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PROGRESS
WORKS
ADMINISTRATION
HARRY L. HOPKINS
(X)RRINGTON GILL
Administrator
Assistant Administrator
NATIONAL RESEARCH PROJECT
on
Reemployment Opportunities and Recent Changes
in Industrial Techniques
IRVING KAPLAN
Associate Director
DAVID WEINTRAUB
Director
In cooperation with
INDUSTRIAL RESEARCH DEPARTMENT
WHARTON SCHOOL OF FINANCE AND COMMERCE
UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA
JOSEPH WILLITS
ANNE BEZANSON
Director
Director
Philadelphia Labor Market Studies
Gladys L. Palmer, Economist in Charge
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WPA -National
Research Project
(Ki.ne)
MACHINIST FINI SHING AXLE OF LARGE DRIVING WHEEL
FOR NEW TYPE OF LOCOMOTIVE
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TEN YEARS OF WORK EXPERIENCE OF
PHILADELPHIA MACHINISTS
by
Helen Herrmann
WORKS PROGRESS ADMINISTRATION, NATIONAL RESEARCH PROJECT
In cooperation with
INDUSTRIAL RESEARCH DEPARTMENT, UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA
Report No.
P-s
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
September 1938
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PHILADELPHIA LABOR MARKET STUDIES
Members or Starr Who Worked on This Study
GLADYS L. PALMER, Research Associate, Industrial Research Department, Uni ve:rsi ty of
Pennsylvania; C,onsul tant, National Research Project, directing studies of this
section
JANETH. LEWIS, Statistician
HELEN L. KLOPFER, Associate Economist
MURRAY P. PFEFFERMAN, Associate Statistician
MARGARET W. BELL, Assistant Statistician
VIRGINIA F. SHRYOCK, Chief Statistical Clerk
HELEN HERRMANN, Research Economist in charge
of field work for Schedule #20
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WORKS PROGRESS ADMINISTRATION
WALKER-JOHNSON BUILDING
1734 NEW YORK AVENUE NW,
WASHINGTON, D. C.
HARRY L. HOPKINS
ADMINISTRATOR
Sept ember :1.4, 1.9 38
Hon. Herry L. Hopkins
Works ?rogress Administrator
Sir:
There i s t :rn n sm i t t ed her ew i th a report on i 0 years
of work experience of mc.chinis,s, millwrights, and tool
makers who·were either wo:::-ki ng or seeking work in Phi ladelph:a in :foy 1.9.)6.
The :::-ep,-rt analyzes in detail
their employment and unemployment histories between 1-925
and 1-936.
the produc::ion cf Philadelphic's
industries
mounted aft-er 1.9:,.), machinists who had been out of work
were reemployed in substantial numbers. By 1-935 and :l.936
there were frequent reports of a labor shortage in the
occupation. Yet in May 1.936 one out of eve:::-y eight machinists was found to be unemployGd, and another was
working at some other occupation, most often at less
skilled work.
More than half of the unemployed had
been without a job for at least a year.
Since there
were some ur.Gmployed among those customarily attached
tc each of the industries employing machinists, the labor
shortage, if it existed, must have been restricted to
highly specialized jobs.
As
The age of machinists wos significantly related to
their employment status and to their chances for reemployment.
Compared with other industrial workers, the machinists were relatively old (45 years of age) and had had
long years (22r) of experience at their trade. Half of
them reported no unemployment lasting i month or more
in the i0-year period 1-926-.)5.
This half was somewhat
older than the average.
On the other hand, those who
were unemployed in May 1.936 were also older than the
average.
Thus, alt hough advanced years may be no bar
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to retaining a job as machinist, once an older man becomes unemployed, he has 1 ess chance than a younger
worker of being hired to fill the next job opening.
The report, 'fen Yea.,..s of Wo.,.-k Expe.,.-ience of Phi lade lphia Machinists, was prepared by Helen Herrmann under
the supervision cf Gladys L. Palmer.
This is one of
the series of reports on the "Philadelphia Labor Market
Studies" ccnducted jointly by the National Research
Project on Reemployment Opportunities and Recent Changes
in Industrial Techniques and the Industrial Research
Department of the University of Pennsylvania.
Respectfully yours,
Corrington Gi 11
Assistant Administrator
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C ONT E NT S
Section
Page
PREFACE.
xiii
I. INTRODUCTION
1
Purpose of study
Place of machinists in Philadelphia's industries
Method of conducting the study
Method of analysis • • • • • • • • . • • • • • •
1
2
8
10
II. OCCUPATIONAL CHARACTERISTICS OF THE MEN STUDIED. •
12
Age. • • •
Nativity.
Schooling.
Entrance into the labor market
The first job. • • • • • • • •
Apprenticeship . • • • . . . •
Industrial group of customary attachment
Longest job and usual occupation
Employment status in May 1938.
Summary. • • • • • •
III. UNEMPLOYMENT, 1926-35.
12
12
13
14
15
17
20
22
25
28
29
Employment experience of industrial groups
Incidence of unemployment. • • • • • • • .
Characteristics of the men who experienced
unemployment between 1928 and 1935. •
Part-time employment • • • • • • • • • • •
Number and length of unemployment periods.
Characteristics of the men who were unemployed
in May 1938. . • • • • • • • • • • • • •
Reemployment by May 1937 of workers unemployed
in May 1938 • . • •
• • • . • • •
Characteristics of workers who had no unemployment between 1928 and 1935.
Summary • • • •
IV. WORK EXPERIENCE, 1926-35
29
33
34
39
39
42
45
48
49
51
Division of time between work at the usual
occupation and at other occupations .
Division of time between work in the usual
industry and in other industries. • •
Job separations. • • . . • • • • • • • • •
Shifts of employers, occupations, and industries
Summary. • • • • • •
V. SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS.
51
58
58
80
84
87
Summary. • •
Conclusions.
87
72
vii
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CONTENTS
viii
Page
Appendix
75
A. TABLES
125
B. SCHEDULE AND DEFINITIONS OF TERMS USED
128
127
Schedule .
Definitions of terms used.
CHARTS AND ILLUSTRATIONS
Figure
Machinist finishing axle of large driving
wheel for new type of locomotive . •
1.
2.
frontispiece
Machinist milling down part of a drive shaft
for a locomotive . •
5
Age distribution of machinists and of all employable
men in Philadelphia, May 1936. .
12
3.
Turret-lathe operator setting machine.
18
4.
Industrial group of usual employment and of present
or last job. •
• • • • • . • . •
20
Employment status, January 1926-December 1935,
usual industrial group • . . • . • . .
30
5.
8,
7,
8,
9.
10.
11.
12.
by
Percentage distribution of man-months of specified
types of employment experience, 1926-35, by
usual industrial group . • • • . • • • • • •
32
Employment history of individual machinists in four
industrial groups who reported unemployment,
January 1926-December 1935 • • • • • . • •
34
Employment history of individual machinists
unemployed in May 1936, January 1928-December 1935
38
Average number of months of specified types of
employment experience, 1926-35, by age in May 1938
39
Socioeconomic character of employment at occupations
other than the usual, 1926-35, by age in May 1938
54
Percentage distribution of machinists by type and
frequency of separations, 1928-35. • •
61
Tool builder planing for a taper shoe on steam
hammer ram
es
TEXT TABLES
Table
1.
Occupational group of first job of machinists.
15
2.
Number of years in the labor market . .
24
3.
Frequency and duration of unemployment experience
for workers reporting unemployment, 1928-35, by
industrial group • • , • • • • • • • • • . • • ,
41
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CONTENTS
ix
TEXT TABLES-Continued
Page
Table
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
Employment status in May 1937 of machinists
unemployed in May 1936
••••
45
Occupational distribution of workers who reported no
unemployment in the 10-year period 1926--35.
48
Number of periods of work at occupations other than
the usua!, 1926--35, by employment status preceding
these periods and by socioeconomic character of
the occupations. . • • • • • . • •
• .•.
55
Number of job separations, 1926--35, by employment
status in May 1936, age, and type of shift • • • •
62
Number of job separations, 1926--35, by usual
industrial group and type of shift
••••
63
APPENDIX TABLES
Table
A-1.
Wage earners in the metal industries of the
Philadelphia industrial area, 1929.
'76
A-2.
Employment status in May 1936 by age.
'76
A-3.
Nativity by age
'7'7
A-4•
Number of years of continuous residence in
Philadelphia, by nativity and employment status
in May 1936 • • • • • •
• • • • . •
7'7
School grade completed by age and employment
status in May 1936.
• • • • •
78
Age of beginning work by age and employment status
in May 1936 • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
'79
Year of entering the labor market by age and
employment status in May 1936 • • • • • • •
80
Apprenticeship by age and employment status in
May 1936. • • •
• • • • •
81
Length of apprenticeship by number of months
unemployed, 1926--35 •
• • • • .
82
A-5.
A-6.
A-'7.
A-8.
A-9.
A-10. Apprenticeship by usual industrial group.
82
A-11. Usual industry of workers
83
A-12. Usual industrial group by age and employment
status in May 1936. • •
84
A-13.
Industrial group of present or last job by age and
employment status in Hay 1936. •
• • • •
A-14. Length of service on longest job by age and
employment status in Hay 1936 • •
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85
86
X
CONTENTS
APPENDIX TABLES-Continued
Page
Table
A-15, Occupation of longest job by the usual occupation, •
8'7
A-16. Number of years employed at usual occupation by age
and employment status in May 1936 • • • • • •
88
A-17, Number of years employed at usual occupation by
usual industrial group and age. • • • • .
89
A-18, Occupation of last job by usual occupation,
machinists employed in May 1936 • .
90
for
A-19. Employment status by months, 1926-35, for 284
machinists whose usual industrial group was
the manufacture of machinery, machine tools,
and electrical goods . • . • . • • .
A-20,
Employment status by months, 1926-35, for 158
machinists whose usual industrial group was the
manufacture of transportation equipment
94
95
A-21. Employment status by months, 1926-35, for 94
machinists whose usual industrial group was
the manufacture of metal products, including
professional instruments . . . • . •
96
A-22. Employment status by months, 1926-35, for 145
machinists whose usual industrial group was
government agencies and public utilities and
miscellaneous manufacturing and other industries
97
A-23, Number of months unemployed,
industrial group.
98
1926-35, by usual
A-24. Total man-months of employment experience,
by usual industrial group. • . • • .
!926-35,
• . . . • •
A-25, Total number of months unemployed, 1926-35, by age
and employment status in May 1936 • •
99
99
A-26. Unemployment as a percentage of time in labor
market, 1926-35, by age. .
100
A-27, Number of months employed part time, 1926-35, by age
101
A-28, Year of loss of last job at usual occupation by
employment status in May 1936.
102
A-29, Average number of months of specified types of
employment experience, 1926-35, by age. •
102
A-30, Average length of unemployment periods, 1926-30 and
1931-35, by age and employment status in May 1936
103
A-31. Average length of unemployment periods, 1926-30 and
1931-35, by usual industrial group. •
104
A-32, Length of longest period of unemployment, 1926--35,
by age and year of beginning longest period of
unemployment. . . . . • • • • • . • • • . • . . .
105
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CONTENTS
xi
APPENDIX TABLES-Continued
Table
Page
A-33, Length of longest period of unemployment, 1926-35,
by number of periods of unemployment • • , , • • •
105
A-34, Length of longest period of unemployment, 1928-35,
by employment status in May 1936 and year of
beginning longest period of unemployment • • , • •
106
A-35, Number of months since less of last job for
machinists unemployed in May 1938, by age
107
A-38, Length of service on longest job for machinists who
reported no unemployment in the 10-year period
192€>-35, by age . . . • • • • • •
• • • •
107
A-37, Number of months since loss of last job for
machinists unemployed in May 1936, by usual
industrial group. • . • • • • • • •
108
A-38, Usual industrial group for machinists who reported
no unemployment in the 10-year period 192€>-35,
by age. • • . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
108
A-39, Number of months employed at occupations other than
the usual, 1926-30 and 1931-35, by age. • •
109
A-40, Frequency of employer separations from jobs at usual
and other occupations, 192€>-35, by age. , • •
110
A-41, Number of months employed at usual occupation,
192€>-30 and 1931-35, by age . .
. . . . .
111
A-42, Average length of service on each job at usual
occupation for all machinists and for those who
reported no unemployment in the 10-year period
192€>-35, by age • . • • • . • • • • • • • • • • •
112
A-43, Number of months employed at usual occupation, by
age, 1926-30 and 1931-35, for machinists who
reported no unemployment in the 10-year period
192€>-35 , • • • • . • . • • • • . • . , . • • •
113
A-44, Number of months employed at occupations other than
the usual, by age, 1926-30 and 1931-35, for
machinists who reported no unemployment in the
10-year period 192€>-35, . • • • • •
• •• ,
114
A-45, Socioeconomic character of man-months of employment
at occupations other than the usual, 1926-35,
by age. • • • • • . • . • . . . • • . • • • • • •
115
A-48, Socioeconomic character of man-months of employment
at occupations other than the usual, 192€>-35, by
age, for machinists who reported no unemployment
in the 10-year period 192€>-35 • • •
• • • , •
115
A-47. Frequency of job separations, 192€>-30 and 1931-35,
by age and employment status in May 1938, • • • •
116
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xii
CONTENTS
APPENDIX TABLES-Cor.:in~~d
Table
A-48. Frequency of job separations, 1928-30 and 1931-35,
by usual industrial group •
117
A-49. Frequency of job separations and employer,
industrial, and occupational shifts for machinists
who reported no unemployment in the .1.0-year perl..od
1926--35, by age
• • • • • • • •
• • • • •
119
A-50. Frequency of employer shifts,
by usual industrial group.
19~6-30 and 1931-35,
• • • •
• • • • •
119
A-51. Frequency of industrial shifts, 1926--30 and 1931-35,
by usual industrial group • • • • • • ,
120
A-52. Frequency of occupational shifts, 1926-30 and
1931-35, by usual industrial group. •
121
A-53. Number of job separations for machinists 30-44 years
of age, by employment status in May 1936, usual
industrial group, and type of shift, 1926--35. • •
122
A-54, Number of job separations for machinists reporting
no unemployment in the 10-year period 1926--35, by
age and type of shift. • • • • • • • • • • • • •
123
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PREFACE
It has commonly been assumed that the machinist, a highly
skilled workman. is in a preferred position in the labor market.
His skill is required not only in the industries which build the
wide ranf!e of mechanical equipment needed in factories and mines
and on railroads, highways, and farms, but also - for repairing
and maintaining this equipment - in the industries which use it.
It has therefore been contended that a machinist can usually find
a job in another industry if employment conditions in the industry
in which he has been working are unfavorable. This study of the
10-year work experience of 683 Philadelphia machinists ( including
millwrights and tool makers) throws some light on the machinist's
position in the labor market.
The m;.i_chinist 's chances of employment are determined primarily
by the industry in which he is usually employed rather than by
his occupation. For instance, it was found that those customarily
employed in the manufacture of transportation equipment were
unemployed in much higher proportions than those attached to other
industries. The transportation-equipment industries, which include locomotive and streetcar building, railroad equipment and
repair shops. shipbuilding, and automobile and parts manufacture,
were especially depressed after 1929 and in May 1936 had not
recovered so much as had most other industries. Twelve percent
of all machinists were unemployed in May 1936, but 20 percent
of those attached to transportation-eq_uipment manufacture were
unemployed. More than half of these had been without a job for
a year or more, and a fifth had been out of work for 4 years.
The rate of unerr.ployment of these machinists in comparison
with that of others suggests an important degree of immobility
of machinists between industries in spite of the commonly supposed high rate of transferability of their skill. As compared,
for instance, with the hand cigar maker, whose skills are useful
in making only one type of product, the machinist has similar
work in a wide variety of industries.
Special experience is
required
for certain types of work. however. and
the skill of
the machinist is not entirely transfer~ble.
IH thin given industries. the mach10ist 's security of employment
depends considerably on whether he is a production man or a maintenance man. It was found that machinists customarily employed
xiii
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PREFACE
xiv
in the production of machinery and equipment of all sorts were
unerr.ployed in greater proportion in May 1936 than those who usually do maintenance work in other manufacturing industries or
for f!OVernment agencies or public utilities. Among machinists
who reported havinf no unemployment of 1 month or more in duration within the 10-year _'.leriod 1926-35, there were relatively
more maintenance than production workers. Only a comparatively
s:nall p_roportion of machini.sts doing maintenance work for government agencies and for public utilities experienced unemployment.
but among those who did c· nigh proportion were unemployed for
long periods.
In general, machinists af, a group had less unemployment during
the 10-year period 1926-35 than other groups of Philadelphia
workers studied. Also, in May 1936, 12 percent of the machinists
included in the sample were unemployed compared with 31 percent
of all employable men in Philadelphia. In view of the fact that
reports of a shortage of machinists were widely current in 1936,
however. their rate of unemployment may be considered high.
High standards of selection, particularly with respect to age,
and the limits of transferability of the machinist's skill from
one industry to another were the primary determinants of the
employment status of individual machinists in 1936. As the demand
for experienced machinists became more pressing, many of those
unemployed in May 1936 were found upon a checkup to have been
reabsorbed.
Also. the Philadelphia Survey of Employment and
Unemployment found a much lJwer rate of unemployment among machinists in May 1937 than in May 1936.
The materials for this study were obtained by interviewing
machinists in their homes. We are deeply appreciative of the
cooperation of the men whose work histories the report analyzes.
The assistance of local tn.de-association and plant executives
and local trade-union officials who were consulted from time to
time is also gratefully ac~nowledged.
DAVID WEINTRAUB
IRVING KAPLAN
PHILADELPHIA
July 22, 1938
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SECTION I
INTRODUCTION
PURPOSE OF STUDY
The group of occupations including machinists,
tool makers,
Although there are
gradations of skill within it, training requirements for each
and millwrights is relatively standardized.
occupation are definite and usually have as a minimum a 1J--year
apprenticeship as machinist. The group is important among skilled
trades because of the number of workers involved. In the Philadelphia labor market the group is particularly important. Of the
10 largest cities in the United States in 1930, only Detroit and
Cleveland reported a larger proportion of skilled workers classified as machinists, tool makers, and millwrights. 1
With increasing business activity during 1935 to 1937, a shortage of workers in th is group of skilled occupations had been announced in many quarters. It is not the function of this study
to determine whether such a shortage existed. The purpose is
to examine the employment experience of the available labor supply
in Philadelphia at a time when a shortage was claimed for this
~nd other areas. 2 This examination requires an analysis of the
relationship of age and other employment qualifications to the
extent of unemployment experienced by individual workers, and
the character of the industrial and occupational shifts they
made over a period of years. Since machinists, tool makers, and
millwrights are employed in many industries and their skill is
considered to be transferable in high degree, the character of
their work experience in relation to the volume of unemployment
in the major industries in which they work becomes important.
This is, therefore, a study of the labor market of an allied
1 F1gures
tor mach1n1sts,
tool makers are obtained from
•Population• {U, s. Dept,
Com., Bur. Census, 1933), Vol. IV, table 4, p. 1385, Figures tor total skilled
workers by cities are obtained from a socioeconomic grouping or occupations
computed rrom the United States Census and supplied by the National Resources
Committee. In 1930 the census notes 20,432 machinists, millwrights, and tool
makers in Philadelphia. For purposes or comparison, it ls well to remember
that in 1920, 30,465 workers were reported in these occupations [fourteenth
Census of the United States: 1920, •Population: 1920• (U. S. Dept. Com.,
Bur. Census, 1923), Vol. IV, D, 1193] and in 1910, 19,771 [TliirteenthCensus
of the United States:] 1910, •Population• {U, s. Dept. Com., Bur. Census,
1914), Vol. IV, p. 184.
2 National Industrial Conference Board, If anted:
Ski !led Labor (New York:
NICB, Study No. 216, June 1935),
fifteenth Census of the
millwrights,
and
United States:
1930,
1
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MACHINISTS
2
group of skilled occupations which cross industry lines ina diversified metropolitan area in a period of alleged labor shortage.
PLACE OF MACHINISTS IN PHILADELPHIA'S INDUSTRIES
Machinists, tool makers, and millwrights 3 find their chief
employment in the metal-working industries. The importance of
these industries in the Philadelphia industrial area and in the
city itself can be judged from the detailed list of industries
and the average number of wage earners in each in 1929, as presented in table A-1. 4 The products of the metal industries vary
from heavy locomotives and turbines to hooks and eyes and pen
points.
Work in the selected occupations, however, is not confined to
industries producing metal goods. Wherever machinery is found,
there must be people to keep it in order. Philadelphia is a city
of diversified industries, many of them using delicate and expensive machinery. Consequently, many machinists and millwrights
are employed on maintenance work, not only in the city's factories
but also in nonmanufacturing establishments. Men who do maintenance work, in the opinion of one official of the Machinists'
Union, are among the most highly skilled and all-round men in
the trade. They must be prepared to work on a variety of machines
and to use their ingenuity at any time.
During the period of the World War the metal industries of
Philadelphia underwent great expansion. New plants were established and existing ones were enlarged.
In still other cases
3 •The machinist's work has to do in the main with giving a special shape,
size, or finish to metal machine parts, and with assembling, testing, erecting, and repairing machinery. It Involves a wide range or operations, most
or which are performed with machine tools, that Is, machines of various
types fitted with tools made or special steels hardened surr1c1ently to cut
metals. The shapes and sizes or these cutting tools vary according to the
nature or the work to be performed.
•Tool and die making, which are subd!vls!ons or the trade, call r0r a high
degree or skill and an extensive practical knowledge or the working properties
or Iron and steel. The men who do this work must have a general knowledge
or the machinist's trade, but In addition they require a considerable amount
or special knowledge and skill relating to the designing, shaping, and sharpening or tools. The all-rO'Und machinist must know how to use all the machine
tools or the trade, but usually he does not possess the special training
and experience required 1n tool making.• Quoted rrom R.R. Lutz, The Neta!
Trades (Cleveland, Ohio: The Survey Committee or the Cleveland roundat!on,
1816), p. 14.
•The machine tool millwright's duties consist or Installing general machinery
or machine tools in any shop, plant, or ractory.• Quoted rrom Neta!-working,
building and genera! construction, ..-ai!road transpo..-tation and shipbuilding,
"Descriptions or Occupations• (U. s. Dept. Labor, Bur. Labor Statistics,
1 91 8 ) , p. 46.
4 Since 1n some cases machinists living 1n the city work outside the city
11mi ts, 1n such plants as the Baldwin Locomotive Works in Eddystone, r lgures
have been presented ror the Philadelphia Industrial area.
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INTRODUCTION
3
plants were converted from other uses to the manufacture of munitions and various metal products used in war. This activity
so increased the demand for skilled metal workers that in the
1920 Census of Population one and one-half times as many individuals in Philadelphia reported themselves as machinists as
had done so in 1910. 5 After the war the demand for machinists
declined with the result that the occupation was a surplus one.
By 1930 the number of machinists had fallen almost to the 1910
level. This post-war decline in the employment opportunity for
machinists has affected the more recent employment experience
of this group and is important to bear in mind in the following
analysis.
The shrinkage in the supply may have gone too far, for, with
the first evidence of renewed business activity after the depression of 1929-33, complaints arose 6 of a lack of machinists.
The evidence of such a shrinkage has increased, until in the
spring of 1937 the Regents' inquiry on education in the State of
New York reported that apprentice training was needed to enlarge
the supply of skilled craftsmen, particularly machinists. 7
It is an open question whether the employment of skilled workers
such as machinists in the metal industries in Philadelphia has
increased or declined as a result of recent changes in methods
of production.
It is said, however, that
the kinds of skills
needed have changed. An example of such change was brought out
in a job analysis of manufacturing plants in another city. There
it was found that the proportion of factory operations in which
the machine set-ups were complicated had increased from 25 percent
to 27 percent between 1931 and 1936. Of these, however, 25 percent, as against 11 percent in 1931, were handled by experienced
set-up men. It was specifically mentioned that a number of the
operations in which the machine set-up is complicated are found
in the metal-working industries. In connection with the use of
machinery the author of that study says: "The ever-growing use
of automatic machinery has been an important factor in producing
the far reaching changes that have taken place in our whole industrial system • • • • • it has greatly increased the proportion
5see footnote 1 !or the number or machinists 1n Philadelphia 1n each census
year, 1910-30.
6 NICB. lfanted:
Ski lied Labo 7.
7 Apprent lee Tral n Ing Counc 11 or the Regents or the Un 1vers 1ty or the State
or New York, Apprenticeship and the leedfor Apprenticeship !raining (Albany:
University or the State or New York Press, 1937).
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4
MACHINISTS
of workers in the semiskilled classes • • • • • It has also favored the growth of a small group of skilled workmen called
'machine setters.' • • • • To 'set-up' automatic machinery, however, skill on the part of the workman will always be necessary. 118
It is possible that the kind of work demanded of machinists
in Philadelphia may have undergone alteration, even though the
proportion of machinists to total individuals employed in an
industry may have remained the same. The character of the metal
industries here is changing. The manufacture of large and heavy
goods such as, for instance, locomotives is becoming less important. In addition, some of the manufacturing processes are now
perfonned outside the locomotive factory in an electrical-goods
plant. Another example of change is found in the manufacture of
heavy engineering machinery. Some of the plants in this industry
have moved from the city. Al though both these industries were
active during the time at which the study was made, they were
less important to the life of the city and its surrounding areas
than theyhadbeen formerly. The work in industries making heavy
products is not so fine or exacting as the work in certain other
industries that have grown in relative importance during the
decline of these industries.
Consequently, workers from the
heavr industries, though they are first class in their own line,
may not be hired by metal finns doing precision work.
Other evidence concerning employment trends in the metal industries of importance in Philadelphia indicates that although
employment had begun to rise early i.n 1933, by the end of 1935 it
had not risen above 1926 levels. If it is assumed that changing
technology has not affected the proportion of machinists needed
in these industries, there was an increasing demand for machinists in 1935 and, if current comment was correct, a restricted
supply. Withdrawals of machinists from the labor market have
not been balanced by access ions. Men withdraw every year because
of death, old age, and retirement. In addition, it is claimed
that "many skilled machinists have withdrawn from factory work
to set up small shops of their own, or to fill the demand for
garage and other repair-shop mechanics. • . . . Some found jobs
8 Charles A. Koepke, A Second Job Analysis or Manufacturing Plants in Minnesota
(Works Progress Administration, National Research Project in cooperation with
Employment Stabilization Research Institute, University or Minnesota, report
In preparation).
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INTRODUCTION
flPA -
Nat Iona I Research Project
FIGURE
5
(Rine)
1.- MACHINIST MILLING DOWN PART OF A DRIVE SHAFT
FOR A LOCOMOTIVE
where they could adapt their acquired skill to new tasks.
Others went into new types of work or branched out for themselves
as farmers, small store keepers, gasoline filling station proprietors and attendants, or delivery salesmen." 9 On the other
hand, it is also claimed that the supply of new workers has not
been maintained by immigration 0r by apprenticeship and that,
in consequence, there was a greater demand for competent mach inists than could be met. 10 According to one trade-association
official, the shortage was reflected in the Philadelphia area
in an increase in the hourly rate of pay, which was claimed to
be 12 percent higher in 1937 than it had been in 1929, and in
the fact that certain companies in the city were reviewing their
old personnel records and calling back men of ·60 years of age
and over. Aunionofficial said that wage rateshadshown little
increase as a result of the claimed scarcity. The shortage in
the early part of 1937, he thought, was being met by overtime,
9 NICB, Wanted: Skille1 Labor, pp. 3-4.
lO•Perhaps now ror the first time the full Impact or lmmlgratlon restrictions
Is being felt. At one time thousands or skilled mechanics, particularly
from England, Scotland, Germany and Sweden, annually replenished the forces
or skilled labor.•
(Ibid., p. 4.)
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MACHINISTS
6
which, in certain shops, was paid double the usual rate, and by
the use of machine operators wherever possible.
In such a situation, with demand stable or expanding, but changing in character, a study of the occupational characteristics
and employment experience of workers who have had steady employment and of those who have had periods of no work may shed needed
light on the incidence of unemployment within an occupation.
METHOD OF CONDUCTING THE STUDY
The sample consists of 683 skilled metal workers customarily
attached to one of four occupations. The persons selected for
study were located through the Philadelphia Survey of Fmployment
and Unemployment made in May 1936.
11
A visit was made to all
households with men whose usual occupation was that of machinist,
tool or die maker, millwright, or apprentice to these occupations.
An occupational history based on National Research Project Form
/120 12 was sought from each of these workers in a personal interview.
Work-historydataobtained through interviews with workers are
not likely to be statistically correct in all respects. The
most important of these are dates of separation from and accession
to jobs and dates and amount of part-time and full-time employment. These, however, may be set against known facts concerning
employment in the given occupation or industry and are thus, in
some measure, subject to check and correction. On the other
hand, the vital information that only the individual can give
is his own work experience interpreted in the light of his years
in the labor market and his own psychology. This information
is contained in his testimony on the amount of employment and
unemployment he has had and on the number of times he has changed
employers or types of work in relation to his age, schooling,
and training for work. The misdating of the information by a
few months seemed far less important than the internal consistency
of the facts.
The schedule covered a detailed history of employment and unemployment since January 1926, information concerning the first
and the longest jobs, and the social and industrial characteristics of the worker.
In addition the field staff made it clear
11 The Ph1ladelphla Survey or Employment and Unemployment covers approximately 9 percent or the city's employable population and 1nMay 1936 included
about 45,000 households.
12For copy or schedule see appendix B.
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7
INTRODUCTION
that information of all kinds pertaining to the working life of
the man interviewed would be welcome, and that, in particular,
employment history preceding the year 1926 would add to the adequacy of interpretation of the material. The result of this
request was that in four-fifths of the cases complete work histories beginning with the first job ever held were retn med,
together with some interesting narratives on early training,
experience in finding jobs, and other i terns of importance in
labor-market research.
After all inadequate schedules had been eliminated, the sample
was found to consist of 545 machinists, 96 tool and die makers,
27 millwrights, and 15 apprentices to these occupations, or a
total of 683. Apprentices WPre not included unless they were
serving their time in May 1936. Machine operators were excluded
except where the work histories showed the men to have had the
training and apprenticeship of machinists at some time. 13 The
entire group of 683 will be referred to throughout the study as
machinists, since the work done in every case reg_ui res the basic
training that machinists receive, and since most of the men studied had spent a considerable portion of their working life at
machinists' work. The group studied either were employed or
had la.st been employed by 271 different firms in the Philadelphia
industrial area.
The general basis for se1ection of the sample was work at the
usual occupation in or after January 1926. Fifteen individuals
were included who had spent much of their working life at their
usual occupation, although since 1926 their employment as skil1Pd
metal workers was at occupations ot·her than their usual one.
The reasons for their inclusion were long service as machinists
and the similarity between their usual occupations and the occupations to which they had shifted. Two men, for example, were
machinists before 1926 and then became tool makers but still
considered their usual occupation to be that of machinist. On
the other hand, two tool -~.1.kers had worked as machinists, but
not as tool makers, since 1g26. Five a,fdi.tional men who cli.d
13 Basis !or exclusion was 1ackora1>1>renticeshl1> comblnedwlthlack or time at
au-round machinists' work. Since the study is theoretically confined to
the 10 years 1926-3.5, it 1s possible that a machinist who had served a 4-year
aJ)prenticeshlp, served some years as machinist and spent the last 10 years as
SJ)ec1a11st on 1 machine would have been el1m1nated by these er! terla. Actually, however, the large majority or schedules gave complete work histories,
thus including suJ)plementary material from which it could be Judged whether
or not the work done was that or a machinist. In the case or certain doubtful
schedules the 01>1n1on or a s1>eclal1st on occupations 1n the Philadelphia
metal trades was sought.
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8
MACHINISTS
not work at their usual occupation between 1926 and 1935 reported
such work between January and May of 1936.
It is believed that the sample selected represents a cross
section of machinists, tool makers, and millwrights in the Philadelphia labor market in May 1936. The Philadelphia Survey of
Employment and Unemployment sample, from which this group has
been selected on the basis of occupation, has been shown to be
representative of all occupations in the city. 14 The representativeness of this sample of machinists, tool makers, and millwrights has been tested by data from the United States Census
of Population of 1930 and material from a study of applicants
at the Philadelphia State Fmployment Office in 1935 and 1936.
Comparisons between the sample and census and State Fmployment
Office data will be outlined below.
It should, however, be kept in mind that while the sample is
considered representative of the labor market for machinists in
the spring of 1936, it is not necessarily a cross section of
the machinists' labor market in years prior to 1936. It excludes
all individuals who, though formerly workers at one of the selected occupations, have left the work so long ago that they no
longer consider it their usual occupation. It is possible that
there are vital differences between workers who stay at a given
occupation and those who leave it. Since there is such a possibility, no attempt will be made to infer that the infonnation
on the employment status of the individuals in the study in any
year prior to 1936 is typical for the occupation in that year,
tempting as such a generalization might be.
In using figures from the Census of the United States as criteria of representativeness of the sample, allowance must be
made for the fact that the word "machinist" is loosely used by
members of households giving information to cen~us enumerators.
Conseq_uently, census figures may overstate the number of machinists in the labor market at any given time. 15 According to
14
For !urther details concerning the or1g1nal sampling procedure see J. F.
Dewhurst and E. A. Tupper, Social and Economic Character of Employment in
Phi!adelPhia, APri!, 1929, •Employmentan<lUnemployment Serles• (U.S. Dept.
Labor, Bur. Labor Stat1stlcs, Bull. No. 520, June 1930),
16 The bas1s ror this statement 1s a comparison or returns 1n the Ph1la<lelphia
Survey or Employment and Unemployment with this study or mach1n1sts. Many
1n<11vi<luals, whose !am111es had reported them as •machinists• 1n the Philadelphia Survey, sa1<1 themselves that they were helpers or sem1sk1lle<l operatives. Any man who has anything to <lo with machinery is likely, 1n the
eyes or his fam11Y, to be a machinist. A small number or 1n<11v1duals whose
households returned them incorrectly in this way, were also classHie<l as
machinists 1n the City f)frectory. Since in!ormat1on 1s given to the City
Directory, to the Ph1la<lelph1a Survey, and to the United States Census 1n
the same way, 1t seems probable that 1! one source overstates the number or
mach1n1sts 1n the city, the others <10 also.
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9
INTRODUCTION
the 1930 census figures, which must, however, be regarded in the
light of the above qualifications, the sample studied in 1936
is numerically equal to 3. 3 percent of the machinists reported
in 1930. The downward trend in this occupation from 1920 to
1930, however, presumably continued after 1930, 16 so that some
allowance should be made for a decline in the number of machinists
that wouldhavebeen reportedina complete census taken in 1936.
When the figures on the nativity of machinists of this sample
are compared with the census figures for Philadelphia, the proportions of foreign-born and native-born machinists are found to
agree. According to the 193ocensus, 68percent of themachinists
in Philadelphia were native-born and 32 percent were foreignborn. 17 In the sample 67 percent are native-born and 33 percent
foreign-born. One interesting difference should be noted. Although there is only one Negro in the sample, the census reports
1.7 percent of all Philadelphia machinists as Negroes. 18 This
may be accounted for by the previously noted use of the word
"machinist."
in terms of average age, the sample is also representative of the Philadelphia labor market for machinists. The
median age for all ~achinists in Philadelphia, according to the
United States Census for 1930, was 39 .2 years. In the sample
studied 6 years later the median age was 45.2 years. The occupation, it will be recalled from earlier discussion, has nnt
been receiving many accessions in the last 6 years. Consequently,
Measured
the median age should be higher than in 1930.
Since no census material concerning the education of Philadelphia
machinists is available, the grade of school attained by machinists in the sample is compared with that attained by machinists
and tool makers placed by the Philadelphia State Employment Office
in 1935 and 1936. In 1935 half the group of q.46 machinists and
tool makers placed by the Philadelphia State Employment Office
who reported on education went beyond 8.6 grades of school. In
1936 half the group went beyond 8.8 grades of
chinists alone the corresponding figures are
educational level for tool makers in the State
placements, as in the sample in the present
school. For ma8.5 and 8.7. The
Employment Office
study, was higher
16 see earlter dlscusston or thls point.
11
1930, •Population• (U. S. Dept.
fifteenth Census of the United States:
Com., Bur. Census, 1933), Vol. IV, p. 1413.
18 Ibid.
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10
MACHINISTS
than that for machinists by 0.1 grades in 1935 and 0.2 grades
in 19 36. Since the representation of tool makers in the State
Fmployment Office data in both years is higher than it is in
the present study, it has raised the educational level of those
groups. 19 According to the present study the average machinist
and tool maker completed 8.~ grades.
METHOD OF ANALYSIS
In the succeeding sections the data gathered through interviews
are analyzed according to age, industrial group of usual employ20
ment, and, for some material, employment status in May 1936.
The basis for choosing these three controls is discussed in the
following paragraphs.
Because of the close relationship between age and many other
characteristics, it w,uld be almost meaningless to attempt statements for the group as a whole without taking into account the
influence of age. Opportunities for schooling, for instance,
have been quite different for young workers as compared with
workers ~5 years of age and older. Because of the immigration
legislation of the 1920 1 s, nationality cannot be considered apart
from age. The most cogent reason for careful analysis in terms
of age is the need for all possible light on the relationship
of age to present or recent employment opportunities. Conflicting
opinion on this important subject increases the need for segregating the influence of age from that of other characteristics.
