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U3.3-2«f

WOMEN WORKERS
in 1960

•

Geographical
irences

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
W. Willard Wirtz, Secretary
'Atr, r > ■
Women’s Bureau, -Mrs. Esther Peterson, Director
Bulletin 284

Levi 3

WOMEN WORKERS
in 1960

•

Geographical Diffterences

Women’s Bureau Bulletin 284

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
W. Willard Wirtz, Secretary
Women’s Bureau,

Mrs. Esther Peterson, Director •

1962

U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington : 1962

For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office,
Washington 25, D.C. - Price 15 cents

331.4
Vh 3

YLO .ZLl 4

F oreword
This comparison of women’s employment in 1950 and 1960, with
special emphasis on geographical differences, is based on Bureau of
the Census reports covering the general social and economic charac­
teristics of the population in each State. As more detailed informa­
tion collected in the 1960 census becomes available, the Women’s
Bureau plans to issue a series of related bulletins. These future
reports will give an analysis of changes in other aspects of women’s
employment, such as occupational detail; characteristics of women
workers by marital status; and the relationship between a woman’s
education and her employment.
The bulletin was written by Jean A. Wells, Chief, Branch of Special
Studies in the Program Planning, Analysis, and Reports Division,
directed by Stella P. Manor.
Esther Peterson,

Director, Women’s Bureau.
hi

Contents
Highlights on women workers, 1950-60______ ______ ___________________
Women workers in 1960
Employment increases, 1950 to 1960
Geographical shifts in women’s employment___________________________
Percentages of women who work___________________________________
Women’s importance in labor force
6
Increase in number of working wives
7
Rise in age of women workers
g
Changes in women’s occupations and industries________________ _______
Earnings and income levels of women

Page
vi
1
1
2
5

9
11

CHARTS
A. Numbers of women workers in the United States, 1960______________
B. Percent increase in women workers, by State, 1950 to 1960__________

vin
4

APPENDIX TABLES
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Number of women workers, by State, 1960 and 1950________________
Women in the population, by State, 1960 and 1950__________________
Married women workers, by State, 1960
Age distribution of women workers, by region, 1960 and 1950________
Occupational distribution of employed women, by region, 1960 and
1950................................ .................................................... .............................
6. Median earnings and income of women, by State, 1959 and 1949_____
v

13
14
15
16
16
17

Highlights on Women Workers, 1950-60
Women in the Labor Force
The number of women workers, continuing a long-term upward
trend, rose from 16/2 million in 1950 to almost 22% million in
1960—a gain of 35 percent. This greatly exceeded the 14 per­
cent increase in the number of women of working age in the
population—57 million in 1950 compared to 65 million in 1960.
Geographical Shifts in Women’s Employment
The rate of growth of women’s employment varied considerably
by State, and there was a tendency for women workers to be
distributed somewhat more evenly among individual States and
regions in 1960 than in 1950.
Representation in Population and Labor Force
There was an increasing trend for women to work outside the
home; the number of women workers advanced from 29 percent
of all women in 1950 to 34 percent in 1960.
Consistent with their growing importance in the labor force,
women’s representation rose from 27 percent of all workers in 1950
to 32 percent in 1960.
Working Wives
The increase in the number of working wives—from 7.7 million
in 1950 to 12.4 million in 1960—accounted for four-fifths of the
5.8-million gain over the decade in the total number of women
workers.
The proportion of married women who work jumped from 22
percent in 1950 to 31 percent in 1960.
Working wives constituted over half (55 percent) of all women
workers in 1960, as compared with less than half (47 percent) in
1950.
vx

Ages of Women Workers
The importance of older women in the work force has increased;
the number of women 45 to 64 years of age advanced from 27
percent of all women workers in 1950 to 35 percent in 1960.
The median age of women workers rose from 36 years in 1950 to
40 years in 1960.
Occupations of Women
Relatively more women had clerical, service, or professional jobs
in 1960 than in 1950.
Women operatives declined the most in terms of relative occupa­
tional importance, although the total number of them expanded
slightly.
Earnings and Income of Women
Women workers (full-time and part-time combined) received
median annual earnings of $2,230 in 1959.
Women’s njoney income from all sources averaged $1,357 in 1959,
as compared with $1,029 in 1949.
VII

V III

CHART A
Numbers of Women Workers in the United States, 1960
[14 Years of Age and Over]

37,103

:318.117:
2!2,997'

:

91,509

183,398

Number of women workers

500,000 and over
200,000 and under 500,000
Under 200,000

ALASKA

Women Workers in 1960
Many aspects of women’s employment in the United States in 1960,
as recorded by liie decennial census, generally followed their long­
term trends. These include trends in the number of women workers,
the percent they are of all workers, their labor-force participation
rates, age and marital characteristics, occupational and industrial
distributions, and their income and earnings levels.
At the same time, some shifts occurred between 1950 and 1960 in
the geographical distribution of women workers. The changes, which
are closely related both to the movement of American industry and
to the redistribution of our total population, reveal a tendency toward
distribution of women workers somewhat more evenly among individ­
ual States and regions than was the case in earlier years. This is
corroborated by the fact that percent increases in women’s employ­
ment have been significantly high in many States that have relatively
small numbers of women workers, whereas relative gains were con­
siderably below the national average in many of the States with
large employment totals. The result has been a slight shift in the
number of women workers away from the Northeast and North
Central States into the South and the West.

