^2=^-4 3 I 3 2.2 Cornell University Library HD 4975.N3 1922 Wages and hours in ^'"eSl'iMimiiil"'" 3 1924 013 893 544 Wages and Hours in American Industry July, 1914— July. 1921 Research Report Number 45 December, 1921 National Industrial Conference Board THE CENTURY CO. NEW YORK PUBLISHERS ^ ^tate OJoUegc of Agricttltute WAGES AND HOURS IN AMERICAN INDUSTRY July, 1914 — July, 1921 Research Report Number 45 December, 1921 t" \V w/, National Industrial Conference Board THE CENTURY CO. NEW YORK PUBLISHERS Copyright, 1922 National Industrial Conference Board FOREWORD The readjustments now proceeding in American industry make accurate, comprehensive and scientifically analyzed in- formation on changes in wages, hours, and the volume of em- ployment of timely interest and importance to business men, students of economics, and the public generally. To supply such information is the object of this report. It is the fourth of this nature published by this Board, much broader in scope than any of its predecessors, and more ex- tensive than any wage survey heretofore made in this country. It presents reliable data portraying the hourly and weekly earnings, hours of plant operation and worker hours, as well as employment, from the pre-war period to the middle of 1921. It covers in special detail the period since June, 1920, when the prevailing depression began to show itself, and is therefore of great value in depicting the process of readjust- ment in the principal American industries during a period of declining business activity. Recognizing the general interest in the relation between wages and the cost of living, the report presents also a com- parison between changes in money wages for all industries and changes in the cost of living for the country as a whole, during the period studied, thus showing the trend of "real" wages, which is the purchasing power of money wages, from 1914 onward. The present report rests on a broad and sound statistical foundation which will provide a basis for further studies by the Board of wages in American industry, and will make possible also a comparison with wage conditions in foreign countries. Cornell University Library The original of tiiis book is in tine Cornell University Library. There are no known copyright restrictions in the United States on the use of the text. http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924013893544 CONTENTS PAGE Introduction -. . 1 Summary and General Conclusions 7 I. Foundry and Machine-Shop Products 33 II. Automobile Manufacturing 41 III. Agricultural Implement Manufacturing... 47 IV. Electrical Apparatus Manufacturing 53 V. Iron and Steel Manufacturing 61 VI. Cotton Manufacturing 69 A. North 69 B. South 75 VII. Wool Manufacturing 81 VIII. Silk Manufacturing 89 IX. Hosiery and Knit Goods Manufacturing. . . 95 X. Rubber Manufacturing 101 XI. Leather Tanning and Finishing 107 XII. Boot and Shoe Manufacturing 113 XIII. Meat Packing 121 XIV. Chemical Manufacturing 127 A. Chemicals 127 B. Fertihzer Manufacturing 133 XV. Paint and Varnish Manufacturing 139 XVI. Paper Manufacturing 145 A. Paper and Wood Pulp Manufacturing. . . 145 B. Paper Products Manufacturing 151 XVII. Printing and Publishing — Book and Job. . . . 157 XVIII. Printing and Publishing — Newspapers and Periodicals 163 XIX. Lumber Manufacturing and Millwork 169 XX. Furniture Manufacturing 177 XXI. Brick and Tile Manufacturing 183 XXII. Generation and Distribution of Electricity 191 XXIII. Manufacture and Distribution of Gas 197 LIST OF SUMMARY TABLES AND CHARTS Tables PAGE Table A: Average Hourly Earnings, All Industries, July, 1914 up to July, 1921 9 Table B : Average Weekly Earnings, All Industries, July, 1914 up to July, 1921 13 Table C: Employment, All Industries, July, 1914 up to July, 1921 18 Table D: Average Hours of Work, All Industries, July, 1914 up to July, 1921 20 Table E: Changes in Actual Hourly Earnings, All In- dustries, July, 1914 up to July, 1921 27 Table E: Changes in Actual Weekly Earnings, All In- dustries, July, 1914 up to July, 1921 28 Table G : Geographical Distribution of Plants Furnishing Data, All Industries 203 Charts Chart A : Average Hourly Earnings, All Industries, July, 1914 up to July, 1921— Actual Figures 10 Chart B : Average Hourly Earnings, All Industries, July, 1914 up to July, 1921— Index Numbers 11 Chart C: Average Weekly Earnings, All Industries, July, 1914 up to July, 1921— Actual Figures 14 Chart D: Average Weekly Earnings, All Industries, July, 1914 up to July, 1921— Index Numbers 15 Chart E: Employment, All Industries, July, 1914 up to July, 1921 17 vii Chart F : Average Hours of Work, All Industries, July, 1914 up to July, 1921 21 Chart G: Percentage Increases in Average Hourly Earnings up to July, 1921, over July, 1914, and Percentages of Change from June, 1920 up to July, 1921, by Industries 23 Chart H : Percentage Increases in Average Weekly Earnings up to July, 1921, over July, 1914, and Percentages of Change from June, 1920 up to July, 1921, by Industries 26 Chart J: Percentages of Change in Employment, June, 1920 up to July, 1921, by Industries Chart K: Average Hourly and Weekly Money Wages, Cost of Living and "Real" Hourly and Weekly Wages, All Industries, July, 1914 up to July, 1921 ... 31 Wages and Hours in American Industry July, 1914— July, 1921 INTRODUCTION Scope of Investigation The aim in this investigation was to present a picture of the trend of industrial conditions in the United States as reflected in wages, hours of work and employment. These three factors are inseparably linked together, and to discuss the question of wages without inquiry into hours and employment would yield incomplete results, both from a scientific and practical point of view. The data contained in this report, therefore, deal not only with wages, but also with the average hours of the nominal or standard week, the average weekly hours of plant activity, the average actual week per wage earner, and with fluctuations in full-time and part-time employment. Three reports dealing with wages have already been issued by the National Industrial Conference Board. The first^ study published by the Board included eight industries, the second^ dealt with twelve, and the third' with fifteen separate industries. The present report covers 23 major industries. Returns were received from 4,398 plants, employing 1,247,650 wage earners at the general height of industrial activity in 1920. Schedules were received from many other plants, but these were not sufficiently complete to warrant their inclusion in this report. The selection of industries was guided by the most recent United States Census of Manufactures and was in part determined by the availability of data. Industries 'Research Report No. 20. "Wartime Changes in Wages: September, 1914— March, 1919." 'Research Report No. 31. "Changes iii Wages During and Since the War: September, 1914— March, 1920." 'Research Report No. 35. "Wage Changes in Industry: September, 1914~December, 1920." 1 were chosen which were representative of the manufacturing activities of the country. The clothing industry was not in- cluded because its sliding scale of wage payments, its mixture of per diem and piece rates, and its seasonal fluctuations, made the gathering of satisfactory data impracticable at this time. For similar reasons, a few other representative industries could not be included. Wage movements are not necessarily best reflected by data gathered from a great number of plants, but rather by data from sources that are truly representative of industrial con- ditions. The 1919 Census of Manufactures lists over 80,000 industrial establishments in the industries covered by this report. Over 5,000 of these establishments furnished infor- mation, and the plants included in this report employed about 30 per cent of the total wage earners in all 80,000 plants. Period Covered by Report The data cover the period from July, 1914 up to July, 1921, and present an authentic record of wage changes in this period, gathered from comparable sources. The periodic wage studies conducted by the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics are from sources that are mainly non-identical. The single available source of continuing in- formation on wage fluctuations from June, 1914 to the present, that of the New York Industrial Commission^, reflects con- ditions in only one state. July, 1914 has been selected as the base for the study because this date immediately precedes the period affected by the outbreak of the World War. It reflects American in- dustry, in general, under fairly normal conditions. In some industries that period was a time of depression or seasonal stagnation, but on the whole, July, 1914 can be considered as the normal and standard basis for comparison with war and post-armistice conditions, whether economic, industrial or social. The period from 1914 to the middle of 1920 was character- ized by an advance from normal business activity to super- normal production, stimulated by the Great War. Industry reached the high-water mark in the middle of 1920, although ' Labor Market Bulletin. in some industries deflation had already started in the spring months of that year. No attempt has been made to study the character of the rise from the base in 1914 to the general peak in 1920. The results of such an investigation would be largely of academic interest. Today the principal need is to show the trends from the peak to the present, and to relate the existing situation to that of the pre-war period. To meet this need, this report shows the flow of wages, hours of work and employment, month by month from June, 1920 up to July, 1921, related to the common base of July, 1914. Approximately three-quarters of the usable schedules which form the basis of this report give complete data from July, 1914 up to July, 1921. The remainder are from plants that could not furnish July, 1914 data, but did compile returns for the period 1920-1921. This group contained many firms in existence in 1914, but whose payroll records from 1914 to 1920 were unobtainable, and also firms that had started in business after 1914. It was felt that to eliminate from the report the group which supplied only 1920-1921 data would omit valu- able information. The problem, therefore, was to relate the data from the 1914-1921 group with those from the 1920-1921 group of firms. In regard to weekly and hourly earnings, the average week per wage earner, the average week of plant operation and the hours of the nominal week, careful tabulation showed little divergence between the data for the two groups, covering the period from June, 1920 up to July, 1921. It seeme3" justifiable, therefore, to tie together the two groups for 1920- 1921. For this reason, the actual and index base for hours and earnings, furnished by the 1914-1921 group of firms, has been taken as the base for the entire 1920-1921 group. As explained later in this report, a diff'erent method was applied to employment data. The fact that three-quarters of the material covers the entire period, assures a predominant base which is sufiicient to outweigh any errors that might accrue by tying in a smaller group at June, 1920. In other words, the statistical method pursued has not involved changing the base or a greater part of the base between diff'erent periods. Classification of Wage Earners This investigation deals only with the wage-earning group, and does not include executives, office and sales force, fore- men or assistants, if paid on a salary basis, or clerical workers. As in previous wage studies conducted by the Conference Board, data are classified first by sex. Male wage earners are then divided into the two general groups of "common or un- skilled" labor and "all other" labor. "Common or unskilled" labor is defined as that for which no previous training is re- quired — the general labor that performs the cruder "muscle" tasks. "All other" labor is composed of semi-skilled and skilled labor of all kinds — the group that must have had some training for their jobs. It contains all kinds of workers, from those who classify just above the rank of common laborers to the most highly skilled wage earners. The dividing line between these groups is difficult to determine, yet, on the whole, there is a general understanding as to the distinction implied by these terms. In the charts and tables contained in this report, the word "skilled" refers to the male workers in the "all other" group. An attempt was made in this investigation to ascertain wage rates as well as earnings for each of the principal occupa- tional groups in each industry. It was found, however, that with regard to the classification of occupations and to oc- cupational nomenclature, there was no general agreement be- tween plants in the same industry, or between different industries using substantially the same kind of labor. The attempt had, therefore, to be abandoned. Treatment of Wage Data This report deals with "money wages," which are to be distinguished from "real wages", or the purchasing power of money wages. Wherever "earnings" is used, it means total wages derived from labor services. Hourly, as well as weekly earnings, for each of the three classes in each industry, are included in the present investiga- tion. Hourly earnings are obtained by dividing the weekly payroll in money for each group of wage earners by the total actual hours worked by each group; weekly earnings are obtained by dividing the weekly payroll in money by the total number of persons in each group of wage earners. The wage data have been given in tables and charts both in index num- bers, and in dollars and cents which picture actual conditions. The index numbers show the rate of increase and decrease from various points, and they further reflect the relative im- portance of wage changes in the different groups. Treatment of Employment Data While the 1914-1921 and 1920-1921 groups were consoli- dated in showing trends of earnings and hours, such a pro- cedure in regard to employment data was considered statisti- cally incorrect. The base furnished by the 1914-1921 group of establishments could be used as the base for trends in earnings and hours for all establishments, but this base could not be used for all establishments in regard to employment. Here the problem deals with actual numbers rather than with trends, and to use the Base of a smaller group as the base for the whole group would lead to wrong conclusions. Con- sequently the employment data for the total and for the three classified groups individually are shown for the 1920-1921 period only. Additional information, covering the establish- ments from which data for 1914-1921 were available, is also included on the employment charts. Treatment of Data on Hours of Work The report covers three kinds of data regarding hours of work:. (1) the average actual week per wage earner, (2) the average actual week of plant operation, (3) the nominal or standard work week. "The average actual week per wage earner" is obtained by dividing the total man or worker hours of each group by the number of workers employed in that group. In consolidating this information from individual plants into data for an in- dustry, the number of wage earners in each plant was taken into account, thereby securing a weighted average for each industry. "The actual week of plant operation" is the average of the hours of operation of all the plants covered in a specific industry. The figure is obtained by multiplying the total number of wage earners in each plant by the hours of opera- ion of that plant, andjthen dividing the sum of these totals by the total number of wage earners, thus combining these data into an average for the industry. This gives the properly weighted hours of plant operation for an industry. The "nominal or standard work week" in a plant is the number of hours which the plant is supposed to operate. The hours of the nominal week are determined not so much by the size of the individual establishment as by the prevailing hours within the industry, or by a collective contract between man- agement and employees. The nominal week for an entire industry has been ascertained by taking the average of the nominal weeks in all the establishments of that industry. This average has not been weighted in relation to the number of plant employees, because the object is to ascertain the aver- age week for the plants in the industry rather than for the workers in the plants. The comparison between the average hours per individual wage earner and the actual week of plant operation shows the divergence between the hours that all the wage earners have actually worked and the hours that the plant has ac- tually