It has seemed important to analyze separately workers attached
to certain industries. The study includes some workers who are
customarily employed in the manufacture of metal products and
others who usually work in other industries. The experience of
the latter group, since the work they do is chiefly of a maintenance character, differs from the experience of individuals doing
production work in the manufacture of metal products.
Further-
19 Da ta secured rrom special tabula t1ons or Phlladel phi a State Employment
orrtce records wh1ch will be described 1n a later report 1n this series or
•Ph1ladelph1a Labor Market Studies.•
20
unless otherwise spectried, these data are the basts or all text and appendix
tables in this report.
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11
INTRODUCTION
more, not all industries were, in the spring of 1936, at the
same stage of development or recovery. 21
One objective of the study is to analyze any differences between
workers employed on a given date and those without work. For that
reason the third point of analysis covered employment status
in May 1936, the month in which the Philadelphia Survey of Fmployment and Unemployment was made. The reason for the choice
of this date is twofold. In the first place it represents a
period when recovery in the metal industries in Philadelphia
was well along, a date therefore when certain differences might
be expected between those who had been reabsorbed in the course
of recovery and those who had not. The second reason for the
choice of the date is that it is the time at which the sample
is considered completely representative of the labor market for
machinists (see page 8).
At that time 12.4 percent of the machi.nists were unemployed.
Of the employed workers, 82.4 percent reportPd that they wpre
working at their usual occupation. A preliminary analysis was
made to determine the differPnce in characteristics and experience
between the group of individuals working at some occupation other
than their usual one in May 1936, those employed at their usual
occupation, and the unemployed. Since there did not seem to be
any consistent or well-marked difference between the first two
groups mentioned, though there was a distinct difference between
the employed and the unemployed, the anil.lysis according to employment status was limited to two categorie::=- only: employed
and unempl0yed.
21 on the basts or an adaDtat1on or Bullet1n #4, Industry C:0de (Works Progress
Adm1n1strat1on, Nat1onal Research Project 1n cooperation wlth Industr1al
Research Department or the Untverslty or Penns:nvanla, mlmeo., Apr. 1936),
the Industries to which Individuals considered themselves customar11; attached
were class!ried 1n 5 1ndustr1al groups.
In general, the !'rOUD1ng followed
the grouping in the Industry Code, wlth separate classlf1catlons ror manuracturtng or metal Droducts; ror manuracturing or machinery, machtne tools,
and electr1cal goods; ror manuracturtng or transportation equtpment; ror
government agencies and public utlllt1es, together; and ror a residual group
inc1u<1ing all other 1ndustries. Included ln the metal-products group are
the m;i.nuracture or musical instruments, wh1ch Is classified as a seDarate
manuf;i.cturlng group 1n the Industry Code, and the manufacture or profess! onal
and scientific Instruments, whlch ls included !n other manufacturing Industries ln the code; these 2 changes arrected only 3 1ndlvtctuals.
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SECTION II
OCCUPATIONAL CHARACTERISTICS OF THE MEN STUDIED
ABE
The machinists in the study are a middle-aged and older group.
From table A-2 and figure 2 the concentration of workers in the
two age groups, 30 to '+'+ and i+S to 5 9, can be seen. The average
age for the whole group is q.5.2 years. 1 So high an average is
unusual except for highly skilled occupations. The average age
for all men included in the Philadelphia Survey of Employment
and Unemployment of 1936, for example, was 37.5 years. 2
Ftgur ■
2,w AGE DISTRIBUTION OF MACHINISTS AND OF ALL EMPLOYABLE
MEN IN PHILADELPHIA, MAY 1936
. . .
MACHINISTS
10
PERCENT
20
70
.
IOO
ALL EMPLOYABLE MEN
10
ao
30
.
••
••
E2Zl 45-50
~30-44
70
. .
100
LJ 60 ANO OVER
H.W.D
on tab It A-2 and Rece.nt Trends
in E111ploy111ent and Une111ploy111ent
in Philadelphia, p. 55
Based
Industrial Research Department University of Pennsylvanla and
wPA - Nat Iona I Research Project
P-20
NATIVITY
An examination of the nativity and length of residence in this
city shows the machinists in the sample to be predominantly native1w1th th1s age composition lt ls to be expected that a large proportion or
the sample would report that they are married. 572 out or the 679 reporting
on the question were married. or the single men, two-fifths are 1n the age
group under 30 years or age.
2
Gladys L. Palmer, Recent Trends inE111ploy11ent and Une111ploy111ent inPhiiadelphia
(Works Progress Adm1n1strat1on, National Research Project 1n cooperation with
Industrial Research Department, Unlverslty or Pennsylvania, Report No. P-1,
Dec. 1937).
12
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OCCUPATIONAL CHARACTERISTICS
13
born white workers with relatively long residence in Philadelphia. 3
Approximately one-third of the men reporting were born abroad;
two-thirds are native whites. If nativity and age are considered,
it is found that almost three-eighths of the workers q.5 years of
age and over were born abroad (table A-3),
Foreign-born machinists have lived in Philadelphia a long time,
half of them for more than 20 years (table A-q.). It follows,
as a result of our immigration laws, that a certain proportion
of any group of foreign-born workers would necessarily have lived
in this country for some time preceding a study made in 1936.
The fact of long residence in this particular city, however, is
probably partly a matter of family connections and friendships
and partly a matter of Philadelphia's reputation as a center of
metal-working industries. Many machinists who came directly to
the city from the boat had jobs before they landed and others
had friends in one plant or another. Men who drifted from city
to city are the exception. Among the machinists who came from
abroad, the chief countries of birth are Germany, Great Britain,
and Austria-Hungary. Over four-fifths of the native-born machinists have lived in Philadelphia for more than 20 years and many
of them since birth.
SCHOOLING
The individuals in the study are, on the whole, graduates of
elementary school 4 (table A-5). Half the men went beyond 8.q.
grades of school. The grade finished in school, as might be
expected because of the recent increase of educational facilities
and stricter laws controlling school attendance, varies inversely
with age. For the small group of machinists under 30 years of
age included in the study, half went beyond the eighth grade,
whereas less than one-quarter of those between 30 and q.q. years
of age and less than one-fifth of those q.5 years of age and over
did so. It is not the higher educational level of this young
group, however, that has pulled the general level of machinists'
education up to eighth grade, When the two middle age groups are
compared, the median grade of leaving school proves to be 8.q. for
3 nata !or the 1 Negro worker have not been tabulated separately. He was born
in south Carolina and worked there until 1929 when he came to Philadelphia,
where he has secured only unskilled work. He is now 47 years or age.
4 It is possible, or course, that some or the emphasis on eighth grade comes
because it ls easier to generallze than to remember exactly.
Amount or
schooling ls likely to be overeruphasized.
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14
MACHINISTS
machinists from 30 to 44 years of age and 8.3 for machinists from
45 to 59 years of age,
ENTRANCE INTO THE LABOR MARKET
Almost one-half of the individuals in the study reported that
they began paid work at the age of 14 or 15, A little over onethird started to work at a later age (table A-6), The proportion
of young men under 30 who began work at 16 years of age or over
was larger than that of any other age group, 5
Comments of machinists made in connection with the age at which
they began work reveal a variety of attitudes, Although many a
young man of 13 or 14 took any kind of job to help his family,
there were individuals who told interviewers that, despite the
desire of their families to keep them in school, they themselves
"wanted to get to work because all the other kids had jobs,"
For the most part the machinists in the study got jobs the same
year in which they left school. The great majority of the group
entered the labor market some time ago ( table A~7 J. Only 41 men
have entered in or after 1926, the beginning of the 10-year period
for which intensive analysis of employment and unemployment experience is presented in later sections. 6 The span of years
during
1935.
ployed
worker
which entry took place is great, extending from 1872 to
The individual who began work in 1872 was among the unemin May 1936, He lost his last job as a skilled metal
in 1932, when the firm by which he was employed closed
down. Beginning with 1877, some individuals entered the labor
market in every year except 1930 and 1931. The worker who entered
in 1877 was engaged at his trade in May 1936,
The 4-year period 1904 through 1907 was the period during which
a larger number of machinists entered the labor market than in
any other4-year interval. This might have been anticipated from
the age distribution within the sample, When the two largest
age groups are considered separately, the period 1912 to 1915 is
the time during which the largest group of machinists between the
ages of 30 and 44 ( in May 1936 J entered the labor market. Large
numbers of men between the ages of 45and59 (in May 1936) entered
the labor market during the 6-year period from 1898 to 1903,
5 For dertnition or age at beginning work see appendix B,
6 All but 2 or these 41 men are under 30 years or age.
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OCCUPATIONAL CHARACTERISTICS
15
Thus for machinists the all-time peak of entrance into the
labor market was not the war period 1916 to 1919. It seems that
the urgent demand for machinists at this time was met by transfers
from other occupations, rather than by new entrants. This seems
particularly likely in view of the large proportion of machinists
who reported that they had done other work before they entered
the trade.
THE FIRST JOB
Among the men in the sample it is certainly true that entrance
into the labor market took place in no very well-calculated way.
Jobs were picked up in a most informal manner. Somebody I s friend
knew of somebody's friend who knew of an opening. In a few cases
the father of the family had a sufficiently well-established
position to bring his young son in to work with him. This was
exceptional rather than general.
The first jobs reported include a wide range of occupations
within each occupational group listed in table 1.
Tabl ■
1.- OCCUPATIONAL GROUP OF FIRST JOB OF MACHINISTS
Occupational group
Number
Percent
676
100.0
456
67.4
4
o.6
80
51
321
11.8
7.5
47.5
234
17
70
34.6
2.5
10.4
56
113
39
2
8.3
16.7
5.8
0.3
10
1.5
Total a
Skilled and semiskilled occupations in
manufacturing and mechanical industries
Building and construction
Metal products, machinery, and electricalgoods manufacturing
Textile and clothing manufacturing
Other
Apprentice to:
Usual occupation
Other occupations
All other
Unskilled labor
Clerical work
Transportation and trade pursuits
Domestic and personal service
Executive, professional, and semiprofessional occupations
aExcludes 7 men who dld not report occupatlon or flrst Job.
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MACHINISTS
16
Over one-third of the workers, however, did start learning
their trade through an apprenticeship as soon as they entered
the labor market. In some cases the young worker himself wanted
to learn the trade; in others, the father of the family thought
the trade a good one,
In addition to the 34.6 percent of the men whose first work
was an apprentice job in their usual occupation, many served
WP A -
Nat i o n a I
Res~ a r c h
Pr o j e c t
( h' i ne)
FIG URE 3,- TURRET-LATHE OPERATOR SETTING MA CHINE
their time -later. A variety of r e asons account s for delay in
the case of individuals who eventuall y s erv ed a n apprenticeship.
In some cas es a definite effort had be en made t o keep th e s on
of the family away from the workb e nch. Doubtl ess , som e of these
efforts were successful. Of these we have no rec o rd, but in the
course of the s tudy s ev e ral machinist s told of a vari e ty of jobs
held in youth before th e y were "their own men" becau se their
_families had no sympathy with their interest in machin e work.
In still other cases, boys were sent to work far too yo ung to
become apprentices. One worker came here from Germany, knowin g
no English, when only 11 years old. He was allowed to go to
school until his twelfth birthday, a nd then was s ent to work
because "a boy 12 was old en o ugh and had book-learning enough
to earn his way." He was taken on as fireboy. It was not until
19 years later that he had acg_uired sufficient education in night
courses to fulfill the simple educational prereg_uisites of an
apprenticeship. But th e n he "atethework up" and, when he finished his apprenticeship, was kept on at the same shop.
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OCCUPATIONAL CHARACTERISTICS
17
an apprenticeship served at the age of 31 was unusual in the
study, many respondents told stories similar to the first part
of the one cited above, The others, however, managed to enter
the trade of their choice some years sooner and many of them as
soon as they were old enough to do the work.
APPRENTICESHIP
On the whole, individuals in the sample show a high degree of
training for the trade. The following paragraphs describe the
character of training received by 562 individuals in the study, 7
Over three-quarters of the machinists for whom complete work
histories are available reported some apprent iceship 8 ( table A-8 l.
One-fifth of those who served an apprenticeship learned the trade
in Europe; the others, in the United States. Four years is generally accepted as the length of apprenticeship in the machinists 1
trade. Of those reporting on apprenticeship, over half served
for at least this length of time, and some for longer periods.
Apprenticeships of over ll- years are generally accounted for,
according to men reporting them, by an extra year to learn tool
making or particularly complicated machine work or by inability
to find a job at the end of ll- years.
Factors tending to curtail apprenticeship seem to be the amount
of knowledge acquired beforehand through school courses, through
the aid of. friends or relatives at home, or through odd jobs
around machinery in factories. One man reported only 3 years of
formal apprenticeship, but said in addition, "There was a lathe,
a drill press, and a shaper in the cellar at home, and as soon
aswewere big enough to reach the handle on the presswestarted
learning the trade." Shortened apprenticeship is also made possible by the feeling of knowing the trade, combined with the ability to impress possible employers with that fact. Any unusually
heavy demand for an increased supply of workers, such as the war
7Th1s is primarily a study or the last 10 years; in 575 cases, however, a
record from first job to the date or interview was made, The closing date
or apprenticeship ror 13 men who were still serving their time in May 1936
was not known. This discussion is based, therefore, on 562 cases. These
constitute 82,3 percent of the whole sample. Each lndustrial group is represented in this group 1n approximately the same degree as in the entire
study,
8 The method of selecting the sample may have created a bias in favor of apprenticeship, The specialists on machine tools, mentioned in the "Introduction,•
were included partly because they had served apprenticeships. A large number
or such specialists were excluded because, in default or any knowledge of
their training, there was no evidence that they were machinists rather than
JDachine-tool operators.
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MACHINISTS
creilted after 1914, makes this easier. This is reflected in the
fact that a smaller proportion of machinists beginning apprenticeship in the years from 1912 through 1915 reported learning
periods of 4 years or more than did those in the sample as a
whole.
Satisfactory adjustment does not always result, however, from this feeling of confidence. After about 2 years of
apprenticeship one man, for example, decided he knew enough to
earn more money. He found a job, but said, "I only got by with
it because it was rough work." On the other hand, another machinist's apprenticeship was interrupted, when half completed,
by the death of his father. He needed, then, a man's wages.
The war was on and factories did not inquire very diligently
into a man's experience. He "got his job and made the grade."
After the war he was laid off and filled in with miscellaneous
jobs for a while, but since 1923 he has worked as a machinist.
Although he had had 3 years of unemployment during the depression, he had been reabsorbed into employment as a machinist by
May 1936.
One-quarter of the men reporting complete histories entered
the trade with no formal apprenticeship at all. For the most
part they picked up knowledge of the work at home. Typical of
this situation is the family of one man who has a small tool
and die shop and has taught the work to his three sons. Another
man opened a jobbing machine shop very early in life. Although
he gave it up shortly after the war, he seems to have learned
his trade quite thoroughly without an apprenticeship, for upon
closing his shop he immediately got a job as a tool maker.
About one-fifth of the men in the two younger age groups lack
formal training; a slightly larger proportion of the men from
45 to 59 years of age and about one-third of the individuals
60 years of age and over seem to have entered the trade without
formal learning periods (table A-8).
This sequence may seem
strange if one considers the general impression that recently
"apprenticeship has been dying out." It must, however, be considered in the light of two other possibilities. Since the war
the demand for machinists has been decreasing, and with a lessened
demand it seems reasonable to anticipate that only those with
the best preliminary training would be taken on. Further, in
line with general cultural trends in America, the cellar workbench, a first-rate training device, may well have been more
common in the homes of older men than of younger ones.
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OCCUPATIONAL CHARACTERISTICS
19
The question of the relationship of apprenticeship to later
employment experience is of such general interest that it seems
important to point out the findings even though they are negative. If one examines the character of training according to
the total amount of unemployment in the 10-year period for all
562 individuals ( table A-9), 1 i tt le re lat ion can be found between
apprenticeship and the amount of unemployment experienced. While
half the machinists serving 4-ye;i.r apprenticeships reported that
they had experienced no unemployment lasting 1 month or more,
half of those serving no apprenticeship at all also reported
experiencing no unemployment, When the average amount of unemployment is calculated according to the length of apprenticeship
for those reporting unemployment, it is found that individuals
without an apprenticeship report more unemployment than those
with an apprenticeship. It is important to note, however, that
enough of the men with no apprenticeship reported full employment
during the 10 years to make the average time lost through unemployment less for those without an apprenticeship than for those
with an apprenticeship. It would seem from this analysis that
other factors are more important than length of apprenticeship
in determining amount of unemployment.
Character of training varies somewhat among the industrial
groups in which the individuals h;i.ve been c1assified, This may
be, pnmarily, thP result of the nature of the work involved
in different industries. The proportion of individuals in the
total sample customarily attached to miscellirneous manufacturing
and other industries is exactly reflected in the proportion without an apprenticeship (table A-10), On theotherhand, the proportions attached to the manufacture of transportation equipment
and to the production of metal goods are overrepresented among
those without an apprenticeship, whereas a lower proportion of
workers usually employed in the manufacture of machinery and
a negligible proportion of workers attached to government agencies
and to public utilities, compared with their proportions in the
total sample, report no apprenticeship.
In government jobs,
positions are for the most part filled by open competitive examinations and one of the prerequisites of admission to the examinations is completion of an apprenticeship or its equivalent.
Two-fifths of the workers reporting served their time in what
they now consider their usual industry, 9 Certainly in the past
9 Four hundred and twenty-six individuals reported industry or apprenticeship,
7 men reported
apprenticeship, but railed to mention industry.
or these, 174 served apprenticeship in the usual industry.
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MACHINISTS
20
a machinist's skill has generally been considered readily transferable from industry to industry, and more than occasionally
men told in the interviews of shifting from one industry to another to acquire new knowledge, One former machinist described
vividly how, in the old days, if the boss was really interested,
he would tell you the industries that would make you an all-round
man. This same machinist said it was far more usual nowadays
to continue not only in the industry of apprenticeship, but even
in the shop where the trade was learned.
INDUSTRIAL GROUP OF CUSTOMARY ATTACHMENT
Although a great many different industries are represented in
the sample, the workers are concentrated in those metal industries
which employ large numbers in Philadelphia. Table A-11 lists
the industries of the individuals in some detail and indicates
in which of the five industrial groups the workers have been
classified. For the most part future discussion of industries
will be in terms of industrial groups, rather than of specific
industries. Figure ~ shows the proportion of individuals in the
study found in each industrial gioup.
Figura 4.- INDUSTRIAL GROUP OF USUAL EMPLOYMENT
AND OF PRESENT OR LAST JOB
USUAL EMPLOYMENT
PERCENT
0
10
t-- --~-----I-
20
-
30
------+-
- -1-------
PRESENT OR LAST
10
20
30
-
MACHIN[AY,MACHIN[ TOOU
~
TRANSPORTATION
B a s e d on
ta b I e s
A -11
+
40
----1 - -
AND [LCCTAICAL GOODS
£QUl,.M[NT
§
eo
M
+-
----·I----
10
100
00
00
~+
JOB
-+- -
,___------------+--~+-- 0
40
---+
---½
~
00
--- ♦~
----------------
00
-+------<
~
00
~
METAL PAOOUCT!I INCLUOINC PROl"C!ISIONAL INSTRUMENTS
~
GOVE.ANMCNT AGCNC•ts ANO
MISCELLANEOUS MANUf"ACTUAING AND
PUeLIC UTILITIES
OTiiC" INOUSTJUCS
M.W.D.
1 n d A-1 J
lndustrlal Research Department Unlverslty of Pennsylvania and
WPA - Nat Iona I
Research
Project
P-21
The largest single group of workers in the sample consists of
those who have been usually engaged in the manufacture of machinery.
Included in this group of industries are the production of
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OCCUPATIONAL CHARACTERISTICS
21
electrical machinery and apparatus, other machinery, all jobbing
shops, and radio manufacture. The findings of the study in this
respect are in line with data on the employment of machinists in
the city as a whole. The manufacture of machinery and machineshop products normally employs the largest proportion of wage
earners in the metal industries of the city. 10 .
Almost one-quarter of the workers are found to be normally
engaged in the manufacture of transportation equipment, Among
the industries included are the manufacture of locomotives, railroad repair shops, and the manufacture of motor vehicles and
parts.
The usual industrial groupofalmost one-seventh ofthemachinists is the production of some other metal product. These workers
are scattered in steel works, blast furnaces, and factories producing small ironware, tin cans and other tin goods, aluminum
and brass products, and professional instruments.
Approximately four-fifths of the individuals in the study are
attached to industries producing metal goods of one kind or another, and one-fifth are found in other industries. One-third of
the latter, or 7.2percent of the total sample, worked forpublic
utilities and government agencies. Many of these are employed
_at thePhiladelphiaNavyYard 11 to repair ships. A smaller number
are normally employed at the Frankford Arsenal, where some of
them are engaged in the manufacture of munitions. Of the total
group, the majority not engaged in the manufacture of metal products of one kind or another are, presumably, maintenance machinists, In addition to the work they do for government agencies
and public utilities, they are attached to plants processing
and packaging foods, textile mills of several kinds, furniture
factories, tobacco plants, and chemical firms,
There are some differences with respect to age among the workers
customarily attached to each industrial group (table A-12), The
median age of transportation-equipment workers is higher than
the average age of the sample; the median age for metal-products
workers is lower.
When the industrial group of last job is compared with the
usual industrial group (table A-13, figure 4), the proportion
10 see table A-1.
11 Tbe Ph1ladelph1a Navy Yard 1s known orr1c1a11y as the Navy Yard or the
Fourth Naval D1str1ctoras the u. s. Navy Yard, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania,
and ls known locally as League Island Navy Yard.
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MACHINISTS
of workers in the production of machinery, transportation equipment, and metal products is found to have declined. The shift
has been_ to the service in.dustries, to government agencies and
public utilities, and to a slight degree to miscellaneous manufacturing.
Data concerning the industrial group of last job
will be analyzed further in a later section of this report.
LDNBEST JOB AND USUAL OCCUPATION
Regardless of the industries in which they haveworked, individuals in the study reported relatively long periods of employment
on jobs. This is characteristic of a highly skilled occupation
such as machinist, tool maker, and millwright. Among the individuals reporting, the average length of service on the longest
job is slightly over 10 years. 12
Length of service is necessarily related to time in the labor
market, When the youngest group in the sample is omitted from
consideration (since many members of it have not been working
long enough to hold a 10-year job) the proportion of individuals
30 years and over who held their longest jobs for 10 years or
more is 55.5 percent, and jobs lasting 25 years or more are not
rare (table A-14), Almost 9 percent of the individuals in the
sample held jobs of this length. Thirty-four percen-t of the
group whose longest job lasted 25 years or longer reported that
their usual industrial group is the production of transportation
equipment, whereas only 23 percent of the total sample reported
that they are customarily attached_ to these industries. Two
machinists reported working ever since the early nineties for
one firm -making railroad equipment. Both were laid off "when
work got slack" in 1931 and one of them reported part-time work
before that time. One of these men, still out of work in May
1936, was called back to the company during the summer of 1936,
after 54 months of unemployment. The other, after 51 months
of lay-off during which he sold scrap iron on a commission basis,
was called back to the plant where he had spent most of his working life. Shortly before that, however, he had finally found
a job as a maintenance machinist in a candy factory and had de12 rn thls study a job was derlned as contlnuous servlce at 1 occupational
assignment wlth 1 employer for 1 month or longer. The longest job was deflned
as the longest job beglnnlng before 1926 for lndlvlduals In the labor market
before that time.
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OCCUPATIONAL CHARACTERISTICS
23
cided to stick by it, fearing the locomotive work would be too
strenuous for his 67 years. 13
For two-thirds of the sample the longest jobs were at the usual
occupation. When the occupation of longest job differs from the
usual occupation, it is one of a wide variety of occupations
{table A-15). The proportion of machinists whose longest job
was at their usual occupation was higher than that of tool makers,
72 percent compared with 56 percent. That was to be expected
because the work of tool maker is more skilled than that of machinist and many workers become tool makers only after long experience at other occupations. Almost one-half the workers for
whom the occupation of the longest job differed from the usual
occupation reported an apprenticeship as the occupation of the
longest job. Thesewere, for themost part, youngermen. 14 Other
occupations ranged from unskilled (a negligible proportion l to
supervisory work.
Twenty-six tool makers reported an apprenticeship as the occupation of their longest ,iob. Ten of these stayedonat the plant
after their time was done; another man was laid off by the company
of his apprenticeship, but was shortly recalled as a full-fledged
tool maker, Many of the machinists whose longest job was an
apprenticeship continued working at the same plant when their
service was finished,
Individuals whose longest joh was in the metal trades at work
less skilled than their usual occupation do not have a comparable
record of promotion at the same plant. They seem to have found
it necessary to move on before becoming full-fledged workers at
their chosen occupation. For instance, 10 tool makers who had
held their longest job as machinist immediately afterwards promoted themselves to tool maker, but in no case at the same plant
where they had worked as machinist.
Many of the longest jobs were closely related to the usual
occupation and others were very far afield, One machinist, for
example, had worked on a farm for 26 years and did not leave
until the farm failed to yield a living for his family. Another
13The dertni tion or the longest job sometimes underestimates length or employment. 1 worker reported a Job or only 34,5 years as a tool maker in a
display stand. Actually, however, he had workecl at the plant ror 10 years
Previously, then had worked elsewhere ror 7 months, and hacl returned to his
old plant at the end or that time. The 10-year period was, or course, not
included in the longest Job, which would have been 44.5 years it it had.
14 or the 105 men reporting an apprenticeship as the occupation or the longest
Job, 93 were under 45 years or age and 39 were under 30 years or age.
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MACHINISTS
24
also had had his longest job in agriculture. He had been a farm
hand in Austria-Hungary for 27 years and had left to come to the
United States, where he picked up the trade and advanced to his
status of tool maker by slow degrees. A third man had had his
longest job in the British Navy.
He, however, did learn his
trade in the course of that employment.
Since the longest job was so frequently at the usual occupation
and since this job lasted a long time it follows that much of the
working life of individuals in this study was spent at their usual
occupation. The median number of years employed at the usual
occupation 16 for all individuals in the study is 22.5 (table A-16)
or approximately three-fourths of the average number of years
in the labor market. The number of years employed at the usual
occupation increases with age.
Tab! ■
2.- NUMBER OF YEARS IN THE LABOR MARKET
Number of
machinists
Number of years and monthsa
Total b
675
4 years 5 months
11
9 years 5 months
9 years 6 months - 14 years 5 months
14 years 6 months - 19 years 5 months
18
37
60
24 years 5 months
29 years 5 months
6 months - 34 years 5 months
6 months and over
104
101
106
238
6 months 4 years 6 months -
19 years
24 years
29 years
34 years
6 months -
6 months -
29,8
Median number of years
alncludes time not seeking work after entrance into the labor market.
bExcludes e men who did not report date or entering the labor market.
When the number of years employed at
the usual occupation is
compared for workers normally attached to different industrial
groups, the most noticeable difference is for workers in the
industries producing metal products (table A-17),
They have
a lower average number of years at the usual occupation than
have other industrial groups. It should be noted that the low
16 The number or years employed at the usual occupation is the respondent•s
estimate and includes time employed as a paid apprentice, as an operator or
special machine tools, as a tool maker, die setter, or instrument maker, as
a millwright, or as a supervisor or men employed at any or these machinists'
trades.
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OCCUPATIONAL CHARACTERISTICS
25
average is not explained by the fact that these industries have
younger workers, because when identical age groups are compared
it is found that the average is low.er for each of the two age
groups in which the majority of the workers are concentrated,
i. e., from 30 to 44 and from 45 to 59.
EMPLOYMENT STATUS IN MAY 1936
In May 1936 all but 12.4 percent of the machinists studied
were employed. Eighty-two percent of the employed, or 72 percent
of the total, were working at their usual occupation. Many of
the jobs held by those employed at other occupations were at work
so similar to their usual occupation that the men unhesitatingly
included these jobs in their estimates of the number of years
they had spent at their usual occupation. For example, a machinist who has served an apprenticeship, has done all-round
machinist work, and then has been assigned to special work on an
engine lathe or automatic screw machine, where he not only does
the work but also sets up the machine, does not consider this
a change of occupation. A foreman of machinists may or may not
consider becoming foreman a change of occupation, depending on
whetherornot he continues todo some machinists' work. In this
study, however, such changes have been classified as changes in
occupation, 16 thus increasing the number of occupational shifts.
Table A-18 lists the occupation of the last job of all individuals working at some occupation other than their usual one in
May 1936. More of this group changed their occupation in 1932
and 1933 than in any other years in the 10-year period, 1926-35
(table A-28). Aswaspointedoutabove, however, thejobobtained
after the loss of the last one at the usual occupation was sometimes closely related to the usual occupation.
It was found in some preliminary comparisons of this group of
105 workers, whose last job was not at their usual occupation,
with the total sample that there was not enough difference between
the two groups to warrant separate analysis of the 105 men.
The 85 men, i. e., 12.4 percent of the sample, who were not
employed in May 1936, were, for the most part, seeking work.
Only 12 of the 85 were temporarily out of the labor market. 17
16The code used was an adaptation or Bulletin 13, Occupation Code, works
Progress Administration, National Research Project in cooperation with Industrial Research Department or the University or Pennsylvania (mimeo., April
1936),
17For data
on real>sorptlon see discussion or •Reemployment l>y May 1937 or
Workers Unemployed in May 1936" in section III.
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26
MACHINISTS
Because their withdrawal was only temporary, they have been included in the study and classified as unemployed workers.
The proportions of workers at each employment status vary from
one age group to another. Almost all of the youngest group, 16
to 29 years of age, are employed. The employed workers are present in greater proportion in the two 5-year age groups, 30 to 34
and 35 to 39, than in the next, 40 to 44, in which the unemployed
are more than proportionately present. In the age groups 45 to
so and 60 years of age and over, there are also higher relative
proportions of unemployed machinists (table A-2).
Two-fifths of the unemployed workers were foreign-born. This
proportion is higher than that for the sample as a whole (33.0
percent). A larger proportion of the unemployed than of the
employed, among both foreign-born and native-born workers, had
lived in the city over 20 years. When the median school grade
completed by the unemployed group is compared with that of the
total group, the difference is only 0.2 grades,
There is no difference in the length of service on the longest
job between those who were employed and those who were unemployed
in May 1936, Within each age group, however, there are differences in the number of years spent at the usual occupation. Men
found in the group of unemployed report fewer years at the usual
occupation.
There are some differences among the workers customarily attached to each industrial group with respect to employment status
in May 1936. Of the two most important industrial groups,workers
normally engaged in the manufacture of transportation equipment,
while of less importance in the sample as a whole than workers
engaged in the production of machinery, included 37.6 percent
of the individuals unemployed on May 1, 1936. The group of
government-agencies and pub lic-u t ili ties workers included 7 .2
percent of the total sample, but only 1 .2 percent of the unemployed. Individuals making metal products and scientific instruments werealso represented among the unemployed of May 1936
in·smaller proportions than in the total sample (table A-12).
SUMMARY
The sample includes men from 18 to 76 years of age, with a
great concentration between the ages of 30 and 59, The median
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OCCUPATIONAL CHARACTERISTICS
age for the whole sample is 45.2 years.
unemployed in May 1936 is 47.6 years.
27
The median age for those
Two-thirds of the individuals in the study were born in this
country. One-third were born abroad, for the most part in Germany,
Austria-Hungary, and Great Britain. The foreign-born are underrepresented among the youngest men and overrepresented among men
of 60 years of age and over. They are also overrepresented among
the unemployed of May 1936. Both foreign-born and native-born
workers reported long residence in Philadelphia.
The workers studied are, on the whole, elementary-school graduates. Half of the men under 30 years of age completed 9 .1 grades
of school, compared with 8.4 grades in the whole sample.
Over three-fifths (63 percent) of the individuals in the study
reported that they began work before the age of 16. An early
start was less typical of men under 30 years of age and of the
unemployed than of the whole sample. The first job for two-thirds
of the workers included many different kinds of semiskilled manufacturing and the less-skilled grades of clerical work. The
remaining one-third reported an apprenticeship at the usual occupation as their first job,
More detailed information concerning apprenticeship is at hand
for 562 individuals from whom complete schedules were obtained.
A little over three-quarters of these men reported apprenticeships
of varying length, with half of them serving at least 4 years.
Four-fifths of the individuals in the sample consider themselvec;
attached to one of the city's many metal industries, with the
largest number customarily employed in the production of machinery, machine tools, and electrical equipment.
Seven percent
of the workers are attached to government agencies and public
utilities and the remainder to miscellaneous manufacturing and
other industries. Slightly more than half the men working in
industries manufacturing transportation equipment, in government
agencies and public utilities, and in miscellaneous manufacturing
and other industries are 45 years of age and over. The industrie::;
manufacturing transportation equipment also account for a morethan-proportionate share of the unemployed of May 1936.
Two-thirds of the individuals in the sample held their longest
job at their usual occupation, An apprenticeship was the occupation most frequently reported by those whose longest job was
not
at their usual occupation.
These longest jobs were very
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28
MACHINISTS
long indeed, with the median length falling at 10 years, The
time employed at the usual occupation was also considerable;
it averaged 22,5 years.
When the sample was selected in May 1936, 88 percent of the
machinists, tool makers, and millwrights were employed and 12
percent were unemployed, The backgrounds of these two groups
differ to a marked extent,
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SECTION I I I
UNEMPLOYMENT, 1926-35
When the Philadelphia Survey of Employment and Unemployment
was made in May 1936, machinists who were unemployed ranged from
the short-time unemployed (a minori tyl to those who had lost their
last jobs as machinists in the late twenties or early thirties.
Among the 85 unemployed machinists, 12.q. percent of the total,
was a man, aged 52, who was customarily attached to machine work
in a railroad repair shop. He reported no unemployment periods
lasting 1 month or more during his entire working life until the
middle of 1929. At that time he was laid off and ever since has
been without any job lasting 1 month or more. Another machinist,
aged 60, worked with one concern manufacturing textile machinery
from1901 to 1933, when the firm went out of business. He reports
that he has made every effort to get employment since that date,
but fears that his age is against him.
In addition to the group of 85 who were unemployed in May 1936,
many men working at that time reported unemployment of 1 month
or more at some time du ring the 10-year period, January 1926December 1935. For example, after 2 years of apprenticeship, one
man left to make better wages. He shortly returned to the plant
of his apprenticeship as a machinist and stayed there for over
20 years until the concern closed, when he found himself unable
to obtain a job. After a little over a year without work, he
found employment with another firm making the same product. At
the time of the interview he was still working there.
In this sect ion the incidence of unemployment on various groups
within the sample is shown according to several different measures.
EMPLOYMENT IXPIRIINCI DP INDUSTRIAL BRDUPS
Figure 5 and tables A-19 to A-22 show the employment status
of every machinist in the sample during every month of the years
1926 through 1935. These data are shown for all machinists according to the industrial group to which they considered themselves
customarily attached. 1 In these charts employment is divided
29
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Figure
5.- EMPLOYMENT STATUS,
By Usua l
JANUARY 1926-DECEMBER 1935
I n d u strial
Group
METAL PRODUCTS INCLUDING PROFESSIONAL INSTRUMENTS
-
[ ~YCD AT V SU•L OCCUPAT IO N I N U SUA L INDU.! TA Y
CW\.D'rU AT USu.\L OCCU PAT ION IN OTHER INOU.!TAY
B1se d on
ta bl es A.1 9 to ~- 22
-
[ IIIIP LO YC O AT O TH CR OCCU P A T ION
UHUIIIPi,.OY(.0
l n du str J al
Rese ar c h Dep ar t me n t
Un ive r sity o f
WPA - Ha t iona l
-
Pe n n syl v a n l 1. and
Rese ar ch P roj ec t
P- 22
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31
UNEMPLOYMENT
into work at the usual occupation in the usual and other industries and work at other occupations. The amount of shifting by
Philadelphia machinists from occupation to occupation and industry
to industry, as represented in the sample, will be discussed at
greater length in section IV. Here it should be mentioned that
a change in occupation is usually accompanied by a change in
industry; therefore, sections B and C on each chart show, for
the most part, work in an industry other than the usual, and
section A shows work in the usual industry. Periods of unemployment and of time not seeking work are shown separately. Parttime employment has been included as employment on these charts.
The average worker spent about one-tenth of his employed time
in part-time work.
The period of deepest depression and the greatest volume of
unemployment in all four industrial groups alike was at the end
of 193.2 and the beginning of 1933. By the end of 1935, employment
had almost reached the 19.26 levels in the smaller industry groups
but was below 1926 in the machinery and transportation-equipment
groups. Of these two, transportation-equipment manufacturing
had recovered less by 1935 than had machinery manufacturing.
Unemployment was more serious, in terms of the proportions of
unemployed toemployed, in industries manufacturing transportation
equipment throughout the 10-year period (figure 6).