Employment Increases, 1950 to 1960
The continuing rise in women’s employment in the United States is
the result both of rapid population growth and of increased labor-force
participation by women. Almost 22% million women workers were
recorded in the 1960 decennial census. This figure represents a 35
percent increase over the 16% million women workers reported in
1950. It compares with only a 14 percent increase—from about
57 to 65 million—in the number of women of working age (14
years and over) in the population. These changes are shown in the
following summary of the employment status of women of working
age:
Women 14 years and over..
In labor force_________
Civilian labor force
Armed Forces____
Not in labor force_____

Number of women workers
1960

1950

64, 961, 254
22, 409, 760
22, 381, 410
28, 350
42, 551, 494

57, 229, 161
16, 563, 678
16, 535, 636
28, 042
40, 665, 483

Percent
increase

14
35
35
1
5

1

Social and economic factors behind the remarkable advance in the
numbers of women workers have been discussed frequently. They
include the need of an expanding economy for additional workers in
occupations employing women; the easing of household tasks by use of
modern appliances and equipment; the higher standard of living de­
sired by our society; and changes in traditional attitudes toward wom­
en’s work outside the home.

Geographical Shifts in Women’s
Employment
Between 1950 and 1960, the numbers of women workers increased
in all 50 States, but decreased in the District of Columbia. The
seven States with the largest numbers of women workers were the
same in 1960 as in 1950. (Table 1.) As a result, women workers
continue to be concentrated most heavily in the Middle Atlantic and
North Central regions and in California and Texas. (Chart A.)
Similarly, the seven States (including Alaska) with the smallest num­
bers of women workers were the same in 1950 and 1960. Nevertheless,
the rate of growth of women’s employment in the 1950’s varied con­
siderably among the States and generally resulted in some leveling
of the geographical distribution of women workers.
A comparison of the percentage distribution of the woman work
force by State reveals some small but significant changes from 1950
to 1960. Seven of the 13 States with the highest numbers of women
workers had smaller percentages of the total woman work force
at the end of the decade. For example, the proportion of the national
woman work force dropped from 11.8 to 10.7 percent in New York,
from 6.9 to 6.3 percent in Pennsylvania, and from 6.5 to 6.0 percent
in Illinois. In contrast, there were no decreases in the proportion in
the 13 States with the lowest numbers of women workers, and four
of these States had slightly larger percentages of the total woman
work force. Other noteworthy 1950-60 increases in women’s repre­
sentation were from 7.6 to 9.1 percent in California, 2.0 to 2.8 per­
cent in Florida, and 4.5 to 4.9 percent in Texas.
An overall view of the leveling process underway in women’s em­
ployment can be obtained from a comparison of growth rates among
the four major regions of the country. The West had the highest
percentage gain in the number of women workers and the Northeast,
the lowest. The gain in the North Central States was somewhat
below the national average and in the South, above average, although
2

there was considerable variation in growth rates among the large
number of States grouped together in the South. The regional in­
creases recorded during the 1950-60 decade in the woman labor force
and the woman population follow:
Percent increase 1950
to I960
Women
workers

United States_______
Northeast__
North Centra™_
South_________
West__________

35
24
31
40
59

Women in
population

14
8
10
14
32

Because the size of the labor force is influenced by the size of the
population, it is interesting to note that the population of women 14
years of age and over increased in 47 States. The exceptions were
Arkansas (—5 percent), West Virginia ( — 5 percent), Mississippi
(—2 percent), and the District of Columbia ( — 10 percent). These
declines were probably caused by such factors as decreased employ­
ment opportunities, increased use of farm machinery, and, in the case
of the District of Columbia, movement out of the central city to
suburbs in neighboring States.
Further comparison of the rates of growth of women’s employment
among individual States shows that the four largest States in the
northern industrial regions had a lower rate of expansion than the
rest of the country. While the total number of women workers in
the United States advanced 35 percent between 1950 and 1960, the
comparable gain amounted to only 23 percent in New York, 24 per­
cent in Pennsylvania, 26 percent in Illinois, and 33 percent in Ohio.
(Chart B.)
These same four large States also had fairly low population in­
creases. (Table 2.) Although the rate of expansion in the population
of women of working age was at the national level in Ohio (14 percent),
it was far below average in Pennsylvania (4 percent), New York
(8 percent), and Illinois (9 percent). Some of these differences stem
from migration away from depressed coal areas and also from rural
areas.
The largest proportional gains in women’s employment during the
1950’s occurred in the States with the largest expansion in woman
population: Nevada, Arizona, Alaska, and Florida. In these States,
increases ranged from 91 to 125 percent in the woman labor force and
from 68 to 81 percent in the woman population.
In addition, significantly high increases in both the labor force and
population of women took place in two of the largest States: Cali­
fornia and Texas. Their increases in women’s employment were 63
and 47 percent, respectively.
3

CHART B
Percent Increase in Women Workers, by State, 1950 to 1960

+ 31

JwiSC0**S|H

SOUTH DAKOTA

LLlNOtS

INO'V**
COLOAA20
.fNTuCKT

•"«6S3

N£» **£*"c 0

»B»»NS» j

f*Ts. c»*ouM
4-29

0UlV*HA/yl

Percent increase of
women workers, 1950 to 1960

fC.ssissipp'

47% and over

i_3\

34 and under 47%
^

=4.

l+.%\

j+95*
/?;:
70
ALASKA

n

ik.

