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U. S. Working Women a chartbook U. S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics 1975 Bulletin 1880 INTERNATIONAL W O M E N ' S YEAR 1975 Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data United States. Bureau of Labor U . S. w o r k i n g women. Statistics. ( B u l l e t i n - Bureau of Labor S t a t i s t i c s ; 1880) 1. Women—Employment—United S t a t e s — S t a t i s t i c s 2, L a b o r and l a b o r i n g c l a s s e s — U n i t e d S t a t e s — S t a tistics, 3. Wages—Women—United S t a t e s — S t a t i s tics. I . Mellor, Earl. II. Seale, Barbara. III. Title. IV. S e r i e s : U n i t e d S t a t e s . Bureau of Labor S t a t i s t i c s . B u l l e t i n ; 1880. HD6093.U5 1975 331.4'0973 75-23355 U.S. Working Women a chartbook U. S. Department of Labor John T. Dun lop, Secretary Bureau of Labor Statistics Julius Shiskin, Commissioner 1975 Bulletin 1880 For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C. 20402 Price $1.75 Stocl< Number 0 2 9 - 0 0 1 - 0 1 7 8 0 - 4 Catalog Number L 2.3:1880 Foreword To encourage worldwide efforts to improve the status of women, the United Nations General Assembly has designated 1975 as International Women's Year. The goals of International Women's Year are threefold: to promote equality between men and women; to support the full integration of women into the economic, social, and cultural life of their countries; to recognize and encourage the role of women in the development of international cooperation and world peace. The President has requested that agencies of the U. S. Government participate in activities in support of these goals. As part of its contribution to the Department of Labor's program for International Women's Year, the Bureau of Labor Statistics has prepared the accompanying chartbook to illustrate the role of working women in the U. S. economy. Julius Shiskin, Commissioner, Bureau of Labor Statistics Readers of this chartbook interested in keeping informed on current developments in the U. S. labor force can find up-to-date statistics in regular publications of the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Labor force data are published monthly in Employment and Earnings and the Monthly Labor Review, both available by subscription from the Superintendent of Documents, U. S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D. C. 20402. Special analyses are issued from time to time and are published in the Monthly Labor Review as Special Labor Force Reports. Reprints are available, as long as supplies last, from the Bureau of Labor Statistics or any of its regional offices. Preface This chartbook presents a wide array of data on the characteristics of American working women and their changing status over the past quarter of a century. The working life of women has expanded enormously over this period, and it is likely to continue to lengthen. Part I of the chartbook provides information on the labor force participation of women-their employment and unemployment. Part II shows their marital and family status. The income of working women is analyzed in Part III, and data on their education are shown in Part IV. Part V provides additional information on the characteristics of working women. All data, unless otherwise indicated, refer to the civilian noninstitutional population 16 years and over. The chartbook was prepared in the Division of Labor Force Studies, Office of Current Employment Analysis. It was designed and written by Earl Mellor, with the assistance of Barbara Seale, under the direction of Elizabeth Waldman and Harvey Hamel. Robert Stein, Chief of the Division of Labor Force Studies, provided invaluable guidance and assistance. Contents PART I. Labor Force, Employment, Unemployment, and Work Experience 1 Summary labor force indicators for women, 1974 2 Civilian labor force by sex, selected years, 1950-74 3 Labor force participation rates by sex, 1950-74 4 Labor force participation rates by age and sex, selected years, 1950-74 5 Persons not in the labor force by sex and reason for nonparticipation, 1974 6 Employed and unemployed persons by sex, 1950-74 1 5 Unemployment rates by sex and age, 1974 7 Employed persons by sex and occupation, 1974 1 6 Unemployment rates by sex, age, and race, 1974 8 Employed women by occupation, 1960,1970, and 1974 1 7 Workers by sex, full- or parttime work experience, and weeks worked, 1973 9 Women as a proportion of all workers by occupation, 1974 1 0 Persons on nonagricultural payrolls by sex and industry, 1974 1 1 Women as a proportion of all persons on nonagricultural payrolls by industry, 1974 1 8 Women with work experience as a proportion of all women, 1973 1 9 Women holding year-round full-time jobs in 1973 as a proportion of all women workers by age 1 2 Unemployed persons by sex and age, selected years, 1950-74 2 0 Women holding year-round full-time jobs in 1973 as a proportion of all women workers by occupation 1 3 Unemployed persons by sex and reason for unemployment, 1974 2 1 Women by reason for less than full-time work, 1973 1 4 Unemployment rates by sex, 1950-74 2 2 Women with unemployment in 1973 by work experience and weeks unemployed 2 3 Women with unemployment in 1973 by race, age, and marital status PART II. Marital and Family Status 2 4 Women in the labor force by marital status, 1950-74 Labor force participation rates of women by marital status and age, March 1974 2 6 Labor force participation rates of married women by presence and age of children, 1950-74 2 7 Labor force participation rates of married and formerly married women under age 45, March 1974 2 8 Children u n d e r a g e 18 by type of family and labor force status of mother, 1970 and 1974 2 9 Children u n d e r a g e 18 by type of family, age, and labor force status of mother, March 1974 3 0 Birth rates of women in husband-wife families by age and labor force status of mother, June 