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UNITfD STATES: Their employment and Economic Status BULLETIN NO. 1119 UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF LABOR Maurico J. Tobin, Secretary RURSAU OP LABOR STATISTICS ■won ClofM*, ComnilMionnr NEGROES IN TH£ UNITED S TA TE S : Their Employment and Economic Status BU LLETIN NO. 1119 UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF LABOR Maurice J. Tobin,Secretary BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS Ewan Clague, Com m issioner December 1952 http://fraser.stlouisfed.org/ For sale of the Superintendent of Documents, U. S. Government Printing Office, Washington 25, D. C. - Price 30 cents Federal Reserve Bankby St. Louis LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF LABOR, BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS, Washington, D. C., December 10, 1952. The Secretary of Labor: I have the honor to transmit herewith a report on Negroes in the United States— Their Employment and Economic Status. The material, focusing on recent national trends, was selected from a wide variety of sources in order to present significant facts on the subject* Publication of this bulletin continues more than a half century of reporting on this subject by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. In 1896 the Department of Labor, predecessor of the present Bureau, issued a re port on "Conditions of the Negro in Various Cities" as part of its Bulle tin No. 10. From all of the assembled information, two general facts emerge. The first is that in almost every significant economic and social charac teristic that we can measure-— including length of life, education, employ ment, and income— our Negro citizens, as a whole, are less well-off than our white citizens. The second is that in almost every characteristic the differences between the two groups have narrowed in recent years. The Bureau of Labor Statistics acknowledges with appreciation the data made available by the Bureaus in the Department and other agen cies. The cooperation of the Bureau of Old-Age and Survivor's Insurance of the Social Security Administration in the Federal Security Agency was particularly helpful. The report was originally prepared at the request of the Subcommittee on Labor and Labor-Management Relations of the Senate Com mittee on Labor and Public Welfare of the 82d Congress. It was pro duced in the Bureau*s Division of Manpower and Employment Statistics. Helen H. Ringe planned and prepared the report, with the assistance of Sophia Cooper. Grace E. Payne compiled the bibliography. Ewan Clague, Commissioner. Hon. Maurice J. Tobin, Secretary of Labor. II CONTENTS Page PERTINENT BACKGROUND DATA: Growth in the population, 1900-1950 ........................ . Number and proportion •.................... ................. Birth r a t e s .............................................. .. Death rates ............................. ................... Life expectancy............................................ 1 1 1 3 3 Significant population changes, 194-0-50 ....................... Age distribution ..................................... ...... Urban-rural distribution ............. ..... ....... Interstate migration ............. ......................... Regional and Statevariations ............................... Cities with 50,000 or more Negroes ..... .................... Urban centers ............ ..................... .......... 3 3 5 5 5 7 7 Educational status, 1950 and 1 9 4 0 .............. ............ Educational attainment ............ ........................ School enrollment .......................................... 9 9 9 RECENT LABOR FORCE AH) EMPLOYMENT TRENDS: Negroes in the labor force ......... ........................ .. Proportion in the labor force .............................. Unemployment.......... Status of married couples .................................. Status among different age groups ......................... . 11 11 11 11 11 Industry trends in employment.............. ........... . Trends among major industries, 1940-50 .................. . Recent trends in industries .......... ...................... 13 13 13 Occupational t r e n d s ..... ........................... Major changes in occupational pattern, 1940-50 ............. Proportion of Negroes to total employment in major occupations, 1940-52 ........... 15 15 17 Placement experience of public employment offices, 1940 y1944, and 1 9 5 1 ...................... ................... 19 Duration of employment on current jobs ............. ......... 21 Work-life expectancy....... .......... ................... . 23 INCOME AND WAGES: Income of families, 1945-50 ............... ...... .......... 24 Wage and salary income, 1939 and 1947-50 ...................... 24 Insurance status and wage credits under OASI program.......... 27 BIBLIOGRAPHY: An annotated bibliography ..................................... 53 III CHARTS Pertinent Background Data 1« 2. 3# 4* 5# 6# 7a 8a 9a Population, 1900 and 1950 ...... ........................ Birth rates, selected periods, 1920-49 ................ Death rates, 1900 and 1 9 4 9 ............................ . Life expectancy at birth, 1919-21 and 1949 ............ . Percent changes in Negro and white population, by age, 1940-50 ..................................... . Percent change in Negro population, by State, 1940-50 ••• Large cities with more than 100 percent increase in Negro population, 1940-50 ......... ...... ........... Median school years completed by persons aged 25 and over, 1940 and 1950 .............................. School enrollment as a percent of population of school age, 1940 and 1950 ....................... . Page 2 2 2 2 4 6 8 10 10 Recent labor Force and Employment Trends 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. Percent of Negro and white population in the labor force, 1951 ...................... .................... Percent of Negro and white workers unemployed, 1947, 1949, and 1951 ................................. Percent of Negro and white men and women in the labor force, by age, 1 9 5 1 ............................ Percent distribution of Negro men and women workers among major industries, selected years, 1940-1952 ..... Proportion of Negro men and women to total employment in selected occupations, 1940, 1944> and 1952 ........ Distribution of Negro and white workers, by duration of current jobs, January 1951 .................... . Median years on current job for Negro and white workers, by farm and nonfarn residence, January 1951 ..... . Total life expectancy and work-life expectancy of Negro and white male workers, 1940 ........ 12 12 14 16 18 20 20 22 Income and Wages 18. 19. 20. Median income of Negro and white families, 1945 and 1949. Median income of Negro and white wage and salary workers, 1939 and 1947-50 ............................ Distribution of Negro and white workers, by annual wage credits under 0ASI, 1949 ........................ IV 25 25 26 APPENDIX TABIES Pertinent Background Data Number Page 1. 2. 3. 31 31 Population of the United States, by color, 1900-1950 ........ Estimated birth rates, by color, selected years, 1920-49 .... Age-adjusted death rates by color: death-registration States, selected years, 1900-1949 ..... ............ ...... 4* Average number of years of life remaining at selected ages, by color and sex, 1949 and 1919-21 ...... ........... 5. Population of the United States, by color, age, and sex, 1950 and 1940 ................ 6. Population by color and urban-crural residence, 1900-1950 .... 7. Percent distribution by migration status of the population, by color, selected dates ............... . 8* Population by color, for divisions and States, 1950 and 1940. 9* Population by color, 1950 and 1940, for cities with 50,000 or more nonwhites in 1950 ......... ...... . 10. Population by color, in 1950, for cities of 50,000 or more with more than 100 percent increase in nonwhite population between 1940 and 1950 ................... . 11. Median school years completed by persons 25 years old and over, by color and sex, 1950 and 1940 ....... ....... 12. School enrollment of the population 5 to 24 years of age, by color, 1950 and 1940 ........ ................. . 32 32 33 34 35 36 37 33 39 39 Recent Labor Force and Employment Trends 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. Employment status of the civilian noninstitutional population, by color and sex, annual averages 1951, 1949, and 1947 ..................................... Percent distribution of married couples, by labor force status of husband and wife, by color, 1950 and 1940 ....*•• Percent of the civilian population in the labor force, by color, age, and sex, annual average 1951 ............ . Percent distribution of employed men and women, by major industry group and color, April 1950 and March 1940 ............... ........................ . Percent distribution of employed nonwhite men and women, by major industry group, April of selected years, 1940-52 ..... .......... ................ . Percent distribution of employed men and women, by major occupational group and color, April 1950 and March 1940 ............................................... V 40 41 41 42 43 44 Number 19. 20. 21. 22. Page Proportion of nonwhite to total employment in each major occupational group, by sex, April of selected years, 194-0-52 ....................... .............,.... Nonagricultural placements, total and nonwhite, by major industry division, April of 1951, 1944, and 1940 ........ Duration of current jobs of employed workers, by color, sex, and farm-nonfarm residence, January 1951 ............ Average number of remaining years of life, in labor force and in retirement, males, by color and by urban-rural residence, 1940 ...... ................. . 45 46 47 £B Income and Wages 23. 24. 25. 26. Median money income of families, by color and residence, 1945-50 ...... ............................... Median wage and salary income of persons with wage and salary income, by color, 1939 and 1947-50 ............... Percent distribution of Negro and white workers, with four quarters of employment in 1949, by amount of annual wage credits, by sex ........................... . Proportion of workers permanently insured and wage credits, 1937-49, for workers with wage credits under 0ASI in 1949, by sex and race ............ ......... VI 49 50 50 51 NEGROES IN THE UNITED STATES: Their Employment and Economic Status PERTINENT BACKGROUND DATA Growth In the Population. 