Under 34%

Percentages of Women Who Work
In addition to population growth, the other major reason for the in­
creasing numbers of working women is the increasing tendency of women
to work outside the home. Throughout the United States, the per­
centage of women workers among all women of working age jumped
significantly from 29 percent in 1950 to 34 percent in 1960. (Table 2.)
The relative importance of the two major reasons for the dramatic
gain in women’s employment may be ascertained generally from an
analysis of the numerical increase which took place during the 1950­
60 decade. If only 29 percent of the woman population had worked
in 1960 as in 1950, there might have been about 18.8 million women
workers, or an increase of only 2.3 million. But about 5.8 million
more women workers were actually recorded at the end of the decade.
Therefore, about two-fifths of the increase can be traced to population
growth and about three-fifths to the fact that more women work
outside the home.
There were only slight variations among regions in the percentages
of women engaged in paid employment in 1960. These variations
had narrowed since 1950, as may be seen from the following summary:
Women workers as
percent of all women

United States____
Northeast____
North Central.
South_______
West________

mo
34
36
34
34
35

mo

29
31
28
28
29

Women’s rates of labor-force participation differed more noticeably
among individual States than among regions, although a majority of
the State rates centered between 32 and 36 percent. Variations in
rates are related primarily to the availability of jobs as well as to
tradition and custom.
The leading area in terms of the percentage of women in the labor
force was the District of Columbia (52 percent), the exclusively
metropolitan character of which is not comparable to the urban-rural
mixture of the States. Next in rank was Nevada (41 percent),
followed by Alaska, Hawaii, and New Hampshire (40 percent).
Women in all five areas had relatively high labor-force participation
in 1950 also. In this connection, it is noteworthy that, during the
1950’s, Nevada and Alaska had recorded the highest population
gains among all the States, and both had relatively more young
644640 0—62------ 2

5

women in their 1960 population. In addition, population expansion
is usually accompanied by intensified economic activity and may,
thus, attract more women into the labor force.
The States where women had low labor-force participation in
1960 were West Virginia (24 percent), Kentucky (27 percent), and
Arkansas (29 percent). There is little doubt that both custom and
limited employment opportunities for women shared in producing
these low rates. Also, the average age of women was markedly higher
in 1960 than in 1950, indicating out-migration of some of the younger
women seeking employment. In two of these States (Arkansas and
West Virginia), the woman population had declined 5 percent since
1950; in Kentucky, it had increased only 2 percent. Women in
these same three States had the lowest labor-force participation rates
in 1950.

Women’s Importance in Labor Force
Since greater expansion occurred in women’s employment (35 per­
cent) than in men’s employment (8 percent) during the 1950-60
decade, women’s representation in the total labor force also rose.
Women workers comprised 32 percent of all workers in 1960, as
compared with only 27 percent in 1950. (Table 1.) This gain
was, of course, consistent with women’s growing importance in
the labor force since the early part of the century.
In both 1950 and 1960, women workers in the Northeast comprised
a larger proportion of the labor force in their region than was true
of_women workers elsewhere in the country, as indicated below:
Women workers as
percent of all workers
I960

United States
32
Northeast
34
North Central
31
South
32
West
31

1960

27
30
26
27
27

Women’s representation among all workers was highest in the
urban District of Columbia (44 percent). Leading the States was
New Hampshire (36 percent), followed by Georgia, Massachusetts,
and South Carolina (35 percent). Women in these four States
and the District of Columbia had higher labor-force participation
rates than those of women in most other States. The representation
of women among all workers in these five areas had also been con­
siderably above average in 1950, reflecting the continued location
in these areas of industries which employ high percentages of women.
6

States with the lowest percentages of women among all workers
were Alaska (24 percent) and North Dakota (27 percent). These
were also the two areas with the lowest representation of women
in 1950. In Alaska, their consistently low rank in this respect is
probably related to the fairly high ratio of men to women and to the
relatively high proportion of temporary residents in the population.

Increase in Number of Working Wives
The great influx of married women into the labor market accounted
for most of the expansion in women’s employment in the 1950’s.
The number of working wives rose from 7.7 million in 1950 to 12.4
million in 1960. This numerical increase of 4.7 million working
wives amounted to four-fifths of the total gain of 5.8 million women
workers between 1950 and 1960.
During the 10-year period, there was a concurrent rise among
married women in the 'proportions who combine homemaking and
paid employment—from 22 percent in 1950 to 31 percent in 1960.
This higher rate of labor-force participation accounted for about
three-fourths of the increase in the number of working wives. The
remaining one-fourth stemmed from the larger number of married
women in the population.
Generally, higher percentages of married women worked in the
South and the West, as shown in the following summary:
Percent of married
women who work

United States____
Northeast____
North Central.
South_______
West________

mo
31
30
29
32
32

mo
22
21
21
22
23

In 1960, the highest participation rate among married women pre­
vailed in the District of Columbia (46 percent)—followed by Hawaii
and South Carolina (40 percent). The lowest participation rates were
in West Virginia (21 percent), Kentucky (25 percent), and North
Dakota (26 percent). (Table 3.) In general, the same factors in­
fluence labor-force participation among married women as were pre­
viously discussed for all women.
Married women accounted for 55 percent of all women workers in
1960, as compared with 47 percent in 1950. Their percentages were
highest in Alaska (68 percent) and Idaho (66 percent). These two
States have considerably large portions of rural area, where single
women tend to be relatively scarce. On the other hand, the woman
labor force included the lowest proportions of working wives in the
7

District of Columbia (39 percent), followed by Massachusetts and
New York (48 percent)—all areas with high percentages of urban
population, including relatively more single women.
In all 50 States and the District of Columbia, the number of work­
ing wives rose during the 1950-60 decade, and, in each case, the per­
centage increase for working wives exceeded that for all women
workers. In comparison to the 60 percent increase of working wives
averaged throughout the Nation, the gains were highest in the West
(79 percent) and the South (61 percent) and below average in both
the Northeast and North Central States (55 percent). Especially
noteworthy gains were recorded in Nevada (147 percent), Arizona
(133 percent), Alaska (117 percent), Florida (114 percent), and New
Mexico (111 percent). These were the same five States with the
largest increases in women workers and also with considerable popu­
lation expansion.

