
377.6
267.5
366.0
375.1
269.1
366.8
375.9
269.3
367.0
376.1
270.0
369.0
378.3
270.3
370.5
379.9
271.3
371.6
381.6
270.9
375.6
385.7
271.0
r378.1
r388.3
r272.5
375.3
385.1
272.6
377.7
387.8
272.9
379.6
389.7
274.6
380 3
390 5
273.9
931.5
1,094.8
816.2
930.7
1,093.8
815.5
937.7
1,103.9
820.0
961.8
1,134.3
839.2
941.6
1.107.6
824.0
935.9
1,100.9
819.1
936.7
1,102.3
819.4
927.8
1,090.4
813.0
926.9
r931.0
1,088.9 r1.093.9
812.5
r816.1
911.2
1.067.9
800.9
915.2
1.072.4
804.6
921.4
1.079 9
810.0
927 0
1 087 7
813.7
Finished goods excluding fo o d s .....................................................
Finished consumer goods excluding foods ............
Finished consumer goods less e n e rg y...............................
290.9
291.3
249.9
290.3
291.4
247.1
289.6
290.3
248.7
288.7
288.9
248.6
287.7
287.3
249.5
289.3
289.4
249.7
290.8
291.6
249.4
291.8
292.6
249.9
292.5
293.5
250.2
290.3
r291.4
r249,7
293.7
293.8
252.2
293.0
293.0
251.4
292 6
292 5
252.4
292 9
292 5
256.0
Intermediate materials less foods and feeds . . . .
Intermediate materials less e n e rg y ............................
317.2
295.1
314.6
290.5
315.2
292.4
314.8
292.1
313.6
293.2
314.6
293.9
316.4
294.4
318.0
295.6
318.7
296.5
r319.5
r298.1
320.4
298.1
320.1
298.2
320 3
298.8
320 9
300.3
Intermediate foods and feeds .........................................
247.8
236.4
238.8
238.0
243.6
244.4
242.8
244.0
250.9
r263.2
258.2
257.1
256.6
260.7
Crude materials less agricultural products ............................
Crude materials less energy ...................................
538.4
246.5
536.0
232.5
535.1
241.4
539.7
242.7
536.1
248.6
536.2
249.0
537.5
246.2
536.8
243.9
540.0
251.2
f542.9
r252.5
537.4
249.1
540.4
248.5
543 8
252.3
546 6
258.5
C R U D E M A T E R IA L S
Crude fuel ..................................................................
Manufacturing industries .........................................
Nonmanufacturing in d u s trie s ......................................
S P E C IA L G R O U P IN G S
1Data for September 1983 have been revised to reflect the availability of late reports and corrections
by respondents. All data are subject to revision 4 months after original publication.
90
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
r = revised.
24.
Producer Price Indexes, by commodity groupings
[1967 = 100 unless otherwise specified]
A ll c o m m o d itie s
.............................................................................................
A ll c o m m o d itie s (1957-59 = 1 0 0 ) .........................................................
F a rm p ro d u c ts a n d p ro c e s s e d fo o d s an d fe e d s
In d u s tria l c o m m o d i t i e s ..................................................................................
1984
1983
Annual
C o m m o d ity g ro u p an d s u b g ro u p
C od e
a ve ra g e
Oct.
N o v.
D ec.
Ja n .
305.3
323.9
306.3
325.0
305.6
324.2
306.0
324.7
308.1
326.9
255.5
317.3
r259.1
r317.1
257.9
318.7
256.0
318.3
257.8
318.4
264.4
319.2
1983
Ja n .
Feb .
M ar.
Ap r.
M ay
Ju n e
Ju ly
A u g.
303.1
321.6
299.9
318.2
300.9
319.3
300.6
318.9
300.6
318.9
301.5
319.9
302.4
320.8
303.2
321.7
304.7
323.3
253.9
315.8
245.8
313.9
250.4
313.9
250.6
313.5
254.7
312.4
254.7
313.6
252.5
315.3
251.5
316.5
S e p t .1
FARM PR O D U C TS AN D PRO CESSED FOO D S
A N D FEEDS
01
01-1
01-2
01-3
01-4
01-5
01-6
01-7
01-8
0 1 -9
Farm p ro d u cts........................................................................................
Fresh and dried fruits and vegetables............................................
G ra in s ..................................................................................................
L iv e s to c k ............................................................................................
Live p o u ltry ........................................................................................
Plant and animal fibers ..................................................................
Fluid m i l k ............................................................................................
E g g s.....................................................................................................
Hay, hayseeds, and oilseeds .........................................................
Other farm p ro d u c ts .........................................................................
248 2
261.7
240.4
243.1
206.5
227.0
282.0
(2)
246.8
282.1
233.2
227.6
206.3
242 3
177.1
201.7
284.5
170.0
212.4
279.9
240.7
227.8
222.4
251.1
200 1
206 4
284.3
170.0
217.9
281.2
241.5
234.9
227 4
251.4
177.8
217.0
282.9
170.0
217.8
280.3
250.5
266.6
243.8
260.6
170.8
213 6
280.8
170.0
226.3
279.2
250.4
260.1
242.2
258.0
186.9
223.8
279.8
185.1
227.3
281.0
247.4
264.4
241.5
251.7
199.3
229.7
278.6
169.3
213.3
284.4
244.3
258.2
236.7
240.7
214.5
230.4
278.7
177.2
227.3
282 5
253.5
270.4
251.8
242.2
221.4
240.7
281.7
189.5
262.8
285.7
r256 4
r276.0
258.0
231.5
242.2
238.7
284.4
200.1
297.8
287.3
255 2
307.6
253.7
229.4
208.5
234.5
284.1
(2)
288.8
283.7
251.0
274.7
257.5
220.5
238.5
243.6
283.2
<2)
287.6
283.5
254.0
273.0
243.6
238.2
241.2
244.1
281.4
<2)
282.2
276.9
263.3
290 4
245.5
250.7
252.6
229.3
279.1
282.4
287.3
280 2
02
02-1
02-2
02-3
02-4
02-5
02-6
02-7
02-8
02-9
Processed foods and fe e d s ..................................................................
Cereal and bakery p r o d u c ts ............................................................
Meats, poultry, and f i s h ..................................................................
Dairy p ro d u c ts ..................................................................................
Processed fruits and vegetables......................................................
Sugar and confectionery..................................................................
Beverages and beverage materials ...............................................
Fats and oils .....................................................................................
Miscellaneous processed f o o d s ......................................................
Prepared animal fe e d s ............................ ........................................
256.0
260.9
249.4
250.6
277.1
292.8
263.6
239.6
254.4
228.5
251.7
257.3
252.3
250.7
274.8
282.1
260.1
201.7
248.8
211.6
254.7
256.8
261.0
250.9
274 3
286.4
261.3
205.3
249.3
212.3
254.5
256.9
260.7
250.7
274.9
283.7
262.0
206.0
248.5
212.4
256.0
258.8
259.1
251.0
273.7
287.4
263.0
214.6
249.9
222 8
256.1
259.1
257.8
250.9
275.3
289.9
263.6
220.0
249.9
221.3
254.3
260.3
250.2
250.4
277.1
296.0
263.0
219.3
251.5
217.1
254.4
261.4
247.3
250.4
277.1
296.4
263.7
222.2
255.0
220.0
255.5
262.8
243.2
250 4
278.3
298.9
263.9
245.6
252.7
233.0
r259.6
r263 6
r242.9
r250.6
r278.6
r300.2
r264 3
r303.5
r258 4
r249.3
258.3
264.6
239.6
251.0
280.0
297.7
265.1
287.4
259.7
247.7
257.6
264.7
235.7
251.2
279.8
297.6
266.1
277.6
264.0
250 9
258.8
264.9
242.1
249 2
281.5
297 4
266.5
271.7
265.8
245.7
263.9
266.1
256.9
248.5
285.3
299.0
268.4
278.7
266.7
246.0
03
03-1
03-2
03-3
03-4
03-81
03-82
Textile products and a p p a re l...............................................................
Synthetic fibers (12/75 = 1 0 0 ) ......................................................
Processed yarns and threads (12/75 = 100) ............................
Gray fabrics (12/75 = 1 0 0 ) ............................................................
Finished fabrics (12/75 = 1 0 0 ) ......................................................
A p p a re l...............................................................................................
Textile housefurnishings..................................................................
204.9
156.8
138.3
146.9
123.1
197.1
235.6
202.7
156.7
134.7
144.4
122.2
194.4
236 5
202 6
153.1
135.0
144.3
122.3
195.0
234.3
203.4
153.9
135.8
145.1
122.4
196.1
234.2
203 5
153.8
136.0
145.8
123.1
195.8
234.2
204.3
155.6
137.4
146.2
122.8
196.5
237.6
204.7
155.9
137.6
145.8
122.5
197.9
235.2
205 3
158.3
138.5
146.1
122.4
198.4
234.8
206 0
157.5
140.2
146.7
123.6
198.7
234.5
r206 2
r158 0
r140.3
r147.3
r123.4
M98.7
r235.3
206 4
160.4
140.7
148.9
123.8
197.3
238.5
207.0
159.5
141.3
150.2
123 9
198.7
233.9
207.2
158.2
142 4
151.7
124.3
198.4
234.7
208.0
159.2
142.3
152.8
125.0
198.7
236.6
04
04-2
04-3
04-4
Hides, skins, leather, and related p ro d u c ts ......................................
Leather ...............................................................................................
Footwear ...........................................................................................
Other leather and related products ...............................................
271.4
330.8
250.1
253.7
266.7
314.4
251.5
250.8
264 3
312.8
247.7
251.0
264 9
316.2
248.1
250.9
267.4
320.5
250.0
251.0
269.4
326.6
248.7
251.7
271.2
335 9
249.9
251.7
272.3
337.9
249.9
253.5
274.7
343.4
250.9
253.7
r274.4
r339.4
r251 6
r253 5
274.7
337.1
251.2
256.9
277.3
340.2
251.4
257.6
278.3
342.6
251.3
258.1
280.1
346.4
251.7
258 9
05
05-1
05-2
05-3
05-4
05-61
05-7
Fuels and related products and p o w e r...............................................
C o a l.....................................................................................................
C o ke .....................................................................................................
Gas fuels3 ........................................................................................
Electric power ..................................................................................
Crude petroleum4 ............................................................................
Petroleum products, refined5 .........................................................
665 9
536.8
447.8
1,147.9
418.0
681.5
686.4
06
06-1
06-21
06-22
06-3
06-4
06-5
06-6
06-7
Chemicals and allied p ro d u c ts ............................................................
Industrial chemicals6 .........................................................................
Prepared paint
Paint m a te ria ls ..................................................................................
Drugs and pharmaceuticals ............................................................
Fats and oils, in e d ib le .....................................................................
Agricultural chemicals and chemical p ro d u c ts ............................
Plastic resins and m a te ria ls ............................................................
Other chemicals and allied products ............................................