1900-1950 Number and Proportion ~ Fifteen and a half million Negroes l/ .constituted, in 1950, about 10 percent of the total 151 million popu lation in the United States, Between 1900 and 1950 the total popula tion doubled in size, with a more than 100 percent increase in the whitepopulation compared with an increase of almost 70 percent among Negroes, (Chart 1) The proportion of Negroes in the population has remained con stant since 1920, as shown in table 1, Although birth rates among Negroes have been consistently higher than those among whites, mortality rates are higher and average life expectancy is lower among Negroes than among whites. Birth Rates — The higher birth rates among Negroes, in com parison with whites, are shown in table 2, In 1949, the rate per 1,000 in the Negro population was 32,6, compared with 23*6 among whites. Since 1945 there have been, among both groups, significant increases in birth rates. During the depression 30*s, sharp declines in birth rates oc curred among both Negroes and whites, (Chart 2) 1/ Most of the sources of statistical data used in this report provide separate figures for white persons and all other persons. The latter are identified in such statistical presentations as "nonwhites," The data for nonwhites are not usually separated as between Negroes and other groups, hence there are no separate figures for Negroes, Since Negroes comprise more than 95 percent of the nonwhite group, the data for nonwhite persons as a whole reflect predominantly the characteristics of Negroes, Therefore, in this report, while the tables refer to all nonwhite persons, the text describes the charac teristics of Negroes on the basis of the data in these tables. SELECTED FACTORS IN GROWTH OF NEGRO AND WHITE POPULATION Chart 1 POPULATION, 1900 AND 1950 . In Millions 150.7 135.2 ilfll iiil ' 76.0 1900 UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF LABOR BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS 1950 So u rce : U. S. B u r e a u of the C e n s u s a n d N a t io n a l O ffic e o f V it a l S ta tistic s Death Rates — Declines in death rates since 1900, shown in table 3, reflect advances in medical science, control of infectious diseases and general improvement in the standard of living. Death rates among Negroes continue to be higher than the rates for whites but the difference in the rates has consistently narrowed, particularly since 1935. In that year, the death rate among Negroes was 17.3 and among whites 11.1 per 1,000 population, compared with a 1900 rate of 27.8 for Negroes and 17.6 for whites. By 1949 the death rate for Negroes was 12.6, compared with 8.4 for whites. (Chart 3) Life Expectancy — Marked increases during this century in average life expectancy, as shown in table 4, have been due in large measure to control of infectious diseases, particularly those of infancy and early childhood. However, for both Negro men and women, average life expectancy, especially during the earlier years of life, continues to be less than that of whites, although there has been a narrowing of this difference in recent years. About 30 years ago, the average life expectancy at birth of a Negro boy was 47 years, about 9 years less than that of a white boy. For Negro girls, the comparable difference was about 11-1/2 years. By 1949, the life expectancy at birth for the average Negro boy had increased to almost 59 years, and that of white boys to 66 years, a difference of about 7 years. Negro girls at birth could expect to live to about age 63, about 8-1/2 years less them white girls. (Chart 4) Significant Population Changes. 1940-50 Age Distribution — Table 5 compares the changes in the Negro and white population which have occurred among different age groups be tween 1940 and 1950. During this decade the total population increased nearly 15 per cent, with about equal increases among Negroes and whites. For both groups, the greatest relative increases are found in the age class under 10 and among persons over 65 years of age reflecting higher birth rates and greater longevity. Most marked is the decline of 2 million in the white population aged 10 to 19 years, the group which becomes the new workers of the next decade. White males of these ages showed the largest relative decline— 11 percent. Among both Negroes and whites, only small increases occurred in the group aged 20 to 34 years. Because workers in this age group are traditionally preferred in hiring for new employment, this change in the age composition of the population may contribute to increased employment opportunity for younger Negroes. The situation may also add to the di lemma of employers whose hiring policies continue to favor white workers and workers under 35 years of age. (Chart 5) Chart 5. PERCENT CHANGES IN NEGRO AND WHITE POPULATION BY AGE, 1940-50 -10 0 PERCENT 10 20 30 40 50 1 TOTAL, ALL AGES Under 10 10-19 20-34 35-44 45-64 65 Years and Over -10 UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF LABOR S o u rc e : U. S. B u r e a u of the C e n s u s BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS 4 Urban-Rural Distribution — By 1950 the Negro population was predominantly urban, with 60 percent living in urban areas. As shown in table 6, the white population had become predominantly urban by 1920, The movement of the Negro to urban centers was greatly acceler ated during World War II, for in 194-0 more than half of all Negroes lived in rural areas. Interstate Migration — The extent to which Negroes moved between States during World War II is shown in table 7. By the end of 194-7, 14 percent (1.8 million) of all Negroes born on or before . April 1940 were living in a different State from the one in which they lived in 1940. During this period about 10 percent of all whites moved to a different State. The comparatively higher proportion of Negroes moving between States in 1940-47 shows a different pattern than in other years since 1935, when a comparatively higher proportion of whites shifted residence between States. Regional and State Variations — Table 8, showing the Negro and white population in 1940 and 1950 for each State and geographic region, reveals the shift of the Negro population, during this wartime decade, from Southern to Northern, Central, and Western States. (Chart 6) A resulting decline in the number and- proportion of Negroes in the population occurred in West Virginia, Georgia, Kentucky, Alabama, Mississippi, Arkansas, and Oklahoma. The Middle Atlantic, East North Central, and Pacific States had the most appreciable increases in their Negro population, and the percentage increases for Negroes far exceed those of the white popula tion. Michigan’s Negro population more than doubled, whereas its white population increased only 17 percent. In California the Negro population increased 116 percent, compared with a 50 percent increase among whites. California’s Negro population of nearly 700,000 is exceeded in number only by that of New York and the eight Southern States of Virginia, North and South Caro lina, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Texas. - 5- Chart 6. PERCENT CHANGE IN NEGRO POPULATION. BY STATE. 1940-50 PERCENT CHANGE : 100 and Over 50-99 25-49 Under 25 Decrease [S o u rc e ; UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF LABOR BUREAU OF LABORST AT 1STICS U. S. B u r e a u of th e [C e n su s.' Citiea with 50.000 or More Negroes — Table 9 shows the 27 cities with 50,000 or more Negroes in 1950— in all of which Negroes constituted 10 percent or more of the total population of the city. Thirteen of these cities are in Southern States, The table shows the changes in the Negro and white population which occurred in these cities between 1940 and 1950, More than 4-1/2 million (or 29,5 percent) of the 15-1/2 million Negroes in the United States were living in these 27 cities in 1950, with nearly 24 million (or 17.6 percent) of all whites in the popu lation. com pared The proportion of Negroes in the total population of each city declined only in the five Southern cities of Memphis, Tenn., Birmingham, Ala., Houston, Tex., Norfolk, Va., and Dallas, Tex. In this group, the cities with a more than 50 percent increase in the Negro population in the last decad^ were: New York, Detroit, Wash ington, Chicago, Los Angeles, Cleveland, San Francisco, Newark, and Oakland. In 17 of these 27 cities, including only 3 in Southern States, the percentage increase in the Negro population exceeded the increase among whites. An actual decline in the number of whites in the popula tion occurred in Chicago, St. Louis, Pittsburgh, Cleveland, Newark, and Nashville. A major factor in the changing Negro and white composition of the. population in cities has been the movement of whites to surround ing suburban areas. Urban Centers Table 10 shows those larger urban centers in which the Negro population increased substantially in the last decade. In each of these cities the Negro population increased by more than 100 percent. Much of the increase resulted from migration of Negroes in response to wartime opportunities in employment. In 1950 there were in the United States 232 cities with a population of 50,000 or more; 64 were in the Southern States. Only two of these Southern cities had increases of more than 100 percent in their Negro population over the decade, whereas 43 cities, widely dis persed throughout the rest of the country, had doubled their Negro population. (Chart 7) 7- Chart 7. LARGE CITIES' WITH MORE THAN 100 PERCENT INCREASE IN NEGRO POPULATION, 1940-50 UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF LABOR | bu r e a u o f l a b o r statist ic ^ Sourc«: U.S. B u re a u o f rh« C t n i u i Educational Status. 1950 and 1940 Educational Attainment — As shown in table 11, in 1950 Negroes aged 25 and over had completed an average of 7 years of school, almost 3 years less than the average for whites. This repre sents an increase, since 1940, of a year or more for both groups. The highest increase of 1.3 years occurred among Negro women. In both 1940 and 1950, the educational attainment of Negro and white men was exceeded by that of women. (Chart 8) School Enrollment — The percentage of all Negroes aged 5 to 24 enrolled in school increased appreciably between 1940 and 1950. At ages 14 and over the percentage of Negroes in school was lower than among whites, although the difference has narrowed over the decade. About 15 percent of all Negroes aged 18 to 24 were enrolled in school in 1950, compared with 9 percent in 1940. The increase was proportion ately much greater than among whites. It is significant that in 1950 the percentage of Negroes aged 18 to 24 who were enrolled in school was slightly above that of whites of the same ages in 1940. (See table 12 and chart 9) - 9- EDUCATION OF NEGRO AND WHITE PERSONS Chart 8. MEDIAN SCHOOL YEARS COMPLETED BY PERSONS AGED 25 AND OVER, 1940 AND 1950 Chart 9. SCHOOL ENROLLMENT AS A PERCENT OF POPULATION 1940 1950 A g e 5-13 UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF LABOR BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS 1940 1950 A g e 14-17 1940 1950 A g e 18-24 So u rce : U. S. B u re a u of the C e n s u s REGENT LABOR FORCE AND EMPLOYMENT TRENDS Negroes in the Labor Force Proportion in the Labor Force — The proportion of Negroes in the labor force has been consistently higher than for whites# This has resulted entirely from the fact that a greater percent of Negro women, particularly married women, are in the labor force compared with white women. Data for recent years on labor force status of Negroes and whites are presented in table 13* About 63 percent of all Negroes aged 14 years and over were in the labor force compared with about 57 percent of all whites. The proportion of males was about the same for both groups— 84 percent— but for women, the rate for Negroes was 45 percent and that for whites about 30 percent. (Chart 10) Unemployment — Table 13 shows that for both Negro men and women the average rate of unemployment, from 1947 to 1951, has been more than 50 percent above that for whites. Although the rate was about 5 percent for Negroes in 1951, compared with 3 percent for whites, about the same relative improvement had taken place since 1949 when the economic situation was less favorable. (Ghart 11) Status of Married Couples — Table 14, showing the labor force status of married couples in 1950 and 1940, indicates that in both periods a higher proportion of Negro wives were in the labor force than were white women. In 34 percent of the married negro couples in 1950, both the husband and the wife were in the labor force compared with 21 percent among white couples. Among both groups the percent of couples with both members in the labor force had increased between 1940 and 1950, with a greater relative increase among whites. Among married couples where the husband was not in the labor force, the proportion of Negro wives in the labor force was higher than among whites. Status Among Different Age Groups — Table 15 shows, for 1951, the variations at different ages in the labor force status of Negroes in comparison with white men and women. (Chart 12) About 84 percent of all Negro and white men were in the labor force. However, a significantly higher proportion of Negro men under age 20 and over age 65 were in the labor force. For both Negro and white men between the ages of 20 and 64, the rates of labor force participation were comparable. 