on Women Workers * U. S. Department of Labor Women s Bureau ’ACTS Maurice J. Tobin, Secretary Frieda S. Miller, Director WASHINGTON 25, D. C. ............. library February 28, 1950 A. S M. COLLEGE OF TEXAS FMPLOIMENT OF WCMBN IN JANUAKT 1950 The woman labor force increased by more than 3/4 million from January 1949 to January 1950, according to figures issued by the U. S. Bureau of the Census. This increase represents a rise of 230,000 in the number employed and a rise of 565,000 in the number unemployed. The number of women employed in agriculture decreased considerably, while those in nonagricultural employment increased. Between December 1949 and January 1950 the woman labor force decreased, owing largely to the withdrawal of extra workers employed in stores during the holiday season and of unpaid workers who had been helping on family farms. _____________________ January 1950___________________________ Number of Percent women Change since Change since women of all persons December 1949 January 1949 Population (14 years and over) 56,096,000 50.9 ♦ 43,000 ♦ 637,000 Civilian labor force 17,712,000 28.8 - 568,000 ♦ 795,000 Employed 16,494,000 29.0 - 769,000 ♦ 230,000 In agriculture 625,000 10 a - 224,000 — 181,000 In nonagricultural industries 15,869,000 31.3 - 545,000 ♦ 411,000 Unemployed 1,218,000 27.2 ♦ 201,000 ♦ 565,000 Armed forces 21,000 1<5 None 4 6,000 Nonworkers 38,363,000 80.9 ♦ 616,000 - 164,000 (U. S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census) INCOME OF WOMEN AND OF FAMILIES HEADED BY WOMEN, 1948 Women 14 years of age and over with money income in 1948 had a median income of |l,009, according to a report just issued by the U. S. Bureau of the Census. Employed women's median income was $1,522 in 1943. Comparable figures for men were $2,396 and $2,641* Women salaried proprietors, managers, and officials received higher incomes than any other occupational group. By industry group, women “employed in government received highest incomes; next were women employed in transportation, communication, and other public utilities. Among the 3,713,000 families headed by women, median income in 1943 was $2,064 for the Uhited States as a whole, $2,326 in urban areas, $1,574 in rural-nonfara areas, and $1,199 in rural-farm areas. Digitized for FRASER http://fraser.stlouisfed.org/ Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis minimjm wage Washington State has recently revised its mininmya-wagp. orders for public housekeeping, effective January 23, 1950, and beauty culture, effective February 13 > 1950. Both of the new wage orders, like other recently- 4 revised orders of this State, set 65 cents as the minimum hourly rate, and both provide that "hours of employment ... in the industry ... shall be subject to any applicable statutes of the State.” Both revised orders omit the day-of-rest provisions found in the previous orders. Both revisions add several new working conditions standards. The public housekeeping order adds to the definition of coverage several businesses, services, and occupations not previously covered. It also incorporates apartment-house employees in its coverage, expressly providing that the special order for this industry, in effect since 1937, be rescinded. A 10-minute rest period in the middle of each 4-hour work period is provided for. The order applies to women and minors. The beauty culture order deletes appointment desk clerks, cashiers, maids, cleaning women, and janitresses from the industry definition. The order prohibits requiring an employee to contribute directly or indirectly from the minimum wage for the purchase, maintenance, laundering, or cleaning of uniforms. It provides for a minimum lunch period of one-half hour; and, upon employee’s request, a period not in excess of 1 hour in every regular full-time shift must be allowed. This order is applicable to women over lit years of age who are licensed by the State to practice beauty culture. * CHARACTERISTICS OF WOMEN IN "WHO’S WHO IN AMERICA" Women comprise about 6 percent of all persons listed in the 1948-49 edition of "Who’s Who in America," according to a study recently published by the Milbank Memorial Fund. Over 2,400 women living in the United States and listed in "Who’s Who" (i.e., all but the 40-50 living abroad or deceased) were included in the study. Nearly 23 percent of these women are in the field of formal education as college presidents, deans, professors, and "other teachers." Almost the same proportion (22 percent) are authors. Artists make up 7 percent; editors, reporters, columnists, etc., 6 percent; and public officials, 6 percent. Clubwomen, actresses and dancers, musicians and singers, professional welfare workers, political party workers, businesswomen, librarians, and