292.9
342.9
264 7
305.6
226.2
283.7
280.7
290.2
273.7
289.3
339.3
264.7
301 5
218 6
242.0
283.2
283.8
272.8
290.5
340.1
264.7
299.5
222 2
253.4
283.3
283.1
274.4
289.8
338.8
264.7
298 4
222 9
262.2
284.2
282.1
272.0
291.3
338.7
264.7
299.8
225.1
278.3
282.8
285.4
274.7
291.1
338.8
264.7
300.2
225.2
287.1
282.4
288.0
272.0
290.8
338.5
264.7
299.5
225.2
276.9
280.6
289.1
272.4
293.7
347.0
265.2
300.5
227.6
260 9
278.1
291.3
274.2
294.4
347.6
265.4
305.7
227.3
278.1
277.1
293.7
274.2
r295 9
r345.6
264.5
r316.2
r227.4
r329.0
276.0
r302.6
r274.3
296.4
348.6
264.1
316.6
229.7
319.5
276.8
297.5
273.9
296.4
346.3
264.4
314.5
230.6
320.9
281.1
296.6
274.4
296.6
345.1
264.9
315.5
231.4
319.0
282.5
298.3
274.5
298.5
347.7
265.7
316.3
233.3
334.4
279.2
304.2
275.9
07
07-1
07-11
07-12
07-13
07-2
Rubber plastic products .....................................................................
Rubber and rubber p rod ucts............................................................
Crude rubber .....................................................................................
Tires and tu b e s ..................................................................................
Miscellaneous rubber products ......................................................
Plastic products (6/78 = 100) ......................................................
243.4
266.6
280.9
245.4
286.0
135.3
242.9
269.6
271.1
259.1
284.5
133.0
242.3
268.3
274.3
250.5
289.6
133.1
241.8
267.1
281.2
246.6
285.8
133.2
243 0
267.0
281.3
246.5
285.7
134.6
243.2
267.0
280.6
246.3
286.0
134.8
243.1
265.6
280 2
243.7
285.9
135.5
243.4
265.2
283.2
242.4
285.7
136.0
243.7
265.1
284.6
242.8
284.5
136.4
r243.2
r263.9
r284 4
242.5
r281.6
r136.6
245.1
267.1
284.3
242.7
289.9
137.0
243.8
264.8
282.8
242.7
284.2
136 8
244.1
265.1
282.4
243.0
284.8
136.9
244.1
265 6
282.9
242.9
286.2
136.7
08
08-1
08-2
08-3
08-4
Lumber and wood products ...............................................................
L u m b e r......................................................... ................................
M illw o rk ...............................................................................................
P lyw o od...............................................................................................
Other wood pro d u cts ........................................................................
307.3
353.1
302.3
244.1
230.6
293.3
326.8
293.7
235.3
232.0
303.1
344.7
300.5
239.5
233.2
305.8
349.3
304.0
238.9
231.6
307.2
354.2
302.8
239.4
230.8
308.0
358.6
299.0
241.1
231.1
314.8
372.8
294.9
255.5
229.6
314.6
373.1
296.3
252.5
229.7
313.9
366.6
306.6
246.2
229.3
r305 6
r346.6
r305 9
r242.2
r229.4
306.1
345.8
307.1
246.5
229.6
306.0
346.0
308.2
244.7
229.7
308.8
351.5
308.5
247.1
230.4
309 2
353.2
308.5
248.3
229.8
IN D U S T R IA L C O M M O D IT IE S
668.6
683.6
533.4
535.6
450.9
450.9
1,147.3 1,154.7
410.8
410.8
719.7
692.9
692.8
720.6
665.5
671.7 r672.3
672.7
667.1
658.0
644.8
651.9
668.7
662.1
655.8
534.1
538.6
538 0
535.2
534.8
536.6 r537.9
536.7
542.4
539.8
541.0
438.4
438.4
431.6
453.9
453.9
453.5
447.3
447.3
453.5
453.5
418.3
1,180.0 1,156.1 1,156.7 1,155.1 1,148.9 1.145.9 r1.147,0 1.130.7 1.124.2 1.125.6 1,126.8
419.4
426.4
411,4
412.2
427.2 r427.9
409.2
423.9
419.0
417.6
420.9
678.0
677.9
675.7
675.1
r675.7
678.0
678.0
676.0
674.8
676.0
676.1
694.9 r695.3
684.2
688.7
694.7
666.6
645.9
659 3
702.4
669.7
684.8
See footnotes at end of table.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
91
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW March 1984 • Current Labor Statistics: Producer Prices
24.
Continued— Producer Price Indexes, by commodity groupings
[1967= 100unlessotherwisespecified]
Annual
Code
C o m m o d ity g ro u p a n d s u b g ro u p
1983
1984
a ve ra g e
1983
Ja n .
F eb .
M ar.
A p r.
M ay
Ju n e
Ju ly
Aug.
S e p t .1
Oct.
N o v.
D ec.
Ja n .
IN D U S T R IA L C O M M O D IT IE S — C o n tin u e d
09
09-1
09-11
09-12
09-13
09-14
09-15
09-2
Pulp, paper, and allied p ro d u c ts .........................................................
P u l p, paper,and products,excluding building paper and board
W ood p u lp ...........................................................................................
W astepaper........................................................................................
Paper ..................................................................................................
Paperboard ........................................................................................
Converted paper and paperboard p ro d u c ts ...................................
Building paper and board ...............................................................
297.7
271.0
346.6
(2)
281.9
250.5
265.4
250.0
293.6
269.8
346.6
(2>
279.3
243.3
265.0
241.1
294.2
268.7
345.7
(2)
278.8
244.1
265.1
241.4
294.8
268.7
343.0
(2)
278.4
246.3
265.1
244.2
295.4
268.5
342.5
(2)
278.5
248.1
264.2
247.0
296.0
268.7
343.2
(2)
279.0
248.7
264.1
249.3
297.0
269.2
344.9
(2>
279.5
249.4
264.5
255.7
297.8
270.2
345.8
183.3
279.2
249.7
264.1
256.2
298.8
271.1
346.4
(2)
280.9
250.1
264.7
252.1
r299.9
r273.1
r345.4
194.4
r286.0
r254.0
r265.0
252.8
300.4
273.0
348.6
(2)
286.6
255.5
266.5
254.7
302.0
276.3
352.6
210.2
287.9
257.9
267 8
254.7
302.7
276.8
351.3
211.5
288.9
259.5
268.0
250.5
307.6
280.0
364.4
211.5
294.3
262.2
269.4
251.9
10
10-1
10-17
10-2
10-3
10-4
10-5
10-6
10-7
10-8
Metals and metal p ro d u c ts ..................................................................
Iron and s te e l.....................................................................................
Steel mill p ro d u c ts ............................................................................
Nonferrous m e ta ls ............................................................................
Metal containers ...............................................................................
H a rd w a re ...........................................................................................
Plumbing fixtures and brass fittings ............................................
Heating e q u ip m e n t........................................................................
Fabricated structural metal products ............................................
Miscellaneous metal p ro d u c ts .........................................................
307.1
343.3
352.6
276.0
335.2
290.0
289.1
243.4
303.3
283.8
300.3
333.3
343.7
267.0
327.9
287.2
280.6
240.7
303.6
279.1
304.7
339.9
351.1
275.8
331.1
287.9
283.5
240.7
302.8
279.0
304.4
341.6
349.8
270.6
331.4
288.2
285.6
241.1
303.7
280.4
304 6
341 5
349.7
271.8
331.9
288.6
287.7
242.3
302.5
280.7
306.1
340.9
349.8
277.7
337.1
288.5
289.1
242.7
302.1
280.8
306.3
341.3
350.1
275.7
337.4
291.5
290.8
243.0
302.0
283.4
307.3
342.1
350.8
278.4
336.5
292.1
290 4
244.9
302.2
283.7
308.2
343.2
351.7
279.8
336.6
292.2
290.2
245.1
303.0
284.0
r310.7
r348.1
r358 1
r282.0
r338 5
r292.5
r292 4
r246 6
r304 3
r284.3
310.7
348.2
358.1
279.8
338.3
290.0
292.7
245.0
304.4
288.2
310.3
349.2
359.1
275.6
338.2
291.5
293.7
245.2
305 0
289.1
311.4
350.6
359.5
278 0
338.2
291.9
293.6
245.6
304.9
289 3
312.7
354 1
362.8
276.1
344.5
292 5
293.9
247.3
306.5
289.9
11
11-1
11-2
11-3
11 4
11-6
11-7
11-9
Machinery and equipment ..................................................................
Agricultural machinery and equipment .........................................
Construction machinery and equipm ent.........................................
Metalworking machinery and e q u ip m e n t......................................
General purpose machinery and equipment ...............................
Special Industry machinery and equipm ent...................................
Electrical machinery and equipm ent...............................................
Miscellaneous machinery ...............................................................
286.4
326.3
351.9
326.2
368.2
337.1
240.0
274.5
283.3
322.4
348.3
324.1
307.4
331.8
235.2
272.9
284.3
323.3
349.3
325.2
307.9
332.6
237.2
272.7
284.7
323 5
349.6
325.5
307.5
333.6
237.5
273.7
285.4
323.9
350.9
326.2
308.2
334.5
238.4
274.2
286.0
326.4
352.3
326.7
308.4
335.8
238.5
275.3
286.2
326.4
352.5
327.0
308.4
336.7
238.8
275.0
287.4
327.1
352.8
326.6
308.5
338.0
241.7
275.2
287.4
327.3
352.9
326.5
307.9
339.0
241.7
275.3
r287.9
r328.5
r353.5
r326.6
308.1
r339.8
r242.9
274.5
287.8
327.9
353.5
326.5
308.3
340.5
242.5
274 9
288.1
329.7
353.7
326 6
308 4
340.9
242.7
275.0
288.8
329.8
353.7
327 7
309.3
341.7
243.7
275.2
289.6
330.9
354.3
328.3
310.3
341.0
244.6
276.3
12
12-1
12-2
12-3
12-4
12-5
12-6
Furniture and household d u ra b le s .....................................................
Household furniture ........................................................................
Commercial fu rn itu re ........................................................................
Floor co ve rin g s..................................................................................
Household appliances .....................................................................
Home electronic e q u ip m e n t..................................................
Other household durable g o o d s ......................................................
213.9
234.7
286.5
185.0
206.8
86.2
312.5
210.7
231.9
281.1
182.2
203.9
87.3
302 8
212.5
232.6
282.2
182.1
204.9
87.0
314.8
212.3
231.1
285.1
182.0
205.0
87.0
312.9
212.8
231.8
286.2
182.2
206 3
86.6
312.0
213.6
234.4
285.9
182.1
207.5
86.4
312.7
214.0
235.0
286.9
181.4
207.5
86.5
314.3
214.8
235.4
287.5
186.6
207.8
85.9
314.8
214.9
236.3
286 5
188.9
207.7
85.5
313.9
r215.4
r236 6
r287.3
r189.5
r208 0
85.8
r314 5
215.1
237.1
287.9
188.1
207 6
85.8
313.1
215.4
237.1
290.3
187.9
207.7
85.8
312.9
215.3
237.3
290.5
187.8
208.1
84.6
313.1
216.3
238.2
290.8
189 0
209.4
84 3
315.9
13
13-11
13-2
13-3
13-4
13-5
13-6
13-7
13-8
13-9
Nonmetallic mineral products ...............................................
Flat g la s s ..................................................................................