Rise in Age of Women Workers
Another important characteristic of our expanding woman work
force is the rise in the median age of women workers—from 36 years
in 1950 to 40 years in 1960. The increased importance of older women
in the work force extended throughout the country, as ages of women
workers do not differ significantly among the various regions. In
1960, the median age of women workers was highest in the North­
east (41 years), slightly lower in the South (39 years), and the same
as the national average in the North Central States and the West
(40 years). These relationships have changed since 1950, when the
median age of women workers was highest in the West (37 years),
and the same as the national average in the other three regions (36
years).
Of the 5.8 million more women workers in 1960 than in 1950, almost
three-fifths were 45 to 64 years of age and one-fourth, 35 to 44 years.
In addition to these two groups, the oldest and youngest groups of
women workers also made spectacular percentage gains during the
10-year period. The following summary lists the numbers of women
workers in specific age groups and their percentage increases from
1950 to 1960:
Nvmher of women workers
1950
I960

Age group

14-17 years_____________
18-24 years_____________
25-34 years_____________
35-44 years_____________
45-64 years_____________
65 years and over_______
8

3,
4,
5,
7,

772,
594,
116,
265,
742,
918,

207
104
833
586
212
818

3,
3,
3,
4,

475,
518,
885,
805,
421,
508,

965
747
238
586
455
082

increase

62
2
6
38
75
81

While the number of women workers who were 45 to 64 years of
age increased from 27 percent of the woman work force in 1950 to 35
percent in I960,, the proportion 35 to 44 years of age remained at 23
percent. (Table 4.) In contrast, there were marked decreases in the
relative importance of younger age groups. During the 1950-60
decade, the 25 to 34 year olds declined from 23 to 18 percent of all
women workers and the 18 to 24 year olds, from 21 to 16 percent.
The 14 to 17 year olds, whose numbers rose sharply, constituted 3
percent of all women workers in both 1950 and 1960.
Although age continues to have an important influence on a woman’s
decision whether or not to work outside the home, striking changes
occurred between 1950 and 1960 in the extent to which mature women
returned to work when their family responsibilities lessened. During
the decade, the labor-force participation rates rose from 29 to 42
percent for women 45 to 64 years of age and from 35 to 43 percent
for women 35 to 44 years. As the following figures show, there were
much smaller changes in the percentages of workers among women in
the remaining age groups:
Percent ofwomen who
work
Age group

United States
34
14-17 years
14
18-24 years--------------------------------------------------------------25-34 years-------------------------35-44 years--------------------------------------45-64 years________
65 years and over
10

i960

45
35
43
42

1950

29
n
43
32
35
29
8

As might be expected, the sharp rise in labor-force participation of
women workers aged 45 to 64 years and 35 to 44 years accounted for
most of the expansion in their numbers. The small increases in the
numbers of women workers 18 to 24 years and 25 to 34 years also
stemmed from the greater propensity of women to work, since the
population of women in these age groups actually decreased from 1950
to 1960. For the youngest and oldest age groups, the influence of
this factor was shared fairly evenly with population growth.

Changes in Women’s Occupations and
Industries
The changes which took place during the 1950’s in the relative
importance of specific occupational groups among women workers
reflect trends in the overall labor force. Three groups of occupa­
tions—clerical, service, and professional—attained added importance.
Between 1950 and 1960, their representation among all women workers
9

rose from 28 to 31 percent, 12 to 14 percent, and 13 to 14 percent,
respectively. (Table 5.) In occupational comparisons of women
workers within the regions, the most noticeable gains were made by
clerical workers in the West, by service workers in the Northeast
and North Central States, and by professional workers in theNortheast.
Women operatives experienced the largest decline in occupational
importance, dropping from 20 to 16 percent of all women workers.
The decrease occurred in all four regions but was deepest in the North­
east and in the North Central States. The percentages of women
farmers, managers, salesworlters, and private-household workers were
also lower in 1960 than in 1950.
There were increases between 1950 and 1960 in the numbers of
women in all major occupational groups except two: farm laborers
and other laborers. The largest advances were made by the service,
clerical, and professional groups, as shown below:
Number of women workers
1950
I960

Clerical
------------------------------------- ___
Operatives--------------------------------------- ___
Service.- —
------------------------------ ...
Professional... ------------------------------- ___
Private household ..
__
- ___
Sales-. - --------------------------------- ___
Managers, officials, proprietors. - . ___
Craftsmen. ------------------------------ ___
Farm laborers.
.
— ___
Farmers___
____ - — - ---------- -.
Laborers______ .. ---------- -- -- ___

6, 291, 420
3, 255, 949
2,846,289
2, 753, 052
1, 664, 763
1,661,113
779, 701
252,515
242,885
118, 100
109,746

4,
3,
1,
1,
1,
1,

308, 020
026, 231
920, 269
951, 072
337, 795
334, 121
680, 108
236, 328
451, 053
116, 993
127, 557