religious workers follow in order of numbers of women listed. Four States (New York, California, Massachusetts, and Illinois) and the District of Columbia collectively account for over half of the women. As a group, the women are relatively old; among those who reported their year of birth, the median age was about 57 • They are far better educated than the general women population—only 5 of the entire group of over 2,400 did not have at least some high school education. Over half had a Bachelor’s or a higher degree. Two-fifths reported no marriage. Two- fifths of those 40 years of age and over who reported marriage were childless. For those who were mothers, an average of 2.3 children was reported. For every 4 women, married or single, there were only about 3 children. Digitized for FRASER http://fraser.stlouisfed.org/ Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis MAJOR OCCUPATIONS OF WOMEN, JANUARY 1950 Occupation groups showing greatest numerical gfciaB in women*» employment from January I949 to January 1950 were those of professional workers, domestic service workers, and managerial workers, according to the quarterly reporting of occupation groups by the U. S. Bureau of the Census, On the other hand, the numbers of women farm and manual workers — operatives, laborers, and the like — had declined considerably. Clerical workers, the largest occupational group of women, remained much the same in January 1950 as a year ago. Employed women,, January 1950 Number Percent Percent of Changes from distribution all workers January 1949 All occupations 16,194.000 100t0 22x2 ♦ 230,000 Clerical and kindred workers 4,547*000 27.6 59.8 - 1,000 Operatives, laborers (except farm and mine), craftsmen, and foremen 3,474,000 21.0 15.7 - 160,000 Service workers (except domestic) 1,987,000 12.0 43.3 ♦ 90,000 Domestic service workers 1,765,000 10.7 93.9 ♦ 148,000 Professional and semi- professional workers 1,752,000 10.6 39.0 ♦ 168,000 Sales workers 1,366,000 8.3 37.1 ♦ 26,000 Proprietors, managers, and officials (except farm) 998,000 6.1 15.2 ♦ 143,000 Farmers and farm workers 607,000 3*7 10.1 - 184,000 (U. S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census) WORKING MOTHERS Of 26 l/5 mil Hon married women, 15 to 49 years of age, who were living with their husbands in April 1949, somewhat over a fourth were either working or looking for work outside the home. More than 10 2/3 million were mothers of children under 5, and of these a tenth were in the labor force. Number of women, married, husband present Tear and labor force Without With status of women Total children children under 5 under 5 United States, 1949 Total, 15 to 49 years 26,204,000 15,499,000 10,705,000 In labor force 6,758,000 5,637,000 1,121,000 Not in labor force 19,446,000 9,862,000 9,584,000 United States, 1947 Total, 15 to 49 years 24,841,000 15,387,000 9,454,000 In labor force 5,619,000 4,787,000 832,000 Not in labor force 19,222,000 10,600,000 8,622,000 (U. S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census) Digitized for FRASER http://fraser.stlouisfed.org/ Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis WOMEN IN POLITICS AND GOVERNMENT Mrs* Gilford Mayes of Idaho was appointed in January to be assistant chairman in charge of women’s activities for the Republican National Committee. ... The first woman in Minnesota* s history to become a judge on the State or municipal ▼ level was appointed in January to the Minneapolis municipal bench. She is Mrs. Betty Washburn, who prior to her appointment, was Hennepin county court commissioner. ... Miss Susie Sharp was recently appointed Special Judge in the Superior Court of North Carolina, the first woman ever appointed to the North Carolina Superior Court bench. Miss Sharp has been practicing law with her father since 1929. WOMEN AROUND THE WORLD Australia — Women have a bigger voice in the new Australian Parliament than in any previous government, according to a release from the Australian News and Information Bureau. Four women a re Senators and one is a Cabinet Mini step, Dominican Republic — Miss Minerva Bernardino has been appointed Minister Plenipotentiary from her country to the United Nations, Miss Bernardino has a long record of achievement in public affairs, having been the only woman accredited as a voting delegate to the 1945 conference in Mexico City on the problems of war and peace, and a full delegate of her country to the San Francisco conference when the United Nations was organized. Germany — Announcing its goals for women workers in Germany, the German Trade Union Federation recently said, "The Trade Unions welcome the recognition accorded in the Basic Law to the equality of the sexes, a demand which has been pressed by the Trade Unions for decades.