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U. S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS ROYAL MEEKER, Commissioner BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES\ /WHOLE 1 7 0 BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS/ ‘ # * \NUMBER 1 I L M I S C E L L A N E O U S S E R I E S : No . 10 UNEMPLOYMENT IN NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK APRIL, 1915 WASHINGTON GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE 1915 CONTENTS. Page. Introduction........................................................................................................ 5-7 Scope of the investigation................................................................................... 7,8 Results of the investigation................................................................................. 8 The homeless....................................................................................................... 8,9 Duration of unemployment................................................................................. 9,10 Occupations of unemployed................................................................................ 10-14 Investigations by other agencies......................................................................... 14-24 Metropolitan Life Insurance Co................................................................... 15-20 Mayor’s committee on unemployment......................................................... 20-24 3 BULLETIN OF THE U. S. BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS. WHOLE NO. 172. WASHINGTON. APRIL, 1915. UNEMPLOYMENT IN NEW YORK CITY, N. Y. INTRODUCTION. Trustworthy unemployment statistics do not exist in the United States. In England and Germany accurate information concerning the number of unemployed persons by industries and occupations has long been collected. The utility of such accurate information is recognized abroad. In order to reduce unemployment to the irre ducible minimum it must be known how many persons are ordinarily idle from month to month and from season to season throughout the year and the particular industries and occupations in which this idleness occurs. Before the “ problem of unemployment” can be solved it must first be stated. We must know how many machinists, carpenters, garment workers, unskilled laborers, etc., are out of em ployment before we can attempt intelligently to place these unem ployed persons. The gathering of the statistics of unemployment is not the vain piling up of useless figures, as is sometimes alleged. The extent of unemployment and its serious social and economic conse quences have not been sufficiently recognized in this country. In the main unemployment has been looked upon as entirely or almost entirely due to crises, depressions, and the laziness of some of the . working people. The remedies proposed and put in operation when a depression is upon us are utterly inadequate. We come to each new crisis totally unprepared to deal with the inevitable fact of unemployment. In fact, unemployment is a normal condition in many industries carried on to-day. The seasonal industries and industries supplying irregular demands take on and turn off large numbers of workers at brief intervals. The American people must be awakened to the great extent and evil influences of irregularity and uncertainty of employment. This is not a condition of recent growth. It has pre vailed for a long period of years, but unfortunately we have no de pendable statistics bearing on this condition. It is greatly to be hoped that the various State departments of labor and the State and municipal employment agencies will be able to remedy this defect in the future, so that we shall be able to judge more accurately whether irregularity and casualness of employment are on the in5 6 BU LLETIN OF T H E BUREAU OP LABOR STATISTICS. crease, as many think. The causes of unemployment, underem ployment, and overemployment must also be studied in order to eliminate the unnecessary flow of labor through factories and work shops. This report is the result of an investigation made by the Bureau of Labor Statistics to ascertain, as nearly as possible, the extent of •unemployment in the city of New York. The investigation was inaugurated to meet, in part, the widespread demand for informa tion on the subject of unemployment throughout the United States. No accurate information as to conditions in New York City in former years was in existence. It was, therefore, necessary to make a study of unemployment in New York City, not only to ascertain the amount of unemployment at the time of the study but to estab lish, if possible, a reliable basis for comparison in future years. Many conflicting statements had appeared in the public press from time to time, and several investigations had been made by organizations in New York City, all of which indicated that the extent of unem ployment in the city during the winter of 1914-15 was greater than in former years. The committee on facts of the mayor’s committee on unemploy ment of New York City obtained information giving the number of employees on the pay rolls of employers during the week ending December 19, 1914, and the number on the pay rolls during the cor responding week in 1913. Over 2,000 letters of inquiry were sent out, and responses were received from 602 establishments in all lines of trade and industry, employing during the week ending December 19, 1914, a total of 250,723 persons. Comparing these figures with the number of employed by these same firms during the corresponding week in 1913, the committee reported that the increase in the num ber unemployed, based on the decrease of employment, was about 8 per cent of the total workers employed in December, 1913. “ With I this as a basis, the committee estimated that slightly les3 than ! 200,000 more persons were unemployed in New York City in Decemj ber, 1914, than in December, 1913.” At about the same time the Metropolitan Life Insurance Co., j cooperating with the mayor’s committee on unemployment, under1took an investigation of unemployment by means of a census of the ) industrial policyholders of that company in Greater New York. The investigation was begun in January, 1915, and continued several j weeks. The agents of the company visited the families of the policy holders and filled out the inquiry blanks supplied for the purpose with the information relating to unemployment furnished by the families. The investigation covered 155,960 families, in which 45,421 unemployed persons were found, or 18 per cent of all wage earners in those families. U N E M P LO YM E N T IN N E W YORK CITY. 7 According to the 1910 census, the number of persons in Greater New York 10 years of age and over engaged in gainful occupations was 2,152,433. This was 45.2 per cent of the total population at that time. Accepting the method adopted by the Bureau of the Census for estimating the increase in population year by year, i. e., assuming that the increase each year is equivalent to one-tenth of the total increase from 1900 to 1910, the number of wage earners at the present time, 1915, is about 2,455,000; then, applying to this number the per cent of unemployed (18 per cent) as shown in the above statement, the total number unemployed would be about 442,000. The results of these two investigations indicated that there was an abnormally large number of unemployed wage earners in New York during the past*season, and while each investigation may very closely approximate the exact extent of unemployment, yet, in order to establish an estimate that may be accepted as a safe basis for com parison in future, it was felt that an investigation should be made by still another method. It was decided, therefore, to make an intensive study of a large number of representative localities, includ ing all the families of all races and industrial classes in those locali ties, so that there might be no doubt as to the representative charac ter of the data secured. It was impracticable for the Bureau of Labor Statistics to make a complete census of the city in order to ascertain the amount of unem ployment, owing to the lack of funds and of employees available for such service. It was decided, therefore, to make a sufficiently extensive study to represent satisfactorily the various racial and industrial elements of the city’s population. By this method of sampling it was sought to test the accuracy of the figures of unem ployment already obtained. If this sample census should corrobo rate the figures obtained by the mayor’s committee and the Metro politan Life Insurance Co., those figures could at once be accepted as substantially accurate. If the new census figures should contradict the figures already obtained, it would necessitate further careful in vestigation and analysis. SCOPE OF THE INVESTIGATION. The investigation included a complete census of 104 representative city blocks located in various sections of the city, the less populated as well as the more congested sections. The blocks were carefully selected with the purpose of including a representative number of families of the various nationalities and all classes of workers. This study was supplemented by a further census of the families living in 3,703 individual tenement houses and residences covering a still wider range of distribution. 