Concrete Ing re d ie n ts.....................................................................
Concrete products .........................................................
Structural clay products, excluding refractories .........................
R efractories.........................................................
Asphalt ro o fin g .........................................................
Gypsum products .....................................................................
Glass containers ..................................................................
Other nonmetallic minerals ...............................................
325.3
229 7
314.0
301.8
277.6
341.6
383.0
284 9
352.6
480.1
321.5
229.7
307.2
299.4
264.9
337.7
393.7
263.1
356.6
471,5
322.3
229.7
310.0
300.1
264.3
337.7
380.4
267.4
355.8
476.1
322.0
229 7
308.5
300.4
270.7
337.7
374.7
265.9
354.1
476.4
324.1
229.7
312.8
301.0
275.7
338.2
384.0
271 9
353.5
478.7
324.1
229.7
313.7
301.1
277.6
338.2
380.0
275.7
351.8
478.5
324.5
229.7
314.2
301.6
281.5
336.8
379 6
273.8
351.8
479.5
325.1
229 8
314.0
302.3
282.4
338.2
385.3
276.0
351.6
479.7
326.3
229.7
316.4
302.7
282.4
339 4
383 4
289.3
351.3
481.9
327.2
r229.5
r317.2
r303.5
r282.4
r340 2
r387.2
r297.8
r351.1
r482.5
327.9
229.5
318.8
303.3
282.8
345.6
385.0
304.3
351.1
482.7
328.9
230.1
316.7
303.6
283.4
354.3
384.2
313.9
351.1
486.9
329.2
230.0
317 0
303.7
283.5
354 3
380.6
321.4
351 0
487.4
328.8
229.5
312 9
305 6
283.7
355.0
381.4
328.5
351 0
485.4
14
14-1
14-4
Transportation equipment (12/68 = 1 0 0 ) .........................
Motor vehicles and equipm ent...............................................
Railroad equipm ent.....................................................
256.7
256.8
352.5
256.3
257.0
350.8
255.8
256.3
350.5
255.2
255.4
350.3
255.6
255.9
350.0
255 8
256.2
350.4
256.1
256.7
350.1
256.2
256 6
351.3
256.8
256.8
351.0
r250 4
r249 1
r350.7
261.2
261.1
355.4
260.6
260.3
355.4
260 7
260.4
357.3
261 7
261 0
359.2
15
15-1
15-2
15-3
15-4
15-5
15-9
Miscellaneous p ro d u cts..................................................................
Toys, sporting goods, small arms, a m m u n itio n .........................
Tobacco products ..................................................................
N o tio n s ..................................................................
Photographic equipment and supplies ...............................
Mobile homes (12/74 = 1 0 0 )............................
Other miscellaneous p ro d u c ts .........................................
289.5
225.2
365.3
280.1
215.8
163.2
351.5
285.7
222.7
356.2
280.5
210.0
161.8
350.8
288.8
225.3
356.4
280.6
211.8
161.7
359.8
287.4
225.7
353.8
280.6
216.6
162.9
350.5
287.4
226.3
354.1
280.3
216.6
162.3
350.3
287.1
226.0
353.8
280.3
216.6
162.4
349.2
288.0
225.9
352.1
280.3
216.5
163.1
353.4
291.5
224.3
373.4
280.3
216.5
163.5
353.7
292.0
224.5
376.7
279.7
216.6
163.7
352 9
r291.4
r224 8
r376.9
279 7
r216.6
r164.3
r349 6
291.2
225.3
376.7
279.7
217.1
164.2
347.9
291 4
225.7
376.7
279 6
217.1
164.3
348.4
292 5
225 8
377.0
280 1
217 1
164 7
352 3
295 3
228 0
389 4
281 4
<2)
162 4
350.2
1 Data for September 1983 have been revised to reflect the availability of late reports and corrections
by ^respondents. All data are subject to revision 4 months after original publication.
Not available.
^Prices for natural gas are lagged 1 month.
92
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
4 Includes only domestic production,
^Most prices for refined petroleum products are lagged 1 month.
6Some prices for industrial chemicals are lagged 1 month
r = revised.
25.
Producer Price Indexes, for special commodity groupings
[1967 = 100 unless otherwise specified]
1983
An n u a l
C o m m o d it y g ro u p in g
A ll c o m m o d itie s — le s s fa rm p rod u c ts
A ll fo o d s
........................................................................................................
P ro c e s s e d fo o d s
..........................................................................................
Industrial commodities less f u e l s ...................................................
Selected textile mill products (Dec. 1975 = 1 0 0 ) ......................
Hosiery ...............................................................................................
Underwear and nightwear ...............................................................
Chemicals and allied products, including synthetic rubber
and fibers and y a rn s .....................................................................
1984
a ve ra g e
1983
Ja n .
F eb .
M a r.
Ap r.
M ay
Ju n e
Ju ly
A u g .1
S e p t.
Oct.
N ov.
D ec.
Ja n .
306.7
257.5
258.8
279.2
138.1
144.7
223.7
304.4
252.4
255.8
275.4
136.7
141.7
223.3
304.9
255.7
259.3
277.0
136.8
144.5
222.6
304.5
255.8
258.9
276.9
137.2
144.5
223.8
303.8
258.2
259.5
277.6
137.4
144.5
223.4
304.8
258.2
259.6
278.2
137.7
144.5
223.5
306.0
256.6
257.9
278.7
137.4
144.5
222.7
307.1
256.2
257.7
279.8
143.0
144.5
223.3
308.0
257.1
257.6
280.4
139.0
145.6
223.5
'308.3
r260.7
'260.9
'280.0
'139.1
145.6
r224 5
309.5
261.1
259.3
281.8
139.2
145.6
224.2
309.1
258.0
258.1
281 9
139.2
145.6
224.5
309.4
260.0
260.1
282.5
139.5
145.6
224.8
310.8
268.3
266.2
284.0
140.3
145.8
227.0
283.5
280.8
281.4
280.7
281.8
281.6
281.5
284.6
285.0
'285.6
286.4
286.3
286 4
288.0
220.3
317.2
348.4
223.3
320.8
348.4
223.5
324.3
348.5
223.6
338.8
348.7
226.3
338.1
349.3
226.0
331.5
350.1
r227.1
r316.5
'355.9
229.5
317.4
355.8
230.5
3169
356 9
231.8
321.5
357.4
234.1
323.0
360.4
Pharmaceutical preparations............................................................
Lumber and wood products, excluding m illw o rk .........................
Steel mill products, Including fabricated wire products .............
Finished steel mill products, excluding fabricated wire
p ro d u c ts .........................................................................................
Finished steel mill products, including fabricated wire
p ro d u c ts .........................................................................................
224.8
321.6
351.0
215.8
300.7
343.1
219.4
314.3
349.9
351.4
342.1
349.8
348.3
348.4
348.5
348.8
349.4
350.3
'357.1
357.2
358.2
358 7
362 1
349.7
341.6
348.5
347.0
347.0
347.1
347.4
347.9
348.7
'354.8
354.8
355.9
356 4
359.5
Special metals and metal products ...............................................
Fabricated metal p ro d u c ts ...............................................................
Copper and copper p ro d u cts............................................................
Machinery and motive p ro d u c ts ......................................................
Machinery and equipment, except electrical ...............................
292.5
294.2
196.6
279.8
313.6
288.6
291.1
190.7
277.8
311.3
290.9
291.3
201.5
278.2
311.9
290.3
292.3
198 9
278.1
312.2
290.7
292.2
200.9
278.7
312.9
291.7
292.6
206.7
279.2
313.8
292.0
294.0
201.3
279.4
313.9
292.6
294.2
201.6
280.1
314.2
293.5
294.7
201.2
280.4
314.2
291.5
'295.5
'198.2
'277.7
'314.3
296 5
296.7
1905
282.6
314 5
296.0
297.5
183.0
282 5
314.8
296.6
297.6
184.9
283 0
315.3
297.7
299 1
182.1
283.9
316.1
Agricultural machinery, including tractors ...................................
Metalworking m a ch in e ry ..................................................................
Total tr a c to r s .....................................................................................
Agricultural machinery and equipment less p a rts .........................
341.5
357.1
369.9
330.0
337.0
354.6
365.6
325.9
337.7
355.7
365.6
326.6
337.8
355.6
365.7
326.8
338.2
356.3
366.1
327.1
341.7
358.0
370.5
330.1
341.8
357.8
370.6
330.2
342.7
357.8
370 7
331.0
342 8
357.5
370.0
331.2
'344.0
'357 1
372.5
'332.6
343.2
357.2
372.6
331.9
346.0
357 3
375.2
333.9
346.0
360 0
373 8
333 8
346.7
359.8
374.0
334.8
Farm and garden tractors less parts ............................................
Agricultural machinery, excluding tractors less parts ................
Construction m a te ria ls ......................................................................
347.5
336.9
297.7
342.2
333.1
290.3
342.2
334.4
294.6
342 2
334.5
295.0
342.2
335.2
296.1
348.8
336.2
296.8
348.8
336.4
298.6
348 8
338.0
310.6
347.5
339.2
299 8
350.6
'338.9
'299 9
350.7
337.3
300.4
354.7
339.2
300.6
351.9
341.4
301.4
352 2
342.5
302.3
1 Data for September 1983 have been revised to reflect the availability of late reports and corrections
by respondents. All data are subject to revision 4 months after original publication.
26.
r = revised.
Producer Price Indexes, by durability of product
[1967 = 100]
C o m m o d it y g ro u p in g
1983
Annual
a ve ra g e
1984
1982
Ja n .
Feb .
M ar.
Ap r.
M ay
Ju n e
Ju ly
A u g.
S ept.
Oct.
N o v.
D ec.
Ja n .
Total durable goods .........................................................................
Total nondurable goods ..................................................................
286.7
315.8
282.6
313.3
284 8
313.4
284 6
313.0
285.3
312 4
286 0
313.5
286.7
314.5
287.4
315.4
287.8
317.8
'286.8
'319.7
289 2
319 5
289 2
318 3
289.9
318 5
290.7
321 6
Total m anufactures............................................................................
Durable .....................................................................................
Nondurable ...............................................................................
295.7
287.3
304.4
293.5
283.7
303.8
293.9
285.7
302.5
293 2
285.3
301.4
292.7
286.0
299.7
293.7
286.7
301.0
295.0
287.3
303 1
296.1
288.0
304.5
296.9
288 3
305.9
'297.2
'287.2
'307.8
298 8
289 7
308.3
298.4
289 6
307.5
298.7
290.3
307.5
300 0
291.1
309.4
Total raw or slightly processed goods .........................................
Durable .....................................................................................
Nondurable ...............................................................................
339 9
249.6
345.5
330.4
224.2
337.2
335.2
235.4
341.5
337.3
243.3
343.2
340.4
244 1
346.5
340.9
246 1
346.8
339.0
249.4
344.6
338.3
249 9
343.7
343.8
256.8
349.1
'345.9
'260.7
'351 0
343.6
260.6
348.6
341.0
259 4
346.0
342 5
264.1
347 1
348 9
267.7
353.8
1Data for September 1983 have been revised to reflect the availability of late reports and corrections
by respondents. All data are subject to revision 4 months after original publication.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
r = revised.