operated. It measures the inefficiency of plant opera- tion due to any or all causes. In addition, the comparison be- tween the actual week of plant operation and the nominal week reflects broadly the economic condition of the industry. In determining the actual week of plant operation, full account was taken of the time lost due to local and legal holi- days, and to local and temporary plant disabilities. Losses due to these causes are not to be attributed to economic and industrial conditions, but to temporary and local circumstances . To compute average weekly hours and earnings on the basis of a week that has been reduced through a cause not related to conditions governing working time in the industry, would result in lowering the average so that it would not be repre- sentative or tjpical of other weeks in the month. On this account the wage schedule requested representative weeks which were, as far as possible, unaffected by legal and local holidays. Where such holidays occurred, the time lost was added to the hours of actual plant operation and to the average actual week per wage earner, and the normal week of hours and earnings was thus established. SUMMARY AND GENERAL CONCLUSIONS The present wage investigation, covering the interval from July, 1914 to the middle of 1921, deals with an especially interesting period of American industry. Starting from a pre- war base, the study reflects the tremendous expansion in many manufacturing industries under pressure of war stimula- tion and post-war demands, followed by the industrial de- pression which developed in the spring of 1920 and has since continued in most industries. The period of deflation has been one of wide fluctuations, characterized by general wage reductions,, unemployment, part-time operation, and curtail- ment of production. The general results of the investigation are dealt with under five headings: A. Composite data for all industries. B. Comparison of data between industries. C. Comparison of data between classified groups in all industries. D. Comparison of composite hourly and weekly earnings with the cost of living. E. General conclusions. A. Composite Data for All Industries Not all of the material presented in the twenty-six separate industrial sections is included in the composite results. Data from gas and electric light and power companies are not used, as conditions in these public utilities are not quite compar- able with those in other manufacturing industries. Wages and rates are generally determined by local or state legislation, and the conditions in these industries require continuous opera- tion, making an accurate record of hours of little value. Further, of the seventy iron and steel plants from which returns were received, data from sixteen plants have not been included in the composite returns, because the payroll records of these plants did not give classified data. Moreover, their inclusion in the composite results would not have materially altered these results. The composite returns in this section, therefore, include only 4,084 plants, employing 1,200,000 wage earners in the aggregate, while in discussing general results relating specifically to earnings, employment and hours, the number of plants and wage earners covered is designated in each case. Wages (a) Hourly eamin^s: The compilation of data on hourly earnings does not include returns from boot and shoe establish- ments 1 in addition to the gas and electric plants and certam iron and steel companies already mentioned. The composite hourly earnings for all industries, therefore, include data from only 3,973 plants. Women were employed in 1,717 of these plants. Composite hourly earnings of all wage earners increased 1^6% between July, igi4 and September, igso. The decline from the latter period to the middle of ig2i amounted to 16.5%. At that time, the net increase over July, 19 14 was 114%. The actual decrease in money in average hourly earnings Jor all wage earners from June, 1920 up to July, 1921 amounted to $.09)4. The trend shows a well-sustained level to the end of 1920. Beginning in January, 1921, sharp declines occurred, which increased throughout the entire first six months of the year. By September, ig20 the hourly earnings of common labor had increased i6j% over July, 1914. In the same month, those of skilled labor showed an increase of 149%, while the high point of hourly earnings for women was reached in June, 1920, when there was an increase of 171% over the 1914 level. The percentages of decline for the three groups from the peak months up to July, 1921 were as follows: common labor, 17.3%; skilled labor, 15.2%; women, 14.6%o- Relatively, the amount of decline for women was less than that for the male group. The percentages of increase in June, 1921 over 1914 for the three groups were respectively, 117%q, 111%o and 131%q. Between June, 1920 and the end of June, 1921, the hourly earnings of common labor declined $.084, those of skilled labor $.097, and those of women, $.061. The general tendency in the trends for the individual groups ' Data on hourly earnings were not received from a sufficient number of boot and shoe establishments to warrant their inclusion in the composite results. See p. 13. < o < O S erf < < > ^§ w o erf > o O S o U 2 i i: 3 c oj o ^ >'T' « Q a> Q rt u,5 ■Ci° S; = c S 3 = > ° rt Zfe: D Id 2 W ■^ 00 VO O Ov t^ cs t^ \0 VO *-- \o O \o CS CN cs cs (N cs es lo r^ »o M cs ^^ ^* PO f) r*5 fO (*^ cs es CM cs rs CN 1^ CN O lO ^ »-H -^ —1 i-H T-l rf -H ^ O t^ iO (N t^ t^ O r^ vo vo lO »o "^ r'j r*^ PO ro to ro ^ ^ ^ CS O O fO 0\ '-I t-- t^ ■^ 0^ 00 lO CN Tt* O es -^ OM>- NO 00 OO 00 00 vO vO 00 Ost— CN OO sO OS On^ liT^ tJH^ »-H^ ro^oO^ lO \0 !>• 00 OMO m ^ "O Ov oo lo es CN CS CS CN CS (N CN Tf Os C4 OO lO T-i PO O) o ^-. -«^ t^ lo lO rt< (N ■--" O 0\ NO NO NO O nO lO NO t-~ 00 ^ t^ CN CS -^ »-i 00 CN On O NO O ■^ lO lO rs^oo NO lo ON OO NO lO »-l 00 Tt* NO NO NO O NO lO lO 00 lO Ov NO On CS ^ ^ CN lO »0 On "^r. ^r. ^ ^,. ^^ "^^ O CS CS 00 On '-' O 00 r- lo fc CN lO ^^ ^^ ^* ^^ ^^ 00 '-I CS f*5 ^-t 00 lO ly-j NO NO NO *0 to »0 CN (M r^ cs cs C^ cs T+ t^ On U^ '-I t— tJi rri CN (N es •-! es CS tM CS CN cs ■ ™ '-',5 Ms w o < Q O 5 0^ M t^ O e^ oo »-i vo CD rO *<* Tt* fO fO CS IT) lO lO *0 lO lO >o M On »-< Tt< NO 00 O OOt^ O to -^ lO tJ< Tfi ^ Tt ^ i-H CO (M lO O NO lO t^ CO CO '-H lO lO lO l>'^ NO^ CS^ tJh^ ro^ 00^*-^ CO lO PO to On 00 ^^ t^ t^ t^ NO '^ CS O CN CN C^ CM C>1 CN r>l t-- ^ ro NO b- t^ Ot^^OOOriH O On lO 00 O lO CS CS PO NO ^ M O \ri \ri xTi \n \n \n \n M CS (N CS CM CS CN On CO lO »-i 00 -^ ro CO CN CN »-i ,-( CN CN CN CS CS (N NO NO 00 -^ i-H lO On yH ^ T-( CN C-l '«H O NO NO NO ^ NO NO NO tJ< 00 O On '^ th 00 NO ""v PO CO CM lO lO lO lO lO lO c ^ J^ c — I a. ^ w o z p ^-sfc IS <; s 1-n to ro •U V IMCS 4 H, »H 0^0^ »-l *-< bl ist S C Xiji c B ,3 ,3 TflO 00*^ 00 0\ -OT3 Chart A: Average Hourly Earnings, All Industries, July, 1914 Up to July, 1921. (National Industrial Conference Board) CENTS PER HOUR I 00 go 40 so 10 ACTU AL FIGUR ES • M :N-E KILL ED AL L W< iGE EAR jERS •*% •*. ^. .^ >^^ m ^^ M ■ ■■' EN- >■■■ JNSH ■ ■■■ ILLE ■••• "*** ^ •^ ^ ,^ ^••., W mMI :n ■•, ••. '•••1 '••• '■•• ***% - ■ ^ ■ ^H — ■- Mi JUL AUG. SEPT OCT NOV DEC JAM FEB. MAC APB MAY JUM 1920 igai Chart B: Average Hourly Earnings, All Industries, July, 1914 Up to July, 1921. (National Industrial Conference Board) INDEX NUMBERS 350 3S5 300 275 SSD S55 EDO 175 150 1E5 100 IN DEX NUMBE RS i^WDME N ?^S ^ ^ ^.5 ME M-St H ILLE D •••, ■•. ^ ^ ^ ^ ill* ^^m •^ ^ 1^«. ^ ^ JUN. JUL. AUG. SEPT OCT. NW DEC JAM FEB. MAB APR MAY JUN I9SD 1951 11 follows the trend for the composite group, showing well- sustained levels through 1920, with sharp reductions occurring at the beginning of 1921, and continuing through the first six months of the year. (b) Weekly earnings: Composite weekly earnings of all wage earners include returns from all industries except the gas and electric light plants and iron and steel companies, already mentioned. The data covering composite weekly earnings were received from 4,084 establishments Women were employed in 1,827 of these plants. Composite weekly earnings of all wage earners increased 140% between July, 1914 and July, 1920. The index numbers for composite weekly earnings for June, July, August and September, 1920, were the same, but the actual peak was reached in July, when weekly earnings averaged $2g.8i. The decline from July, 1920 up to July, 1921 amounted to 23.2%. At the latter time there was a net increase of 85% over July, 1914. The high level of weekly earnings remained practically the same through September, 1920. In October a slight decrease occurred, followed by much larger decreases in November and December. The beginning of January witnessed a large drop amounting to 14.3% from the peak. The following months of 1921 were characterized by continued, but some- what more gradual declines. The actual money decrease- in weekly earnings from June, 1920 up to July, 1921 amounted to $6.91. The extensive decline in weekly earnings has been unquestionably more directly affected by part-time opera- tions than by wage reductions, though both are large factors in changes in weekly earnings. The composite weekly earnings of common labor increased 149%) between July 1914, and July, 1920, while in June, 1920, those of skilled labor and of women showed increases of 137%o and 140% respectively. The percentages of decline from these peaks for each of the groups up to July, 1921 were as follows: common labor, 25.8%o; skilled labor, 22.8%; women, 15.9%^. In June, 1921, weekly earnings of common labor were o o O SfSE (0^ C ■^h? a « c cZ •; •> c V Si E ^^ ►S'^o; e.53.E c5Sg£ Q VO tH lO O 0\ fO ^ ro fO PO r') »-' »-i . fH^ O^O^ 00^ fO^lO^t^ oT^-TvcT cTirT cs" cT es »-i 0\ 00 Tt< *-n>. r^ c^ O so O \0 »o CM 00 »-l tH PO lO lO O fO 00 I-* *-l ■^ lo^ O^ 00^ 00 r^ to" OT O" VO" 00 -r^ vO 0\ Ov 0\ lO t^ 00 ^ ■^ "^ ^ ^ r*5 C^ cs cs cs cs es cs c5 IMEf 1 •* JUN. JUL. AUG. SEPT OCT NOV. DEC JAM FEBl MAR APR MAY JUN . of weekly earnings for women was reached in April, 1921, when there was a decline of 17.2% from the peak. The general tendencies noted in composite weekly earnings apply for each of the three groups, the general high levels of the groups being maintained through 1920, with slight de- clines occurring toward the close of the year, except for women, and with sharp reductions continuing during the first six months of 1921. The effect of part-time operation on the earnings of the male group, particularly common labor, has been predominant. The decline in weekly earnings has been far more extensive than in hourly earnings, due chiefly to part-time operations, plant shutdowns and part-time employment. Wage trends indicate well-sustained levels in basic industries through 1920 with sharp reductions occurring in the winter months of 1920- 1921. The spring months of 1921 were characterized by continued declines, though they were not so severe as in the previous months. In the three classified groups, male common and skilled labor suffered far more severe reductions than women. In comparison with 1914, wage levels for women in 1921 show the greatest net increases. This may be partially accounted for by the progress which women made during the war, through legislation and otherwise, in bringing their wage levels nearer to those of men. On the whole, this wage investigation shows that wage decreases were general throughout American industry. Employment Composite data on employment include returns from 4,084 establishments. Women were employed in 1,827 of these plants. The total employment in all industries decreased 37.1% from June, 1920, generally the peak of industrial activity , up to July, 1921. The trend shows fairly well sustained conditions through October, 1920. Slight reductions occurred in Novem- ber and extensive lay-offs took place in December, 1920. The unemployment situation began to be severe in the opening months of 1921 and gradually became worse through the first six months of the year. The large amount of decline in the metal working trades, building materials manufacturing, 16 Chart E: Employment, All Industries, July, 1914 Up to July, 1921 (National Industrial Conference Board) THOUSANDS l,CUU 1,1 QO I.DDD aoD / / / QDD / / 7QD / 1 f 6Q0 5D0 40D 3QD SOD IQO JM BE R DF WAGE EA RN ER S AL\. Ei . WA ^RNE J5' S ■ ■ % «« s W % \ s ^ ^ \ * ^. X, % ALL WAGE EARNEPS ^ 9QCB FCTAQ ME^ 4- SKI LLEI >. V V •% *% *»«• ^« r^ ^, ^ '< y 1 *^« ■^ ••^ *•* ME ■ ■■ N-Uf ■ ■■■ iMEr J5KII '■■■ .LED *••. ••.. m ^ - ^* • ••• ^ m ■>■■ ■ ■■ 1 ^m '■■• "«•■ '«. juiy 1914. 17 Table C EMPLOYMENT Composite and Classified Employment in 24 Industries PERIOD NUMBER WAGE EARNERS EMPLOYED One Week In Composite Total 1914-21 Establ. Total 1920-21 Establ. Classified Male Unskilled Male Skilled Women 1914 July 1920 June July August September . October. . . . November. . December. . 1921 January. . . . February . . . March April May June 638,531 954,438 954,627 918,777 902,149 857,754 808,558 750,318 687,350 671,987 658,709 637,998 619,292 598,226 638,531 1,185,611 1,170,950 1,141,270 1,112,802 1,054,632 990,875 918,428 838,230 823,218 814,242 795,457 772,092 745,703 142,283 275,059 276,621 274,353 264,436 250,220 229,718 208,629 184,873 180,981 179,650 172,871 165,113 158,683 389,587 729,185 717,048 696,072 680,806 645,316 612,540 570,776 523,452 509,508 500,031 486,884 468,873 451,715 106,661 181,367 177,281 170,845 167,560 159,096 148,617 139,023 129,905 132,729 134,561 135,702 138,106 135,305 2,966 establishments furnished 1914-21 data. 4,084 establishments furnished 1920-21 data. and rubber manufacturing, overbalanced the generally sus- tained levels in the textile industries. Employment of common labor declined 42.3% from June, 1920 up to July, 1921, and was the most severely affected group during the depression period. Skilled labor declined 38.1% from June, 1920 up to July, 1921, while women were the least affected, with a decline of 25.4%^ during the same period. The trough period of employment for women was reached in January, 1921, when there was a decline of 28.4% from the peak. Between January and June, 1921, there was an increased employment of women amounting to approximately 4%. This may be accounted for by the return of women wage earners employed on piece-work in the textile industries and in boot and shoe manufacturing. In the 2,966 establishments which furnished complete data from July, 1914 up to July, 1921, total employment increased 49.5% between July, 1914 and June, 1920. The percentage of decline in these establishments from June, 1920 up to July, 1921 was 37.3%. In other words, in June, 1921, the in- dustrial depression had forced employment in the same estab- lishments 6,3%) below the level of July, 1914. Hours No composite data are presented in regard to the^average hours of the nominal week. Composite nominal hours in 26 industries of divergent character would portray little that is valuable for comparison. The actual week of plant operation has been compiled for all industries except the three industries whose normal method of production is on a two or three shift basis. This group in- cludes the chemical industry, iron and steel manufacturing and paper and wood pulp mills. The average hours of plant opera- tion were compiled from 3,825 establishments. Women were employed in 1,728 of these plants. The composite actual week of plant operation in all industries shows a reduction from 53.7 hours in July, 1914 to 50 hours in June, 1920. Plant activity continued on a well-sustained level through September, 1920. In October a slight decline occurred, followed by large reductions at the close of the year. The begin- ning of 1921 was characterized by severe depression in plant activity, the level being below 45]/2 hours, or a loss of over 4}/^ hours from June, 1920. The trough period of 44.6 hours was reached in April, 1921. May witnessed a strong revival to 45.9 hours, which was probably due to increased activity in metal trades and textiles. A decline occurred again in June, 1921. The trend of plant hours clearly reflects the condition of American manufacturing industries from 1914 to the middle of 1921'. There was a general reduction of the length of work- ing hours in all industries between 1914 and 1920, while the plant hours were steadily reduced during the depression period . The general trend of plant operation has been closely followed by the trend in the hours of the actual week per wage earner. The composite average actual week per wage earner was compiled from all industries except public utilities, boot and shoe manufacturing and 16 iron and steel plants, which did not 19 Table D AVERAGE HOURS OF WORK Classified and Composite Hours of the Average Week Per Wage Earner, and Composite Plant Hours PERIOD One Week In 1914 July 1920 June July August September. . October . . . . November. . December. . 