Percent
change
1950-60

+ 46
+8
+ 48
+ 41
+ 24
+ 25
+ 15
+7
-46
+1
-14

The number of private-household workers increased, although (as
noted previously) their percentage of all women workers dropped
between 1950 and 1960.
Regional changes in women’s employment in specific occupational
groups were generally consistent with total occupational changes in
the country—as influenced, of course, by overall changes in women’s
employment in each region. Exceptional changes included: decreases
in the number of women operatives and craftsmen in the Northeast
and relatively little change in the size of these groups in the North
Central States; relatively smaller expansion in the number of women
service workers in the West; and the deepest decline in the number
of women farm workers in the South.
Changes in women’s occupations reflect, of course, changes in the
size of major industry groups. The greatest expansion in women’s
employment between 1950 and 1960 took place in finance, insurance,
and real estate establishments, followed by construction and by the
very large group of service industries, especially professional services.
Below average gains were recorded in retail trade, wholesale trade,
and transportation, as well as in manufacturing, the industry group
10

with the second largest number of women workers. Only in one indus­
try—agriculture—were there fewer women at the end of the decade
than at the beginning, as indicated in the following summary of
women’s employment by major industry group:
Number of women workers
I960
1950

Services _
_____________
_
_____
Manufacturing__ __ _
__
_____
Retail trade___ _ ______ __ _ ____ ____
Finance, insurance, real estate_______ ____
Public administration- _ _
____
Transportation. ___________________ ____
Wholesale trade ____
____ ____
Agriculture,
_
_____
Construction._____________________ ____

7,
4,
3,
1,

832,
401,
943,
230,
914,
770,
450,
417,
185,

999
121
663
347
134
699
902
659
409

5, 375, 975
3, 654, 906
3, 177, 048
781, 995
658, 411
699, 028
380, 509
592, 688
122, 220

Percent
change
1950-60

+ 46
+ 20
+ 24
+ 67
+ 39
+ 10
+ 18
-30
+ 52

Within each region, industry changes generally followed the expected
pattern. Women’s employment advanced more in the West than in
other regions for each of the major industries except wholesale trade.
In three industry groups—manufacturing, transportation, and whole­
sale trade—increases were exceptionally small in the Northeast and
only moderate in the North Central States. Agricultural employment
declined much more in the South than elsewhere.

Earnings and Income Levels of Women
Women workers received median earnings of $2,230 in 1959.
(Table 6.) This was less than one-half as much as the $4,595
averaged by men. Many women received earnings from part-time
or part-year jobs, whereas most men had full-time earnings. Women
had the highest median earnings in the urbanized District of Columbia
($3,292), followed by California ($2,789), Connecticut ($2,727),
and New York ($2,716). The lowest amounts were in Mississippi
($1,014) and Arkansas ($1,292).
Women’s money income from all sources in 1959 averaged $1,357.
This was 32 percent more than the $1,029 median income of women
in 1949. Despite this increase, women’s income dropped from
two-fifths of men’s income in 1949 ($2,434) to one-third of men’s
income in 1959 ($4,103). The relative decline may be attributed
partly to the expanded percentage of women receiving some income
(from 40 percent in 1949 to 54 percent in 1959) and the increased
popularity of part-time and intermittent employment among the
larger force of women workers.
During the 10-year period, the income level of nonwhite women
improved in relation to that of all women. In 1949, nonwhite women
with some income averaged $590—less than three-fifths the amount
11

for all women receiving income. In 1959, the $909 average of non­
white women was more than two-thirds that of all women.
There was considerable variation in income levels among the
various States. The leading area for all women with income in
1959 was the District of Columbia ($2,457) and the second was
New York ($1,940). For nonwhite women, these two areas were
reversed: New York ($1,960) and the District of Columbia ($1,894).
At the other end of the range, Mississippi reported the lowest income
for all women ($656) as well as for nonwhite women ($412).

12

Appendix Tables
Table 1.—Number of Women Workers, by State, I960 and 1950
[14 years of age and over]

State

Number of
women workers1 2

Percent
increase,
1950 to 1960

As percent of
all workers

1960

1950

UNITED STATES.

22,409,760

16, 563,665

35

32

New York...................
California....................
Pennsylvania.............
Illinois.........................
Ohio..............................
Texas................ ...........
Michigan.....................
New Jersey.................
Massachusetts...........
Florida_________

2,404,340
2,041,120
1,422, 749
1, 348, 328
1,152, 741
1,106, 657
893,091
812,222
753, 506
635,639

1,947,189
1,254,644
1,148,042
1,070, 747
863,824
750,384
642. 614
617, 584
630,957
332,768

23
63
24
26
33
47
39
32
19
91

34
32
32
33
31
30
30
32
35
34

31
28
27
29
27
25
25
29
32
30

North Carolina..........
Indiana........................
Missouri......................
Georgia........................
Wisconsin_________
Virginia.......................
Tennessee...................
Minnesota_________
Maryland................
Alabama__________

600,051
563,026
540,329
525,397
476, 214
473, 734
426,550
411, 258
399, 330
373, 381

440, 890
410, 727
436,149
395, 921
369, 323
331,317
310, 674
313, 700
274,541
288, 690

36
37
24
33
29
43
37
31
45
29

34
31
32
35
31
31
32
32
32
32

28
26
28
30
26
25
26
26
28
27

Connecticut......... .
Washington...... .........
Louisiana....................
Iowa.............................
South Carolina_____
Kentucky....................
Oklahoma_________
Kansas____________
Mississippi..................
Oregon.........................

366, 669
344, 478
335, 975
318, 117
310,895
291, 234
257, 587
254,140
244, 959
216, 367

277, 327
238,958
238, 554
249, 524
245, 591
214,162
195, 415
177,824
187, 502
162, 205

32
44
41
27
27
36
32
43
31
33

34
31
31
30
35
28
30
30
33
32

31
25
26
24
31
21
25
24
25
26

Colorado............ .........
Arkansas......................
Nebraska............. .......
District of Columbia.
West Virginia............
Arizona................ ........
Rhode Island______
Maine................... .......
Utah.............................
New Mexico...............