236871 0 —53-----3 - 11 - Chart 1 . PERCENT OF NEGRO AND WHITE POPULATION 0 IN THE LABOR FORCE, 1 5 91 Percent 100 100 80 60 40 20 0 BOTH SEXES Percent MEN WOMEN Chart 1. PERCENT OF NEGRO AND WHITE WORKERS 1 UNEMPLOYED, 1947, 1949, AND 1 5 91 1947 1949 Percent 1951 UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF LABORl ju kau So u rce : o f la b o r st a t ist ic s 12 U.S. B u re a u o f th o C e n s u s The pattern among women shows some significant contrasts. The proportion of Negro women in the labor force was higher than for whites in every age group except ages 18 to 24. At ages 18 to 19 years, 54 percent of all white women were in the labor force in comparison with 40 percent of Negro women of the same ages. Among white women the rate of labor force participation dropped after age 20, about the average age of marriage, whereas for Negro women the rate increased through the age group 45 to 54. At ages 25 to 54 more than 50 percent of all Negro women were in the labor force, in comparison with less than 40 percent of white women in this age group. Industry Trends in Employment Trends Among Major Industries. 1940-50 — Table 16 shows the changes in the distribution of employed Negro men and women among the major industries between the decennial censuses of 1940 and 1950. Com parison with the changes among white workers shows some significant differences. During this wartime decade there was an appreciable increase in the proportion of all Negro men employed in construction, manufactur ing, and wholesale and retail trade. In 1950, the 8 percent of all 3-1/2 million employed Negro men who were working in the construction industry almost equaled the percentage of all white workers so employed. The 22 percent, of all employed Negroes in manufacturing in 1950 compared with 27 percent of all employed white men. There was a greater decline among Negroes in the proportion employed in agriculture in comparison with whiteso Among almost 2 million Negro women working in 1950, employment continued to be largely concentrated in the service industries, although the percentage decreased from about 75 percent in 1940 to 65 percent in 1950. The proportion of all Negro women employed in manufacturing and wholesale and retail trade more than doubled. However, in 1950 only about a tenth of employed Negro women, compared with a fourth of employed white women, were working in each of these two industries. Recent Trends in Industries Table 17 indicates the extent to which the changing industrial pattern of Negro employment, accelerated by wartime manpower demands, has been maintained during the postwar period. This table presents data from the Monthly Report on the Labor Force for April of 1940, 1944, 1948, 1950,and 1952. These data show, in general, a continuation of the pattern revealed by table 16, presenting decennial census data for 1940 and 1950. (Chart 13) - 13 - Chart 12. PERCENT OF NEGRO AND WHITE MEN AND WOMEN IN THE LABOR FORCE, BY AGE, 1951 P«rc«nt Ptrw nt 14UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF LABOR BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS S o u r c o : U.S. B u r o a u of tho C o n s u l The proportion of all employed Negro men and women working in agriculture has continued to decline. Among all employed Negro men the proportion working in manufacturing increased from 22 to 26 percent between 1950 and 1952, 3 percent above the wartime year 1944. The most significant increase since 1950 has been in durable goods manufacturing in which the defense program caused the greatest relative expansion. Except in mining and the transportation, communications, and public utili ties industries, the proportion of Negro men in other nonagricultural industries has continued to rise above that of 1944. About 94- percent of employed Negro women were working in nonagri cultural industries in 1952, compared with 89 percent in 194/-. However, the proportion employed in manufacturing has declined to 7 percent in 1952 from 13 percent in 194/-. The percentage has not increased during the de fense program years 1950 to 1952. The proportions employed in trade and finance, and in government and professional services have increased since 1950 and are above the wartime proportions of 194-4. The percentage of Negro women employed in domestic and personal service has declined between 1950 and 1952 but is above that of 1944* Occupational Trends Major Changes in Occupational Pattern. 1940-50 — Table 18 shows the occupational distribution of employed Negro and white men and women for the two decennial censuses of 1940 and 1950. Comparison of changes among Negroes and whites reveals the significant shifts which occurred during a wartime decade. Among employed Negro men the most appreciable increases were in the occupational groups of clerical workers, craftsmen, and opera tives. In 1950, 20 percent of employed Negro and white men were work ing as operatives, with a significantly greater increase since 1940 in the proportion of Negroes. During that decade the proportion of Negroes employed as craftsmen almost doubled, but less than 8 percent were employed in this skilled occupational group in 1950, far below the 19 percent of employed white men who were craftsmen. The 3 percent of Negro men in clerical work in 1950 was about half the proportion of white men in this occupational group. The proportion of Negro men in professional occupations in 1950 was low— about 2 percent compared with 8 percent for whites. Although appreciable gains up the occupational ladder have been made during the last decade, in comparison with white workers, Negroes are predominantly employed in the lower paying and less skilled occupations such as operatives, laborers, and service workers. - 15 - Chari 1 . PERCENT DISTRIBUTION OF NEGRO MEN AND WOMEN 3 WORKERS AMONG MAJOR INDUSTRIES SELECTED YEARS. 1940-1952 W en om 1940 Percent 1948 1944 1950 1952 O t h o r In d u s t r ie s In c l u d e | f o r M en: UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF LABOR BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS M in in g , T r a n s p o r t a tio n , C o m m u n ic a t io n a n d P ublic U tilitie s , a n d D o m e stic a n d P e r s o n a l S e rv ic e . W o m e n : M in in g , C o n s tru c tio n , a n d T r a n sp o rt a tio n , C o m m u n ic a t io n a n d P u blic U tilitie s- 16 S o u rce : U. S. b u re a u o f tho C o n s u s The majority of employed Negro women worked in service occu pations in 1950— -although the proportion had declined to 60 percent from the 69 percent in this occupational group in 1940* The proportion of Negro women employed as clerical workers and semiskilled operatives increased between 1940 and 1950. However, in 1950 only 4 percent were in clerical occupations in comparison with 30 percent of all employed white women. About 15 percent of Negro women workers were semiskilled operatives in 1950— double the proportion in 1940. But the proportion was below the 20 percent of white women in this occupation. In 1950 the 6 percent of Negro women in professional occupations was less than half the proportion of white women in this occupational group. Proportion of Negroes to Total Employment in Major Occupa tions. 1940-52 — Table 19 shows the proportion which Negro men and women represented in the total employment in each major occupational group in prewar 1940, wartime 1944, and postwar 1948, 1950, and 1952. In reading this table it is useful to recall, as explained in table 1, that Negroes constitute 10 percent of the total population. The data show that the highest proportions of Negro workers continue to be found in the lower paying and less skilled occupations, such as service workers and laborers. Comparatively low proportions of Negroes are found in the professional, technical, managerial, cleri cal, sales, and craftsmen occupations. (Chart 14) However, the shift of Negroes into better paying occupations and more skilled occupations, accelerated during the war years, has in general been maintained. In the professional occupations the proportion of Negro men remained about 3 percent, while the proportion of Negro women had in creased to 7 percent by 1952. A large part of this increase is un doubtedly due to the increased demand for Negro school teachers, which has resulted from the postwar increase in population of children of elementary school age. Among craftsmen the proportion of Negroes is still low, but it has consistently increased since 1940 to 4 percent in 1952. Among semiskilled operatives, Negro men in 1952 constituted 10 percent of all workers, about the same as in 1944 and 1948, and almost double the proportion in 1940. In April 1950, before the in dustrial expansion which followed the hostilities in Korea, the per centage had declined to 8.5. The percentage of Negroes among women operatives, which had reached over 8 percent in 1944 and 1948, had declined to about 7 percent in 1952. - 17 Chart 14 PROPORTION OF NEGRO MEN AND WOMEN TO TOTAL . EMPLOYMENT IN SELECTED OCCUPATIONS, 1940, 1944 AND 1952 ---------------------------------- Men------------------------------------Percent Wom en----------------------------------Percent UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF LABOR! . . S o u r c e : U*S. B u r e a u o f th« C t n u i l bu r ea u of la b o r st a t ist ic s ! - 18 - In clerical and sales occupations the percentage of Negro men and women doubled between 1940 and 1944> and has increased in the postwar years. However, Negroes have constituted only 3 percent or less of employment in this occupational field. Negro women still constitute more than 50 percent of all women in private household work and 20 percent of other service workers. Placement Experience of Public Employment Offices. 1940. 1944. and 1951 Table 20 reflects the placement experience of public employ ment offices in nonagricultural occupations in April 1951, 1944> and 1940, as reported by the Bureau of Employment Security That Bureau stated, in presenting these data: 3J "Although nonwhite workers comprised only one-tenth of the civilian labor force, they accounted for 30 percent of all placements by public employment offices during the month of April 1951. A comparison with earlier years shows a decline from 21 percent of total placements in 1940 to 19 percent in 1944> followed by a rise to 28 percent in 1948. "The growing acceptance of nonwhites by employers is illustrated by the ratio of placements of nonwhites to total placements in such industries as manufacturing, trade, and construction. Nonwhites accounted for only 9 percent of all placements in manufacturing establishments in April 1940, compared with 13 percent in April 1944 and 16 percent in April 1951. The advance in trade was more significant— from 9 percent of total placements in April 1940, to 21 percent in April 1944 and 24 percent in April 1951. Placements of nonwhites in construction moved up from 21 percent of the total in April 1940 to 23 percent in 1944 and 30 percent of the total in April 1951. Coincident with the rise over 1940 in the proportions of placements of nonwhites in manufacturing, trade, and construction, the proportion of placements of nonwhites in service industries increased substantially. Nonwhites accounted for about one-third of all job placements in service industries in April 1940, nearly one-half in April 1944> and slightly more than one-half of the total in April 1951." 2/ U. S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Employment Security, The Status and Characteristics of Nonwhites in the Labor Force as of April 1951. n. 12. (mimeo.) 236871 0 —53-----4 - 19 - Chart 1 . DISTRIBUTION OF NEGRO AND WHITE WORKERS, 5 BY DURATION OF CURRENT JOBS 'J, JANUARY 1951 Men lOOf Percent 100 Percent Women Chari 16. MEDIAN YEARS ON CURRENT JOB!