8 BU LLETIN OF THE BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS. For the purposes of the study all persons who had any employment whatever regular or irregular, full time or part time, at the time of the agent’s visit, were recorded as employed. This enumeration was begun January 30, 1915, and was finished February 17, 1915, a schedule being secured for each family visited. RESULTS OF THE INVESTIGATION. The results of the investigation were as follows: Number of families scheduled................................................... 54,849 Number of families having unemployed wage earners............... 11,723 Per cent of families having unemployed wage earners............... 21.4 Number of persons in families..................................................... 229,428 Number of wage earners in families........................................... 95,443 15,417 Number of unemployed wage earners.................................. . Per cent of unemployed wage earners......................................... 16.2 Assuming that the number of wage earners is now 2,455,000, as before stated, and using this figure as the basis of our estimate and applying to it the rate of unemployment derived from the study, as shown above, the total number unemployed would be about 398,000. It will be seen that the general results of this study approximate the results of the investigation made by the Metropolitan Life Insurance Co, The difference between the two may to some extent be accounted for by the fact that the investigation conducted by the Bureau was made later in the season than that made by the Metropolitan Life Insurance Co., and the conditions of unemployment may ha*ve changed to some extent. The above figure, however, does not fully measure the hardships resulting from the lack of employment. In practically all industries the distress due to complete unemployment is made much more seri ous because of the large amount of part-time employment or irreg ular employment. On account of the difficulty of getting informa tion in regard to irregular or part-time employment, and finding out just what such reports meant, all persons who had any employment whatever, regular or irregular, full time or part time, at the time of the agent’s visit, have been tabulated as employed. THE HOMELESS. Also, in addition to the number shown in the above statement, there was known to be considerable unemployment among the class desig nated as homeless—those without a fixed abode, who slept in cheap lodging houses, immigrant homes, lodging-house shelters, missions, em ployment agencies, back rooms of saloons, etc. At the request of the Bureau, the New York police department on the night of January 30, 1915, took a census of all such homeless persons and found 1,831 in the Municipal Lodging House; 269 at the Farm Colony of the 9 U N E M P LO YM E N T •IN N E W YORK CITY. Department of Public Charities, Staten Island; 628 at Ellis Island Immigrant Station; 183 in immigrant homes; 19,486 in cheap lodging houses; 135 persons, including 17 women, sleeping in employment agencies; 1,520, including 130 women, in missions; 341, including one woman, in the rear rooms of saloons after closing hours; 320 per sons, one of whom was a woman, were found in the bread line; and 23, three of whom were women, were found on public thoroughfares, bridges, docks, and in parks without shelter. It was impossible to ascertain how many of these had any employment, but it is safe to state that a very large proportion of these persons were without employment of any kind. DURATION OF UNEMPLOYMENT. In making the canvass of the unemployed an attempt was made to ascertain the exact occupation at which each unemployed wage earner last worked and the length of time that each had been out of work. Out of a total of 15,417 wage earners scheduled, this information was secured for 14,916. The following table shows the number of those found out of work on the day the investigation was made, classified by sex and periods of unemployment: NUM BER AND P E R CENT OF UNEMPLOYED, B Y SE X, AND PERIODS OF UNEM PLOY MENT. Males. Females. Total. Duration of unemployment. Number. Per cent. Number. Per cent. Number. Per cent. 1 to 7 days................................. 8 to 13 days............................... 14 to 30 days............................. 31 to 60 days............................. 61 to 90 days............................. 91 to 120 days............................ 121 to 180 days.......................... 181 days and over..................... Unknown.................................. 766 530 1,469 2,570 2,126 1,686 1,968 1,440 46 '6.1 4.2 11.7 20.4 16.9 13.4 15.6 11.4 .4 221 130 324 504 339 244 321 215 17 9.5 5.6 14.0 21.8 14.6 10.5 13.9 9.3 .7 987 660 1,793 3,074 2,465 1,930 2,289 1,655 63 6.6 4.4 12.0 20.6 16.5 12.9 15.3 11.1 .4 Total............................... 12,601 100.0 2,315 100.0 14,916 100.0 It will be noted that the largest number and percentage of persons out of work, both male and female, had been out of work from 31 to 60 days—20.4 per cent of all the males and 21.8 per cent of all the females—and the next largest number had been out of work from 61 to 90 days— 16.9 per cent of the males and 14.6 per cent of the females. The unemployment; therefore, began to be most acute in the late fall or early winter, a period when work in many outside indus tries under normal conditions is falling off, and this unemployment was undoubtedly due to a considerable extent to the usual slack season. It will be further noted that 15.6 per cent of the males and 13.9 per cent of the females had been out of work from 120 to 180 91613°—Bull. 172—15---- 2 10 BU LLETIN OF TH E BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS. days, and that 11.4 per cent of the males and 9.3 per cent of the females had been out of work more than six months. The figures of the above table presented in another form show the aggregate number and percentage of wageworkers out of employment each specified number of days. CUMULATIVE NUMBER AND PE R CENT OF W AGE EARN ERS OUT OF W O R K EACH SPECIFIED NUMBER OF DAYS. Females. Males. Total. Duration of unemployment. Number. Per cent. 1,440 3,408 5,094 7,220 9,790 11,259 11,789 12,601 Over 180 days........................... Over 120 days........................... Over 90 days............................. Over 60 days............................. Over 30 days............................. Over 13 days............................. Over 7 days.............................. 1 day or more........................... Number. 11.4 27.0 40.4 57.3 77.7 89.4 93.6 100.0 Number. Per cent. 215 536 780 1,119 1,623 1,947 2,077 2,315 9.3 23.2 33.7 48.3 70.1 84.1 89.7 100.0 Per cent. 1,655 3,944 5,874 8,339 11,413 13,206 13,866 14,916 11.1 26.4 39.3 55.8 76.4 88.4 92.8 100.0 This table shows that of all male and female workers combined 11.1 per cent were out of work for a period of over 180 days, 26.4 per cent over 120 days, 39.3 per cent over 90 days, 55.8 per cent over 60 days, 76.4 per cent over 30 days, 88.4 per cent over 13 days, and 92.8 per cent were out of work at least one week. OCCUPATIONS OF UNEMPLOYED. The next table presents the number unemployed, classified by sex, occupation, and by periods of unemployment. NUM BER OF PERSONS OUT OF EMPLOYMENT, CLASSIFIED B Y OCCUPATION, SEX, AND PERIODS OF UNEMPLOYMENT. Number of persons at each specified period of unemploy ment. Occupation. Num ber Sex. unem to 14 to 31 to 61 to 91 to 121 to ployed. 