1921 January. . . . February. . . March April May June ACTUAL WEEK PER WAGE EARNER Classifiei) Male Unskilled 53.0 SO. 4 50.6 so. 2 49.9 49.7 48.5 47.2 45.4 44.8 45.2 44.7 45.0 45.0 Male Skilled 50.6 49.1 49.0 49.0 48.4 48.5 47.2 46.2 44.3 44.0 43.8 43.5 43.8 43.6 Women 49.8 45.0 44.9 44.3 44.5 43.8 41.9 41.1 41.3 42.2 42.5 42.4 43.5 43.5 Composite 51.1 48.9 48.8 48.7 48.2 48.1 46.8 45.7 44.1 43.9 44.0 43.6 44.0 43.9 PLANT HOURS 53.7 50.0 50.0 49.8 49.4 48.9 47.7 46.5 45.4 45.4 45.3 44.6 45.9 45.5 2,884 establishments furnished 1914-21 data on Actual Week per Wage Earner 3,973 establishments furnished 1920-21 data on Actual Week per Wage Earner. 2,798 establishments furnished 1914-21 data on Plant Hours. 3,825 establishments furnished 1920-21 data on Plant Hours. contribute hourly data. The total compilation of the average week per wage earner included 3,973 establishments. Women were employed in 1,717 of these plants. The average actual week per wage earner in all industries showed a decline from 51.1 hours in July, 1914 to 48.9 hours in June, 1920. The latter level was well sustained through October, when the decrease in plant activity began to affect working hours, there being a decrease in November to 46.8 hours. In December there was a further decline to 45.7 hours. The beginning of 1921 marked a still further reduction to 44.1 hours and the depression period continued to the trough in April of 43.6 hours. A revival occurred in May, followed again by a slight depression in June. In June, 1921, the average wage earner was working exactly 20 Chart F : Average Hours of Work, All Industries, July, 1914 Up to July, 1921. (National Industrial Conference Board) HOURS GD 55 5D 45 40 35 3D B5 \ \ \ \ \ \ fEVi FAE E HI 3UI ?S OF ' WOPK .»■' '..J m^ L-. ■ MEN-SKILLEt '%, AVL WABE^ EABNERS'^ * s ;^ ^ b.* MEN -UNSKILLED I % '*i» ■ •* %«' .-> ^-^^ •^^ >*. V N J WOMEN " ^W| ^^ s \, ^^a 1^. ^> — .^ JULY JUM. JUL. AUG. SEPT OCT NOV DEC JAN. FEB MAC APP. MAY JUN . 1914 I9S0 igei 21 five hours less than in the preceding June, this constituting a loss oj approximately 10.2%. This great decline in working hours may be accounted for directly by the industrial depression, and naturally has caused an extensive reduction in weekly earnings. In the three groups, the average week per unskilled wage earner in 1914 was 53 hours. In June, 1920 they had decreased to 50.4 hours. In June, 1921 the unskilled wage earner was working only 45 hours per week. In July, 1914 the average skilled wage earner was working 50.6 hours. In June, 1920 the hours had declined to 49.1, while in June, 1921 the hours had fallen to 43.6. The loss of 5.5 hours suffered by the skilled wage earner between June, 1920 and June, 1921 shows that the skilled class has been even more severely affected by the industrial depression than male conimon labor or women. In July, 1914 the average woman wage earner was working 49.8 hours. In June, 1920 the hours had decreased to 45 per week, while, in June, 1921 they were 43.5 hours. The i'depression period for women wage earners occurred in Decem- bier, 1920, when there was a drop tQ,,4.1.1 hours. The hours of .women, therefore, have increased since the beginning of 1921 and they are the only group to show a sustained recovery from a trough period. Women have been less affected by decline in working hours than men. B. Comparison of Data Between Industries Wages The comparison of wages between industries is presented in bar diagrams showing the percentage increases in hourly and weekly earnings in June, 1921, over July, 1914. In addition, the percentage of decline from June, 1920 up to July, 1921, is also designated. ' (a) Hourly earnings: The greatest net increase in hourly earnings in Juiie, 1921 over July, 1914, occurred in the textile ■group. In June, 1921 the wool industry showed an increase of 153% over July, 1914, while northern cotton mills showed '•"i percentage increase bf 142% and southern cotton mills of 120%. Hourly earnings in silk increased 128% and in hosiery manufacturing 121%. In the metal trades the increases range from 112% in iron and 22 steel to 100% in automobiles. The whole metal industry shows a level of approximately 105% increase over 1914. It can be seen readily that this level is below that of the textile industries. Rubber and meat packing show large increases of 136% and 132% respectively. In paper manufacturing the net levels were also high, amounting to 129% in paper and wood pulp and 142% in paper products. Boots and shoes, newspaper printing, brick and tile, paint and varnish, and gas and electric light plants show compara- tively small increases in hourly earnings. (b) Decline in hourly earnings: Generally speaking, the largest amount of decline between June, 1920 and June, Chart G : Percentage Increases in Average Hourly Earn- ings Up to July, 1921, Over July, 1914, and Percentages of Change From June, 1920, Up to July, 1921, by Industries. (National Industrial Conference Board) PEnCENTAGE INCREASE UP TO JULY. 1321 OVER JULY, 1914 wool I COTTON -NODTH | PAPER PHODUCTS I RUBBER I MEAT PACKING I PAPER «■ WOOD PULP I SILK I HOSIERY a KNIT GOODS-J COTTON- SOUTH I FURNITURE I LEATHER | CHEMICALS I IRON <5. STEEI I PRINTING (BOOK £ JOBXI AGRICULTURAL IMPLE 1 ELECTRICAL APPARATUS-.] FOUNDRIES I LUMBER «• MILLWOEK \ GAS I AUTOMOBILES I BOOTS a- SHOES I ELECTRICITY | PAINT & VARNISH | BRICK a. TIIE-,.,^ PRINTING (KTEWSPAPER)-.,! FEBTItlZEfii.- ._ 1^ CO ■S3 1^ IS3 DEI DEI an lEQ Wifil EQ PCaCENTOiGE CHANCE JUNCJ9ZD UP TD JULY, I9ai -17 3% -ZE 1 -2 7 -1 3.1 -152 -1 3.A -I4S -a.i -2 6.1 -ea -17 8 -145 -25 B ♦ 79 :E0. 1 -as -1 1 -BE t4 4. ■ ■-ia-.4 ■ . -A3- ,: ■■ -OS -fl.3 -1 75 *Gfl -2 7.3.- 23 1921 occurred in the industries which showed the largest increases between July, 1914 and June, 1920. This is particu- larly true of the textile group, where reduction in hourly earn- ings has ranged from 8.1% in hosiery factories to 28.1% in southern cotton mills. Similarly, in the metal trades a large amount of expansion has been followed by a large amount of contraction. The declines range from 8.2% in electrical ap- paratus manufacturing to 25.6% in iron and steel plants. Foundries and machine shops, the largest single basic group in the entire study, show a decrease of 11%. Extensive de- creases in hourly earnings have been noted also in meat packing, leather, brick and tile manufacturing, while those in boots and shoes, furniture, paper products, and gas and electric light plants, were below the general level of reductions. (c) Weekly earnings: The increases in average weekly earn- ings in June, 1921 over July, 1914 ranged from 128% in wool to 49% in fertilizer manufacturing. As in the case of hourly earnings, the textile group, as a whole, show the greatest increases. Among other industries may be mentioned furni- ture, 105%; leather, 99%; boots and shoes, 98%; gas, 98%; book and job printing, 97%; and meat packing, 97%. Part-time operations forced many industries toward low levels of weekly earnings, although the average hourly earn- ings were sustained at high levels. (d) Decline in weekly earnings: As in the case of hourly earnings, the largest amount of decrease in weekly earnings took place in those industries where there were the largest increases during war-time production. There was a net in- crease of 107% in northern cotton mills in June, 1921, while the decline from June, 1920 up to July, 1921 amounted to 28.4%. Large decreases are noted in the metal trades, such as agricultural implement manufacturing, 37%, foun- dries, 26%, and automobiles, 24.2%. Large decreases were noted also in northern and southern cotton mills and in fertilizer, brick and tile, and paper manufacturing. At the bottom of the list appear .boot and shoe manufacturing and gas and electric light companies. Employment Comparison of employment in various industries from June, 1920 up to July, 1921, shows that unemployment has been 24 Chart H: Percentage Increases in Average Earnings Up to July, 1921, Over July, 1914, and ages of Change From June, 1920 Up to July, Industries. (National Industrial Conference Board) PE HCE:NTAGL increase up to JULY. 1321 over JULY 1914. wool ^^^^IHB^IHHB^^H^^^H^ QUBBEQ HH^^HII^HIJ^HH^H^BQ SILK ^HHl^^^^HiMIIHEEI FURNITURE. ^H^^HHI^^^HIi^HHDS HOSIEOY & KNIT GOODS |H^^B^^^^^H|HB|||^KE| LEATHCB HHH^^^HHiHIHIKEI BOOTS e- SHOES ^^^BI^^^^m^^^BfQ GAS ■■■^■^^^■■■ES PACKING ^^^HHH^^^^^^^HKS PRINTING C8°°K £. JOB)— .^^^^BI^^^^^^mi^fQ COTTON - SOUTH PAPER e- WOOD PULP__, PAPER PRDOUCTS CHEMICALS ELECTRICITY LUMBER & MILLWORK BRICK & TILE PAINT 6- VARNISH ELECTRICAL APPARATUS. PRINTING (NEWSPAPER). FOUNDRIES AUTDMOBILES AGRICULTURAL IMPLE-- IttON a STEEL FERTILIZER Weekly Percent- 1921, BY PCnCCNTAGC CHANGE JUNE,l92D UP TO JULV,I33( -I2B% -ID, I -59 -as 4 -134 -15 2 -IT3 -43 -44 -IB I • 2 -30 4 -21.7 -19.2 -177 -D3 -10 I -20 4 -124 -ia.7 •3.g -26 -24 2 -370 ■45.3 •32 3 more general in the metal trades than in any other group. The percentages of decline in this group range from 65.8% in agricultural implement manufacturing to 35.7% in elec- trical apparatus plants. Employment in the rubber industry dropped 54%, while in chemicals the decline was 45%. The number employed in paper and wood pulp mills declined 48.3%, chiefly due to labor conditions in May and June, 1921. The textile industry was less afi^ected by the drop in employ- ment than any other group. Declines ranged from 14.2% in northern cotton mills to 5.3% in southern cotton mills, while increases were noted in silk and wool of 3% and 4.3% 25 respectively. Newspaper printing also showed an increase of 2.7%, while gas and electric plants were little affected by general economic conditions. The composite decline of the entire metal group amounted to 46%, while that of the textile group amounted to only 5.8%. Chart J : Percentages of Change in Employment From June, 1920 Up to July, 1921, by Industries (National Industrial Conference Board) PEQCENTAGL OECREASE AGRICULTUQAL IMPLE ._ BUBBEQ FEBTlUZEtt AUTOMOBILES BAPER S- WOOD PULP.-. lODN S STEEI CHEMICALS rOUNDQIES ELECTBICAL APPAPATUS. BRICK a TILE. PAPER PBODUCTS. PAINT & VARNISH. FURNITURE LEATHER TANNING MEAT RACKING PRINTING (BOCK & JDB). LUMBER S- MILLWDRK COTTON - NORTH. HOSIERY & KNIT GOODS. BOOTS & SHOES. COTTON - SOUTH ELECTRICITY. GAS PRINTING (NEWSPAPEHI4I2 SILK Hj WOOL ^ ^ Q^ EQQ C. Comparison of Data Between Classified Groups in all Industries Tables E and F are a recapitulation of material included in the separate industrial sections and are valuable for com- paring actual wages paid for the same type of labor in differ- ent industries. 26 ■a s." Q S o 90t ITTT ■^fNOOOOQO o»Ocs 1 1 1 >oe^oo Omqo I ! I I 3=5 C4 OIOIO C4 ■-H est^^t- ^o 'O >o ^ >n (*3 ro >/> r*l ifl »o*ooooo c*J00 O -*00 vODD Or^Tj.>£) 00 Ov fO O lOOO^ oor~ r<) 00 •^■*0'^ >0 OODOO O<-<00 C\vO m PM -H w) i-* o CS jO »H Tt( x^f^O r^ 0^-< to lO 0 to >0 lO to so M fOtOOO 00tO«O CS 00 ^ f»)iOiO ^ TfOO^ iO'«*"iO OOOiO Ov lOlO 'O'O lOiO ^ *o I— >Or^Ofl -^ M ^MOO P-1 CS CS M •H lo Or-*-" P4 VOOOO oo OOO (OO CN CM >• St, H to D Q z ■m3 S .£ , = o t. rt o V V o ■Si-in 3 3" u o*3 rt n c 3 3 « ■s I si 1-3== SI Q u nxi 3 S MM MO i!- = :3 Mti'S 8.= = ■S.a «''•*' |gg.|Sg rt.£).B C ■gu a. ifl. ^> > ^N^ X XI X >«. S3 3 ■5 3 3'C .su 27 2r u o Tji (N -H r^ "so. 3 O I I I I I I Ti T r- vooor^t^ 00^00 »-< 11 f 00 o o> ^ 00 o vo o>' «Ot^ t» Ot o u 1-1 >j CO H < s Q FT fr» t» 00 00 MS to 1^ (*3 (*5 lOI-- O I I I I I I 00 to «* Ti T «^*o«o »-tmt*s - TTT mioio-^ o TTii jTT ■*0'~<'*0i ^3 ■* *o ^ ■* m O00»-« CS• H M Q z «3 CJ3 s <3T] S 3 M n 3 C^ o. « = n " 0.3 S>^ ^ e:qqZ "S MM ^ « c c II ill "oS^ S 3 =" jk S a a n n ^S(2b!mm '^ £ a « «*: fc. 3 K B.2 28 D. Comparison of Composite Hourly and Weekly Earnings with the Cost of Living This report gives the hourly and weekly money wages of the three groups of wage earners for various industries. Such data, however, do not fully reflect the economic status of the wage earner in the periods covered. To show this it is necessary to study money wages in relation to the cost of living, in order to ascertain the purchasing power of the wages received, or, in other words, to determine the real wages. Thus, whereas a weekly wage of $\0 will buy one living at a time when the wage earner's cost of living is $10 per week, an increased weekly wage of $15 at a later time will buy \}i livings if the cost of living remains stationary, or will buy one living with an increase of the cost of living to $15 per week, or will buy only three-quarters of a living if the weekly cost of living should have risen to $20 per week. In the present report, composite hourly and weekly earn- ings in the various industries are shown, together with changes in the cost of living for the country as a whole, as ascertained by the National Industrial Conference Board;* and by combin- ing the two, changes in real wages during the periods studied are brought out. While comparisons of wage changes in specific industries with changes in the cost of living for the country as a whole serve in a general way to reflect the real wages in these separate industries, they do not necessarily portray the actual situation in large industrial centers or areas. Since most industries are highly localized, their real wages can be determined accurately only on the basis of local- ized cost of living studies. Starting in July, 1914 with index number 100 for cost of living, for money wages and for real wages, in July, 1920, when the cost of living had risen to an index figure of 204.5, hourly earnings had increased to 252 and weekly earnings to 240. Thus, in July, 1920 the real wage based on hourly earnings was 123.2, while the real wage based on weekly earnings was 117.4. While the peak of the cost of living was reached in July, 1920, the peak of hourly earnings did not occur till September. The decline in the cost of living, subsequent to July, 1920, therefore continued to increase the real wage based on hourly iSee Research Reports Nos. 9, 14, 17, 19, 25, 28, 30, 33, 36, 39, 44. 29 earnings, up to March, 1921, when the real wage curve stood at 133.4. In April and May, 1921 the real wage based on hourly earnings showed a slight decline but rose in June to 132.2. In other words, in the middle of 1921 the real hourly earnings were 32.2% higher than in July, 1914. The peak of real weekly earnings, however, occurred in Oc- tober, 1920, when the index stood at 120.6. During the next two months, weekly earnings declined faster than the cost of living, so that the real wage curve based on weekly earnings stood in December at 116.8, and in January at 113.7. Real weekly earnings rose during February and March, when tlie cost of living declined less than did weekly earnings. The trough period occurred in April, 1921, when real weekly earn- ings stood at 112.8. A recovery took place in May and June, when real weekly earnings rose to 114.1 and 114.3. In other words, at the end of June, 1921, the real weekly earnings were 14.3% higher than in July, 1914. The investigation conclusively shows that the reduced hourly earnings in June, 1921 left the wage earner 32.2%o better of in real hourly wages, and 14.3%^ better off in real weekly earn- ings than in July, 1914. In the latter case, part-time employ- ment, in addition to wage reduction, was responsible for the difference between real hourly and real weekly earnings. E. General Conclusions The general results of the entire study may be summed up as follows: (1) Both hourly and weekly earnings in all branches of American industry show large increases from July, 1914 to June, 1920. (2) The trends of hourly and weekly earnings show well sustained levels through 1920, with sharp declines occurring at the beginning of 1921 and continuing through the first six months of the year. (3) The decline in weekly earnings was influenced more by part-time employment than by reduction in hourly earnings. (4) The extensive decline in wages has affected women less than men. (5) While there was a tremendous drop in employment from the general peak of productive activity in 1920, through 30 Chart K: Average Hourly and Weekly Money Wages, Cost of Living and "Real" Hourly and Weekly Wages, All Industries, July, 1914 Up to July, 1921. (National Industrial Conference Board) INDEX NUMBERS "300 2Q0 860 240 220 200 I QO IBD 140 I 20 / -r-7 // / /' / / -H- 11 7 / y I// JULY JUri JUL. AUG. SEPT OCT NOV. DEC . JAN. FEB. MAR APB. MAYJUN . IBI4 l9Sa 1951 31 the middle of 1921, employment in identical establishments in June, 1921 had shrunk only slightly below that