In figure 6 is summarized in terms of man-months, for the sample as a whole and for the industrial groups separately, the
distribution of employment and unemployment during the 10-year
Had every individual been fully emperiod shown in f i gure 5.
studied, th e re would have been 81, 1.20
period
the
ployed throughout
man-months of employment reported. 2 Th e employment reported by
the group was 86 . .2 percent of the possible maximum, if part-time
work is considered employment (table A-24).
1 In all previous discussions in this study and in most or the ruture discussions, 5 groups are considered. In figures 5 and 7, however, 2 or the
5 groups, miscellaneous manufacturing and other industrie s and government
agencies and public ut111ties, have been combined to rorm a grou~ composed,
predominantly, or maintenance machinists. Ir separate charts were presented
ror each or these 2 groups they would be similar. The other 3 groups are
composed, primarily, or production machinists.
2
Alth0ugh there are 683 machinists 1n the sample , most or the unemployment
calculations are based on 681, since 2 schedules !al led to give enough inThese 2 individuals have been
formation to permit complete tabulation.
eliminated from all discussion in thls section.
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MACHINISTS
32
Figura 6.- PERCENTAGE DISTRIBUTION OF MAN-MONTHS OF SPECIFIED
TYPES OF EMPLOYMENT EXPERIENCE, 1926-35
By
U ■ ual
Indu ■ trial
Group
MACHINERY.MACHINE TOOLS.AND ELECTRICAL GOODS
TRANSPORTATION EQUIPMENT
METAL PRODUCTS INCLUDING PROFESSIONAL INSTRUMENTS
GOVERNMENT AGENCIES AND PUBLIC UTILITIES
MISCELLANEOUS MANUFACTURING AND OTHER INDUSTRIES
10
;
20
-+- - -
·-+- -·-
•o
30
- +
- -,--
~o
---+--------I
---t-
10
00
00
IO
100
-
USUAL OCCUPATION IN USUAL Ll'O.J!TRY
~
OTHC.-_
OCCUPATIONS
tN USUAL tNDUST"-V
111111
U.5UA.L OCCUPATION
IN OTHCA METAL
~
OTHER
OCCUPATIONS
IN OTHCR
~
USUAL OCCUPATION
IJil ALL OTH[R
Based on table A-2~
INOU5TA1£5
INOU5TSUES
a
UN[WPLOY[O
CJ
NOT
INOUSTRICI
Y.CKJNG WOfl"
....
lndustrlal Research Department -
Uni¥erslty of Pennsyl~ania and
WPA -Nationat
Research
Prcject
P-23
The time reported as not seeking work in the last 10 years,
which was less than3 percent, was, for the most part, time before
entering the labor market. Out of the small total of 2,000 manmonths of not seeking work, 1,500 man-months are accounted for by
men who entered the labor market in or after 1926. The remaining
months represent, for the most part, time reported out of the
labor market because of physical disability, illness, or industrial accident. The individuals in the study who took unpaid
vacations of 1 or more months to travel, to rest, or to attend
school were scarce indeed. Few workers reported loss of time
becauseofstrikes or lock-outs. All in all, once these skilled
metal workers entered the labor market, they did not leave.
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UNEMPLOYMENT
33
Eleven percent of possible total employment, as measured in
this study, 3 was wasted in full-time unemployment. The amount
o! time lost in this way varied with the industrial group. Although there is an increase in employment from 1932 to 1935 in
each industrial group, the rise is not the same in each group.
Measured in tenns of the ratio of man-months of unemployment to
possible total employment, workers usually employed by government
agencies and public utilities fared best. The industries offering
least security to machinists, according to this measure, were
those manufacturing transportation equipment; one-third of all
man-months of unemployment reported in the study, were accounted
for by these industries, al though less than one-fourth of the
workers considered these to be their usual industries.
INCIDENCE OF UNEMPLOYMENT
The distribution of the total unemployment among individuals may
be seen in figure 7. 4 On this chart, workers in each industrial
group who reported unemployment periods of 1 month or more are
ranked by total amount of unemployment in the 10-year period.
It should be borne in mind that the black sections of the bar
represent all types of employment, i. e., at the usual and at
other occupations, in the usual and in other industries, and parttime and full-time. Comparison of these charts with the ones
previously presented giving data on the employment status of all
workers in a given industrial gr0up for each month, will show
that the total unemployment reported was distributed among approximately half the men in the study and that a large number
of men came through the entire 10 years with no unemployment.
The proportions reporting some unemployment differed among the
industrial groups ( table A-23).
Only one-third of the workers
customarily attached to government agencies and public utilities
and less than two-fifths of those attached to miscellaneous industries reported unemployment. These groups are composed primarily
of maintenance machinists. At the other extreme, two-thirds of
3 Throughout the study, unemployment refers to consecutive periods or 1 month
or longer without work..
In some cases lay-orrs or less than that time are
reflected as partial employment, through a report or part-time work..
In
other cases, however, a shorter-than-a-month period is not reflected at all
1n any estimate or unemployment. An example or this would be a man who leaves
1 job and gets another within 1 month. Both the Job he left and the one he
1111ent to may have been full-time.
The weeks between are not, therefore,
accounted tor. ( see detini t ions and schedule, append ii: B, ror further detail
on this matter.)
4 The schedules on which this chl\rt is based are in the rnes or the Philadelphia
Labor Mark.et Studies section or the National Research Project or the Works
Progress Administration.
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MACHINISTS
34
the machinists customarily attached to industries manufacturing
transportation equipment reported time lost through unemployment.
Much of the unemployment experienced by the whole group of
683 machinists was concentrated in the group of 85 individnals
found unemployed when the sample was selected in May 1936. In
fi g11re 8 the 1O-ye;i,r employment hi s tories of these individuals
are s hown separately. Tw e lv e percent of all workers in the study
were uneniployed in May 1936, 1i,1t the y reported over 33 percent
of the total unemployment in the samp l e in the 10-year period.
CHARACTERISTICS OF THE MEN WHO EXPERIENCED UNEMPLOYMENT
BETWEEN 1926 AND 1935
Examining the total time uncmplo,ved for the half of the sample
·..-no reported unemployment period :' of 1 or more months, we find
th a t it varies in amount with age and employment status in May
19 36 and with industrial group.
Slightly more than two-fifths of those who were unemployed at
s0me time reported amounts totaling more than .2 years in the
1O-year period ( table A-2s l. As
individuals reporting this mu ch
it reaches almost three-quart e rs
and over. When the fact i s take n
age rises, the proportion of
unemployment increases until
of tbe group 60 years of age
into consideration that young
men under 30 were not, in all cases, in the labor market during
the entire 10 years, it is evident that this group suffered as
much unemployment as did workers between the ages of 30 and ijij,
tho1Jgh not so much as older men.
The percentage of their total
time in the labor market that workers were unemoloyed and seeking
Flgur1 7.- EMPLOYMENT HISTORY OF INDIVIDUAL MACHINISTS
IN FOUR INDUSTRIAL 6ROUPS WHO REPORTED UNEMPLOYMENT
JANUARY 1926-DECEMBER 1935
(Ran~,d Illy t,tal amouat of un11mploym1ntl_
NUMB[RMISCELLANE.OUS MANUFACTURING AND OTHER INDUSTRIES
501
t1
-CMPLOYED
c=:J NOT
~ UN[MPLOYCD
Digitized by
SEEKING WORK
Google
NuMe<A
TRANSPORTATION EQUIPMENT
100 ~
MACHINERY.MACHINE TOOI--S AND
EL ECTR ICAL GOODS
METAL PRODUC TS INCLUDING PROFESSIONAL INSTRUMENTS
~I
-
~ U N(WPLOYED
EMPLOYED
CACH LI,_. ( REPRESE NT S TH( 1-tlSTO AY ~ AN IJ'i OI VIDUAL. WOfUit CA WHO Rf.PORTE D ONE lrri, QHTH O R ..ORE
B1s1d on d•ta in files of P h ila d el ph ia
labor Market 5tudi 11 Se ct Ion .
WPA- Na t ional
Resear ch
pro j e ct
o,
UN[WPLOYM[NT
Ind u st r i al ges e ar cl'I Dep~rtment Ur'li'v e rsi\y o f P ennsylvania and
#PA- tit a\ ion al Ritearc h P r oj e ct
P- 2~
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MACHINISTS
36
Figure 8.- EMPLOYMENT HISTORY OF INDIVIDUAL MACHINISTS
UNEMPLOYED IN MAY 1936
JANUARY 1926-DECEMBER 1935
(Ranked by total amount of unemployment)
rlllllZZJ
-EMPLOYED
Based
on
data
In
files
of
Philadelphia
Labor Market Studies Section,
WPA - National
Research
UN[MPLOVED
project
Industrial Research Department unlversit1 of Pennsylvania and
WPA- National
Research
Project
P-25
work was 17.9 forthoseunder 30 years of age and 17.0 for those
30 to 44 years of age (table A-26). Men from 45 to 59 years of
age were unemployed 21.6 percent of their total time in the labor
market and men 60 years of age and over, 41.7 percent.
It was found that
68 percent of those unemployed in May 1936
who were also unemployed at some time during the 10-year period
reported a total of more than 2 years of unemployment, whereas
only 36 percent of those employed at that time reported as much
unemployment.
The proportions with this much unemployment varied in the
industrial groups ( table A-23). Below are the percentages of
individuals in each of the five industrial groups who reported
1rnemployment periods totaling more than 2 years between 19.26
and 1935:
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37
UNEMPLOYMENT
Industrial Qroup
Total (all industries)
Manufacture of machinery,
machine tools, and
electrical Qoods
Manufacture of transportation equipment
Manufacture of metal
products, includinQ
professional instruments
Government agencies and
public utilities
Miscellaneous manufacturing
and other industries
Percent of total
re port inQ some
unemployment
Percent of
total in
group
43 .7
22.5
38.2
19.5
50. 0
33.0
41.7
21.3
41.2
14.3
51.4
19. 7
In measuring the incidence of unemployment it is necessary to
consider the number of persons who experienced some unemployment,
as well as the amount of this unemployment. Miscellaneous manufacturing and other industries had the highest proportion of men
with more than 2 years of unemployment in the period 1926 to 1935
when only individuals reporting some unemployment are considered.
On the other hand, this industrial group ranks third in respect
to the proportion who experienced this much unemployment when
workers who had no unemployment are included. In other words,
a high proportion of the workers attached to miscellaneous manufacturing and other industries experienced no unemployment in
the 10-year period, but half of those with some unemployment
were unemployed for periods totaling over 2 years. Government
agenc'iesandpublic utilities had the largest proportion with no
unemployment, and a relatively small proportion of the workers
in th is group who experienced 1 or more months of unemployment
were out of work for over 2 years. Workers attached to the
transportation-equipment industries suffered most severely in
the number experiencing some unemployment. This group also had
almost the largest proportion with 2 or more years of unemployment among those who experienced some unemployment in the 10-year
period.
When the years from 1926 to 1935 are divided into two 5-year
periods, more individuals had unemployment of over 2 years in
the second period than in the first. The experience of one of
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38
MACHINISTS
the men with a large amount of unemployment in the latter period
is of interest at this point. He was so years of age in 1936
and had been in the machinists' trade for many years. He was
with a bridge-construction company in Philadelphia from 1923
until February 1930. Until July 1929, the work was full-time
and then part-time for the next half year. When he was laid
off because there was no further work, he tried to find a job
elsewhere, but for the next 3 years found nothing except an occasional odd job, such as washing automobiles. He was too proud
to "go on relief", so his family had a very hard time. In June
1933 he accepted a job as foreman in a CCC reforestation camp,
but he quit in March 193~ saying, "I have another job to go to."
He did not have another job at that time, but 2 months later
was engaged as night watchman by a corporation manufacturing
radios. At the time of the interview he was still there and is
convinced that because of his age he will never get work in his
own line again.
Not all the machinists who suffered severe unemployment in
this period were old, however. One man was only 30 years of
age at the time of interview and had served his apprenticeship
in a textile mill. That he learned to work with other kinds of
machinery is evidenced by the fact that for over .:2 years he held
a job making auto bodies. At the end of that time (October 1929 I
he was laid off and did not find work for nearly 2 years. In
September 1931 he obtained a job with a construction company.
That job lasted until the contract was finished, a year and a
half later. He was out of work for 2 months after that. In July
1932 the Philadelphia State Employment Office referred him to a
distilling company where he was hired as a machinist. Eighteen
months later he left in order to take a job with an auto-truck
manufacturing company, thus getting back into his usual industry.
The job ended in 3 months. At another automobile plant he found
a job that lasted another 3 months, though he never worked fulltime in that period. After-that he found a few brief jobs, but
soon went on relief. He was still unemployed at the time of the
interview and reported that he does not qualify for modern production work, since he is not familiar with the latest developments in electrically driven machinery. He is further handicapped
in his search for work by the loss of his tools. He had a thousand
dollars worth of tools, but had to pawn them while he was out
of a job.
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UNEMPLOYMENT
39
PART-TIME EMPLOYMENT
One hundred and ninety-one individuals reported some part-time
work between 1926 and 1935 6 (table A-27). For machinists 30
years of age and over, the average number of months of part-time
work in the 10-year period increases as age increases, but the
proportion of workers reporting some part-time work decreases
as age increases.
Figure 9 shows the arithmetic average of the number of months
of full-time and part-time work and of unemployment for each age
group. The data on which it is based are shown in table A-29.
Flgur1 9.- AVERAGE NUMBER OF MONTHS OF SPECIFIED TYPES
OF EMPLOYMENT EXPERIENCE, 1926-35
By Ag1 la May 1936
,,
10
I
MONTMa
'i
'l'
.
'i
••I
'I°
110
,
~
~
~
~
m
I
I
TOTAL
16 -29
30-44
45-59
60 AND OVER
.
1---1------+-----+---+ -- -- --t----+---+--~
10
~
~
~
~
w
-EMPLOYED FULL TIME
8a1ed on
tablt
A-29
~EMPLOYED PART TIME
ezz:luNEMP!.OYED
......
LJNOT SEEKING WORK
Industrial Research Department University of Pennsylv•nla and
WPA- Netlonal Reuarch Projoct
P-26
It can easily be seen that older machinists have lost out in
two ways. Not only have they had more unemployment, but the
work they have had has been part-time in a greater degree.
NUMBER AND LENGTH OP UNEMPLOYMENT PERIODS
The extent to which resources can be husbanded and plans made
depends in part on the length of each period of unemployment and
5
1t has alreac1y been po1ntec1 out how Cl1!!1cult 1 t ls to secure accurate
1ntormat1on on c1urat1on anc1 extent of part•t1me worll.
In view or these
c11!Uculties intormatlon on this polnt is orrerec1 wlth hesitat1on.
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40
MACHINISTS
the number of such periods. Unemployment is not a seasonal phenomenon for machinists. Even casual inspection of the charts
yields a definite impression of long-term unemployment once unemployment occurs. The fact that half of those reporting unemployment reported average periods of over 1 year bears out
this impression. Information on the average duration of unemployment periods is summarized in tables A-30 and A-31. On the
whole, periods of unemployment were longer for older workers
than for younger ones. They were also longer for those unemployed in May 1936 than for those working at that time. When
industrial groups are considered separately, men in the metalproducts industries report a larger proportion with average unemployment periods longer than 1 year than any other industrial
group (table A-31).
The incidence of prolonged unemployment, as shown in the percentages of individuals with average periods of 1 year or over,
varies with the man's age and the industrial group to which he
normally has been attached, There was some variation in the
average length of unemployment periods in the two 5-year periods,
An increase in the length of unemployment periods in the years
after 1930 might be anticipated in view of the increase in total
unemployment reported, but the extent of this increase varies with
age and industrial group. The increase in avera1;e duration of
unemployment periods was greater for older men than for younger
ones, and it was 1;reater for individuals employed in manufactu•ring
transportation eg_uipment and machinery and in miscellaneous manufacturing and other industries than for those in the other two
industrial groups.
An analysis was made not only of the average length of unemployment periods, but also of the average number of periods of unemployment experienced by individuals reporting some unemployment
and of the average length of the longest period of unemployment. 6
This information is presented in table A-33 and confirms the
evidence that for machinists, unemployment, when it occurs, is
of long-time character rather than seasonal or intermittent and
is primarily the result of depression forces. Over half the
individuals reporting unemployment experienced only one period.
6
Jt was thought necessary to constder all 3 averages because average duratton
or unemployment ts subject to too many arttrtctal tnnuences to be an entirely
sattsractory measure or unemployment wt thout a cneclt on the number or periods
over which total unemployment ts spread and the length or the longest or
these.
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UNEMPLOYMENT
41
Reference to figure 7 gives an indication of the length of some
of the longest periods.
For the whole sample the usual years in which the longest period
of unemployment begins are 1931 and 1932 ( table A-32). For some
individuals in the study, however, unemployment began before
this date and lasted well beyond it. Examining the medians of
the length of the longest periods of unemployment reported, according to the years in which they started, it is found that
periods beginning in 1928 were the longest, 33months. The number beginning their longest unemployment period in this year,
however, was small. For machinists of 60 years of age and over,
in fact, the modal year was 1930.
Table 3 shows for each industrial group the percentage of workers who reported a period of unemployment of 1 year or more and
the percentage who reported two or more periods of unemployment.
These proportions are based on the totals of all individuals
reporting some unemployment in the 10-year period. For the same
group, the percentage of total time in the labor market between
1926 and 1935 that was spent in unemployment is also shown.
Tabla 3.- FREOUEHCY AND DURATION OF UNEMPLOYMENT EXPERIENCE
FDR WORKERS REPORTING UNEMPLOYMENT, 1526-35
By
Indu ■ trial
Group
Percent of workers
reportinga -
Industrial group
Manufacture of machinery,
machine tools, and
electrical goods
Manufacture of transportat ion equipment
Manufacture of metal
products, including
professional
instruments
Government agencies and
public utilities
Miscellaneous manufacturing
and other industries
Tirne
unemployed
Two or rno re as percent
Period of
of tirne in
periods
1 year or
labor
lasting 1
rnore
rnarket
rnonth or more
55.2
35.9
20.1
63.5
51. 0
24.2
75.0
20.8
20.3
64.7
41.2
25.6
62.2
51.4
23.8
8 Percentages are based on totals or workers reporting some unemployment.
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42
MACHINISTS
Three-quarters of the workers usually employed in the manufacture of metal products who experienced some unemployment in
the 10-year period reported an unemployment period lasting 1 year
or more, and a relatively small proportion of them reported two
or more periods of unemployment. The unemployment periods of
workers attached to the manufacture of transportation equipment
were frequent and long. Workers customarily employed in miscellaneous manufacturing and other industries also experienced
frequent and long unemployment periods. Machinists customarily
attached to plants manufacturing machinery, machine tools, and
electrical goods who experienced unemployment reported fewer
periods and a smaller proportion with long consecutive unemployment. While the percentage of total time in the labor market
spent in unemployment was greatest for workers attached to government agencies and public utilities when only those reporting
some unemployment are considered, it wi 11 be recalled that a
large proportion of the machinists in this group experienced
no unemployment.
CHARACTERISTICS DP TKE MEN WHO WERE UNEMPLOYED IN MAY 1936
More machinists reported beginning their longest period of
unemployment in 1932 than in any other year. The year 1931 was
reported by the next largest group. If the relative size of
the group of unemployed workers is considered, it is apparent
that, although 1931 and 1932 saw the start of a long stretch of
unemploymetlt for almost equal numbers of workers employed in
May 1936, 1932 was the year in which workers who were still unemployed in May 1936 began their longest unemployment periods
( table A-34).
For all workers unemployed in May 1936, 12.4 percent of
the
total, the average number of months since the last job was 18.7
(table A-35). Eighteen months is a long time to remain without
work in a recovery period such as 1935 and the beginning of 1936.
Long-continued unemployment at such a time indicates that the
problem of reabsorption into industry for this group is different
from that of the machinists who, unemployed at some time during
the 10-year period, had become reemployed by May 1936. The following paragraphs present an analysis of certain characteristics
of all workers unemployed in May 1936, according to the du rat ion
of unemployment since the loss of the last job.
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UNEMPLOYMENT
43
Among the 85 workers unemployed in May 1936, 38 had been unemployed for less t ban 1 year, 27 had been unemployed between 1 and
4- years, and .20 had been wi. thout work for 4 years or more. Duration of unemployment varied directly with age. For individuals
under 45 years of age, the average was 10.5 ~onths, whereas for
those of 45 years of age and over it was 27. 4 months ( table A-35 l.
With such a small number of cases and such a direct relationship
between age and duration of unemployment since last job, it is
difficult to isolate the influence of other factors on duration
of unemployment. The number of years at the usual occupation,
for instance, varies directly with duration of unemployment since
the last job. Men of 4~ years of age and over who have been
unemployed for less than 1 year report fewer years at their usual
occupation than men in that age group who have been unemployed
for 4 years or more. However, 11 45 years and over" covers a wide
range in age, and the sample is too small to permit a further
break-down. Within that age group it is the oldest men who have
been unemployed the longest. There is no evidence, therefore,
that length of time at the usual occupation and duration of unemployment since last job are any more closely related than length
of time at usual occupation and age. Similar reasoning applies
to other measures such as the average length of unemployment
periods, total unemployment in the 10-year period, date of beginning longest job, and length of service on it.
The relationships between age and schooling, age and job separations, and age and usual industry are not so close as the
relationships listed above. It has therefore seemed worth while
to present data on the relationship between these items and the
average number of months since the last job for the 85 individuals
found unemployed in May 1936.
There is little relationship between schooling and duration of
unemployment since the last job. Individuals who went through
the eighth grade reported shorter periods of unemployment than
those who stopped before the eighth grade. On the other hand,
those machinists who stopped in the eighth grade reported shorter
periods than did those who went to the ninth grade or beyond.
The last was too small a group, however, on which to base any
conclusions.
The average duration of unemployment since the last job declined
as the number of job separations reported increased.
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MACHINISTS
The 85 men unemployed in May 1936 were not found in all five
industrial groups in the same proportions that all men in the
study were found in these groups. Workers in the manufacture
of transportation equipment weremore heavily represented. When
the industrial group of customary attachment is examined in relation to duration of unemployment, however, individuals normally
attached to the industries producing machinery, machine tools,
and electrical goods are found to have reported the longest periods of unemployment since the last job, i. e., a median of 21.7
months ( table A-37). Transportation-equipment workers unemployed
in May 1936 reported a somewhat shorter length of time without
work after the last job (17.4 months). This would indicate that
a larger proportion of men customarily attached to industries
producing machinery, machine tools, and electrical goods have
been reabsorbed into industry, but those who have remained unabsorbed have had long periods without work preceding the date
of this study. In the transportation-equipment industries, on
the other hand, fewer workers have been reabsorbed, although
those now unemployed have been out of a job for shorter periods
on the average.
Following is the story of one man who considers himself attached
to the transportation-equipment industry. He is a skilled machinist, 59 years old. He followed his trade for 32 years, including a 4-year apprenticeship, and, except for one lay-off of
3 or 4 months in 1925, was not unemployed !or a period of 1 month
or more until 1930. Since then he has had no work at all. He
says that during the first 6 months of 1936 he was called in by
his old firm for a few days' work every now and then, but never
for more than a week at a time and that, added altogether, the
odd days amounted to less than two months. He doesn't consider
such uncertain employment a job.
One man learned to be a machinist and a millwright while he
was working as a machine operator in a textile-machine manufacturing plant in England. He spent his first few years in this
country as a machinist in a plant making elevators. He then
secured a job in one of the city's largest textile factories
and stayed there until it closed down, almost 20 years later.
By that time he evidently considered that industry his own, for
his subsequent jobs were all in factories making fabrics of one
kind or another. None lasted very long and, by the end of 1931,
at the age of 56, he was totally unemployed. Since then he has
been without work.
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UNEMPLOYMENT
R11 ■pl11-at
~y May 1937 of Worker, Un1mploy1d ln May 1936
"I didn't think I'd ever be called back again," said one machinist who found his first job in several years in August 1936.
At the time the Philadelphia Survey of Employment and Unemployment
was made in May 1936 he was without work, and, at 61 years of
age, felt he was on the scrap heap of industry. Just before he
was interviewed in August 1936, he had been called back to
the
plant where he had spent much of his working life on the machining
of locomotive parts. Since this experience was found in several
other cases, it seemed worth while to check in May 1937 the employment status of the 85 machinists who were unemployed in May
1936. The results of this checkup are shown in table~Table 4.• EMPLOYMENT STATUS IN MAY 1937 OP MACHINISTS
UNEMPLOYED IN MAY 1936
Employment status in May 1937
Number of machinists
Total
85
Employed at the usual occupation
22
10
12
In the usual industry
In other industries
20
25
Employed at other occupation
Unemployed
Not seeking work
Could not be located
2
15
All but 15 of the 85 were located. Of the 70 men, 22 were
working at their usual occupation and 20 were employed at some
other kind of work. One man in this latter group was a cab
driver, another was an elevator operator, a third was a salesman,
and a fourth and fifth were, respectively, welder and laborer.
Ten of the 22 men who returned to their usual trade also returned
to the industry to which they had considered themselves customarily attached. Seven of them were reemployed in the manufacture
of transportation equipment. Of the 20 men who found work at
an occupation other than their usual one, 7 were also absorbed
into the manufacture of transportation equipment. If the experience of th is group is any criterion, the proportion of unemployed
workers reabsorbed by the transportation-equipment industries
between 1936 and 1937 was large. It will be recalled that up to
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46
MACHINISTS
May 1936 comparatively few people customarily employed in those
industries had been rehired after long periods of unemployment,
This study bears out the findings of other studies, namely,
that employment is found more frequently when the preceding period of unemployment is short than when it is long, Over twothirds of the men unemployed in May 1936 who were reabsorbed
into their usual occupation had been continuously unemployed
for less than 1 year prior to May 1936, Only half of those who
obtained work at some occupation other than the usual one, on
the other hand, and one-fourth of those still unemployed in May
1937 were among those with less than 1 year of unemployment before
May 1936,
The 28 men who were not at work when the check was made in
1937 are, on the whole, the long-time unemployed. Only onequarter of them (8 men) were at work in May 1935, and three of
the eight had had a good deal of unemployment before that time,
Two of the 28 machinists dropped out of the labor market between
1936 and 1937, The other 26 were still seeking work in 1937,
Their average age was 54.4 years. Two of them who were over 65
years of age had not worked since 1932 and should probably not
be considered part of any potential labor supply,
It seems that, as recovery proceeded and as the demand for
machinists increased, more of the long-term unemployed and aged
workers were called back, but there still remained a group who
did not find as skilled work as they had been accustomed to doing
and another residual group who did not find any employment at
all, When the records of this residual group were examined in
detail, it was found that its members were not old enough to
qualify for old age pensions and yet were unable to secure employment which would qualify them for unemployment compensation
in later periods of unemployment.
CHARACTERISTICS OF WORKERS WHO HAD NO UNEMPLOYMENT
BETWEEN 1926 AND 1935
"There'll always be work for machinists," said one man in the
course of interview. Another echoed him more moderately, "With
a good apprenticeship, plus natural ability, a young man can be
almost sure of a lifetime job." On the other hand, a third machinist said to the interviewer, "I've got a good name in my
trade, but for over 3 years now, I 1 ve sat and warmed a chair
most of the day," The question of which is the truer picture
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UNEMPLOYMENT
for recent years of these skilled metal workers is difficult
to determine.
The outstanding fact about the 10-year work histories of Philadelphia machinists from January 1926 through December 1935 is
that half of them reported no unemployment periods lasting 1
month or more. 7 In this section will be described the industrial
background and employment experience of these machinists with
comparisons and contrasts between them and the total sample,
The data are not analyzed by employment status in May 1936, because all but 6 were employed at that date, 8 and 286 out of the
total of 330 were working at their usual occupation in May 1936.
Other occupational characteristics and the type of industrial
experience are also examined.
Many of the men in the group were engaged primarily in maintenance work. Those who were production machinists were apparently kept on by employers even during slack times so that when
prosperity returned there would be the nucleus of an organization
of skilled workmen. Except for differences in the industrial
distribution, the 330 machinists who came through the 10-year
period with no unemployment periods lasting 1 month or more have
background characteristics which differ very little from those
of the sample as a whole.
These 330 workers were, on the whole, slightly older than all
workers studied. Their median age is 46 ,5 years as against 45 .2
years for the entire sample. As found in the entire sample,
individuals of 30 years of age and over have been in the labor
market the entire 10 years, Not all of those under 30 years
of age have worked during the entire period, Of the 41 machinists
who entered the labor market in or after 1926, only one-third
reported that they were not unemployed 1 month or more, Th is
group of 330 men, therefore, may be considered to be composed,
as is the case for the entire sample, of workers who have been
in the labor market during the entire 10-year period studied.
The group reporting no unemployment has relatively more nativeborn workers than the sample as a whole ( 71 percent as against
67 percent l and a larger proportion have lived in the city for
over 20 years.
7 rt is particularly important in thinking about the group with no unemployment
to remember that unemployment periods are detlned in this study as lasting
continuously tor i month or more. Every one or these 330 men may have been
unemployed at some time during the 10 years, but not (according to their
reports) ror a continuous period or 1 month or more.
8 These 6 men lost their jobs between December 1935 and May 1936,
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MACHINISTS
48
The differences in schooling between workers reporting nounemployment and all individuals studied are very slight. Measured
in medians, workers in each age interval of the group with no
unemployment report about one-tenth of a grade more education
than do machinists as a whole. The proportion stopping school
before the seventh grade and the proportion going beyond the
eighth grade are similar for both groups. The first job was an
apprenticeship more often in this group than in the complete
sample. Thirty-six percent of this group reported that their
first job was an apprenticeship at usual occupation as against
3~ percent of the entire sample.
The occupational distribution of this group is very much the
same as that of the total sample. There is less than 1 percent
difference in the proportions of apprentices and millwrights.
There is a slightly lower proportion of machinists in the group
of 330 (77.0 percent as against 79.8 percent in the total sample)
and a slightly higher proportion of tool makers, die setters,
and instrument makers (17.6 percent as against 1~.1 percent in
the total sample). (See table 5. l
Tabla 5.- OCCUPATIONAL DISTRIBUTION OF WORKERS
WHO REPORTED ND UNEMPLOYMENT IN THE
1D-YEAR PERIOD 1926-35
Occupation
Total
Machinists
Tool makers, die setters,
and instrument makers
Millwrights
Apprentices to above
Number
Percent
330
100.0
254
77.0
58
17.e
s.e
12
e
1.8
The five industrial groups appear in this study of 330 men
in somewhat different proportions than they appear in the study
of the entire group of 683 men. Of the two most important industrial groups, the manufacture of transportation equipment is
underrepresented ( table A-38). Government agencies and public
utilities and miscellaneous manufacturing and nonmanufacturing
industries are more than proportionately represented. This difference can, perhaps, be accounted for by the fact that workers
in both these industrial groups are largely maintenance machinists
whose work must go on in bad times as well as in good.
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UNEMPLOYMENT
49
When the average lengths of the longest job for these 330 machinists and for the sample as a whole are contrast~d, a considerable difference is found ( table A-36). Machinists reporting
no unemployment held jobs lasting, on the average, 3 years longer
than those held by all machinists.
SUM"IA.RY
While one-half of the machinists studied experienced no unemployment in the 10-year period, 1926-35, lack of work has constituted a serious problem for the other half. In this occupation
unemployment during the past 10 years has been cyclical rather
than seasonal or intermittent in character. Of machinists reporting unemployment, slightly over two-fifths have experienced
more than 2 years without work, not necessarily consecutive months.
The average duration of unemployment periods for this group has
been over 1 year. Part-time employment has also contributed to
the effects of unemployment.
The depth of the depression in this occupation was at the end
of 1932 and the beginning of 1933. Although recovery proceeded
steadily from that time to the middle of 1937, it was slow at
first. 1932 was also the year in which the greatest number of
workers began their longest period of unemployment, although the
average length of the longest period was greater for men whose
longest period began earlier in the 10 years.
Of the various factors affecting unemployment, the industrial
group of customary attachment and age seem to be the most important.
Transportation-equipment manufacturing industries have
contributed more than proportionately to unemployment, both in
terms of the number of individuals who report unemployment, and
in terms of the total amount of unemployment reported. Workers
attached to these industries have shared to a lesser extent in
recovery than have other workers. A disproportionately large
number of workers unemployed in May 1936 reported transportationequipment industries as their usual ones. The rate of reemployment
for these workers may be due not only to slow recovery in those
industries, but also to the difficulty experienced in changing
from work on transportation equipment to other kinds of work
requiringmoreprecision. As might have been anticipated, machinists attached to industries other than those manufacturing metal
products have had less unemployment. This is accounted for,
at least in part, by the fact that much of the work they do is
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50
MACHINISTS
maintenance work. On the other hand, workers attached to these
industries experienced long periods of unemployment when they
did lose their jobs.
There is a definite increase in the total amount of unemployment,
as well as in the average duration of unemployment periods, with
increasing age. This statement must be modified, however, by
the qualification that if an older machinist had a job when the
depression started, he seems no more likely than any other machinist to have become unemployed. It will be recalled that the
median age of machinists reporting no unemployment was slightly
higher than that of all machinists studied.
In this occupation, as in many others, there seems to be a
residual group of unemployed persons who are not reabsorbed during
the recovery period. In May 1936, a date when recovery had proceeded so far that complaints of labor shortages had been heard
for a year, 12.1t percent of the men studied were still unemployed
and reported an average time of 18 months since the last job.
In the case of 21t men, the last jobs had not been at the usual
occupation.
These men are, on the average, slightly older than the other
men studied and the longer the unemployment since the last job,
the older they are. As noted above, they are attached in disproportionate numbers to industries manufacturing transportation
equipment (almost two-fifths, as against less than one-fourth
of the sample as a whole).
About half of the total group of machinists experienced no
unemployment in the 10 years under review. There is little difference in their education, occupational distribution, the proportion who entered the labor market in or after 1926, or the
proportion whose first job was an apprenticeship. There is some
difference in age, nativity, and years of continuous residence
in Philadelphia. The machinists reporting no unemployment from
1926 to 1935 tend to be slightly older. There is, however, a
pronounced difference in their industrial distribution. Those
industrial groups that employ mostly maintenance and repair machinists, such as government agencies and public utilities and
miscellaneous manufacturing and other industries, are more than
proportionately represented. This group spent more time at the
usual occupation and on the longest job than did other machinists.
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SECTION IV
WORK EXPERIENCE, 1926-35
That machinists have had a record of long jobs and that many
of them have had extremely steady work has been apparent from
previous sections of the study. In this section appear data on
various aspects of their work history in the last 10 years. Expressed in general tenns, the questions to be answered by such
material arehowmuch shifting has taken place not only from job
to job, but also from occupation to occupation, industry to industry, and employer to employer? and how much does the amount
of shifting vary with age, employment status on a given date, the
industry of customary attachment, and conditions in the industrial
world? Material presented in the section will be of four major
types.
The di vision of time between the usual occupation and other
occupations and between the usual industry and other industries
throughout the 10-year period will be shown and an effort made
to determine what variations there may be for age, employment
status, or industrial group. In this connection, separations
from employers will also be examined.
The grade of skill of work done at occupations other than the
usual will be examinedin some detail in order to detenninein what
direction shifting takes place and whether there are variations
within the sample in the direction of shifting. The industries
other than the usual, in which work at the usual occupation is
concentrated, will also be discussed.
Lastly, to supplement the picture of division of time among
the various kinds of work, g_uanti tative data on the number of
separations from jobs and the number of shifts in occupations,
industries, and employers will be presented.
DIVISION DP TIME BETWEEN WORK AT THE USUAL OCCUPATION
AND AT OTHER OCCUPATIONS
It will be recalled that at the time the study was made, 18
percent of the employed workers were engaged in some occupation
other than their usual one. Figure s shows by industrial group
of customary attachment the number of men in each month working
51
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MACHINISTS
52
at some occupation other than the usual one. That there was some
shifting back and forth between occupations is shown by the fact
that two-fifths of the workers in the study reported some time at
occupations other than their usual one (table A-39). This proportion is considerably larger than any proportion in a single
month working at other occupations than their customary ones.
Measured in man-rnonths of possible employment, 15.3 percent of
the total man-months in the entire 10 years was accounted for
by work at other occupations than the usual.
The average length of time for all workers with time at other
occupations than their usual one increases with each age group
from 30 years of age upward. Young men from 16 to 29 years of
age, however, spent a longer time, on the average, at some occupation other than their ~sual one than did other machinists
studied. This employment J}-l"Obably represents their first job
experience, since the time they spent in this way decreased
markedly between the first and second 5-year periods. For every
age group studied,
the average length of
time spent at
other
occupations than the usual, however, was less between 1931-35 than
between 1926-30, reflecting, perhaps, the greater ease of finding
jobs in the first period.