93
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW March 1984 • Current Labor Statistics: Producer Prices
27.
Producer Price Indexes for the output of selected SIC industries
[1967= 100unlessotherwisespecified]
Annual
1972
SIC
In d u s try d e s c rip tio n
c od e
1983
1984
a ve ra g e
1983
Ja n .
F eb .
M ar.
Ap r.
M ay
Ju n e
J u ly
Aug.
S e p t.1
Oct.
N o v.
O ec.
Ja n .
177.1
269.7
921.7
164.3
177.1
306.2
945.2
153.6
177.1
289.5
931.2
156.3
177.1
285.4
934.4
158.4
177.1
272.9
922.1
164.3
177.1
268.7
921.8
164.3
177.1
254.1
924.2
164.3
177.1
237.5
916.6
164.3
177.1
231.2
915.8
164.3
177.1
243.3
r920.0
164.3
177.1
283.3
908 0
171.7
177.1
287.5
910.2
172.9
177.1
277.0
910.2
172.9
177.1
275.8
915.1
172.9
M IN IN G
1011
1092
1311
1455
Iron ores (12/75 = 1 0 0 ) ...............................................
Mercury ores (12/75 = 100) ......................................
Crude petroleum and natural gas ...............................
Kaolin and ball clay (6/76 = 1 0 0 ) ................................
2021
2044
2067
Creamery b u tte r ...............................................................
Rice m illin g ......................................................................
Chewing g u m ..................................................................
275.8
193.4
326.8
275.5
191.3
326.0
275.6
183.0
326.0
275.6
183.0
326.1
275.6
188.9
326.1
275.6
191.3
326.1
275.6
' 194 5
327.2
275.6
193.7
327.2
276.1
198.1
327.3
278.4
201.1
327.3
278.1
196.7
327.3
278.2
199.6
327.4
269.5
199.6
327.5
267.3
199.6
327 9
2074
2083
2091
2098
Cottonseed oil m ills .........................................................
Malt ..................................................................................
Canned and cured seafoods (12/73 = 100) ............
Macaroni and sp a g h e tti..................................................
204.5
234.1
174.0
256.8
157.5
232.6
182.8
255.5
173.4
232.6
179.2
255.5
167.1
232.6
177.9
255.5
186.8
232.6
177.7
255.5
186.2
232.6
175.7
255.5
179.2
232.6
173.4
255.5
192.4
232.6
173.7
255 5
220 6
232.6
169.4
255.5
r262.9
232.6
169.8
255.5
256.5
232.6
170.2
258.6
233.2
241 6
169.2
261.9
223.3
241.6
169.6
261.9
229.2
241.6
169.0
261.9
2251
2261
2262
2284
2298
Women's hosiery, except socks (12/75 = 100) . . .
Finishing plants, cotton (6/76 = 100) ......................
Finishing plants, synthetics, silk (6/76 = 100) . . . .
Thread mills (6/76 = 1 0 0 ) ............................................
Cordage and twine (12/77 = 100) ............................
122.5
135.3
126.6
164.9
139.3
118.3
135.3
125.7
157.9
142.6
118.5
136.0
126.7
161.9
142.7
122.6
136.1
126.2
165 6
142.8
122.7
139.8
127 2
165.7
137.6
122.7
138.0
126.9
165.7
137.6
122.7
132.9
125.9
165.7
137.6
122 7
132.8
125.1
165.7
137.6
122 9
133 8
127.2
165.7
137.6
r122.9
133.5
125.8
166.1
139.0
r122.9
134.2
127.2
166.1
139.0
123.0
134.0
127.3
166.1
139.0
123.0
137.1
127.4
166.1
139.0
123.1
138.5
128.8
166.1
139.1
2361
2381
Children’s dresses and blouses (12/77 = 100) . . . .
Fabric dress and work gloves ......................................
116.6
293.3
117.0
288.8
117.0
288.8
115.5
288.8
115.5
291.0
115.5
291.7
117.0
291.7
117.0
296.3
117.0
296.3
117.0
296.3
117.0
296.3
117.0
296 3
117.0
297.6
118.2
295.2
2394
2448
2521
Canvas and related products (12/77 = 1 0 0 ) .............
Wood pallets and skids (12/75 = 1 0 0 ) ......................
Wood office fu rn itu re ......................................................
147.2
149.2
281 6
148.7
144.6
271.4
148.7
145.2
273.4
146.2
145.7
279.6
146.2
146.9
282.5
146 2
148.5
282.5
146.2
149.5
282.5
146.2
150.9
283.5
146.2
151.3
283 6
r146.2
r151.0
r283.6
148.5
151.4
284.7
148 5
151.9
284.7
148.5
153.6
284.7
151.3
154.0
286.3
2654
2655
2911
2952
Sanitary food containers ...............................................
Fiber cans, drums, and similar products (12/75 = 100)
Petroleum refining (6/76 = 100) ...............................
Asphalt felts and coating (12/75 = 100) ...................
266.6
186.5
254.1
166.5
261.7
183.8
267.2
171.4
261.7
183.8
257.4
165.8
265 1
183.8
250 4
163.2
265.2
185.6
240.6
166.9
265.2
185.6
246.0
165.1
265.2
185.9
254 0
164.9
267.1
187.7
255.4
167.4
267.1
187.7
257.2
166.4
r267.8
187.7
r256 8
r168.0
270.6
187 8
258.0
167.1
270.6
189.5
254.5
167.0
270.6
189.5
251 0
165.5
270.6
189.6
245 5
165.9
3251
3253
3255
3259
Brick and structural clay t i l e .........................................
Ceramic wall and floor tile (12/75 = 100) ................
Clay refractories...............................................................
Structural clay products, n.e.c........................................
332.6
145.1
356.1
230.4
315.7
140.7
351.1
219 0
315.6
140.7
351.1
215.7
328.3
140.7
351 2
215 7
332.2
140.7
352.2
232.7
333.8
142.4
352.2
234 7
334.6
149.6
349.4
234.7
336.4
149 6
352.1
234 8
336 4
149.6
354.4
234.9
r336.4
r149 6
r355 9
r234 9
339 5
146.8
366 0
235.7
340.8
146 8
368 6
235.7
341.0
146.8
368 6
235.7
341.3
146.8
369.3
235.6
3261
3263
3269
3274
Vitreous plumbing fix tu r e s ............................................
Fine earthenware food u te n s ils ......................................
Pottery products, n.e.c. (12/75 = 100) ...................
Lime (12/75 = 100) ......................................................
278.1
365.8
186.2
185.8
272.1
365 7
186.5
187.3
273.3
365.7
186.6
185.5
275.1
365.7
186.6
185.1
275.3
365.7
186.6
187.8
276.1
365.9
186.6
185.2
276 9
366.5
186.6
186.2
277.0
366 5
186.6
187.1
277 0
366.5
186.6
187.6
281.3
r366.5
r186.6
r186.3
283.7
364.3
183 8
186.2
284 5
366 2
187.0
182 6
285.4
366.2
187.0
182.8
285.6
375.9
188 7
183.0
3297
3482
3623
Nonclay refractories (12/74 = 1 0 0 ) ............................
Small arms ammunition (12/75 = 1 0 0 )......................
Welding apparatus, electric (12/72 = 1 0 0 ) ................
205.3
182.5
241 9
203.7
175.1
243.6
203.6
175.1
244.0
203.6
181.6
243.4
203.8
181.6
243.3
203.6
181.6
243.1
203.6
181.6
242.3
203.7
181.6
243 5
203.8
181.6
243.5
203.8
r181.6
r243.6
204.0
187.6
238.7
212.9
187.6
239 0
212.9
187.6
239.7
213.1
196 6
241.0
3648
3671
3942
Lighting equipment, n.e.c. (12/75 = 1 0 0 ) ................
Electron tubes, receiving type ......................................
Dolls (12/75 = 1 0 0 ) ......................................................
172.8
435.4
137.4
171.4
431.6
137.1
171.5
432.0
136 8
171.6
431.9
136.8
172.6
432 1
137.7
172.6
432.1
137.7
173.1
432.2
137.7
173.4
432 5
137.7
173.4
432.5
137.7
r173.5
r432.8
r137.7
173.7
432.9
137.3
173.9
432.8
137.3
172.6
469 8
137.3
173.5
490.4
137 2
3944
3955
3995
3996
Games, toys, and children's vehicles .........................
Carbon paper and inked ribbons (12/75 = 100) . . .
Burial caskets (6/76 = 1 0 0 ) ......................................
Hard surface floor coverings (12/75 = 1 0 0 ) .............
237.3
139.2
153.5
161.3
235.3
139.2
147.0
159.2
243.4
139.2
152.1
159.2
241 8
139.2
152.1
159.2
242.2
139.2
152.1
159.7
242.2
139.2
152.1
159.6
242 2
139.2
152.1
159 6
236 1
139.2
155.4
162.2
236.2
139.2
155.4
163.4
r236.3
139 2
155.4
163.5
232.1
139.3
156.0
163.5
231.9
139 3
156 0
163.5
232.0
139.3
156.0
163 5
235.4
144.3
156,0
165.2
M A N U F A C T U R IN G
1 Data for September 1983 have been revised to reflect the availability of late reports and corrections
by respondents. All data are subject to revision 4 months after original publication.
94
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
r = revised,
NOTE: Indexes which were deleted may now be found in Table 4 of the BLS monthly report. P ro d u c e r
P ric e s a n d P ric e Indexes.
PRODUCTIVITY DATA
are compiled by the Bureau of Labor Statistics
from establishment data and from estimates of compensation and
output supplied by the U.S. Department of Commerce and the
Federal Reserve Board.
P r o d u c t iv it y d a t a
the components of unit nonlabor payments except unit profits. Unit profits
include corporate profits and inventory valuation adjustments per unit of
output.
The implicit price deflator is derived by dividing the current dollar
estimate of gross product by the constant dollar estimate, making the
Definitions
deflator, in effect, a price index for gross product of the sector reported.
Output is the constant dollar gross domestic product produced in a given
period. Indexes o f output per hour of labor input, or labor productivity,
Hours of all persons describes the labor input of payroll workers, self-
measure the value o f goods and services produced per hour of labor.
employed persons, and unpaid family workers. Output per all employee
Compensation per hour includes wages and salaries of employees plus
hour describes labor productivity in nonfinancial corporations where there
employers’ contributions for social insurance and private benefit plans.
are no self-employed.
The data also include an estimate of wages, salaries, and supplementary
payments for the self-employed, except for nonfinancial corporations, in
which there are no self-employed. Real compensation per hour is com
pensation per hour adjusted by the Consumer Price Index for All Urban
Consumers.
Unit labor cost measures the labor compensation cost required to pro
duce one unit o f output and is derived by dividing compensation by output.
Unit nonlabor payments include profits, depreciation, interest, and in
direct taxes per unit o f output. They are computed by subtracting com
pensation o f all persons from the current dollar gross domestic product
and dividing by output. In these tables, unit nonlabor costs contain all
28.
Notes on the data
In the business sector and the nonfarm business sector, the basis for the
output measure employed in the computation of output per hour is Gross
Domestic Product rather than Gross National Product. Computation of
hours includes estimates of nonfarm and farm proprietor hours.