of the 1914 level. (6) There was a general reduction in the length of working hours between 1914 and 1920, due to economic and social influences. The decline between 1920 and the middle of 1921, however, may be traced directly to the industrial depression. The average loss of plant activity for all industries during the latter period amounted to 4^ hours, or a drop of 9% from the hours of operation iivjune, 1920. (7) The average actual week per wage earner in all industries in June, 1921 was 10% or five hours less than that in June, 1920. The trend of working hours has closely followed that of plant activity. (8) The real hourly wage of the average wage earner was 32.2% higher and the real weekly wage 14.3% higher in June, 1921 than in July, 1914. Therefore, the economic status of the American worker, as measured by real wages, or the pur- chasing power of his money earnings, was considerably higher in the middle of 1921 than before the war, despite extensive wage reductions and curtailments of operation due to indus- trial depression. I FOUNDRY AND MACHINE-SHOP PRODUCTS' In the metal working industries the wage investigation has been separated into four divisions: foundry and machine-shop products, agricultural implement manufacturing, automobile manufacturing, and electrical apparatus manufacturing. The foundry and machine-shop division comprises all establish- ments not included under other classifications in the metal working group. Foundry and machine-shop processes are neces- sarily employed in connection with the manufacture of a great variety of products. While there are many establishments making well-defined products that might be placed in a sep- rate group, there are so many other foundries and machine shops making miscellaneous products, that separation into these smaller classifications has not been made. On the whole, the general classification of foundry and machine-shop prod- ucts, exclusive of the three other industries designated above, covers the type of establishments studied. Over 80% of the wage earners classified in this group by the 1919 Census of Manufactures are included in this investigation. Schedules were received from 1,552 plants employing 438,594 wage earners at the high point in August, 1920. Women were employed in 435 plants. The data may therefore be consid- ered as exceedingly representative in the coverage of wage earners, and in the distribution and size of establishments in- volved. The returns are chiefly from the states where the largest amount of foundry and machine-shop products are made. The geographical distribution within 43 states is as follows : Alabama 8 Georgia 4 Alaska 1 Illinois 128 Arizona. 1 Indiana 58 Arkansas 1 Iowa 22 California 47 Kansas. 7 Colorado 5 Kentucky 11 Connecticut 94 Louisiana 3 Delaware 6 Maine 3 'Exclusive of agricultural implement, automobile and electrical apparatus manufacturing. 33 Maryland 8 Oklahoma 5 Massachusetts 164 Oregon S Michigan 75 Pennsylvania 207 Minnesota 18 Rhode Island 19 Missouri 48 South Carolina 1 Montana 1 Tennessee 8 Nebraska 4 Texas 10 Nevada 1 Vermont 6 New Hampshire 8 Virginia 13 New Jersey 58 Washington IS New Mexico 1 West Virginia 10 New York. 184 Wisconsin 61 North Carolina Wyoming 1 Ohio 21.8 Wages (a) Hourly earnings: Composite hourly earnings of all wage earners showed an increase of 137% from July, 1914 to Septem- ber, 1920. The decline from the latter month up to July, 1921 was 13.7%. The period has shown a gradual descent, with severer reductions occurring in the spring of 1921. In June, 1921, composite hourly earnings were 105% above July, 1914. In September, 1920 the hourly earnings for male labor showed an increase over 1914 of 155% for common labor and 133% for skilled labor. The peak for women was reached in Oc- tober and November, when the increase was 168%. The de- cline for each of these three groups from the peak months up to July, 1921 was as follows: 15.6% for common labor, 13.4% for skilled labor and 14.9% for women. In June, 1921 the percent- ages of increase above July, 1914 for these three groups were respectively 115%, 102% and 128%. Relatively, the largest increase was found among the female group, while the largest amount of decrease was found among the male unskilled wage earners. (b) Weekly earnings: Composite weekly earnings of all wage earners increased 135% from July, 1914 to October, 1920 and declined 26.5% from the latter period up to July, 1921. The decline shows a gradual descent to the beginning of 1921, and lather severe reductions during the first six months of the year. The decline in weekly earnings was due rather to the decrease in hours worked than to severe reductions in hourly rates. The peak in weekly earnings for common labor was reached in August, 1920, when there was shown an increase of 150% 34 ACTUAL FIGURES AVERAGE HOURLV EARNINGS INDEX INDEX NUMBERS H JUL AUG SEPT XT WV DEC JflU f ES MM flPC hWJllH laSD IBSI JULY iai4 WJUL-AU&iEPrXT NfflJDECJjlMFE&MJlEAW Mj^VJUW isaa IBEI AVERAGE WEEKLY EARNINGS rNDEX 45 40 as / jj ^- ABN - \ s eo il i ■ 44-1 MEN-UNSKIL ED '*« s '•s »., ~. il; \ ■- s > li ! WOMEN '^, IS / / / / ^" "■ -> / n J* 1 , !LJUI . AU( SEP :0 rNKDttJ (FIMUAI IM rji INDEX NUMBERS laei IBI4 laea (National Industrial Conference Board) 35 Composite Payroll Data Period No. Wage Earners Employed Average Hours Wages (All Wage Earners) One Week In 1914-21 Establ. Total All Establ. Av. Week Per Wage Earner Av. Hours Plant Opera tion Nom- inal Week Av. Hrly. Earngs. Av. Wkly. Earngs. Index Nos. Earnings Hrly. Wkly 1914 July*.... 1920 June July Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec 1921 Jan Feb Mar April. . . . May June 226,214 351,717 354,432 355,525 355,601 342,00'. 321,67!: 298,65 1. 262,624 248,281 234,361 218,265 204,147 195,345 226,214 434,15e 437,879 438,594 436,860 421,232 396,635 369,125 323,156 306,375 291,725 272,394 256,232 243,302 49.4 50.0 50.0 49.9 48.6 49.3 48.0 47.2 44.5 43.2 42.4 41.5 42.1 41.6 53.4 51.6 51.7 51.7 50.8 50.6 49.6 48.1 45.8 44.3 43.7 42.7 43.2 42.7 54.3 51. 6 51.5 51.5 51.5 51.5 51.4 51.3 51.2 51.2 51.2 51.2 51.2 51.2 $.274 .630 .631 .634 .650 .644 .637 .641 .619 .614 .593 .579 .574 .561 $13.5^ 31. 5i 31.54 31.64 31.6c 31.72 30. 6C 30.2.' 27.52 26.50 25.13 24.04 24. IC 23.32 100 230 230 231 237 235 232 234 226 224 216 211 210 205 100 233 233 234 234 235 226 224 204 196 186 178 179 172 •1914-1921 establishments only. See pp. 3, 5. over 1914; for skilled labor, in October, 1920, with an increase of 134%, and for women, in September, when there was an increase of 155%. The declines for these three groups from their respective, peaks up to July, 1921 were as follows: 28.5% for common labor, 26.8% for skilled labor and27.4% for women. In June, 1921 common labor was 79% over 1914, skilled labor, 72%, and women, 85%. The decline for all groups has been severe during the months of 1921, particularly among the skilled wage-earning class. The decline in hourly earnings reflects the general trend toward readjustment ip the basic industries. The reduction in weekly earnings has been far more severe, due to part-time operations. It would appear that while the decline in hourly wages has been below the average, the amount of part-time operations has seriously affected the weekly income of the wage earner. The trend of wages in this group may be con- 36 'SSS'?! NUMBEB OF WABE EABWfePB .^'Sg. AVERAGE HOURS OF WORK ISM laaa isei 1914. laeo , (National Industrial Conference Board) sidered somewhat as a barometer for fluctuations in the entire metal group. Employment Total employment decreased 44.5% from August, 1920 up to July, 1921. The reduction in the number of wage earners has been severe throughout the entire period from the peak to the middle of 1921. The most severe declines, however, occurred in the early months of 1921, though no particular time can be pointed out as the period of greatest depression. The employment situation in this industry re- flects the general industrial condition and follows the course of the severe stagnation that has occurred since the fall of 1920. The high point of employment for common labor was reached in August, for skilled labor in September, and for women in July. The decreases in numbers employed for these three groups, from the various peaks in 1920, were as follows: common labor, 48.6%; skilled labor, 42.7%; women, 50.7%. Indications point to the taking over by skilled labor of the work formerly done by unskilled labor, and to a general return of women from industrial to domestic and other occupations. The total number of employees in identical establishments increased 55% from July, 1914 to June, 1920. About 14% 37 less wage earners were employed in identical establishments in June, 1921 than in July, 1914. Hours The length of the nominal week in July, 1914 was 54.3 hours. Following the general reduction in length of working hours during the war period, the week was reduced to 51.6 hours in June, '1920. This standard of approximately 51)^ hours has been maintained throughout 1920-1921. The actual week of plant operation shows a reduction from 53.4 hours in July, 1914 to 51.6 hours in June, 1920. This standard was practically maintained until the fall, when de- clines began to occur, which continued throughout the entire period of the investigation, the trough of 42.7 hours being reached in April and June, 1921. The slump in plant activity is ascribable directly to the general economic depression in the metal working trades. The average actual week per wage earner increased from 49.4 hours in July, 1914 to 50 hours in June, 1920. This level was generally maintained until November, when the decline in plant activity began to take effect. The declines continued to the trough of 41.5 hours in April. A slight revival occurred in May, followed again by a slump in June. In the latter period there was a loss of almost 10 hours of potential working time from the standard or nominal week. An analysis of the accompanying charts indicates that while the numbers of employed continue to decrease severely, those that were kept on the payrolls were working approxi- mately the average hours of plant operation. An attempt, therefore, would seem to have been made by management to keep the weekly earnings of the employed wage earner at a reasonable level. Conclusion The foundry and machine-shop group, the largest and most important covered in this investigation, may be taken as a barometer of general wage conditions, and careful comparison should be made with the other industrial groups in this report. Specifically, the investigation shows, in this industry: 1, A decline in hourly earnings below general industrial deflation. (13.7%.) 38 is z Id O > = E <«3= o Q Q I-) Z.S Q M Z M •< s *• 5b *• D O S ^^ 6S. O ro t-f lO ro ^O 00 lO »0 lO lO lO Tji CO CM CN CN M (N CN (N *-l (N CS ^ 00 00 vO vO 'O ^ 'O VO vo O (M CN CM (N CN CN CN ^- t^ l^ 00 00 f^ vo CO O O vO C\ OO "O t-* OO OO OO 00 00 00 CO ro ro fO ro ro fO CS fO ON 0\ ro ■^ O ^^ ^p ^5^ ^^ ^^ ^Q^ ^ »-( f^ CO CO lO lO CS O O OS On 00 CS CM CN '-f '-I *-< lO -iH -^ CO CO cs CS -< »-i 00 O t^fO -^00 uoin^'^fO'cN CO (N CO CN tJI lO CO CN CO CO CO CO CN CN CN C UD tJ< ^ Tt* Th On 0\ I>- CO O 00 NO Tt< "<* On CO NO NO ^: 0\ O lO ■<* OO CN 00 i-H O OO t^ ■«— I 1— ! O CO OnO"^ OCNO NO 00 O CN CS lO ^ lO CN CO 00 00 NO i-H CNJ lO CO lO 00 oT io T-Tt^ "«*" o 1-^ t^ t^ NO NO NO ■^ e >» ci ^ J > o 1— ,»—,•< wOZP On M S. « 39 2. A large reduction in weekly earnings due to part-time operations. (26.5%.) 3. A tremendous decline in total employment between the summer of 1920 and the spring of 1921. (44.5%.) 4. A loss of about 20% in working time or a reduction of 10 hours from the nominal standard 51j^ hour week. 5. The condition of the industry affected all three groups- common and skilled male labor, and women. Unskilled and skilled wage earners appeared to be more or less equally affected. 6. The large number of female wage earners leaving the industry have evidently returned to domestic occupations. 7. The trough period of depression occurred at the closf of the period covered by this investigation, (June, 1921). II AUTOMOBILE MANUFACTURING The wage investigation in the automobile industry in- cludes establishments manufacturing and assembling com- plete automobiles, both passenger cars and motor trucks, and also plants producing automotive parts. The latter group, however, covers plants engaged only in manufacturing parts directly used by the automobile industry, and does not include jobbers, dealers or rubber tire manufacturers. Returns were received from 101 plants, employing 107,301 wage earners at the high point in June, 1920. Women were employed in 62 of these plants. Approximately 27% of the wage earners listed by the 1919 Census of Manufactures as then employed in this industry are covered by this report. The geographical distribution in 13 states is as follows: State Trucks Passenger Automotive Parts Total California Connecticut 1 'i i 2 2 2 1 'i 8 1 8 2 i 4 6 1 3 2 2 7 5 11 2 1 1 8 6 3 3 2 2 6 Indiana Massachusetts Michigan Missouri Nebraska New Jersey 15 6 22 4 1 3 New York 14 Ohio 14 Pennsylvania Wisconsin 6 6 Grand Total 13 37 51 101 Wages (a) Hourly earnings: Composite hourly earnings of all wage earners showed an increase of 141% from July, 1914 to Sep- tember, 1920. The decline from the latter period up to July, 1921 was 16.9%. In June, 1921 the increase was 100% 41 over July, 1914. The period between June, 1920 and the peak in September was characterized by a very slight increase. The decline during the closing months of 1920 became severe, and continued, though more gradually, up to July, 1921. At their peak in October, 1920 the hourly earnings of common labor had increased 159% over July, 1914. In June, 1920, the hourly earnings of skilled labor had increased 147% over 1914. The high point for women was reached in Sep- tember, 1920, when there was shown an increase of 71% over 1914. The decreases tor the three groups from the peak months up to July, 1921, were 16.8% for common labor, 18.9% for skilled labor and 17.9% for women. In June, 1921 the percentages of increase over July, 1914 tor these three groups were 115%, 101% and 40%. (b) Weekly earnings: Composite weekly earnings of all wage earners increased 119% from July, 1914 to July, 1920, and declined 26% from the latter period up to July, 1921, show- ing a net increase of only 62% at the latter period. There was a slight increase from June to July, 1920, followed by sharp declines during the last six months of 1920. A trough was reached in January, tollowed by a revival through April, and another sharp slump in May and June, 1921. The high point of weekly earnings tor male labor was reached in July, 1920, when common labor was \2i\% and skilled labor 122% above 1914. The high point in weekly earnings tor women was reached in September, when there was shown an increase of 61% over 1914. The decreases tor these three groups from their respective peaks up to July, 1921 were as follows: common labor, 27.8%; skilled labor, 25.9%; women, 23.7%. In June, 1921 the percentages of increase over 1914 for these three groups were respectively 67%, 65% and 23%. Employment Total employment in the automobile industry decreased 52.3% from June, 1920 up to July, 1921. The decline from June, 1920 to the severe trough at the beginning of 1921 was 65.4%. The depression period was followed by a marked revival, which reached its peak in May, followed by a considerable slump in June. The increase between the trough in January and June amounted to 38%. The de- 42 AVCRABE HOUPLY KARNINGB (National Industrial Conference Board) 43 Composite Payroll Data Period No. Wage Earners Employed Average Hours Ws (All Wage Earners Av. Av. Index Mos. One 1914-21 Total Week •Hours Mnm- Av. Av. Earnings Week Establ. All Per '"Plant Hrly. Wkly. In Establ. Wage 'Oijera- inal Week Earngs. Earngs. Earner tion Hrly. Wkly. 1914 July*.. 24,397 24,397 53.6 54.3 54.7 $.293 m.7i 100 100 1920 June. . . 80,291 107,301 47.8 50.3 50.8 .701 33.50 239 213 July... 80,271 106,657 48.7 49.7 50,8 .703 34.34 240 219 Aug. . . 70,890 95,982 47.8 49.1 50.8 .704 33.68 240 214 Sept . . . 63,006 81,869 47.5 48.7 50.8 .705 33.50 241 213 Oct.... 48,910 59,725 45.1 47.0 50.9 .693 31.24 237 199 Nov . . . 38,833 48,370 43.9 46.6 51.0 .671 29.42 229 187 Dec... 31,572 40,713 42.9 45.8 51.0 .649 27.83 222 177 1921 Jan. . . . 28,896 37,076 39.1 40.0 51.0 .632 24.72 216 157 Feb.... 31,340 39,984 42.2 42.3 51.0 .628 26.52 214 169 March . 35,489 46,181 46.6 45.4 51.0 .623 29.05 213 185 April... 40,004 52,870 46.8 45.0 51.0 .616 28.84 210 184 May. . . 39,409 53,666 43.5 45.9 51.1 .611 26.55 209 169 June. . . 