1974 3 1 Summary indicators for families headed by women, selected periods, 1960-74 PART III. Income and Earnings 3 2 Income of women by source, 1973 3 3 Median usual weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers by sex, 1967-74 3 4 Median usual weekly earnings of full-time women wage and salary workers by occupation, May 1974 3 5 Median usual weekly earnings of full-time women wage and salary workers by industry, May 1974 3 6 Median annual earnings of year-round full-time women workers by occupation, 1973 3 9 Husband-wife families by earners in family during 1973 4 0 Earnings of women in husband-wife families as a percent of 1973 family income, by selected characteristics 4 1 Wives with earnings by percent of 1973 family income 4 2 Median 1973 income of families with children by type of family and labor force status of mother, March 1974 4 3 Median 1973 income of women with income by years of school completed 4 4 Women below the poverty level, 1973, by selected characteristics PART iV. PART V. Education Additional Characteristics of Working Women 4 5 Labor force by sex and years of school completed, 1952 and 1974 4 9 Multiple jobholding by sex, May 1974 4 6 Labor force participation and unemployment rates of women by years of school completed, March 1974 5 0 Full-time wage and salary workers by sex and usual workweek. May 1974 4 7 Women in the labor force by age and years of school completed, March 1974 5 1 Wage and salary workers by sex and time of starting and ending work. May 1974 4 8 Employed women by years of school completed and occupation, March 1974 5 2 Overtime workers by sex. May 1974 5 3 Job tenure by sex, January 1973 5 4 Transportation to work, by sex, 1970 3 7 Median annual earnings of full- and part-time women workers by weeks worked, 1973 5 5 Selected indicators for women by race and Spanish origin, 1970 3 8 Median annual earnings of family heads in production and nonsupervisory jobs by sex, 1963-73 5 6 Life expectancy and worklife expectancy by sex, selected years, 1900-1970 Sources of Data Labor Force, Employment, Unemployment, and Work Experience Parti Women are playing an increasingly important role in the U. S. economy. The number and proportion who are in paid employment continue to rise and their attachment to the labor force shows marked gains in strength as more work year-round at full-time jobs. At the beginning of 1975, some 36V2 million women were in the work forceabout 40 percent of the country's entire labor force and almost 46 percent of all women 16 years of age and over. 1 Summary Labor Force Indicators for Women, 1974 Women as a proportion o f . . . the civilian noninstitutional population 16 years old and over the civilian labor force (annual averages) the ennployed persons employed full time persons employed part time persons employed in professional-technical and nonfarm managerialadministrative occupations persons employed in clericalsales occupations the unemployed persons unemployed 15 weeks or more 70% 100 91.0 90- Civilian labor force by sex, selected years, 1950-74 82.7 80' 74.5 (annual averages) 69.6 70 2 65.0 62.2 60 Men I 50 CO c o 'If, A r, 40 * it' J*e . • 30 20 The number of women in the labor force nearly doubled between 1950 and 1974—women now account for two-fifths of all workers. 10 1950 1955 1960 1965 1970 1974 Labor force participation rates by sex, 1950-74 (annual averages) As the proportion of the female population in the labor force rose sharply from 1950 to 1974, the labor force participation rate for men moved downward. 4 100 Labor force participation rates by age and sex, selected years, 1950-74 (annual averages) 0 16-17 18-19 T 20-24 —I— 25-34 —I 1 35-44 Years of Age 45-54 55-64 65 and over More than half of the women in most age groups are now in the labor force. Recent increases have occurred mostly among women in their twenties and early thirties. 5 Persons not in the labor force by sex and reason for nonparticipation, 1974 Not In Labor Force 57.6 million Do not want job Do not want job (annual averages) Want job but not looking Want job but not looking Women who do not want a job 39.6 million IVIen who do not want a job 13.5 million Going to school , disabled Home responsibilities Women constitute about three-fourths of the population outside of the labor force. Like men, most of these women do not want jobs, but for reasons markedly different from those for men. Retired Other reasons 12% Employed Employed and unemployed persons by sex, 1950-74 (annual averages) Women as a proportion of employed and unemployed 55 50 45 Percent of total unemployed Percent of total employed 1950 1955 1960 1965 1970 Since 1950, women have made up an increasing proportion of persons with jobs and of those lool<ing for jobs. 1974 7 Employed persons by sex and occupation, 1974 Women 33.4 million Men 52.6 million Professional and technical workers Managers and administrators, except farm Sales workers 7% (annual averages) Clerical workers Craft and kindred workers Operatives, except transport equipment 21% O -' Transport equipment operatives 12% Nonfarm laborers \ 12% if ' \ Service workers, except private household \ \ Women are concentrated in fewer occupational categories than men. Private household workers 1% •_ 8% 18% 8%, Farm workers 'Less than 0.5 percent "V 1960 21.9 million 1970 29.7 million 1974 33.4 million Professional and technical workers 8 Employed women by occupation, 1960,1970, and 1974 Managers and administrators, except farm Sales workers (annual averages) Clerical workers Craft and kindred workers Operatives 15% Nonfarm laborers Service workers, except private household Private household workers 15% 1% 15% 17% 18% 5% 2% 4% 9% Farm workers 13% 'Less than 0.5 percent 1% The proportion of women employed as private household and farm workers has been declining and the proportion in professional-technical, clerical, and service jobs increasing. All occupations Women as a proportion