212, 997
183, 398
168, 472
162, 616
162, 446
140, 336
121, 980
118, 596
94,103
91,509

136, 593
142,415
129,255
167, 555
138, 048
68,095
110, 243
94, 881
57, 294
50,979

56
29
30
23
18
106
11
25
64
80

31
30
30
44
28
30
34
32
30
28

27
22
25
41
21
26
32
27
24
22

New Hampshire........
Hawaii.........................
Montana.....................
South Dakota______
Idaho............................
North Dakota............
Delaware.....................
Vermont......................
Nevada........................
Wyoming....................
Alaska..........................

89,318
77, 636
73,380
72, 268
71,355
63,163
56, 571
48, 599
40,039
37,103
23, 791

67,874
50,864
50, 911
53,897
47, 478
46, 998
37, 298
39, 937
17, 778
25, 306
12, 219

32
53
44
34
50
34
52
22
125
47
95

36
29
29
29
28
27
32
33
31
29
24

31
24
22
21
22
20
28
27
25
21
18

1960

1950
27

1 Includes members of the Armed Forces.
2 A percent decrease.
Source: U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census.

13

Table 2.—Women in the Population, by State, 1960 and 1950
[14 years of age and over]
Number of women
in the population
State
1960

1950

Percent
increase,
1950 to
1960

Women workers
as percent of
all women
1960

1950

UNITED STATES-------- --------------------------------- 64, 961,254

57,229,151

14

34

29

New York------ ------------ ------------------------------------California-------------------------------------------------------Pennsylvania........... ........................................................
Illinois..............................................................................
Ohio
Texas------------------- ------------ --------------------------- —
Michigan------------------ --------------------------------------New Jersey........................................... -..........................M assachusetts----------------- -------------------------- -----Florida...................................................................... ..........

6, 506, 505
5, 659,129
4, 272,191
3, 723,281
3,501,539
3, 352,809
2, 729, 762
2,280, 584
1,972,462
1,829,192

6,033, 574
4,073,341
4, 108, 599
3,418, 775
3,060,868
2,801, 565
2,349, 955
1,931,114
1,905,814
1,065,169

8
39
4
9
14
20
16
18
3
72

37
36
33
36
33
33
33
36
38
35

32
31
28
31
28
27
27
32
33
31

Indiana-------------------- --------------------------------------Missouri.............. ...............................................................
North Carolina............. ....................................................
Georgia—.........................................................................
Wisconsin...........................................................................
Virginia..................... ......................................................Tennessee - --------------------------------------------------Minnesota__________________________ ___________
Alabama.......... ................................... -.............-...............
Louisiana...... ......... —................ —.................. -.............

1,671,516
1,621, 490
1,600, 721
1,397,951
1,396, 001
1,392, 549
1,300, 500
1,196, 494
1,157, 899
1,127, 057

1, 486, 515
1, 556,891
1,435,312
1,247, 615
1, 279,013
1, 193, 627
1,209,638
1,099,128
1,093,798
968, 553

12
4
12
12
9
17
8
9
6
16

34
33
37
38
34
34
33
34
32
30

28
28
31
32
29
28
26
29
26
25

Maryland------- ---------------------- ------------------- -----Kentucky.................................... ..................-..................
Washington______________ _________ ___________
Iowa--------- --------- ----------------------------- --------------Connecticut........ ..........................-..................................
Oklahoma-------------------------------------------------------South Carolina..................... ............................................
Kansas------------------------ ----------------------------------Mississippi------------------------------------------------------West Virginia--------------------------------------------------

1,101, 782
1,074, 244
1,002,319
998, 595
943,664
856, 366
810, 800
784,183
746, 005
668, 074

884,036
1, 048,459
862,214
985, 169
797,537
822, 794
733, 249
720, 732
757, 568
704,919

25
2
16
1
18
4
11
9
» 2
15

36
27
34
32
39
30
38
32
33
24

31
20
28
25
35
24
33
25
25
20

Arkansas---------------------------------------...........-.........Oregon ________________________________-............
Colorado- -........ ..............................................................Nebraska_____________________________________
Arizona

643, 013
634, 732
616,843
508,115
436,091
349. 329
324,077
313,301
301, 779
290,046

675,397
561,087
490, 550
497,059
259, 511
342, 686
314, 531
347,872
223,050
234,486

15
13
26
2
68
2
3
i 10
35
24

29
34
35
33
32
34
38
52
30
32

21
29
28
26
26
28
35
48
23
24

229, 673
224,898
223,604
221, 598
208, 196
194, 788
158.088
141, 398
109,013
96. 984
60,024

227,366
202,470
207,945
198, 781
207,649
153, 511
122, 763
141,356
96, 526
55, 791
33,223

1
11
8
11

31
33
40
32
30
40
36
34
34
41
40

24
25
33
24
23
33
30
28
26
32
37

Rhode Island__________________________________
District of Columbia.......................................... .............
New MexicoUtah----------------- --------------------------------------------Montana.- ---------- ------------------------------------------New Hampshire------------------------- ---------------- ----North Dakota— -- - -- ---------- --------- --------Hawaii------ -----------------------------------------------------Vermont........................... ..................................................
Wyoming___________ _____ -...........-..........................
Alaska_____________________________________ —

1 A percent decrease.
Less than 1 percent.
Source: U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census.

2

14

00
27
29
(0

13
74
81

Table 3.—Married Women Workers, by State, 1960
[14 years of age and over]
Number
of married
women
workers 1

Region and State

Percent
increase,
1950 to
1960

As percent As percent
of all
of all
married
women
workers2
women

UNITED STATES........ ....................................................... 12. 365, 354

60

55

Northeast..........-........................................ -.............................