37,268 51,178 43.3 43.3 51.1 .586 25.40 200 162 *1914-21 establishments only. See pp. 3, 5. creases in the groups from the high point of employment up to July, 1921 were as follows: common labor, 55.2%; skilled labor, 51.2%; women, 58.8%. The increase in employment between July, 1914 and June, 1920, in identical establishments, was 229%. There was a net increase of 53% in employment between July, 1914, and June, 1921. The tremendous expansion of the automobile industry between 1914 and 1920 prevented employment during the depression period from dropping to the level of 1914. Hours The hours of the nominal week in July, 1914 were 54.7. Following the general reduction in length of working hours during the war period, the week was reduced to approximately 51 hours in June, 1920, and the latter standard has been main- tained throughout 1920-1921. The actual week of plant operation dropped from 54.3 hours 44 NUMBEff DF WAGE EAPNEB5 atm a_ A VERAGE HOURS OF WDPK BO o JULY iai4 ® NOUIMU ;-]■- wta p"-' "^ y •^ X 1\ 1 1 ACTuu.wiD'ar 1 v-i •SS-'tSi? s; s \ y / A ^ ' f JUW JU- «Jt apt OCT HW OCC jaw fO MM *»■ MW JUM JULY JUM JU. JIK JEIT OCT KW IKL JaW FtflMJBAH) MJY lazi 1914. leeo (National Industrial Ccnference Board) in July, 1914 to 50.3 hours in June, 1920. A gradual decline occurred during the next months. In December, 1920 the hours fell to 45.8 per week, followed by a sharp decline in January to 40 hours. Plant activity increased during the spring of 1920, but declined again in June. The actual week per wage earner declined from 53.6 hours in July, 1914 to 47.8 in June, 1920. The low point of 39.1 hours was reached in January. In June, 1921 the average wage earner was working almost eight hours less than the standard week. Conclusion 1. The peak occurred in the middle of 1920; the trough period in January, 1921; a revival period during the spring months; and a slump in June, 1921. This trend was reflected alike in wages, hpurs, and employment. 2. Decline in hourly earnings has been more rapid than in the majority of basic industries, amounting to 17%. 3. The decrease in weekly earnings has been extensive (26%) due to the amount of part-time operation. 4. Increased employment was evidenced in the early months of 1921, but domestic buying conditions and the foreign credit situation have forced extended retrenchments. 45 2 at a, CO ee J3 s Il 1 ^-( •-( ^H *-t *H ^-l t-t 10 tH 00 00 CO CO CO CO C*) Cv| »H 1-1 »-l »-l r-* *-( 1 \0 vo vo t^ vo vo \0 1-1 ^H ^-t ^-H iH 'tH *-H i-H *-l ^^ »-( T-t tH 5 0\ O OO 0\ Tt< 00 t^ VOOO CS CN 00*^ O 00 00 oo' Ov VO VO VO i-H 1— 1 i-H l-H i-H i-H ^-H cOOvOvOOvcs vo vo '^ vo C^^ J>- (N lo vo »o »rf Tj< .,-{ -r^ -^^ .^^ -.r-^ .^^ 49 O i-l CS 0*N W(N CN cs CN ro CS CS i-H Tjt ^31 TT ^r '-I' ^r '^ oOOv tOOOiO CO Ov 00 t^ vo vo ur> CO CO CO CO CO CO 10 1^ CO 00 Ov 0\ ■»-< ^ ^ ^ ^ PO fO oocooiooot^ CO ^ ^ ^ ■*# ^ M ^^1 iOI>. to M*^ vo CO vo t-* Ov i-H '-H VO ■^ TfTco CO CN ■^ •th' ■^•^OOVOOvM »-H^«N»0 00 Ov^OO a Id < J 3i 8 OCSOOOfOOwO CN CN (N -^ 00 i>- (N (N CS CS CS r-t ^ vo 1^ CO UO 1-1 u^ u^ vOOO cot^ vo 8 J:^ 10 10 10 00 00 00 ■<* Tf -. J>. i-^ t^ *^ t— vo Cs) COO to VO vo >*> CO CO 00 CO 10 CM »-t 39.1 41.9 46.1 46.8 43.2 43.6 '-I OOOOOv vo vot^ VO vq^ vo^ co^*^ co^ CO rC vo" ocT ocT oT ut' cT t^ t^ vo 10 -^ CO CO »-H CO to to »0 Ov W OOOvCOOOOO 00^ 00^ to to *^ 00^ t^ Ov ^ Ov Ov i>" CS CS CO CO CO CO Q [d M O w < I.I £E 3« '-I 10 ^ rH 10 Tj* Ov ■r-i CO CN CN i-H Ov CN CS CS IM » 00 Ov ■>-< ^ -t-- VO 00 !>. 00 vo U^ '.^ (N . vo VO 0\cOi>. to -«* CO i-H 00 10 to to 10 to^ > 3 2 si 00 i>- VO 10 00 10 00 t^ 1/5 tj^ ^^ ^^ '^ '^i^ CNt^ OOVOVOOO . 25,268 25,612 23,401 19,982 14,446 11,090 8,975 8,114 8,860 10,001 11,466 11,889 11,462 a o 0. 1.- 3 1920 une .uly August . September October. . Nov Dec ^iiliii 46 Ill AGRICULTURAL IMPLEMENT MANUFACTURING The wage investigation in this industry covers establish- ments manufacturing plows, cultivators, tractors, harvesting implements, etc. It includes also several plants where, in addition to agricultural implements, other products not dis- tinctly agricultural, such as wind-mills, carriages and wagons, are made. The classification practically follows that of the United States Census of Manufactures. Returns were received from 138 plants, employing at the peak in 1920, 49,704 wage earners. Women were employed in 35 of these plants. Ap- proximately 86% of the wage earners listed in the 1919 Census of Manufactures in this industry are covered in this report. The geographical distribution within 19 states is as follows: Arkansas 1 Missouri 4 California 5 Nebraska 2 Georgia 5 New Jersey 1 Illinois 26 New York 17 Indiana 9 Ohio 15 Iowa 12 Pennsylvania 6 Kansas 1 Tennessee 1 Kentucky 4 Virginia. 1 Michigan 2 Wisconsin 19 Minnesota 7 Wages (a) Hourly earnings: Composite hourly earnings of all wage earners increased 167% from July, 1914 to the high point in September, 1920. The decline from the latter period up to July, 1921 was 22.9%. At that time the increase was 106% over July, 1914. The period from November, 1920 to the middle of 1921 was characterized by severe declines, the average total cut being 15 cents per hour. In August, 1920 the hourly earnings of common labor had increased 169% over July, 1914; in September, those oi skilled labor, 166%, and in the same month, those of women, 194%. The decline for each of these groups from the peak months up ■47 to July, 1921 was 21.4% for common labor, 22.8% for skilled labor, and 21.7% for women. The percentages of increase above July, 1914 for these three groups were respectively 112%, 105% and 130%. (b) Weekly earnings: Composite weekly earnings of all wage earners increased 154% from July, 1914 to the high point in September, 1920, and from the latter period up to July, 1921, declined 38%, showing a net increase of 57% to the middle of 1921. There was a rise during the summer months of 1920, while sharp declines occurred at the close of 1920 and continued through 1921. The high point of weekly earnings for common-labor was reached in August, 1920, when the increase was 162% over 1914. The peak for skHled labor was reached in September, when the increase was 151%, and for women in October, when the increase was 190%. The declines for these three groups from their respective peaks up to July, 1921 were as follows: common labor, 38.8%; skilled labor, 37.5%; women, 34A%. Percentage increases above 1914 for these three groups were respectively 60%, 57% and 90%. Employment The total employment in this industry decreased 66% from the high point in September, 1920 up to July, 1921. Em- ployment was practically stationary in the summer and early fall of 1920. Extensive reductions in working forces began at the close of 1920, and continued throughout the first six months of 1921. The decreases in the groups from the high point of employment up to July, 1921 were as follows: common labor, 65.3%; skilled labor, 67.3%; women, 47.9%. The total number of employees in identical establishments increased 41% between July, 1914 and September, 1920, while 52% fewer employees were engaged in identical estab- lishments in June, 1921 than in July, 1914. Hours The average hours of the nominal week in July, 1914 were 56.3. Folloinwg the general reduction in length of working hours during the war period, the week was reduced to 53.7 hours in June, 1920. The standard of approximately 53 hours 48 AVEPABC HOURLY EARNINGS INDEIX mJMBCDS 35 □ INDEX NUMBERS I9U isaa I9EI IBM I9SD (National Industrial Conference Board) 49 Composite Payroll Data Period No. Wage Earners Employed Average Hours Wages (All Wage Earners) One 1914-21 Establ. Total All Establ. Av. Week Per Wage Earner Av. Hours Plant Opera- tion Nom- inal Week Av. Hrly. Earngs. Av. Wkly. Earngs. Index Not. Earnings In Hrly. Wkly. 1914 July*.. 1920 June. . . July... Aug.. . . Sept . . . Oct. . . . Nov . . . Dec... 1921 Jan. . . . Feb.... March . April. . . May. . . June. . . 31,823 44,439 43,873 44,442 44,983 44,622 44,898 40,158 37,978 34,835 32,029 25,800 19,140 15,351 31,823 49,132 48,791 49,361 49,704 49,062 48,875 42,997 40,795 37,881 34,873 27,687 20,742 16,801 51.6 50.0 49.3 49.4 49.0 49.2 48.9 45.7 43.3 41.0 41.0 40.6 39.6 39.4 52.2 50.9 50.5 50.8 50.5 50.2 49.5 46.5 44.5 40.6 41.5 40.5 39.1 39.3 56.3 53.7 53.6 53.5 53.5 53.5 53.5 53.4 53.2 53.1 53.1 53.1 53.1 53.1 $.260 .670 .676 .688 .694 .683 .685 .671 .656 .641 .634 .560 .544 .535 $13.41 33.49 33.39 34.00 34.02 33.65 33.51 30.67 28.40 26.28 26.01 22.74 21.55 21.09 100 258 260 265 267 263 263 258 252 247 245 215 209 206 100 250 249 254 254 251 250 229 212 196 194 170 161 157 *1914-1921 establishments only. See pp. 3, 5. has been fairly steadily maintained throughout 1920-1921. The actual week of -plant operation shows a reduction from 52.2 hours in July, 1914 to 50.9 hours in June, 1920. There was a gradual decline in plant activity during the fall of 1920. The depression period began in December, 1920, and con- tinued through May, 1921. At that time there was a decline of over 11 hours per week in plant operation from the pre- ceding year. A slight recovery was noted in June, 1921. ..The average actual week per wage earner showed a decline from 51.6 hours in July, 1914 to 50 hours in June, 1920. After further decline, an average of approximately 49 hours was maintained up to December, when the depression began to take effect. The average hours continued to decline in 1921, till June, when the average wage earner was working over 10 hours less per iireek than at a corresponding time in the preceding year. 30 NUMBER OF WAGE EABNEH3 «» v»m AVERAOE HOUnS OF WOBK JUW JUW JUL aUG lEJr OCT WW DEC JAft FEt WE AW hWJUW lau laea laei as SD .^ @ :^; ■- ■■- HOMIfUL WEEK - - - "- - '^ > ACTUALWti 4S 4D 35 30 PS ACTUM. IVEfir OCR HeUC EAtMCI ITPO ^; \ V w » ■J] LY JIK JIL, ALt JE IBM laeo iBei (National Industrial Conference Board) Conclusion No industry has more clearly shown the effect of the indus- trial depression. Two factors, at least, have been the cause of the great decline in earnings, employment, and plant activ- ity. The deflation in the prices of farm products resulted in a curtailment in the buying power and credit of farmers and a practical stagnation in the agricultural implement market. However, the depression has not been due altogether to domes- tic conditions, but has also been largely influenced by the foreign situation, for the condition of foreign credits and stop- page of foreign orders for the buying of agricultural imple- ments, has largely cut off exportation. Specifically, the in- vestigation has shown: 1. A continuous and severe deflation in wages beginning in the fall of 1920, and amounting in the middle of 1921 to a 23% decline in hourly earnings and a 38% decline in weekly earnings. 2. Approximately 60% of the wage earners were laid off during the first six months of 1921. The industrial depression also forced many plants to shut down altogether or greatly to curtail operation. 3. As a result of both domestic and foreign conditions, this industry has been severely affected by the industrial de- pression. 51 o Ik An w w .2 " O CN CN 0\ O*^ fO 00 00 00 00 On t^ <^ cs es i c>» cs IT) »0 ^ *H »-l OS CS CS C^ C*l cs •-< ^^ <> n ^ 00 l>- 'i* OS O ^ 00 00 00 0\ CO 00 00 c<» CNj es CN «s c«) M es ▼-* O 0\ •'i* O 00 00*^ f<5 fO f*3 M cs cscses«s r^ON 00 ^ -^ ■■ r>. 00 1>- 00 O "^ »-< \0 ^^ «^ 00 00 *^ ^» 00*^ oot^O cs Tt< Tl< ■^ ro rO fO «-* 00 O O Ov-^ ^ CN rOOvCNOO'^ **" f*5 lO f^^ ^ Q ^ ^ ''i* ^ ^ ''T t^ -^ t^ O 1-1 ro '^ T}< o\ O vo 00 0\ r* cs vH es cs cs CN th (^ \0 lO 0\ >o ^ 0\ Os I'l O PO t^ ^0000^-^0 t^ >0 O '^ SO 00 Tj< ^ TJ< »0 lO ^ Tt< CN CS CS CS CN CS CS C4 0\ Tf (M 00 O' *^ O 0\ OS SO »^ lO CS tH 1-1 »-l i-t T-H t-* Os fO SO CS CS so lO u*> SO SO SO so »0 «S CS Cq (N CN CN CM O lO CN ^ 0\ *0 lO T*< Tj< »-l O O eS CS CS CN CS CN <^x o 3s ■^ SOOOOO-^ lO O OOt^ Os oot^ t^ so so lO to in t^ i-H ■f-H t^ so OS '^ O OsOt^ lOiO ?:3 9 r<^ so Os t^ "^ O O f*) \p OS so O (*5 i-< in "^ t^ OS lO lO ^ § Tf CS CS t^lO 00 00 CN O -^ SO 00 SO ^ ■* to O CS O CN (^ Os IT) lO *0 O SO lO PO CS M CS CS CS CS 2 S ^frl Q •8 O » U a. o ifH 0 to lO lO LO to OCSt-coOOs so -^ fO t^ t^ »0 »o lO lO -^ Tt< -<4< OsCStOOsOsOO OOiOOrt^ CN ^4 ^^ "^ ^^ ro f*5 oo Qo" (N ^H lO t^ so CS O lO po lO r* ^^ lo i-< f*^ f^ fO PO r*3 PO ^^ fO »H O SO O CN »0 O PO Os O 00 Os^i-j^Os *-« OS so O O^ OfTt^io" -^ •^ PSJ 1 j"^ -^ g; j^ :: " c-fi.« 4 o\ 52 IV ELECTRICAL APPARATUS MANUFACTURING In this group the wage investigation covers establishments engaged in the manufacturing of electrical apparatus, elec- trical machinery and electrical appliances. So far as possible, the study has been restricted to manufacturers of electrical equipment and supplies, not including manufacturers who assemble this class of material with other products. The survey covers no establishments engaged in jobbing in either wholesale or retail trade. Schedules were received from 107 plants, employing 88,225 wage earners in October, 1920. Women were employed in 73 plants. Approximately 35% of the wage earners listed in the 1919 Census of Manufactures as being employed in this industry are included in this report. The real coverage is even greater, as the Census covers estab- lishments engaged in miscellaneous manufacturing that have not been included in this investigation. The data are con- sidered representative of the electrical industry as to the percentage of wage earners covered and distribution and size of establishments involved. The geographical distribution within 19 states is as follows: California 3 Missouri 2 Connecticut 7 New Hampshire 1 Illinois 14 New Jersey 8 Indiana 3 New York 9 Iowa 1 Ohio 15 Kentucky 1 Pennsylvania 13 Maryland 1 Tennessee 1 Massachusetts 13 Washington 2 Michigan 7 Wisconsin 5 Minnesota 1 The sectional distribution is as follows: New England States, 21; Middle Atlantic, 30; South Atlantic, 1; East North Cen- tral, 44; West North Central, 4; East South Central, 2; Pacific, 5. S3 Wages (a) Hourly earnings: Composite hourly earnings of all wage earners show an increase of 132% from July, 1914 to October, 1920. The decline from the latter period up to July, 1921 was 11.1%. In June, 1921 the increase was 106% over July, 1914. The peak was reached in the fall of 1920, followed by a gradual decline through February, 1921. In March general wage re- ductions forced hourly earnings downwards, followed by a slight revival in May and June. In November, 1920 hourly earnings oi common labor had increased 155% over July, 1914. In October skilled labor had increased 133%, and in September women 143% over 1914. The high point of hourly earnings for women was found in both June and September, 1920. The decline from these various high points for the different groups amounted to 14.1% for common labor, 11.9% for skilled labor and 14.9% for women. In June, 1921 the percentages of increase over July, 1914 for the three groups were respectively 119%, 106% and 107%. (b) Weekly earnings: Composite weekly earnings of all wage earners increased 123% from July, 1914 to October, 1920, and from the latter period up to July, 1921 declined 21.8%, showing a net increase to the first of July, 1921 of 74% over July, 1914. The high point of weekly earnings for the male labor group was reached in October, 1920, when common labor was 142%, and skilled labor 128%, above 1914. The peak for women was reached in November, when their earn- ings had increased 125% over 1914. The decline from the high point for each of the various groups up to July, 1921 was 22.7% for common labor, 23.1% for skilled labor, and 25.7% for women. In June, 1921 the percentage increases over 1914 for these three groups were respectively 87%, 76% and 67%. It will be noted that the composite index number for both hourly and weekly earnings was lower in various periods than the index numbers for the three groups separately in the same periods. This was due to the fact that the distribution in the groups varied from month to month and was different from the distribution in 1914. The total working force, total pay- roll and hours modified the composite figures in a slightly different way than the figures for each of the three groups. In general, hourly earnings have decreased less than in most 54 RNTB PCS NDUn I 00, ACTUAL FISUR ES Hn nn 7n "1 nn 1 1 "^ - •- INEI» h-t- <. \ 11 i , 111 ... ... ! s ■in MEN-UN 1 KILL ED -. •^ 40 30 SD ID vo.. ICN 1 : 1 11/ *s ■««.. - -■- : 1 ' 1 AVERAQC HOURLY EARNINBB Index Kuu.™ |^[j£x NUMBERS 35Qr JUyr JIMM. au6 JEPT OCT NOV KC JAN FE6 MM AW MAY JW 1914 isao laai @ M N- NS» LL£0 ••• / MEr ... -BK )0 J.E wDMEr :1s \ LL WAGE EARNERS . 