of all workers by occupation, 1974 Professional and technical Managers and administrators, except farnn Sales workers (annual averages) Clerical workers Craft workers Operatives, except transport equipment Transport equipment operatives Nonfarm laborers Service workers, except private household The majority of clerical and service jobs are held by women; they make up about 40 percent of professiona l-technica I, sales, and operative workers. Private household workers Farm workers Percent 100% Women 30.1 million Men 48.3 million Mining^ 1% 8% Construction 1 — Manufacturing durable goods 19% Manufacturing nondurable goods 10% Persons on nonagricultural payrolls by sex and Industry, 1974 (annual averages) Transportation and public utilities Wholesale trade 7% Retail trade 14% Finance, insurance, • and real estate — — ^ 13% Services Federal Government 12% State and local government Note: Data exclude proprietors, the self-employed, unpaid volunteer or family workers, farm workers, and domestic workers in tiouseholds. Government employment covers only civilian employees. ' Women in mining and construction are combined on this chart. Only 0.1 percent of female payroll employment is in mining, and 0.8 percent in construction. Women are more likely than men to be concentrated in the retail trade and service industries and State and local governments. 11 Women as a proportion of all [Arsons on nonagricultural payrolls by industry, 1974 (annual averages) All industries Mining Construction Manufacturing durable goods Manufacturing nondurable goods Transportation and public utilities Wholesale trade Retail trade Finance, insurance, and real estate Services Women constitute about half the workers in the retail trade; finance, insurance, and real estate; and service industries and on State and local government payrolls. Federal Government State and local government 0 20 Note: Data exclude proprietors, the self-employed, unpaid volunteer or family workers, farm workers, and domestic workers in households. Government employment covers only civilian employees. 60 80 1950 3.3 million 1960 3.9 million 12 Unemployed persons by sex and age, selected years, 1950-74 (annual averages) 1970 4.1 million 1974 5.1 million Teen-age and young adult women have become a larger share of the unemployed. 13 Unemployed persons by sex and reason for unemployment, 1974 Women 2.4 million Job losers Men 2.7 million 32% (annual averages) Job leavers Reentrants to the labor force 36% 22% Unemployed women are much less likely than unemployed men to have lost their job; they are more likely to be reentering or entering the labor force. New entrants to the labor force 14 Unemployment rates by sex, 1950-74 (annual averages) Unemployment rates are generally higher for women than for men. The gap usually widens as unemployment declines. 15 20 Unemployment rates by sex and age, 1974 15H 15.5 (annual averages) o n CD —I c CO > b o c Q) 0 10-^ CD Q_ CO CO •Q c 2o 1 Q. 8.7 £ CD C Z) 5H 3.9 3.3 2.6 In the prime working age groups, women have substantially higher unemployment rates than men. Years " of Age 16 to 19 20 to 24 25 to 34 35 to 44 2.4 45 to 54 2.6 55 to 64 65 and over 40 30 Unemployment rates by sex, age, and race, 1974 31.6 (annual averages) JoD CO _l c > b -c 0) o 20 CD CL CO CO •D (D O 15.4 14.5 Q. E o 13.6 c Z) 10- 7.8 o 5.1 4.3 2.8 16 to 19 25 and over 16 to 19 20 to 24 Years of Age Men 25 and over Young women of minority races have the highest unemployment rates. 17 Workers by sex, full- or part-time work experience, and weeks worked, 1973 Women 41.8 million Part time Full time 50 to 52 weeks 1 to 26 weeks 27 to 49 weeks 50 to 52 weeks 27 to 49 weeks 1 to 26 weeks Men 58.4 million 50 to 52 weeks 1 to 26 weeks 27 to 49 weeks Women workers are less likely than men to hold year-round full-time jobs; even so, about two-fifths of the women who worked in 1973 did so on a yearround full-time basis. 50 to 52 weeks 1 to 26 weeks 27 to 49 weeks 18 By Age 80 Women with work experience as a proportion of all women, 1973 60 c <D E i < o c i 40- 0) y 20-^ 0-J All working women 16 to 17 18 to 19 20 to 24 25 to 34 35 to 44 45 to 54 55 to 59 60 to 64 65 and over Years of Age By Presence and Age of Children (IVIarrled, Spouse Present) By Marital and Family Status 80 68% 60 59% 54% ^ o c 59% 53% 52% 50% 46% 40 47% 0) 20- All working women Never married Note: Age and family status in March. 1974 Married, spouse present Other marital status Family heads Other family status With no children under 18 With children under 6 With children 6to17 years only Over half of all women 16 years of age and over had sonrie work experience in 1973-a proportion that varied by age, marital and family status, and presence and age of children. 60 Women holdina yearround full-time jobs in 1973 as a proportion of a! women worlters, by age 55% 54% 50 48% 45% 36% 24% saw 8% About half of the women workers 25 to 64 years old work all year at full-time jobs. Total 16 and over 16 to 19 Note: Age as of March 1974 20 to 24 25 to 34 35 to 44 Years of Age 45 to 54 55 to 64 65 and over All occupations Professional and technical workers Managers and administrators, except farm 64% Sales workers 24% Clerical workers 48% Craft workers 51% Operatives, except transport 45% Transport equipment operatives 21% Laborers, except farm 33% Service workers, except private household 29% Private household workers 17% 0 refers to longest job held during year Women employed in professional-technical and managerial occupations are more likely to work year-round full-time than women who hold other kinds of jobs. 18% Farm workers Note: Occupation Women holding yearround full-time jobs in 1973 as a proportion of all women workers, by occupation 56% 20 40 Percent 60 80 21 Women by reason for less than full year work, 1973 All women 78.1 million disabled Home responsibilities Attending school Unemployment, inability to find work Retirement \ Worked all year 