3,072,338

55

50

30

Connecticut........... .............................................................
Maine_______________ _______ -...................................
Massachusetts........ ...........................................................
New Hampshire............ .................. .................. .........—
New Jersey................................................-........................
New York............ ..............................................................
Pennsylvania......................................................................
Rhode Island----------------------------------------- ----------Vermont...............................................................................

201,396
67, 328
362,704
52,001
430,880
1,156,002
710, 516
64, 931
26, 580

64
47
56
59
62
51
59
37
S3

55
57
48
58
53
48
50
53
55

34
31
32
38
30
30
28
34
31

North Central............................................................................

3,474,781

55

55

29

Illinois----------- ------------------- -----------------------Indiana------------------ ------ --------- -----------------------Iowa.. ................... ........................................ ..................
Kansas...................... ...........................................................
Michigan........................................ -...................................
Minnesota---------------------------------------------------Missouri------ ------------- -------- ----------------- -..........
Nebraska................................ ------- ----------------- -----North Dakota.................................-.................................
Ohio...... ...................... ........................................................
South Dakota-------- --------- --------------------------------Wisconsin.................................................. .............. ..........

719, 644
329,246
181,828
152,206
498,966
216,065
301, 561
96, 591
35,973
632,206
42,423
268,072

47
58
51
70
60
55
47
57
71
59
64
52

53
58
57
60
56
53
56
57
57
55
59
56

31
30
28
29
28
29
30
29
26
28
28
30

South............................................................................................

3,798.609

61

58

32

Alabama.............................................................................
Arkansas________________ _____ --------- --------------Delaware------------- -------- ----------------------------------District of Columbia---- ------------------- --------- - Florida-..........-.........-.......................................................
Georgia---------- -------- -------- ------ ------------ ------------Kentucky------- ----------------- ------------------------------Louisiana. ....................................-.................................
Maryland---- ------ -------------------- ----- ---------............
Mississippi------- -----------------------------------------------North Carolina----- -------------------------------------------Oklahoma_________________ ____ ______________ South Carolina-------------------------------------------------Tennessee.—----------------------------------------------------Texas.......... ............................. ...........................................
Virginia--------------- ---------------------------West Virginia....................................................................

214,736
111, 315
31,791
64, 070
369, 816
308, 656
166, Oil
183,678
226,778
144,241
376,148
157,753
186,085
251,199
647,097
273,540
85, 695

48
51
89
2
114
51
66
66
75
55
56
49
43
60
66
72
39

58
61
56
39
58
59
57
55
57
59
63
61
60
59
58
58
53

31
28
32
46
32
37
25
27
33
33
39
29
40
32
30
32
21

West.--------------------------------------------------------------------

2,019,626

79

58

32

Alaska.. ------------- -------- ------------- ---------------------Arizona.______ ________________________________
California--------------------- -----------------------................
Colorado.-.------ ---------- -----------------------------------Hawaii............................................................ .............
Idaho------------------------- ------ -----------------------------Montana_______ _______________________________
Nevada_______________________ ___________ ____
New Mexico__________ _______________ ____ ____
Oregon______________ _______ ________ _____ ____
Utah-------- ------------------------ --------------------------W ashington.............................................................. .........
Wyoming..------- -----------------------------------------------

16,093
82,779
1,156,478
122,986
48, 669
46, 883
43,403
24, 843
54,831
132, 494
56, 667
210,145
23,355

117
133
81
81
103
69
69
147
111
45
87
63
65

68
59
57
58
63
66
59
62
60
61
60
61
63

36
29
32
31
40
31
29
38
27
32
29
32
31

31

1 Refers to those classified as “married woman with husband present.”
2 Includes members of the Armed Forces.
Source: U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census.

15

0

Table 4.—Age Distribution of Women Workers, by Region, 1960 and 1950
[14 years of age and over]
Percent of women workers in specified age group
Number
of women
workers 1

Total

14-17
yrs.

18-24
yrs.

25-34
yrs.

35-44
yrs.

45-64
yrs.

22, 409, 760
16, 615,073

100
100

3
3

16
21

18
23

23
23

35
27

4
3

40.2
36.1

Northeast:
1960
1950

6,137,979
4, 941, 590

100
100

3
2

16
23

17
23

23
22

37
27

4
3

41.2
36.1

North Central:
1960
1950

6,261,147
4, 774,305

100
100

4
3

17
22

17
22

22
22

35
27

5
3

40.4
36.2

South:
1960
1950............. ...........

6, 546,420
4, 712,695

100
100

3
3

16
20

21
25

24
25

32
24

3
3

39.2
35.5

West:
I960
1950............. ...........

3,464, 214
2,186,483

100
100

4
3

15
18

19
24

25
24

34
29

4
3

40.0
37.3

Region and year

UNITED STATES:
1960..........................
1950....... .............. .

Average
years
65 yrs.
of age
and over (median)

■ Includes members of the Armed Forces.
Source: U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census.