17to 813 30 60 90 180 120 days. days. days. days. days. days. days. 181 days Un and. known. over. Manufacturing a n d me chanical industries. Building trades: Bricklayers, stonemasons.. Carpenters.......................... Electricians......................... Plasterers............................ Painters, paperhangers___ Plumbers............................ Other................................... M. M. M. M. M. M. M. Total................................ 247 516 90 114 705 217 154 9 31 3 7 36 15 11 13 35 5 6 25 17 6 31 72 11 15 59 42 27 51 143 18 26 182 34 32 43 92 6 18 178 31 23 28 53 13 19 116 19 21 49 65 17 16 70 34 19 23 24 16 6 37 24 14 1 1 1 2 1 1 2,043 112 107 257 486 391 269 270 144 7 Marble and stonecutters......... M. 86 2 4 8 13 19 19 10 10 1 Operators on clothing............... M. F. 1,565 216 74 21 38 5 145 16 292 48 296 42 258 25 280 38 179 18 3 3 1,781 95 43 161 340 338 283 318 197 6 Total................................ 11 U N E M P L O Y M E N T IN N E W YORK CITY. NUMBER OF PERSONS OUT OF EM PLOYM ENT, CLASSIFIED B Y OCCUPATION, SEX, AND PERIO DS OF UNEMPLOYMENT—Continued. Occupation. Number of persons at each specified period of unemploy ment. Num ber Sex. unem 181 to 14 to 31 to 61 to 91 to 121 to days ployed. 1 7to 813 Un 180 and 60 90 120 30 days. days. days. days. days. days. days. over. known. Manufacturing and me chanical industries—Con. Hat makers............................... M F 2 1 2 1 45 3 3 4 7 7 8 7 6 108 15 5 18 21 10 13 15 11 159 224 4 18 7 18 20 33 31 50 25 37 17 24 23 23 32 20 100 62 5 4 2 2 11 7 20 9 15 10 5 10 26 8 16 12 M F 298 8 19 12 24 1 38 2 61 1 47 3 49 1 47 1 306 19 12 25 40 62 50 50 47 1 M 116 11 8 21 15 9 12 22 18 M. F. 88 55 11 8 4 1 15 16 26 13 15 8 6 2 5 4 6 3 143 19 5 31 39 23 8 9 9 36 2 25 1 38 4 70 5 62 8 44 4 57 2 29 1 27 | 39 74 67 52 61 31 1 7 2 ! 24 8 65 8 28 4 12 2 14 3 21 1 1 1 9 i Total................................ "Bakers. . . . T , _____ r_______ M Iron and steel workers: Machinists........................... M Other................. ................ M Leather and leather goods: Shoemakers........................ M Other workers in leather.. M Piano mftlrftrs_________________ Total................................ Carpenters.................................. Cigar makers and tobacco workers................................... Total................................ Dressmakers, seamstresses........ M. F. Total................................ Furriers..................................... 34 11 26 362 388 M. F. 36 172 29 2 2 6 1 4 3 6 2 7 5 1 1 32 73 32 14 17 22 2 466 332 40 27 19 23 47 .43 83 70 85 48 53 48 87 42 49 28 3 3 798 67 1 42 1 90 153 133 101 129 77 6 Longshoremen, stevedores....... M. Chauffeurs................. -v ........... M. Drivers, teamsters..................... M. 134 125 507 25 10 40 16 3 24 19 14 60 16 19 115 14 22 68 11 11 60 16 25 71 13 21 69 4 Other......................................... 100 7 8 6 1 14 1 19 3 15 1 9 15 14 1 107 8 7 15 22 16 9 15 15 Total................................ Other workers, not specified... 201 M. F. Total................................ ! Transportation. M. F. Total................................ | Trade. Bookkeepers and clerks............ M. F. Total................................ Stenographers, typewriters___ M. F. Total................................ Collectors, agents, peddlers___ Total................................ M. F. 543 202 20 19 20 14 54 32 123 34 79 28 56 18 87 34 99 22 5 1 745 39 34 •86 157 107 74 121 121 6 16 119 2 7 1 | 1 7 | 11 2 23 3 13 1 18 1 23 5 15 2 135 9 8 ! 12 25 16 19 24 20 2 143 8 14 1 7 1 26 1 27 1 21 1 20 18 1 9 2 1 151 15 8 27 28 22 2d 19 11 1 ! 12 B U LLETIN OF THE BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS. NUM BER OF PERSONS OUT OF EM PLOYMENT, CLASSIFIED B Y OCCUPATION, SEX, AND PERIODS OF UNEMPLOYMENT—Concluded. Number of persons at each specified period of unemploy ment. Occupation. Num ber Sex. unem ployed. 1 to 8 to 14 to 31 to 61 to 91 to 121 to 181 Un 7 13' 30 60 90 120 180 days days. days. days. days. days. days. days. and known. over. Trade—Concluded. M F 106 7 113 2 7 21 21 16 M. F. 320 145 15 8 11 5 28 20 77 51 40 21 465 23 16 48 128 61 M 136 13 4 14 27 20 M, 100 4 4 11 17 Actors and public entertainers. M. F. 97 21 15 4 8 4 15 4 19 7 Total................................ 118 19 12 19 32 42 2 5 1 1 4 74 7 1 5 Messengers, errand boys........... Total................................ Store clerks and salesmen........ Total................................ Other......................................... 2 6 1 21 18 3 15 1 15 12 2 17 15 14 30 8 55 15 63 17 1 38 70 80 1 13 16 29 8 16 18 22 8 1 9 12 1 11 26 9 9 13 11 3 7 8 4 4 7 6 5 7 8 1 1 10 12 11 11 15 2 17 Public defense* Policemen, watchmen.............. Professional service. Other......................................... M. F. T o ta l............................... Domestic and personal service. Bartenders................................. M. 84 8 2 15 13 8 17 15 6 M. F. 160 65 9 6 4 5 24 10 40 8 21 10 18 10 20 1-2 24 4 Cooks......................................... Total................................ 225 15 9 34 48 31 28 32 28 Domestic servants..................... M. F. 192 230 18 30 5 14 36 44 46 50 26 29 24 19 27 21 10 20 3 Total................................ 422 48 19 80 96 55 43 48 30 3 Elevator tenders....................... M. 77 5 2 22 12 7 12 .9 8 Laundry workers...................... M. F. 32 74 i2 3 5 5 11 9 18 3 7 3 3 7 8 2 10 Total................................ 106 12 8 16 27 10 6 15 12 Waiters and waitresses.............. M. F. 189 51 11 7 6 1 31 9 38 15 28 9 20 4 36 3 18 3 1 Total................................ 240 18 7 40 53 37 24 39 21 1 97 8 1 6 21 21 23 9 8 Porters....................................... M. Laborers.................................... M. 174 2,440 12 123 11 89 25 253 43 468 23 469 17 398 29 422 14 211 7 Others........................................ M. F. 1,250 331 85 29 60. 14 141 53 239 72 189 46 138 31 196 53 193 31 9 2 Total................................ 1,581 114 74 194 311 235 169 249 224 11 Others....................................... M. Miscellaneous • This tabulation shows that the largest number of persons out of work were common laborers, workers in the building trades, and in 13 U N EM PLO YM EN T IN N E W YORK CITY. the clothing trades. The number of common laborers unemployed in all industries is shown to be 2,440; the number of workers in the building trades, 2,043; and in the clothing trades, not including dress makers and seamstresses, 1,781. In this connection it should be repeated that this information was collected at a season of the year when operations in the building trades and clothing trades are nor mally slack, and that a considerable proportion of the unemployment in these trades is undoubtedly due to the slack season. The following table is drawn to show approximately the total number of unemployed persons in each of certain specified occupa tions in Greater New York and the per cent that such number is of the total number of wage earners in that occupation. The figures are based on the assumption that the conditions of unemployment throughout the entire city are approximately the same as in the sec tions of the city canvassed in this study. ESTIMATED TOTAL NUMBER OF UNEMPLOYED IN N EW Y O R K CITY AND PE R CENT OF W AGE EARN ERS IN CERTAIN SELECTED OCCUPATIONS, B Y SEX. Male. Female. Total. Occupation. Number. Percent, Number. Percent. Number. Percent, Building trades: Bricklayer; Carpenters Painters and paperhangers....... Plasterers.................................... Plumbers, gas and steam fitters 5,854 12,229 16,709 2,702 5,143 32.5 25.9 43.9 37.1 23.1 5,854 12,229 16,709 2,702 5,143 32.5 25.9 43.9 37.1 23.1 T o ta l....................................... 42,637 32.1 42,637 32.1 Bakers................................................ Bartenders......................................... Chauffeurs........................................ Cigar makers and tobacco workers.. Cooks................................................. Dressmakers..................................... Elevator tenders............................... Laborers............................................ Longshoremen and stevedores........ Machinists......................................... Marble and stone cutters................. Stenographers and typists............... Waiters and waitresses..................... 2,560 1,991 2,963 2,086 3,792 616 1,825 57,828 3,176 3,768 2,038 379 4,479 16.3 14.0 28.1 18.3 31.4 50.9 21.2 34.2 16.2 13.1 47.3 5.2 19.0 16.3 14.0 28.1 15.9 17.9 2,820 1,209 11.8 2,560 1,991 2,963 3,390 5,333 9,195 1,825 57,828 3,176 3,768 2,038 3,199 5,688 34.2 16.2 13.1 47.3 7.0 16.8 Grand total............................. 130,138 28.3 15,453 12.8 145,591 25.1 1,304 1,541 8,579 13.1 8.7 19.4 7.3 20.2 21.2 In this table are included all occupations for which the data neces sary to compute the percentages of unemployment were available. The estimated number of persons in the various occupations in the city of New York, which is used as the basis for computing the per centages, was secured from the reports of the Bureau of the Census, and the occupations here presented are the only ones of importance which were found to be classified on the same basis as the data secured in this investigation. For the others, therefore, it was impossible to determine a basis on which to make the computation. 14 BULLETIN OF THE BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS. This tabulation shows the highest percentages of unemployment among marble and stbne cutters, in the building trades, and among common laborers. It shows that 47.3 per cent of all marble and stone cutters were out of work. Unemployment in the building trades was as follows: Bricklayers and stonemasons, 32.5 per cent; carpenters, 25.9 per cent; painters and paper hangers, 43.9 per cent; plasterers, 37.1 per cent; plumbers, gas and steam fitters, 23.1 per cent, or an average of 32.1 per cent of all workers in these several building trades. It also shows the percentages of unemployment in other occupations as follows: Bakers, 16.3 per cent; longshoremen and stevedores, 16.2 per cent;1 machinists, 13.1 per cent; stenographers and typists, 7 per cent; and common laborers, combined without regard to industry, 34.2 per cent. The percentage of unemployment in all occupations other than those named above, estimated on the same basis, is 13.9 per cent, and the percentage of all wage earners included in this canvass in all occupations combined, 16.2 per cent, as stated on page 8. The table on page 10 shows that the number of unemployed work ers in the clothing trades was larger than in any other industry scheduled except in the building trades and among common labor ers. That industry, however, has not been included in the above presentation because of the fact that the classification of the clothing trade occupations in the report of the Bureau of the Census, which is used as the basis for computing percentages, is made on a different basis from that on which the data in this study have been classified. Therefore, it is impossible to compute accurately a percentage of un employment for this industry. The highest percentage shown for any occupation is for male dress makers, which shows that a little more than 50 per cent were out of work. The percentage of female dressmakers unemployed, however, was only 19.4 per cent, making an average for the whole trade, both male and female, of 20.2 per cent. The percentages of unemployment for all trades and occupations included in this table were 28.3 per cent for males and 12.8 per cent for females, making an average of 25.1 per cent for both sexes. INVESTIGATIONS BY OTHER AGENCIES. While it is recognized that absolutely accurate results as to unem ployment could not be obtained except by a complete census of all families in the city, it is believed that the estimate based on the i In connection with the percentage of unemployment shown for longshoremen and stevedores, it should be noted that the figures refer to Greater New York only. They do not, therefore, purport to represent conditions in Hoboken and vicinity, where the great German lines have their terminals and where because of the discontinuance of the business of those lines an unusual amount of unemployment among longshore men and stevedores may prevail. In New York City the shipping business had at the time of this survey improved over the conditions prevailing late in 1914. 15 U N E M P LO YM E N T IN N E W YORK CITY. census of so large a proportion of the city’s population as is included in this report gives a fairly adequate idea of the extent of unemploy ment at the time the survey was made. However, as additional information derived from any other reliable source is of further significance, the results of investigations made by other agencies are here given. METROPOLITAN LIFE INSURANCE CO. As stated in the introduction, the Metropolitan Life Insurance Co., in order to secure information regarding unemployment, made a census of all the families in which industrial policies, were held in that company in Greater New York. The investigation was made by the agents of the company who were furnished with inquiry blanks and who secured the facts of unemployment from each family visited. The following is a summary of that canvass: Total number of families............................................................. 155,960 Number of families with unemployment.................................... 37,064. Total number of wage earners in families................................... 252,912 Number of unemployed wage earners......................................... 45,421 Per cent of wage earners unemployed......................................... 18 Of these 45,421 unemployed persons, the sex and occupation of 40,143 were secured. These data have been tabulated and are presented in the following table: NUMBER OF PERSONS OUT OF EMPLOYMENT IN GREATER NEW Y O R K , CLASSIFIED B Y SEX AND OCCUPATION, AS SHOWN B Y INQUIRY OF METROPOLITAN L IFE INSUR ANCE CO. Industry and occupation. Males. Females. Total. Agriculture, forestry, and animal husbandry. Gardeners................................................................................................ Other workers in agriculture, forestry, and animal husbandry......... 86 82 86 82 Total............................................................................................. 168 168 606 1,513 78 432 73 1,596 365 943 87 288 410 53 66 606 1,513 78 432 73 1,596 365 943 87 288 410 53 66 6,510 6,510 90 90 83 272 24 83 272 24 379 379 Manufacturing and mechanical industries . Building trades: Bricklayers....................................................................................... Carpenters........................................................................................ Cement and concrete workers......................................................... Electricians..................................................................................... House wreckers............................................................................... Painters, paper — s, and ite ra to rs........................................ Plasterers.......................................................................................... Plumbers, gas and steam fitters..................................................... Roofers.............................................................................................. Stonemasons.................................................................................... Structural ironworkers.................................................................... Tile layers......................................................................................... Other building workers................................................................... Total.................................................................................... Chemicals and allied products............................................................. Clay, glass, and stone products: Cut-glass makers............................................................................. Stone and marble cutters and polishers......................................... Other clay, glass, and stone workers.............................................. Total.................................................................................. 