22.0 million 47% Worked part of the year 19.9 million Major reason for part-year work 21% // / / // // // Did not work— looked for work 1.1 million Major reason for not working - d i d not work but looked for work in 1973 15% 41% W Did not workdid not look for work 35.2 million The major reason women work only part of the year or not at all is home responsibilities. Other 72% ' A total of 5.1 million part-year women workers experienced some unemployment during 1973, of whom 3.1 million reported unemployment 9% 7% 0.2% 1% was the major reason for part-year Major reason for not working - d i d not work and did not look for work in 1973 work. Weeks unemployed 22 43 million women in the labor force anytime during 1973 1 to 4 weeks 5 to 14 weeks 15 to 26 weeks Women with unemployment in 1973 by work experience and weeks unemployed With unemployment 27 weeks or more Women with unemployment 6.6 million Year-round full-time workers unemployed 1 or 2 weeks only Did not work in 1973, but looked for a job Part-year workers Of the 43 million women with work experience in 1973,6.6 million were unemployed at some time during the year—about 45 percent of their unemployment lasted less than 5 weeks. Women with unemployment in 1973 by race, age, and marital status Of the 6.6 million women with some unemployment in 1973,19 percent were of minority races, 45 percent were teenagers and young adults, and 50 percent were wives. Note: Age and marital status as of March 1974 Marital and Family Status Part II Nowadays single women no longer predominate in the female labor force as they did before World War 11 and in the early 1950's. Married women living with their husbands-nearly 21 million in 1974-account for almost three-fifths of all women workers. The proportion of female workers who are widowed, divorced, or separated is comparatively small, but on the rise. The trend toward smaller families has contributed to the consistent increases in women's overall labor force participation rate. Where young children are in the family, the likelihood of a mother's working outside the home is considerably reduced. Even so, labor force participation of these mothers has risen steadily for more than a decade. With divorce and separation on the increase in the 1970's, the number of families headed by working women is rising. 24 40 Women in the labor force by marital status, 1950-74 The number of married women in the labor force has more than doubled since 1950. 0 1950 1955 Note: Data are for March in 1950, April m 1951-55, and March 1960 thereafter. 1965 1970 1974 100' 90' Labor force participation rates of women by marital status and age, March 19)74 80 • 79% S 60 59% o n 51% 49% 0) Q. p All women Divorced Married, husband absent Married, husband present Widowed Never married As a group, divorced women are more likely to be in the labor force than women of any other marital status. Widows are the least likely to be workers, but this is largely attributable to age. 60' Labor force participation rates of married women by presence and age of children, 1950-74 50 With children 6 to 17 only 40 With no children under 18 years old With children under 6 years old Married women with or without children under age 18 have entered the labor force in increasing proportions over the past quarter century; the pace of the increase for women with preschool age children has accelerated in the past few years. 1950 1955 1960 1965 1970 1974 Married, Husband Present By presence and age of children By number of children under age 5 27 Labor force participation rates of married or formerly married women under age 45, March 1974 o CO _l c CC > b e (U o Q CL Divorced, Separated, and Widowed CD O £ o JD CO c > b 0) o CD CL No children ' Not available; base population Children 6-17 years old only less than 75000 women. One or more children under 6— none under 3 One or more children under 3 1 child under 5 2 children under 5 3 or more children under 5 The presence of children, especially preschoolers, reduces the likelihood of labor force participation among married women in the typical childbearing ages. This is true for divorced and separated women as well. Number of children -J Children under age 18 by type of family and labor force status of mother, 1970 and 1974 I L Children With mother not in labor force 1970 All families 1974 1970 Husband-wife families 1974 1970 Families with female head 1974 10 20 30 40 50 60 Millions Percent changes between 1970 and 1974 All families -3.4% Total number of children While the number of children underage 18 dropped between 1970 and 1974, the number whose mothers were in the labor force rose. As a result of the increase in divorce and separation among married couples with children, most of the increase in the number of children with working mothers took place among families headed by women. Children with mother in labor force Husband-wife-fami I ies -7.3% Total number of children I Children with mother in labor force .8% Families with female head Total number of children 29.2% Children with mother in labor force -10 70 Children in all families 63.5 million Children under 6 years old Children 6 to 17 years old Children in husband-wife families 54.2 million Children underage 18 by type of family, age, ancf labor force status of mother, March 1974 Children in families with female head 8.6 million Most children of working mothers are old enough to be in school, but in 1974 about 6 million were below regular school age, requiring other arrangements for care in their working mothers' absence. Note: Not shown separately are 740,000 children in families headed by males other than husbands. Births to date 3,0002,932 Birth rates of women in husband-wife families by age and labor force status of mother, June 1974 2,0001,979 1,000- 1,170 Additional births expected 1,500- 1,119 552 •e in 111 109 Total births expected 3,0003,041 Wives who are in the labor force bear fewer children, on average, than wives who are not; although working wives plan to have more children in the future, they would still have fewer children than nonworking wives. 