/ FOR NEGRO AND WHITE WORKERS. BY FARM AND AND NONFARM RESIDENCE, JANUARY 1951 y See UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF LABOR BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS p e g * 21 f o r d e f i n i t i o n o f c u r r e n t jo b - 20- Source: U. S. B u r e a u o f th e C e n s u s . Duration of Employment on Current Jobs The number of years he has worked on his current job is an important factor in the employment status of a worker, with especially significant effects on seniority rights and related benefits based on length of service. The extent to which Negroes have this security based on length of service, compared with white workers, is indicated by a sample sur vey made by the Bureau of the Census in January 1951. The study sought to ascertain the length of time the approximately 59 million persons employed in January 1951 had worked at their current jobs. For wage and salary workers, a job was defined in this survey as a continuous period of employment (except for vacations, strikes, short-term lay-offs, etc.) with a single employer, even though the person may have worked at several different occupations while working for that employer. (Charts 15 and 16) Table 21 shows that Negro workers had been on their current jobs an average of 2.4- years, compared with an average of 3.5 years among white workers. Among men who live in urban areas, about one out of six of both Negro and white workers had obtained their current jobs between January 1940 and August 1945, a period stretching from the beginning of the defense program to the end of World War II. However, 20 percent of urban white men and only 13 percent of urban Negroes had worked on their current jobs since before January 1940. Among farm men, the 28 percent of white men who had worked on their current jobs since before 1940 was almost double the comparable percentage among Negroes. Among Negro farm men about 38 percent had obtained their current jobs within the last year, compared with about 22 percent of the white farm men. Among urban and farm women, the data for both Negroes and whites reflect the intermittent character of the labor force participa tion of women because of household and family responsibilities. However, the proportion of Negro women who have been on their current jobs since before August 1945 is appreciably lower than among white women. Negro women have been on their current jobs an average of 1.7 years, compared with an average of 2.3 years for white women. 21 - Chart 1 . TOTAL LIFE EXPECTANCY AND WORK-LIFE EXPECTANCY 7 OF NEGRO AND WHITE MALE WORKERS, 1940 At Age 20 At Age 60 477 Years 39.8 IN RETIREMENT llllllir IN LABOR FORCE *y**gift/t-sf* f * ill* A(Fy/w NEGRO * m* m*/ / / WHITE NEGRO WHITE At Age 60, By Residence URBAN RURAL 15.9 16 2 NEGRO Ye ars WHITE 14.1 IN RETIREMENT IN LABOR FORCE NEGRO WHITE S o u r c e : N a t io n a l O ffice , of V i t a l S t a tis t ic s a n d B u re a u of L a b o r S t a tis t ic s. UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF LABOR bu r ea u o f l a b o r st a t ist ic 22 Work-Life Expectancy A study of the length of working life for men shows that under 1940 conditions, the average life expectancy for the nonwhite worker aged 20 was about 8 years less than that for a white youth of the same age. His working life expectancy of 36.2 years was about 5- 1/2 years less than for the white worker— largely reflecting his poorer chances of surviving through the prime of his working life. As shown in table 22, the differences between whites and nonwhites in both total life expectancy and work-life expectancy gradually narrowed after age 20. By age 60, the working life expect ancy of the surviving nonwhite workers actually exceeded that of white workers. These differences reflect the relatively low mortality rates among surviving nonwhites at advanced ages. They also reflect, in comparison with whites, the predominantly rural composition and the lower rates of retirement from the labor force among rural nonwhites in the upper age groups. (Chart 17) However, for urban nonwhites the chances of retirement from the labor force, beginning about age 60, were substantially higher than for whites. This is due, in part, to the relatively higher rates of unemployment among nonwhites and the resulting greater tendency to withdraw from the labor force. Other contributing factors are a higher incidence of disability and a much greater concentration of Negroes im unskilled and semiskilled jobs in which age and physical disability are likely to be greater handicaps to continued employment.J/ 2/ Tables of Working Life. Length of Working Life for Men. l S. T. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Bulletin 1001, August 1950. - 23 - INCOME AND WAGES Income of Families. 19A5-50 Table 23 and chart 18 present the median money income of all Negro and white families for the years 194-5-50. In 1950, Negro families had an average annual income of $1 ,869, 54- percent of the average income of $3,44-5 among white families. The differential seems particularly wide in view of the fact that a higher proportion of Negro family members are in the labor farce. The data in the previous section on labor farce and employment show that a higher proportion of Negro mailes under age 20 and women over age 24 are in the labor force than is the case among whites. An important factor in changes in average annual income of all Negroes between 1945 and 1950 has been their continuing shift into nonagricultural employment, as explained in preceding sections. In 1945, the last year of World War II, the average money income of all Negro families was almost 57 percent that of whites— a comparative level that has not again been reached in more recent years. There is a relatively smaller differential between Negroes and whites for urban as compared with rural families. In 1949 the average in come of urban Negro families was 58 percent of the average among white families— a decline from 66 percent in 1945. The urban Negro family in 1949 had an average annual income of about $2 ,100, compared with an aver age of about $3,600 for white families. Between 1945 and 1949 the average income of white families had increased by over $500 whereas among Negro families it remained practically unchanged. Among rural farm families the median money income of Negroes in creased from $559 in 1945 to $691 in 1949 when it was about 40 percent of the average for white families. This, however, represented a decline from the high postwar average of $1,026 in 1947, when it was almost 48 percent of the average among white families on farms. The money income of both Negro and white families living on farms remained low and increased rela tively less than that of rural nonfarm and urban families in the years 1945-49. An important factor is the greater income "in kind" of farm families and their relatively lower cost of living. Wage and Salary Income. 1939 and 1947-50 Table 24 shows the median income of Negro and white wage and salary workers in recent years and in 1939. In 1950 the Negro wage and salary worker earned an average of about $1 ,300, or 52 percent of the aver age for white workers. Since 1939 the average for Negro workers has in creased relatively more than for whites. In 1939 the average income for Negro wage and salary workers was about $400— less than 40 percent of the average for white wage earners. (Chart 19) Chart 1 . MEDIAN INCOME OF NEGRO AND WHITE FAMILIES. 8 J Negro)___ W h it e M ! 1945 AND 1949 Thousands of Dollars Chart 19. MEDIAN INCOME OF NEGRO A N D WHITE „ , D o lla r, WAGE A N D SA LA RY WORKERS, 1939 AND 1947-50 UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF LABOR S o u r c * : U.S. B U R E A U O F THE C E N S U S BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS White ■ H U 25 Chart 20. DISTRIBUTION OF NEGRO AND WHITE WORKERS,i/ BY ANNUAL WAGE CREDITS UNDER OASI, 1949 Women Men Percent Percent 1 100 lO j O 80 ◄ 80 60 ◄ 60 40 ◄ 40 20 ◄ 20 | 0 In c lu d e s th e UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF LABOR Source: BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS W ork e rs C a le n d a r Federal B u re au - 26 - O n ly Four S e c u r it y o f O ld Age W it h W age Q u a rte rs of Agency, and C r e d it s F or 1949. S o c ia l S u r v i v o r ’s S e c u r it y In s u r a n c e A d m in is t r a t io n , Insurance Status and Wage Credits Under OASI Program Data available from the records of the Bureau of Old-Age and Survivors Insurance, on workers covered by the provisions of the Social Security Act which it administers, substantiate the fact that the wages of Negroes are generally below those of white men and women, ij Among other things, these data indicate the comparatively lower level of benefits available for Negro workers and their sur vivors when they retire or die, and their relatively greater diffi culty in acquiring adequate protection against the hazards of old-age under social insurance programs. They indicate the economic reasons which can contribute to a higher incidence of indigency among Negroes than among whites, as well as to a generally lower standard of living. Annual Wage Credits. 1949 — Table 25 presents an example of pertinent data for 194-9, the last year for which these data are currently available. It shows the wage credits for Negro and white men and women who were employed in all quarters of 194-9. j>/ Agricultural and domestic workers were among the groups not "covered" in 1949 by governing legisla tion. Therefore, workers in these relatively low-paid occupations are not included in these data. (Chart 20) Among white men, 52 percent had wage credits of $3,000, the annual creditable maximum, compared with only 14 percent of Negro men. Almost 45 percent of Negro men had wage credits of less than $1,800, compared with only 14 percent of white men. The annual wage credits of both Negro and white women are significantly lower than those of men. However, about 80 percent of Negro women had wage credits of less than $1,800, compared with about 50 percent of white women. Only 6 percent of the Negro women had wage credits of $2,400 or more, compared with 22 percent of white women. u 1/ See Handbook of Old-Age and Survivors Insurance Statistics, issued annually by the Bureau of Old-Age and Survivors Insurance, Social Security Administration, Federal Security Agency. See explanation of terms on p. 28. - 27 - Insurance Status — Under legislation governing the old-age and survivors insurance program, the insurance status of the worker is defined as his position, as of a specified date, with respect to quar ters of coverage required either* (l) to meet the eligibility conditions for primary benefits; or (2 ) to enable his dependents or, in the event of his death, his survivors to establish eligibility for benefits. Table 26 presents pertinent data on the comparative status, under the OASI program, of Negro and white men and women as of January 1, 1950, before the Social Security Act Amendments of 1950. The following explanation of terms, although not comprehensive definitions, will be helpful in understanding the data presented in table 26 : Quarter of Employment — A calendar quarter in which an individual has been paid taxable wages of $1 or more. In addition, a worker who receives wage credits of $3,000 in a year is deemed to have been employed in each quarter in a given year after his first quarter of employment in the year. Quarter of Coverage — A calendar quarter in which the worker has been paid wages of at least $50 in covered employment, or any quarter after his first quarter of coverage in any year in which he has wage credits of $3,000. Wage Credits — Taxable wages which can be included in computing a primary benefit amount. Permanently Insured — A worker who has 40 or more quar ters of coverage or, at least, a sufficient number of quarters to be fully insured when he attains age 65 • Broadly defined, a worker is "fully insured" at age 65 if he has at least 1 quarter of coverage for each 2 elapsed quarters after 1936, and a minimum of 6 quarters of coverage, or he has 40 or more quarters of coverage. (There were a total of 52 elapsed quarters in the 13 years between January 1, 1937, and January 1 , 1950.) Table 26 shows that the higher proportion of white workers, in comparison with Negroes, have been able to acquire permanent insurance status since the 0ASI program was inaugurated on January 1, 1937. As of January 1, 1950, 37 percent of white men with wage credits in 194-9 were permanently insured compared with 22 percent of Negro men. Among women, 17 percent of the white workers had attained this same status whereas only 6 percent of Negro women had done so. The difference in the pro portions reflects the more intermittent attachment of the Negro to employment covered by the OASI program. - 28 - Cumulative Wage Credits. 