Jobs at occupations other than the usual one seem to be shorter,
on the whole, than those at the usual occupation, as measured by
the average number of employer separations per worker per year
of employment from jobs at the usual occupation and from jobs at
other occupations. 1 This may be due in some cases, at least, to
1 Toe statement in the text 1s based on the tollowtng computations:
Employment with respect
to usual occupation
Avera?e nu~beraor employer separations
rom Jobs
At usual occupation
At other occupatioAs
Average number or years employedb
At usual occupation
A.t other occupations
Average number or employer separations
per year of employment
At usual occupation
At other occupations
Age in years
Total
and
over
60
16-29
.30-IPI
115-59
2.6
2 • .3
2. II
2.2
2.9
2.5
2. II
2.0
1.9
7.0
1. 6
.3 • .3
.3.11
7.11
1. 5
7.11
1. 5
7..3
0.9
0.11
1.11
o. 7
0. II
1.7
0 • .3
1 • .3
0 • .3
1.7
0.6
1.5
aTabl e A-40.
bBreak-down o t number or months employed (table A-41), by type or employment.
This measure gives only a rough compartson between average length or Jobs at
the usual occupation and at other occupattone, because or the posst b111 ty
that the occupation may change wt thout an accompanying change 1n employer.
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WORK EXPERIENCE
53
the !act that such jobs are taken to !ill in when regular employment is lacking and are left as soon as possible. One machinist's
recent employment history illustrates this kind of change. He
was a truck driver for the first 8 months of 1926. He left this
job to return to the machinist trade with a firm making auto
·bodies. Five years later he was laid off and was entirely without
work for6 months. When he did find a job it was as a plumber's
helper. A year and a half later, however, he returned to the auto
firm as machinist and has been there ever since.
The average length of service on jobs at the usual occupation
in the 10-year period, 1926-35, was considerably longer for the
330 individuals in the group who experienced no unemployment in
the 10-year period than for the group as a whole. Fifty-six
percent held their job for 8 years, as against 27 percent in the
sample as a whole ( table A-42). When the length of time spent
at the usual occupation by the 330 men between 1926 and 1930 is
compared with the corresponding time between 1931 and 1935, little
difference is found between the two periods (table A-43).
Two hundred and thirty of those who were continuously employed
during the 10-year period spent no time at occupations other than
their usual one (table A-44). For those who did, the average
length of employment at other occupations was almost 4 years in
the course of the 10-year period. When the two 5-year periods
are considered separately, there is an increase in the time employed at other occupations in the second period in each of the
two largest age groups, i.e., 3oto44 and 45 to 59 yearsof age,
for those who spent time at occupations other than the usual one.
There is a decrease in the time at other occupations in the second
5-year period for the youngest age group. It will be recalled
that for the whole group, including those who experienced unemployment in the 10-year period, the average length of time spent
at other occupations than the usual one. was less between 1931
and 1935 than between 1926 and 1930 for every age group.
Measured in man-months, the group of 330 men spent a slightly
smaller proportion of their employed time at occupations other
than the usual one than did the total group (12 percent against
15 percent) .
A variety of work has been done by the group in the course of
the years from 1926 to 1935. Figure 10 and table A-45 show the
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MACHINISTS
54
10.- SOCIOECONOMIC CHARACTER OF EMPLOYMENT
AT OCCUPATIONS OTHER THAN THE USUAL, 1926-35
Figur ■
By
Ag ■
In May 1936
ALL
20
MACHINISTS
90
30
100
~
TOTAL
16 - 29
~~~:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::.::···:::::::::::::::::::::::::::
30-44
m&----
~~.=::::=:••··········································································
................................. :.
45 -59
-----·················
=:z::==••···············
==·················
==:::::!:~:::::::::.
60 AND OVER
30
20
10
40
""
eo
70
00
00
IOO
MACHINISTS REPORTING NO UNEMPLOYMENT
PERCENT OF MAN-MONlHS
10
20
:,0
•o
,o
_oo___'°---""---~oo~------'--.oo
···························•··
::·::::::;::::::::::::::::::::
..............................
······························
TOTAL
...............................................................................
..........................................
··•·····················
·········································•·························
V:?::3 '.9JZ~ ···································································
···································································
····················•·····
..........................
.........................
~~
D ··························
16 - 29
30-44
45-59
60 AND OVER
I---------+---- -
0
~
Based on
WHITE
tab
I
es
10
COLLAR
A-45
•-
--- -
~
+----+-~
~ SKILLED
and A-46
40
50
00
70
1111 st ..u- SKILLED
eo
90
-UNSKILLED
IOO
.....
Industrial Research Department University of Pennsylvania. and
WPA -National R•search Proj•ct
P -2 7
kind of work done classified accorrJing to a socioeconomic arrangement of the Philadelphia Labor Market Studies Occupation Code. 2
2 These groups are obtained rrom a rearrangement or the Occupation Code. The
rearrangement, based on Alba H. Edwards' socloeconomlc classU!cat!on or
occupations ror United States Census material, 1s available !n the files or
the Phlladelphl a Labor Market Studies Section or the National Research Project
or the Works Progress Adm!nlstratlon. In the code used, the grading ls biased
downward, so that skilled work, akln to machlnlsts• work, ls understated.
Screw-machine work and lnspectlon work are classl fled as semi skilled. In
metal lndustrles, however, the work or Inspectors and that er roremen are
sometimes ln te1·changeabl e.
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WORK EXPERIENCE
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In considering work at various occupations, it must be remembered
that a great deal of the shifting from one occupation to another
included in this study is shifting among very closely allied
occupations, such as from machinist to tool maker, or engine-lathe
set-up man, or foreman, where some machinist work may still be
done.
From figure 10 and table A-45 itis apparent that when machinists work at occupations other than their own, this work is more
likely to be skilled or white-collar than it is to be semiskilled
or unskilled, even though apprenticeship is included in semiskilled occupations and represents over one-third of the manmonths of this kind of work. The unskilled work has been done,
on the whole, by men of 45 years of age and over.
The impression that the men who experienced no unemployment
during the 10-year period are very highly skilled workers is
reinforced by a classification of the other occupations according
to degree of skill (table A-46and figure 10). Two-thirdsof the
man-months of work outside the usual occupation was at skilled
and professional work as against slightly more than half for the
whole sample. Men of 60 years of age and over, who accounted
for practically all of the unskilled work done by the continuously
employed group, reported 109 man-months of unskilled work and 126
man-months of skilled work. In the sample as a whole men of the
same age reported 452 man-months of unskilled work and 126 manmonths of skilled work.
The chances are two to one that when work is unskilled it followed unemployment. In the case of semiskilled work the chances
are about even that such work will follow unemployment.
Tabla 6.- NUMBER OF PERIODS OF WORKa AT OCCUPATIONS OTHER
THAN THE USUAL, 1926-35
By Employment Statu1 Pt1c1dlng Th111 P1rlad1 and
by Sacla1canamlc Ch1ract1r al th ■ Occupatlans
Employment status
preceding work at
other occupati ens
Total periods
Employment
Unemployment
Socioeconomic character
Total
periods
White- SemiUnSkilled collar skilled skilled
481
167
79
178
57
273
114
53
55
24
84
208
20
37
94
aA period may consist or more tllan 1 Job 1! tne Jobs follow eacll otller
consecutively. Periods or work following time not seeking work were conSldered to follow unemployment.
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MACHINISTS
Semiskilled and unskilled jobs, as noted earlier, were preceded
in many cases by unemployment. It was rarer for skilled and
professional jobs to be so preceded. In the case of such work,
the explanation given for the change was more often "promotion",
or "went into business for self", or "left to be manager", than
it was "slack", or "laid off", or "lost a job and had to find
another." 3
In the case of some of the younger men, these jobs at other
occupations represent oei ther promotion nor demotion, but, as
was indicated previously, the first search fora job, fora trade,
or, sometimes, for afew dollars a week. One man, after a business course at school, started work in a sugar refinery as a clerk.
His work was near the machine shop and he became interested in
the machines. He felt that therewasvery little forhimto look
forward to in the office and asked to be transferred to the shop
as a helper. They had no regular apprenticeship, but they trained
him in the operation of various machine tools. At night school
he took up mechanical drawing and mathematics. Re is now considered a full-fledged machinist and is paid machinists' wages.
Another man worked in a cigar factory after school as an oiler
of machinery, a semiskilled job. It was just a job found through
the uncle of a next-door neighbor. Since he liked machines and
gladly took the chance of an apprenticeship when it was offered,
92 man-months of employment on the chart are represented by that
first chance job.
DIVISION OF TIME BETWEEN WORK IN THE USUAL INDUSTRY
AND IN OTHER INDUSTRIES
Most of the work done by machinists at occupations other than
their own is done in industries other than those to which they
consider themselves customarily attached. Inaddition, however,
much of the work they do at their own occupation is in various
industries. Figure 6 shows, for the 10 years studied, the proportion of man-months spent as machinists in other industries
than the usual one. From this chart and from the fact that the
majority of machinists in the study reported shifts in industries,
it can be seen that work in industries other than the usual is
more common than work at occupations other than the usual.
3 Although no 1nformat1on on reason ror chang1ng job was tabulated, the quest1ons on th1s top1c were asked 1n the 1nterv1ew and some 1nrormat1on was
collected.
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WORK EXPERIENCE
57
When the time spent at the usual occupation in industries
other than the usual one is considered according to the industrial
group, it is found that a larger proportion was spent in the
production of machinery, machine tools, and electrical goods
than in any other group of industries. These industries are
numerically important in the city and in the sample, and in 1936
recovery in them had apparently proceeded further than in some
of the other industrial groups. Below is listed the"percentage
of man-months employed at the usual occupation in industries
other than the usual one, according to the industrial group in
which they were spent:
Percent of
man-months
Industrial group
100.0
Total
Manufacture of machinery, machine tools, and
electrical goods
Manufacture of transportation equipment
Manufacture of metal products, including
professional instruments
Government agencies and public utilities
Miscellaneous manufacturing and other
industries
42.5
15.8
14.0
4.2
23. 5
Work in the industrial group consistingo! miscellaneous manu-
facturing and nonmanufacturing industries was scattered among
many industries. 4
According to the comments of the machinists interviewed, change
from one industry to another takes place for a variety o! reasons.
Some left one industry to "get more experience." On the other
hand, many changes took place because jobs werenot available in
the usual industry. The metal industries in Philadelphia are
somewhat localized; a few changes in industry took place as a
result of change of residence.
4The method or calcu1at1ng work 1n 1ndustr1es other than the usual one must
not be contused w1th the method or clasa1r11ng men 1nto 1ndustr1al groups.
An 1nd1V1dual who considers h1mse1r attached to the transportat1on-equ1pment
group or 1ndustr1es 1s cons1dered to be work1ng 1n an industry other than
his usual one tr, ror instance, he ls working in sh1pou1ld1ng, whenh1s usual
1ndustr;y ls locomot1ve manuractur1ng, even though both 1ndustr1es are 1n the
group to which he considers h1mseH attached. Ind1V1dual 1ndustr1es and
1ndustr1al groups 1n which worlters were class1!1ed are listed according to
an adaptation or Bulletin f4,_ lndustr;y Code, worlt8 Progress Adm1n1strat1on,
National Research Pro3ect 1n cooperation w1 th tM Industr1al Research Department ot the un1vers1t;y or Penns11van1a (m1meo., Apr. 1836).
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MACHINISTS
JOB SEPARATIONS
So far the discussion has concerned only those individuals who
between 1926 and 1935 worked at some occupation or in some industry other than the one in which they were normally employed.
The rest of the section deals with the amount of shifting of
employers, occupations, and industries by all workers and with
the characteristics of the group who reported no job separations
during the 10-year period, 1926-35.
Over one-quarter of the
machinists studied held only one job 5 during this entire time.
The proportion holding only one job increases with age (table
A-47 l.
From the point of view of holding one job for a long time,
maintenance work in miscellaneous manufacturing and other industries anct government agencies and public utilities is the best.
One-third of the men in each of these industrial groups reported
no separations. This is well above the average for the entire
sample (table A-48) and is to be expected from the character of
the work. One of these men with a record of very steady employment has worked in various plants manufacturing goods other than
metal products since 1897, when he entered the labor market.
In 1923 he left a job with a linoleum factory to work with a finn
making carpets and rugs, since he anticipated higher wages at
this job. In May 1936 he was still with that finn though onl~r
on a part-time basis.
Another worker, customarily attached to the Philadelphia Navy
Yard, ended his apprenticeship with a construction firm in 1895
but stayed with them for 3 years more. After some years without
work because of
illness, he found work in 1907 as a machinist
He was working there full time on the day of
interview, but has since retired.
at the navy yard.
If we turn from those who reported no job separations during the
10-year period to those who reported separations, the following
facts are evident. Practically all machinists unemployed in
May 1936 and seven-tenthsof those working at that time reported
job separati0ns in the 10-year period. A larger proportion of
young than of older machinists reported separations. When these
data are analyzed br industrial group of normal employment, it
is found that more workersin the transportation-equipment group
than in any other group reported job separations.
5 For the purpose or this study, e. Job we.s denned as continuous service at
occupattonal assignment with l employer lasting 1 month or longer.
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WORK EXPERIENCE
59
The fact that for machinists who were continuously e11Jployed
throughout the10-year period the proportion reporting job separations was smaller than the corresponding proportion of all machinists is another indication of the stability of this group of 330
men I table A-49). The separations, by the very nature of the
group, were followed by other jobs and periods of not seeking
work, but not by periods of unemployment.
When the two 5-year periods a re considered separately, the
relations between number of separations and age and employment
status remain approximately the same in both periods. The unemployed, as might be expected, show a smaller proportion with
no job separations in the second 5 years than in the first. When
the number of workers with job separations in each industrial
group in the period from 1926 to 1930 is contrasted with the
number in the period 1931-35, certain differences are found.
Of workers attached to government and public utilities, a considerably larger proportion reported no job separations in the
years from 1931 to 1935 than in the years from 1926 to 1930,
two-thirds against three-eighths. This same difference between
the two periods may be noted in the case of workers attached to
the groups consisting of miscellaneous manufacturing and other
industries.
Among the workers who reported some job separations in the first
5 years, but none in the second, is an individual who entered
industry in 1906 and now considers himself a worker at the navy
yard where he first started work in 191~. Ever since, he has
worked there off and on. In 1927, when work was dull, he left,
but returned the next year when called back. He has been there
ever since and was steadily employed throughout the depression.
Another machinist reported a history differing even more markedly as between the first and second periods. The beginning of
1926 found him at his first job as a full-fledged machinist.
He left this job in the following year II to get more experience. 11
The work he found in a plant manufacturing machinery lasted only
4 months. When be was laid off, he found employment as service
man with a retail radio shop. When the radio shop closed in
1930, he got work almost immediately as a machinist with a firm
making fishing reels. The first 3 years he had only part-time
work, but be reports full time on the job since 1933.
In a group as stable as the machinists, individuals who frequently change jobs stand out as exceptional. Only 237 men in
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60
MACHIN! STS
the study reported three or more separations in the 10 years.
Although the majority of the machinists reporting this number
of changes are under 45 years of age, it may be worth noting
that the proportion of older machinists reporting three or more
separations is higher among those unemployed in May 1936 than
among those employed. Considering industrial groups separately,
the proportion is higher for workers customarily attached to
transportation-equipment industries than for those attached to
other industries. Examination
short jobs with intervals of
the unemployed of May 1936 and
equipment industries.
These
individuals with three or more
of figures 7 and 8 will show many
unemployment between them among
among workers in transportationaccount, at least in part, for
separations.
SHIFTS OF EMPLOYERS, OCCUPATIONS, AND INDUSTRIES
A separation from a job may result in a period of unemployment
with return to the same job, in an immediate new job, or in a
new job following unemployment. In the case of a new job, the
industrr, occupation, and employer may all change, or any one
may change alone, or any two in combination. Of single shifts,
those in employer are most frequent, and those in occupation are
next in frequency. Shifts in industry without change in employer
are rare. 6
Three-fifths of the machinists reported some employer shifts.
Slightly over one-half reported industrial shifts, and only twofifths reported changes in occupations ( figure 11 and tables
A-so to A-52). The proportion reporting each kind of shift decreased with age. In other words, younger machinists are more
mobile. The proportion reporting employer shifts was smaller
in the two industrial groups composed largely of maintenance
machinists. Men attached to these two groups, however, were no
less likely to shift their occupation than those attached to
the manufacture of machinery or of transportation equipment.
Men attached to miscellaneous manufacturing were least likely to
change their industry. A smaller proportion of the group who
experienced no unemployment during the 10-year period than of
the total group reported changes of employer, occupation, and
industry.
6 ror e:rampl e, an industry shUt but not an employer shirt was counted tor
persons employed at the Victor Talking Machine Company during the time at
Which the plant changed its product rrom Victrolas to radios.
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WORK EXPERIENCE
Figur ■
61
11.- PERCENTABE DISTRIBUTION DP MACHINISTS BY TYPE
AND FREOUENCY OF SEPARATIONS, 1926-35
PERCENT
10
ALL
SEPARATIONS
20
I
30
-"
,o
60
70
•---
10
~
to
-----;- --
100
-
~
EMPLOYER
SHIFTS
INDUSTRIAL
SHIFTS
OCCUPATIONAL
SHIFTS
V////////////~
I
--------------~~.£-'-<...L..<--<...'--'--'-""'-''-"-"/,/;...:~_.,,""""_
t --r
L.
0
D
20
10
~
NONE
I ANO2
..
~
3 ANO 4
-
~
ANO UORE
M.W.D.
!asod on
to A-52
tab le.
A-~8
and
A-50
lndustr1al
Research
University
of
WPA- National
Department -
Pennsylvania
Research
and
Project
P-28
Most of these changes, however, were in combination. In the
following tables each job separation is analyzed according to
other changes involved. From table 7 it can be seen that only
15.7 percent of all job separations involved changes in employer,
industry, or occupationalone. Slightlyunderone-third involved
a shift in industry and employer.
An additional three-tenths
involved a change in occupation as well.
In the light of tables 7 and 8, in one of which are analyzed
job separations for each age group and in the other, job separations for each industrial group, it is easy to tell what the
brief summary of shifts, given above, means. Almost twice as
many of the separations reported by men Ll-5 years of age and over
as those reported by younger men involved a return to the same
employer, occupation, and industry, when and if any employment
was secured. Men of Ll-5 years and over are somewhat less likely
to experience broad shifts, involving changes in employer, industry, and occupation than are younger men. A larger proportion
of the separations of older men ( q.5 and over l than of the younger
men involved changes in employer alone.
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Iii.
O'!
Tabla 7.- NUMBER OF JOB SEPARATIONS, 1926-35
By Employment Status In Mlly 1936,
Ag ■ ,
f\j
and Typu of Shift
Type of shift
Employment status in May 1936
and age in years
Total
Job separati ens
Returned to ~ame Job•
After a
period of
unemployment
Number
Per- Numcent ber
After a
period of
not seeking work
Per- Numcent ber
Employer
Occupational
OccuEmployer Employer
pational
Industrial and occuand
and
pational industrial industrial
Per- Num- Per- Num- Per Numcent ber cent ber cent ber
Per- Num- Per- Numcent ber cent ber
Per- Num- Perber cent
Per- Number
cent
31,4
0.5
cent
Employer,
occupational,
and
industrial
;:;c
Total Job separationsb
16-29
30-44
45-59
60 and over
0
c.o"
a.
N-
2i_
er
'<
C")
0
a
'"""""
rv
Employed
16-29
30-44
45--59
60 and over
Unemployed
16-29
30-44
45-09
60 and over
1,522 100.0
178
773
497
74
284
18. 7
100.0
23
100.0 118
100.0 111
100.0
32
24
l. 6
12. 9
15.3
22,3
43.2
1
13
6
4
o.6
1.7
1.2
5.4
8.9
96
6. :a
6
3.4
8. 5
66
60 12, 1
4
5.4
26
42
23
5
14.6
5. 4
4.6
6.8
136
7
0.5
28
1.8
1
3
3
0
o.6
0,4
o.6
-
5
14
9
0
2.8
1.8
1.8
-
478
7
-
462
30.3
-
82
236
133
11
46.0
30,5
26.8
14.9
34
275
151
18
19. l
35.6
30. 4
24.3
0
6
l
0
0.8
0.2
1,200 100. 0
174
13.7
17
1.3
119
9. 4
88
7.0
6
0.5
27
2,1
424
33.5
7
o.6
404
31. 9
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
21
79
66
8
12.3
12.2
16. 4
18.2
1
8
4
4
o.6
1.2
1.0
9.1
6
57
04
2
3. 5
8.8
13.0
4.5
24
38
21
5
14.0
5.9
0.2
11.4
1
3
2
0
o.e
5
13
-
0
6
1
0
81
204
109
10
47.4
31.4
9
18.7
37.1
33.9
34.1
0.9
0.2
0
32
241
136
15
-
-
2.9
2.0
2.2
27.1
22.7
256 100.0
110
43.0
7
2.7
17
6.6
8
3.1
1
0.4
1
o. 4
04
21.1
0
58
22.7
2
39
45
24
28.6
31.5
47.4
80.0
0
5
2
0
-
0
9
6
2
2
4.0
2,1
7.3
6. 3
6.7
28.6
3.2
2.1
0
0
1
0
-
0
l
0
0
2
34
15
3
28.6
27.4
15.8
10.0
0
0
0
0
1
32
24
1
14.2
25.8
25.3
3.3
171
649
402
44
7
124
95
30
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
-
-
4
2
0
-
o.o
o.o
1.0
-
-
0,8
-
-
-
-
•includes 83 separations wl th no re tum to any Job wt thin the 10-year period.
b1nc1u<1et1 one Job separatlon each tor 3 men who rteported an lndustrlal e:htft but no actual Job separation wben the plants at Which tbe,1 were employed changed their
■ aJor
product.
>
(")
=
.....
z
.....
Cf.)
>---3
Cf.)
Tab! ■
8.- NUMBER OF JOB SEPARATIONS, 1926-35
By U ■ aal
lnda ■ trl ■ l
Oroup
■ nd
Type
of Shift
Type of shift
Usual industrial group
Total
job separation::;
Returned
After a
period of
unemploy-
ment
Total Job separations b
Manufacture of machinery,
machine tools, and
electrical goods
Manufacture of transpurtat.ion equipment
After ~
period of
not seek-
0ccu-
Sm~ loyc r
Occu-
pat i anal
Employer
Sm.player
pational
Industrial and occuand
and
pational ind us trial ,ndustrial
inf5 work
Number
Percent
ber
1,522 100.0
284
18.7
24
1.6
626 100.0
97
15.5
8
1.3
Number
Percent
to sarne joba.
Num-
Per- Num- Per- Num- Per- Numcent ber cent ber cent ber
Per- Num- Per- Numcent ber
cent ber
Employer,
occupat iona 1.
and
industrial
Per- Numcent ber
Per- Numcent ber
Percent
8.9
96
6.3
7
0.5
28
1.tl
478
31.4
7
0.5
462
30.3
138 14. 0
30
4.8
1
0.2
13
2,1
218
34.8
3
0.5
168
26.8
136
~
0
:::0
:,,::
t:zl
><
"Cl
t:zl
:::0
452 100.0
134
29.7
5
1.1
26
5.8
24
5.3
2
0.4
4
0.9
141
31.2
2
0.4
114
25.2
.....
(%l
0
Manufacture of metal products, including professional instruments
2i_
Government agencies and
public utilities
c.o"
a.
N-
z
(J
r;tl
188 100.0
20
10.8
0
-
8
4.3
15
8.1
0
-
5
2.7
48
25.8
1
0.5
89
47.8
B5 100.0
11
12.9
5
5.9
2
2.4
7
8.2
3
3.5
2
2.4
24
2B.2
1
1.2
JO
35.3
173 100.0
22
12.7
6
3.5
12
6.9
20
11.6
1
0.6
4
2.3
47
27.2
0
-
61
35,2
er
'<
C")
0
a"""""'
Miscellaneous manufacturing
and other industries
&Includes 83 separations wlth no return to any Joo w1tn1n the 10-year period.
blncludes one Job separation each ror 3 men who reported an 1ndustr1al shlft out no actual Job separattcn when tnt:> plants at whtcn they were employed cnan~ecl tne1r
maJor product.
rv
Ol
,:.,
64
MACHINISTS
industrial groups, it
is found that 29. 7 percent of all changes made br workers customarily attached to transportation-equipment industries are to
unemployment with return to the same job if to any employment.
This proportion is considerably larger than that for any other
industrial group. Themachinery, machine-tools, and electricalgoods industries are next, with 15.5 percent. The findings for
the transportation-equipment group, however, are by no means
unexpected in the light of the widespread unemployment found
among workers normally employed in those industries. Table A-53
presents an analysis of job separations for men from 30 to 44
years of age by industrial groups. This age group was chosen
for illustration because of the mobility of men at this time of
life. The predominance of job separations to unemployment with
return to the same job, if to any employment, for transportationequipment workers compared with other workers can be seen in
this table, too.
When job separations are considered by
Table A-54 analyzes for each of the 388 job separations of
machinists reporting continuous employment during the 1O-year
period the kind of shift involved. Slightly over one-third of
all job separations reported by the group involved changes in
employer and industry; another third involved changes in occupation, industry, and employer. These proportions are slightly
larger than are found in the sample as a whole, in which 18.7
percent of the separations are t0 unemployment with return to
the samejobif toanyemployment, without a change in occupation,
industry, or employer. When the shifting is examined for age
groups separately, there is little difference to be found except
in the youngest and oldest groups. In the youngest group, twofifths of the job separations involved shifts in employer, occupation, and industry, and one-fifth involved changes in employer and industry. In the oldest age group this is reversed.
SUMMARY
Most of the 1926-35 employment experience of the machinists,
millwrights, and tool makers in the study has been at their usual
occupation. Two-fifths of the workers reported some time at
occupations other than their usual one. A far larger proportion
of young men from 16 to 29 years of age than of any other age
group worked outside their usual occupation. They also reported,
on the average, a longer time spent in this way than did older
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WORK EXPERIENCE
65
workers. This may have been due to their inability to get started
at their regular work for some years after entering the labor
market. In connection with work at occupations other than the
usual one, however, it is important to recall that data on this
phase of the work histories overemphasize the amount of shifting
among occupations and the time spent at occupations other than
the usual one, because of the detailed nature of the occupational
code used in tabulating. Changes in work, which would not be
considered changes in occupation by the machinists themselves,
were coded as occupational changes.
Over half of the work at occupations other than the usual one
was at skilled and professional work. Much of the former was in
occupations very closely allied to the usual one, such as foreman
or operator of special machines requiring a high degree of skill.
Semiskilled and unskilled work was done to some extent, but over
one-third of the semiskilled work represented apprenticeship;
33 percent of unskilled work was done by men 60 years of age
and over, many of whom were unemployed in May 1936. The machinists who reported continuous employment throughout the 10-year
period spent more of their time at occupations other than the
usual one in skilled and professional work than did machinists
as a whole. Al though work at skilled occupations other than
the usual one does not seem, on the whole, to be an alternative
to unemployment for machinists, it may be that semiskilled and
unskilled work is such an al tern a ti ve. The chances were approximately even that semiskilled or unskilled work followed
unemployment or an interruption in employment at the usual occupation. The chances that skilled and professional work followed
unemployment were less than one to two.
Shifting from industry to industry is more common for machinists
than shifting from occupation to occupation. Fifty-six percent
reported work in some industry other than the usual one during
the 10-year period. The largest proportion of time employed in
this way was spent in industries producing machinery, machine
tools, and electrical goods. According to comments of machinists,
shifting from one industry to another is sometimes a deliberate
choice for the sake of new experience, sometimes a necessity
"to get any work", and occasionally a convenience following a
change in residence.
One-quarter of the men studied reported the same job over the
entire period. The largest proportion of job separations were
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66
MACHINISTS
followed by change in employer and industry. Almost as large a
proportion, however, were followed by changes in employer, occupation, and industry. When age groups were considered separately,
it was found that a smaller proportion of young men (16 to q.q.)
reported job separations followed by shifts in employer and industry than reported separations followed by all three kinds of
shifts. Job separations involving unemployment followed by return
to the same job, if to any employment, were reported twice as
of ten by men of q.5 years of age and over as they were by younger
men. This kindofseparationwasreported for 29.7 percent of the
separations made by workers normally employed in transportationequipment industries. This was a larger proportion than in any
other industrial group.
It would seem that the experience of Philadelphia workers attached to the machinists' labor market in May 1936 bears out the
impression given by their background and early experience. They
are a stable group of men, making few changes in jobs and still
fewer in occupations. Their shifts from industry to industry
are somewhat more frequent, because, at least to some extent,
their skill is transferable and because their work is needed in
almost all of Philadelphia's industries. When they lose or leave
their jobs, it seems to be harder for men q.5 years of age and
over and for workers usually employed in the manufacture of transportation equipment to secure new jobs. Mobility of machinists
seems to be connected with age and industry of usual employment.
There are undoubtedly other factors that determine the ability
of certain men to avoid unemployment more readily than others do,
With the material at hand, it is not possible to generalize about
any other factors.
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SECTION V
SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS
SUMMARY
The trades of machinist, millwright, and tool maker are, even
in this day of mechanization, highly skilled occupations. They
also involve a good deal o! responsibility, since carelessness
and bad work can ruin materials worth many thousands of dollars
or cause accidents involving many lives.
The exacting nature o! the work, in the opinion o! the interviewers !or this study, has attracted a very dependable group
of workers with characteristics somewhat different from those
o! individuals attached to manyotheroccupations. On the average
they are older and they have a good educational background. Even
in the days when it was not unusual for a youngster to go to
work at the age of 12, future machinists were staying at school
until they had finished at least the elementary grades. Both
the two-thirds who were native-born and the one-third who were
foreign-born have lived in Philadelphia a long time. Many of
those who were born abroad did not feel that foreign birth was
the handicap that some unskilled workers find it. On the contrary, many told of the eagerness of shops to secure machinists
with foreign training, but there were also cases in which it
was evident that less skilled work had to be accepted while the
language was being learned.
Employment in the metal industries had been increasing from1933
to the end of the period covered by this study. In May 1936, when
the sample was selected, seven-eighths of the machinists were
employed, the great majorityattheir own trade. Sincemachinists
are needed in almost all of the city's industries, the men in the
study were attached to plants manufacturing a variety of products,
as well as to nonmanufacturing enterprises. Four-fifths of the
individuals, however, were customarily attached to industries
manufacturing various metal products ranging from small wares
to large engines.
The years of training required, the character of the responsibility, and in some cases long identification with one firm have
resulted in developing a group of men who believe in their skill
and who take their responsibilities seriously. Their own comments
67
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MACHINISTS
68
WPA -
National Reaearch Project (Hine)
FIGURE 12.- TOOL BUILDER PLANING FOR A TAPER SHOE ON STEAM HAMMER RAM
concer ning their occupation, aside from their accounts of actual
experience, ranged from the remarks of the t,0rker who thought that
today all that is wanted is a "specialist" or machine operator
to the comment o! the man who thought that the trouble with the
trade is that "they expect a man to know too much, more than any
111a.n can know" and the comment of the man who has left the trade
because "there was too much responsibility !or the money."
The men studied proved to have spent mo s t of their working life
not practicing it, then learning
or superv1s1ng. In many cases, supervising and actual practice
of the trade go hand in hand, especially in the smaller shops
of the city. Entrance to the trade, or rather to an apprenticeship to the trade, took place coincidentally with entrance to
the labor market for only one-third of the machinists studied.
Four-fifths of the group, however, sooner or later served a paid
apprenticeship lasting anywhere from a few months to 6 years.
Since wages of apprentices are notably meager, the choice of
the trade must have required forethought, planning, a.nd a little
economic leeway. The choice meant giving up the innnediate benefit
of wages higher than those of an apprentice for the future benefit
of the wages of a skilled worker.
at their usual occupation, if
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SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS
69
Of those who served apprenticeship, some stayed with the same
firm for the rest of their working lives. Others left the shop
to secure more varied experience. It seems to be the general
opinion that m0ving from industry to industry to obtain an increased knowledge of the trade was more common in earlier days
than today. Two-fifths of the men furnishing information on
this aspect of their work, however, served apprenticeships in
the industry to which they considered themselves attached in the
spring of 1936. In the light of this fact it may be that the
co11U11only acc~pted idea that machinists are able to change froro
industry to industry needs reexamination. Most of the complaints
of a shortage of machinists during 1935 and 1936 seem to imply
that the skill is easily transferable, since the complaints do
not stress the industry of the shortage.
The machinists included in this study have held their jobs for
a long time. The average length of service on the longest job
was 10 years and the average length of jobs at the usual occupation during the 10 years from 1926 to 1935 was almost~ years.
Provided job interruptions of 1 month or more are adequately
reported, this indicates that there is less seasonality in this
occupation than in many others. During this 10-year period machinists have been for the most part employed at their usual
occupation, an indication that even through the depression there
was a demand for machinists. Over half of the total employment
of the group was in the usual industry as well. When a change
in occupation directly followed employment, the new work was in
many cases skilled or white-collar, showing that machinists have
a good deal of leeway before they are forced down the economic
scale by inability to find work as well-paid as their usual work.
Semiskilled or unskilled work was likely to follow a period of
unemployment.
Job separations were usually followed or accompanied by changes
in employer, occupation, and industry. A change in any one of
these without a change in at least one other was rare. On the
other hand, many machinists returned to the same employer, occupation, and industry after a period of unemployment.
The unemployment reported was by no means evenly divided among
individuals attached to the occupation in 1936. An outstanding
fact concerning the employment experience of machinists in Philadelphia between 1926 and 1935 is the difference in the experience
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70
MACHINISTS
of workers attached to different industrial groups. One-half
of themachinists studied experienced no continuous unemployment
of 1 month or longer during the period from 1926 to 1935. Only
one-third of the workers customarily attached to the manufacture
of transportation equipment, however, were in this group, while
65 percent of the men in government agencies and public utilities
and 62 percent of those in miscellaneous manufacturing and other
industries experienced no unemployment. In this connection it
should be noted that theopportunity of machinists in the sample
to obtain and hold employment in the last 10 years is probably
superior to that of many other machinists, who perhaps became so
discouraged by unemployment that they left the trade permanently
before 1936 and were therefore not covered by this study.
Except for differences in the industrial distribution, the
differences in the background experience and the 10-year histories
of all machinists and of those who experienced no unemployment
between 1926 and 1935 were not great. The history of themachinists reporting no unemployment demonstrated greater stability
than the total group. Their longest jobs were longer and more
frequently at the usual occupation than were those of the total
group. If they worked at other occupations, the work was more
likely to be skilled or professional than in the case of all
machinists. In the last 10 years the average time they spent
on each job at the usual occupation was also longer. On the
average, this group was slightly older than all men studied.
The fact that they were attached to government agencies and public
utilities and miscellaneous manufacturing and other industries
in larger proportions than were machinists as a whole indicates
that there weremoremaintenance machinists among those reporting
no unemployment; this group, however, was by no means entirely
composed of maintenance machinists. As reflected in the work
histories of the group, there seems to be no connection between
the serving of a Lj.-year apprenticeship and the ability to come
through a long depression with no unemployment.
One-half the men studied experienced at least 1 month of unemployment in the 10-yearperiodbetween 1926 and 1935. Unemployment for this group seems to have been of long-term character
rather than seasonal. The difference between the average length
of unemployment periods and the total amount of unemployment
experienced, for each individual, was 9 months. The problem
of unemployment has been aggravated by part-time employment.
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SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS
71
Machinists who reported any of it at all reported an average
of 30 months of part-time work. 1
For the group who reported unemploymerrt, there seems to be a
relationship between the total amount of unemployment experienced
and age and also the industrial group of customary attachment.
This statement must be modified, however, in the light of the
findings concerning the group of men reporting no unemployment.
If a machinist has a job, he is not likely to be discharged because of his age. The value of experience seems to ·outweigh the
handicap of age in the case of such men. In this connection
it should be recalled that the average age of the men reporting
no unemployment was slightly higher than that of all machinists
in the study. There were, of course, some examples of men being
kept on by their employers but being given janitorial work or
some other light duty. This was, however, far from customary.
In the majority of cases men who remained with the same firm
throughout this period were still working at their usual occupation when studied. On the other hand, when older men lost their
jobs they were less likely than younger men to secure new ones.
The total runount of unemployment for those experiencing time
without work increased directly with age.
On the average, the age of the 85 machinists unemployed in
May 1936 was higher than that of employed machinists (47.6 years
compared with 44.7 years). These 85 men were for the most part
a residual group of the unemployed. Over half of them had been
unemployed consecutively for 1 year or longer. As the demand
for experienced machinists became more and more pressing, some
were reabsorbed. In May 19 37, when a check was made of the employment status of machinists reported unemployed in May 1936,
it was found that 28 were still unemployed. Two of these 28 had
with drawn from the labor market between 1936 and 1937 because
of illness. Two more, though seeking work, were over 65 years
of age. The remaining members of the group seemed to be genuinely
in the machinists' labor market in May 1937.
The amount of unemployment contributed by different industries
varied greatly. In this connection two measures need to be considered, the proportion of workers attached to the industry who
suffered unemployment and the amount of unemployment experienced.
By both these measures the manufacture of transportation equipment
1 This figure 1s based on the e:rper1ence or 191 men who reported 1 month or
more or part-time work 1n the 10-year period.
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72
MACHINISTS
contributed most to the unemployment of machinists. Not only
did these industries contribute a disproportionate number of
man-months of unemployment, but they also affected more people.