2,531 2,000 i 1,000 1 Women 1 Not in Labor 1 Force 2,289 1 1 1 Wives 18 to 24 years old r Wives 25 to 29 years old Wives 30 to 39 years old Families headed by women as a percent of all families, 1960-74 Number of weeks worked in 1973 by female family heads Did not work Worked 1 to 26 weeks 27 to 49 weeks 50 to 52 weeks 1965 Percent change 1960 to 1974 60 1970 1974 Percent of female family heads in labor force by number of children, March 1974 Summary indicators for families headed by women, selected periods, 1960-74 63% 56% 43% All families All families with female head All female With no family heads children under 18 Median family income in 1973 by type of family 50 $15,000 Husband-wife Other male head Female head 1 Child 2 3 4 5 or more Children Children Children Children Percent of families below the poverty level in 1973 by type of family Husband-wife Other male head Female head Female head with children under 18 Families headed by women account for a significant and growing share of all American families. On average, half of the women who head families are in the labor force, but proportionately more female than male family heads are below the poverty level. Income and Earnings Part III The great majority of working women have not yet attained parity with working men in earned income. l\/ledian usual weekly earnings of women on full-time jobs in 1974 were about 60 percent of those of men. For year-round full-time workers, women's median annual earnings were only 57 percent of men's, a ratio that ranged from 38 percent for sales workers to 64 percent for professional-technical workers. Through the years, employed women have consistently been clustered in lower paying occupations than men. Despite their comparatively low earnings, women make a substantial contribution to their family's economic well-being, and the family with more than one earner has become a prominent feature of American life. In nearly half of all husband-wife families in 1973, both the husband and wife were earners. Wives' earnings accounted for, on average, 26 percent of the total family income in that year, and as much as 38 percent for wives who worked year round, full time. Income of women by source, 1973 Wages and salaries Of the aggregate income of women in 1973, more than 75 percent was from earnings, about 10 percent was from social security and similar benefits, and 3 percent was from welfare and public assistance payments. Other than earnings Earnings Earnings from self-employment Social security and railroad retirement benefits Property income Welfare and public assistance Other income 210 190 Men current dollars 170 150 ' Men 1m 1o^130 - 1967 constant dollars 1—Ma 110 J Median usual weekly earnings of fulltime wage and salary workers by sex, 1967-74 Women current dollars Women 1967 constant dollars Earnings of women as a percent of earnings of men 65 0 May 1967 From 1967 to 1974, median weekly earnings of full-time women workers remained at about 60 percent of the earnings of men working full time. During ^is period, the earnings Of both men and women rqse about 60 percent—but ^nly about 10 percent after allowing for inflation. May 1969 May 1970 May 1971 May 1972 May 1973 May 1974 Professional and technical Median usual weekly earnings of full-time women wage and salary workers by occupation, May 1974 71% Managers and administrators, except farm 59% n .'t I Sales workers 43% 67% Clerical workers Craft workers 59% Operatives, except transport 63% Nonfarm laborers The usual weekly earnings of full-time women workers in eight broad occupational groups ranged from about 40 to 70 percent of the earnings of men. 61% Service workers 100 200 0 Dollars Note: Transport equipment operatives and farm workers are not shown because the number of full-time women workers in these occupations for statistically reliable estimates. —I 1 r 20 40 60 Percent of Earnings of Men is too small (under 75,000) 80% Agriculture 83% Durable goods manufacturing Median usual weekly earnings of fulltime women wage and salary workers by industry, May 1974 63% Nondurable goods nnanufacturing 57% Transportation and public utilities 67% Wholesale trade 59% 58% Retail trade Finance, insurance, and real estate 56% Private household Miscellaneous services 69% Public administration 71% 100 1 200 0 20 Dollars ' Not shown because the male population base is under 75,000. Note: The mining industry is not shown because the number of full-time women workers is too small (under 75,000) for a statistically 1 1— 40 60 80 Percent of Earnings of Men reliable estimate. 100 Compared to men, women fared best in agriculture and public administration. All occupations Median annual earnings of rear-round yea fulll-time women workers by occupation, 1973 57% Professional and technical Managers and administrators, except farm Sales workers Clerical workers 64% 53% • 38% 61% Craft workers ,v r" >r- " ^^ >* ' ifRsP^ SPSS® Operatives, including transport equipment Nonfarm laborers Annual earnings of women varied by occupation, but in no occupational group were they as much as twothirds of those of men employed in similar work. 55% 56% 61% iiimflftifciiii;:; Service workers, except private household 58% 2,500 5,000 Dollars 7,500 10,000 0 ' Occupation refers to longest job held during year. Data for all occupations include earners in groups not shown separately-private farm laborers. For these groups the base population was too small to provide statistically reliable estimates. T 60 40 20 Percent of Earnings of Men household workers, farmers and farm managers, 80% and Worked at part-time jobs (less than 35 hours per week) Worked at full-time jobs 7,000- 6,000 Median annual earnings of full and parttime women workers by weeks worked, 1973 5,000 4,000S 3,000- 2,0002050 1780 1,000- 