7 / / JLH jm AUG lEPr «T NOV DEE JAN FEB WS AW MAYJUN I9sa issi AVERAGE WEEKLY EARNINGS ■in ACTUAL FIGURES 40 35 3D / - - , W iBC cut MEoa •v S i / ^ UEN-UN HILLED t: s J IKIL nED 1 : \^ r *" SO IS 10 ■■ II: - r '**m ■- — - -~ >. N // / "^ / ji« Y : «ji«. Am so TKT NWDBUANfEBMiDAPBMWJlt UUMfltD 35 D 355 300 INDEX NUMBtiRS 275 SSD SS5 LED ■SH - "ti LLED 1 2 d> ^ ^ k^ )>' _ Gt EAONEOS^ EDO —k // 1 V. "- -. 175 ■/ 1 ^ >■ Ifei VL'O /lEN ^ ISO T 125 inn 1 JULY iei4 HM. AUO SEPT OCT NW DEC JAN FEB MAP APB KUYJW isso isai (National Industrial Conference Board) SS Composite Payroll Data Period No. Wage Earners Employed Average Hours Wages (All Wage Earners) Av. Av. Inde> Nos. One 1914 Total Week Hours Nom- Av. Av. Earnings Week 1921 AH Per Plant inal Hrly. Wkly. In Estab. Estab. Wage Earner Opera- tion Week Earngs. Earngs. Hrly. Wkly. 1914 July*.. 42,114 42,114 49.5 53.7 53.6 $.272 $13.48 100 100 1920 . une. . . 71,082 85,248 47.4 49.1 50.0 .610 28.91 224 215 . uly . . . 71,881 86,360 47.5 49.0 50.0 .610 28.96 224 215 Aug.... 70,993 86,151 47.1 48.9 50.0 .617 29.07 227 216 Sept . . , 71,441 87,263 47.5 49.0 50.0 .625 29.67 230 220 Oct.... 72,147 88,225 47.7 49.1 50.0 .630 30.04 232 223 Nov . . . 71,680 86,815 47.9 48.8 50.0 .621 29.77 228 221 Dec... 70,122 84,171 47.2 48.5 50.0 .619 29.25 228 217 1921 Jan.... 65,699 78,116 46.0 48.0 50.2 .612 28.20 225 209 Feb.... 58,680 69,580 45.6 47.2 50.1 .590 26.91 217 200 March . 55,210 65,462 43.9 47.2 50.1 .558 24.49 205 182 April. . . 50,817 60,673 42.8 47.1 50.1 .559 23.92 205 178 May. . . 47,921 57,516 42.8 46.8 50.1 .562 23.99 207 178 June . . . 45,525 54,829 41.9 46.9 50.1 .560 23.49 206 174 *1914-1921 establishments only. See pp. 3, 5. basic industries covered in this investigation. The slight de- cline is in sharp contrast with decreases in contingent metal trades. However, while hourly earnings have decreased moderately, reductions in weekly earnings are above the general average in many industries. The drop in weekly earnings has been the result of extensive part-time operations. Employment The total decline in employment from the peak in October, 19^0 up to July, 1921 was 38%. The general trend shows an increase of 3.5% in total employment from June to Oc- tober, 1920, followed by large reductions, particularly at the beginning of 1921. The decline from the high point of em- ployment up to July, 1921, by groups, was as follows: un- skilled labor, 46%; skilled labor, 34%; women, 48%. The 56 Ma MUML tIASm OCT MW DK JAM fIB MM MB MW JUti 1914 l9Za I9ZI JUiy JUW JUL JIU6 JtFT OCT NDV «L JJM taumUV Wf JW 1914. meo isei (Naticnal Industrial Conference Board) decline in the number of women employed indicates a general movement of women to return to homes and other occupations from wartime employment. The electrical manufacturing industry expanded tremen- dously between July, 1914, and the general peak in 1920. The number of people employed in identical establishments increased 71%. Comparison of employment in 1921 with 1914 shows a slight increase, but due recognition must be given to the effect of the tremendous expansion of the industry up to the peak in 1920. The large decline in total employment reflects clearly the effect of the industrial depression upon the electrical manufacturing industry. The movement of the industry shows large reductions in working forces, accom- panied by part-time operations, rather than a large amount of wage cutting. Hours The average hours of the nominal week in July, 1914 were 53.6. A general reduction of working hours took place during the war period, and in June, 1920 they had fallen to 50 hours per week. This nominal week remained practically stationary up to July, 1921. The hours of plant operation showed a reduction from 53.7 57 in July, 1914, to 49.1 in June, 1920. The latter average was generally maintained till the close of 1920, when a decline set in, which continued up to July, 1921, the average being 46.9 hours at the latter period. The actual week per wage earner shows a decline from 49.5 hours in July, 1914 to 47.4 hours in June, 1920. This ob- viously follows the trend of reduction in the actual week of plant operation and in the nominal week. A decline in the actual week per wage earner started in January and cpntioued through June, the average wage earner working in the latter period 4.1 hours less per week than at the beginning of the year. The greatest loss occurred in the skilled group, who worked an average of six hours less per week in June, 1921 than a year previously. A careful analysis of the chart of "Average Hours of Work" reveals the industrial and economic situation in this industry most distinctly. Conclusion 1. Decrease in hourly earnings has been slower than in most basic industries, though part-time operations have forced large reductions in weekly earnings. The entire wage situa- tion is dominated by the decline in employment and loss of hours in plant activity. 2. Total employment declined 38% from the peak in October, 1920 to the middle of 1921. 3. There was a total increase of 71% in employment in identical establishments between July, 1914 and October, 1920. Total employment in June, 1921 was only slightly above that for July, 1914. The large drop in employment did not quite bring the number of wage earners employed in the industry down to the 1914 level. 4. The length of the nominal week declined about three and one half hours from July, 1914 up to July, 1921. 5. The hours of plant operation closely follow the trend in the hours of the nominal week from July, 1914 to July, 1920. Since the beginning of 1921, there was practically a continual depression in plant activity, bringing the level down to slightly over 47 hours per week. 6. There was a loss in potential working time of five hours per wage earner in June, 1921. 58 o 1(3 C5 o as Q M ►J i-1 <:SK Q ►J 2: B H ►J < J5 ti.5 2>S Q O Id c O »-i t^ lO 0\ CS to iH csj «-H '-I th CN es CN CN tS CS CS (N CN (N CO 00 i-H (D CS CN ^-1 Tfl rO ^* ^jH tJ* ^< t:J< CS CS CN CS CN CS CN CO t^ t^ 00 00 CO 00 O CO tr O 0\0v^» lO -^ O ■•-H \0 CO ^ ^ ^ PO ^ tJI lO ^ »-• ON OOt^t^ \0 Pq T-H ^-H *-H 1-t ^-4 00 fO fO POCS*^ PO OJ '-t ■^ *H O CS CS (M - On O lO 00 CS r- Th NO On OO ■^ lO NO ■^ ■»-i O On cs -"t O NO O -^ NO CN T-l On CS NO On r- ■<* On CN lO tJ* lO 00 T^ NO NO On (M On O cO cO CO CO -^ CO c*^ tN CS (N M M o lO to to to lO to lO -«* NO 00 oo NO CN CO CN 00 00 00 00 to to -. CN ^-H NO 00 On^CN^i-i ^'"t^^ t-H CN cs es CM ^-t ^-H l^ O CO CN iOi>. »-l 00 On 00 CO 00 CN^O CO to i-H \0 O On 00 !>• t- no" I—, I— ii-n< (Zi O Z P 59 4 On 7. The industry has been affected as greatly by economic depression as any basic industry. The method of procedure by management to meet conditions has resulted in a tre- mendous decline in employment and a large amount of part- time operations. Wage conditions have been directly in- fluenced by these factors. 8. The wage and employment declines in the industry are smaller than in related metal trades, such as the foundry and machine-shop group, automobiles and agricultural im- plements. 60 IRON AND STEEL MANUFACTURING The wage investigation in the iron and steel industry in- cludes blast furnaces and rolling mills, engaged in the manu- facture of pig iron, wrought iron and rolled steel products. Schedules were received from 70 plants, employing 51,864 wage earners at the high point in October, 1920. While no schedules were received from plants controlled by the United States Steel Corporation, the report is representative of con- ditions in independent plants. The geographical distribution within 14 states is as follows: California 2 New Jersey 2 Connecticut 1 New York 1 Illinois 4 Ohio 19 Indiana 2 Pennsylvania 27 Kentucky 2 Tennessee 1 Michigan 1 West Virginia 6 Massachusetts 1 Wisconsin 1 Manufacturing conditions in the iron and steel industry make impossible the compilation of information similar to that for other industrial groups contained in this report. In iron and steel plants the varying hours of work, the irregular shift system, the mixture of piece, day and tonnage work, prevents the accurate compilation of wage data covering the actual hours of work per wage earner, hourly earnings, or the hours of the regular work week. The data for the general group of 70 plants covered in the report has, therefore, been confined to a discussion of weekly earnings, plant hours and employ- ment. Fifty-four of the 70 plants furnished accurate data covering the actual week per wage earner, hourly and weekly earnings. The latter group, therefore, has been put in the table covering general classified material. Wages (a) Hourly earnings: The study of hourly earnings has been confined to data furnished by 54 plants. Composite hourly earnings of all wage earjiers in 54 plants showed an in- 61 crease of 201% from July, 1914 to November, 1920, and declined 29.7% from the latter period up to July, 1921, leav- ing a net increase of 112%. In these plants, the hourly earn- ings of common labor showed an increase of 185% from July, 1914 to July, 1920, while those of skilled labor showeq an increase of 206% in November, 1920. The declines for these two groups from the peak months up to July, 1921, were 25% for common labor and 29.8% for skilled labor. The most marked decreases took place at the beginning of 1921 and sharp declines occurred in June. In June, 1921, the hourly earnings oi common labor were still 113% above 1914 and those oi skilled labor, 115%. (b) Weekly earnings: Composite weekly earnings of all wage earners in 70 plants increased 190% from July, 1914, to August, 1920, and declined 48.1% from the latter period up to July, 1921, leaving a net increase of 50% in June. Weekly earnings were well maintained through November, 1920, but beginning in December sharp declines occurred. The spring months were characterized by large declines, chiefly due to the shutting down of many blast furnaces. In 54 plants the weekly earnings of common labor increased 192% from July, 1914 to October, 1920, while those of skilled labor had increased 226% in August, 1920. The per- centages of decline for the two groups from the peak months up to July, 1921, were 43.3% for common labor and 53.1% for skilled labor. In June, 1921, the weekly earnings of com- mon labor were still 66% above 1914, while those of skilled labor were 53% above 1914. The amount of decline in weekly earnings has been more extensive than in any other basic industry. This has been due chiefly to curtailment of plant activity and the shutting down of many blast furnaces and rolling mills. The cessation of domestic and foreign demand in metal trades is, perhaps, the most direct cause of industrial stagnation. Employment The total number of wage earners employed in 70 plants decreased 48% from October, 1920 up to July, 1921. Un- employment began in November, 1920, followed by further reductions in December and January, 1921. Slight improve- ment was noted in March and again in May, but the un- 62 jm JUl flUt JEPT XT tm DEC JflN FEB MAD AW MJYJUtt isso laei JULY 1914 JUK JUL. AUG aw XT WW OKIJAN FE& hUE AP6 MAY JM \3sa lasi DOLLARS AVERAGE WEEKLY EARNINGS INDEX _ACTUAL FIBURES "i'SS' INDEX NUMBERS 1914 I9ED IBBI IBI4 IBED (National Industrial Conference Board) 63 Composite Payroll Data (70 Plants) Period No. Wage Earners Employed Average Hours Wag» (All Wage Eirneri) One Week In 1914-21 Establ. Total All Establ. Av. Week per Wage Earner Av. Hours Plant Opera- tion Av. Hrly. Earngs Av. Wkly. Earngs. Index Noi. Earnings Hrly. Wkly. 1914 July* 1920 June July August. . . . September October . . . November, December . 1921 January. . . February. . March . . . . April May June 17,88S 31,549 28,152 28,056 28,105 29,012 27,320 22,511 20,162 18,486 18,234 15,241 16,016 14,865 17,885 51,460 49,304 50,056 50,443 51,864 49,234 38,829 33,797 28,480 29,217 25,536 28,676 26,970 56.4 57.7 58.3 60.1 59.0 59.6 57.1 52.3 51.5 53.4 50.2 46.5 47.1 41.6 115.1 126.5 131.2 132.2 128.9 128.1 121.7 123.6 121.4 121.6 110.5 96.6 105.1 96.3 $.236 .672 .689 .696 .705 .705 .711 .636 .639 .601 .568 .561 .569 .500 $12.90 35.45 35.79 37.35 36.76 37.22 35.62 30.14 27.37 26.77 24.82 23.74 23.61 19.38 100 285 292 295 299 299 301 269 271 255 241 238 241 212 100 275 277 290 285 289 276 234 212 208 192 184 183 150 *1914-1921 establishments only. See pp. 3, 5. **54 plants only. certain condition of the metal market unquestionably caused these fluctuations. In 54 plants common labor decreased 52.9% from June, 1920 up to July, 1921, while skilled labor declined 57.5% during the same period. The depression period, therefore, has affected the skilled grou^ even more severely than common labors In the 40 identical plants that furnished information for 1914-1921, there was an increase of 76.4% in employment between July, 1914 and June, 1920. However, the low activity of industry in July, 1914, must be considered, and the above percentage does not reflect the normal expansion of the industry during the six-year period. In June, 1921, the total 64 NUMBER OF WAGE EABNEBS HOU» PU MECH l3Sr AVEPABE HOUWB DF WCPK r-v ® / ACTUAL *K ~ X / y^ -i / \ \ i \ / \ \ / \ LJ ' ' r- . 1 — ' 1 — 1 — ' 1 — 1 " ~ — j 1 1. WTKALWCWPeB ¥«GE EARNED •* '^ 'I " s V \ ■* ^ s \ y L> Jl» JHl UC S . M m .It ju III iMt «M wy Jin I9C4. I9Z0 (National Industrial Conference Board) number of people employed in identical establishments was 16.9% lower than in July, 1914. The industrial depression, therefore, had driven this industry below the 1914 level. Hours Average hours of the nominal week can not be calculated, as there is a great variety in standard hours, ranging from 60 to 84 per week. Iron and steel manufacturing is primarily an industry of continuous operation. The standard week of production would, therefore, be 168 hours. The full productive week, how-^ ever, generally ranges from 144 to 168 hours. In July, 1914 the average hours of plant operation were 115.1. This was a period of depression. In June, 1920 the hours of plant opera- tion had increased to 126.5 per week and the summer and early fall of 1920 saw an even greater increase in plant activity. The closing months of 1920 were characterized by considerable depression, but it was not until the spring of 1921 that indus- trial stagnation became severe. In March, plant hours had fallen to 110.5 per week and in April they went to a still lower level of 96.6 hours. May was characterized by a temporary revival to 105.1 hours, but June again showed depression to 65 96.3 hours. The condition of the industry is thus clearly reflected in the analysis of the hours of plant operation. The average week per wage earner in 54 plants was 56.4 hours in July, 1914. In June, 1920 the hours increased to 57.7, and continued at a high level through November. In 1921, the hours continually shrank till June, when there was a decline to 41 .6 hours. In 54 plants the average work week for common labor in 1914 was 60 hours. The summer of 1920 witnessed even longer hours, but beginning in December, there were marked decreases which became increasingly severe during the early months of 1921. In June, 1921, the unskilled wage earner was working 46.7 hours. In 54 plants, the skilled wage earner was working 54.4 hours in July, 1914 — this condition being the result of the temporary industrial depression at this time. The summer of 1920 saw the skilled wage earner working longer hours, ranging up to 59.6 hours in August. The winter of 1920-1921 saw marked declines which were well sustained during 1921, the trough period of 38.7 hours being reached in June, 1921. Conclusion 1. The decline in hourly earnings has been well above the general average in basic industries, particularly in the skilled group. 2. The decline in weekly earnings has been more extensive than in other industries covered by this investigation. This is due to a combination of reductions in plant activity, working hours, and hourly rates. 3. The decline in employment is practically parallel with that found in manufacturing metal trades and has been con- tinuous during 1920-1921. Skilled labor has been more seriously affected by unemployment than common labor. In June, 1921, fewer wage earners were employed than in the depression period of 1914. 4. The hours of plant activity increased from 115.1 in July, 1914, a period of depression, to 126.5 in June, 1920. A large amount of unfilled orders and general prosperity maintained activity through October, 1920. The industrial depression, however, forced the plant hours to the abnormally low level of 96.3 hours in June, 1921. 