At the other end are government agencies and public utilities and
miscellaneous manufacturing and other industries. By both measures their contribution to the unemployment of machinists was
comparatively light. It should be noted, however, that when
individuals attached to miscellaneous manufacturing and other
industries became unemployed, they were likely to stay unemployed
for a very long time. The average duration of unemployment periods was longer for men attached to this group than for those
attached to any other, except for the manufacture of metal products, including professional instruments.
The transportation-equipment industries recovered less rapidly
than others because of the declining de111and for the products of
the particular industries located in Philadelphia. Machinists
customarily attached to these industries have faced an additional
problem with regard to employment. Work reg_ui red of them is less
exacting than that required of machinists in other industries.
Consequently it has been harder for men attached to these industries than for machinists attached to certain other industries
to make a transfer to precision work.
On the other hand, the situation of machinists in industries
other than those producing metal goods is reflected in the record
of workers attached to the miscellaneous-industries group. Each
factory employsonemaintenance machinist or, at the most, a small
group of them. These men are needed even when work is very slack.
If the factory is farsighted, and equipped with enough money to
put its farsightedness into practice, it is then that repairs,
renovations, and installations take place. Maintenancemachinists
in these industries experienced less unemployment in the years
under review.
CONCLUSIONS
One metal-trades executive remarked about the findings of this
study that if all the machinists studied had been as experienced
workers as the group who reported continuous employment in the
10 years, 1926 to 1935, the industries of Philadelphia would not
have had sufficient business to employ them in 1932 and 1933,
This substantiates the point that the outstanding differences in
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SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS
73
the recent employment experience of Philadelphia machinists arise
not from differences in their personal or occupational characteristics but from changes in the business activity of the industries
to which the men were customarily attached, Within these industrial groups, however, differences in work experience reflect
individual backgrounds and personal characteristics. The most
important of these is age. Although age is no handicap to a
skilled machinist in retaining a job, once he becomes unemployed
it becomes a distinct liability.
The size and character of the unemployment problem of "marginal"
workers has been outlined. Machinists who in May 1936 had been
unemployed 1 year or longer were 7 percent of the total sample.
In actual numbers this is not a large group. The great majority
of these individuals are genuinely attached to this labor market,
are in need of work and are seeking work, are able and willing to
work, and are not old enough to be eligible for old age pensions.
Although they had been first-class machinists, either they had
not been offered a job because of their age or they had been
unable to adjust their skill to current requirements in the labor
market for this occupation in Philadelphia. Even so, as business
improved between 1936 and 1937, more than half of these "marginal"
men found jobs.
It is obvious that selective factors enter into the retention
of skilled workers on pay rolls during a depression and the absorption or reabsorpt ion of the unemployed in to jobs when jobs
are scarce. When jobsaremore plentiful and there is likelihood
of a labor shortage, such as was reported in Philadelphia in 1936
and 1937, selective employment factors are much less important
and even the "marginal" workers secure jobs.
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APPENDIX A
TABLES
The sample on which these tables (except table A-1) are based
is described in the Introduction.
For definitions of terms used in tables, see appendix B.
The occupation and industry codes used in classifying the workhistory material are adaptations of Bulletin #3, Occupation Code,
and Bulletin #4, Industry Code, Works Progress Administration,
National Research Project in cooperation with the Industrial Research Department of the University of Pennsylvania (mimeo.,
April 1936).
Socioeconomic groups ( tables A-45, A-46 l were based on an adaptation of Alba M. Edwards' socioeconomic classification for the
United States Census occupational returns, presented in "A SocialEconomic Grouping of the Gainful Workers of the United States,"
Journal of the American Statistical Association, XXVIII, No. 184
(Dec. 1933), 377-87.
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MACHit-iISTS
76
Table 1\.-•l .. - WJ.C,E EARNERS IN THE METAL INDUSTRIF.S
OF 'l'HE PHILADELPHIA INDUSTRIAL AREA• 1929a
====----~--==--:-~-..:.--=--=========::::::::======
Average number
Industry
of wa.ge earners
- - - - - - - - - - · - - - -·- ----- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 1 - - - - - - - - -
82.753
Total wage earner$
Iron and 11-teel ,md their products
( not be J;;d_;;o.~ ?ru.\ohi:lery and
19,270
14.316
lllACh in,;. -coc}.t, )
Foundry and machine-shop products, n.e.o.
Maohinery and m.e.0;11ncs tools
Transportation oquip:mant
Railroad repair shops
Hardware, cutlery, bolts, nuts, eto.
Other metal Lldustries
18,093
14.335
5,728
2,973
8,039
&campilQd from Fifte~nth Censua of the United States,
"Manufaoturesi 1929" (u. s. Dept. cam., Bur. Census. 1932),
III, 452-4.
Table A-2.- EMPLOYMENT STATUS IN MAY 1936 BY AGE
Tot&.l. persons
Age in years
Employed
Unemployed
-·-
Number
Peroent Number
Percent Number Percent
683
100.0
598
100.0
85
100.0
16-19
20-24
25-29
30-34
4
20
36
68
o.6
0.1
3.3
6.5
10.4
0
0
--
10.0
4
20
33
62
6
3.5
7.1
35-39
40-44
45-49
100
109
113
100
14.6
92
16.0
16.6
14.6
94
8
15
21
17.7
92
89
15.4
15.7
15.4
14.9
11
12.9
66
46
22
9.5
6.7
3.2
58
37
17
9.7
6.2
2.8
7
9
s.2
10.6
s.9
Total persons
50-64
55-59
60-64
65 and over
Median age
~
2.9
6.3
45.2
44.7
Digitized by
3
9.4
24.7
5
47.6
Google
77
API'i::\iJIX A
Table A-3.- NAT:::\'ITY BY AGE
Total persons Native-born
Age in years
Total persons
a
16-29
30-44
45-59
60 and over
Foreign-born
Percent
Number
Percent
Num-
ber
ber
Percent
i 681
100.0
456
67.0
225
33.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.c
49
183
186
38
81.7
66.1
67.1
56.7
11
94
91
29
18.3
33.9
32.9
43.3
Num-
I
60
277
277
67
a.Excludes 2 men who did not report nativity.
Table A-4.- :t.'VMBER OF YEARS OF CO?;TINUOUS RESIDENCE IN PHILADELPHIA
BY NATIVITY AND EMPLOYMENT STATUS IN MAY 1936
Total persons
Nativity and number
of years of residence
Employed
Unemployed
ber
Percent
Uum.ber
Percent
Num.ber
Percent
679
100.0
594
100,0
85
100.0
26
Under 5 yr. 6 mo.
5 yr, 6 mo.-10 yr. 5 mo. 54
10 yr. 6 mo.-15 yr. 5 mo. 58
15 yr. 6 mo.-20 yr. 5 mo. 48
20 yr. 6 mo, and over
218
Since birth
275
3.8
8.0
8.5
7.1
32.1
40.£
23
49
53
40
184
245
3.9
8.2
8.9
6.7
31.0
41.3
3
5
5
8
30
3.5
5.9
5.9
9.4
40.0
35.3
1oc.o
403
100.0
51
100.0
3.7
2.0
5.9
Total persons a
Nu.'ll-
Native-born
r·::
34
Under 5 yr. 6 mo.
5 yr. 6 mo.-10 yr. 5 mo. 18
10 yr. 6 mo.-15 yr. 5 mo. 1 17
15 yr. 6 mo.-20 yr. 5 mo. 26
20 yr. 6 mo. and over
101
275
Since birth
4.0
3.7
5.7
22.3
60.6
16
15
17
22
88
245
4.0
3.7
4.2
5.5
21.8
60.8
1
3
0
4
13
30
7.8
25.5
58.8
225
100.0
191
100,0
34
100.0
Under 5 yr. 6 mo.
9
5 yr. 6 mo.-10 yr. 5 mo. 36
10 yr. 6 mo.-15 yr. 5 mo. 41
15 yr. 6 mo.-20 yr. 5 mo. 22
20 yr. 6 mo. and over
117
4.0
16.0
18.2
9.8
52.0
7
34
36
18
96
3.7
17.8
18.8
9.4
50.3
2
2
5
4
21
5.9
5.9
14.7
11.8
61.7
Foreign-born
-
a.Excludes 2 men who did not report years of residence and 2 men who
did not report nativity.
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Table A-5.- SCHOOL GRADE COMPLETED
Employment status
in May 1936 and
school grade completed
Total persons
16-29
Percent
Total personsa
673
100.0
60
Under 7
7 and 8
9 and over
148
370
155
22.0
55.0
23.0
5
25
30
Median gradeb
0
co·
;a.·
N
~
C,
'<
0
0
a
Median gradeb
Unemployed
Under 7
7 and 8
9 and over
Median gradeb
Number Percent
8.4
590
123
328
139
57
5
24
28
8.4
25
42
16
8.2
60 and over
Number
Percent
100.0
273
100.0
274
100.0
66
100.0
8.3
41.7
50.0
56
156
62
20.5
56.8
22.7
68
155
51
24.8
19
35
12
28.8
53.0
18.2
8.4
246
48
142
56
100.0
33.3
100.0
19.5
57.7
22.8
66.7
#
&Excludes 10 men who did not report school grade completed.
bcomputed from more detailed br~akdawn.
hedian not calculated for fewer than 15 cases.
27
235
53
137
45
13
6
8.3
8.2
100.0
22.6
58.3
19.l
39
15
18
6
100.0
32.7
48.l
19.2
8.3
100.0
38.5
46.l
15.4
8.2
:::s:
>
0
52
17
25
10
8.4
100.0
29.6
48.2
22.2
8
56.6
18.6
Number Percent
8.3
8.4
~
~
45-59
Percent
100.0
8.8
42.1
49.1
3
0
1
2
Cl)
Number
8.9
100.0
30.1
50.6
19.3
83
30-44
9.1
100.0
20.8
55.6
23.6
-.J
Age in years
Number
Employed
Under 7
7 and 8
9 and over
BY AGE AND EMPLOYMENT STATUS IN MAY 1936
100.0
14.3
14
2
10
2
71.4
14.3
#
::c
.....
z:
.....
en
t-:3
en
Table A-6.- AGE OF BEGINNING WORK BY AGE AND l!JIPLOYMENT STATUS IN IIAT 1936
Age of beginning work in years
Total persons
Age in years and
employment eta.tu•
in May 1956
0
~
C,
C;
0
a
'~
"""""'
16-17
18 and over
Percent
ber
Percent
ber
Percent
ber
Percent
Number
Percent
Number
Total persona&
681
100.0
19
2.8
96
14.l
315
46.2
188
27.6
63
9.3
l!aployed
Unemployed
597
84
100.0
100.0
18
1
3.0
1.2
84
12
14.1
14.3
285
30
47.7
35.7
159
29
26.6
34.5
51
12
8.6
14.3
16-29
Eaployed
Uneaployed
60
57
100.0
100.0
100.0
0
0
0
-
-
2
2
0
3.3
21
20
l
35.0
35.l
33.3
25
24
l
41.7
42.l
33.4
12
1
20.0
19.3
33 .3
20
16
7.2
6.5
13.8
150
140
10
64.4
56.7
34.5
79
3
0
1.1
1.2
69
29
100.0
100.0
100.0
10
28.6
27.9
34.5
24
19
5
8.7
7.7
17.2
19.5
20.l
15.8
1~3
110
13
44.4
48
6
46.0
34.2
M
50
23.l
20.9
14
36.9
23
19
4
8.3
8.0
10.5
20
18
2
29.4
33.3
14.3
21
15
6
30.9
27.8
42.8
20
16
29.4
29.6
28.6
4
2
2
5.9
3.7
14.3
Ell.ployed
Una11ployed
3
276
247
Num-
3
N
'<
14-15
12-13
Number
30-44
co·
;a.·
Under 12
45-59
&!ployed
Unemployed
60 and over
'Employed
Unemployed
217
100.0
239
100.0
13
12
38
100.0
l
68
100.0
100.0
100.0
3
3
54
14
0
-
4.7
5.0
2.6
4.4
5.6
-
N\Dn-
4
54
&Excludes 2 men who did not report age of beginning work.
3.5
-
Num-
4
11
Percent
>
'-,j
'-,j
tr,
:z:
c::,
.....
><
>
-.J
co
Table A-7,- YEAR OF ENTERING THE LABOR l!ARKETa BY AGE AND EMPLOYMENT STATUS IN MAY 1936
Employment
status in
Total 1872-73 1874-75 1876-77 1878-79 1880-81 1882-83 1884-85 1886-87 1888-89
May 1936 and age in yee.ra
Total pe_raonsb
l
q90-91 1892-93 1894-95 1896-97 1898-99 1900-01 1902-03
675
l
l
l
3
7
3
6
15
12
25
- _25
29
25
40
. 47
40
16-29
30-44
45-59
60 and over
60
274
276
65
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
l
0
0
0
l
0
0
0
3
0
0
0
7
0
0
0
3
0
0
0
6
0
0
0
15
0
0
3
9
0
0
13
12
0
0
18
7
0
0
29
0
0
0
25
0
0
0
40
0
0
0
47
0
0
0
39
0
Employed
16-29
30-44
45-59
60 and over
691
57
245
238
51
0
0
0
0
0
l
0
0
0
l
l
0
0
0
1
:5
0
0
0
3
4
0
0
0
4
:5
0
0
0
3
6
0
0
0
6
13
0
0
0
13
8
0
0
2
6
20
0
0
11
9
23
0
0
18
5
25
0
0
0
23
0
0
23
0
36
0
0
36
0
42
0
0
42
0
33
0
l
32
0
Unemployed
16-29
30-44
45-59
60 and over
84
3
29
38
14
l
0
0
0
l
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
3
0
0
0
3
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
2
0
0
0
2
4
0
0
l
3
5
0
0
2
3
2
0
0
0
2
4
0
0
4
0
2
0
0
2
0
4
0
0
4
0
5
0
0
5
0
7
0
0
7
0
25
1904-05 1906-07 1908-09 1910-11 1912-13 1914-15 1916-17 1918-19 1920-21 1922-23 1924-25 1926-27 1928-29 1930-31 1932-33 1934-35
44
47
42
34
44
42
34
25
21
9
12
18
12
0
5
6
16-29
30-44
45-59
60 and over
0
7
37
0
0
24
23
0
0
40
2
0
0
34
0
0
0
44
0
0
l
0
25
0
0
4
17
0
0
5
4
0
0
11
l
0
0
16
2
0
0
12
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
5
0
0
0
6
0
0
0
34
0
0
0
0
0
Employed
16-29
30-44
45-59
60 and over
32
0
6
26
0
43
0
22
21
0
32
0
30
2
0
30
0
30
0
0
40
0
40
0
0
41
l
40
0
0
32
0
32
0
0
23
0
23
0
0
18
3
15
0
0
9
5
4
0
0
11
11
0
0
0
17
16
0
0
11
11
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
5
5
0
0
0
6
6
0
0
0
Unemployed
16-29
30-44
45-69
60 and O'fllr
12
0
l
11
0
4
0
2
2
0
10
0
10
0
0
4
0
4
0
0
4
0
4
0
0
l
0
l
0
0
2
0
2
0
0
2
0
2
0
0
:I
0
l
2
0
0
0
0
0
0
l
0
l
l
0
0
0
l
l
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Total personsb
Q)
0
::ii::
::,,,.
0
::c
.....
z
.,_.
U}
H
U}
0
c.o"
a.
N-
2i_
er
'<
C")
0
a
'"""""
rv
asee appendix B for definition of date of enteriDg labor market,
41
l
0
0
2
--
hEzcludes 8 men who did not report date of entering la ,or mar·_et.
0
Table A-8.- APPRENTrcg;HIP BY AGE AND EMPLOYMENT STATUS IN MAY 1936
Apprenticeship abroad
Age in year• and
employment status
in llay 1936
No
Total persons apprenticeship
Under 4 years
Apprenticeship in United States
4 years
and over
Under 4 years
4 years
e.nd oTer
!lumber Percent Number Percent Number Percent Number Percent Number Percent Number Percent
0
co"
N-
""
2i_
c::r
'<
CJ
0
a"""""'
(v
Total pe rsonaa
561
100.0
129
23.0
35
6.2
50
8.9
106
18.9
241
43.0
Flnployed
Unmiployed
495
100.0
100.0
108
21
21.s
31.8
31
4
6.3
6.1
47
9.5
4.5
95
11
19.2
16.7
214
27
43.2
40.9
10
10
0
21.3
22.7
3
6.4
6.8
-
2
2
0
4.2
4.6
23.4
22.7
33.3
21
19
2
44.7
43.2
66.7
54
17
16
1
6.8
7.1
3.8
24
22
2
9.6
9.8
1.1
59
53
6
23.6
23.6
23.1
97
84
13
38.6
37.3
50.0
6.2
9.0
10.5
31
28
3
14.8
15.5
10.4
101
48.l
49.7
37.9
9.4
8.9
12.6
5
9.4
4
8.9
12.5
22
21
66
5
16-29
Flnployed
Unemployed
44
3
100.0
100.0
100.0
30-H
•ployed
Uneaployed
251
225
26
100.0
100.0
100.0
50
4
21.6
22.2
15.4
45-59
•ployed
Unemployed
210
181
29
100.0
100.0
100.0
48
35
13
22.9
19.3
44.8
11
9
2
s.o
6.9
19
19
0
60 and oTer
&ployed
Unemployed
53
45
8
100.0
100.0
100.0
17
13
4
32.l
28.9
4
3
7.6
6.7
12.5
5
4
l
47
-
so.o
3
0
l
-
-
11
10
1
l
90
11
l
>
'""Cl
'""Cl
t%l
:z:
0
.....
><
>
41.5
46.6
12.6
&Excludes l m&n who did not report length of apprenticeship a.nd 121 men who djd not report apprenticeship.
...
a,
Table A-9,- LENGTH OF APPREIITICESHIP BY NUl!BER OF MONTHS UNEIIPLO'(E[;, 1926-35
-
Length of apprenticeship in year•
lhmber ot aontha
unemployed
Total peraon•
•
lion.;
1-12
lS-24
25-S6
S7-48
49-60
61-72
75-84
85-96
Total persons
Under 2
None
2-3
Cl)
4 and onr
~
Number
Percent
N1.tt:1ber
Percent
Number
Percent
Number
Percent
Number
Percent
561
100.0
129
100.0
23
100.0
118
100.0
291
100.0
275
89
68
53
68
16
10
12
10
52,7
12,4
7,8
9.3
7,8
7
7
l
30,4
30.4
4,4
17.4
13,0
55
21
19
46,6
17,8
16,l
6,8
6,8
HS
40
49.0
15.9
12.1
9.5
7.1
49.8
15,5
13,l
10.0
6,5
20
7
3,6
1.2
5
4
l
3
5.8
l
0
0
0
4.4
o.e
5
0
0
2
5
o.s
6
1.1
lledian number of months
Total
Those reporting l or
more D'IOnths
4
3
3.1
2,3
8
8
-
45
S8
29
19
4.2
3,1
1.0
0,7
0,3
9
-1,7
3
2
l
1,8
0,9
9,6
3,6
1,3
::s:::
22,6
50.0
26.5
19,9
22.0
::0
>
(")
I-<
9hcludes l
IIIB.l1
z
who did not report length of apprenticeship and 121 men who did not report apprenticeship.
I-<
Cl)
1-3
0
c.o"
a.
N-
-
lle.nufacture ot -
2i_
Government
er
'<
C")
Total persona
Apprenticeship
Machinery,
machine tools, and
electrical goods
Tranaportation
equipnent
0
a"""""'
rv
Cl)
Table A-10,- APPRENTICESHIP BY USUAL INDUSTRIAL GROuP
NU11ber
Total person,a
No apprenticeship
Apprenticeship in the
United States
Apprenticeehip abroad
Percent
Number
11.etal products,
including
professional
instruments
and
public utilities
Number
Peroent
Number
Peroent
Number
Peroent
e.gencietl
Percent
?Jiscellaneoua
me.nu.fncturing
and
other industries
Number
Percent
562
100.0
227
40,4
132
23,6
81
14,4
40
7.1
82
U,6
129
100.0
50
38,7
ss
25,6
25
19,4
2
1,6
19
H.7
347
86
100.0
100.0
140
37
40,3
43.0
76
23
21.9
26,8
4S
13
12.4
15,l
S6
2
10,4
2.s
52
11
15.0
12.e
~eludes 121 men who did not report apprenticeship,
-
APPENDIX A
83
Table A-11 .- USUAL INDUSTRY OF WORKERS
Total persons
llaohinery JD&Dufacturing
Eleotrioal machine.-y and apparatus
Ma.ohine shops, n.o.s. (e.g., blaoksmiths',
jobbing, and maohine shops)
Other maohinery and parts (e.g., agricultural
equipment)
Radio
Transportation-equipment manufacturing
Motor vehioles and parts
Railroad equipment and repair shops
Ships
Street railway
Other
Number
of
persona
Percent
683
100.0
286
68
41.9
9.9
27
4.0
179
12
26.2
1.8
158
56
77
8
15
2
23.l
a.2
11.2
1.2
2.2
0.3
Metal-products manufacturing, including musical
and professional instruments
Blast f'Urnaoes, steel works, and rolling mills
Foundries, forgings, and castings
Bolts, washers, nuts, etc.
Cutlery• tireanns, e to.
Piping, tubing, etc.
Tin oans, tinware, eto.
Aluminum, brass, bronze, etc.
Professional and scientific instruments
Other
11
13.8
3.4
1.5
0.9
2.0
0,9
0,9
1.0
1.6
1.6
Govermnent agencies and public utilities
Eleotrio light and power plants
City {eduoation and other)
'War Department (e.g., the Frankford Arsenal)
Philadelphia Navy Yard
Otti.er
49
3
4
11
27
4
1.2
o.4
0,6
1.6
4.0
0.6
Other industries
96
14.0
91
8
7
18
5
3
7
15
8
5
15
13.3
1.2
1.0
2.7
0.1
0.4
1.0
2.2
1.2
0.7
2.2
5
0.1
Ma.nufacturing, other than metal
Food products
Carpets and rugs
Other textile and clothing products
Furniture and lumber products
Leather products
Paper and printi.ag
Petroleum refining and other chemicals
Tobacco products
Stone, clay, and glass products
Other
Nomnanufaoturing
94
23
10
6
14
6
6
7
11
a1n this and following tables "n.e.c," is an abbreviation for "not
alaewhere olassified"; "n.o.s." • for "not otherwise speoified."
Digitized by
Google
Table A-12.- USUAL INDUSTRIAL GROUP BY AGE AND EMPLOmENT STATUS IN )(A.Y 1~6
f
'Manufaoture of' Employment status
in May 1936 and
age in years
Transportation
equipment
683
286
158
94
16-29
30-44
45-59
60 and over
60
277
278
68
26
118
125
17
8
62
69
19
13
41
27
13
Jledian age
45.2
44.9
47.3
0
2i_
er
Employed
16-29
30-44
45-59
60 and over
598
57
248
239
Governmsnt
agencies
Metal produots,
inoluding
prof'essioDAl
instruments
'Machinery,
machine tools, and
eleotrioal goods
Total persona
c.o"
a.
N-
Total persons
and
Jlisoellaneous
lll!Ulufacturing
and
publio utilities other industries
49
96 -------
6
7
38
38
13
42.7
46.6
46.0
48
6
17
19
84
7
34
34
{\
9
45.8
45.5
1
12
0
4
54
252
26
105
109
13
126
7
54
51
14
88
12
38
26
12
Jledian age
44.7
44.5
45.9
42.7
Unemployed
16-29
30-44
45-59
60 and over
86
3
29
39
14
34
1
13
16
4
32
1
8
18
5
6
1
3
1
1
Median age
47.6
46.8
60.4
6
18
19
I
:?.
►
C
::,::
--
0
a
'"""""
rv
hedian not oaloulated for fffff9r than 15 oases.
#
1
0
0
Cfj
I
·---
4
4
#
~--
....;
----
C
z
(/)
'<
C")
.....
--
Table A-13.- INDUSTRIAL GROUP OF PRESENT OR LAST JOB BY AGE AND EMPLOYMENT STATUS IN MAY 1936
Manufacture of Machinery,
Total persons machine tools, Transports. ti on
and
equipment
electrical
goods
Age in years
and
employment
status
in May 1936
1
Metal
products,
including
professional
instruments
NUlllber Percent Number Percent Number Percent Humber Percent
Government
Miscellaneous
nanufacturing
agenciea
and
and
public utilities other industries
Number Percent
Number
Percent
683
100.0
262
38.4
132
19.3
88
12.9
72
10.5
129
18.9
Employed
Unemployed
598
85
100.0
100.0
240
22
40.1
25.9
100
32
16.7
37.6
81
7
13.6
8.2
70
2
11.7
107
22
17.9
25.9
16-29
Employed
Unemployed
60
57
24
23
l
40.0
40.3
33.3
7
6
1
11.7
10.5
33.3
13
12
1
21.6
21.l
33.4
7
7
0
11.7
12 .3
9
9
0
15.0
15.8
3
100.0
100.0
100.0
30-44
Employed
Unemployed
277
248
29
100.0
100.0
100.0
107
98
9
38.6
39.5
31.0
52
42
10
18.8
16.9
34.5
36
33
3
13.0
13.3
10.4
33
32
l
11.9
12.9
3.4
49
17.7
17.4
20.7
45-59
Employed
Unemployed
278
239
39
100.0
100.0
100.0
112
104
8
40.3
43.5
20.5
60
44
16
21.6
18.4
41.0
29
27
2
10.4
11.3
5.1
26
25
1
9.4
10.5
2.6
51
39
12
18.3
60 and OTer
Employed
Unemployed
68
54
14
100.0
100.0
100.0
19
15
4
28.0
27.8
28.6
13
8
5
19.l
14.8
35.7
10
9
1
14.7
16.7
7.1
6
a.a
6
0
11.1
20
16
4
29.4
29.6
28.6
Total persona
2.4
>
'"'d
'"'d
trl
z
c:,
H
><
0
c.o"
a.
N-
2i_
er
'<
C")
0
a"""""'
rv
-
-
43
6
>
-
16.3
30.8
Cl)
01
Table A-14.- LENGTH OF SERVICE ON LONGEST JOB BY AGE AND EMPIDYMENT STATUS IN MAY 1936
(Z)
0)
Length of service in years
Age in years and
employment status
in May 1936
Total
persons
0
er
C")
0
a
'"""""
rv
10-14
5-9
15-19
25 and
over
20-24
Per- Num- Per- Num- Per- Num- Per- Num- Per- Num- Per- Num• Per- Num- Percent ber cent ber cent ber cent ber cent ber cent ber cent ber cent
Total personsa
682
100.0
7
1.0
156
22.9
173
25.3
156
22.9
88
12.9
47
6.9
55
8.1
10.2
Employed
Unemployed
598
100.0
100.0
7
0
1.2
143
13
23.9
15.5
145
28
24.2
33.3
131
25
21.9
29.8
81
7
13.5
8.3
41
6
6.9
7.1
50
84
8.4
6.0
10.2
10.3
16-29
Employed
Unemployed
60
57
3
100.0
100.0
100.0
7
7
0
11.1
44
42
2
73.3
73.7
66.7
8
7
l
13.3
12.3
33.3
1
1
0
1.1
1.7
0
0
0
-
3.1
3.1
30-44
Employed
Unemployed
277
248
29
100.0
100.0
100.0
0
0
33.6
34.7
24.1
92
76
16
33.2
:50.6
55.2
61
55
6
22.0
22.2
20.7
23
23
0
8.3
9.3
7
7
0
2.5
2.8
l
1
0
0.4
o.4
0
93
86
7
7.5
7.5
7.5
45-59
:Employed
Unemployed
278
239
39
100.0
100.0
100.0
0
0
0
--
18
6.4
5.9
10.3
71
61
10
25.5
25.5
25.6
77
64
13
21.1
26.8
33.3
50
45
5
18.0
18.B
12.B
31
25
6
11.2
10.5
15.4
31
30
1
11.2
12.5
2.6
13.3
13.5
12.3
60 and over
Employed
Unemployed
67
54
13
100.0
100.0
100.0
0
0
0
-
1
l
0
2
l
1
3.0
1.8
1.1
17
25.4
20.4
46.l
15
22.4
9
24.1
15.4
9
0
13.4
16.7
23
19
4
34.3
13
19.7
20.a
2i_
'<
1-4
Median
Number
c.o"
a.
N-
Under l
-
12.3
--
14
4
1.5
1.8
-
11
6
!Excludes 1 man who did not report length of service on longest job.
7TMedian not calculated for fewer than 15 cases.
-
2
--
-
0
0
0
--
-
-
5
0
0
0
-
35.2
30.8
X
#
>
0
::,::i
.....
z
......
C/l
#
~
C/l
APPENDIX A
87
Table A-15.- OCCUPATION OF LONGEST JOB BY THE USUAL OCCUPATION
Total persone
Usual occupation
Occupation or longest job
Number Percent llaohinist
Tool -11:er,
die setter,
or
Millwright Apprentice
instrument
maker
682
100.0
545
95
27
15
Same as uaual
475
69.6
394
53
17
11
DU'terent f'rcm usual
207
30.4
151
42
10
4
177
26.0
126
39
8
4
154
12
22.6
1.8
106
0
39
11
7
1
2
0
6
12
5
3
0.8
1,8
13.8
1.6
1.0
o.9
0.1
0.1
0.3
0.4
1
0
2
3
0
0
26
1
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
l
0
0
3
l
0
l
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
1
0
0
0
0
Building and oonatruotion
5
0.8
4
0
1
0
Textile and clothing manuf'aoturing
Loom f'ixera
Weavera
Textile-clothing operatives
Finishers
7
l
2
3
1
1.0
0.1
0.3
o.s
0.1
7
1
2
3
l
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
11
1.6
9
0
0
2
Unskilled occupations
4
0.6
4
0
0
0
Clerical occupation•
7
1.0
7
0
0
0
10
1.6
7
1
2
0
Executive, professional, and
semiprofessional oooupationa
6
0.7
4
l
0
0
Public aervice
4
0.6
3
l
0
0
Total pereonaa
Skilled and aemiskilled occupa ti cna in m&.nuf'ac tu ring
and mechanical industries
Metal products, machinery,
and eleotrioal-gocds
aanuf'acturing
Machinists
Tool makers, die setters,
and instrument makers
Foremen
Apprentices
Machine-tool operators
llachinists• helpers
Operatives, iron and steel
Smelters
Solderers
Blaokamitha
14echanioa
Other
Transportation and trade
8 Excludea
94
11
7
6
1
l
2
11
68
10
3
3
1 ~ool maker who did not report longest job.
Digitized by
Google
Table A-16.- BUJIBER OF YEARS EMPLOYED AT USUAL OCCUPATION BY AGE AND EMPLODlEHT STATUS IH 1lAY 1936
4 years 9 years 14 years
Age in years and
Under
6 months 6 months 6 months
to
employment status Total 4 years
to
to
persona 6 months 9 years 14 years 19 years
in May 1936
5 months 5 months 5 months
19 years 24 years 29 years
6 months 6 months 6 months 34 years lledian
to
6 months number
to
to
24 years 29 years 34 years and over ot year•
5 months 5 months 5 months
Total persona•
680
19
61
75
116
117
102
81
106
22.6
Employed
Um,mployed
596
17
2
54
65
10
101
15
101
7
89
13
74
10
95
11
22.5
22.2
16
16
1
32
31
1
11
10
1
1
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
6.8
6.8
276
247
29
3
2
22
18
4
51
76
68
1
35
32
l
7
89
82
1
0
0
0
0
18.0
18.2
16.6
277
238
39
0
0
7
5
2
13
11
2
23
16
7
36
27
79
71
57
54
9
62
54
8
8
3
29.3
30.0
24.4
0
0
0
0
0
0
3
2
1
6
6
0
5
3
2
4
49
41
8
81
a,
CD
18
X
16-29
Employed
Unemployed
30-H
0
c.o"
a.
N-
Employed
Unemployed
60
57
3
l
2i_
er
'<
C")
0
a
'"""""
rv
45-69
Employed
Unemployed
60 and over
Employed
Unemployed
61
54
13
0
0
0
0
54
a.Excludes 3 men who did not report years at usual occupation.
~ i a n not oaloulated for fewer than 15 oases.
0
s
1
2
2
#
40.4
~.s
I
>
0
::r:
.....
.....
:z:
.,r:nr:n
Table A-17.- NIJIIBER
or TEARS
Under
Total
per•om
Uoual induotrial group
and age in year•
• 7•ar•
8 J10nthll
+----
16
s
32
22
2TT
0
0
7
0
ll&n.u!'acture of tranaporta1.ion equ,pmeut
16-29
3~
45-59
60 11.Jld OTer
er
'<
C")
0
a
rv
""""""
5 months
60
276
16-29
30-44
46-59
60 a.nd over
2i_
5 aontho
16-29
50-44
U-59
lla.nu!'acture of metal produots, inolud ing
profe1uional inetrumeut,
16-29
30-44
46-69
60 and OTer
GoTernant e.genciee and public utilitiee
16-29
30-(4
46-69
60 &Jld OTer
lliacella.neoua mnu:faoturing lllld other
induatriea
16-29
50-'4
45-69
60 and OTer
67
~~---1118
125
17
I,
1
I
I
156
-s-62
68
18
_!_09
l
o
6 month•
to
14· year•
I
93
13
~-I
I!~
~
18
19
--+-
11
61
13
l
89
25
0
s
1s··
23
26
"3
- -n
1--
8
15
38
o
2
8
8
0
0
0
0
6
-.,
--i
0
0
0
2
2
0
2
1
17
8
11
16
15
-.
16
l
7
0
0
2
0
I
-,
I
!
0
~
---i
o
o
6
4
0
0
l
·
r --
26
1--
8
4
0
t---
6 m,ntha
5 -,ntha
to
29
I
0
0
76
38
8
55
82
l
79
6
4
0
0
67
49
4~
40
40
0
0
16
32
0
l
38
l
0
I
so
-o·
17
12
l
,
!
11
l
I
,
I
9
4
6
,
5
I
I
0
0
!
l
9
l
0
4
6
3
0
2
t
l
l
l
16
17
--T
--
8
0
6
--+
s0
0
I
6
0
23,8
-1f
0
18,S
0
14
30.3
96
7
I
I
11
2
- 0-
8
14
3
4
0
0
l
l
l
0
0
0
2
I
l
l
&Exclude• 3 men who did not report number of 7eara employed at the usual occupation.
#ie<11an not oaloulated tor r....r than 16 oaaoo.
iI
20
---O-
6
12
-- 0
10
--0
0
6
4
17
--0
-0
S
0
0
7
14
4
10
l
7
s
-----,
z
H
><
>
17.7
16,2
23,3
#
10
e
2
,2 .s
2
__ ,
>
0
I
58•
58
13
19.2
29.6
40,S
'"ti
'"ti
c,;:,
0
- 6 -
-
6
~ti--
·t
u
o
2
l
18.0
29.S
40.4
27
23
2
-
5.e
26
16
- t-~!--t--2g
I
ot
:rear•
--+----+I 106 ----t- - 22.5
-- -
0
~---+- __
lledian
number
M yea.re
8 110ntho
and OTer
M
39
12
l
l~
year ■
29 :,ear•
6 ac>ntbo
to
M :,earo
B>Dth ■
102
13
j,
I
24 year•
6
-,:_
-~--- -- r6_l~ --~~
I
6
T
117
~
0
0
I
--r-
19 :,•ar•
5 ac>ntho
116
I
I
to
15
61
19 year•
6 aontbo
to
24 ;year•
5 aontho
14 ;year•
8 moath•
9 :veare
to
9 year•
680
Ka.nutaoture ot •ohiuey, aohine toola#
&Dd eleotrioal good•
0
I- ___ l_~ ---
4 J'9&r1
6 -,nths
Total peraona&
60 &Di OYer
c.o"
a.
N-
EIIPLOTED il USUAL OCCUPATION BT USUAL INDUSTRIAL GROUP AND AGE
-
-,----
24.4
18.0
52.0
#
22.T9
16.8
27.9
#
cc
(Cl
co
Table A-18.- OCCUPATION OF l.AST JOB BY USUAL OCCUPATION, FOR MACHINISTS EMPLOYED IB MAY l9S6
Total persons
Usual occupation
Occupation of last job
Total persons
Same as usual
0
Tool maker,
die setter,
Millwright Apprentice
or
instrument
maker
Number
Percent
Machinist
598
100.0
476
86
21
16
493
82.4
390
71
17
16
3::
>
(")
Different from usual
CJ
co·
""
;;;
~
C,
'<
C")
0
a
,..._
~
Skilled and semiskilled occupations
in manufacturing and mechanical
industries
Building and construction
Paperhangers
Plumbers and pipe, gas, and steam
fitters
Metal products, ma.chine ry, and
electrical-goods manufacturing
Boring-machine operators
. Drill-press operators
Filers and grinders (metal)
Instnanent makers
Engine-lathe operators
lathe operators
Machinists
Machinists 1 , tool makers', and
millwrights• helpers
105
17.6
86
15
4
0
::i:I
......
z
......
en
~
en
l
l
0.3
0.2
0
l
l
0
0
0
l
0.1
l
0
0
0
41
2
2
3
l
6.9
0.3
5
0
3
0
0
o.s
33
2
2
0
0
2
0
l
0
5
2
o.9
0
l
1
l
0.2
0.2
4
0
l
2
0
0
0
0.3
0
0
0
0
2
o.3
2
0
0
0
2
o.s
0
0
0
0
0
Weehanies, automobile and aircraft
Keeha.nics, other
Killing-machine operators
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
1
0
1
1
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
4.9
0.2
0.2
0.2
23
1
1
1
6
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
15
2.5
12
3
0
0
6
1.0
3
3
0
0
2
o.3
2
0
0
0
2
o.3
2
0
0
0
1
2
1
1
0.2
o.3
0.2
0.2
1
1
1
1
2
2
0.3
0.3
2
1
3
1
9
1
o.s
0.2
1.5
0.2
3
Textile and clothing manufacturing
Knitters, f'Ull-fashioned hosieryOperatives, n.e.c., textile
2
1
1
o.3
0.2
0.1
Other
Asaemblers
Engineers, stationary-, n.e.c.