16 BULLETIN OF THE BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS. NUMBER OF PERSONS OUT OF EM PLOYMENT IN G R E A TE R NEW Y O R K , CLASSIFIED B Y SE X AND OCCUPATION, AS SHOWN B Y IN Q U IR Y OF M ETROPOLITAN LIFE INSUR ANCE CO.—Continued. Industry and occupation. Males. Females. Total. Manufacturing and mechanical industries—Continued. Clothing manufacture: Cutters.............................................................................................. G low makers, , __________________ ____ _____________ ____ TTat- makers (lcind not stated)________ ______________________ Machine operators - - ______ _______________ _____ _____ ______ Shirt and collar makers................................................................... Tailors, , .................................................................................. ........ Waist makers. _________________________________ Other workers in clothing manufacture. . ..... ............... ! Total.............................................................................................. Food and kindred products: 119 81 148 166 102 119 52 65 446 165 84 1,621 166 183 2,255 646 2,901 65 268 165 84 1,473 52 178 225 109 40 225 109 40 374 374 92 28 50 15 92 28 50 15 Machinists and tool makers., __r____________ _r_., r_____ _ Machine operators....... .............................................................. Metal polishers.......................................................................... Other workers in iron and steel (trade not stated)................ 142 45 775 160 63 147 191 48 142 45 775 351 63 195 Total............................................................................................. 1,517 239 1,756 Leather and its finished products: Shoemakers and sho'e-factory workers............................................ Other leather-product workers........................................................ 294 93 294 93 Total.............................................................................................. Iron and steel products: fShip and hnat hnilders.......................................... ........................ Wagon, carriage, and automobile workers.................................... Industry not stated— Total.............................................................................................. 387 387 Liquors and beverage workers.................................... ......................... 46 46 Lumber and its remanufacture: Coopers....................... ................... ................................................. Furniture makers............................................................................. Piano and organ makers.................................................................. Saw and planing mill workers....................................................... Wood carvers, turners, and polishers............................................. Upholsterers..................................................................................... Other workers in lumber and its remanufacture.......................... 48 41 112 68 100 71 15 48 41 112 68 100 71 15 T o ta l................................................. - ......................................... 455 455 Metal products (except iron and steel): Brass workers..........................- ....................................................... Gold and silver wQrkers.................................................................. Tinsmiths and tinware workers.................................................... Other metal-products workers........................................................ 60 43 172 25 60 43 172 25 300 Total.............................................................................................. 300 Printing and bookbinding: Bookbinders..................................................................................... Printers............................................................................................. Lithographers and stereotypers...................................................... Other workers in printing and bookbinding industry................. 115 529 58 12 113 5 228 529 58 17 Total.............................................................................................. 714 118 832 Textile manufacturers: Lace and embroidery workers........................................................ Silk-mill workers.............................................................................. Textile dyers........................... ........................................................ Other textile operators (weavers, etc.).......................................... 59 63 54 107 91 78 107 150 63 132 Total.............................................................................................. 176 276 452 17 U N E M P LO YM E N T IN N E W YORK CITY. NUMBER OF PERSONS OUT OF EMPLOYMENT IN G R E A TE R NEW Y O R K , CLASSIFIED B Y S E X AND OCCUPATION, AS SHOWN B Y IN Q U IR Y OF M ETROPOLITAN LIFE INSUR ANCE CO.—Continued. Industry and occupation. Males. Females. Total. Manufacturing and mechanical industries—Concluded. Miscellaneous industries: Cabinetmakers................................................................................. Cigar makers_________ \ _______________________ Dressmakers seamstresses__ _____ r_ r. r..................... 113 221 81 99 55 Paper-products workers.................................................................. Rubber factory operatives.............................................................. Other workers in Trjeohanifial industries.............. ........... ........... . 60 419 243 113 387 1,011 99 55 158 61 60 662 Total.............................................................................................. 1,048 1,558 2,606 Telegraph and telephone: Telephone operators........................................................................ Other telegraph and telephone workers......................................... 43 137 6 137 49 T o ta l............................................................................................ 43 143 186 166 930 158 61 Transportation. Water transportation: 802 125 802 125 Total............................................................................. ............... 927 927 Roads, streets, and bridge transportation: Street cleaners..................................... ............................................ Other workers on roads, streets, and bridge transportation......... 74 67 74 67 Other marine workers. r T . T......................- Total............................................................................. ................ Livery stablemen................................................................................... Garage workers....................................................................................... Street railway employees .................................................................... Subway and elevated railway employees............................................. Railroad employees.......................................................- ....................... 141 106~ 86 306 41 186 141 ------- 106 86 306 41 186 Other forms of transportation: Chauffeurs.................. ...................................................................... Drivers............................................................................................. 463 2,846 463 2,846 Total...................................................... ....................................... 3,309 3,309 Trade• Beal estate and insurance...................................................................... Wholesale and retail trade—Merchants and dealers........................... 44 286 44 286 Employees in wholesale and retail trade: Bookkeepers, clerks, and cashiers................................................. Journeymen butchers.................................................................... Messenger boys and errand girls..................................................... Shipping clerks................................................................................ Solicitors, canvassers, and collectors.............................................. Stenographers and typists.............................................................. Store clerks and salesmen................................................................ Other employees.............................................................................. 2,527 230 277 295 78 80 1,049 96 643 879 50 3,499 230 277 295 78 723 1,928 146 Total.............................................................................................. 4,632 2,544 7,176 972 Public defense and maintenance of law and order. Detectives, policemen, and watchmen................................................. Other public service............................................................................... 413 66 413 66 Total.............................................................................................. 479 479 Professional service• Public entertainment: Musicians.......................................................................................... Other theatrical workers................................................................ 237 112 45 237 157 Total.............................................................................................. 349 45 394 18 BULLETIN OF THE BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS. NUM BER OF PERSONS OUT OF EMPLOYMENT IN G R E A TE R NEW Y O R K , CLASSIFIED B Y SE X AND OCCUPATION, AS SHOWN B Y IN Q U IR Y OF M ETROPOLITAN L IFE INSUR ANCE CO.—Concluded. Industry and occupation. Males. Females. Total. Professional service—Concluded. Other professional service: Trained nurses................................................................................. Total.............................................................................................. 204 149 42 149 246 204 191 395 277 135 93 277 228 Domestic and personal service. Maintenance of buildings: Elevator conductors......................................................................... Janitors and cleaners. T. . , , T___________________ _____________ 412 93 505 Domestic servants.................................................................................. 61 1,200 1,261 Hotel servants: Cooks... ............................................................................................. Waiters and waitresses................................................................... Other hotel workers......................................................................... 150 309 64 73 7 150 382 71 Total.............................................................................................. 523 80 603 190 317 451 126 74 1,158 Personal services: Barbers and hairdressers................................................................. Bartenders........................................................................................ Laundry workers............................................................................. Washerwomen (day work)............................................................. Other personal service..................................................................... 190 317 68 36 383 126 38 Total.............................................................................................. 611 547 Workers in unspecified manufacturing and mechanical industries: Laborers (unspecified).................................................................... Packers..........4 ................................................................................. Porters. ............................................................................... Quarry workers............................................................................... Stationary engineers........................................................................ Stationary firemen . . ..................................... Other unspecified workers.............................................................. 3,078 109 664 29 224 135 497 113 449 3,078 222 664 29 224 135 946 ............................................................................. 4,736 562 5,298 Grand total.................................................................................... 31,901 8,242 40,143 Total " This table is of considerable interest in connection with the study of the table on page 10, as the data in the two tables are in a general way largely corroborative. Many of the differences between the two reports may be accounted for by the fact that the two investigations were made nearly a month apart, during which time the conditions of unemployment might have changed materially. Other differences may be explained by the fact that the information was secured through two different sources and the classification of occupations may not have been exactly the same, in which case the data would not be entirely comparable. Supplementary to its investigation made in Greater New York, the Metropolitan Life Insurance Co. made a canvass of the families of its policyholders in northeastern New Jersey, including the several districts in which the following-named cities are located: Bayonne, Bloomfield, Newark, Hoboken, Irvington, Jersey City, Orange, and Union Hill. This canvass was made because of the fact that a great many of the residents of these cities are normally employed in New York City, 19 U N E M P LO YM E N T IN N E W YORK CITY. and it was believed that the conditions of unemployment in this sec tion would have an important bearing upon the conditions in New York. The results of this canvass were as follows: Total number of families............................................................. Number of families with, unemployment.................................... Total number of wage earners in families................................... Number of unemployed wage earners............ ............................. Per cent of wage earners unemployed......................................... 61,201 11,821 97,026 14,314 14.8 It will be noted that the percentage of unemployment in families in this locality is shown to be about 3.2 per cent less than is shown by the study made in Greater New York. These cities, although located in New Jersey, are sometimes included in the so-called metropolitan district of New York, and if we combine these data with those secured for New York we have the following showing: Total number of families............................................................. 217,161 Number of families with unemployment.................................... 48,885 Total number of wage earners in families................................... 349,938 Number of unemployed wage earners......................................... 59,735 Per cent of wage earners unemployed......................................... 17.4 The following table shows the results of this canvass of families in northeastern New Jersey classified by sex and occupation: NUMBER OF PERSONS OUT OF EMPLOYMENT IN CITIES OF NORTHEASTERN NEW JERSEY, CLASSIFIED B Y SEX AND OCCUPATION, AS SHOWN B Y INQUIRY OF METROPOLITAN LIFE INSURANCE CO. Industry and occupation. Agriculture, forestry, and animal husbandry...................................... Males. 86 Females. 6 Total. 92 Manufacturing and mechanical industries. Building trades: Bricklayers stonemasons.......................................................... Carpenters......................................................................................... Electricians.. .................................................................. Painters and paperhangers............................................................. Plumbers and steam fitters............................................................. Other building trades workers........................................................ 298 524 149 448 240 91 298 524 149 448 240 91 Total.............................................................................................. 1,750 Chemicals and allied products workers................................................. Clay, glass, and stone products workers............................................... 86 80 10 1 1,750 96 81 Clothing: Hatters (wool and felt) ........................................................ Other workers in clothing trades.................................................... 97 111 24 67 121 178 Total.............................................................................................. 208 91 299 Food and kindred products: Bakers............................................................................................... Other workers in food products............................................