1937-49 — A comparison of the wage credits which Negro and white workers have accumulated since the OASI program was inaugurated in 1937 further substantiates the lower earnings of Negroes. During the period 1937-49* white men with wage credits in 1949 accumulated average wage credits of about 15- 1/2 thousand dollars compared with about 9 thousand dollars for Negro men. White women had an average of about 7-1/2 thousand dollars compared with about 4 thousand dollars for Negro women. The average wage credits per quarter employed during this period show that those of Negro workers are about two-thirds of the average for whites. Negro men had average quarterly wage credits of $330, compared with $495 for white men. For Negro women the average was $226, compared with $316 for white women. Quarters of Coverage. 1937-49 — The median age of 34.9 years of all workers with wage credits in 1949 reflects the predominance of younger age groups in the labor force. (Workers under 45 years of age constitute, in general, about two-thirds of the labor force.) Hence, the majority of employed workers could not attain the maximum quarters of coverage possible since 1937 when the program was inaugurated. How ever, the data in table 26 show that, as of January 1, 1950, white workers were able to attain comparatively more quarters of coverage than did Negro workers. Although the median age of Negro and white women was almost identical,at about 32 years, white women had earned 21 quar ters of coverage compared with 15 quarters among Negro women. Moreover, the proportion of quarters of employment in which the worker was paid wages of at least $50 (and thus gained a quarter of coverage) was about 5 percent less among Negro men and women workers than among white men and women. The data reflect the more casual and intermittent attachment of the Negro worker to employment covered by the OASI insurance program. - 29 - APPENDIX TABIES Table 1.— Population of the United States, by color, 1900 - 1950 Nonwhite Total Year Number Percent (In thousands) 1950 ......... 1 9 4 0 ......... 1930 ......... 1920 ......... 1 9 1 0 ......... 1900 ......... Source; 15,482 10.3 13,454 12 ,48S 10.2 10.2 10,890 10,240 150,697 131,669 122,775 105,711 91,972 75,995 10.3 9,185 11.1 12.1 U. S. Bureau of the Census Table 2.— Estimated birth rates, l/ by color, selected years, 1920-A9” Nonwhite Ihite Year (Rate per 1,000 population) 1949 1947 1945 1940 1935 1930 1920 1/ ............. ............ . ............. ............. ............. ............. ............. 32.6 31.1 26.6 26.7 25.8 27.5 35.0 Corrected for underregistration. Source: National Office of Vital Statistics - 31 23.6 26.1 19.8 18.6 17.9 20.6 26.9 l/ Table 3.— Age-adjusted death rates by color: death-registration States, selected years, 1900-1949 Nonwhite White Year (Rate per 1,000 population) 1949 1947 1945 1940 1935 1930 .............. .............. .............. .............. .............. .............. 1920 .............. 1 9 1 0 ........... . 1900 .............. 1/ 12.6 12.8 8.4 13.5 9.2 16.2 17.3 10.2 11.1 20.1 20.6 11.7 13.7 24.1 27.8 17.6 8.8 15.6 Based on 194-0 age distribution of the population. Source: National Office of Vital Statistics Table 4.— Average number of years of life remaining at selected ages, by color and sex, 1949 and 1919-21 Nonwhite Age and sex 1949 Hale: At birth ... 58.6 2 0 ........ 43.5 4 0 ........ 27.2 6 0 ....... . 15.3 Female: At birth ... 20 ___ ____ 4 0 ........ 6 0 ........ 1/ 62.9 47.1 30.4 17.7 1919-21 1/ White Net Increase 47.1 38.4 26.5 14.7 11.5 5.1 .7 46.9 37.2 16.0 25.6 14.7 .6 9.9 4*8 3.0 1949 Source: National Office of Vital Statistics - 32 - Net Increase 65.9 49.3 30.9 15.5 56.3 45.6 29.9 9.6 3.7 15.2 .3 71.5 54.2 35.3 18.3 58.5 46.5 30.9 15.9 13.0 Based on death-registration States of 1920. 1919-21 1/ 1.0 7.7 4.4 2.4 Table 5. — Population of the United States, by color, age, and sex, 1950 and 194-0 Change, 1940-50 Nonwhite White Age and sex Number 1950 1940 1950 1940 Nonwhite Percent White Nonwhite White (in thousands) T o t a l ......... Under 10 ..... 1 0 - 1 9 ..... 20 - 34...... 35 - 44-..... 4 . 5 - 6 4 ...... 65 and over .. 15,482 3,517 2,803 3,660 2,201 2,425 879 13,454 2,668 2,763 3,476 1,880 2,028 Male •..•••••••• Under 10 ••••• 1 0 - 1 9 ..... 20 - 34 ..... 35 - 44 ..... 45 - 64 ..... 65 and over .. Female ••••••••• Under 10 ••••• 1 0 - 1 9 ..... 20 - 34 ..... 35 - 44 ..... 45 - 64 ..... 65 and over •• 640 135,215 26,048 19,290 31,361 19,050 28,019 11,443 118,215 18,558 21,316 29,451 16,453 24,056 8,379 2,028 849 40 I84 321 397 239 17,000 7,490 -2,026 1,910 2,597 3,963 3,064 15.1 31.8 1.4 5.3 17.1 19.6 37.3 14.4 40.4 -9.5 6.5 15.8 16.5 36.6 7,672 1,834 1,376 1,753 1,074 1,202 432 6,613 1,328 1,358 1,634 915 1,054 324 66,961 13,292 9,606 15,363 9,431 13,991 5,279 59,449 9,446 10,774 14,579 8,250 12,317 4,082 1,059 506 18 119 159 148 108 7,512 3,846 -1,168 784 1,181 1,674 1,197 16.0 38.1 1.3 7.3 17.4 14.0 33.3 12.6 40.7 -10.8 5.4 14.3 13.6 29.3 7,810 1,683 1,427 1,907 1,127 1,221 445 6,841 1,340 1,405 1,842 965 973 316 68,254 12,756 9,685 15,998 9,619 14,030 6,166 58,767 9,113 10,542 14,871 8,203 11,740 4,297 969 343 22 65 162 248 129 9,487 3,643 -857 1,127 1,416 2,290 1,869 14.2 25.6 1.6 3.5 16.8 25.5 40.8 Figures do not necessarily add to totals because of rounding. http://fraser.stlouisfed.org/ Source: U. S. Bureau Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis of the Census. 16.1 40.0 -8.1 7.6 17.3 19.5 43.5 Table 6. — Population by color and urban-rural residence, 1900-1950 Nonwhite White Year Total Urban Rural Percent urban ( : thousands) In 1950 1/ ............ 15,482 1940 ................ 1930 ............... 1920 ................ 1 9 1 0 ............... 1900 ..... .......... 13,454 12,488 10,890 10,240 9,185 V 9,389 6,451 5,395 3,685 2,791 2,079 Total Urban Rural Percent urban (in thousands) 6,092 7,004 7,094 7,205 7,449 7,106 60.6 47.9 43.2 33.8 27.3 22.6 135,215 118,215 110,287 94,821 81,732 66,809 86,639 67,973 63,560 50,620 39,832 28,718 48,576 50,242 46,727 44,201 41,900 38,091 64.1 57.5 57.6 53.4 48.7 43.0 The urban and rural population data for 1950 are not comparable with earlier periods because of changes in the urban definition. The total urban population in 1950 is about 8 million larger than it would have been under the 194-0 definition. Source: U. S. Bureau of the Census Table 7 Percent distribution by migration status of the population, by color, selected dates March 194-9 to March 1950 April 1948 to April 1949 April 1940 to April 1947 l/ April 1935 to April 1940 Migration status Nonwhite Total ................. . Nonmigrants.... Migrants............... Within a State....... Between States....... Abroad............. . White Nonwhite White 100.0 95.1 4.7 3.0 1.7 .2 100.0 93.9 5.7 3.0 2.8 .4 100,0 95.1 4.7 2.8 1.9 .1 100.0 93.8 5.9 2.8 3.1 •» 4 “ Nonwhite 100.0 77.4 21.8 7.7 14.1 .8 White 100.0 78.9 20.7 11.0 9.7 •* 4 Nonwhite 100.0 90.4 9.5 5.6 3.9 .1 White 100.0 86.2 13.5 7.9 5.6 .3 Figures do not necessarily add to totals because of rounding, 1/ Data for 1950, 194-9, and 194-7 refer to the civilian population born on or before the beginning of the migration period; data for 194-0 refer to the total population born on or before the beginning of the migration period. Migrants are persons living in a different county at the end of the specified period from the one in which they were living at the beginning of the period* Source: U. S, Bureau of the Census Table 8, Division and State Population by color, for divisions and States, 1950 V and 1940 1950 Total Per cent Nonwhite non white 1940 Total Continental U. S. •• 150,697,361 NewEngland Maine ................. 9,314*453 913,774 NewHampshire 533,242 Vermont 377,747 Massachusetts *••»« 4,690,5U Rhode Island 791,896 Connecticut 2,007,280 Middle Atlantic •••• 30,163,533 New York •••••«».• 14,830,192 New Jersey ....... 4,835,329 Pennsylvania »•••• 10,498,012 East North Central . 30,399,368 Ohio................... 7,946,627 Indiana .......... 3,934,224 Illinois ......... 8,712,176 Michigan.......•••• 6,371,766 Wisconsin ........... 3,434,575 West North Central . 14,061,394 Minnesota ••••••.. 2,982,483 Iowa .«»»«««...... 2,621,073 Missouri •••••.••• 3,954,653 North Dakota ••••• 619,636 South Dakota ••••• 652,740 Nebraska •••.••••• 1,325,510 Kansas ........... 1,905,299 South Atlantic Delaware ............ 21,182,335 Maryland ••••»..•• 318,085 Dist. of Columbia. 2,343,001 802,178 Virginia ......... 3,318,680 West Virginia •••• 2,005,552 North Carolina ... South Carolina ... 4,061,929 2,117,027 Georgia .......... 3,444,578 Florida .......... 2,771,305 East South Central « 11,477,181 Kentucky •••••••» 2,944,806 Tennessee••••••••• 3,291,718 Alabama .......... 3,061,743 Mississippi •••••• 2,178,914 West South Central • 14,537,572 Arkansas ••••••••• 1,909,511 Louisiana •••••••. 2,683,516 Oklahoma ......... 2,233,351 Texas ............ 7,711,194 Mountain ................ 5,074,998 Montana •••••••••. 591,024 Idaho •••••••••••» 588,637 W .••••••••« 290,529 yoming Colorado ......... NewMexico ••••••• 1,325,089 681,187 Arizona •••«•••••• 749,587 Utah................... 688,862 Nevada ••••••••••• 160,083 Pacific ............ 14,486,527 Washington ....... 2,378,963 Oregon ••••••••••• 1,521,341 California ••••••• 10,586,223 Nonwhite Per cent non white 10.2 1.3 .3 .1 .1 1.4 1.6 2.0 4.7 4.4 5.5 4.8 Percent change 1940-50 Non Total white White 15,756,963 10.5 131,669,275 13,454,405 H.5 17.1 H.l 153,356 1.6 8,437,290 108,144 10.0 10.4 a.8 2,927 847,226 .3 2,683 7.9 80.7 9.1 7.9 967 .2 535 8.5 31.5 491,524 8.4 .1 5.2 559 1.7 4,316,721 359,231 425 5.1 79,069 59,125 8.7 33.7 8.3 14,881 1.9 11.0 28.9 10.7 713,346 11,5a 54,953 2.7 1,709,242 33,835 17.4 62.4 16.5 7.6 1,926,929 6 .4 13,479,142 1,301,865 9.5 48.0 10.0 59.8 958,246 6.5 27,539,487 599,596 7.7 16.2 a . 7 H.7 324,513 6.1 9,900,180 229,078 644,170 6.7 4,160,165 473,191 6.0 36.1 4.5 1,856,235 6.1 26,626,342 1,097,891 4.1 H.2 69.1 11.8 518,413 6.5 6,907,612 3a,081 3.6 15.0 52.0 13.1 175,859 4.5 3,427,796 122,473 4.9 H.8 43.6 13.7 7.6 7.2 666,154 7.1 7,897,241 216,463 5.0 10.3 69.5 5,256,106 453,925 1.2 3,137,587 393,039 4.1 21.2 109.7 17.4 .8 9.5 68.6 9.0 41,88 4 24,835 3.0 4.0 19.7 485,306 3.5 13,516,990 405,471 3.5 2,792,300 23,318 .8 6.8 23.5 6.7 28,805 1.0 2,538,268 21,507 .8 .7 3.3 22.4 17,577 3.1 299,066 7.6 3,784,664 245,477 6.5 4.5 21.8 3.3 11,188 1.8 10,471 1.6 -3.5 6.8 -3.6 641,935 24,236 642,961 23,886 3.7 1.5 18,210 1.4 1.5 32.7 24,166 3.7 1,801,028 .7 1.5 1.8 1,315,834 .3 66,532 3.7 76,338 4.0 5.8 H.7 5.4 5,HO, 264 24.3 17,823,151 4,727,924 26.5 18.8 8.7 18.8 22.5 44,207 16.6 35,977 13.5 28.6 266,505 302,763 16.6 19.4 22.9 28.7 13.9 28.2 388,OH 35.4 1,821,244 188,765 28.5 21.0 50.5 9.2 284,031 663,091 662,190 24.7 737,038 22.2 2,677,773 28.1 23.9 11.3 6.0 115,268 5.7 1,901,974 117,872 6.2 5.4 1,078,819 26.6 3,571,623 1,003,988 28.1 13.7 -2.2 16.2 7.5 815,496 823,624 19.3 11.4 1.0 16.8 1,064,005 38.9 1,899,804 1,085,445 42.9 46.1 -2.0 27.2 605,258 30.9 1,897,414 515,428 34.7 10.3 17.4 21.8 3,123,723 56.7 9.7 2,707,072 23.6 10,778,225 2,784,470 25.8 6.5 -2.8 202,876 16.1 2,845,627 2H,202 7.5 3.5 -5.3 4.2 6.9 531,468 2,915,841 508,935 34.7 8.1 4.4 H.7 2,832,961 -.2 982,243 32.1 2,183,796 983,864 17.5 12.9 -8.1 12.5 990,485 45.5 1,077,469 49.3 -.2 7.4 2,500,730 17.2 13,064,525 2,494,929 19.1 11.3 .2 13.9 24.8 1.1 428,003 22.4 1,949,387 483,303 36.0 -2.0 -11.4 18.8 886,968 33.1 2,363,880 852,H1 13.5 4.1 200,796 9.0 2,336,434 232,206 9.9 -4*4 -13.5 -3.4 22.6 984,963 12.8 6,414,824 927,279 H.5 20.2 6.2 229,365 4.5 4,150,003 171,090 4.1 22.3 34.1 21.8 18,986 3.2 18,988 3.4 5.6 (2/) 559,456 5.8 5,581 1.1 12.1 29.8 12.0 7,242 1.2 524,873 6,520 2.2 250,742 4,H5 1.7 15.9 57.3 15.2 28,436 2.1 1,123,296 16,794 1.5 18.0 69.3 17.2 531,818 39,506 7.4 28.1 29.0 28.0 50,976 7.5 50.1 95,076 12.7 499,261 72,469 H.5 25.2 31.2 53.4 550,310 7,390 61.7 24.7 11,953 1.7 5.6 10,176 6.4 110,247 6,217 1.3 45.2 63.7 44.1 757,706 5.2 9,733,262 362,621 3.7 48.8 109.0 46.5 62,468 2.6 1,736,191 38,044 2.2 37.0 64.2 73.5 39.2 13,953 1.3 39.6 116.0 36.4 24,213 1.6 1,089,684 50.3 671,025 6.3 6,907,387 310,624 4.5 53.3 1/ Nonwhite total for 1950 represents complete Census enumeration and differs from figures shown in other tables which are based on sample data. 2/ Less than -.1 percent. Source: U. S. Bureau of the Census - 36 - Table 9. — Population by color, 1950 and 1940, far c itie s with 50,000 or more nonwhites in 1950 Nonwhite City New York, N. Y ....................... .. Chicago, 111............................... Philadelphia, Pa* « .............. D etroit, Mich* ............ Washington, D. C. .................. Baltimore, Md....................... Los Angeles, C alif. . . . . . . . . New Orleans, La. ••»••••«••• St. Louis, Mo. ...................... .. Cleveland, Ohio . . . . . . . . . . . . Memphis, Tenn. ............... Birmingham, Ala................ Houston, Tex. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Atlanta, Ga. ........................... Pittsburgh, Pa. San Francisco, C alif. ........... Cincinnati, Ohio Newark, N* «X *•«••<>•••••••• # Richmond, Va. ........................ .. Jacksonville, Fla. ................ Indianapolis, Ind.................... Norfolk, Va. ............................. L ouisville, Ky. ...................... Dallas, Tex. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Kansas City, Mo. Oakland, C alif. ................ .. Nashville, Tenn. • • .• » ....• • 1950 775,529 509,437 378,968 303,721 284,031 226,053 211,585 182,682 154,448 149,547 147,287 130,142 125,660 121,416 82,983 81,469 78,685 75,626 73,087 72,529 64,091 63,456 57,772 57,263 56,023 55,778 54,726 Source: U. S. Bureau of the Census 1940 Nonwhites as a percent of total population White Percent change 1950 477,494 62.4 7,116,428 282,244 80.5 3,111,525 252,757 49.9 1,692,637 150,790 101.4 1,545,847 518,147 188,765 50.5 166,395 35.9 723,655 97,847 116.2 1,758,773 149,762 22.0 387,763 702,348 109,254 41.4 765,261 84,919 76.1 121,536 21.2 248,713 108,961 19.4 195,895 470,503 86,555 45.2 209,898 104,602 16.1 62,423 32.9 593,823 693,888 31,835 155.9 55,757 41.1 425,313 363,150 46,226 63.6 61,336 19.2 157,223 131,988 61,818 17.3 363,082 51,217 25.1 150,057 46,084 37.7 47,210 22.4 311,357 50,488 13.4 377,199 41,832 33.9 400,599 328,797 14,227 292.1 47,330 15.6 119,581 1940 Percent change 1950 6,977,501 3,1.14,564 1,678,577 1,472,662 474,326 692,705 1,406,430 344,775 706,794 793,417 171,406 158,622 297,959 197,686 609,236 602,701 399,853 383,534 131,706 111,247 335,755 98,248 271,867 244,246 357,346 287,936 120,072 2.0 -.1 .8 5.0 9.2 4.5 25.1 12.5 -.6 -3.5 45.1 23.5 57.9 6.2 -2.5 15.1 6 .4 -5.3 19.4 18.6 8.1 52.7 14.5 54.4 12.1 14.2 “•4 9.8 14.1 18.3 16.4 35.4 23.8 10.7 32.0 18.0 16.3 37.2 39.9 21.1 36.6 12.3 10.5 15.6 17.2 31.7 35.5 15.0 29.7 15.7 13.2 12.3 14.5 31.4 1940 6 .4 8.3 13.1 9.3 28.5 19.4 6.5 30.3 13.4 9.7 41.5 40.7 22.5 34.6 9.3 5.0 12.2 10.8 31.8 35.7 13.2 31.9 14.8 17.1 10.5 4.7 28.3 Table 10. - Population by color, in 1950, for cities of 50,000 or more with more than 100 percent increase in nonwhite population between 194-0 and 1950 City Alameda, C alif. . . . . . . . Albuquerque, N.Mex. . . . Baton Rouge, La............... Bay City, Mich................ Berkeley, C alif. . . . . • • Buffalo^ N# »••••••• Denver, Colo. Detroit, Mich. • » • • ...• Erie, Pa. F lin t, Mich....................... Fort Wayne, Ind. . . . . . . Grand Rapids, Mich, . . . Holyoke, Mass. Kalamazoo, Mich. ..• • • • Lima, Ohio Long Beach, C alif. •••• Lorain, Ohio Los Angeles, C alif. . . . Lubbock, Tex. ................. Madison, Wis. . . . . . . . . . Milwaukee, Wis. . . . . . . . Hew Britain, Conn........... Niagara F alls, N.Y. . . . Oakland, C alif. ••••••• Ogden, Utah •••.•••••» • Peoria, 111.............. Pontiac. Mich. •»•••««• Portland, Oreg................ Racine, Wis. •« .••••••• Richmond, Calif............... Rochester, H. I . . . . . . . Rockford, 111. ..• • • .• • Saginaw, Mich* ..• • • • • • Salt Lake City, Utah .. San Bernardino, C alif.. San Diego, C alif. . . . . . San Francisco, C alif. . Santa Monica, C alif. . . Schenectady, N.Y. ••••• South Bend, Ind. ••«••• Spokane, Wash............... Syracuse, N.Y. ..• • • • • • Tacoma, Wash. ••••••••• Utica, N.Y. . . . . . . . . . . . Woonsocket, R. I. . . . . . Source: 1950 population Total Nonwhite 64,430 6,326 1,966 96,815 35,182 125,629 52,523 348 17,537 113,805 37,700 580,132 415,786 18,252 0,349,568 303,721 3,437 130,803 14,043 163,143 133,607 5,294 6,937 176,515 54,661 345 2,522 57,704 50, .246 3,282 250,767 6,587 51,202 2,533 0,970,358 211,585 6; 258 71,747 96,056 933 637,392 22,742 73,726 1,040 3,698 90,872 55,778 384,575 57,112 1,603 111,856 5,915 73,681 6,977 373,628 13,240 1,511 71,193 14,216 99,545 332,488 7,845 2,568 92,927 92,918 8,671 3,102 182,121 63,058 2,127 334,387 18,364 775,357 81,469 3,640 71,595 1,476 91,785 8,227 115,911 161,721 2,699 5,058 220,583 4,427 143,673 1,670 101,531 50,211 174 U. S. Bureau of the Census - 3a Percent change, 1940-50 Total White Nonwhite 77.7 459.3 65.4 173.1 12 3.9 174.4 261.8 202.6 291.7 9.2 9.5 102.3 33.0 232.1 19.9 10 6 .2 .7 -2.7 29.0 112.2 26.7 5.0 13.9 101.4 11.8 10.2 147.3 110.1 7.7 2.9 12.8 109.0 10.7 5.0 154.6 7.4 1.2 1.7 231.7 122.0 6.7 4.2 108.8 8.9 12.4 290.0 50.2 52.7 120.1 16.0 13.3 31.0 116.2 25.1 180.1 121.1 125.2 133.3 41.9 42.4 144.7 8.5 6.3 6.3 7.3 210.4 239.6 13.3 16.5 292.1 1 4 .2 27.3 153.6 30.7 28.9 105.0 3.7 6 .4 10.6 145.8 4.6 132.8 20.2 22.3 232.8 5.9 4*4 321.1 3,384.3 267.3 1.0 2.3 129.3 9.8 112.1 8.3 6.1 12.2 154.3 151.2 21.5 20.4 42.8 120.9 44.5 187.2 60.5 64.4 22.2 155.9 15.1 33.8 101.2 31.5 4.0 4.8 107.3 128.1 14.5 10.3 32.6 144.5 31.5 5.8 7.1 117.4 31.3 146.4 29.4 1.0 215.7 -.1 1.8 109.6 1.7 Table 11.—Median school years completed by persons 25 years old and over, by color and sex, 1950 and 194-0 1950 Net change 5.7 5.4 6.1 1.3 1.1 1.3 9.7 9.3 10.0 Nonwhite: Both sexes ......... Male ...................... Female . . . . . . . . . White: Both sexes . . . . . Male ...................... F em ale........... 1940 7.0 6.5 7.4 Color and sex 8.7 8.7 8.8 1.0 .6 1.2 Source: U. S. Bureau of the Census Table 1 2 .—School enrollment of the population 5 to 24 years of age, by color, 1950 and 1940 Color and age Nonwhite: 5 - 2 4 ........... 5 -1 3 .... 1 4 - 1 7 ___ 18 - 24 . . . . White: 5 - 2 4 ........... 5 -1 3 .... 1 4 -1 7 .... 1 8 -2 4 .... Source: Total 1950 Enrolled in school Number Percent (In thousands) (In thousands) 5,664 2,796 1,083 1,786 3,357 2,277 819 260 59.3 81.4 75.6 14.6 5,366 2,468 1,100 1,798 2,863 1,950 751 163 53.4 79.0 68.2 9.1 40,998 19,663 7,435 13,899 25,034 16,005 6,370 2,660 61.1 81.4 85.7 19.1 40,986 17,557 8,620 14,809 23,896 14,890 6,958 2,047 58.3 8 4 .8 80.7 13.8 U. S. Bureau of the Census Total 1940 Enrolled in school Number Percent 39 Table 13• — Employment status of the civilian noninstitutional population, by color and sex, annual averages 1951, 194-9, and 194-7 (Percent distribution) Employment status and sex Both sexes: Population, 14- years and o v e r ......... In labor force .............. .. Not in labor force ........................... In labor force ....................................... Employed...................... ........................ Unemployed .. .......... ............................ Male: Population, 14- years and o v e r ......... In labor force . ................................. Not in labor force ................ ... In labor force ..................................... Employed ......................................... Unemployed .......................................... Female: Population, 14 years and over ••.♦. In labor force ................................... Not in labor force ........................... In labor force ...................... ............... Employed ............................................... Unemployed ........................................... Source: U. S. Bureau of the Census Nonwhite 1951 1949 White 1947 100.0 100.0 100.0 62.7 63.7 63.8 37.3 36.3 36.2 100.0 100.0 100.0 95.2 91.8 94.6 4.3 8.2 5.4 1951 1949 1947 100.0 100.0 100.0 57.2 56.8 56.0 42.8 43.2 44.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 97.2 94.8 96.7 2.8 5.2 3.3 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 33.6 84.5 85.8 84.0 84.0 83.8 16.4 15.5 .14.2 16.0 16.0 16.2 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 95.6 91.2 94.3 97.6 94.8 96.5 4.4 8.8 5.7 2.4 5.2 3.5 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 44.9 45.8 44.1 32.6 31.0 29.5 55.1 54.2 55.9 67.4 69.0 70.5 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 94.6 92.8 95.3 96.3 94.8 97.0 5.4 7.2 4.7 3.7 5.2 3.0 Table 14.— Percent distribution of married couples, by labor force status of husband and wife, b y color, 1950 and 1940 1950 Labor force statu s of husband and w ife 1940 Nonwhite White Nonwhite White 100.0 91.5 33.6 58.0 100.0 91.7 20.8 70.8 8.5 3.1 5.4 8.3 1.4 6.9 100.0 92.8 22.6 70.2 7.2 1.7 5.5 100.0 91.7 10.1 81.5 8.3 .7 7.6 Married couples, husband head of household........... Husband in labor force......... Wife in labor force. . . . . . Wife not in labor fo rce.. Husband not in labor force. Wife in labor fo rce........... Wife not in labor fo rce.. Figures do not necessarily add to totals because of rounding. Source: D. S. Bureau of the Census Table 15.—Percent of the c iv ilia n population in the labor force, by color, age, and sex, annual average 1951 Age Total, 14 and over............. 1 4 - 1 7 ................................. 18 - 1 9 . . . . ........................ 2 0 - 2 4 ................................ 25 - 34................................. 35 - 44................................. 45 - 54................................ 55 - 64................................. 65 and over........................ Male Female Nonwhite White Nonwhite White 83.7 44*8 80.8 88.7 95.7 96.4 95.1 8 4 .6 49.5 .O 39.2 74.2 88.4 97.0 97.6 96.0 87.4 44.5 44.9 23.7 40.6 45.4 51.1 55.8 55.5 39.8 14.0 32.6 21.6 54.1 46.7 33.6 38.0 38.0 26.8 8.5 84 Source: U. S. Bureau of the Census - 41 - Table 16. -- Percent distribution of employed me n and women, by major industry group and color, April 1950 and March 194-0 l/ Nonwhite Sex and major industry group Total employed men ............. Agriculture .......................... Mining Construction • • • • • • ........................... Manufacturing .................................... .. Transportation, communication, and other public u t ilit ie s ...» Wholesale and r e ta il trade • • • • .• Service industries . . • • • • • .............. A ll other industries .................... Industry not reported . . . . . . . . . . . Total employed women......... ........< > Agriculture ......................................... Mining ........................................... ••••• Construction ......................................... Manufacturing ............... ....................... Transportation, communication, and other public u t ilit ie s •••• Wholesale and r e ta il trade •••••o Service industries A ll other industries • • • • • » ..• • • • Industry not reported White April 1950 March 1940 April 1950 March 1940 100.0 25.2 1.1 8.0 22.3 3.5 14-.0 15.1 4.6 1.3 100.0 10.7 (2/) .3 9.6 1.3 10.3 64.8 1.8 1.1 100.0 41.7 1.7 4.7 15.4 6.5 10.4 15.9 2.2 1.5 100.0 16.1 (2 /) .1 3.5 .2 4 .2 74.3 .6 .9 100.0 15.3 2.5 8.4 100.0 21.5 2.8 6.1 25.4 8.3 16.9 13.9 3.8 1.3 100.0 2.4 .1 .3 23.7 3.5 20.5 43.3 3.2 2.3 2 6 .6 8.8 17.5 14.7 5.0 1.2 100.0 3.1 .2 .7 24.6 4.9 23.9 35.9 4.2 2.5 l / These are decennial census data and d iffer from the estim ates based on current population surveys (MRLF) shown in table 17* 2 / Less than .1 percent. Source: U. S. Bureau of the Census - 42 - Table 17. — Percent distribution of employed nonwhite men and women, b y major industry group, April of selected years, 194-0-52 Sex and major industry group 1952 1950 1948 1944 1940 1 / Total employed men .................. 100.0 100.0 Agriculture 7 j ................................ .. 24.6 19.2 Nonagriculture ..................................... 80.8 75.4 Mining ............... ........................... 2.7 2.4 Construction ..................................... 8.8 7.3 Manufacturing .......................... .. 21.5 26.4 Durable ........................................... 17.413.6 Nondurable .................................. .. 9.1 7.9 Transportation, communication, and public u t ilit ie s . . . . . . . . 7.5 » 7.3 Trade, finance ................................ 