Firemen, stationaryForemen, other than building
and construction
Inspectors and examine rs ( except
in trade, transportation,
and communication)
Operatives, n.e.c •• chemical
manufacturing
Operatives, n.e.c., food ma.nufacturing
Operatives, n.e.c., paper-goods
manufacturing (except
printing)
29
1
1
1
Millwrights
Operatives, n.e.c., iron and steel
industries
Platers and enamelers
Punoh-press operators and press
operators, n.o.s.
Screw-machine operators
Tool makers and die setters
Welders
1
9
0
0
0
0
0
>
'"'d
'"'d
t:<l
z
Cl
......
0
c.o"
a.
N-
2i_
er
'<
C")
0
a
'"""""
rv
Table continued on following page.
I><
>
...
(0
1
0.2
1
0
0
0
Table A-le.- OCCUPATION OF LAST JOB BY USUAL OCCUPATION, FOR MACHINISTS DfPLOYED Ilf IIAY 1956 - Continued
Total
0oe'dpe.tion
or
Usual occupation
per■ one
last job
Number
Percent
~
lfaohini ■ t
Tool -.leer.
die setter,
or
Killwright Apprentice
in■ tJ"Ullent
•leer
0
co"
;,;:
N
i
er
'<
C")
0
a
Different from usual - continued
Unskilled oooupationa
Dock ha.nds, longshoremen, and
stevedores
ls.borers and helpers, n.e.c., in
building and construction
IAborers, manufacturing
Watchmen and guards
I.Abo re re, n.e .c.
Clerical occupations
Clerks, filing, mail, and general
office
Estimators and appraisers
Shipping and receiving clerks
Stock clerk•
17
1
1
4
z.e
o.z
o.z
o.6
16
1
0
0
1
0
0
0
1
3
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
10
1
1.6
0.2
10
1
0
0
4
0.7
3
1
0
0
1
1
l
l
0.2.
0.2
0.2
0.1
1
l
l
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
l
0
0
0
0
2
o.3
l
0.2
0.1
2
1
1
~
(i)
Transportation and trade pursuits
Agent ■ , insurance and real estate
Truck and tractor drivers
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
:x
►
(')
....
....
::1
:z:
Cl)
1-i
Cl)
Domestic and personal service
Day workers and offioe cleaners
Elevator operators
Hostesses. head ~iters. and
stewards
Janitors and caretakers
Executive. professional. and semiprofessional occupations
Mana.gers. officials. and
executiTea. n.e.c.
Musicians and teachers of music
Watchmen. policemen.
and guard.a (public)
s
0
1
0
0
1
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
s
0
0
0
2
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0.1
0.2
0.2
0
l
0.2
0.1
1
s
0.5
2
l
o.:s
4
l
1
l
0.2
l
0
Public service:
1
0.2
l
0
0
0
.,,.,,►
t>3
z
....><
0
►
0
en·
""
N.
2i_
c:r
'<
C")
0
arv
'"""""
Q)
~
Table A•l9o• EMPLOYMENT STATUS BY MONTHS, 1926•35, FOR 284 MACHINISTS WHOSE USUAL INDUSTRIAL GROUP WAS
THE MANUFACTURE OF MACHINERY, MACHINE TOOLS, AND ELECTRICAL GOODSa
Month
A
B
C
D
E
A
B
1926
January
February
Maroh
April
May
June
July
Auguot
September
October
November
December
159
161
161
161
161
162
174
173
174
174
174
174
55
56
55
55
54
53
46
47
48
48
47
46
46
45
45
44
45
46
46
46
43
44
45
45
0
c.o"
a.
N-
2i_
er
'<
C")
0
a
'"""""
rv
171
169
165
155
166
165
161
161
160
159
156
155
41
40
40
40
40
39
39
39
39
39
39
58
32
32
33
34
33
35
37
37
41
42
40
38
D
E
A
B
1927
4
2
2
3
4
3
3
3
3
2
3
4
20
20
21
21
20
20
15
15
16
16
15
15
177
175
174
176
177
177
179
178
179
179
180
182
46
46
48
46
45
44
41
43
43
42
40
40
1931
Jammry
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December
C
2
46
44
46
48
49
47
47
46
48
4
46
5
3
l
2
3
3
3
2
3
3
14
13
13
13
13
12
14
13
13
13
13
13
182
182
182
183
181
180
178
181
181
181
183
183
41
40
42
42
40
42
41
38
39
40
39
39
1932
32
35
38
36
37
37
38
37
34
35
40
43
8
8
8
8
8
8
9
10
10
9
9
10
154
153
151
150
146
145
146
145
146
146
146
147
39
40
38
39
37
37
37
39
39
40
37
35
37
36
35
33
35
33
33
33
32
31
32
32
D
F,
A
B
1928
46
48
C
46
46
46
45
47
46
46
44
43
45
45
44
10
9
9
9
9
9
9
9
8
9
9
9
145
145
144
147
144
146
145
147
144
146
150
149
35
36
38
39
42
40
39
41
41
41
42
43
31
30
29
28
32
32
33
33
33
31
31
30
D
E
A
B
1929
3
4
2
2
4
4
7
9
9
7
7
8
12
12
12
12
12
12
12
12
12
11
10
10
183
182
181
181
180
179
178
178
181
182
183
181
39
40
41
42
43
43
41
41
40
39
37
37
44
45
44
43
44
44
45
46
45
44
45
46
65
65
64
62
59
59
60
56
60
61
56
56
8
8
9
8
7
7
7
7
6
5
5
6
148
147
144
144
141
144
146
147
147
146
147
146
43
44
44
45
45
45
46
48
48
53
51
51
30
33
34
35
36
36
39
39
37
37
37
37
C
D
E
19
18
16
16
17
17
15
15
19
21
23
28
6
6
6
6
6
6
7
7
7
8
8
8
1930
8
8
9
9
8
9
13
12
12
13
13
14
10
9
9
9
9
9
7
7
6
6
6
6
179
180
179
178
177
176
176
174
174
173
174
173
36
38
42
43
43
44
45
45
44
43
41
41
1934
1933
44
46
51
53
57
60
59
58
59
58
60
61
C
~
44
42
41
41
41
41
41
43
40
39
38
34
1935
57
54
54
52
54
52
48
45
45
46
6
6
8
8
8
7
5
5
5
3
3
46
4
47
147
149
150
151
150
149
151
155
155
156
154
151
50
50
50
51
53
55
55
54
57
57
58
57
3"6
36
37
40
41
41
41
42
38
37
38
39
47
46
44
40
37
36
35
32
33
33
32
35
4
3
3
2
3
3
2
l
l
l
2
2
---·----
aA denotes "employed at usual occupation, usual industry", B, "employed at usual occupation, other than usual industry", c, "employed at other than
usual occupation", D, "unemployed"1 E, "not seeking work." Tables A-19 and A•24 include 1 man who worked at odd machinist•• jobs for about l yoar.
In order to use the information given for the rest of tho 10-year period and to keep the same total, the first year - s considered as a full year of
employment. In all other tables de~ling with total amounts of employment or unemployment this person is oonoidered as not reporting.
:s::
;,,..
0
::r::
.....
z
.....
en
>-:l
cn
Table A-20.- EMPLOYMENT STATUS BY MONTHS. 1926-35, FOR 158 MACHINISTS WHOSE USUAL INDUSTRIAL GROUP WAS
THE MANUFACTURE OF TRANSPORTATION EQUIPMENT•
llonth
A
B
C
D
E
A
B
February
li!aroh
April
:May
June
July
A.ugUllt
September
October
November
December
96
96
95
98
99
98
99
100
99
98
97
97
27
26
27
26
25
26
25
26
26
27
27
26
21
22
24
23
23
23
22
21
22
23
23
24
8
10
7
6
6
6
7
7
6
6
5
6
5
5
5
6
6
5
6
6
6
5
5
5
95
96
95
100
102
101
100
100
100
101
101
97
25
26
28
?,7
27
28
29
29
29
29
29
29
1931
0
c.o"
a.
N-
2i_
c:r
'<
C")
0
a
'"""""
rv
January
February
Karch
April
Kay
June
July
August
September
Ootober
November
December
73
73
73
75
76
78
76
76
78
77
76
74
28
28
27
28
26
24
24
22
22
21
22
22
23
23
22
22
22
22
24
24
22
21
19
19
D
E
A
B
1927
1926
January
C
3
3
4
22
3
24
3
3
5
7
7
7
7
4
5
5
5
5
4
4
4
4
2
2
2
2
97
98
98
100
99
100
99
101
100
100
101
98
29
27
27
25
26
25
28
28
26
25
24
24
1932
34
34
35
31
33
32
32
34
34
37
39
41
0
0
l
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
70
66
69
68
69
70
70
72
72
70
68
66
22
21
21
22
22
23
19
17
16
16
17
16
19
20
18
17
17
18
21
19
21
24
23
22
D
E
A
B
1928
26
24
23
22
22
22
21
23
23
23
C
23
23
24
24
26
26
25
25
26
28
28
28
48
45
46
48
46
45
47
52
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
3
3
3
2
64
66
63
62
65
70
76
74
77
80
77
76
16
16
16
15
14
16
16
18
19
19
19
21
21
21
23
23
24
25
23
23
24
24
22
22
D
E
A
B
1929
7
8
7
7
2
5
2
2
2
2
2
4
2
2
2
4
4
2
l
l
l
6
4
7
96
96
94
95
96
97
93
92
91
91
93
88
26
26
26
29
28
27
26
26
26
29
26
28
27
27
28
27
27
26
29
28
29
27
27
26
55
53
64
56
53
47
41
41
37
34
37
36
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
1
1
3
3
72
71
22
24
72
24
71
69
22
22
71
20
74
76
78
79
74
19
21
21
21
21
21
72
23
21
21
21
21"
20
23
22
26
26
24
26
C
D
E
22
23
22
19
17
16
22
22
23
22
25
31
0
0
1
0
0
l
1930
9
l
8
9
6
6
8
10
12
12
1
l
l
l
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
11
12
15
84
84
84
86
88
88
83
84
84
85
82
77
26
26
26
27
28
27
28
27
26
26
28
27
1934
1935
4S
49
48
49
C
26
26
25
26
25
26
24
26
26
25
25
23
l
0
0
0
0
0
3
72
2
2
2
3
4
73
4
2
2
2
2
2
71
68
69
69
73
73
74
74
76
73
22
23
25
26
27
26
27
29
28
28
28
26
26
25
24
24
24
26
2:5
24
27
28
28
28
z
t:,
.....
1936
58
40
39
42
43
43
38
37
31
30
37
38
>
'"d
'"d
c,:,
38
36
37
39
37
37
34
30
27
26
25
29
1
l
><
>
l
l
1
l
l
2
2
2
2
2
aA denotes "employed at usual occupation, usual industry"; B, "employed at usual occupation, other than usual industry"; C, "employed at
other than usual occupation"; D, "unemployed"; E, "not seeking work."
a,
CJ1
Table A•21.• EMPLOYMENT STATUS BY MONTHS, 1926-35, FOR 94 MAC!IINISTS WHOSE USUAL INDUSTRIAL GROUP WAS
co
THE MANUFACTURE OF METAL PRODUCTS, INCLUDING PROFESSIONAL INSTRUMENTS&.
-
Month
A
B
C
D
E
--
A
B
1926
January
April
48
48
48
49
Ma.y
49
June
July
August
September
October
60
51
61
52
53
53
53
February
Ila.rob
November
December
17
17
18
17
17
17
14
13
14
14
14
14
20
20
19
19
19
20
23
23
23
22
22
22
C
D-~-~l~c
7
7
7
7
7
5
4
4
4
4
4
4
52
52
52
52
62
52
53
53
53
53
54
64
13
13
13
13
13
13
13
14
14
14
13
13
1931
24
24
24
24
24
24
22
22
23
23
23
23
D
E
A
B
1928
1927
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
3
1
l
1
1
0:,
1
1
1
1
1
1
2
4
l
4
1
1
1
1
3
3
3
3
4
4
4
4
4
4
I 54
55
55
54
54
54
56
57
56
55
55
56
12
11
11
11
11
13
12
11
11
11
11
11
1932
23
22
22
23
24
22
19
19
20
20
20
19
C
D
E
A
B
4
4
4
5
5
6
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
55
64
54
54
53
52
53
53
51
53
53
53
11
11
11
11
12
13
14
14
14
14
14
14
20
20
20
20
20
19
18
18
20
5
6
6
6
6
8
8
19
7
6
6
20
20
8
8
3
3
3
3
3
2
1
1
1
l
l
1
53
53
53
63
53
53
51
51
51
61
51
51
13
12
12
12
11
10
12
12
13
13
13
13
1934
1933
D
E
7
8
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
l
1
1930
1929
2
3
3
3
2
2
C
20
20
20
20
20
21
20
20
19
19
19
19
8
8
9
9
10
10
10
10
10
10
::.::
~
(")
::r:
>-<
z
1935
>-<
C/)
0
c.o"
a.
N-
2i_
er
'<
C")
0
a"""""'
rv
January
51
13
February
March
April
47
13
48
Ma.y
June
July
August
September
October
November
December
49
48
45
44
44
12
11
11
11
10
10
10
10
11
11
47
44
44
44
19
21
21
22
21
21
24
23
23
24
24
24
10
12
12
13
12
13
14
16
16
15
14
14
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
l
1
1
1
l
44
43
39
39
39
37
33
33
34
34
34
36
11
11
10
10
9
10
11
11
12
12
12
12
24
14
23
26
26
25
24
22
22
22
22
22
21
16
18
18
20
22
26
26
24
24
24
24
1
1
1
1
1
1
2
2
2
2
2
2
35
36
37
37
37
38
37
38
39
41
42
42
12
11
11
11
12
13
16
14
15
15
14
14
21
20
20
19
19
18
20
25
25
24
24
24
24
2
41
25
24
25
2
41
41
41
24
23
20
16
14
13
13
13
2
2
2
2
2
1
1
1
1
1
41
42
45
47
47
46
46
46
12
12
13
14
14
13
13
12
11
12
12
12
26
14
25
23
16
16
23
24
15
14
23
23
23
24
15
12
11
11
10
10
10
28
25
25
l
l
47
49
l
1
1
l
1
l
l
l
l
l
49
50
51
52
52
53
61
61
51
61
11
11
11
12
12
12
13
13
15
16
16
16
25
25
10
9
25
8
22
22
21
21
21
22
22
22
21
9
9
8
8
7
6
5
5
6
aA denotes "employed at usual oocupa.tion, usual industry"; B, "employed at usual occupation, other than usual indwstry"i C, •employed at
other tha.n usual occupation"; D, "unemployed"; E, "not seeking work."
1
0
1
1
0
l
0
0
0
0
0
0
>-,]
C/)
Table A-22.- EMPLOYMENT STATUS BY MONTHS, 1926-35, FOR 145 MACHINISTS WHOSE USUAL INDUSTRIAL GROUP WAS GOVERl04ENT AGENCIES
AND PUBLIC UTILITIES AND MISCELLANEOUS MANUFACTURING AND OTHER INDUSTRIES&
Month
A
B
C
D
E
A
B
January
February
March
April
!.!ay
June
July
August
September
October
November
December
85
86
86
87
87
85
87
89
89
87
87
87
21
20
20
21
23
23
21
20
20
19
19
20
27
26
27
25
26
25
26
2
3
3
24.
4
26
27
26
26
3
3
1
3
3
4
5
4
10
10
9
9
9
9
8
8
8
8
8
8
88
87
87
86
86
87
88
88
87
86
87
88
21
21
21
20
20
21
23
23
24
24
23
22
1931
January
February
March
April
0
c.o"
a.
N-
2i_
er
'<
C")
0
a
'"""""
rv
Mq
June
July
August
Septeenber
October
November
December
83
81
82
83
83
82
81
SJ
82
83
83
82
21
20
20
20
21
22
18
18
19
20
20
19
18
18
16
16
16
18
19
19
18
16
15
15
C
D
E
A
B
1921
1926
26
26
25
26
26
25
24
23
22
22
23
23
3
4
1
1
4
8
9
9
9
7
7
8
8
8
8
4
4
3
3
4
4
5
4
4
88
89
89
88
90
91
91
92
92
92
92
92
21
21
21
22
21
21
18
17
20
20
20
20
1932
16
19
20
19
18
16
19
19
19
19
20
22
1
1
7
1
1
7
8
8
1
1
1
7
83
83
84
85
85
85
87
87
87
86
86
85
18
18
17
16
17
17
14
17
13
13
16
17
17
17
16
14
17
17
16
16
16
17
16
15
C
D
E
A
B
1928
24
24
23
22
22
21
22
22
21
21
21
21
1
1
7
7
8
8
6
6
6
6
6
6
86
,86
87
87
87
86
86
86
87
86
86
86
D
E
A
B
1929
4
8
94
4
1
1
1
93
92
92
90
90
87
87
86
86
87
88
6
6
6
6
7
7
5
5
5
5
6
6
7
7
7
7
1
1
21
20
20
20
20
19
21
23
24
24
23
22
1933
21
20
20
22
22
22
20
19
19
19
21
25
C
20
20
21
21
22
22
21
21
21
21
19
19
15
16
25
26
6
86
21
5
88
15
14.
16
17
17
20
21
22
22
22
22
13
13
14
16
17
17
17
17
16
24
24
6
5
5
5
3
3
3
88
88
87
88
87
87
87
89
89
90
22
22
23
23
20
18
16
17
17
18
3
3
3
22
22
21
19
18
20
21
22
22
16
16
16
16
18
16
18
19
17
17
16
16
D
E
10
6
10
11
1
1
1
1930
4
5
5
6
5
6
9
8
8
8
10
JO
6
7
87
86
1
1
86
8
8
7
6
6
6
6
6
84
85
84
83
86
85
85
85
84
21
21
20
21
20
21
21
21
20
20
20
20
1934
13
13
C
21
21
21
20
20
18
17
17
18
18
18
18
13
13
16
7
l5
1
1
1
15
J5
16
16
7
7
7
7
17
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
2
3
2
89
88
90
88
90
93
94
94
96
98
98
99
23
24
24
22
21
20
20
21
18
20
20
19
16
16
14
16
17
17
17
16
16
15
15
16
'"Cl
'"Cl
C:r;J
z
....I><
0
1935
19
16
16
16
15
17
18
18
18
16
16
16
>
15
15
15
16
14
12
12
12
14
10
10
10
2
2
2
3
4
3
2
2
2
2
2
1
>
aA denotea "employed at usual occupation, usual industry"; B, "employed at usual occupation, other than usual industry"1 C, "employed at
other than usual occupation"1 D, "unemployed"; E, "not seeking work,"
CD
--1
Table A-23.- NUMBER OF MONTH:; UlJE..YPLOYED, 1926-35. BY USUAL INDUSTRIAL GROUP
co
CJ!
Manufaoture of -
Number of J110nths
\Dlemployed
Machinery.
Total persons machine tools,
and
electrical
goods
Tn.n3 portat ion
equipment
Metal
produota,
including
professional
instruments
Number
Percent
Number
Percent
ber
Percent
Number
680
100.0
283
100.0
158
100.0
None
330
48.fi
139
49.1
54
1 or more
1-12
13-24
25-36
37-48
49-60
61 and over
350
111
86
60
46
27
20
51.5
16.3
12.7
144
50
39
24
17
7
50.9
17.6
13.8
a.s
6.0
2.5
10(.
26
26
20
7
2.5
Total per sons
a
Num-
Govermnent
agenoies
am publio
utilities
Miaoellaneoue
manufaoturing
am other
industries
Percent
Number
Peroent
Number
Percent
94
100.0
49
100.0
96
100.0
34.2
46
48.9
32
65.3
59
61.5
65.8
16.4
16.4
12.7
8.9
5.7
5.7
48
13
15
51.l
13.8
16.0
s.s
8.5
3.2
1.1
17
34.7
16.3
4.1
4.1
2.0
a.2
37
38.5
14.6
4.2
6.2
6.2
4.2
3.1
3C
>
n
:-c
CJ
cg:
;;;
~
CT
'<
C')
0
a
""'~""""
Median number of
months
Total
Those reportillg
1 or more
months
a.a
6.8
4.0
2.9
14
9
9
8
8
3
1
8
2
2
1
4
-
0
14
4
6
6
4
3
2.1
1.7
12.a
2.-4
o.s
o.a
22.0
19.9
25.3
22.2
19.0
27.0
~xoludea 3 men who did not report number of months UMmployed.
......
'Z
......
(/.J
,-,J
(/.J
Table A-24.- TOTAL 14.A.N-MONTHS OP' ™PLO»&D'T EXPERIENCE, 1926-:)5. BY U&JAL INDUSTRIAL OROUP
Employed at the ueual oeeupat ion
Total
m.ontba
tndu ■ try
1Per- -~~.•--]P~-
NUll\ber
cent
ber
Other
Ueual
Total
Ueual luduetrl al group
cent
Num- : Perber
cent
lnd:!;~H]
1
Num- Perber cent
Elaplopd at other oeeupe.tlona
Usu&}
tnd~::;~a■ Total i.nduatry
N\111~ -~~~~-~r~ ~- ~e;~ - N~-1Perber cent ber
oent ber cent ber cent
Oth~r
Not •••k•
Unemployed
tnc work
1nduatrte ■
-~um-rP~~~ ;~-=ber
cent
ber
Per-
oe-nt:
~1.•~ol1oc.~ ;•._92fl 70-,; 4;_..a_.~\;.l 8_._~i~ ~0.7 3,358 4.1 12,534 15,3 4_,18_7 :·l 8,347110.2 ~--967r ~~ 2-:;;9~ 2-;134 080:100.0!24,868 !? 3.0 19,646 57.7 3,519 10.3 l,?03 5. 0 ! 4,769 14,0 l,BH 1 5.312, 9551 8.7 3,368 9.9 •,1 ,075 ~.l
Total montbe a
8
Manuracture or macbtaery, neoblne tools, and electrical goode
Manufacture or tre.naportetion equipment
Manufacture or met el product a, including proreesionel 1netrumente
Co.ernment acencha and public utU1tlee
Mlec•llaneoue 11&J1utactur1nc and other llldu ■tr~ee
1
18,960 1100 .0 ll2,917 J68.l
100.0 7 ,258 164 ,3
15,880 1 100.0 · 4 1 1f16 71.2
11_~520 p oo.o} 8.699f ,:_•_:>l
111,200
2~211,3
l.B ! 2,831 15.0
862 4.61l,969 jl 0. 4 2,960 15.6
2. 7 1 2,619 123.2 I 813 . ? .2 1,806 16 . (, l, 159 10.3
4.3
908115.4 i 102: l.?
806J 13.7
440 7•'
1
?53 1 6.~~-•~~
_8_11 "}·0 ~1.040
112.2
9,997,52.7 2,5?6 13.6
5,749 51.0 1,202 10.6
3,34.21~.8
5 93 :10 .l
7,137 62.~~ , .o
M4
307
251
! ~9~:_•~l
24-4, , 2. 2
34615.9
3.3
'1 .~1~~'-'-~
a.Se• table A-19, footnote ••
:,,.
'i:l
'i:l
Table A-25.- TOTAL ~U3ER OP' MONTHS ~Pl.DYED, 1926-35 1 IJY AGE ANO EMPLOYMENT STATUS IN MAY 1936
======::-:-:===-==--- -- _···-
tz,
z
t:,
,_
_-~_·c.
Age in yeare
Total peno1111
-
Number ot month6
\Dl«mployed
- -
~- -
I
Em.ployed
Total
Unemployed i
-
- -~ - ~ -
Total
0
<B"
;a.·
N
8.
CT
'<
C")
0
a,......
Total peraon 9
6
or IDONI
1-12
13-24
25-~
37-48
49-60
61 end OTer
'8.5 1324
-350
. 111
86
51.5'271
15,3 1101
12.71 71
47
6.8 31
4.0117
2 .9
4
8.81
60
t6
I 27
'20
~ ■en
Total
_ ___ 4 ____. _4~~59 ~ _ _ +
1Employed :unemployed !
Total
EID.ployed I unemployed;
><'
o•er
60 and
Total
E:11:iplo:,ed
Unemployed
:,,.
1
I
I
I .
22 I' 36.? 1 22
38.6 'i
o ,
I 45,5•' 79 I 92.9
I 63 . 3 ' 35
6).4 .,
' 00.0 150
3 _µ
5,.s Ij
6
38
11.0· 10
11.8
ll.9 • 15
17.6
?.9t 13
15.3
1
5.2' 15 117.6
2,8 I 10
11.8
0,7[ 16 I 18.8
2.1
0 ,9
22.0
11 1,9
I eer.t
~~
l~.;,,.._oi 60k ~-~~--:-1_0£:0j 37ioo.+•• ;100.~2_4~ l100:0L29_ 100.0j2•51~_:?*;
7,1
I
~
~clude11
- - - - - - - - --
30-44
!Num- cent
Per-r\DllPer=~;
ui:=-f~;:i~-=-1-;e~~1
N~~l PertlNum-=7" Pe;..1Num- : Per- 1Num- : ?e r- :Nurn- I Per- f Num=~-l~e-::ber
cent lber
cent ber
cent ber
cent ber i cent' ber
Num- ' Per- 'N~~ ~er=-r;~ ~-;~ ~ : -~r cent ber I cent I ber · cent i ber I cent ! ber , cent ~
'.680 1100. 0 595 +~o_o.o
' 330
Non•
l
I
-
~ployed !Unemployed I
:Num-! Perber
-
- - - - - ___ •
1
I
wtlo did not rtport umber ot
36.l
Se.&
month■
o
121
- , 55
15, 25.0I i's' 26]3
15
25.0 1 14 I 2 4.6
1 1 3:5,:!> 1
4 i 6,71 3
5.3 . l ~ 33.3
2 · 3.3
l
l,7
1 . 33.4 1
2
3.3i 2
3,5 1 0
o_
_-:..._+ ~-+-o_;_____::_
I
l
I
7,8
~~-~~
w:iemploy•d.
6.6
__
l
15, 6 --
I
I -
t ~l
II
H
. _I_
36
25
21
10
.
4!> . 8 ' 123
49.6•I
50. 4 I' 25
19,9
1:5,0
21.ol
11.7
8 ,9
52
29
9.0 1 22
7,61 15
3,6
lr
_19•.8__
6
6.~
13.8 143
4
54.2 I125
3.6
.l _
I
3
7
3
6
2,4
4
- 0: 4 __ 2
1
l.3
.l
17.6
52.0 ,141
86.2 l3e
48.0
10,3 38
13 ,A
24.2 1 :.,()
10.9
10.3 28
10.2
20 .7 , 2C
7.3
13.8 1 6 1 2.2
6.9 10
3.6
29 .0
j_
36.9
*Median not calculated ror rewer then 15 ouea.
I'
l
ber
cent :ber
11~.o~ i ~~o\ a:2-":..:<_s.
59.71
~
40.31I 37
95
31
-13,11
24
20
14
10.2 1
8.5'.
5.9
4
1,7
0,9
2
•
6
8
6
2
8
I
3fl ;' 55.9
5.1
94,9 I
30
I
1e.0 1 3
15.4
5
20 . 5
3
15.4
3
5,1
9
20,5
7
o.9
o,8
32,5
.'
o.9
24.4
21.~
M.O
i
51.0
oeni I ber , CEo nt
100.0:
38
44,l I 16
•·•I
3
?.4 1 4
4., 1 2
4.4
l
13,t5
10,3
l
.,C.4 !
c
.1
-
'
29, 6 14 1100,0
- ~-5
o
7.4
l
7. 1
3.7 ! l
7.l
1.9 1 2
14,3
9.21 4
28,6
1.9
6
42,9
0.1
i
14 Joo~
M.O
II
#
l '
co
co
.
...
Table A-26.- UNEMPLOYMENT AS A PERCENTAGE OF TIME IN LABOR MARKET, 1926-35, BY AGE
0
0
Age in years
Total persons
Percent of time
in labor market
0
2i_
er
60 and over
45-59
30-44
Number
Percent
Number
Percent
Number
Percent
Number
Percent
Number
Percent
680
100.0
60
100.0
277
100.0
275
100.0
68
100.0
None
330
48.5
22
36.7
127
45.8
143
52.0
38
55.9
0.5 or more
o.5- 9.9
10.0-19.9
20.0-29.9
30.0-39.9
40.0-49.9
so.o-59.9
60.0-69.9
70.0 and over
350
94
84
65
51
51.5
13.8
12.3
9.6
7.5
4.6
1.5
0.1
1.5
38
10
12
63.3
16.6
20.0
10.0
5.0
5.0
150
49
54.2
132
32
30
28
25
30
3
44.1
4.4
5.9
1.7
1
o.4
0.4
48.0
11.6
10.9
10.2
9.1
2.5
2.2
1.1
2
0.1
Total persons&
c.o"
a.
N-
16-29
:n
10
6
10
6
3
3
0
1
3
-
17.7
13.7
10.1
6.9
38
28
19
12
s.o
4.3
1
1
6
3
o.4
1
4
4.4
3
4
9
5.9
13.2
4.4
3
-5.9
0
4
'<
C")
0
a
'"""""
rv
Median percent
Total
Those reporting
o.5 percent
or more
1.6
8.6
2.8
o.5
o.s
19.7
17.9
17.0
21.6
41.7
aExcludes 3 men who did not report number of months unemployed.
3:
~
(")
::tl
.....
z
.....
...,
en
Cl.l
Table A-27.- NUMBER OF MONTHS EMPLOYED PART TIME• 1926-35• BY AGE
Age in years
Number of months&
Total persons
b
None
0
c.o"
a.
N-
2i_
er
'<
C")
0
a
'"""""
rv
1- 12
13- 24
25- 36
37- 48
49- 60
61- 72
73- 84
85- 96
97-108
109-120
Median number of
months
Total
Those reporting
1 or more
months
Total persons
16-29
30-44
46-59
60 and OTer
Number
Peroent
Number
Peroent
Number
Peroent
Number
Percent
Number
Peroont
678
100.0
59
100.0
277
100.0
274
100.0
68
100.0
487
38
47
79.6
s.1
5.1
6.8
3.4
69.3
8.3
8.3
6.1
2.9
2.5
1.1
0.4
71.2
53
1
2
3
77.9
1.5
2.9
9
3.3
4
5
0.1
2
0.3
o.6
192
23
23
17
8
7
3
1
2
0
1
195
11
13
17
13
7
71.8
5.6
6.1
6.1
3.8
2.8
1.2
1.0
1.5
1.9
o • .,
0.1
1.1
41
41
26
19
8
4
3
3
4
2
0
0
-
0
0
-
0
0
0.1
-
0.4
4.0
4.7
6.2
4.7
5
2
2
s
4.4
4.4
4.4
3
3
1
1
1
1.5
1.5
1.6
t>=l
:z:
0
.....
><
)>
-
0
0
0.1
0.6
0.1
0.7
0.1
30.0
26.5
23.4
36.3
46.0
:Includes employment reported as combined full and part ti.me.
Excludes 5 men who did not report number of months employed part time.
)>
'tj
'tj
...
...
0
102
MACHINISTS
Table A-28.- YFAR OF LOSS OF LAST JOB AT USUAL OCCUPATION
BY ma>LOYMENT STATUS IN MAY 1936
Year
Persons not working at usual occupation
in May 1936
Total
Employed
Unemployed
Total persons
190
105
85
Before 1926
1926-27
1928-29
1930-31
1932-33
19U-35
1936
15
10
29
36
42
34
25
12
6
16
24
26
12
9
3
4
13
11
16
22
16
Table A-29.- AVERAGE NUMBER OF MONTHS OF SPECIFIED TYPES
OF EMPLOYVENT EXPERIENCE. 1926-35• BY AGE
Age in years
Type of
employment experience
Total
persons
16-29
30-44
45-59
60 and
over
Total persons
120.0
120.0
120.0
120.0
120.0
&ployed
F\111 time
Part time
103.l
93.0
10.1
79.9
75.l
4.8
106.4
97.5
8.9
106.1
93.6
12.6
97.8
87.9
9.9
Unemployed
13.4
11.3
12.5
13.l
20.6
2.5
27.9
0
0
0
1.0
0.9
1.1
o.s
1.6
Not seeking work
Before entering
labor market
After entering
labor market
Digitized by
Google
Table A-30.- AVERt.t:1! U:NOTR OF UN!JilPLO'lMENT Pr.RIODS, 1926-:,0 M.'D 1931-35, BY A.<2: AND !MPLO~ STATUS IN KAY 19:.,,&
Age in yeara
Total ~rsone
_
Period e.nd e:nire,:e le~th,_
or unem~o=:~:/erioda ,_
30-""'- ...------ __ ___ _
16-29
Total
!mplo,-•
Un~•~•:
_ Tot~--~ !mplo~• I Unomplo,-~: _
Total
I _..,,~~~
q;_,;,_,
~•..,~•1"~
I
--~;_al
Num-1 Por- Num- Por-j NUm-l Per-INumIPer- N=-TP•rJ~TPer- ~
Per- Num- Per- Num- Per-:
cont ber
oe~~--:~~~~~ ~nt ~r !~-o~t ~e,: ~~t- -~r ' ~nt ~ ~~~ b~r ~ _ber cent
-----------+~r
1926-S:,
Total. persona•
o.o , 48.ol
Nono
I
I100.0 I 595
680
100.0 i 85 ~100.0
1
54.5 1
•
1
1.1
324,
I
'
60
I
100.0
07
22 : 36.7
22
I
1 or moN
1-12
13-24,
25-S{;
37 and onr
r
ll•dia.n nU11.ber ot monthe
Total
Tbo . . reportine
1 or more montha
1.1
Tn
o.9
!
12,!;
12.0
21.3
,=--.
.
1926-30
Tote.l peraon•e..
!100.0
600
523, 76.9
Nono
..
l or more
1-12
13-24
25-06
37 and onr
0
c.o"
a.
NCD
Q_
ll•di811. lll.llllber or montbe
Total
Tboe• report !ne
1 or more month•
er
0
a
'"""""
rv
I
100.0
85 -~1100.0
•o
•·• I
9.4
277
100.0
-
1z,
45.8
100.0
~.J
3'3.3
-
150
Bli
3f
04.2
477
80.2
,L,LC
°"
1.9
o.o
9
2
100.0
"6
54.l
•
100.0
~3.1
l or mon
1-12
13-24
25-s&
3'7 and onr
320
<6.9
15?
80
,.
12.2
'7
6.9
lledie.n number ar months
~tal
'l'boae reporting
1 or moN montha
23.0
•• 8
0.9
,.o· _~~
19
2.•
:
11.9
I
I
~
11
7
1
-~•~-~
sa.o
143
141
59,7
95
46
23
14
J:2
40.3
19·:-s
9.8
5,9
_?,l
'
e6.2 132
48.o
38.o
61
22.2
24,1
30
10.'J
3,4
19
6.9
~:...? _22 ._A.0
I
39
100.0
2
5.1
i
68_ 100....=_~l~]._00.0
M
so.9
I
48
80.0
100.0; 2?f '100.~; 2<e
2
66.7
19.3
14.0
3.5
1,8
-
l
l
0
0
0
3~31 66~ f3.81
33.3: 4!"
l?.rr-45
- t l ~ 4 5.1
10
2
0.7
2
2
0.7i
l
I
o.9
0 •6
I
10.2
#
100.0
85
100.0
60
...."""
59,l
9
10,6
24
40.0
24
-12.l
40.9
22.3
10.2
4,7
3.7
76
24
22
89,4
36
23
11
l
l
60.0
38.3
18.3
1.7
1.7
33
23
9
57.9
<1(),3
15.8
1.8
0.0
5
25
28.2
25.9
5,9
29.4
18.5
O
3
0
2
l
0
~:_I-- 1
9.<
~~~:i:~ ~.~
-
H4
100.0
66.7
33.3
133
74,
32
J~::__ l ,..l ;_ J
4.4
1
11
16
12.1
20. 9 __
fl..E:icllldH S men who did not report l•~h or unemplOJ'lllODt periods,
~xelude ■ l me.n who did not report length or WlllrllJlloyment periode.
,¥Modi811. not ce.lcule.t•d ror t•wor tba.n 1~ caaee.
9.9
I
.i
U
1
.