Output data are supplied by the Bureau of Economic Analysis, U.S.
Department of Commerce, and the Federal Reserve Board. Quarterly man
ufacturing output indexes are adjusted by the Bureau of Labor Statistics
to annual estimates of output (gross product originating) from the Bureau
of Economic Analysis. Compensation and hours data are from the Bureau
of Economic Analysis and the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Annual indexes of productivity, hourly compensation, unit costs, and prices, selected years, 1950-83
[1977 = 100]
Item
Business sector:
Output per hour of all p e rs o n s ............................
Compensation per h o u r .........................................
Real compensation per hour ...............................
Unit labor c o s t s ......................................................
Unit nonlabor paym ents.........................................
Im plicit price d e fla to r ............................................
Nonfarm business sector:
Output per hour of all p e rs o n s ............................
Compensation per h o u r .........................................
Real compensation per hour ...............................
Unit labor c o s t s ......................................................
Unit nonlabor paym ents.........................................
Im plicit price d e fla to r ............................................
Nonfinance corporations:
Output per hour of all p e rs o n s ............................
Compensation per h o u r .........................................
Real compensation per hour ................................
Unit labor c o s t s ......................................................
Unit nonlabor paym ents.........................................
Implicit price d e fla to r ............................................
Manufacturing:
Output per hour of all p e rs o n s ............................
Compensation per h o u r .........................................
Real compensation per hour ................................
Unit labor c o s t s ......................................................
Unit nonlabor paym ents.........................................
Implicit price d e fla to r ............................................
1950
1955
1960
1965
1970
1975
1976
1978
1979
1980
1981
1982
19839
50.4
20.0
50.5
39.8
43.4
41.0
58.3
26.4
59.6
45.2
47.6
46.0
65.2
33.9
69.5
52.1
50.6
51.6
78.3
41.7
80.1
53.3
57.6
54.7
86.2
58.2
90.8
67.5
63.2
66.0
94.5
85.5
96.3
90.5
90.4
90.4
97.6
92 9
98.9
95.1
94.0
94.7
100.6
108 6
100.9
108.0
106.7
107.5
99 4
118.7
99.1
119.5
112.8
117.2
98.9
131.2
96.5
132 7
119.0
128.1
101.3
143.9
95.9
142.1
136.2
140.1
101.2
155.1
97.4
153.3
136.9
147.7
103 8
163.1
99 2
157.1
145.6
153.2
56.3
21.8
55.0
38.8
42.7
40.1
62.7
28.3
64.0
45.1
47.8
46.0
68.3
35.7
73.0
52.3
50.4
51.6
80.5
42.8
82.2
53.2
58.0
54.8
86.8
58.7
91.5
67.6
63.8
66 3
94.7
86.0
96.8
90.8
88.5
90.0
97.8
93.0
99.0
95.1
93.5
94.6
100.6
108.6
100.9
108.0
105.3
107.1
99.1
118.4
98 9
119.5
110.4
116.5
98 4
130.7
96.1
132 8
118.5
128.1
100.3
143.5
95.6
143.0
135.0
140.4
100.2
154.7
97.1
154.4
137.0
148.6
103.4
163.5
99 4
158.1
146.1
154.1
(1)
(1)
(1>
(1)
<1>
(1)
<1)
<1)
<1)
(1)
<1)
<1)
68.0
37.0
75.8
54.4
54 6
54.5
81.9
43.9
84.3
53.5
60.8
56.1
87.4
59.4
92 7
68.0
63.1
66 3
95.5
86.1
96.9
90.2
90.8
90.4
98.2
92 9
98.9
94.6
95.0
94.7
100 9
108.5
100.7
107.5
104 2
106 4
100.7
118.7
99.1
117.8
106.9
114.1
99 8
130.9
96 3
131.2
117.4
126.4
102.3
143.6
95.7
140.3
134.4
138 3
102.8
154.8
97 2
150 6
137.6
146.1
(1)
(1)
<1>
<1)
<1>
<1)
49.4
21.5
54.0
43.4
54.3
46.6
56.4
28.8
65.1
C51.0
58.5
53.2
60.0
36.7
75.1
61.1
61.1
61.1
74.5
42.8
82.3
57.5
69.3
61.0
79.1
57.6
89 8
72.7
65.0
70.5
93.4
85.4
96 2
91.5
87.3
90 3
97.5
92.3
98.3
94.6
93.7
94 4
100.8
108 3
100 6
107.4
102 5
106.0
101.5
118.8
99 2
117.0
99.9
112.0
101.7
132.7
97.6
130.5
97.7
120.9
105 3
145.8
97.2
138.5
110.2
130.2
106 5
158.2
99 3
148.5
109 2
137.0
113.6
167.1
101.6
147.1
<1)
(1)
1 Not available.
c - corrected.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
p = preliminary.
95
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW March 1984 • Current Labor Statistics: Productivity
29.
Annual changes in productivity, hourly compensation, unit costs, and prices, 1972-83
A n n u a l rate
Year
of change
Item
Business sector:
Output per hour of all persons ................
Compensation per h o u r ............................
Real compensation per hour ...................
Unit labor costs .........................................
Unit nonlabor p a y m e n ts ............................
Implicit price deflator ................................
Nonfarm business sector:
Output per hour of all persons ................
Compensation per h o u r ............................
Real compensation per hour ...................
Unit labor costs .........................................
Unit nonlabor p a y m e n ts ............................
Im plicit price deflator ...............................
Nonfinanclal corporations:
Output per hour of all em ployees.............
Compensation per h o u r ............................
Real compensation per hour ...................
Unit labor costs .........................................
Unit nonlabor p a ym e n ts............................
Im plicit price deflator ................................
Manufacturing:
Output per hour of all persons ................
Compensation per h o u r ............................
Real compensation per hour ...................
Unit labor costs .........................................
Unit nonlabor p a y m e n ts ............................
Im plicit price deflator ................................
1973
1974
1975
1976
1977
1978
1979
1980
1981
1982
19839
2.6
8.0
1.6
5.3
5.9
5.5
- 2 .4
9.4
- 1 .4
12.1
4.4
9.5
2.2
9.6
0.5
7.3
15.1
9.8
3.3
8.6
2.6
5.1
4.0
4.7
2.4
7.7
1.2
5.1
6.4
5.6
0.6
8.6
0.9
8.0
6.7
7.5
- 1 .2
9.4
- 1 .7
10.7
5.8
9.0
-0 .5
10.5
-2 .6
11.1
5.5
9.2
2.4
9.7
- 0 .6
7.1
14.4
9.4
- 0 .1
7.7
1.5
7.9
0.5
5.4
2.4
7.6
1.3
5.0
1.3
3.8
- 2 .5
9.4
- 1 .4
12.2
5.9
10.2
2.0
9.6
0.4
7.5
16.7
10.3
3.2
8.1
2.2
4.8
5.7
5.1
2.2
7.5
1.0
5.2
6.9
5.7
0.6
8.6
0.9
8.0
5.3
7.1
- 1 .5
9.0
-2 .0
10.7
4.8
8.8
-0 .7
10.4
-2 .8
11.1
7.4
10.0
1.9
9.8
-0 .6
7.7
13.9
9.6
2.4
7.5
1.2
4.9
1.5
3.8
- 3 .7
9.4
- 1 .5
13.6
7.1
11.4
2.9
9.6
0.4
6.5
20.1
10.9
2.9
7.9
2.0
4.9
4.6
4.8
1.8
7.6
1.1
5.7
5.3
5.6
0.9
8.5
0.7
7.5
4.2
6.4
- 0 .2
9.4
- 1 .7
9.6
2.6
7.2
-0 .9
10.3
-2 .8
11.3
9.8
10.8
5.4
7.2
0.9
1.7
- 3 .3
0.3
-2 .4
10.6
- 0 .3
13.3
- 1 .8
9.0
2.0
11.9
2.5
8.8
25.9
13.1
4.4
8.0
2.1
3.4
7.4
4.6
2.5
8.3
1.8
5.7
6.7
6.0
0.8
8.3
0.6
7.4
2.5
6.0
0.7
9.7
- 1 .4
9.0
- 2 .6
5.7
0.2
11.7
- 1 .6
11.5
- 2 .2
7.9
1 Not available.
30.
1950-839
1972-839
2.6
5.2
1.9
2.5
6.4
3.7
2.2
6.6
2.1
4.3
3.7
4.1
0.9
8.6
0.3
7.4
6.6
7.2
- 0 .1
7.8
1.6
7.9
1.4
5.8
3.1
5.6
2.3
2.4
6.7
3.7
1.9
6.3
1.8
4.3
3.8
4.2
1.0
8.6
0.2
7.5
2.5
9.7
-0 .6
7.0
14.5
9.4
0.5
7.8
1.6
7.3
2.4
5.7
<1)
<1>
(1)
(1)
(1)
<1)
(1)
(1)
<1)
<1)
(1)
<1)
<1)
(1)
(1)
(1)
(1)
(1)
3.5
9.9
- 0 .4
6.1
12.8
1.2
8.5
6.6
5.6
2.3
- 0 .9
(1)
C)
2.6
6.4
1.9
3.8
2.2
3.4
2.3
9.1
0.8
6.6
4.1
6.5
2.2
7.2
-0 .9
5.2
7.7
6 .8
7.6
p = preliminary.
Quarterly indexes of productivity, hourly compensation, unit costs, and prices, seasonally adjusted
[1977= 100]
Business sector:
Output per hour of all persons .........................
Compensation per hour ......................................
Real compensation per h o u r ................................
Unit labor c o s ts ......................................................
Unit nonlabor payments ......................................
Im plicit price d e fla to r............................................
Nonfarm business sector:
Output per hour of all persons .........................
Compensation per hour ......................................
Real compensation per h o u r ................................
Unit labor c o s ts ......................................................
Unit nonlabor payments ......................................
Implicit price d e fla to r............................................
Nonfinancial corporations:
Output per hour of all e m p lo y e e s ......................
Compensation per hour ......................................
Real compensation per h o u r ................................
Total unit c o s ts ......................................................
Unit labor c o s ts ............................................
Unit nonlabor c o s ts ......................................
Unit profits .........................................................
Implicit price d e fla to r............................................
Manufacturing:
Output per hour of all persons .........................
Compensation per hour ......................................
Real compensation per h o u r ...............................
Unit labor c o s ts ......................................................
1Not available.