- ........ 89 32 11 89 43 Total.............................................................................................. 121 11 132 Iron, steel, and their products: Blacksmiths...................................................................................... Boiler makers................................................................................... Iron foundry workers....................................................................... Polishers, grinders, and filers.......................................................... Machinists and toolmakers.............................................................. Other workers in iron and steel...................................................... 52 60 149 40 464 197 1 1 11 52 60 150 41 464 208 Total.............................................................................................. 962 13 975 20 BU LLETIN OF TH E BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS. NUMBER OF PERSONS OUT OF EM PLOYM ENT IN CITIES OF N ORTH EASTERN N EW JER SE Y, CLASSIFIED B Y SE X AN D OCCUPATION, AS SHOWN B Y IN Q U IR Y OF M ETROPOLITAN L IF E INSURANCE CO.—Concluded. Industry and occupation. Males. Females. Total. Manufacturing and mechanical industries—Concluded. Leather products workers...................................................................... Wood products workers......................................................................... 167 129 9 2 176 131 Metals and metal products (other than iron and steel): Jewelers and watchmakers.............................................................. Other workers in metal products................................................... 166 93 20 19 186 112 Total.............................................................................................. 259 39 298 Workers fa papor products-............................................................... Printers and bookbinders........ . .............. ................. ............... Textile workers....................................................................................... Miscellaneous industries: Cigar, cigarette, and tobacco workers............................................ Dressmakers and milliners.............................................................. ■Rnginfifirs and firemen, „ T................. ...................................... ... Laborers...................................................................... ..................... Other workers in unspecified indnst,ri«s_____ _______ _____ 9 139 129 10 6 280 19 145 409 44 3 138 1,558 753 79 108 8 489 123 111 138 1,566 1,242 Total.............................................................................................. 2,496 684 3,180 Total, manufacturing and mechanical indust-rip-s........ ........... 6,535 1,156 7,691 Transportation. Chauffeurs and drivers........................................................................... Garage workers........................................................................................ Longshoremen and stevedores............................................................... Steam railway employees....... ............................................................... Street railway employees................................................. ..................... Other forms of transportation and communication............................. 1,098 29 257 192 52 75 18 1,098 29 257 192 52 93 Total.............................................................................................. 1,703 18 1,721 Trade. Agents, canvassers, and solicitors......................................................... Merchants and storekeepers................................................................... Office clerks............................................................................................. Stenographers.......................................................................................... Store clerks and sales people.................................................................. Other persons in trade........................ ................................................... 37 118 966 128 318 50 2 2 269 87 167 5 39 120 1,235 215 485 55 Total.............................................................................................. 1,617 532 2,149 Domestic and personal service. Domestic servants................................................................................... 55 360 415 Personal service; Barbers, hairdressers, and manicurists......................................... Elevator conductors and building employees............................... Laundry workers.............................................................................. Saloon keepers and bartenders........................................................ Waiters and restaurant employees................................................. Other forms of personal service....................................................... 47 115 21 110 39 1 9 4 69 56 119 90 110 44 3 5 2 Total, personal service .....................-.......................................... 333 89 422 Total, domestic and personal service......................................... 388 449 837 Professional service............f ................................................................... Public entertainment.............................................................................. .......... - - , _____ Policemen and watchmen.............................. Persons not in industry occupations unclassified................................ 38 51 100 43 46 6 7 84 57 100 50 Total, all occupations................................................................... 10,561 2,220 12,781 MAYOR'S COMMITTEE ON UNEMPLOYMENT, The investigation made by the mayor’s committee on unemploy ment, referred to in the first part of this report, does not purport to show the number of persons out of employment, but estimates the increase in unemployment for the week ending December 19, 21 U N E M P LO YM E N T IN N E W YORK CITY. 1914, over the number unemployed in the corresponding week of December, 1913. The reports show that for all industries and lines of trade com bined there was an increase of unemployment equal to about 8 per cent of the total workers in December, 1913. With this as a basis, the committee estimates that slightly less than 200,000 more persons were unemployed in New York City in December, 1914, than in December, 1913. The committee’s preliminary report contains the following analysis of the data secured: “ Replies from 404 factories employing a total of 77,270 persons show tnat for the given week the increased unemployment among factory workers only in 1914 over 1913 was equal to 13.5 per cent of the total number employed in December, 1913. In the ouilding and hand trades, figures covering 80,042 employees (one-third of the estimated total number employed in the industry), show that there is an increase in unemployment amounting to 20 per cent of those employed last year. One hundred and fifty-six replies from employers engaged in general trade, i. e., banking, brokerage, insurance, real estate, whole sale and retail business, grain elevators, warehouses, etc., employing 35,058 persons, show an increase of nearly 4 per cent in the number of persons employed for the week ending December 19, 1914, as com pared with the corresponding week in 1913. Replies from 31 large transportation and public-utility companies covering a total of 57,000 persons, show about 1 per cent increase in the number of persons employed over 1913. Among factory employees the increased unemployment among wage earners only in the given week of December, 1914, as compared with the given week in December, 1913, is 12 per cent in the case of male employees and 17 per cent in the case of women workers. The total percentages in factory workers are as follows: Number of replies received. Factories. Number of employees represented by replies. Per cent of decrease in number of employees represented by replies, December, 1914, over December, 1913. 1. Stone, clay, and glass...................................................................... 2. Metals, machinery, and vehicles..................................................... 