12,9
o.•
!
0.0
10.1
11.5
16.4
15.2
J_
14.0
19.9
100.0
29
100.0
2?0
1
o.9
O.?
1
:54.0
2?.0
39
100.0
68 1100.0 i
18
46.2
49 : 72.11
21~~~,!j_l~-~1---21
16.4
29 ! 12.3
16
3.6
6
2,5
4
1.8
4
1.7
l
0
0
53.8
41.0
10.2
2,6
-
1~
27.91
11 p6.ll
2
8.9'
5
7,4
l 1 1,5
100.0
206
100.0
21
?2.4
215
-~-~ ___8
27.6
18,2
3
10.4
4.0
•
13.0
0.8
0 I 0,4
_!_l_ 3.4
76.6
60
45
10
52,0
HO
48.0I 108
26.~ I 62
11,51 24
4.0j 11
5,81 11
:~o
8.9
7
4
43,5
25.0
9.7
4,4
4,4
25
12
8
0
5
0.9
11.9
ll.5
197
! 83.5
I
~
0
o.~
0 •6
o.~ - r - -
#
9.1
9.3
I
I
13.8
153
55.21 148
62,21
8~:~1--124
4-4~8 __ 90
41.4
55 I 19,9
45
2?.6
~ 111.9
22
18
6.5
15
17,2
18
6.51
8
37.8
18.9
9.2
6.S
3.4-
L l
12.0
_" · '
_
--
0.9
10,?
_l_
.
......
••
,
--'--
~:-- ,
!
-u.
~....
I
87.2
,u 12"'6
11
28.2
3
7.7
10
25.7
0.8
18.5
1".3
21 .2
...
2?
5
?
39.7
7,4
10.3
12
17.6
•
0.0
I
,.
100.0
•
•
···1
, •
00.?
81.51
..&.V• ...
..
-D
2
2
•
,:·•
51 12.8
l,oo.o,
1----t
rn
.&.VI
Tl.
~9: ~ ~ : ~ = 1 - ~ ~ ~ : 1 , o : : r.oo.o
56.5
0.9
78.2
100.0
o
10.4
94.9
30
,w..1
1s
29,6 _ 14 100.0
1
M.5 / -s
7.4
3
5.6
2· ~
17.9
6
8.8·
5
9.2
1 w•l
12.e
6
a . e l : , · 5.6
3
21.4
~.7 -~3 __!9,_l
~ ~ - 2 - ~ - - 57.2
37
ls
7
5
10
1.0
o . ~ ¼ . I o.•
#
100.~~•-~~3
~
I
->---:~ -c----:-
#
59?
133
61
28
22
211 j 76.21190
80.7
9.2
38
e"-
I
13.5
13.a
r7=~~=-,- ---- -, - - --~~l~-,,~ -1L
"6
o.6,
...
682
00.4
29.o
12,l
4,0
19.8 - ~ 45.9 _ 12_ ~ - 0 _ 11
14.61 26
30.6
9
15.0
8
3 •• ,
81 9.4
2
3.3
1.5
4
4,7
l
1.7
1
0,3
1
1,2
0
0
21
20
0.7
"62
12s
12
13.31 30
10
_6_•• 1
•
Num-1 Per- Num--::T Por- ~~-;-~~~ be; I c•nt ber c•nt
'
Poroent, b•~-~nt ~ r
1
"- ",o.o
,I
Nono
Total peraonab
49.6
60 and onr
Total 1 - ~ • l • ~ ~ Uuaployed
Un~l•,-•
Per-1--
Number
~~~ :l~.:E_ _ - ~ !_00.0 ...!'~~~....=E.~ 100.0
123
~.o
11
I
#
9.0
5?
~°"•'i
I
,.1
I
100.0
100.0
1931-35
'<
C")
..... .L
590
I
19.o
3
o
35
u.,
s
21
47,3
1
5
8.8
1
2
3.5
o
1 , __ l__-8 _ _1
8
I
M.61
I
i
350
51.5: 211
45.sl 19
92,9 1 38 I 63.3
117 1 26.0 148
24.e- I 29
u.1
28
6.7
, ?9111.6
63
10.6
16
18.8
6
10.0
~
5.6
29
4,9
9
10.6
2
3,3
_8_.0 1 01 ~5._2-t-20 "-29.<
_2
0.3
I
100.0
45-59
lmploye•
64.3
42.9
1-
- •
3.?
6
0
, Q:
__
_
0
,
CZ:,
z
0
.....
><
>
21.,
-'100.0
~ ;oo.o
l<
<l
75.9
0
-
13
3
6
1
24.l
5.6
11.l
1.8
5.6
2
l
2
9
100.0
14.3
?.l
14,3
64.3
,.
,
O.?
I
'"Cl
'"Cl
I
0.6
•
>
II
'
...
0
c:i
M!UJUfo.cture of -
hriod and nera,:e l•~U
or unemplo,-•Dt ~r1o4a
Ln 110ntb11
Total penona
----·-
llacbt.o.ery, macbln• toola,
......
.......
P.roent
1926-:,0,
....
'fo1:al ptinoaa•
l
or a,N
l-l2
. ...
...,
,.
1S9
51.5
26.0
11.6
0.6
""
Pe rcent
N1.11,ber
Percent
100.0
158
100 .0
-&9.1
....
lM
,,
50.9
""
10 .6
6. 0
,.1
17
e.o
56
ll•dia.n mmbiu· ot aon.tbaO
Total
....
100.0
680
550
l??
lS-2'
20-:16
3? and owr
Tt-ansporte.t ion
equipment
and • l •ctrical ~ood a
""
Metel produou, including
profaae1onel 1.nat?'\Denta
.......
hrce111.t
....
••
. ..
10 ♦
60 . 8
57
36:l:
17
21
10
13.3
6. S
10
10
10.1
ll
••
100.0
. . ..
01.l
18 . l
16.0
...
0
11.'7
<'.o•ermu.eat aceaciea
and publi c ut111tiu
.......
.
••
Ntaber
P.rOHlt
100.('I
96
100.0
••
61 .5
...,
22.0
2.0
..1
6. 1
••
arid other iaduatriea
Percent
55.3
17
ll
l
1~1•c•llaneou8 manutaotur1ng
...
~
:,a. o
......
"'
10
12
10. 6
U,5
•
6
1.,
1.0
•• 4
2.1
0.8
0.8
lt.9
12. 3
12.1
19.0
10.e
17.0
'l"bo . . reportlD,f
l or mon aonila•
1926-30
....
Total permu•
l~H
25-"6
S1 aa4 onr
0
C"')
0
arv
.....-
76.9
...
100.0
108
100 . 0
...1
81.6
100
52
18 ••
U .. 4
.
...,
0
l
1.9
0.6
.•
..,
2".l
16 , 6
•
...
•
1.9
0.5
l.8
-
0
o.,
..,
<II
28.0
•
...
0 .6
6.2
63 . 3
,,••
100.0
••
100.0
01,9
40
81.6
...
17
18 . l
9.6
2
l
2.1
l.l
••
••
•
-·
Total ptr.on.ab
l
or_,"
1-12
1~24
20-:16
37 aD4 Oftr
Medlan naber ot a:,ntb.,<I
Total
...
682
3llO
.,.
100.0
285
100.0
s:s.1
102
$3.:S
46.9
133
60
...o
10?
80
...
U.!
•• 8
.
"·'
u.:,
U.8
u
0 .3
6.0
18
u:.:,
4 .1
2 .0
-
0 .8
0.6
0.6
•••
12.9
'
158
100.0
..
:,a.o
60
62.0
50
31.6
16 . 4
5.1
8.9
8
14
••
100.0
50
53.2
20
13
'6.8
21.:.,
13.8
3.2
.
...
•
8
.
••
....
16 . :S
•• 1
• -1
4.1
•
2
2
78,1
21
10
0
21.9
1,.6
,.1
z.1
l.l
•
l
96
100.0
••
67.7
31
32.3
7
u.e
,.o
0
5.2
...
14
•
0.9
0.9
4.8
LO
0.7
0.7
13.,
11.e
15 . l
11 . 6
u.o
81:sellldH :, .,. •bo Hd DOt ftporl l.eza«tlt of ~ l o , - n t period••
ls::uldH 1 _ . GO 414 Do\ nport 1-~b of uaplo,-nt ~r1o4a.
eca.pv.tet r,- ao" tata11•4 tn.U-4on.
Aledian DOt c&lculat•d tor t•.. r than 15 ca••.
:z
►
(")
=
1-4
::z:
1-4
...,
en
Cl)
...
71.4
8
100.0
0. 6
100 . 0
14
96
,.
1:,.4
Tbo .. nporttag
1 or aoff aontll•
18 ,4,
1
0
1931-36
N
c:r
100.0
110
28
10
Mlld.lan m.Nr of mnt~
To•al
Tbo• reporUn,g
l or aoN a>ntba
co·
a.
'<
..,
,.,
l or -,re
1-12
~
....
APPENDIX A
105
T&blo .1.-s2.- LE¥lTB OF LONGEST PERIOD OF UNEIIPLOYIIENT, 1926-35, BY AGE AND YEAR OF BEGINNING
LO!i:lEST PERIOD OF UNFl!Pl.On:ENT
..
-'I• 1n 7"l'•
and 1-,gth
ot longeat period
ot - p l o ~ 1n
-th•
Total peraoma
1-12
13-2'
23746
,9 and onr
lle41o.n mmber of months
16-29
1-12
13-U
25-86
37-48
49 and onr
lledit.n maber ot months
30-44
1-12
13-U
25-36
3746
49 and o""r
Median mmber
Total
per1ou
,5-s9
1-12
13-U
25-36
3746
49 and OTer
Median number of month.a
60 and over
1-12
1s-2,
25-36
37-4e
,9 and onr
lledian numbn of JIIOJltha
1927
1928
1929
1930
1931
1932
1933
19M
6
17
26
4.9
67
83
4.1
32
18
•
3
6
25
10
3
2
5
6
5
4
15
7
10
9
8
33
29
7
11
0
19
12
10
0
0
20
12
0
0
0
18
0
0
0
0
16.7
15.o
10.9
7.3
II
5
l
2
0
0
0
3
2
0
0
0
351
13
150
81
63
37
30
1
2
3
0
l
16.9
#
#
33.0
31.0
28.6
23.8
38
0
0
2
2
l
7
21
13
0
3
l
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
l
0
0
l
0
0
l
0
l
0
l
0
0
0
0
3
8
3
0
0
l
5
• •
l
0
0
l
- -
u
u
7
u
0
l
0
1935
•
4
0
0
0
0
#
#
11
11
11-
#
160
10
4
3
11
20
28
M
17
16
1
76
33
20
3
l
0
0
0
0
2
l
0
0
3
2
3
2
l
11
8
6
l
2
0
l
2
3
3
l
8
5
6
4
5
16
11
2
5
0
12
2
3
0
0
9
7
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
13.2
11-
11-
12.6
28.0
14.6
10.0
12.3
133
2
l
6
11
20
27
30
19
11
50
30
28
17
8
0
l
l
0
0
l
0
0
0
0
2
l
l
l
l
3
0
3
3
3
6
5
8
12
6
0
19.8
11-
11-
'
6
8
6
0
0
8
3
3
14
2
8
3
0
12.9
20.s
20.6
30
l
l
6_
l ~ ~
-- 5
5
2
0
l
4
6
6
3
13
l
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
l
0
l
l
0
0
l
0
0
0
l
l
l
2
0
l
0
l
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
l
0
0
0
0
43.0
#
#
12.1
u
ot month•
1926
#
11-
11-
z
#
36.8
11-
4
#
11-
0
2
'
0
0
0
0
6
z
l
3
#
11-
#
#
#
#
6
6
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
#
11-
#
"E.:oludea Z men who did not report yeo.r ot beginning longest period of unemployment and 350
who reported no U11811lployment.
11\iedion not o&loulated tor fewer then 16 ou ea.
#
ma,.
Table A•33o• LEIICl'l'II OF l.OIIGEST PERIOD OF UNl!JIPLOlllEIIT, 1926-35,
BY NUIBER OF PERIODS OF UIIBIPLO'i14ENT
Length of longest period ot unemployment 1n montba
!lumber ot period•
of U11811lployment
Total
peraona
l
2
3
4 and onr
13•24
26•36
Per- !lumoent ber
49 and over
37-48
Per- Numcent ber
Percent
Num-
ber
ber
Per• Numcent ber
361
100.0
160
42.7
81
23.l
63
16.l
37
10.6
30
8.6
210
78
M
29
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
81
33
16
21
3806
,2.3
44ol
72.4
,9
18
10
23.3
23.l
29.4
13.8
27
15
1
12.9
19.2
20.6
13.8
28
7
13.3
9o0
11.s
0
-
26
6
0
0
Num•
Total peraonaa
1-12
"'
&zxoludff 2 _ , ,mo did not report length of longest period
Nported no unemploymnt.
'
ot unamplo)llll"llt
z
Per• Numoent ber
s.s
Peroent
a.•-
and 330 men ,mo
Digitized by
Google
-
....
Table A-34.- LElfGTH OF LORGEST PERIOD OF UNEILPLOYMENT, 1926-35, BY EMPLOYMENT STATUS Ii KAT 1936 ABD lEAB OF BEGI?.1iIIG
LONGEST PERIOD OF UNEMPLOYMENT
I
0
0)
lmplo7D'nt ■tatu■
Total
1926
1927
1928
1935
1934
1932
1929
1931
1930
1933
in Jfa;y 1936
persona
and longeet period
ot unemplo)'lll8ut H.-. Per- If.-. Per- Num- Per• Num- Per• Num- Per- Num- Per- Num- Per- Num- Per- ?IUD- Per- llum- Per- ?.'um- Per•
in -,ntlul
cent ber
oent ber
ber
oent ber
oent ber
oeat ber
oent ber
oent ber
cent ber
oent ber
oent ber
oent
Total
person■ &
1-12
13-24
25-36
37-48
49 and anr
Employed
0
<B'
;a.·
N
(1)
Q.
1-12
13-24
25-36
37-48
49 and onr
I
C"')
0
13
100.0
6
100.0
17
100.0
25
150
81
53
37
30
42.7
23.l
16.l
10.6
8.5
7
2
3
0
53.8
15.4
23.l
4
l
0
0
66.6
16.7
5
6
4
l
16.7
3
2
5
17.6
23.6
17.6
ll.8
29.4
272
100.0
5
100.0
12
i100.0
l
7
2
3
0
0
Un.emplo;yed
79
100.0
1
1-12
13-24
25-36
17
20
21.6
26.5
13.9
16.5
22.8
0
0
0
0
1
a
~
~
11
OT■r
13
18
-7.7
12 1100.0
48.9
22.4
15.5
8.8
4,4
49 and
I
100.0
133
61
42
24
12
37◄8
I
351
C,
'<
I
58.3,
16.7
25.0
--
I
I
100.0 49
I
100.0
83
100.0 41
26
10
14
7
33
29
7
11
37.S
14.9
20.9
10.5
16.4
0
39.8 19
34.9 12
8.4 10
16.9
0
0
100.0 51
6
5
4
15
7
10
9
8
30.6
14.3
20.4
18.4
16.3
18
100.0
38
100,0
55
100.0
64
4
15
4
10
7
2
39.6
10.5
26.5
18.4
5.3
23
9
12
5
6
41.8
16.4
21.e
9.1
10.9
30
23
100.0
12
100.0
19
18.2
2
l
2
2
16.7
3
16.8
8.S
16.7
16.7
6
l
51.6
5.3
47.3
54.6
5
41.6
4
I
100.0 67
24.0
16.0
24.0
20.0
16.0
14
I
100.0 32
100.0
18
100.0
46.3
29.3
24.4
62.5
37.5
--
18
0
0
0
0
100.0
--
20
12
0
0
0
--
3:
100.0
26
100.0
11
100.0
(')
54.8
32.3
12.9
20
6
0
0
0
76.9
23.l
11
100.0
--
0
0
0
0
--
10 100.0
6
100.0
7
100.0
20.0
20.0
60.0
--
7
0
0
0
0
100.0
6
I
3
60.0
l I 20.0
0 i
0
20.0
l
3
3
2
2
2
I 2s.o
25.0
16.7
16.7
16.6
5
l
22.2
16.7
27,8
27.8
5.5
100.0
1
100.0
6
100.0
7
100.0
11
-100.0
1
0
0
0
0
100.0
0
1
l
0
-
2
1
60.0
28.6
14.5
14.3
0
20,0
20.0
0
-
I
--
--
s
6
6
l
5
-
42.8
5
0
2
6
27.3
6
5
0
9
0
46.9
35.9
9.4
7.8
-
100.0
-
17
10
4
0
0
2
2
6
0
0
--
--
0
100.0
0
0
0
&Ezclude• 2 men who did not report ;year of beginning longest period of unemployment and 330 men who reported no \IJl.emplo)'lll8nt•
-
---
>
....
....enz
::::ci
>-:3
Cl)
APPENDIX A
107
Table A-35.- NUMBER OF MONTHS SINCE LOSS OF LAST JOB FOR 'MACHINISTS
UNEMPLOYED IN MAY 1036, BY AGE
Age in years
Total
persons
Duration of
unemployment
since last job
in months
Number
Under 45
Per- Numcent ber
60 and over
45-59
Per- Numcent ber
Per- Numcent ber
Percent
Total persons
85
100.0
32
100.0
39
100.0
14
100.0
0- 5
6-11
12-35
36-59
60 and over
30
8
19
15
13
35.3
9.4
22.4
17.6
15.3
15
2
8
5
2
46.8
6.3
25.0
15.6
6.3
14
35.9
10.3
25.6
12.s
15.4
1
2
1
5
5
14.3
7.1
35.7
35.7
Median durationa
18.7
4
10
5
6
#
20.ob
10.5
1.2
acomputed from more detailed breakdown.
'ht.!edian duration for all machinists 45 years of age and over is 27.4.
#Median not calculated for fewer than 15 cases.
Table A-36.- LENGTH OF SERVICE ON LONGEST JOB FOR MACHINISTS WHO
REPORTED NO UNEMPLOYMENT IN THE 10-YEAR PERIOD 1926-35, BY AGE
Length of service
in years
Total
persons
330
Under 1
1- 4
5- 9
10-14
15-19
20-24
25 and over
1
54
55
86
66
29
39
Median number
of years
100.0
13.2
30-44
16-29
Per- Nu."'llcent ber
Number
Total persons
Age in yea.rs
22
Per- Numcent ber
100.0 127
0.3
1
16.4 14
16.7
6
26.0
1
20.0
0
a.a 0
11.a 0
4.0
4.5
63.7
27.3
4.5
-
45-59
Per- Numcent ber
100.0 143
0
33
28
41
19
5
1
10.4
-
26.0
22.0
32.3
15.0
3.9
o.a
0
6
21
38
37
19
22
60 and over
Per- Numcent ber
Percent
100.0
38
100.0
-
0
1
0
6
10
5
16
15.8
4.2
14.7
26.5
25.9
13.3
15.4
15.9
Digitized by
2.6
26.3
13.2
42.1
22.5
Google
Manufacture of -
Duration of unemployment
sinoe last job in months
Total persons
Machinel"'/,
machine tools,
and
Transportation
equipment
electrical goods
Metal
products,
including
professional
instruments
Numbor
Percent
Number
Percent
Ntmtber
Percent
Ntmtber
Total persons
85
100.0
34
40.0
32
37.6
6
0-11
12-47
48 and ovor
38
27
20
100.0
100.0
100.0
14
13
7
36.8
48.2
35.0
15
10
7
39.5
37.0
35.0
2
2
2
Median duration
18.7
21.7
Government
agencies
and
publio utilities
Number
Percent
Number
Percent
7.1
1
1.2
12
14.l
5.3
1
0
0
2.6
6
2
4
15.8
7.4
20.0
Percent
7.4
10.0
-
-
#
#
17.4
Miscellaneouo
manufacturing
and
other industries
#
....
0
(X)
::;c:
>
C":l
#u.edian not calculated for fffVf'er than 15 cases.
::cl
H
z
H
Cl)
Table A-38.- USUAL INDUSTRIAL GROUP FOR MACHIIHSTS WHO REPORTED NO UNOIPLOYMENT IN THE 10-YEAR PERIOD 1926-35, BY AGE
>-:1
Cl)
0
c.o"
a.
N-
Total
persons
2i_
Usual industrial group
c:r
'<
C")
Number
0
a
'"""""
rv
Total persons
Manufacture of machinery, machine tools, and electrical goods
Manufacture of transportation equipment
Manufacture of metal products, including professional instl"Ulllents
Govermnezrt agencies and publio utilities
Misoellaneous manufacturing and other industries
54
46
32
69
16-29
Per- Numcent ber
330 100.0
139
Age in years
42.1
16.4
13.9
9.7
17.9
30-44
Per- Numcent ber
Nwnber
127 100.0 143
22
100.0
9
0
7
1
5
40.9
54
4.6
22.1
20
16
12
25
31.9
Percent
45-59
42.5
15.7
12 .s
9.5
19.7
65
27
15
15
21
60 and over
Per- Numcent ber
Percent
38
100.0
45.6 11
18.9
7
10.4
8
10.4 4
14.7
a
28.9
18.4
21.1
100.0
10.s
21.1
_APPENDIX A
109
Ta.ble A•39a• NUllBER OF MONTHS EllPLOYED AT OCCUPATIONS OTHER THAli THE USUAL,
1926-30 AND 1931-35, BY AGE
Ac•
Tota.l
per•on.J
Period and mmber
ot months employed
a.t oocupationa
other than the usual
16-29
Per- Num-cent ber
Num-
ber
ill year•
Per- Jluaoent ber
60 a.nd over
4.5-69
30-"
Peroent
Ill...
ber
Per• N1.1111cent ber
Peroent
1926-35
Tota.l persons8.
Bane
1132537-
12
24.
36
4.8
4.9- 60
61- 72
73- 84
86- 96
97-108
109-120
680
100.0
60
398
59
38
42
25
28
25
22
20
9
58.5
B.7
5.6
6.2
3.7
4..1
3.7
3.2
2.9
1.3
2.1
8
9
6
6
14
Jledian nlllllber ot
months
Total
Those reporting
l or more
month•
-
Median number or
month•
Total
Those reporting
1 or more
month•
•
10
6
6
4
2
0
56.3 181
11.2
16
5.8 12
7.2
16
5.0
6
3.6
6
z.9
10
2.2
10
2.9
7
2
1.8
1.1
9
-
68
100.0
65.8
5.8
53
77.9
•••
5.8
2.2
2.2
3,6
3.6
2.6
0.7
3.3
5.9
•0 •••
1.6
l
3
2
l
l
1
0
2
2.9
1.5
1.5
1.5
-2.9
4.1.5
0.9
0.8
0.7
38.2
50.8
33.4.
«.o
48.9
!
Tota.l pers ans a
12
24
36
48
60
13.3 166
31
15.0
10.0 16
10.0
20
6.7 H
16.7 10
10.0
8
6
8.3
6.7
8
3.3
5
3
100.0
0.9
1926-30
None
113263749-
100.0 277 100.0 275
680
100.0 1
60
476
42
35
70.0
6.2
5.1
16
36
27
64
lli
I
4.0
9.4
100.0 277 1oc.o 275
26.6 191
22
ll.7
15.0 16
10,0
15
lS.7
12
20.0 22
7
9
6
10
12
69.0
100.0 68
5.4
207
13
10
H
4.4
4,
7.9
27
7.9
5.4
75.3
4..7
3.5
5,1
1,5
a.a
100.0
62
0
l
1
l
3
91.1
-1.5
1.s
1.5
4,,4
0.7
23.0
0,7
0.7
0,6
33,6
37.6
30,2
34,9
I
1931-35
Tota.l personsb
None
113253749-
12
24
36
48
60
Jledian number or
months
Tota.l
Thoee reporting
l or more
month•
682
100.0
60
100.0 27'1
100.0
471
56
53
35
26
42
69,1
8.2
7.8
5.1
3.7
6.1
23
38.4 191
18,3
29
16.7
19
8.3
14
8.3
12
10.0
12
58.9
11
10
5
5
6
10.5
6.9
5.1
4.3
4,3
277 100.0 68
100.0.
73,3 54
4.7 3
4,
7.2
5.4
1
2,5
1
6.9
5
79,4
4.4
5.9
1.5
1.6
7,3
203
13
20
15
7
19
0,7
9.2
0,7
0,7
0.6
24,3
22,6
22.2
28,6
#
&Exclude ■ 3 men who did not report number or month• at other than the usua.l oooupation.
bExcludee 1 man who did not report number ot months at other than the usual oooupa•
~~ian not
calculated tor fewer than 15
oa•e■ ,
Digitized by
Google
Table A-40.- FREQUENCY OF EMPLOYER SEPARATIONS FROM JOBS AT USUAL AND OTHER OCCUPATIONS• 1926-36, BY AGE
........
0
Age in years
Total
persons
16-29
Number of employer separations
Percent
ber
Percent
680 100.0
60
100.0
38.2
61.8
31
29
51.7
48.3
Num-
ber
Fran jobs at usual occupationa
None
l or more
260
420
Num-
2.6
Average, 1 or more
2.4
--- -
From jobs at other occupationsb
681
100.0
60
Num-
c.o"
a.
N-
2i_
c:r
'<
C")
0
a
'"""""
rv
None
1 or more
476
205
69.9
30.l
277 I 100.0
~~:
I
.L
2.3
I
30.3
69.7
ber
Percent
275
100.0
68
100.0
41.8
58.2
30
38
44.l
115
160
-
I
I
Num-
2.4
276
56.9
100.0
68
......
......
:z:
100.0
'
i
l
2.5
en
~
en
207
69
76.0
25.0
64
4
94.l
5.9
L.__
2.2
3:
:,,.
0
::IJ
1.9
I
30.0 i 1a1 I 67.5
10.0 I 90 I 32.5
18
42
Percent
--
100.0
60 and over
Num.ber
2.9
100.0 j_277
----
Average. l or more
Percent
ber
:
0
45-59
30-44
2.0
aExcludes 3 men who did not report number of employer separations at the usual occupation.
~xcludes 2 men who did not report number of employer separations at other occupations.
1.5
APPENDIX A
111
Table A-4lo• NUMBER OF MONTHS EMPLOYED AT USUAL OCCUPATION,
1926-30 AND 1931-35, BY AGE
Age 1n years
I
Total
Period and number of
months employed at
usual ooeupation
persons
Number
1
16-29
Per- Numcent ber
Per- Numcent ber
60 and
over
45-59
30-44
Per- Numcent ber
Percent
Numbor
100.0
275
100.0
68
1.4
10
8
2.9
7
9
3.3
3
10
11
3.6
12
15
4.3
9
15
3.3
21
17
7.6
24 I 8.7
26
28
1c.1
23
35
20
12.6
117
42.2 128
3.6
2.5
1.1
4.0
5.5
1
1
0
7
2
6
8
5
1
5
32
Percent
1926-36
680
Total persons•
None
1- 12
13- 24
25- 36
37- 48
49- 60
61- 72
73- 84
85- 96
97-108
109-120
60
100.0
2.9
5
3.e 10
2.6
6
6.9 12
7
5.3
5.0
4
1.1
6
80 7
4
8,1
3
808
0
3
41.2
803
16.€
10.0
20.0
11.1
6.7
10.0
6.7
5.0
100.0
20
26
18
40
36
34
62
59
56
60
280
--'----
1!edian nlllllber of months
Total
Those reporting
l or more months
1926-30
Tott.l personsa
None
113253749-
12
24
36
48
60
277
4
-5.0
- - -
97.1
99ol
tee==--
34.5
101.s
36.9
102.5
-~=-= --=r
n. ,
680
100.0
69
31
10.1
4.6
8.1
e.1
s5.o
l
--
.
--
-
s.s
6.2
9.4
8.4
7.3
4606
100.0
1.s
1.5
-
10.3
2.9
a.a
11.a
7.3
1.5
7.3
47.1
--
103.6
105,4
~~~6~
106.6
-
100.0
277
100.0
275
100.0
68
100.0
58o3
36
5
s.3
7 11.1
4
6.7
3
s.o
6_ _l 10.0
13
14
14
22
26
188
4.7
5.1
5.1
7.9
9o4
67.e
20
10
5
21
23
196
7.3
3.6
1.e
7.6
804
71.3
l
2
2
8
3
52
106
60
-
2.e
2.9
11.a
4.4
76o5
---- ~ -
Median number of months
Total
Those reporting
1 or D10re months
51.e
0.9
52.7
28o0
C
1931-35
Total personsb
None
113253749-
12
24
36
48
60
Medi.an number of months
Total
Those reportillg
1 or D10re months
52.2
5206
53.3
52.6
53.2
53.4
. t·
I
-
682
100.0
---
60
84
52
62
66
79
339
12.3
7.6
9ol
9.7
1106
49.7
6
13
10
12
6
13
277
100.0
277
100.0
68
100.0
10.0
27
21.1
18
23
16.6
26
20.0
10.0 34
21.1 149
9.7
6.5
8.3
9o4
12.3
53.8
37
14
23
26
35
142
13.3
5.1
803
9o4
12.6
51.3
14
7
6
2
4
35
20.6
10o3
8.B
2.9
609
51.5
100.0
48.8
26.5
49.9
49o3
49.6
50.4
29o5
5lo0
6009
5lo9
8
Excludes 3 men who did not report nUillbor of months at usual occupationo
bExcludes 111Bn who did not report nUltlber of months at usual occupation.
Digitized by
Google
~
Age in years
Average length of service
in months
Total personsa
None
1- 24
25- 48
49- 72
73- 96
97-120
Median average
Total persons
16-29
Number
Percent
Number
Percent
680
100.0
60
100.0
20
179
174
97
23
187
2.9
26.3
25.6
14.3
3.4
27.5
5
33
12
6
3
l
8.3
55.0
20.0
10.0
5.0
1.7
None
c.o"
a.
N-
2i_
c:r
'<
C")
0
a
'"""""
rv
Percent
Number
Percent
Number
Percent
277
100.0
275
100.0
68
100.0
4
1.4
31.1
25.6
14.4
2.2
25.3
10
51
76
3.6
18.6
21.6
u.5
3.3
32.4
1
9
15
11
5
27
1.5
13.2
22.0
16.2
Number
86
71
40
6
70
40
9
89
7.4
39.7
1- 24
25- 48
49- 72
73- 96
97-120
44.5
19.5
41.6
49.6
69.7
45.9
21.4
42.2
52.6
70.8
0
::i:l
.....
z:
.....
er.
H
330
100.0
22
100.0
5
38
49
1.5
11.f;
0
12
2
4
3
l
54.6
9.1
18.2
13.6
4.5
45
8
185
14.9
13.6
2.4
56.l
-
127
100.0
0
16
23
18
2
68
12.6
18.l
14.2
1.6
53.6
-
143
100.0
38
100.0
5
9
19
18
3
89
3.5
6.3
13.S
12.6
2.1
62.2
0
l
5
5
0
27
Median average lengthb
Total
Those reporting
1 or more months
::.::
>
reporting
1 or more months
Persons reporting no
unemployment in 1926-35
0
60 aJJd over
45-59
length
Total
Those
30-44
110.0
24.0
109.4
111.3
112.6
110.2
24.0
109.4
111. 7
112.5
&Excludes 3 men 11ho did not report length of service.
bcanputed fran more detailed break-down.
-
2.6
13.2
13.2
-
n.o
en
113
APPENDIX A
Table A-43.- NUMBER OF MONTHS EllPLOYED AT USUAL OCCUPATION,
BY AGE, 1926-30 AND 1931-35, FOR MACHINISTS WHO REPORTED
NO tJNE2dPLOYMENT IN THE 10-YEAR PERIOD 1926-35
Period and number
or months employed
at usual occupation
Age in years
Total
persons
16-29
30-44
45-59
60 and
over
1926-35
Total persona
330
22
127
143
38
None
Under 13
13- 24
26- 36
37- 48
49- 60
61- 72
73- 84
85- 96
97-108
109-120
5
9
6
10
ll
7
10
10
0
6
3
2
2
0
2
2
9
4
13
241
0
0
3
4
5
5
2
0
3
5
5
2
3
8
95
2
112
0
0
0
l
2
0
l
0
0
3
31
112.8
46.0
113.0
113.4
113.B
Totel persons
330
22
127
143
38
None
Under 13
13-24
25-36
37-48
49-60
23
10
11
3
3
3
9
11
4
261
4
0
0
4
7
102
3
2
6
2
121
0
1
1
2
0
34
53.4
3.0
53.6
54.0
54.5
Total persons
330
22
127
143
38
None
Under 13
13-24
25-36
37-48
49-60
21
13
7
2
3
7
107
13
3
2
2
5
1
5
17
266
0
7
3
l
2
9
118
l
0
1
3
32
53.6
40.0
53.9
65.8
54.1
Medien number or months
0
4
3
4
2
2
3
1926-30
16
9
Median number of months
8
1931-35
Median nUJ11ber or months
8
1
Digitized by
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MACHINISTS
114
Table A•44 0 • NUMBER OF MONTHS EMPLOYED AT OCCUPATIONS OTHER THAN THE USUAL,
BY AGE, 1926•30 AND 1931-35, FOR MACHINISTS WHO REPORTED
NO UNEMPLOYMENT IN THE 10-YEAR PERIOD 1926-35
Period and number of
months eimployed
at occupations other than
the usual
Age in years
Total
persons
60 and
16-29
30-44
45-59
22
127
143
38
4
86
11
8
4
106
6
2
5
3
3
6
2
0
7
34
0
1
0
0
1
1
0
1
0
0
over
1926-35
Total persons
330
230
21
12
11
8
11
9
9
8
2
None
Under 13
13- 24
25- 36
37- 48
49- 60
61- 72
9
4
1
2
l
4
1
2
3
0
0
0.1
43.0
0.7
0.7
0.6
46.8
53.5
31.0
60.9
67.0
Total persons
330
22
127
143
38
None
Under 13
13-24
25-36
37-48
49-60
250
20
14
13
10
23
9
3
1
1
3
5
92
10
9
6
4
6
114
7
5
2
11
35
0
0
1
1
1
0,7
11.0
0.7
0.6
0.6
31.0
45.0
23.7
34.6
#
Total persons
330
22
127
143
38
None
Under 13
13-24
25-36
37-48
49-60
266
9
16
7
6
28
11
1
3
2
0
5
104
5
6
115
3
36
0
5
l
1
7
3
2
15
1
0
1
0.6
7.0
0.6
0.6
0.6
41.0
36.9
36.9
60.2
#
73- 84
85- 96
97-108
109-120
Median munber of montha
Total
Those reporting
l or more months
4
3
2
3
2
2
2
4
1926-30
I
Median number of months
Total
Those reporting
l or more months
4
1931-35
Median number of months
Total
Those reporting
1 or more months
4
4/iiedian not calculated for fewer than 15 cases.
Digitized by
Google
Table A-45.- SOCIOECONOMIC CHARACTER OF MAN-MONTHS OF Ell&PLOYMENT AT OCCUPATIONS OTHER THAN THE USUAL, 1926-36, BY AGE
Age in years
Socioeconomic group of
other occupations
Total months
White-collar
Skilled
Semiskilled
Unskilled
Total months
3o-44
16-29
45-69
60 and over
Number
Percent
Number
Percent
Number
Percent
Number
Peroent
12,534
100.0
2,400
100.0
4,693
100.0
4,734
1,786
4,757
4,621
1,370
14.2
38.0
36.9
10.9
263
200
1,819
118
· 11.0
8.3
75.8
4.9
591
2,077
1,639
386
12.6
44.3
34.9
932
2,354
1,034
8.2
414
Number
Peroenh
100.0
707
100.0
19.7
49.7
21.9
8.7
0
126
129
462
17.8
18.3
63.9
-
>
>-c
>-c
C,;I
z:
Table A-46.- SOCIOECONOMIC CHARACTER OF MAN-MONTHS OF ThlPLOYMENT AT OCCUPATIONS OTHER THAN THE USUAL, 1926-35, BY AGE,
FOR MACHINISTS WHO REPORTED NO UNEMPLOYMENT IN THE 10-YEAR PERIOD 1926-35
....t:::I
I-<
>
Age in years
0
c.ff
a.
N-
2i_
Socioeconomic group of
other occupations
er
Total monhhs
16-29
30--44
60 and over
45-59
Nwnber
Percsnt
Number
Percent
Number
Percent
Number
Percent
Number
Peroenh
4,838
100.0
817
100.0
1,579
100.0
2,207
100.0
235
100.0
866
2,364
1,487
131
17.9
48.7
30.7
2.7
162
85
557
13
19.8
10.4
68.2
1.6
219
940
417
13.9
69.5
22.0
26.4
485
1,203
513
3
0.2
6
0
126
0
109
'<
C")
0
a
'"""""
rv
Total monhhs
Whi te-oollar
Skilled
Semiskilled
Unskilled
54.5
23.2
0.3
-
63.6
-
46.4
......
Cl!
MACHINISTS
116
Tt.ble J.-47.• FREQUENCY OF JOB SEPARATIONS, l928•SO AliD 1951•55, BY AGE
AliD EIIPLOYIIEIIT STJ.TUS IN IIAY 1956
P•riod.., age in yea.re.
t.nd employment otatue
in llo.y 1936
Total
persona
!lumber ot job eepart.tiou
!lone
3 t.nd 4
l e.nd 2
ll>un-
ber
6 t.nd 6
......