1390 790 I 320 90- 80o w CD C "c CC LU CD O CD Q- 50-52 weeks 40-49 weeks 27-39 weeks 14-26 weeks 13 weeks or less 103% 83% 88% 87% 92% 50-52 weeks 40-49 weeks 27-39 weeks 14-26 weeks 13 weeks or less Women working at full-time jobs earned considerably less than men, even after allowing for differences in the number of weeks worked. Women working part-time were closer to parity with male part-time workers. Dollars 10,000 Percent change, 1963 to 1973 Husbands Median annual earninas of family heads in production and nonsupervisory jobs by sex, 1963-73 Women who 9,000 Husbands 8,000 Gross median earnings 7,000 Gross median earnings Real Gross after-tax median median earnings earnings Real after-tax median earnings 6,000 Real after-tax median earnings (1967 dollars) 5,000 Women who head families 4,000 Gross median earnings The gross median earnings of female production and nonsupervisory workers who are family heads have lagged behind those of their male counterparts. After allowing for changes in Federal income and social security taxes and consumer prices, the 10-year increase in earnings was 21 percent for men and only 8 percent for women. 3,000 Real after-tax median earnings (1967 dollars) 2,000 1,000 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 Wife and other relative(s) or other relative(s) only / -Wife only earner Husband-wife families by earners in family during 1973 Husband only earner 4 31% 21 Both husband and wife were earners in nearly half of the husband-wife families. Hole. Family status as of March 1974 All families with working wives By race 40- Earnings of women in husband-wife families as a percent of 1973 family income, by selected characteristics 3031.3% 25.6% c CD <u QNegro and other races White Nonfarm families By age of family head Farm families By work experience of wife 40- 29.5% In families with working wives, the wife's earnings account for about one-fourth of family income, on average. The proportion is higher in younger families and in families of minority races. c CD O a3 Q_ Worked 27 to 49 weeks, full time Age in March 1974 11.3% Worked 1 to 26 weeks, full time or 1 to 52 weeks, part time 41 Wife contributed: Less than 5% of family income Wives with earnings by percent of 1973 family income 5 and under 10 percent 10 and under 20 percent 20 and under 30 percent 30 and under 40 percent 40 and under 50 percent 50 and under 75 percent 75 percent and more 15 Note: Family status as of March 1974 Percent of All Wives with Earnings 20 In families where the wife was an earner, she most commonly contributed between 20 and 40 percent of the family income. 42 15,000 Median 1973 income of families with children by type of family and labor force status of mother, March 1974 13,100 10,000' Mother not In labor force w CO o Q 5,000- 3,800 Children of working mothers are typically in higher income families. Husband-wife families Note: Numbers rounded to nearest $100 Families with female head $9;000 • $8,940 Median 1973 income of women with income by years of school completed 8,000 7,000' 6,000 5,000 o Q 4,000 3,000 2,000 - 1,000 - 8 years or less Years of school completed as of tvlarch 1974 1 to 3 years of high school 4 years of high school 1 to 3 years of college 4 years of college 5 years or more of college On average, the more years of formal schooling a woman has, the higher her income. 44 Women below the poverty level, 1973, by selected characteristics By marital status By race White Never married Black Married, husband present Married, husband absent (includes separated) By occupation Professional, technical, managerial, and administrative workers Divorced Clerical and sales workers Widowed Craft workers Operatives, including transport Black women are more than three times as likely as white women to be below the poverty level. The proportion of women in poverty also varies by occupation, marital status, and education. By years of school completed Nonfarm laborers 8 years or less of elementary school Service workers, except private household 1 to 3 years of high school Private household workers 4 years of high school Farm workers 1 year or more of college 30 40 20 30 Note: Demographic data are as of March 1974 and refer to all women 14 years old and over. The poverty (low-income) level for women in 1973 was defined as equivalent $2239 for an unrelated individual and $4,512 for a family of four persons. See Sources of Data. 40 to an income of 50% Education Part IV Working women, on the average, had more formal schooling than working men en the 1950's, but since then, their level of education has not risen as rapidly as men's. In 1952, about 51 percent of the working women had completed high school, compared with 40 percent for men. By 1974 the gap had narrowed, with 72 percent of women workers having graduated from high school, compared with 67 percent for men. Women who have more education are more likely to be in the labor force, less likely to be unemployed, and more likely to be in the higher paying occupations than women with less schooling. 45 Labor force by sex and years of school completed, 1952 and 1974 Men Women 1952 4 years of college or more 1 to 3 years of college 1974 1974 1952 8% . 13% 1 16% 8% 9% 15% 1S% 24% 4 years of high school 34% 44% 19% 36% 33% 18% 1 to 3 years of high school Women in the labor force are more likely than men to have graduated from high school, but less likely to have completed 4 years of college. Nearly three-quarters of v^omen workers have high school diplomas compared to only one-half in 1952. 5 to 8 years of elementary school 26% 18% 12% Less than 5 years of elementary school 9% 5% Note.- Civilian labor force 18 years old and over in October 1952 and 16 years old and over in March 1974. 1% 8% 2% 100' 80 Labor force participation and unemployment rates of women by years of school completed, March 1974 c 0) o a a ro QC c .9 CO Q. o ••C 6051.3% 4039.4% CO CL 20- 23.9% c 0) o 0 Q. oc "CC c <D E Q. E 0) c =) Women with more education are more likely to be in the labor force and less likely to be unemployed. 