96
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Q u a rte rly in d e xe s
Annual
a ve ra g e
Item
1981
1982
1983
1982
1983
101.2
155.1
97.4
153.3
136.9
147.7
103.8
163.1
99.2
157.1
145.6
153.2
101.1
142.2
96.1
140.7
133.4
138 2
102.3
145.5
95.6
142.3
139.9
141.5
101.2
148.2
95.6
146.4
140.2
144.3
101.1
151.6
97.1
149.9
137.0
145.5
100.7
153 9
97.4
152.9
137.0
147.5
101.1
156 5
97.1
154.7
136.3
148.5
101.9
158.7
98 0
155 6
137.4
149.4
100.2
154.7
97.1
154.4
137.0
148.6
103 4
163.5
99 4
158.1
146.1
154.1
100.1
141.8
95.8
141.6
132.2
138.4
101.1
145.1
95.3
143.5
138.3
141.8
99.9
147.7
95.4
147.8
139.5
145.0
100.0
151.3
96.9
151.3
136.4
146.4
99.9
153.5
97.1
153.6
137.7
148.3
100.4
156.1
96.9
155.4
136 5
149.1
102 8
154.8
97.2
153.5
150.6
161.8
88.9
146.1
(1)
(1)
(1)
(1)
<1)
(1)
<1)
<1)
102.1
142 0
95 9
141.1
139.0
147.0
100.3
136 4
103.0
145 0
95.2
143.6
140.7
151.9
108.6
139 6
102.2
147.8
95.4
147.7
144.6
156.6
104.2
142.7
102.4
151.7
97.2
150.9
148.1
158.9
90 8
144.0
102.3
153.7
97.2
153.1
150.2
161.2
90.3
145.9
106.5
158.2
99.3
148.5
113.6
167.1
101.6
147.1
105.4
144.3
97 5
136 9
106.1
147 0
96.5
138.5
104.4
150.5
97.1
144.1
105.1
155.1
99.4
147.6
105.3
157.1
99.4
149.1
'
II
III
IV
1
II
III
IV
I
II
III
102 5
160.7
99.4
156.9
140.8
151.5
M03.9
162.1
99.2
r156.0
r145.7
r152 5
r104 2
r163.6
r98 9
156.9
r147 6
r153.8
104 8
166.4
99.5
158 8
148.1
155.2
100.8
158.3
97.8
157.1
137.2
150.5
101.7
161.0
99 5
158 3
140.7
152.4
r103 5
162.7
99.6
r157.2
r145.7
r153 4
r104.0
r164 2
r99 3
r157.8
r148 3
r154.7
104.3
166.0
99.3
159.2
149.4
155 9
103.2
156.1
96.9
153.8
151.1
161.3
91.2
146 6
103.4
158.1
97.7
156.3
152.9
165 9
83.0
147.9
104.3
160.4
99.2
156.7
153.9
164.7
96.1
149.7
105 9
161.6
98.9
155.3
152.5
163.1
115.0
150.7
r107.0
162 .8
r98.5
154 .5
152.1
r161.2
r131.5
r151 8
(1)
<1)
(1)
(1)
(1)
(1)
(1)
(1)
107 8
159.6
99.1
148.1
108.1
161.4
99.7
149.3
110.2
165.5
102.3
150.2
112.6
166.4
101.8
147.8
r115.9
167 .5
101.3
r144.5
117 5
169 0
101 0
143.8
IVP
31. Percent change from preceding quarter and year in productivity, hourly compensation, unit costs, and prices,
seasonally adjusted at annual rate
Q u a rte rly p erc en t c h a n g e at a n n u a l rate
Item
Business sector:
Output per hour of all p e rso 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 d e fla to r...................................
Nonfarm business sector:
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 d e fla to r...................................
Nonfinancial corporations:
Output per hour of all employees ............
Compensation per h o u r................................
Real compensation per h o u r ......................
Total units costs .........................................
Unit labor costs ......................................
Unit nonlabor costs ...............................
Unit profits ..................................................
Implicit price d e fla to r..................................
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 c o s ts ............................................
P e rc e n t c h a n g e Iro m t a m e q u a rte r a y e a r a g o
I 1 1982
III 1982
IV 1982
11983
I 1 1983
III 1982
III 1981
IV 1981
11982
I1 1982
III 1982
to
to
to
to
to
to
to
to
to
to
to
to
III 1982
IV 1982
1 1983
I 1 1983
III 1983
IV 1983P
III 1982
IV 1982
11983
I 1 1983
III 1983
IV 1983P
IV 1982
1.7
6.7
-1 .0
5.0
-2 .0
2.7
3.3
5.7
3.7
2.3
3.2
2.6
2.0
5.4
5.8
3.3
10.5
5.5
r5.9
3.5
-0 .7
r - 2 .2
r14.4
r2.8
M.2
r3 6
M.1
r2.3
5.4
3.3
2.2
7.1
2.2
4.8
1.5
3.7
- 1 .1
7.5
1.6
8.7
- 2 .6
4.9
0.7
7.1
2.5
6.3
- 2 .0
3.5
1.3
6.1
2.4
4.7
2.8
4.1
3.1
5.3
1.9
r2.1
r6.3
r3.4
r3.1
r4.5
r1.9
1.4
r8.3
r3.6
2.8
4.9
1.5
2.0
7.9
3.8
2.3
7.2
- 0 .6
4.7
-3 .4
2.2
1.3
5.8
3.7
4.4
2.0
3.7
3.7
6.8
7.2
3.0
10.6
5.3
7 .1
4.3
0.1
r - 2 .6
r15.2
r2.7
r2.3
r3 8
r - 0 .9
r1.5
7 .3
r3.3
1.0
4.5
- 0 .2
3.5
2.9
3.3
- 0 .6
7.6
1.7
8.3
- 1 .3
5.2
0.8
7.2
2.6
6.3
- 1 .6
3.7
1.7
6.4
2.7
4.6
3.1
4.1
r3.6
6.0
2.6
r2.3
r5.9
r3.4
3.6
r5.2
r2.5
r1.5
r8.7
3.7
3.5
4.9
1.5
1.3
8.9
3.6
3.8
6.4
- 1 .3
1.8
2.4
0.1
3.8
1.9
0.6
5.4
3.4
6.7
4.8
11.9
-3 1 .4
3.6
3.4
6.0
6.4
1.0
2.5
- 2 .8
79 9
5.1
6.5
2.9
- 1 .2
- 3 .5
- 3 .4
- 3 .8
104.7
2.5
r4.2
r3 0
r - 1 .7
r - 2 .1
r -1 .1
r - 4 .7
7 1 .0
r3.1
(1>
(1)
<1)
<1)
(1)
(1)
(1)
(1)
0.2
7.6
1.7
7.1
7.4
6.2
-1 6 .1
5.0
1.2
7.0
2.4
5.8
5.7
6.0
- 20.3
3.6
1.8
5.8
2.1
3.8
3.9
3.7
5.8
4.0
3.6
5.2
1.7
1.4
1.5
1.2
27.3
3.3
r3.7
r4.3
r1.7
0.4
0.6
r - 0 .1
r44.2
r3.6
(1>
(1)
(1)
9.6
6.5
- 1 .2
- 2 .8
1.2
4.5
2.5
3.3
8.0
10.7
11.1
2.5
9.0
2.1
- 2 .1
- 6 .4
r12.2
r - 2 .7
7 .9
r-8 4
5.7
3.6
- 1 .2
- 2 .0
1.6
8.6
2.6
6.9
3.5
7.3
2.7
-3 .6
4.8
6.7
3.0
1.8
6.9
5.9
2.5
-0 .9
4.9
r2.3
r - 2 .4
'7 . 5
0)
0)
0)
(1)
(1)
8.7
4.7
1.3
- 3 .7
1Not available.
r = revised.
https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
p = preliminary
97
WAGE AND COMPENSATION DATA
D a t a f o r t h e e m p l o y m e n t c o s t i n d e x are reported to the Bureau
of Labor Statistics by a sample of 2,000 private nonfarm estab
lishments and 750 State and local government units selected to
represent total employment in those sectors. On average, each
reporting unit provides wage and compensation information on
five well-specified occupations.
Data on negotiated wage and benefit changes are obtained from
contracts on file at the Bureau, direct contact with the parties, and
secondary sources.
Definitions
The Employment Cost Index (ECI) is a quarterly measure of the average
change in the cost o f employing labor. The rate of total compensation,
which comprises wages, salaries, and employer costs for employee ben
efits, is collected for workers performing specified tasks. Employment in
each occupation is held constant over time for all series produced in the
ECI, except those by region, bargaining status, and area. As a consequence,
only changes in compensation are measured. Industry and occupational
employment data from the 1970 Census of Population are used in deriving
constant weights for the ECI. While holding total industry and occupational
employment fixed, in the estimation of indexes by region, bargaining
status, and area, the employment in those measures is allowed to vary over
time in accord with changes in the sample. The rate of change (in percent)
is available for wages and salaries, as well as for total compensation. Data
are collected for the pay period including the 12th day of the survey months
o f March, June, September, and December. The statistics are neither an
nualized nor adjusted for seasonal influence.
Wages and salaries consist of earnings before payroll deductions, ex
cluding premium pay for overtime, work on weekends and holidays, and
shift differentials. Production bonuses, incentive earnings, commissions,
and cost-of-living adjustments are included; nonproduction bonuses are
included with other supplemental pay items in the benefits category; and
payments-in-kind, free room and board, and tips are excluded. Benefits
include supplemental pay, insurance, retirement and savings plans, and
hours-related and legally required benefits.
Data on negotiated wage changes apply to private nonfarm industry
collective bargaining agreements covering 1,000 workers or more. Data
on compensation changes apply only to those agreements covering 5,000
workers or more. First-year wage or compensation changes refer to average
negotiated changes for workers covered by settlements reached in the period
98
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
and implemented within the first 12 months after the effective date of the
agreement. Changes over the life of the agreement refer to all adjustments
specified in the contract, expressed as an average annual rate. These meas
ures exclude wage changes that may occur under cost-of-living adjustment
clauses, that are triggered by movements in the Consumer Price Index.
Wage-rate changes are expressed as a percent of straight-time hourly earn
ings; compensation changes are expressed as a percent of total wages and
benefits.
Effective wage adjustments reflect all negotiated changes implemented
in the reference period, regardless of the settlement date. They include
changes from settlements reached during the period, changes deferred from
contracts negotiated in an earlier period, and cost-of-living adjustments.
The data also reflect contracts providing for no wage adjustment in the
period. Effective adjustments and each of their components are prorated
over all workers in bargaining units with at least 1,000 workers.
Notes on the data
The Employment Cost Index data series began in the fourth quarter of
1975, with the quarterly percent change in wages and salaries in the private
nonfarm sector. Data on employer costs for employee benefits were in
cluded in 1980, to produce a measure of the percent change in employers’
cost for em ployees’ total compensation. State and local government units
were added to the ECI coverage in 1981, providing a measure of total
compensation change in the civilian nonfarm economy.
Data for the broad white-collar, blue-collar, and service worker groups,
and the manufacturing, nonmanufacturing, and service industry groups are
presented in the ECI. Additional occupation and industry detail are pro
vided for the wages and salaries component of total compensation in the
private nonfarm sector. For State and local government units, additional
industry detail is shown for both total compensation and its wages and
salaries component.
Historical indexes (June 1981 = 100) of the quarterly rates of changes
presented in the ECI are also available.
For a more detailed discussion of the ECI. see chapter 11. “ The Em
ployment Cost Index,” of the BLS Handbook of Methods (Bulletin 2 1 3 4 1), and the Monthly Labor Review articles: “ Employment Cost Index; a
measure of change in the ’price of labor.” ' July 1975: "How benefits will
be incorporated into the Employment Cost Index.” January 1978: and
"The Employment Cost Index: recent trends and expansion." May 1982.
Additional data for the ECI and other measures of wage and compen
sation changes appear in Current Wage Developments, a monthly publi
cation of the Bureau.