Table 5.—Occupational Distribution of Employed Women, by Region,

1960 and 1950
[14 years of age and over]
Women employed In specified occupation
Occupational group

Total, United States
Number

Percent

TOTAL EMPLOYED WOMEN.... 21,172,301

North­
east

North
Central

South

West

Percent distribution

I960
100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

6,291, 420
779, 701
3,255, 949
1,664, 763
2, 753,052
1,661,113
2,846, 289
723,246

31.5
3.9
16.3
8.3
13.8
8.3
14.2
3.6

33.6
3.4
21.8
5.6
13.6
7.7
11.9
2.5

32.6
3.5
14.6
6.3
13.8
9.0
16.1
4.2

26.5
4.1
15.9
13.6
13.2
8.0
14.3
4.4

35.5
5.2
10.5
6.9
15.2
8.7
15.0
3.1

TOTAL EMPLOYED WOMEN___

15, 772, 899

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

Clerical
Managers, officials, proprietors
Operatives_______________ ____ ______
Private household___ ______ __________
Professional
Sales___ ______ ____ _________________
Service______________ _______________
Other i............................. ...............................

4,308,020
680,108
3,026,231
1,337, 795
1,951.072
1, 334,121
1, 920, 269
931, 931

27.8
4.4
19.5
8.6
12.6
8.6
12.4
6.0

29.8
3.7
27.1
6.5
12.2
7.5
9.8
3.4

29.5
4.2
17.9
6.0
12.6
9.6
13.6
6.6

22.5
4.4
17.0
14.5
12.0
8.4
12.7
8.7

31.1
6.4
11.4
6.7
14.8
9.6
15.0
5.0

Clerical_____________________________
Managers, officials, proprietors
Operatives__________ ______ __________
Private household_____ ______________
Professional____ _____________ ______
Sales........... ......................................................
Service_________________ ____ _____ _
Other 1____
1950

1 Includes craftsmen, farmers, farm managers, farm laborers, and other laborers.
Source: U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census.

16

Table 6.—Median Earnings and Income of Women, by State, 1959 and 1949
[14 years of age and over]

Region and State

Median
earnings
of
women,
19591

Median income of
women

Median income of
nonwhite women

1959

1949

$2,230

$1,357

$1,029

$909

$590

2,727
1,922
2,413
2, 231
2,650
2, 716
2, 253
2, 226
1,836

1,893
1,085
1,667
1. 448
1,824
1,940
1, 445
1,548
1,053

1,481
826
1,318
981
1,525
1,560
1,203
1,280
762

1,594

1,112

1,615

1,104

1,593
1,960
1,391
1,149

1,061
1,301
995
845

North Central:
Illinois........................................................... ..............
Indiana------ ---------------------------------------------Iowa________________ _______ _____ _________
Kansas_______________________ _____ _______
Michigan..................................... ..............................
Minnesota____ ______ ________________ _____
Missouri----------- ----- --------- ----------------Nebraska.________________ ____ ___________
North Dakota.........................................................
Ohio_____ ______ ___________________ _______
South Dakota--------------------- -------- ------ -------Wisconsin................................................. .................

2,652
2,252
1,745
1,839
2,399
2,029
2,166
1,745
1,410
2,352
1,396
2,112

1,678
1,320
1,080
1,136
1,377
1,207
1,226
1,153
931
1,372
925
1,234

1,355
1,034
880
864
1,161
956
969
926
778
1,106
802
951

1,662
1,168
1,149
966
1,316
1,384
1,020
1,125
853
1,242
647
1,299

1,172
810
698
698
967
820
758
803
422
896
396
817

South:
Alabama-------------------- -------- ----------------------Arkansas......................................... ..........................
Delaware--------------------- -------- -------------- ------District of Columbia. ..........................................
Florida................. ......................................................
Georgia------------ -- ------------- ---------------------Kentucky----------------------------------------- ------Louisiana_______________ ____ _____________
Maryland. _____________ __________________
Mississippi
North Carolina-------------------------------- ----------Oklahoma................. ............................................ .
South Carolina___ ____ _______ _____ _______
Tennessee______________ _____ _____________
Texas-------------------- -----------------------------------Virginia
West Virginia............ ...............................................

1,434
1,292
2,203
3,292
1,694
1,615
1,876
1,405
2,363
1,014
1,807
1,803
1,552
1,722
1,743
2,004
1,873

870
764
1,430
2,457
1,163
979
982
948
1,601
656
1,032
1,019
915
994
1,039
1,232
960

533
444
1,154
2, 065
805
636
794
721
1,144
428
772
782
660
733
759
926
825

592
456
1,061
1,894
844
660
767
744
1,126
412
517
861
462
674
750
737
734

380
342
677
1,396
522
389
488
512
753
330
421
580
363
470
460
530
539

West:
Alaska____________ ____ ________ ___________
Arizona.. ______________ .
California ______________ __________________
Colorado_______ _____ _________ ____ _
Hawaii...................................................................... .
Idaho_____ _______________ ____ _______ ____
Montana
Nevada____ ____________________ ____ _
New Mexico____________________ ______ ____
Oregon____________________________________
Utah........ ................ ..................... ................. ...........
Washington..____ ______ ____ ________ _____ _
Wyoming___________________________ ______

2,949
2,109
2,789
2,234
2, 407
1,515
1,737
2,587
1,949
2,124
1,865
2,330
1,699

1,724
1,291
1,732
1,351
1,773
943
1,069
1,863
1,226
1,147
1,090
1,311
1,118

1,292
864
1,158
885
1,247
658
844
1,192
803
831
791
943
845

834
797
1,583
1,393
1,801
809
685
1,469
901
1,203
1,068
1,292
807

425
441
977
852
1,168
415
409
814
478
734
606
876
469

UNITED STATES.......................................................
Northeast:
Connecticut................... ....... ..................................
Massachusetts—.....................................................
New Jersey...................... .........................................
New York......... .................. ............................. .........
Pennsy1 vani a............................................................
Rhode Island------------------- ------ -------------------

1959

1949

1 Earnings data were not collected in the 1950 Census.
Source: U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census.

O

17