16.2 17.3 Domestic and personal se r v ic e.. 7.2 7.7 Professional services .................. 4-. 4 4 .4 Government ..................................... 5.0 4.9 2.7 Other l j ............................................. 2.5 100.0 100.0 Total employed women ............. .. Agriculture 2 / ..................................... 6.2 8.7 Nonagriculture ..................................... 93.8 91.3 Mining .................................................. (20 (2/0 C onstruction..................................... (20 .1 7.0 Manufacturing .................... 7.9 1.6 2.7 Durable ........................................... Nondurable ..................................... 6.3 4.3 Transportation, communication, .6 .8 aid public u t ilit ie s . . . . . . . . Trade, finance ................................. 12.9 11.4 57.6 Domestic and personal se r v ic e.. 55.2 10.1 Professional services ................. 13.8 Government ......................................... 3.5 2.5 1.0 Other i j ........................ .............. .. .7 100.0 22.4 77.6 6.1 6.7 24.0 16.3 7.7 9.6 13.6 7.6 4.2 4 .2 2.6 100.0 31.3 68.7 4.1 3.7 23.6 (2/) (2/) 10.0 12.3 6.0 3.2 3.9 1.9 100.0 43.3 56.7 1.8 4.8 16.1 100.0 8.7 91.3 100.0 .1 .2 (2/) 8.9 2.5 6.4 .5 14.1 55.7 9.4 1.8 .8 10.9 89.1 $0 2 1 3 .0 Q/) (2/) 1 .1 1 1 .4 5 2 .7 7 .3 3 .1 .5 (20 ( 2/ ) 6 .7 1 1 .7 8 .3 2 .9 1 .7 2 .7 10 0 .0 2 1 .0 79 .0 (20 (20 (. / ) .1 3 .0 3 .2 4.5 64.6 5.7 .6 .4 Figures do not necessarily add to totals because of rounding. The estimates for 1944-52 are subject to sampling variation which may be large in cases where the percentages are based on quantities which are small. l/ 2/ 2/ ij / The 194-0 data are for Negroes only but are not significantly different from distribution for all nonwhites. Includes forestry and fishery. Not available. Includes business repair services, amusement, and recreation. Less than .05 percent. Source: U. S. Bureau of the Census - 43 - Table 18. — Percent distribution of employed m e n and women, by major occupational group and color, April 1950 and March 1940 1/ Nonwhite White Sex and major occupational group 1950 1940 1950 1940 Total employed men •••••••.••••••••••• Professional, technical, and kindred workers ................ . Farmers and farm managers Managers, officials, and proprietors, except farm Clerical and kindred workers Sales workers Craftsmen, foremen, and kindred workers ............... . Operatives and kindred workers ••••« Private household workers Service workers, except private household ••....... . Farm laborers and foremen .......... Laborers, except farm and mine ••••• Occupation not reported •••..••••••• 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 2.2 13.5 1.9 2 1.1 7.9 10.5 6.6 14 .2 2.0 3.4 1.5 1 .6 1 .2 1.0 1 1 .6 6.8 6.6 10.6 6.5 6.8 7.6 20.8 .8 4*4 12.4 2.3 19.3 20.0 .1 15.9 18.7 .1 12.5 11.3 23.1 1.3 12.3 20.0 21.3 •6 4.9 4.4 6.6 1 .2 5.2 7.0 7.6 .7 Total employed women .•••••••••••••••• Professional, technical, and kindred workers Farmers and farm managers .......... Managers, officials, and proprietors, except farm Clerical and kindred workers ..••••• Sales workers Craftsmen, foremen, and kindred w o r k e r s .... . Operatives and kindred workers ..... Private household workers Service workers, except private household Farm laborers and foremen •••«••«..» Laborers, except farm and mine ....• Occupation not reported ••••.••••••• 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 6.2 2.0 4.3 3.0 13.4 .7 14.8 1 .1 .5 4.0 1.3 .8 1.0 .6 4.8 29.8 8.9 4.3 24.5 8 .1 1.0 14.6 42.0 .2 6.6 58.6 1.7 19.8 4*4 1 .1 20.3 10.9 17.8 8.8 1 .1 .7 10.4 12.9 .8 .7 11.4 2.3 .7 2.2 11.5 1 .2 .9 1.3 y These are decennial census data and differ from the estimates based on current population surveys (l-IRLF) shown in table 19* Source: U. S. Bureau of the Census - 4 4 - Table 19* ** Proportion of nonwhite to total employment in each major occupational group, by sex, April of selected years, 194-0-52 1 / Major occupational group Employed nonwhites • •• •• •• •• •• •• •• •• •..•• Professional, technical, and kindred workers ........................................ Managers, o ffic ia ls, and proprietors, excluding farm ......................................... C lerical, sales, and kindred workers .. Craftsmen, foremen, and kindred workers ................ ........... .. Operatives and kindred workers . . . . . . . . Private household workers .............. ... Service workers, except private household Farmers and farm managers Farm laborers and foremen Laborers, except farm and mine .............. Male 1952 1950 1948 8.9 8.3 8.4 2.5 2.6 2.6 1944 1940 1952 9.8 8.6 11.4 3.3 2.8 7.0 Female 1950 1948 1944 1940 12.0 11.8 12.9 13.8 5.2 5.4 5.7 4.5 1.6 3.4- 1.9 2.8 1.8 2.3 2.1 2.8 1.1 1.3 3.1 2.2 2.7 1.9 2.4 2.3 4.8 1.4 2.6 .7 4-.0 10.4 31.6 3.9 8.5 51.3 3.7 10.1 53.7 3.6 10.1 75.2 2.6 5.9 60.2 4.9 6.8 53.9 2.2 7.8 53.9 5.4 8.2 52.4 5.2 8.3 60.9 2.2 4.7 46.6 21.7 10.7 16.2 26.9 21.4 10.5 19.8 21.4 20.7 9.8 15.8 23.6 21.9 11.0 21.1 27.6 16.5 12.4 21.0 21.0 20.0 24.1 14.3 7.8 19.1 20.2 19.2 42.6 20.0 21.9 15.9 24.4 23.9 12.7 23.8 30.4 21.4 62.0 35.6 13.2 The estimates for 1944-52 are subject to sampling variation which may be large in cases where the percentages are based on quantities which are small. 1 / The 194-0 data are for Negroes only but are not significantly different from distribution far a ll nonwhites. Source: U. S. Bureau of the Census Table 20. - Nonagricultural placements, total and nonwhite, by major industry division, April of 1951, 1944, and 194-0 Major industry division April 1940 April 1944 April 1951 3 / Nonwhite Nonwhite Nonwhite Percent Percent Percent Percent Percent Percent of d istri of d istri Total Number of d istr i Total Number Total Number total bution total bution total bution T o ta l....................... . 488,855 145,492 29.8 Forestry and 98 17.0 fishing ................. 575 Mining •••••••» •••• 163 5.5 2,984 Construction •••••• 60,195 18,295 30.4 Manufacturing ••.•• 137,841 21,691 15.7 Transportation . . . . 26,073 5,193 19.9 Wholesale and reta il trade . . . . 95,107 22,736 23.9 Finance, insurance, and real e sta te .. 6,884 1,028 14.9 Service, total •••• 140,302 73,769 52.6 Domestic .............. 92,869 59,963 64.6 Government •••» •••• 18,296 2,390 13.1 Establishments (not elsewhere c la ssi 598 fied) ••••••••••* 129 21.6 1/ 7j 100.0 760,671 141,597 18.6 818 10,243 50,845 442,712 57,194 1 5 .6 60,559 4,532 .7 50.7 85,018 41.2 41,462 1.6 48,195 .1 .1 12 .6 14 .9 3 .6 .1 555 3.2 5.2 22.8 13.2 15.9 20.7 684 15.1 41,652 49.0 30,442 73.4 6,709 13.9 26 530 11,589 58,605 9,105 12,508 189 34.1 271,266 56,442 8.8 .5 29.5 21.5 4.7 634 1,999 40,823 43,529 6,963 48,447 3,133 116,311 84,605 8,883 47 7.4 187 9.4 8,532 20.9 3,934 9.0 1,380 19.8 4,517 9.3 469 15.0 36,614 31.5 28,376 33.5 736 8.3 .8 65.0 50.3 1.3 .1 544 U* 3 (2/) 100.0 ( 2/) .4 8 .2 4 1 .4 6 .4 Excludes Connecticut, Colorado, Minnesota, New Mexico, Oregon, and Pennsylvania. Less than 0.05 percent. Source: Bureau of Emnloyment Security 26 20.8 100.0 .1 .3 1 5 .1 7.0 2 .4 8.0 Table 21.—Duration of current jobs of employed workers, and farm-nonfarm residence January 1951 (Percent distribution) Farm United States Date current job started White Nonvhite Nonwhite 100.0 100.0 Both s e x e s ............................. 100.0 January 1950 - January 1951 .. 35.8 28.3 40.4 35.2 September 1945 - December 1949 33.6 24.5 16.0 20.1 January 1940 - August 1945 ••• 15.6 Before 1940 10.7 18.3 12.3 Date not rep orted ................... . 2.8 2.1 4.3 Median years on current job •• 3.5 2.4 1.9 100.0 100.0 M ale..................................................... 100,0 January 1950 - January 1951 •• 32.9 37.5 25.4 22.8 September 1945 - December 1949 32.1 34.9 January 1940 - August 1945 17.7 16.3 22.4 Before 1940 ....................... 13.2 14.7 21.4 2.0 2.6 Date not reported .................. ... 4.2 Median years on current job •• 2.8 4.0 3.1 100.0 100.0 Female ................................................. 100.0 35.6 52.1 January 1950 - January 1951 • • 40.7 35.8 30.7 September 1945 - December 1949 36.2 15.8 10.6 12.0 January 1940 - August 1945 . . . Before 1940 10.7 2.5 6.5 3.8 Date not reported 2.3 4.4 1.0 Median years on current job •• 1.7 2.3 Figures do not necessarily add to totals because of rounding. Sources U. S. Bureau of the Census by color, sex, Nonfarm White 100.0 24.6 29.4 18.5 26.1 1.5 4.7 100.0 22.4 29.1 18.9 28.2 1.4 5.1 100.0 34.7 31.0 16.6 16.3 1.5 2.8 Nonwhite 100.0 35.0 3 5 .1 14 .9 10 .5 4 .5 2 .5 100.0 3 1.8 34.2 16.6 12.8 4.6 3.1 100.0 39.9 36.7 12.2 6.9 4.4 1.7 White 100.0 29.0 36.1 15.6 17.1 2.2 3.3 100.0 26.0 36.0 15.7 20.2 2.1 3.8 100.0 35.6 36.2 15.6 10.2 2.3 2.3 Table 22 . — Average number of remaining years of life, in labor force and in retirement, males, by color and by urban-rural residence, 1940 Age 20 Age 60 Age 40 Color Total In labor force In retire ment Total In labor force In retire ment Total In labor force In retire ment Total ............. Nonwhite ...... .. White ........... 46.8 39.8 47.7 41.1 36.2 41.8 5.7 3.6 5.9 29.5 25.4 30.1 23.7 21.3 24.0 5.8 4.1 6 .1 15.1 14.6 15.1 9.1 9.5 9.1 6.0 5.1 6.0 Total urban Nonwhite ••••••••• White ........... 45.6 37.0 46.4 40.0 33.4 40.7 5.6 3.6 5.7 28.3 23.0 28.7 22.5 18.8 22.8 5.8 4.2 5.9 14.1 12.9 14.1 8.2 7.3 8.2 5.9 5.6 5.9 Total rural ....... Nonwhite ......... W h i t e ..... . 48.6 43.1 49.6 42.8 39.3 43.4 5.8 3.8 6.2 31.4 28.1 31.9 25.4 23.9 25.6 6.0 4.2 6.3 16.2 15.9 16.2 10 .1 10.8 10 .1 6 .1 5.1 6 .1 Source: National Office of Vital Statistics and Bureau of Labor Statistics Table 23.— Median money income of families, by color and residence, 1945-50 Year and residence Nonwhite Total White Nonwhite as a percent of white 1950: Total i / ......... $3,319 $1,869 $3,445 54.3 1949: Total ............ Urban ........ .. Rural nonfarm ... Rural farm •••.•• 3,107 3,486 2,763 1,587 1,650 2,084 691 3,232 3,619 2,851 1,757 51.1 57.6 43.5 39.3 1948: T o t a l .... ........ Urban ......... . Rural nonfarm ... Rural farm ...... 3,187 3,551 2,954 2,036 1,768 2,172 1,592 942 3,310 3,694 3,033 2,235 53.4 58.8 52.5 42.1 1947: Total ............. Urban Rural nonfarm ... Rural farm ..•••• 3,031 3,349 2,826 1,963 1,614 1,963 1,446 1,026 3,157 3,465 2,922 2,156 51.1 56.7 49.5 47.6 1946: Total .......... Urban Rural nonfarm ... Rural farm ••.... (2/) 3,123 2,547 (2/) 1,929 1,506 (2/) (2/) 3,246 2,642 (2/) 59.4 57.0 Total .......... Urban Rural nonfarm ... Rural farm ...... 2,621 2,995 2,445 1,410 1,538 2,052 (£/) 559 1945: 1/ 2J 2/ u & 1,240 ill) (2/) 2,718 3,085 2,498 1,602 (2/) 56.6 66.5 34.9 Urban-rural data not available for 1950. Data for total and rural farm not available for 194.6. Information not available. Median not shown where there are fewer than 100 cases in the sample reporting on income. Source: U. S. Bureau of the Census - 4 9 - Table 24. — Median wage and salary income of persons with wage and salary income, by color, 1939 and 1947-50 Total Tear 1950 1949 1948 1947 1939 ........ . ......... ......... ......... ......... Source: Nonwhite White Nonwhite as a percent of white $2,133 2,016 2,017 1,865 877 $1,295 1,064 1,210 863 364 $2,481 2,350 2,323 1,980 956 52.2 45.3 52.1 43.6 38.1 U. S. Bureau of the Census Table 25.— Percent distribution of Negro and white workers, with four quarters of employment in 1949, by amount of annual wage credits, by sex Sex and amount of wage credits Negro 100.0 Total male ............... . $1 - $599 ....................... $600 - $1,199 ................... $1,200 - $1,799 ................. $1,800 - $2,399 ................. $ 2,400 - $2,999 ................. $3,000 .......................... Total f e m a l e ........ ............. $1 - $599 ...... ................ $600 - $1,199 ................... $1,200 - $1,799 ................. '>1,800 - $2,399 ................. $2,400 - $2,999 ................. $3,000 .......................... White 1/ 100.0 5.6 15.0 23.1 24.1 18.5 13.7 1.8 4.2 8.1 14.1 19.3 52.5 100.0 100.0 10.7 35.8 32.7 15.1 4*4 _2/l.3 5.5 16.2 27.8 28.3 14.6 7.6 Based on 1-percent sample of account numbers issued under the old-age and survivors insurance program. l/ 2/ Includes all persons of races other than Negro. Less than 100 persons in sample cell. Source: Federal Security Agency, Social Security Administration, Bureau of Old-Age and Survivors Insurance - 50 - Table 26.