32.
Employment Cost Index, by occupation and industry group
[June 1981= 100]
P e rc e n t c h a n ge
S e rie s
1981
1982
D ec.
M arch
104.5
1983
Ju n e
Sept.
D ec.
M arch
Ju n e
Sep t.
D ec.
3 m o n th s
12 m o n th s
ended
ended
D e c e m b e r 1983
106.3
107.5
110.1
111.4
113.2
114.5
116.5
117.8
Workers, by occupational group
White-collar w o rk e rs ...............................................................................
Blue-collar workers ...............................................................................
Service workers .....................................................................................
Workers, by industry division
Manufacturing .........................................................................................
N onm anufacturing..................................................................................
S e rv ic e s ...............................................................................................
Public administration2 .....................................................................
104.9
104.1
104.2
106.5
105.7
107.2
107.7
107.1
108.3
110.8
110.7
109.2
111.9
110.5
112,4
113.7
112.3
114.3
114.9
113.6
115.1
117.6
114.8
116.7
118.9
115.8
119.1
104.0
104.8
107.1
106.0
106 0
106.4
108.2
108.1
107.2
107.7
109.2
109.1
109.3
110.5
113.5
110.4
112.8
115.0
113.6
112.5
113.5
116.6
116.2
113.5
114.9
117.1
117.0
121.1
119.8
121.4
1.3
6.9
P riva te in d u s try w o rk e rs
104.0
105.8
107.2
109.3
110.7
113.9
115.6
117.0
105.8
105.6
106.7
107.2
107.0
107.9
109.5
109.0
109.6
110.8
110.3
111.8
114.2
113.5
114.6
116.5
114.6
115.1
117.9
115.7
117.9
1.2
1.2
1.0
5.7
104.0
104.0
103.1
112.6
112.8
112.1
2.4
104.0
103.9
106.0
105.7
107.2
107.1
109.3
109 3
110.8
112.6
113.5
114.2
115.0
116.0
116.0
117.5
9
1.3
122.0
122.6
1.0
C iv ilia n w o rk e r s 1 ........................................................................................................
Workers, by occupational group
White-collar workers .........................................................................
Blue-collar workers ............................................................................
Service w o rk e rs ..................................................................................
Workers, by industry division
M anu facturing.....................................................................................
Nonm anufacturing...............................................................................
S ta te a n d lo c a l g o v e r n m e n t w o rk e rs
Workers, by occupational group
White-collar workers .........................................................................
Blue-collar workers ........................................................................
Workers, by industry division
S e rv ic e s ...............................................................................................
S c h o o ls ............................................................................................
Elementary and secondary ......................................................
Hospitals and other services3 .....................................................
Public administration2 .....................................................................
1 Excludes farm, household, and Federal workers.
C o n s ists of legislative, judicial, administrative, and regulatory activities.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
111.8
110.4
113.8
112.5
115.0
117.2
107 4
108.8
109 3
114.3
115.1
116.5
117.1
120.8
107.8
105.9
109.1
108.2
109 5
108 9
114.9
112.7
115.8
113.0
117.0
114.9
117.5
115.8
121.5
118.0
107.9
107.9
108.3
107.8
106.0
109.0
108.9
109.3
109.5
108.1
109 4
109.1
109 5
110.3
109.1
114.9
114.8
115.6
115.3
115.9
115.8
116.6
116.0
113.6
116.8
116.6
117.2
117.5
116.2
117.4
116.9
117.4
118.8
117.0
121.7
121.9
123.3
119 8
112.8
121.1
116.0
118.6
122.6
1.1
1.1
.9
2.1
.9
1.2
1.2
5.7
6.3
4.8
6.0
5.1
6.1
6.6
6.4
4.9
5.5
5.1
6.0
6.0
.9
5.9
5.5
.7
5.8
5.9
6.3
5.7
6.9
119.2
1.0
123.9
122.6
122.6
122.6
6
1.2
121.4
1.3
.5
^Includes, for example, library, social, and health services
99
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW March 1984 • Current Labor Statistics: Wage and Compensation Data
33.
Employment Cost Index, wages and salaries, by occupation and industry group
[June 1981=100]
P e rc e n t c h a n g e
S e rie s
1983
1982
1981
3 m o n th s
12 m o n th s
ended
ended
D ec.
M arch
Ju n e
Sep t.
D ec .
M arch
Ju n e
Sep t.
D ec.
C iv ilia n w o r k e r s 1 ........................................................................................................
104.4
106.3
107.3
109.7
110.9
112.2
113.4
115.3
116.5
1.0
5.0
Workers, by occupational group
White-collar w o rk e rs ...............................................................................
Blue-collar workers ...............................................................................
Service workers .....................................................................................
104.7
104.0
103.6
106.7
105.5
106.8
107.6
106.7
107.9
110.4
108.6
111.4
109.8
114.2
110.1
116.7
113.1
115.1
117.9
114.0
117.4
1.0
.8
2.0
5.8
3.8
5.0
Workers, by industry division
Manufacturing .........................................................................................
N onm anufacturing..................................................................................
S e rv ic e s ...............................................................................................
Public administration2 .....................................................................
104.0
104.5
106.6
105.5
105.9
106.5
108.6
107.5
107.0
107.5
109.5
108.4
113.3
116.1
4.3
5.5
P riv a te in d u s try w o r k e r s ......................................................................................
103.8
105.9
107.1
103.9
105.5
106.2
108.0
105.8
107.3
109.4
107.2
1.1
1.1
1.0
1.0
1.1
1.1
.4
.8
2.6
Workers, by occupational group
White-collar workers .........................................................................
Professional and technical w o r k e r s ............................................
Managers and administrators ......................................................
S a le sw o rke rs..................................................................................
Clerical w o rk e rs ...............................................................................
Blue-collar w o r k e r s ............................................................................
Craft and kindred w o rk e r s ............................................................
Operatives, except tra n s p o rt.........................................................
Transport equipment o p e ra tive s ..................................................
Nonfarm la b o re rs ............................................................................
Service w o rk e rs ..................................................................................
Workers, by industry division
M anu facturing.....................................................................................
Durables............................................................................................
Nondurables ..................................................................................
Nonm anufacturing...............................................................................
Construction ..................................................................................
Transportation and public u tilitie s ...............................................
Wholesale and retail t r a d e ............................................................
Wholesale trade ........................................................................
Retail tr a d e ..................................................................................
Finance, insurance, and real e s ta te ............................................
S e rvic e s............................................................................................
S ta te a n d lo c a l g o v e rn m e n t w o r k e r » .............................................................
Workers, by occupational group
White-collar workers .........................................................................
Blue-collar w o r k e r s ............................................................................
Workers, by Industry division
Services ...............................................................................................
S c h o o ls ............................................................................................
Elementary and secondary .....................................................
Hospitals and other services3 .........................................................
Public administration2 .....................................................................
'Excludes farm, household, and Federal workers.
^Consists of legislative, judicial, administrative, and regulatory activities.
100
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
102.8
108.8
110.1
113.2
111.9
111.8
1Ô9.8
111.3
114.4
112.6
109.0
110.3
109.4
110.6
111.8
108 5
104.5
110.3
108.5
109.6
108.3
106.0
106.5
109.3
112.9
109.3
106.2
113.0
110.8
112.0
113.2
113.9
111.0
112.0
112.7
115.8
114.6
114.0
116.3
115.4
120.1
118.2
114.5
117.4
121.3
119.4
111.6
112.2
114.8
112.0
112.9
114.5
115.8
113.6
115.9
114.0
107.1
114.6
111.9
113.4
115.9
119.9
114.8
108.4
116.7
112.9
114.3
112.3
110.7
117.2
120.4
115.7
101.9
104.2
103.9
104.3
104.1
102.7
103.3
102.7
102.2
101.8
107.0
105.4
106.2
105.4
103.2
104.1
106.7
108.3
106.6
107.6
106.6
104.1
105.1
107.9
104.0
104.5
103.1
103.8
104.3
103.6
102.3
103.4
101.9
102.3
105.8
105.9
106.3
105.3
105.9
105.9
105.7
103.9
106.3
103.0
103.7
108.8
107.0
107.4
106.3
107.1
107.3
106.9
105.8
108.9
104.5
102.4
109.8
110.3
109.1
110.5
109.7
110.0
108.8
109.0
108 5
109.1
109.1
109.5
106.5
109.0
105.5
106.1
112.5
116.0
116.6
115.7
111.5
115 7
109.9
113.5
120.4
107.0
108.2
108.7
113.5
114.0
115.1
115.7
119.2
107.5
105.5
108.5
107.5
108.9
107.9
114.2
111.5
112.0
114.6
115 6
113.3
116.1
114.3
119.8
116.4
107.6
107.7
107.9
107.3
105.5
108.4
108.3
108.7
108.8
107.5
108.8
108.5
108.8
109.5
108.4
114.2
114.2
114.9
114.3
111.9
115.5
115.2
115.6
116.5
114.6
115.9
115.4
115.8
117.7
115.4
119.8
119.9
111.6
109.7
111.2
109.3
106.9
107.8
111.4
111.1
107.2
109.8
106.1
109 0
114.3
114.6
114.5
115.1
114.9
112.6
105.7
113.4
110.7
112.2
110.0
111.1
108.0
109.0
112.9
110.3
109.8
113.5
111.0
111.1
112.0
112.0
111.8
110.9
112.3
113.4
110.4
112.9
108.5
112.1
114.7
110.8
107.2
114.1
109.4
111.8
110.6
111.1
111.2
118.3
113.9
115.4
113.6
D e c e m b e r 1983
1.4
.9
110.8
110.2
112.1
1.0
1.2
-.5
1.2
113.7
116.5
2.5
113.3
112.9
113.9
115.2
114.5
114.4
114.6
116.5
112.9
116.8
112.3
116.5
1.1
.6
1.1
.6
1.0
116.9
121.9
3.0
112.2
121.1
119.7
118.2
in clu d e s, for example, library, social and health services.
110.6
120.0
120.6
116.9
120.6
120.6
121.7
120.6
119.4
1.3
.7
.7
6.0
6.0
5.0
6.0
6.6
5.9
4.7
6.0
3.8
3.8
3.9
3.1
4.0
4.6
4.3
3.7
5.0
5.4
2.9
5.1
4.8
6.1
.6
1.2
6.6
.7
5.3
.7
.4
5.2
4.4
.7
5.2
5.3
5.7
5.0
.6
.5
.8
1.0
4.2
7.2
6.0
34.
Employment Cost Index, private industry workers, by bargaining status, region, and area size
[June 1981 = 100]
P e rc e n t c h a n ge
S e rie s
1981
1982
1983
3 m o n th s
12 m o n th s
ended
ended
D ec .
M arch
Ju n e
S ept.
D ec.
M arch
Ju n e
S ep t.
D ec.
Workers, by bargaining status1
Union ............................................................................................................
Manufacturing .........................................................................................
N onm anufacturing..................................................................................
104.8
104.6
105.0
106.5
106.3
106.8
108.4
108.0
108.7
110.6
111.0
112.3
110.3
111.8
112.8
114.5
114.0
114.9
116.0
114.8
117.1
117.8
116.3
119.2
118.8
117.2
120.4
0.8
.8
1.0
5.8
4.8
6.7
Nonunion .....................................................................................................