8 years of elementary school or less 1 to 3 years of high school 4 years of high school 1 to 3 years of college 4 years of college or more Women in the labor force by aae and years of school completed, March 1974 4 or more years of college 11% 11% 12% 1 to 3 years of college 17% 36% 48% 48% 4 years of high school 44% 26% Young women workers have had more formal education than their older counterparts. 1 to 3 years of high school 14% 9% 8 years of elementary school or less 25 to 34 35 to 44 45 to 54 Years of Age 55 and over Less than 4 years of high school 8.9 million Clerical workers Professional and technical Managers and administrators, except farm Sales workers Operatives, except transport Service workers, except private household Employed women by years of school completed and occupation, March 1974 Private household workers Other occupations 4 years of high school, no college 14.8 million 4 years of college or more 4.4 million Employed women without high school diplomas are concentrated in service and operative occupations ... Those finishing high school, but without college, are primarily employed as clerical workers ... Nearly threefourths of employed women college graduates are in profess iona l-technica I occupations. Note: "Other occupations" is the sum of those in which less than 5 percent of the women of that educational level are employed. Additional Characteristics of Worthing Women PartV Workers by reason for holding more than one job Women 867,000 Multiple jobholding by sex, May 1974 Men 3,020,000 Meet regular expenses Pay off debts Save for future 6.1% 10.S% Get experience Workers holding two or more jobs Women Help a friend or relative 8.3% Buy something special 11.9% Men ... Enjoy the work Women are less likely than men to hold two or more jobs; women's reasons for "moonlighting" are similar to men's. smmm Other reasons 14.1% 12.9% Usually work AVz days or less 2% Full-time wage and salary workers by sex and usual workweek, May 1974 Usually work 5 days Women Men 90% 78% Usually work 51/2 days or more A/ofe. Private household workers and persons who did not report days usually worked are 8% excluded. Among full-time workers, women are far less likely than men to work more than 5 days a week. 51 Starting Time Women Ending Time Men Women Men 7 to 11 P.M. Wage and salary workers by sex and time of starting and ending work, May 1974 6 to 9 A.M. 4 to 6 P.M. A large majority of both women and men workers report to work between 6 and 9 in the morning and leave work between 4 and 6 in the afternoon. 71% 10 A.M. to 3 P.M. 7 A.M. to 3 P.M. 4 to 7 P.M. 8 P.M. to 5 A.M. Midnight to 6 A.M. 20% 13% Working more than 40 hours per week 50<D ^ 40- 52 Overtime workers by sex,l\/lay 1974 ^ 30•D C CO <D ^ 20- " • : 28% Receiving premium pay 50- 42% Men Women are only about onethird as likely as men to work overtime. However, women working overtime are as likely as men to receive premium pay. 53 Job tenure by sex, January 1973 Workers by length of time on current job Women Men n Median years on current job by age 0.6 16 to 19 0.6 22% One year or less 29% 1.2 20 to 24 1.2 11% 1 to 2 years 14% 25 to 34 35 to 44 6.7 2 to 5 years 17% 45 to 54 11.5 5 to 10 years 16% ie% 55 to 64 14^ Women have been on their current job a considerably shorter time, on average, than men. The largest differences are in the prime working age groups. 10 to 20 years 65 and over 20 years or more Median years on job = 2.8 Median years on job = 4.6 Women 54 Men Workers by usual means of transportation Private automobile driver Transportation to work, by sex, 1970 Other Worked at home Walked to work _ Public _ transportation 18% Private autortiobile passenger Workers who walk or use public transportation, by Income level 20% 19% 11% Below poverty level Income level in 1969. Above poverty level Below poverty level Above poverty level A majority of women workers, like men, drive their cars to work, but women are almost twice as likely as men to use public transportation. One-third of the low-income women workers either walk to work or use public transportation. Selected indicators for women by race and Spanish origin, 1970 I Unemployed as a percent of the female labor force Percent of women 16 years old and over In the labor force Female family heads as a percent of all family heads I I All races.. 41% White 41% Black 47% American Indian 35% T Japanese Chinese 49% 1 S0% Filipino Women of Spanish origin or descent 55% I 10 39% 20 30 I 20 40 Percent 60 12 Life expectancy Women Men 65.5 66.6 67.1 414 41,1 4S2 Life expectancy and worl(-life expectancy by sex, selected years, 1900-1970 CO Work-life expectancy 40 38.2 30 1900 ' Not available. 1940 1950 1960 The Bureau of Labor Statistics is currently developing 1970 estimates for 1970. 1900 1940 1950 1960 1970 The work-life expectancy of American women has expanded enormously since the beginning of the century. Women's work life will undoubtedly continue to lengthen in the face of such changes as the decline in birth rates, the upturn in divorce and separation, and enforcement of legislation prohibiting sex discrimination. Sources of Data The source of data for all charts, except 10,11,54,55, and 56, Is the Current Population Survey (CPS) conducted monthly for the U. S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) by the Bureau of the Census of the U. S. Department of Commerce. The survey consists of approximately 47,000 households eligible for interview from which about 45,000 Interviews are obtained each month. The sample is selected to represent the entire United States population 16 years of age and older. Survey responses on labor force and employment status are tabulated and published monthly by BLS in Employment and Earnings. In addition, supplemental questions relating to other social and economic characteristics of the work force or of particular subgroups are Included in specific months' surveys. For example, supplemental questions on Income, marital and family characteristics, work experience, and educational attainment are Included In the March survey, and usual weekly earnings, multiple jobholding, and work schedules In the May survey. Charts 10 and 11 are based on establishment records. These data are compiled each month by BLS from mail questionnaires, and cover only persons on government and business establishment payrolls. The 1970 decennial Census of Population is the source of data for charts 54 and 55. Data for chart 56 were developed in BLS and in the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare. Chart Source 1. U. S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), Employment and Earnings, January 1975. 