3. Wood manufacturers....................................................................... 4. Furs, leather, and rubber................................................................ 5. Chemicals, oils, and paints.............................................................. 6. P ap er............................................................................................... 7. Printing and paper goods....... <...................................................... 8. T e x tile s ......................................................................................... 9. Clothing, millinery, etc................................................................... 10. Foods, liquors, and tobacco............................................................ Late replies, not distributed by groups............................................... 9 74 44 25 18 2 35 19 132 23 23 1,007 16,668 6,993 3,892 4,445 345 9,039 3,356 17,005 7,371 7,149 13.2 14.0 15.0 8.9 1 0.5 1.7 4.9 15.8 18.5 10.6 11.0 Total, factories............................................................................. 404 77,270 213.5 i Increase. 2Corrected “ weighted” average. 22 BULLETIN’ OF THE BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS. Among persons employed in general trade, i. e., banking, broker age, insurance, real estate, wholesale and retail business, grain ele vators, warehouses, etc., the figures are as follows: Number of replies received. Trade. Number of employees represented by replies. Per cent of increase in number of employees represented by replies, December, 1914, over December, 1913. Banking, brokerage, insurance, real estate........................................... Wholesale and retail............................................................................... Grain elevators, warehouses, etc........................................................... 16 129 11 5,686 26,956 2,416 7.8+ 2.8+ 3.9+ Total, trade................................................................................... 156 35,058 3.7+ The figures for transportation and other public utilities (exclusive of subway contractors) are as follows: Transportation and other public utilities. Number of replies received. Steam railroads....................................................................................... Electric and street railways................................................................... Transfer and drayage............................................................................. "Water transportation.................................................. ................. Electric light and power plants............................................................. Gas p la n ts........... ................................................................................ Telephone and telegraph....................................................................... 4 4 Total, transportation, e tc ............................................................ Number of employees represented by replies. Per cent of decrease in number of employees represented by replies, December, 1914, over December, 1913. 1 7,807 15,555 102 3,756 11,231 5,533 13,018 3.2 U2.2 27.1 11.1 4.3 1 1.9 1.7 31 57,002 il.l 4 7 i Increase. It must be understood that these figures are based upon replies representing a trifle less than 12J per cent, or about one-eighth of the total estimated number of persons gainfully emploved in trade and industry in New York City. The replies received, however, have been from carefully selected establishments which the committee considers to be fully representative of their various lines. Estimates made by the committee of the total number of persons, 10 years and over, employed in gainful occupations in the city of New York on January 1, 1915, based upon the United States census reports of occupations for 1910, and taking into account the census method of estimating the normal increase in population for the intervening period, indicate that the total number of persons employed in the trades and industries covered by the committee would be, if there were no more unemployment than in 1910, 2,017,000, which is 80.7 per cent of the estimated total number of persons, 10 years and over, gainfully employed. The remaining 19.3 per cent are public em ployees, professional men, etc., which, for the purposes of the com mittee’s study, have been disregarded. U N E M P LO YM E N T IN N E W YORK CITY. 23 Full time and part time.—The analysis of the figures shows that while in 404 factories there was a decrease of 13.5 per cent in the total number of employees in December, 1914, over that for December, 1913, the decrease in the number of employees on full time was 22.8 per cent, while the number of employees on part time was nearly trebled. An increase in the extent of unemployment naturally increases the financial hardships to be borne by the families of wage earners in that community. Such hardships are reflected, in some measure at least, by the extent to which families ask for credit at groceries and other stores at which they deal. In order to secure information on this subject, the committee made an investigation through the workers in 17 of the social settlements in New York. The report covers a canvass of the small retail stores in these various sections of the city and shows a comparative statement of the credit accounts carried by these stores. The following is an extract from that report: The workers of the Friendly House Society, Harrison Street, on the Lower East Side, Manhattan, made inquirv among 70 small food stores. Fifty-two of these report being asked for more credit, both by people to whom credit had formerly been given, and by people who had never before asked for it. Credit was generally refused. The butchers in this section have an agreement among themselves not to grant more than seven days’ credit except where collection is cer tain. The people are buying cheaper meat. The Warren Goddard House reports having interviewed 29 butchers and grocers on Second Avenue, between Twenty-eighth and Thirtyeighth Streets and on Thirty-fourth Street between Third Avenue and the East River. These merchants report requests for twice as much credit as last year. Credit is given to only a few of their oldest cus tomers. The East Side Settlement House, Seventy-sixth Street and the East River, interviewed 33 small merchants in its vicinity, who report carrying more credits than last year, 30 of the stores carrying twice as many credits and three of them carrying three times as many as last year. These merchants report people asking for credit who have never asked for credit before. The East Side Branch of the Henry Street Settlement reports for 36 merchants on Avenue A, First and Second Avenues, and cross streets between Seventy-eighth and Eighty-first Streets, showing that 19 stores report an increase in requests for credit; 7 stores estimated the increase from 10 per cent to five times the usual number; 15 stores reported requests for credit where their customers usually pay cash. The workers of Union Settlement, East One-hundred-and-fourth Street, interviewed 32 small butchers and grocers, who report in a similar vein. Hartley House, Ninth Avenue, East Forty-fifth and Fiftieth Streets, reports that 14 dealers in its vicinity say that busi ness is normal or better than last year, though two merchants report themselves as carrying more credits than last year. This section is the only exception to those reporting a general increase in credits and less cash business than last year. The Doe Ye Nexte Thynge Society workers interviewed 40 merchants, 17 of whom reported a decrease in business, but no increase in credits, because the merchants generally 24 BULLETIN OF THE BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS. refused to do credit business. Thirty-three report more requests for credit and the purchase of less and poorer food by their customers. Settlement workers in Brooklyn report a decrease in sales in the Greenpoint section. Credit is not given for fear of inability to collect. There is no way of determining to what extent these conditions are due to an increase of unemployment. The evidence supplied by the butchers and grocers interviewed seems, however, to indicate that a much larger number of wage earners were out of work in December, 1914, than formerly.