5. The average week per wage earner increased from 56.4 66 B 3 15 Q M Id < -w Q 2 C Q M i-l < S a o S « W fc. S 5 C 5a: " " = 5 3.S is Ms " 5 E « u O V B Q 8 8rH vo CN *0 vOO »H es CN rfl »-t in CJ f5 fj fj to fO C^ es po *^ cs CN vo OS 00O\O\OOO^ CS CS CS f*5 fO ro 04 ■^ ^ 69^ *-( 0\ *-* f*5 (^S lO lO lO r* 0\ O O 'tH i-( r>. r* t^ CO 00 00 r* t^ 00 *o O "OOio oo^^<4*ion O OvoOOO lOC^ O CS 00 rf^iOOO C>» PO OS Q 00 ^ Op OOr03CDS^ ^ 0\ Os O f*3 O **• oT ^0 so't^t^Tvo" •h" 0\cq ^Hior* O* ^ ^-1 to VO 00 1^ ^"o'o'ororoo'" 00 ■^ t^ On CS O r» VO 00 00 OO On 00 lO es (N cs CN es es es r* to 00 so O so Tt*POOOOQOvO Ov lO rO -^ »0 to OS r* 00 00 00 00 00 1^ C^l CS CS M CS tN CS lO 00 00 too CO t^ to (O tN ^-H -M cs r^ CN| cs cs cs SO t^ CO so r* *^ t** ^ CS CN pq CS >S M,«w_5''^ 3 s». s • •■ ^ s \ ^ V IW P'- ^ >t r 1 L WAGE sse TAS US -■ ~! ^ >; - *: ■> 'Z 'k -- IMC — •-» *l \H- Mat LU J— ^ HOUDS '""tt" AVERAGE HOURS I EOl SO 45 4D 35 30 Z5 20 15 10 5 JULV JUW JUL MC StlT OCT NW DO: JM FtB MM AW MA^ JUN 1914 I3Z0 ISZI CNaticnal Industrial Conference Board) industrial depression took effect in November, when there was a drop to 38.3 hours, followed by a further decline in December to a new low level of 35.5 hours. The beginning of 1921 showed a marked increase which was sustained through March. There was a slight relapse in April, followed by a revival in May and June. The trend of hours shows a gradual decline through the summer of 1920, marked depression during the winter, fol- lowed by revival in 1921. Conclusion 1. Decline in hourly earnings has been extensive and more marked than in other members of the textile group, except in southern cotton mills. 2. Decrease in weekly earnings has. been severe, due to a large reduction, not only in hourly rates, but in working hours. Wages have been more affected by rate cutting than by part- time operations. 3. The industry, as a whole, showed a decline through 1920, marked depression in the winter of 1920-1921 and a general sustained recovery in the spring of 1921. Earlier readjustment brought the industry to a better condition in 1921 than is found in many other basic industries. However, the particular conditions in the cotton market have had a direct effect upon productive activity within manufacturing plants. 73 II 0\ 00 t^ t^ lO (M O CN CS CN (N «N CN (N 3. o Ik e <^ w w Q U 1-1 < . >.9 i;3 E !> S C ^^' Q M >-] l-l Z 53 E III- D O Id U B o lO VO fO CO O vO t^ fO ro ro fO PO ro PO CN rg CN CN es M fe 00 ■^ O ■* ^ '^ f*> Tf< tjI ^* m lo O CS 00 lO M c^l ro OOOOO OS ^ O *~* vO "O NO O O f) ro CO ro PO PQ 0\t^ CO CN CM CO CS CS 00 On 00 fO^ lO On t— O -"^ 0^ t^ (N lO tH ■f-H rrj oo O CO '-I t^ CN "-I t- ^ CO CNt^ O lO vO CO (N ^ .t^ *-H t^ ON^r-^ On^ -^^ On^ 00^ NO'l^-t^ t^OO 00 CN r^ rt* NO to ^^ *^ On OO 00 f^ NO CN »-( CN CS tN CS eS . t^ ^ lO*^ 00 to 00 ON On 00 00 00*^ CO CO CO CO CO CO 00 00 ON Nil CO to -^ tO-^ ■^ O On 00 CM ^ NO to ^*^ I 00 On CO CO CM to On tH -T^ O CO to 00 On O On^nO "^'"O."^"^ t-» \0 NO ^ to ^ ^ CN CM »H ^ NO to O CO NO to 00 to ON^tO'^^ti^ON;©^ Tt< to to irTi/TNO 4 ►H,4< s 74 1—1 Cotton Manufacturing B. South As in the northern cotton mills, this wage investigation among cotton manufacturing plants in the southern states is confined to establishments engaged in spinning and weaving and finishing of cotton fabrics. The geographical distribution among 10 southern states is as follows: Alabama 3 North Carolina 2 Georgia 6 South Carolina .14 Kentucky 1 Tennessee S Mississippi 1 Texas 2 Maryland 2 Virginia 2 Returns were received from 38 plants, employing 18,781 wage earners at the high point in September, 1920. Women were employed in all of the establishments. Any comparison of wages in northern and southern cotton mills must take into consideration the differences in living conditions in the two sections of the country. In the average southern cotton mill town, company houses and accompanying facilities are usually provided by the operators, at a nominal price, while in northerA cotton manufacturing centers, such provisions are generally not made. This additional compensa- tion in southern mills must, therefore, be considered in any discussion of comparative wages. Wages (a) Hourly earnings: Composite hourly earnings of all wage earners show an increase of 222% from July, 1914 to October, 1920. The decline from the latter period up to July, 1921 was 31.8%. In June, 1921, the increase was 120% over July, 1914. There was a slight increase from July, 1920, to October. Marked reductions began to occur in December, amounting to almost five cents per hour, and more moderate declines continued throughout the first six months of 1921. In September, 1920, hourly earnings of common labor had increased 232%, and in October, 1920, those of skilled labor showed an increase of 242%, and those of women 198%, over July, 1914. The decline for each of these groups from the peak 7S months up to July, 1921 was as follows: common labor, 32.8%; skilled labor, 33.5%; women, 31.2%. In June, 1921, common labor showed an increase in hourly earnings of 123%, skilled labor, 127%, and women, 105%, over July, 1914. (b) Weekly earnings: Composite weekly earnings of all wage earners increased 192% from July, 1914 to July, 1920, and from the latter period up to July, 1921, declined 32.5%, leaving a net increase of 97% up to the middle of 1921. The trend shows moderate declines through November, with a sharp reduction occurring in December, amounting to approximately $2.28 a week, or 12%. The year 1921 was marked by a further decline in weekly earnings, caused by the reduction of hourly earnings rather than by curtailment of working hours. The high point of weekly earnings of common labor was reached in September, 1920, when the increase shown over July, 1914, was 203%. The peak for skilled labor and women was reached in July, 1920, when increases of 211% and 167% over the 1914 level were indicated. The declines from these peaks up to July, 1921 for the three groups, were as follows: common labor, 36.4%; skilled labor, 33.7%; women, 30.8%. In June, 1921, common labor was 93% above 1914, skilled labor, 106%, and women, 85%. Employment The total employment decreased 7.9% between the peak in September, 1920, and June, 1921. The period of greatest reduction was reached in January, when there were approxi- mately 13% fewer wage earners employed than in the preced- ing September. A revival of production caused an increase between January and June, 1921, of over 5% in numbers employed. Among the three groups, the greatest amount of decline has occurred among women, where the decrease be- tween September, 1920 and June, 1921, amounted to 16.8%. The total number of employees in identical establishments increased 11.2% from July, 1914 up to July, 1920. In June, 1921, the increase over 1914 was 6.9%. Relatively speaking, the employment problem in southern cotton mills is unimportant, the amount of decline being negligible in comparison with general conditions. The industry showed a normal growth between 1914 and 1920. 76 100 BO BO 70 eo so AVEKAQE HOURLV iNoex ACTUAL FIOUBES 1 in. - w» :aa \ », 1 , // ^ >«■•' m WD i^' ^ s >*, V. - ■s. ,^ # >« ^•n 4EN -un; ■d' l/ JUW JIHJA- AUGXPrOCT NW MC JIN FEtMJfl AW Mft* JUN 1814 laeo laei KARNINOB INDEX NUMBEBB JULY JLWJW. AlJ6i£PTKr HW DEC JAHFaMJBAPB MgyjUK iai4 iBea laei AVKPAGE vyCBKLV CARNINBS INDEX , ACTU A L FI BUPEB , "i'£™ INDEX NUMBEBB 1814 laea laei IBI4 laeo (National Industrial Conference Board) M / \ V k^ / S 'x /; rV' s \ 1 CADNC < / "V. i- Sj \ ■*- V - A \, \ V N ■ 1 \ >■ k 1 Sj j - - - - - - N Y J 17 .« ^ ra bi n n Mf tu b7 rn »x < 77. Composite Payroll Data Period No. Wage Earner! Employed Average Houn Wage. (All Wage Earner!) Av Av. Index No!. One 1914-21 Total Week Hours Plant Nom- Av. Av. Earnings Week In Eitabl, All Establ. Per Wage Earner Opera- tion Week Hrly. Earngs. Wkly. Earngs. Hrly. Wkly. 1914 July*.. 12,601 12,601 56.3 58.8 58.8 $.126 $7.10 100 100 mo June. . . 14,012 18,262 52.1 55.1 55.6 .385 20.09 306 283 July... 14,087 18,362 52.4 54.7 55.6 .395 20.72 314 292 Aug. . . . 14,079 18,745 50.0 55.0 55.6 .397 19.87 315 280 Sept . . . 14,006 18,781 50.6 54.4 55.6 .401 20.31 318 286 Oct. . . . 13,158 17,824 47.8 51.0 55.6 .406 19.41 322 273 Nov . . . 13,128 17,533 48.0 51.0 55.6 .397 19.05 315 268 Dec... 12,870 17,111 48.4 50.8 55.6 .346 16.77 275 236 1921 an . . . 12,575 16,398 50.6 52. 1 55.6 .327 16.51 260 232 ■'eb.... 13,382 16,977 50.9 52.6 55.6 .315 16.02 250 226 March . 13,296 16,934 50.4 52.2 55.6 .306 15.43 243 217 April. . 13,161 16,753 49.9 51.7 55.6 .295 14.71 234 207 May. . . 13,103 16,998 51.1 52.6 55.6 .283 14.48 225 204 June... 13,473 17,294 50.6 52.3 55.6 .277 13.99 220 197 *1914-1921 establishments only. See pp. 3, 5. Hours The hours of the nominal week in July, 1914 were 58.8. In June, 1920, they had decreased to 55.6. The latter stand- ard continued throughout 1920-1921. The average hours oj -plant operation were reduced from 58.8 in July, 1914, to 55.1 in June, 1920. The depression began to take effect in October, when there was a decline of over three hours from September, and continued throughout the remain- ing months of 1920. In 1921, marked stimulation occurred, except for a slight slump during April. In general, plant activity has continued fairly well during the adverse industrial conditions. The actual week per wage earner showed a decline from 56.3 hours in July, 1914, to 52.1 hours in June, 1920. The decline in actual hours began in August and further sharp reduction occurred in October. The closing months of 1920 were a 78 OF WAGE EARNERS I'SVSu AVERAGE HOURS DF WORK BOr ■M-Y JUlJILAUaaPTKI Ml PEL MHn\Uill m UXf MN 1814 iBSD laei JULY 1314. JIW JUL jut 3EPI OCT MDV do ; JAK F R MJO aPP htAY.U W IBEO (National Industrial Conference Board) depression period, but the beginning of the new year showed marked revivals in working hours. There were fluctuations in the spring months undoubtedly caused by the unsettled con- dition of the cotton market. However, reduction of working hours has affected the wages of the average employee little in comparison to wage decreases. Conclusion 1. Decline in wages has been more extensive than in any other members of the textile group, and far beyond that of the average basic industry. 2. While extensive reductions, amounting to approximately 32% in both hourly and weekly earnings, occurred during 1920-1921, the large wage increases between 1914 and the peak in 1920 left the average wage earner comparatively well off in June, 1921. 3. The employment decline of 8% has been relatively unim- portant, and 1921 has witnessed a slight increase in employ- ment. 4. Reduction in working hours has affected earnings slightly in comparison with wage cutting. 5. The depression period occurred at the close of 1920, and 1921 has indicated a readjustment on a more permanent basis. 79 C5 a, OS W w z w i 1.? ^ CO t^ r^ T*< ro w 0\ O lO vO lO »0 -q^ tJ< ro CM CM CM ^ 'H ^ X Q CO t^ VO T** X. f*^ O 1-1 00 1^ 1^ CS lO <5 r^ 00 On OS 0\ Ov *0 f0 ■'^ 00 CS-OCNiOOOvO "^ CN 00 0\ O ro CM O ^_ 0\ 0\ O O O \0 O vO »0 VO lO lO lO ro CM es CNJ CM i-i ftS. ,-1 ,-( tH »-t *-l »-t »-l ,-1 ,-1 ,-) tH rH t-< ►•S'E < = ^ ti- i^ *>» t^ lo o ■^ lo *^ ^F-t cs ro ro ^ r*0 00 *^ CO ro ro f*3 fO f^ CN >^ »-( *-U>. *^ lO »o m U-1 lO >o -^ "* -^ Th ^ 0\00000 0\00 ^§)0^5^ oo ■«-i ro r^ so O r»i 00 vo\ogoo\Os rS ro O fO »-t \0 O "-f 00 00 ^ »0 CS »-h M* "O o -t^ -i^ so vO SO lo »o to lO lO in D M .J w M < ^ O^C>Ot^O\0 ffjTHOOOs^vO ^ O ^ OS T-i OS OS to lo -^ CM »H ■.-H O '^ CO CO CM rO CS CM CM CM CM CM CM CM CM O Tt< ro fO Tji m Os 00 so »0 -^ ro CM >^ ro CO PO PO ro ro CM CM CM CM CM CM CM ' Is CMOfOO^t-**^ OS CM m 00 fo to C) CM ^ *-H O O CO so CO Tt| -^ so ■ 00 r^ *-< 6ci CO CO CO CO CO CO Oi r^ CS -"^ lO "^ 00 t^ COOOCM»OCMSO s© CS CO ^ CM Os op Os ■^■rt'^OCS'^ U-j lO lO lO »0 Tt< Tt -^ loioiotoioio rsa ro \0 ■•^ ^ »0 O "^ ^ro*^io*^c^ N© OO »-H tH lO i^ t^ -^ Os OS 'r-* O 00 so PO ''J^^u^UT^iO^O^O^Os^ "^^^^^^^^'^^ ^C ccoococooocctr^ 4>roo''oo''oo''oo''oo'' ' Q Id >-) w W >-) <; S c> ooo^pocotot^ r^iooio»-Hto ^ OsOOOOOt^'^ cocMt-iOOOs *-i CM CO CO CO cm CM CM CM CM CM CM CM »-< - OS CM lO 00 00 lO Tt< -^ CO t^ CO C CM CS CM CO (N O t^ vOUT^COCMCM •^ CO CO CO CO CO CO CM CSCMtNCMCMCN O t^ CO ^ 00 VO I-- ^ to Ti< t^ Os "* OS ts. On ^ *H CM -^ so O CM 00 OS so -^^ OS v^ so i^ ^- *^ ^ lO -^ CO CM ^ ^ ^ O 4*5, ^_|.,_|,_|i-Hi-Hi-l«H »H.-(tHtH»-HtH O CM CM CS CO CM O t^ *-( CO CO CO CO CO CO CM lo^-"* por-co \0 lO ■«* CO C»4 pq CM CM CM CM CM CM On ^ ■.*< cm ^ j>. 00 so S© rsl CM CM (N OS O O lO lo lO iO LO •«* »o »o OOO »-i COCO ss?)sg^ ill *M 00 CO t^ "^ On *-< 0\ ^QOt^bOCMCO •^ -31 rf OS 'H 00 SO ''l^ CMOst^Osoc^ ^ O w^tH^Os^Os,CO^ Os^oo^ooir^oq^Os^ fsi ro crTcOCOCM CM CM "CM CM CM CM CN» CM* a o 1 B o e "^ • S ' • • • • 1 '■ 4cS March . . . April May June a o C0 a 4^ — EDO H jw. tifc jEpr (cT Nw DEC Jan f Ea Maa AVi w» jm lasD isai ® ^ •• -SKI 5! 1 -4L S^ pS ... ■" \ ^ S SSfc N-UNSKfLlCD 1 1 1 MC ( Jyyr JIHJUL AUHaaiOCT NW dec JAKFEaMmW MflYJUM ISM iBso laai AVERAGE ACTUAL FIGURES WEEKLY INDEX 4'=i ^n / i < M ■W 1 'dGE EAl ■>^ - \ ME^ -SK J.EI ^^ 1 1 1 !' NSK LLE S S" s «< r pn 1 'S\ 1 ;/ Ihl VDJ. ENj S ^ - - - - '- — 1 n '(l 1 «i Y-ii JUL '* i MJULflUtSEPrKT NCKDDlJflMFEaMi !« [Ml EARNINBS INDEX NUMBERS ISM I Baa (National Industrial Conference Board) 300 E75 -i ME '"■' WIQ ED S50 ES5 EDO 175 ISO lES 100 SMIL .ED s ••n. T^ S VOh EN ^ AL "^ s4 ^ SOB J ii. L» J «* Ausitnxi KD. ore .lAU rr. U.D « .Ml YJUN 83 Composite Payroll Data Period No Wage Earners Employed Average Hours Wages (All Wage Earners) Av. Av. Index Nos. One 1914-21 Total Week per Hours Plant Nom- Av. Av. Earnings Week In Establ. All Establ. Wage Earner Oijera- tion inal Week Hrly. Earngs. Wkly. Earngs. Hrly. Wkly. 1914 July*.. 36,891 36,891 52.8 53.3 55.1 $.185 $9.77 100 100 1920 une. . . 40,116 42,546 44.6 45.2 49.8 .571 25.46 309 260 iuly... 38,969 41,192 43.6 45.1 49 ;8 .56^ 24.67 306 252 Aug 36,628 38,684 43.7 44.5 49.8 .569 24.88 308 254 Sept . . . 37,018 39,085 43.3 44.5 49.8 .568 24.58 307 251 Oct, . . . 36,811 38,933 43.2 44.5 49.8 .566 24.46 306 250 Nov . . . 35,001 36,575 40.9 41.6 49.8 .562 22.98 304 235 Dec... 33,906 35,527 40.6 41.3 49.8 .555 22.52 300 230 1921 Jan.... Feb.... 33,707 34,911 42.8 44.9 50.0 .493 21.08 266 215 35,328 37,149 45.4 47.3 50.1 .465 21.13 251 216 March . 35,271 37,288 45.2 47.1 50.1 .463 20.94 250 214 April... 38,457 40,854 45.8 47.4 50.2 .460 21.07 249 215 May. . . 40,698 43,195 47.1 48.6 50.2 .467 22.01 252 225 June. . . 41,651 44,385 47.5 48.6 50.2 .469 22.26 253 228 *1914-1921 establishments only. See pp. 3, 5. in the wool industry than in most basic industries; (2) general movement in reduction of wages has been gradual; (3) the increases from 1914 in wages for all classes of labor have been approximately the same, and hence the relative position in regard to earnings of the three groups has been unchanged since 1914. Employment The total employment in the wool industry increased 4.3% from June, 1920 up to July, 1921. There was a gradual decline of 17.9% from June, 1920 to the trough in January, 1921, and a marked increase from the latter period up to July, 1921, amounting to 27.1%. The whole tendency in employ- ment was toward a marked revival after the beginning of 1921. The increases in the groups, common labor, skilled labor, and women, from June, 1920 up to July, 1921, were respectively 11.8%, 3.6% and 3.3%. The decreases by 84 BOr AVEPABE MDUPS OF WDPK laeo loei latA laeo (National Industrial Conference Board) ® \\ wtumiu. rtcr -J \ MSTUtLWEDCOr , ,.• — *mMLWE«PM *»0C LUtCS V -J s .», ^ / .V JIM AL ilK ]E tocIKn mjAntMMjinaiiuTjii groups from June, 1920 to the respective troughs were: com- mon labor, 26%; skilled labor, 18%; women, 16%. The in- creases from the latter periods through June, 1921, were: common labor, 51%; skilled labor, 27%; women, 23%. The total number of employees in the woolen industry in identical establishments increased 13% from July, 1914 up to July, 1921, when the peak of employment was reached. Hours The average hours of the nominal week in July, 1914 were approximately 55 . Following the general reduction in working hours during the war period, there was a decline to approxi- mately 50 hours in June, 1920. The latter staiidard was main- tained throughout 1920-1921, there being a slight increase toward the middle of the present year. The actual week of plant operation shows a reduction from 53.3 hours in July, 1914 to 45.2 hours in June, 1920. The next months showed slight declines, the decrease going as low as 41.3 hours in December. In January, the start was made toward recovery, there having been an increase in activity of about four hours per plant from December. Plant operation continued to increase through the spring months 85 of 1921, reaching 48.6 hours in June. The study of the chart of the actual week of plant operation reflects very closely the industrial condition of the whole industry during the past months. It will be seen readily that early readjustment caused by deflation in prices of raw materials in 1920 in- fluenced quicker resumption of normal plant activity in 1921. The average actual week per wage earner showed a decline from 52.8 hours in July, 1914 to 44.6 hours in June, 1920. The resumption of activity, beginning in February, caused an immediate increase in the actual week per wage earner, so that in June, the average wage earner was working almost seven hours longer per week than at the close of 1920. This increase in actual working hours has increased the weekly earnings in the spring months, but the decline in hourly earnings previous to that time has more than overtaken the increase in weekly earnings due to longer working hours. It will be noted that, beginning in August and continuing through January, 1921, the hours of the average week per wage earner and the hours of plant operation were quite close to- gether. This is probably due to the fact that many plants were either entirely closed during the summer months or operated on a part-time schedule. The wage earners, how- ever, in the active plants worked approximately the same general average hours. The result of plant shutdowns and part-time operations thus brought the hours of plant activity and the average week per wage earner closer together. Conclusion 1. Earlier liquidation in prices and wages has resulted in an earlier resumption of activity. 