Manufacturing .........................................................................................
N onm anufacturing..................................................................................
103.5
103.5
103.5
105.3
105.7
105.2
106.5
106.6
106.4
108 5
108.4
108.6
109.7
109.2
109.9
111.2
111.6
112.8
114.4
113.8
114.7
115.9
114.9
116.4
1.0
1.3
1.5
5.7
5.2
5.9
120.0
1.7
6.3
D e c e m b e r 1983
C O M P E N S A T IO N
111.5
112.3
113.0
Workers, by region1
Northeast .....................................................................................................
South ........................................................................................................
North Central ............................................................................................
W e s t...............................................................................................................
Workers, by area size1
Metropolitan areas .....................................................................................
Other areas ..................................................................................................
110.8
112.9
114.2
112.3
116.0
113.4
117.4
114.5
1.2
1.0
5.9
4.9
112.9
111.4
114.3
114,2
112.3
116.0
116.0
113.7
118.3
116.9
114.8
118.9
0.8
1.0
4.6
3.6
5.5
110.9
110.7
112.2
111.8
113.7
113.0
114.0
115.2
114.2
115.6
1.3
115.3
114.3
.7
1.7
4.6
5.4
4.6
5.8
1.1
1.0
5.2
4.2
104.1
103.2
105.7
106.2
107.2
107.0
109 4
108.6
Workers, by bargaining status1
Union ...........................................................................................................
Manufacturing ........................................................................................
N onm anufacturing..................................................................................
105.0
104.7
105.2
106.5
105.9
107.0
108.1
107.3
108.8
111.1
112.7
Nonunion .....................................................................................................
Manufacturing .........................................................................................
N onm anufacturing..................................................................................
103.2
103.3
103.2
105.6
105.9
105.5
106.5
106.7
106.4
108.3
108.2
108.3
109.5
109.1
109.6
104.4
106.7
107.4
106.1
108.6
109.7
108.8
107.6
110.7
111.5
109.8
108.6
112.0
111.4
1
114.1
107.1
106.8
109.1
108.3
110.5
108.8
110.1
110.9
109.1
W A G E S A N D S A L A R IE S
Workers, by region1
Northeast ............................................................................................
South ...........................................................................................................
North Central ............................................................................................
W e s t.....................................................................................................
103.3
105.1
106.1
105.7
104.7
107.9
Workers by area size1
Metropolitan areas ............................................................................
Other areas ............................................................................................
104.0
103.1
105.9
106.0
102.8
110.3
109.5
111.8
110.8
111.0
112.4
112.0
110
113.6
112.5
111.5
114.9
116.5
116.6
115.7
113.6
118.5
113.2
111.4
114.9
112.3
116.2
113.4
111.9
112.8
.5
1.1
1.4
1.1
1.2
5.2
4.7
5.5
1The indexes are calculated differently from those for the occupation and industry groups. For a
detailed description of the index calculation, see BLS H a n d b o o k o f M e th o d s , Bulletin 1910.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
101
MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW March 1984 • Current Labor Statistics: Wage and Compensation Data
35.
Wage and compensation change, major collective bargaining settlements, 1979 to date
[ I n p e r c e n t]
Q u a rte rly a ve ra g e
6.2
4.7
3.3
4.8
- 1 .6
1.4
2.8
3.4
3.2
5.4
4.5
3.8
4.8
-1 .2
2.2
2.8
2.5
2.7
1.8
5.4
1.7
5.1
3.9
4.1
4.5
-3 .4
.9
1.6
5.0
3.7
9.6
5.6
2.1
6.6
6.1
5.5
4.8
3.6
5.2
3.5
5.4
5.3
1.5
2.3
11.4
11.7
8.6
8.2
6.2
6.3
6.3
5.9
3.4
2.9
.7
2.4
2.1
3.2
3.4
3.0
11.0
5.8
1.2
9.8
7.9
3.8
3.6
2.6
2.8
9.0
5.7
3.0
6.1
7.2
2.8
2.6
0.3
6.6
9.8
7.3
4.3
4.1
13.5
11.3
6.5
6.3
10.4
7.1
10.2
8.3
7.4
6.0
9.5
7.1
Manufacturing:
First year of contract ......................
Annual rate over life of contract. . .
6.9
5.4
7.4
5.4
Nonmanufacturing (excluding
construction):
First year of contract ......................
Annual rate over life of contract. . .
6.2
7.6
9.5
Construction:
First year of contract ......................
Annual rate over life of contract. . .
8.3
III
II
2.6
2.1
2.8
9.0
I
III
1983P
1980
IV
II
IV
1982
1981
1979
1983P
1982
1981
M e a s u re
1
IV
Total compensation changes, covering
5,000 workers or more, all
industries:
First year of contract ......................
Annual rate over life of contract. . .
6.6
1.9
4.5
3.7
4.9
4.3
5.0
3.0
2.7
3.7
3.6
4.4
1.3
3.4
3.5
3.4
3.4
6.0
5.9
4.4
4.8
2.7
1.5
2.9
1.4
2.4
Wage rate changes covering at least
workers, all industries:
1,000
First year of contract ......................
Annual rate over life of contract. . .
8.8
6.6
13.6
11.5
2.1
2.7
1.7
2.8
p = preliminary.
36.
Effective wage adjustments in collective bargaining units covering 1,000 workers or more, 1979 to date
Y e a r an d q u a rte r
Year
M e a s u re
1982
1981
1979
1980
1981
1982
IV
Average percent adjustment (including no change):
All ind u strie s............................................................................
Manufacturing ..................................................................
Nonmanufacturing ............................................................
9.1
9.6
From settlements reached in p e r io d ...................................
Deferred from settlements reached In earlier period . . . .
From cost-of-living c la u s e s ..................................................
3.0
3.0
3.1
3.6
3.5
Total number of workers receiving wage change
(in thousands)1 ..................................................................
—
From settlements reached
in period ............................................................................
Deferred from settlements
reached in earlier p e rio d ..................................................
From cost-of-living cla u s e s ..................................................
Number of workers receiving no adjustments
(in thousands) ..................................................................
1
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
II
1.0
.9
1.1
.2
.6
2.0
1.0
6.8
3.9
5.2
7.9
4.8
1.1
2.5
3.8
3.2
1.7
3.6
1.4
.8
2.5
.6
.4
.4
—
8,648
7,852
6,461
3,225
—
—
2,270
1,907
2,286
604
—
—
—
6,267
4,593
4,846
3,830
3,251
2,268
882
2,179
1,001
—
—
—
145
483
1,315
5,568
8.8
9.7
2.8
The total number of workers who received adjustments does not equal the sum of workers that received
each type of adjustment, because some workers received more than one type of adjustment during the
102
I
9.5
9.4
9.5
9.9
10.2
1983P
1983P
2.6
III
IV
I
II
III
1.2
1.1
1.2
2
.8
.2
IV
1.0
.9
1.2
.6
3
2
2.7
2.4
1.7
2.9
.4
1.4
.5
1.3
2,878
3,423
3,760
3,441
2,880
3.070
2,972
2.777
204
511
620
825
444
550
588
976
1,920
1,594
1,568
2,400
2,251
860
1,970
812
1,945
1,406
1,311
1.310
1,181
1,191
5,457
4,912
4,575
4,895
4,860
4.707
4,804
4.999
1.5
1.9
.6
.3
period,
p = preliminary.
.2
.6
1.3
1.5
1.2
.6
4
.3
0.3
-.5
9
-.2
.4
1
1.3
1.0
1.5
.3
1.0
.1
666
WORK STOPPAGE DATA
W ork stoppages include all known strikes or lockouts involving
1,000 workers or more and lasting a full shift or longer. Data are
based largely on newspaper accounts and cover all workers idle
one shift or more in establishments directly involved in a stoppage.
They do not measure the indirect or secondary effect on other
establishments whose employees are idle owing to material or
service shortages.
37.
Estimates of days idle as a percent of estimated working time
measure only the impact of larger strikes (1,000 workers or more).
Formerly, these estimates measured the impact of strikes involving
6 workers or more; that is, the impact of virtually all strikes. Due
to budget stringencies, collection of data on strikes involving fewer
than 1,000 workers was discontinued with the December 1981
data.
Work stoppages involving 1,000 workers or more, 1947 to date
N u m b e r o f s to p p a g e s
M on th a n d y e a r
1947
1948
1949
1950
B e g in n in g in
In effect
m on th o r y e a r
d u rin g m on th
W o rk e rs in v o lv e d
B e g in n in g in
D a y s id le
In effect
m on th o r y e a r
d u rin g m on th
(in th o u s a n d s )
(in th o u s a n d s )
Num ber
(in th o u s a n d s )
P e rc e n t of
e s tim a te d
w o rk in g tim e
.............................
............................
............................
.............................
270
245
262
424
1,629
1,435
2,537
1,698
25,720
26,127
43,420
30,390
..........
1951
1952 ............................
1953 .............................
1954 .............................
1955 .............................
415
470
437
265
363
1,462
2,746
1,623
1,075
2,055
15,070
48,820
18,130
16,630
21,180
38
.14
.13
.16
1956
1957
1958
1959
1960
.............................
............................
.............................
.............................
.............................
287
279
332
245
222
1,370
887
1,587
1.381
896
26,840
10,340
17,900
60,850
13,260
.07
.13
.43
.09
1961
..........
1962 .............................
1963 .............................
1964 .............................
1965 ............................
195
211
181
246
268
1,031
793
512
1,183
999
10,020
16,220
15,140
1966
1967
1968
1969
1970
............................
.............................
.............................
............................
.............................
321
381
392
412
381
1,300
2,192
1,855
1,576
2,468
16.000
31.320
35,567
29.397
52.761
.16
29
1971
..........
1972 ............................
1973 .............................
1974 .............................
1975 ............................
298
250
317
424
235
2.516
975
1,400
1.796
965
35.538
16.764
16.260
31,809
17,563
19
09
08
.16
09
1976
1977
1978
1979
1980
.............................
.............................
.............................
............................
............................
231
298
219
235
187
1,212
1.021
1,519
.12
10
.11
795
23.962
21.258
23.774
20,409
20,844
1981
..........
1982 .............................
1983 .............................
145
96
81
729
656
909
16.908
9.061
17,461
07
04
08
1
5
5
14.0
10.5
794.8
844.4
1.131.5
789.5
488.5
689.1
1,270.1
8,673.2
567.1
1.143.3
605.0
464.2
04
05
.05
04
.03
03
.07
41
.03
.06
03
—
38.0
50 4
54.9
52.4
34.2
81.2
99.8
669.7
49.5
84.7
41.5
30.9
18.3
32.4
470.1
1983
1984P
January .
February .
March . .
April . . .
May . . .
June . . .
July . . .
August . .
September
October .
November
December
January .
2
12
16
10
7
7
12
4
10,140
11.760
1.006
1.6
2.8
24.9
63.3
64.5
615.8
20.8
68.4
22.8
.22
38
.26
.12
.20
.07
08
.07
.11
.10
.10
18
.20
09
09
02
.02
p = preliminary.
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