Percent
llwi,-
Per-
ber
oent ber
7 t.nd owr
Percent
11111ber
Percent
Number
Percent
-
ber
Peroent
Tott.l peroonea
680
100.0
178
26.2
266
59.0
146
2lo5
46
6.7
46
e.e
Employed
Unamployed
695
85
100,0
100,()
176
2
29,6
2,4
226
59
38.0
46,9
117
29
19.6
M,l
38
8
6.4
9,4
58
7
6.4
8.2
16-29
Employed
Unemployed
60
67
3
100.0
100.0
100.0
8
8
0
13.3
14.0
22
20
2
56.7
35.l
66.7
19
18
1
51.7
51.6
33.5
6
10.0
10.5
5
-
6
8.5
8.s
0
-
50-44
Employed
Unemployed
277
248
29
100.0
100.0
100.0
67
57
0
20.s
93
87
6
53,6
56.l
20.1
72
27
21
6
9.7
60
12
26.0
24.2
41.4
20.1
28
23
5
10.1
9.5
17.2
45-59
Elnployed
Unemployed
276
256
39
100.0
100.0
100.0
87
85
2
31.6
56.0
6,]
l~!- !!:!
21
63.9
57
13
18.2
15.7
55.3
13
11
2
4..7
4.7
5,1
11
10
l
60 and over
Employed
Unemployed
68
64
14
100.0
100.0
100.0
26
26
0
5e.2
48,2
6
2
1.,
5.7
--
1
0
l
1.&
Total persona"
680
100.0
305
Employed
Unemployed
696
85
100.0
100,0
16-29
Employed
Unemployed
60
57
3
30-44
Employed
Unemployed
!ium-
1926-56
-
25.0
-
I
60
6
0
804
,.o
,.2
2.6
36
26
10
52,9
48.l
71,4
s
21,4
0
0
0
44.8
285
41.9
66
9.7
14
2,1
10
1.&
279
26
,6.e
so.a
238
47
40,0
66.3
57
9
9.6
10.6
12
2
2.0
2,3
9
1
1.6
1.2
100.0
100.0
100.0
26
23
2
41.7
40,4
66,7
24
23
l
40.0
40,(
33,5
9
9
0
15,0
15,7
2
2
0
3,3
3,6
0
0
0
--
277
248
29
100.0
100.0
100.0
101
93
8
36,4
37.5
27.6
118
103
16
42,6
41.6
61,8
42
38
4
15,2
15,3
13,8
8
7
l
2.9
2,8
3. ♦
8
7
l
2.9
2.8
5,4
46-69
Employed
Une111pl oyed
275
236
39
100.0
100.0
100.0
141
129
12
51,3
54, 7
30.7
116
92
23
41,8
39.0
59,0
13
10
3
4,7
,.2
,. 7
4
3
1,6
1.3
2.6
2
2
0
0.1
o.8
60 and over
66
64
14
100.0
100.0
100.0
36
34
4
55,9
63.0
26,6
26
20
8
41,2
37,0
57.1
2
0
2
2,9
14,3
-
0
0
0
--
0
0
0
Tottl peraoneb
662
100.0
317
46,5
259
38.0
76
ll,1
24
s.6
6
o.9
Employed
Unemployed
597
65
100.0
100,0
300
l7
50,3
20.0
215
56,0
51.e
59
17
9,9
20.0
16
6
3.0
7,0
5
o.e
l
1.2
16-29
Elnployed
Unemployed
60
57
3
100.0
100.0
100.0
13
13
0
21,G
22.e
3F
7
6
l
11.7
10.s
33.3
4
33
2
58.3
57,9
66,7
4
0
6,7
7.0
l
l
0
1.7
1.8
50-44
Employed
Unemployed
277
248
29
100.0
100,0
100.0
121
116
3
43. 7
36.4
36.l
37.9
41
32
9
14.6
12.9
31,0
13
8
5
4,7
3.2
17,5
4
47.6
10.4
96
67
ll
1.,
1.2
46-59
Employed
Unemployed
277
238
39
100.0
100.0
100,0
139
130
9
50.2
64,7
23.l
103
80
23
57.2
33,6
59,0
28
21
7
10.1
8,e
17,9
6
6
0
2,1
2,5
l
1
0
60 and over
Employed
Unemployed
68
100.0
100,0
100.0
44
64,7
72.2
36.7
23
15
33.6
27.8
57,2
0
0
0
l
0
l
1.6
0
0
0
-
-
1.2
1926-50
&,,,ployed
Unemployed
-
l
-
-
--
1931-55
64
H
39
6
-
44
8
-
-
-
-
7,1
"'Excludea 3 men who did not report number of job separations,
bJ:xoludes l man who did not report number of job separations.
Digitized by
Google
5
l
-
s.,
o.,
o.,
---
Table A-48.- FREQUENCY OF JOB SEPARATIONS, 1926-30 AND 1931-35, BY USUAL INDUSTRIAL GROUP
--Manufacture
ot •
------
Total persona
Period 8.l1d number
of job separations
Number
',le.oh i.necy,
machine tools.
and electrical goods
Percent
Number
Transportation
equipnent
Percent
Number
-----
Peroont
Metal produote,
inoluding
professional
instrument•
Number
Peroent
Govenm,ont agenoiea
and public utilitiH
llumbu
l!isoellaneoue
manuf'aoturillg
and other i,ul.ustriee
Peroent
Peroent
Number
---
1926-55
Total persona&
680
100.0
283
None
j
178
26.2
78
l or more
l and 2
Sand 4
6 and 6
7 and over
j
502
73,8
39.0
21.r;
6.7
6.6
205
i------us -146
46
46
-
104-70
14
17
1926-30
0
c.o"
a.
N-
2i_
er
'<
C")
0
a
'"'"""'
rv
i
I
158
94
100.0
27.6
31
19,6
20
21,3
16
32,7
33
127
56
38
15
18
80,4
35,4
24.l
9.5
11.4
74
47
14
10
3
78.7
50,0
14.9
10,6
s.2
33
21
7
67.3
42.8
14.3
8.2
2.0
63
37
17
3
6
7_2_.4__ -36,8
24.7
4.9
s.o
49
100.0
,___
- - --- --------
4
1
----
100.0
3-t..4
66.6
~
17.7
3.1
6,2
100.0
None
305
44.9
l or more
l and 2
3 and 4
5 and 8
7 and OTer
375
285
66
14
10
55,l
41.9
9.7
2.0
1,5
682
None
l or more
l and 2
3 and 4
5 and 8
7 and over
283
-+-i
158
100.0
94
100.0
49
100.0
96
100.0
49,6
60
38.0
41
43,6
19
38,8
46
46.9
143
103
28
6
6
50,6
36.4
9,9
2.1
2.1
98
63
44
8
1
0
66,4
30
13
6
3
62,0
48,7
8,2
3,2
1.9
46,8
8,5
1.1
24
6
1
0
61.2
49,0
10.2
2.0
51
37
12
l
1
53,l
38,6
12,5
1.0
1.0
100.0
286
100.0
158
100.0
94
100.0
49
100.0
96
100.0
317
46.5
365
269
76
24
6
53,5
38.0
11.1
3.5
o.9
130
45.6
60
38,0
42
44.7
51
63,3
54
56,3
155
113
34
54.4
39.6
11.9
1.s
1.1
98
54
30
12
2
62.0
34.2
19.0
7.6
1.2
62
43
5
4
0
55,3
45.7
5,3
4.3
18
16
36.7
30,6
6,1
42
34
4
43.7
35,4
4,2
3
3.1
l
1.0
140
:z:
....
~
100.0
I
I
>
"'ti
"'ti
c,r;,
0
!
680
Total persona"'
-
100.0
---- - - - - - - - - - - -
96
____
100.0
--
77
- --
-
-
>
1931-35
Total personsb
6
3
--
._Excludes 3 men who did not report number of job sepo.rationa,
bExoludea 1 man who did not report number of job separations •
--
-
3
0
0
- -
--
......
-.J
........
Table A-t9.• FREQUENCY OF JOB SEPARATIONS AND EMPWYER, INDUSTRIAL, AND OCCUPATIONAL SHIFTS FOR MACHINISTS
WHO REPORTED NO tnmlPWYMENT IN THE 10-YEAR PERIOD 1926-35, BY AGE
.
-
Age in years
Number of
separationa
or shifts
Toial
persona
Num-
ber
30-4-4
16-29
Per- !lumoent ber
Per- Numcent ber
Age in years
46-59
Per- Numcent ber
60 and
over
Per- Numcent ber
Toth.l
persons
Per- Humcent ber
330 100.0
22
100.0 127
30-44
16-29
Per- Numcent ber
Per- NUil•
cent ber
Job separations
Total persons
a,
45-59
Per- Numcent ber
60 and
over
Per- Numcent ber
Percent
Earployer shifts
100.0 143
100.0
38
100.0 330
100.0
22
100.0 127
100.0 143
100.0
38
100.0
:s:
a
)>
None
174
52.7
4
57
44.9
87
60.8
26
68.4 204
61.8
7
31.8
71
55.9
95
66.4
31
81.6
81.8 70
50.0 41
22.7 18
5
9.1
6
55.1
32.3
14.2
3.9
4.7
56
40
39.2
28.0
7.7
2.8
0.1
12
12
0
0
0
31.6 126
31.6 82
27
11
6
38.2
24.9
8.2
3.3
1.8
16
10
68.2
45.5
18.2
4.5
66
32
13
6
5
44.1
25.2
10.s
4.7
3.9
48
33
10
33.6
23.l
1.0
2.8
0.1
7
7
0
0
0
18.4
18.4
18.2
::x::
H
156
1 or aore
land 2
104
3 and 4
34
5 and 6
11
7
7 and over
18
31.5 11
10.s
5
2
3.4
2.1
0
4?.3
-
11
4
1
--
4
1
0
0
2i_
Total persons
None
330
100.0
22
219
66.4
8
100.0 127
36.4
79
100.0 143
100.0
38
100.0 330
100.0
22
63.2 100
69.9
32
84.2 232
70.3
43
35
4
4
0
30.l
24.6
2.8
2.8
6
6
0
0
0
98
29.7
25.2
2.7
1.6
o.3
"
18
er
'<
C")
0
a
'"""""
rv
l or more
1 and 2
111
81
3 and 4
16
5 and 6
10
7 and over 4
33.6 14
24.6 11
3
4.8
3.0 0
0
1.2
63.6 48
50.0 29
9
13.6
-
6
4
37.e
22.e
7.1
4.7
3.2
1
--
Occupational shifts
Industrial shifts
c.o"
a.
N-
-
4
-
15.8
15.8
--
83
9
6
1
15
3
0
0
100.0 127
100.0 143
100.0
38
100.0
18.2
86
67.7 108
76.5
34
89.5
81.8
68.2
13.6
41
32
5
3
l
32.3 36
25.2 32
1
3.9
2
2.4
0
o.e
24.5
22.4
0.1
1.,
4
4
10.s
10.5
--
-
0
0
0
--
z
H
en
....,
en
Table A-50•• F~UENCY OF EMPLOYER SHIFTS, 1926-50 AJlll 1931-:16, BY USUAL IllDUSTRliL GROUP
llanufs.cture
Period s.nd mmber
of aaployer llhif'te
Tots.l
per■ CIIUI
llachine?7,
machine tool 1.
s.nd electrical goods
ot •
Trensports.tion
equipnmrt
-
Gcnel'lllllmlt agenoiea
and public util:l:tiee
llsts.l produota •
including
profeeeians.l
1nrl nmiente
--Percent;
!lumber
Number
Percent
Number
Percent
Number
Percent
680
100.0
283
100.0
158
100.0
94
100 0 0
280
n.2
109
38.5
63
59.9
56
38.5
1926-:16
Tots.l pereone&
Percmrt
!lumber
__ ___!ll __
-r-__
lli■oell...-■
manuts.cturing
mid other industrie ■
Number
------ -
Percent
-·-----
100.0 ___ f--- ~6____ _ ____l,Q9~
1
None
l or more
l s.nd 2
5 s.nd 4
6 s.nd 6
7 s.nd over
400
231
107
34
28
58.8
34,0
15,7
5.0
4,1
174
98
49
14
13
61.6
34.6
17.3
5,0
4,6
95
100,0
None
394
57,9
0
1 or more
l s.nd 2
3 s.nd 4
5 s.nd 6
7 s.nd ever
286
222
47
10
7
42,l
32,7
6,9
1.5
1,0
c.o"
a.
N-
2i_
er
--
i
283
---
I
162
121
9C20
5
5
i
100.0
0
a
'"""""
rv
27 __1_ __ 66.1 _ ~ - ~ - - ~
17
34.7
29
30.2
I
1
14.5
8
8.5
5
s.1
6
6.!
I
0
5
5.1
94
100.0
49
100.0
96
100.0
I
67,0
53
66.4
27
56.1
62
64.6
i
43,0
55,4
4.4
1.9
1,5
41
33
8
0
0
43,6
36.l
8,5
44.9
s0.8
6.1
54
55-4
23.9
9.4
2.1
168
100,0
94
100.0
49
100.0
I
67,2
90
!
42.8
32.l
7,1
1.e
1.e
68
I
52.l
_ 15~ _ j __ 100.0
i
66
7
3
2
'<
C")
60.l
32,3
i
I
I
61.7 --38.5
14.9
6.4
2,1
-
I
I
i
i
t-
50
68
56
14
6
2
I
680
44.9
I
18.5
5,2
6,3
I
·51-----;----29
!
5
I
10
1926-50
Tots.l poreonee.
I
22
I
I
I
I
1931-:16
-
--
I
22
19
5
0
0
I
I
--
23
9
2
0
-
96
100.0
682
100,0
286
100,0
None
457
64,l
176
61,8
96
60,8
61
64,9
34
69.4
10
72.9
l or more
l s.nd 2
3 em 4
6 s.nd 6
7 s.nd aver
246
186
42
16
2
35.9
27,l
6,2
2,3
0,3
109
86
18
3
2
38,2
30.2
6,3
1.0
0.1
62
42
14
6
0
39.2
26,6
8,8
3,8
33
25
4
4
0
35.l
26.5
4,3
4.5
15
13
2
0
30,6
26.6
4.1
26
19
4
3
0
27.l
19,8
4.2
5,1
Tots.l person.ab
9.Exeludea 3 men who did not report number of employer shifts.
bEJ:cludea l man who did '!lot report mmber of employer shifts.
-
-
0
--
-
>
"O
'"O
t:<l
z
0
......
><
>
,..,..
cc
Table A-510• FREQUENcY OF I1iDUSl'RIAL SHIFTS, 192~ AHD 1931-:16, BY USUAL INDUSTRIAL GROUP
lfalmf'actuN ot Period and nmnber
Total peraOD8
ot
industrial shifts
llachine17,
machine tooll,
and eleotrlo&l goods
Transportation
equipn&nt:
lleta.l product••
including
Govenamt agenoiu
and public utilitiu
protea ■ ional
llisoellaneows
aanutaoturing
and other induatri••
...
~
0
instnmem.e
Number
Percent
Number
Percent
Number
Percmt
Number
Percent
Number
Percmt
Number
Percent
681
100.0
284
100.0
158
100.0
94
100.0
49
100.0
96
100.0
Bone
308
45.2
128
45.1
67
42,4
41
43,6
21
42.9
51
65.1
1 or more
1 and 2
3 and 4
6 and 6
7 and over
373
240
83
33
17
64,8
35.5
12.2
4.8
2.5
156
102
36
10
8
54.9
35.9
12,7
3.5
2.s
91
52
25
8
6
57.6
32,9
16,8
5,1
3,8
55
34
11
6
2
56.4
36.2
11.1
6.4
2.1
28
19
6
3
0
57.1
38,8
12.2
6.1
46
33
5
6
1
46.9
34.4
5,2
6.3
1.0
1926-:15
Total per1ona&
-
Total peraon.s"
0
681
100.0
284
100.0
158
100.0
94,
100.0
49
100.0
96
100.0
Bone
422
62,0
179
63,0
96
so.a
57
60.6
27
65,1
63
66.6
1 or more
1 &nd 2
3 and 4
5 and 6
7 and over
269
216
30
105
85
13
37
31
6
0
0
22
20
2
0
0
33
27
4
2
0
34.4
28..l
4.2
2.1
0.1
39,2
33.5
3,1
1.3
1.3
44.9
40.8
4,1
2
62
53
5
2
2
39.4
33.0
6.4
5
37,0
29,9
4,6
1.e
4
38.o
31,7
4.4
1.3
o.6
9
--
--
-
1931-36
0
c.o"
a.
N-
2i_
er
'<
0
0
a
'"""""
rv
Total person■b
3:
►
1926-:10
682
100.0
285
100.0
158
100.0
94
100.0
49
100.0
96
100.0
Bone
453
66.4
189
66.3
97
61,4
63
67,0
33
67.3
n
74.0
1 or more
1 &nd
3 &nd 4
6 and 6
7 and aver
229
180
34
14
l
33.6
26.4
6,0
2.1
0.1
96
79
12
33,7
27.7
4,2
1.4
o.4
61
3806
21.2
8.9
2.5
51
23
4
4
0
33.0
16
16
1
0
0
32-7
ao.s
2.1
26
20
a
2
0
211-0
20.e
14
4
0
4
l
"Ezcludea 2 men who did not report mzmber ot industrial shifts.
bE:,:oludea l man who did not report mmber ot industri&l 1hitt••
43
-
24.4
4.3
4,3
-
--
1.1
-
2.1
=
H
:z:
H
Ul
>-:l
Ul
T&ble A-52.- FREQUENCY OF OCCUPATIONAL SHIFTS, 1926-30 AND 1931-36, BY USUAL INDUSl'RIAL GROUP
Period &nd number
of ocoup&tion&l
shifts
·
M&~hlllery,
machine_ tools•
and electrical goods
Total persons
·1
Numbe~ Peroent
N~;r
Percent ____
I - --------1-------------- --- ---
--------+---
--- --=--=--=;==========;==========
·----:--=-....:. ·:....--....:::::::--:-. - _ - -=-=---
------
----
--
lfonufacturo of - ~----~------ - - - ~
Metal products•
Tran., ortation
inoludin
eq~ipment
professio.!i
instruments
Number
- --
·;ercmt-- - Number
------ · - - - - - -
I
Governmcmt agcmoiss
and
blic utilities
llisoell&neous
manufacturing
&nd other industriH
pu
- Pero~~--;~-;;;- ---Poroe;;..;-----;;,;,.ber Peroent
------ - - - - ----- - ---- -------
1926-35
I
681
I
100.0
284
100.0
158
100.0
94
100.0
49
10000
96
100 00
None
410
I
60 02
186
65,5
90
57,0
45
47,9
28
57 ,l
61
6306
l or more
l &nd 2
3 and 4
5 and 6
7andover
271
204
46
14
7
I
39,8
29,9
60 8
2,1
1,0
52,l
40,4
6,4
3,2
2,1
21
16
5
0
O
42,9
52,7
10,2
-
36
25
6
5
l
36,5
26,l
6,S
5,1
1,0
Total persona&
1
,
98
75
17
4
2
_ - - ~ 5______ 2.._8 _______ 43,0 ___ ~ ~ - - 26,4
60
31,6
38
6,0
12
7,6
6
1,4
4
2,5
5
0,7
2
1,5
2
f--
I
1
1
>
t-,:j
t-,:j
l,c;l
:z:
0
I
1926.-SO
H
I><
1
Total persona&
0
c.o"
a.
N-
2i_
er
'<
None
,
l or more
1 &nd 2
3 and 4
5 &nd 6
7 &nd over
,
I
C")
0
a
'"""""
rv
I
j
•
!
681
100,0
284
100,0
512
75,2
221
77 ,8
120
169
143
20
4
2
24,8
21,0
2,9
0,6
0,3
63
52
8
2
l
22,2
18,S
2,e
O, 7
0,4
38
33
4
0
l
I
158 _____100__._o_----1_ _9_4_----1_ _
100_._o_----1--4-9_-+_ _
100_._o_
1
:
I
I
1
___ 96 -f-100_,_o_
75,9
64
68,l
33
67,3
74
77,l
24,l
20,9
2,6
0,6
30
26
3
l
0
31,9
27,6
3,2
1,1
-
16
15
l
0
0
32,7
50,6
2,1
-
22
17
4
1
0
22,9
17,7
4,2
1,0
-
>
1931-SS
Total personsb
682
100,0
285
100,0
158
100,0
94
100,0
49
100.0
96
100,0
None
519
76,l
234
82.1
114
72,2
62
66.0
38
77,6
71
74,0
l or more
l &nd 2
165
140
18
2S,9
20,5
2,6
00 6
0,2
51
17,9
16,l
1,4
0,4
44
37
6
l
0
27 ,8
23,4
3,8
0,6
-
34,0
28,7
3.2
2 ,1
-
11
10
l
0
0
22,4
20,4
2,0
•
25
20
,
1
0
26,0
20,8
4,2
1,0
-
5 &nd 4
5 and 6
7 &nd over
4
l
46
4
0
l
&Excludes 2 men who did not report number of occupational shifts.
bEJ:cludes l man who did not report number of occupational shifts,
52
27
3
2
___
o__ __
I
,..
...
~
,...
Table A-53.- lllll.{SER OF JOB SEPARATIONS FOR MACIIINISTS 30-44 YEARS OF AGE, BY ii:.!PUlYMENT STATUS lN MAY 1936, l/SUAL INDUSl'RIAL GROUP, AND TYPE OF SHI!i', 1926-35
t.:>
I.\:)
Type of shirt
l!Aployment 1tatu1 in Jlay 1936
ond usual industrial group
Total job separations
Manufacture ot machinery. machine tool ■•
and el•ctrical goods
llanutaoture ot tranaportation equipnent
llanut'aoture of metal products, including
profesaional in ■ tnnnenta
Gonrnment agenoiea and public utilities
111.aoella.neous manufacturing and other
indu ■ trie ■
0
c.o'
a.
N-
2i_
er
&ployed
»anuraotur• of ma.ohinery. machine tools.
and electrical goode
llanufaoture of tre.naportation equipm,ent
Manufacture of metal produots, including
professional instnmienta
Gonrma.ent agenoies and publio utilities
lt11cellaneou11 manufacturing and other
indu1trie•
Total job
separations
Return to ..... jobb
artar a poriod of -
E:irployer
Employer
Ocoupati.onal Industrial
occupl!.tional
Not seek-
Unemployment ing work
Num- Per-
Num-
Per-
Num-
ber
cent
ber
cent
ber
Percent
15o3
13
lo 7
66
805
42
43
60
13,l
26o7
5
3
lo5
1.3
n
1206
7.1
lOOoO
lOOoO
9
2
9o0
4.3
0
2
4.3
-
5
0
74
100.0
4
6.4
3
4.1
64-9
100.0
79
12.2
8
280
178
lOOoO
lOOoO
52
36
11.4
20.2
4
0
7
2
8.4
4.7
0
2
Num-
Per-
Num-
ber
oent
ber
Percent
773a
lOOoO
118
328
225
lOOoO
100.0
100
46
83
100.0
45
100.0
Nwn- Per-
C")
0
a
'"""""
rv
induatri.e ■
•Include ■
Percent
Num
ber
Percent
...!...!_
276
3506
6
5
2
lo5
0,9
129
74
39,4
32o9
5
2
600
4o3
32
14
-
0
o.s
13
ber
Percent
Oo~
236
:so.5
3
2
0,9
8&
59
2608
26o2
32,0
30.5
l
0
1.0
44
21
44.0
45o7
3:
-
26
35ol
0
-
24
32.4
::,::
2.0
241
37,l
6
Oo9
204
5lo4'
5
2
1.8
1.1
112
66
40.0
36.5
5
2
1.1
1.1
76
53
21.2
29,8
4
408
4.7
30
15
36o2
30o2
1
0
1.2
32
19
38.6
4-lol
ber
5o4
3
0.4
14
14
8
4o3
3,6
0
l
o.4
600
4
3
4o0
606
0
2
4
5.4
15
1706
0
1.2
57
808
58
So9
3
1.4
4.7
35
13
12.5
7o3
13
6
4,6
5.4
0
1
0.6
6
0
6.0
4
3
4.3
6.9
0
-
-
2
65
10000
2
3.1
2
3ol
4
6,1
12
18.5
0
12'
100.0
39
31.5
5
4.0
9
7,3
4
3.2
0
48
'7
10000
10000
11
24
22.9
51,1
l
3
2.1
6.4
6
3
12.s
6,4
1
2
2.1
4o2
0
0
17
5
lOOoO
100.0
2
0
11.e
-
0
0
--
0
0
0
0
-
0
0
9
10000
2
22.2
l
11.1
0
-
-
l
11.1
0
Jilnployer,
Occupational occupational,
and
and
industrial
industrial
Number
cent
16
Jilnployer
ond
induotrial
Percent
Num-
ber
'<
Una,ployed
llamitaoture ot machinery, machine tools,
and electrical goods
Manufacture of transportation equipment
llanutaoture ot metal product ■, including
protessiorm.1 instruments
Government agencies and publto utilities
lliseellaneoua manutaoturing and other
and
4.3
-
4.7
---
2
0
-
21
52.3
0
l
o.8
34
27o4'
0
17
9
56,i
l9ol
0
0
2
l
11.8
55.3
0
0
6
5506
0
0
0
1
0
0
-
5.9
-
o.9
-
---
Num-
24
56,9
32
2508
12
6
25.0
12.e
12
2
70.5
6607
0
one job separation each tor 3 men who reported an industrial ahlrt but no 9.otua.l job separation when the plants at which they were employed changed their major
product.
brncludea :51 e:epuntions with no return to a.ny job within the IO-year period.
-
>
(")
......
z
......
Cf.)
t-3
(/)
Table A-54•• NUllBER OF JOB SEPARATIONS FOR MACHINISTS REPORTING NO UN:EMPI.OYMENT
IN THE 10-YF.AR PERIOD 1926-35• BY AGE AND TYPE OF SHIFT
- ·i
T tal
Age in years
--
Typo of shift
Returned to
~
same job
JOb
after a.
I
Occuseparationsll pPriod of I Employer pationa.l
I not seeking}'
,
work
:
-------T---~-I
Employer•
Indus•
trial
Employer i Oocuoccuand
lpatianal pai;ional
indus- I •tu:l<l
I and •
trial i ~~in<lustr:i. ·
trid
Employer
a.ud. occu, patione.l
1
1
--
--- --- -------
TPer--1 oe~-
Num-1 Per- INumber
Total job
separations
~
cent ~ber
.
388
i
1~.o
2 t -____
o.5
____
1
0
c.o"
a.
N-
2i_
er
'<
C")
16-29
30-44
45-59
60 and over
44
201
123
20
100.0 I
l00e0 I
100.0 I
100.0
0
l
0
l
I
-
0.5
I
-
5.o
- ----
-
- -------T·-----r -
4
I
11.6! 53
1 I 2.3
20 ,10.0
22 17.9
2 10.0
I
7
I
1s.6
9.8
20.0
'
I
'
----
I
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APPENDIX B
SCHEDULE AND DEFINITIONS OF TERMS USED
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TOTAL CIIPLOTEII
SHlnS
TOTAL
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BECAN
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AYERACE LENGTH or
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TOTAL CECUPA1'IONAL
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USUAL .XOUPATIOII
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APPENDIX B
127
DEFINITIONS DP TERMS USED
The person's age on his last birthday prior to the date
of the interview was recorded.
Age:
The country of birth was recorded for foreignborn persons; the State of birth, for native-born persons; and
Philadelphia, for persons born in this city. The country of
birth was recorded according to the nation al boundary lines at
the time of the person's birth.
Place of Birth:
The number of years in the city was defined as
the length in years of the most recent period of continuous residence in Philadelphia, disregarding absences of less than 1 year.
Years in City:
Years in the United States: The number of years in the United
States was defined as the number of years of residence in the
United States since the date of last entry into the country.
(This item was recorded for foreign-born persons only. l
School Grade Completed: The number of grades completed, which
led directly to a grammar-school certificate or a high-school
or college diploma, were counted as the school grade completed.
Returns for foreign-born workers were converted to the tenns
in use in the present system in Philadelphia.
Age Leaving School: The age on leaving school was defined as
the person's age on his last birthday prior to the date of his first
leaving school for a consecutive period of more than 1 year.
Age Began Work: The age of beginning work was defined as the
person's age on his last birthday prior to the date of his beginning
his first full-time joh 1 after leaving school.
No specific question regarding the date of entering the labor market was asked, but
when there was sufficient infonnation on the schedule, calculations were made to determine this date. However, when there was
a difference in the person I s age between the time he had left school
and the time he began work and when there was no record of the
intervening period, the year in which he had left school was considered to be the date he entered the labor market.
Date of Entering the
Labor Xarket:
Usual Occupation: The usual occupation was defined as the occupation which the person considered his usual or customary occupation, In cases of doubt, the occupation at which the person
had worked longest was considered his usual occupation. Of
1 see below !or the de!1n1t1on or r1rst job.
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128
MACHINISTS
two work experiences of equal length, the more recent was considered the usual.
The usual industry was defined as the industry in which the person was normally employed. If he had been
employed at his usual occupation in two or more industries, the
industry at which he had worked longest was considered the usual
one.
Usual Industry:
The number of years employed
at the usual occupation was defined as the individual's estimate
of the number of years he actually worked at what he considered
to be his usual occupation. Years spent as a paid apprentice
or helper or as a foreman were included, but years spent as an
unpaid apprentice were not included. 2
Years at the Usual Occupation:
Present Employment Status: As of May 1, 1936 the individual
was classified as "employed" or "unemployed."
(al Employed persons were defined as those who had a job 3 on
May 1, 1936. Employment was considered full-time or part-time,
according to the practice of the industry in May 1936.
(bl Unemployed persons were defined as those who did not have
a job on May 1, 1936 but who were able and willing to work. Persons employed on Government emergency work and persons temporarily
out of the labor market were included in this group.
Emergency work was used as an all-inclusive term to cover employment on work relief, Public Works projects, or Works Program
projects whether financed by the city, the State, the Federal
Emergency Relief Administration, the National Recovery Act of
1933, or the Emergency Relief Appropriation Act of 1935.
Persons who had been sick for less than a year but who were
not permanently disabled were classified as temporarily out of
the labor market. 4
job: A job was defined as continuous paid service at one
occupational assignment for one employer for 1 or more months.
(Employment on emergency work did not constitute a job, since
emergency work employment was classifiPd as unemployment,)
2 1n tills study, time spent as an operator or special macll1ne tools, as a
tool maker, d1e setter or instrument maker, or as a macll1n1st or m1llwr1gllt
was included as time at tile usual occupation.
3see below ror tile derinition or a Job.
4 Persons on strike on May 1, 1936 were classiried as temporarily out or tile
labor market and, tllererore, were included 1n tile study.
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129
APPENDIX B
When persons were working on
months, they were considered to
ual work, such as longshoremen,
were considered to have jobs if
their own account for 1 or more
have jobs. Persons who had castruck drivers, and day workers,
they worked at the occupation
for 1 or more months even though the work was for more than one
employer. When persons were on sick leave with pay or vacation
with pay, they were considered to have jobs.
(a) First
time paid .iob
tween school
out of school
as the first
job: The first job was defined as the first fullafter leaving school permanently. Summer jobs besessions and any jobs held while the individual was
for a period of only 1 year or less were not counted
job.
lb) Lonfest job: The longest job was defined as the longest
job beginning prior to 1926 for persons who had entered the labor
market before that time. For persons who had entered the labor
market du ri n 6 or after 1926, it was the longest .i ob they had ever
held. Of two jobs of equally long duration, the more recent one
was considered the longest job.
lc) Last job: The last job was defined as the last job beginning on or prior to May 1, 1936.
Periodsof 1 or more months of unemployment or of time not seeking work between January 1926 and
the time of interview were recorded on the schedule.
Time Elapsed Between Jobs:
Unemployment periods included any time during which the individual was employed on emergency work, as well as time during
which he did not have a job but was able and willing to work.
Time not seeking work included periods during which the individual was out of the labor market because he was sick (and not
receiving pay), on strike, attending school, o:-retiredandliving
on income,
Duration of Unemployment Since Last Job: The duration of unemployment since the last job was defined as the time unemployed
(including time employed on emergency work) 5 between the date of
leaving the last job and May 1, 1936. This of course has application only to those who were unemployed on May 1, 1936.
Occupation: In recording occupations, the ki11d of work done
on each job was stated as exactly as possible. The occupations
were coded according to an adaptation of Bulletin fl3, Occupation Code, Works Progress Administration, National Research Proj5 rn this study, tlme not seeklng wor~ was also included.
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130
MACHINISTS
ect in cooperation with the Industrial Research Department of the
University of Pennsylvania (mimeo., April 1936).
Persons who owned an establishment and also worked in it were
classified as owners. The tenn "factory laborer" was used only
for persons who fetch and carry materials to and from the production workers or clean up after them. The occupations of production workers or factory hands were classified in accordance
with the process or operation on which the workers were engaged.
Industry: In recording industries, the exact type of business
or product made was specified, and general tenns were avoided
as much as possible. Industries were coded acco,ding to an adaptation of Bulletin #1.t, Industry Code, Works Progress Administration, National Research Project in cooperation with the Industrial
Research Department of the University of Pennsylvania (mimeo.,
April 1936).
Reason for Chante in Job: In entering the reason for leaving
a ,iob, the exact statement of the respondent was recorded as
nearly as possible.
Character of Employment: Employment was classified either as
full-time or part-time according to the practice of the industry during the time for which the information was obtained. In
instances when employment with a finn had been both full-time
and part-time but the respondent could not recall the exact
dates of change, the character of employment was designated as
combined full-time and part-time employment. When persons were
working on their own account, the employment was classified as
"self-employment." 6
Both full- and part-time employment were further classified
as "regular", "casual", or "intermittent." Casual employment
was defined as work for one or more employers contracted-for by
the hour or by the day, as in the case of "day workers" in domestic service or laborers at odd jobs or by the load handled,
as in the case of longshoremen and jobbing truck drivers. The
term "intermittent" was used to identify the employment of workers
who constitute a labor reserve in industries in which employment
is usually not of a casual nature. The work of "spare hands" and
"contingent" crews on call for a particular employer or of extra
crews hired to complete orders in the "rush" season was classified
6
The amount or sel r-employmen t ,ras very small, so 1 twas d1 str1 bu ted proportl onately between full-time and part-time employment 1n determining the average number or months or spec! tied types or employment experience, 1926-35,
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131
APPENDIX B
as intermittent. Regular employment included all work, except
that of a casualorintermittent nature, arisingfrompaid service
with one employer.
The time employed at
the usual occupation from 1926 to 1935 included only the time
the person was employed at occupations which had been assigned
the same code number as that of the usual occupation.
Time Employed at the Usual Occupation:
The time
employed at occupations other than the usual one included the
time the person was employed at all occupations which had been
assigned code numbers different from that of the usual occupation.
Time Employed
at Other Than
the
Usual Occupation:
Time Employed in the Usual Industry: The time employed in the
usual industry from 1926 to 1935 included only the time the person was employed in industries which had been assigned the same
code number as that of the usual industry.
Time Employed in Other Than the Usual Industry: The time employed in industries other than the usual one included the time
the person was employed in all industries which had been assigned
code numbers different from that of the usual industry.
Averaee Leneth of Service per Job at the Usual Occupation: In
computing the average length of service per job at the usual
occupation, only employment between January 1926 and December
1935 was included. (Thus, in the case of a job beginning in 1920
and ending in 1936, the average length was taken as 10 years.)
Only jobs assigned the same occupational code number as that of the
usual occupation were considered to be at the usual occupation.
In computing the average length of unemployment periods, only unemployment between
January 1926 and December 1935 was included. Employment at emergency work was considered to be unemployment.
Averaee Leneth of Unemployment Periods:
Separations From Jobs: Leaving one job to go to another, to
become unemployed, orto experience a period of not seeking work
was counted as separation from a job. Because of the definition
of a job, a change from one occupation to another during continuous employment with one firm was counted as a ,job separation.
On the other hand, a change in character of employment or in industry during continuous employment at one occupational assignment for one employer was not counted as a job separation.
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132
MACHINISTS
Employer Shifts: An employer shift was defined as a change
from one firm name to another, whether or not a period without
work intervened. A change in location of the plant alone was
not considered to be an employer shift; neither was a shift by
the worker from one plant to another plant operated by the same
firm. For casual work, "odd jobs" or "various employers" was
sometimes recorded instead of an employer's name. These entries
were treated as one employer, and the number of employer shifts
determined accordingly.
Occupational Shift: An occupational shift was defined as a
change from one occupation to another, whether or not a period
without work intervened. These shifts were determined on the
basis of the occupational code numbers.
An industrial shift was defined as a change
from one industry to another, whether or not a period without
work intervened. These shifts were determined on the basis of
the industrial code numbers.
Industrial Shift:
Separations From Employers: A separation from an employer was
defined as the act of leaving one employer to go to another, to
become unemployed, or to experience a period of not seeking work.
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