— Proportion of workers permanently insured and wage credits, 1937-49, for workers with wage credits under OASI in 1949, by sex and race Item Male All workers Negro Female White 1/ Negro White 1/ Percent permanently insured.... 29.1 21.9 36.7 5.9 17.0 Mean wage credits, 1937-49..... Mean wage credits per quarter employed, 1937-49............ $12,265 $8,931 $15,346 $3,930 $7,354 $437 $330 $495 $226 $316 28.1 27.1 31.0 17.4 23.2 26.3 24.3 29.4 15.0 21.3 93.6 89.7 94.8 86.2 91.8 34.9 35.0 36.4 31.7 31.8 Mean quarters of employment, 1937-49...................... Mean quarters of coverage, 1937-49...................... Percentage of quarters of employment that were quarters of coverage.... ............. Median age.................. Based on 1-percent sample of account numbers issued tinder the old-age and survivors insurance program, l/ Includes all persons of races other than Negro. Source: Federal Security Agency, Social Security Administration, Bureau of Old-Age and Survivors Insurance NEGROES IN THE UNITED STATFS — THEIR EMPLOYMENT AND ECONOMIC STATUS An Annotated Bibliography This bibliography lists selected references which include material on the economic and employment status of the Negro during recent years. A few books presenting general background information have been included. References to earlier publications may be found in many of the books included in the list below. Listings of nongovernmental publications in this bibliography are for record and reference only and do not constitute an endorsement of point of view or advocacy of use. Brazeal, B. R. The Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters. Harper and Brothers, 1946. 258 pp. $3. New York, An account of the origin and development of the union and its struggle for better wages and working conditions. Cox, Oliver Cromwell. Caste. Class, and Race: A Study in Social Dynamics. New York, Doubleday and Co., Lie., 1948. 624 PP* $7.50. A study of social, class, and racial friction in the present day. Section 5, "Occupation and Caste," attempts to answer two questions: (l) Is it necessary that each caste have cm occupation? (2) Must every occupation have a caste? Embree, Edwin R. Brown Americans: The Story of a Tenth of the Nation. New York, Viking Press, Lie., 1943. 248 pp. |3. A presentation of the origin, development, achievements, and problems of the Negro in America. Pages 109 to 140, "Making a Living," cover various phases of the economic life of the Negro in farming, trades, war industries, labor unions, business, and the professions. Frazier, E. Franklin. The Negro in the United States. The Macmillan Co., 1949. 767 pp. #8. New York, A text on the American Negro from slavery to the post-World War II period. Chapter XXIII gives a historical account of the employment and economic status of the Negro. Gardner, Burleigh B.; and Moore, David G. Human Relations in Industry. Chicago, Richard D. Irwin, Lie., 1950. 431 pp. Rev. ed. 16.65. Chapter 17 concerns minority groups in industry with special emphasis on the Negro as a new industrial immigrant. - 5 3 - Johnson, Charles S. and Associates* Into the Main Stream* Chapel Hill, University of North Carolina Press, 194-6. 355 pp. $3*50. An outline of the social and economic progress of Negroes during the last quarter-century, with a survey of best practices in race relations in the South. Jones, Arthur J. Principles of Guidance and Pupil Personnel Work. McGraw-Hill Book Co., Inc., 1951. 630 pp. 4th. ed. $4-.75. New York, Chapter XXIII explains the sources of attitudes toward racial differences as they affect guidance and personnel work of the Negro youth, and refers to changing economic and employment con ditions which accentuate problems. Miller, Glenn Wasson. 1951. 560 pp. $5. Problems of Labor. New York, The Macmillan Co., Chapter 20 discusses problems arising from low wage groups in our economy, especially Negroes. This chapter presents the problems involved and the attempted solutions to the problems. Myrdal, Gunnar and Others. An American Dilemma: The Negro Problem and Modern Democracy. New York, Harper and Brothers, 1944-. 2 vols. 1,483 pp. $6. A comprehensive study of the Negro in American society and an analysis of the problem of racial discrimination. Part IV, vol. 1, on nEconomicst discusses various aspects of the economic t life and development of the Negro from slavery. Northrup, Herbert R. Organized Labor and the Negro. Harper and Brothers, 1944. 312 pp. #3.50. New York, An analysis of the influence of unions upon economic oppor tunities for Negroes. Reid, Ira DeA. and Raper, Arthur. Sharecroppers All. Chapel Hill, University of North Carolina Press, 1941. 281 pp. #3. A description of current conditions among Southern workers— Negro and white— with special emphasis on trends. Ross, Malcolm H. All Manner of Men. 1948. 314 PP. #3.50. New York, Reynal and Hitchcock, Surveys racial problems in American life, with a major portion of the book devoted to the Government’s wartime experiment with Pair Employment Practice Committee. Seidenberg, Jacob. Negroes la the Work Group. Ithaca, Cornell University, New York State School of Industrial and Labor Relations, February 1950. pp„ Research Bulletin No. 6. 15 cents. AS A study of selected employment practices in New York State. Covers techniques and methods used by certain businesses and industries to integrate the Negro in the work force of 33 firms located in Rochester, Buffalo, Syracuse, and New York City. Southall, Sara E. Industry^ Unfinished Business. Harper and Brothers, 1950. 173 pp. $2.50. New York, Discusses the role of industrial relations in the employment of minority groups from the standpoint of managementj describes step-by-step methods which have been successfully employed in numerous companies to make possible the inclusion of Negro employees on industrial staffs. Sterner, Richard and Others. Harper and Brothers, 1943. The Negro’s Share. 433 pp. $4.50. New York, What the Negro gets from his work and his economic environ ment as seen in his housing, standard of living, and extent to which he benefits from public programs of social welfare. Weaver, Robert C. Negro Labor: A National Problem. Harcourt, Brace and Co., Inc., 1946* 329 pp. $3. New York, Describes the problems faced by labor, management, and govern ment resulting from the entrance of the Negro into new spheres of employment and discusses the future of the Negro in our economy. Includes material on labor unions and the influence of the unions upon employment opportunities of the Negro. - 55 - PUBLICATIONS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR The following recent publications of Bureaus in the United States Department of Labor include material relating to the employment and economic status of the Negros BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS Articles in the "Monthly Labor Review” The following issues, no longer obtainable on purchase from the Government Printing Office, are available in government depository and other libraries, including those of colleges and universities* Negro Workers. (Vol. 52, No. 2, February 1941 > pp* 350-55*) A special section presents brief digests of (l) the decision of the U. S. Supreme Court on October 28, 194-0, sustaining the decision of the Circuit Court of Appeals on equal pay for Negro and white school teachers in Norfolk, Va., and (2) a summary report of a conference in Michigan, one of a series in 20 States sponsored by the United States Employment Service, on "Employment Problems of Negroes in Michigan." Defense Activities and Conditions* pp. 1388-91.) (Vol* 52, No. 6, June 1941, A section on "Negro Participation in Defense Work," discusses the employment policies on hiring of Negroes in the construction and aviation industries* Occupational Status of Negro Railroad Employees. March 1943> PP* 484*^.) (Vol. 56, No. 3, A report on occupations of Negroes employed by the Pennsylvania Railroad as of September 28, 1942* War and Postwar Trends in Employment of Negroes. January 194-5, pp. 1-6.) (Vol. 60, No. 1, An analysis of data on the occupational and industrial distribution of employed Negro men and women for April 1940 compared with April 1944. - 56 - Postwar Trends in Negro Employment. pp. 663-6667) (Vol. 65, No. 6, December 1947, An analysis of the occupational and industrial changes of the Negro worker during World War II and the position of the Negro worker in the postwar period. Postwar Status of Negro Workers in San Francisco Area. No. 6, June 1950, pp. 612-18.) (Vol. 70, A summary of the findings of a field survey made in the spring and early summer of 1948, under auspices of the University of California. Occupational Outlook Series The following bulletins in this series, prepared prima rily for use in vocational counseling, include material on the employment and opportunities of Negroes, in particular fields of work, as of the date of publication. With the exception of those out of print, the bulletins may be obtained from the Superintendent of Documents, U. S. Government Printing Office, Washington 25, D. C,, at the price indicated* Employment Outlook in the Building Trades. Out of print; available in libraries. June 1949. Employment Outlook in Foundry Occupations. Out of print; available in libraries. May 1946. (Bull. 967.) (Bull. 880.) Employment Outlook in the Plastic Products Industry. April 1948. (Bull. 929•) 20 cents. Employment Outlook in Railroad Occupations. (Bull. 961.) 30 cents. .Tune 19/.9. Employment Outlook for Elementary and Secondary School Teachers. July 1949. (Bull. 972.) 40 cents. Effect of Defense Program on Employment Situation in Elementary and Secondary School Teaching^ August 1951. (Supp., Bull. 972.) 15 cents. Social Workers in 1950. A Report on the Study of Salaries and Working Conditions in Social Work. New York, American Association of Social Workers, Inc., One Park Avenue, New York 16, N. Y 0 78 pp. $1. A report, prepared by the Bureau of labor Statistics, on a survey of 51,000 social workers conducted jointly with interested professional organizations, which includes data on number, age, education, and salaries of Negroes in the profession. - 57 - BUREAU OF EMPLOYMENT SECURITY Copies of the following may be obtained free upon request. Employers: There is More Manpower. June 1951. A brochure, directed to employers, to promote employment practices based solely on qualifications of workers. It includes statements from leading employers who advocate nondiscriminatory personnel policies without regard to race, creed, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, or physical handicap. Status and Characteristics of Nonwhites in the Labor Force. An annual mimeographed report issued in 1950, 1951, and 1952 on employment status and trends of nonwhite workers in the labor force, based on census data and the Bureau*s labor market information. Articles in the Employment Security Review.” Employment Program for Minority Groups. November 1950, pp. 7-10.) (Vol. 17, No. 11, A description of the practical program of the Louisiana State Employment Service to increase job opportunities for minority group job seekers. Expanded Utilization of Minority Group Workers. April 1951, pp. 34-36.) (Vol. 18, No. 4, A progress report of the minority groups program of the Ohio State Employment Service. WOMEN’S BUREAU Negro Women War Workers. 1945. (Bull. 205.) 23 pp. Available in libraries. Descriptive material and statistics present, for the period 194-0-44, the contributions made by Negro women in war work. Opportunities for Negro Women in the Medical and Other Health Services. 8 pp. mimeo. Free upon request. Summary information based on a series of 12 bulletins published in 1945 and 1946 by the Women’s Bureau on ”The Outlook for Women in Occupations in the Medical and Other Health Services.” Opportunities for Negro Women in Science. 3 pp. mimeo. Free upon request* A digest of information included in the Bureau’s reports on ”The Outlook for Women in Science,” published in 1943 and 1949. - 58 - ☆ U. S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE : O — 1953