2-4. BLS, Handbook of Labor Statistics: 1974, and Employment and Earnings, January 1975. 5. BLS, Employment and Earnings, January 1975. 6. BLS, Handbook of Labor Statistics: 1974, and Employment and Earnings, January 1975. 7. BLS, Employment and Earnings, January 1975, and BLS unpublished Current Population Survey (CPS) data. 8. BLS, Employment and Earnings, December 1969, January 1971, and January 1975. 9. BLS, Employment and Earnings, January 1975, and BLS unpublished CPS data. 10-11. BLS, Employment and Earnings, March 1975. The data for each chart can be found in the publications cited below, along with information on survey methods, definitions of terms, reliability of estimates, and related matters. U. S. G O V E R N M E N T P R I N T I N G O F F I C E : 1975 O - 590-739 12. BLS, Handbook of Labor Statistics: 1974, and Employment and Earnings, January 1975. 28-29. BLS, Summary Special Labor Force Report, "Children of Working Mothers, March 1974." 38. BLS, Summary Special Labor Force Report, "Annual Earnings of Household Heads in Production Jobs, 1973." 53. BLS, Special Labor Force Report, 172, "Job Tenure of Workers, January 1973." 13. BLS, Employment and Earnings, January 1975. 30. U.S. Department of Commerce, Social and Economic Statistics Administration, Bureau of the Census, Current Population Reports, Series P-20, No. 277, "Fertility Expectations of American Women: June 1974." 39-41. BLS, unpublished CPS data. 42. BLS, Summary Special Labor Force Report, "Children of Working Mothers: March 1974." 54. U. S. Bureau of the Census, Census of Population: 1970, Subject Reports, Final Report PC(2)-9A, "Low-Income Population." 31. BLS, Special Labor Force Reports, numbers 13, 20, 26,41, 50, 64, 80, 94, 120,130,144,153, and 164; and unpublished CPS data; and U. 8. Bureau of the Census, Current Population Reports, Series P-60, No. 97, "Money Income in 1973 of Families and Persons in the United States," and P-60, No. 98, "Characteristics of the Low-Income Population: 1973." 44. U. S. Bureau of the Census, Current Population Reports, Series P-60, No. 98, "Characteristics of the Low-Income Population: 1973." 14-15. BLS, Handbook of Labor Statistics: 1974, and Employment and Earnings, January 1975. 16. BLS, Employment and Earnings, January 1975. 17. BLS, Special Labor Force Report, 171, "Work Experience of the Population: 1973." 18. BLS, Special Labor Force Report, 171, "Work Experience of the Population; 1973," and BLS unpublished CPS data. 19-21. BLS, Special Labor Force Report, 171, "Work Experience of the Population: 1973." 22. BLS, unpublished CPS data. 23. BLS, Special Labor Force Report, 171, "Work Experience of the Population: 1973." 24. U. S. Department of Labor, Manpower Administration, l\/lanpower Report of the President, 1974, and BLS, unpublished CPS data. 25. BLS, Summary Special Labor Force Report, "Marital and Family Characteristics of Workers, March 1974." 26. U. S. Department of Labor, Manpower Administration, Manpower Report of the President. 1974, and BLS, unpublished data. 27. BLS, unpublished CPS data. 32. U. S. Bureau of the Census, Current Population Reports, Series P-60, No. 97, "Money Income in 1973 of Families and Persons in the United States." 33. U. S. Department of Labor, News, news release number 74-620 (BLS data). 34-35. BLS, unpublished CPS data. 36-37. U. S. Bureau of the Census, Current Population Reports, Series P-60, No. 97, "Money Income in 1973 of Families and Persons in the United States." 43. U. S. Bureau of the Census, Current Population Reports, Series P-60, No. 97, "Money Income in 1973 of Families and Persons in the United States." 45. U. S. Bureau of the Census, Current Population Reports, Series P-50, No. 49, "Educational Attainment and Literacy of Workers: October 1952"; and BLS, unpublished CPS data. 46. BLS, f^onthly Labor Review, February 1975, "Research SummarySpecial Labor Force Report, Educational Attainment of Workers, March 1974." 47. BLS, unpublished CPS data. 48-49. BLS, f\/lonthly Labor Review, February 1975, "Research SummarySpecial Labor Force Report, Educational Attainment of Workers, March 1974." 50-51. BLS, unpublished CPS data. 52. BLS, Monthly Labor Review, February 1975, "Trends in Overtime Hours and Pay, 1969-74." 55. U. S. Bureau of the Census, Census of Population: 1970, Characteristics of the Population, Final Report PC(1)-I, "United States Summary," and Subject Reports, Final Reports PC(2)-1B, "Negro Population;" PC(2)-1C, "Persons of Spanish Origin;" PC(2)-1F, "American Indians;" and PC(2)-1G, "Japanese, Chinese, and Filipinos in the United States." 56. BLS, Monthly Labor Review, June 1971, "A Table of Expected Working Life for Men, 1968," and unpublished data; and Department of Health, Education, and Welfare, National Center for Health Statistics, Provisional Life Tables. U. S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics Washington, D . C . 2 0 2 1 2 Postage and Fees Paid U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR THIRD CLASS MAIL OFFICIAL BUSINESS Penalty for private use, $300 U\B-441
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