2. Decline in wages has been gradual since the peak in 1920, with a slight increase in wages in the spring of 1921. 3. The wage increases since 1914 have been approximately the same for both skilled men and women. 4. The drop of five hours in the nominal week between July, 1914 and June, 1920 is above the general average for most industries during the same period. It may be accounted for^ in part, by the effect of legislation shortening the hours of female wage earners. 5. The trend in the hours of plant activity between 1914 86 ^ o I. a> a- z Id 1 |i3 "-i CS M CS CM tN CM tS N CM pg CS «S C>J 2 *-;gooooo\ vo lo »o Tj< lo »n *^ (*> ro f*5 ro ro fo CM CM cs es (N fs CN ?ld =0 « CN — 1 \n lO T* \0 CM t«5 CM CM C> 00 ~i CM «--. ro ■* CO ob •-1 vo r~ ^O >0 ^ vo po '-tOOOOOOoO «^t^t^t^oooo 6» CM CM CM CM CM « »H ^ ^ .^ .^ ^ m Os Th o t^ 0\ O r* On '-^ 0\ oO O »h <-t »^ On Q\ op op 00 t^ O CMOnOnOnQO ■ W •3 . 1.2 2 »0 On CO t-» 0\ On »0 00 OOIOOOn^hnO 5 ^g'555=5« 5^'^'^;^;$ *-1 tH i-H i-t ,-1 i-H *-l tH ,-( »-I ^-H i-l 1-H CS Q u < It O NO PO iM lO fO r*5 On t>» 00 nO 00 nO On © NO lO NO lO »0 -^l^ fO *H ^ ^ T-( (N cs *^ *>i CO f*5 CO f*5 <*) PO CO CS O) CS (N CS CN >i3SE QO ^ 00 t-» U-) CN -* CO Tiiooooor^o ^ lO O On CN O 00 "* ON On 00 O On fO *-i O On O^ O^ On t^* *>■' t* Tti ^' lO lO sO* **^ CO CN M CN CS CS Co NO NO NO NO NO 10 10 »o 10 10 »o [» 3 E **> 00 On On r^ CS r^ lO Tt* VO '-i \0 O es 2; ^s^^'^'^i'g'g 3:°;§^^'5' ^id CNJ NO 00 CO NO CO CM ^ coot^coNOr^ »»i 10 00 10 Oi 00 00 CO co»- NO Tt ^iooo-Hr~oo O On On On On On On On lo ^ CO -* CO CO •^ CM CS eg CM CM CM CM C^ cq CM CM CM CM ?ld W-, NO NO O 00 lO NO 'SI On CM CM Tji to r^ t^ NO CM CO O t^ On to ONt^OOOOCMIO oi CO t)"' Tl< rc' ■<1<' rt' CM O O O i3 ^ ,-1 CO . 4^ r^ NOt^t^ VONO H 1-4 1-1 *H 1-1 1-1 ^ w lOONiO lO M PO t-* SO t^ t^ "O O f5 CJ CO PO CO CO <1«' t^lOCSIVOO^ VO u ■5 NO 00 CN 1-1 "O 55rO-^-^^5 ' ^r "^ ^^ ^^ ^^ N." 0^ «-! \0 ^ PO On tH CN-^iOOuooO PO O coOn^vo f*^ 00 PO ^^oooodoo 00 On NO OO -"r^ OO esio vOOv \Ot^ tH On^O^sO O CS^ ,— 1 1^ ,-H 1-t II 00 i^ 0\ Ov 00 '^ O CN CN M 0 (N M oor^ i-< CO t^ NO Tt< -^ -* -^ O m i-H i-H O C^ ro HCSl-^rJ.''i<' \0 CS ■1-1 PO t^ O '^ Wt^CS^iO On O tCi^TcxToood'oT D M H < ll 3« 5= 8 ■^ ■^ -^ On (N fO lO O 0\ ON 00 0\ 0\ 00 CS] 1— 1 1-1 tH *-H 1-H «~l o\ csrt^ NO o '^ t^ 00 00 t^ 00 00 1-1 1— 1 1-t 1-1 - 0\^ 0\^ 00 »o vO lO tJJ^ p«r r-T (N* cs cn" p^* r«r PO vOOn^OOnOO Q O a. > 6 o u ;z;q n Mar April May June 94 IX HOSIERY AND KNIT GOODS MANUFACTURING The wage investigation in this industry includes establish- ments manufacturing hosiery, underwear, sweaters and other knitted wear. Separate classification was originally made of both hosiery and underwear plants, but the general differences between these two groups were reflected only in the earnings of common labor. The composite group, therefore, is used for the investigation. Returns were received from 90 plants em- ploying 24,849 workers at the high point in June, 1920. The geographical distribution in this industry, within 18 states, is as follows: Connecticut 5 North Carolina S Georgia 2 Ohio 4 Maryland 1 Pennsylvania 25 Massachusetts 4 South Carolina 1 Michigan 4 Rhode Island 1 Minnesota 2 Utah 1 New Hampshire 1 Washington 1 New Jersey 2 West Virginia 1 New York 25 Wisconsin 5 Wages (a) Hourly earnings: Composite hourly earnings of all wage earners show an increase of 149% from July, 1914 to July, 1920, and from the latter period up to July, 1921, declined 11.4%, leaving a net increase of 121%. A stationary condition existed through 1920, with approximately a 10% cut occurring in January, 1921. The first six months of 1921 showed a practically unchanged situation. The high point of hourly earnings for the male labor group was reached in December, 1920, when the hourly earnings of common labor were 201% above 1914 and those oi skilled labor 156%. The peak of hourly earnings for women occurred in June, 1920, when they were 150% above 1914. The percentages of decrease from each of these peaks to the middle of 1921 were as follows: common labor, 18.9%; skilled labor, 15%; women, 11.8%. 95 Up to July, 1921, the percentages of increase above 1914 for the three groups were: common labor, 144%; skilled labor, 118%; women, 120%. (b) Weekly earnings: Composite weekly earnings of all wage earners increased 135% from July, 1914 to June, 1920 and from the latter period up to July, 1921, declined 15.2%, leaving a net increase of 99%. The weekly earnings re- mained practically stationary through October, 1920. In November, 1920, there was a considerable reduction due to shorter working hours, and the opening months of 1921 showed continued depression. However, there was a marked revival during the spnng of 1921. The high point of weekly earnings for common labor was reached in December, 1920, when they stood 160% over 1914; for skilled labor, in August, 1920, when there was an increase of 132%, and in June, 1920 for women, when there was an increase of 134% over 1914. The percentages of decline from these respective peaks up to July, 1921 were as follows: common labor, 20.2%; skilled labor, 17.5%; women, 13.2%. The percentages of increase over 1914 up to July, 1921, were respectively 107%, 91% and 103%. In general, the decline in hourly earnings has been far below that in other textiles. The decrease in weekly earnings is due to the reduction in hourly rates and loss in working hours during 1920-1921. Relatively speaking, the net wage increases in June, 1921 have been less in this group than in other textiles, except southern cotton mills. Employment The total number of wage earners decreased 13.6% from June, 1920 up to July, 1921. The trough period was reached in January, 1921, when they had decreased 37.7%. Between January and July, 1921, there was a continuous revival so that 38.7% more wage earners were employed at the latter period than at the beginning of the year. The greatest reduction in any of the groups between June, 1920 and the middle of 1921 occurred in common labor. The total number of wage earners in identical establish- ments increased approximately 20% between July, 1914 and June, 1920. In June, 1921, employment in identical establish- ments had fallen below the 1914 level. In general, employ- 96 ACTUAL FIGURES MEN-9K1LL£D AVKRAOK HOURL.V KARNINBB INDEX NUMBERS MEN'UNSIflLL£C ^ v.--—^.._ JlttJUHUSilEPrOCT MWDECJANFEBwaAWMarjUK .IBI4 mea JULY JIM JUL *u6 mn: OCT nw dec jAMFEawAt apb Mtrjjw iai4 iBCQ laei AVERAGE WCERLY KARNINOS ACTUAL FIGURES '^"Jf INDEX NUMBERS laei IBI4 ibbd (National Industrial Conference Board) 3SS 300 — — — — — — — - E75 aso ESS eoo hE ismi lit ,••■ - - - - - ;, c 1 ^u ^ »1 1 V 5 1 S i r*" ,.•■ > r^ 7 ] 1^ »•" 5; *^ — ISO IBS '"9 / - / / a J KJUL URX71X Mvn ■.jmrnuamM rrjiH 97 Composite Payroll Data Period No. Wage Earners Employed Average Hours Wages (All Wage Earners) One Week 1914-21 Establ. Total All Establ. Av. Week Per Wage Earner Av. Hrs. Plant Opera- tion Nom- inal Week Av. Hrly. Earngs. Av. Wkly. Earngs. Index Nos. Earnings In Hrly. Wkly. 1914 July*.... 1920 June July Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec 1921 Jan Feb Mar April. . . . May June 16,034 19,239 18,291 16,533 17,264 13,386 13,664 11,060 10,521 12,456 13,342 14,720 14,834 14,984 16,034 24,849 24,090 22,214 22,823 18,936 18,842 15,818 15,471 17,917 19,080 20,729 21,034 21,459 48.9 47.8 43.7 45.0 44.5 43.4 40.9 40.6 40.2 43.1 42.5 43.1 44.6 44.2 54.5 49.5 46.4 49.9 49.2 46.3 44.7 44.2 44.7 48.2 47.5 47.4 49.3 49.3 54.2 50.2 50.2 50.2 50.2 50.2 50.2 50.2 50.2 50.3 50.3 50.3 50.3 50.3 t.iso .433 .449 .441 .446 .444 .438 .443 .401 .392 .401 .393 .396 .398 $8.82 20.72 19.61 19.88 19.84 19.28 17.92 17.98 16.11 16.91 17.07 16.93 17.68 17.58 100 241 249 245 248 247 243 246 223 218 223 218 220 221 100 23S 222 225 225 219 203 204 183 192 194 192 200 199 *1914-1921 establishments only. See pp. 3, 5. ment conditions point to a decrease in employment to slightly below the general level found in other textile industries, except northern cotton mills. Hours The hours of the average nominal week in July, 1914 amount- ed to 54.2. Following the general reduction in the length of working hours during the war period, there was a drop to 50.2 hours in June, 1920, which standard remained practically sta- tionary throughout 1920 and the first six months of 1921. The actual week of plant operation decreased from 54.5 hours in July, 1914 to 49.5 hours in June, 1920. The industrial de- pression began to take effect in October, 1920, when there was a drop to 46.3 hours. The next three months showed continued depression. Beginning in February, 1921 there was a marked revival which was sustained through June. 98 ruxama NUMBEB OF WABE EAPNEPS Kg ocoi AVEPA6C HOURS OF WOPK ear (National Industrial Conference Board) The actual week per wage earner declined from 48.9 hours in July, 1914 to 47.8 hours in June, 1920. There was a marked decline during the summer months of 1920, apparently due to fluctuations in the amount of piece-work production. De- pression commenced in November, 1920, when hours fell to 40.9. Stagnation continued through January, 1921. In February, 1921 there was a marked revival of almost three hours, which was practically sustained through April, when there was further increase in working hours. In general, the trend of working hours has followed that of other textiles, show- ing a depression in the winter of 1920-1921 with marked stimulation and revival during the spring months of 1921. Conclusion 1. Decline in hourly earnings from July, 1920 up to July, 1921, has been less than that found in other textiles. 2. The decrease in weekly earnings was practically on a level with that found in most basic industries, but much less than in cotton manufacturing. 3. The drop in employment has been less than in the majority of basic industries. The depression period in hours and employment was reached in the winter of 1920-1921, and the spring of 1921 witnessed a marked revival in activity. 99 ^. 2 i II © ^cot^oopo^t^ c^ rmn in in in <5 fO ^ *-< th i-H 0\ Os 00O\O\OvOO i»^ CS - 1^ t^ ^ tr^ fOrO-^corJ^u^ '^ CO CO CO fO CO CO CO cocococococo ^ CO O to -"^ vO t^ O Tt^ On ■^ CO ■^ lO • as ^ JO CS NO i:^ lO OMO *-H OMIX) -O -^ CO On^ ir^TH 1-h CS ONOOi^ 00 O LO ^ vO O ^ vO\OiO»OCN Tt< rji Tt< lO lo ID lo CO (N rg cs -^ ■^ ■^ (M (N CS es Ps) CM CN (Ma "O CO OMO CS On CO -^ro^Or^OONO ^ vO J>. CS •<* Ov t^ -^ S>- "O 0\ y-t -^ ■<~^ c\i 00 00 On 00 t^ lO to (N CO CO CO "^ ■«* ^ eS CS CN (M CN CN CN (N (N P^ CM CS M It, ^ w O 00 CO lO Tt< 00 OvOOOVOt^iO ^ OOOsQ'^O^ NO CO 'Tt< -^ (N (N CV) \0 *0 lO O NO NO O lO lO lO lO lO u^ 6^

• !>• ■^ O O lO »-i -^ Ov -^ to lO Oo in vo NO t-* 00 1>- 1^ voioioiourn 4 v^ c. ^- r- 1^ 00 ^- ^^ 00 1^ .t^ oo '^ r^ NO -«# ^ On po ON es Tf 00 ^ 'i* lo 0) tS. 00 ■^ ^ CS w ON (M CS CN NO vO CS ^ CO ^*^eNNOC^t-0 ■^y~*t000'^0 Q u. CO z S Q O 00 NO NO ro CO O CS^00 00 On On (N 00 i>. lO ^ ■s . is is C> ^Ols-OOOOO ^lOPOCS-***-^^ Ot NO th r^ t^ 00 00 00 lO lO IT) -^ rH -^ gj C^tHOO fO.OlOOO ^ONOOOOOO ■^ ■^ (N fo 00 00 PO O CS -rH ^ On On CN **! O O CO OO^I>^l>;^J>^ NO ^P^O ON tH (vf Tfn'TH^rOfOPOPO pO pO pO^po (N ro" a o M 0. J B 162 XVIII PRINTING AND PUBLISHING (Newspapers and Periodicals) The wage investigation in establishments engaged in print- ing newspapers and periodicals includes 111 plants, employing at the high point in December, 1920, 3,920 wage earners. Women were employed in 63 of these plants. The geographi- cal distribution within 34 states is as follows: Arizona 1 Mississippi 1 California 6 Missouri 5 Colorado 1 Montana 1 Connecticut 2 Nebraska 1 Florida 2 New Jersey 1 Idaho 1 New York.. 9 Illinois 8 North Dakota 1 Indiana 2 Ohio 7 Iowa 12 Oklahoma 3 Kansas 4 Oregon 1 Kentucky 1 Pennsylvania 10 Louisiana. 1 South Carolina 1 Maryland 1 Tennessee 1 Massachusetts 8 Texas 2 Maine 1 Virginia 2 Michigan 3 Wisconsin 6 Minnesota 4 Wyoming 1 Wages (a) Hourly earnings: Composite hourly earnings of all wage earners increased 76% from July, 1914 up to July, 1921. The period between June, 1920 and June, 1921, inclusive, was characterized by gradual increase in hourly earnings, amounting to 6.8%. The high point of hourly earnings of common labor was reached in December, 1920 when there -was an increase of 94% over 1914; by the middle of June, 1921, the hourly earnings of common labor dropped approximately 10%, leav- ing a net increase of 75% over 1914. The peak of hourly earnings of skilled labor was not reached until the middle of 163 June, 1921, when there was shown an increase of 78% over 1914. The year 1920-1921 saw a continual increase amount- ing to 8.6%. The high point of hourly earnings for women was reached in November and December, 1920, when they were 122% above July, 1914. The decline up to July, 1921, was 2.8%. (b) Weekly earnings: Composite weekly earnings of all wage earners increased 82% from July, 1914 to December, 1920, and decreased 5% from the latter period up to July, 1921, leaving at that time a net increase of 73% over 1914 The trend shows a gradual increase through the months of 1920, reaching the peak at the close of the year, followed by very slight decreases during 1921, due to fewer hours worked. The high point of weekly earnings for the male labor groups was reached in December, 1920. At that time, the weekly earnings of common labor were 110%, and those oi skilled labor 85%, above 1914. The peak of 112% above 1914 for women was reached in November, 1920. The percentages of decrease for the three groups up to July, 1921 were as follows: common labor, 7.5%; skilled labor, 3.4%; women, 20.1%. In June, 1921 the percentages of increase over 1914 for the three groups were respectively 95%, 79% and 69%. The large drop in weekly earnings for women in June, 1921 is accounted for by a large reduction in the hours worked. Employment The total decrease in numbers of wage earners from the peak in December, 1920 up to July, 1921 was 4.8%. Be- tween June, 1920 and December there was a slight increase in the numbers employed, amounting to about 8%. The -problem of unemployment in this industry is relatively un- - important, as the industry has been little affected by general industrial stagnation. The total number of wage earners in identical establish- ments increased 39% between July, 1914 and June, 1920. In the middle of June, 1921, the increase over July, 1914 was still larger, amounting to 40.3%. Hours The average hours of the nominal week in July, 1914 amounted to 50.3. Following a general reduction in the J64 AVERAGE HDUQLY EARNINGS JULY IBM JUHM. AUG JEPTQCT NW DEC JftN TEft MM ilW MflVJUW isao I9SI IBI« i3za (National Industrial Conference Board) JLH JUL aU& JEPT Oct WV DEC JAM FEB MJ>B AW MftY JUH I9SI 165 Composite Payroll Data Period No. Wage Earners Employed Average Hours Wa (All Wage ges Earners) Av. Av. Index Nos. One Total Week Hours Nom- Av. Av. Earnings Week 1914-21 Eitabl. All Establ. Per Wage Plant Opera- inal Week Hrly. Earngs. Wkly. Earngs. In Earner tion Hrly. Wkly. 1914 July*.. 2^57 2,257 44.7 45.0 50.3 $.413 $18.44 100 100 1920 , une . . 3,137 3,636 45.1 48.9 49.3 .680 30.66 165 166 . "ly • ■ . 3,102 3,607 44.7 48.8 49.3 .677 30.28 164 164 Aug. . 3,288 3,787 45.3 48.6 49.3 .677 30.68 164 166 Sept . . . 3,227 3,744 45.5 48.9 49.3 .697 31.67 169 172 Oct. . . . 3,203 3,713 45.9 49.0 49.3 .708 32.52 171 176 Nov . . . 3,300 3,818 46.3 49.1 49.3 .721 33.40 175 181 Dec... 3,412 3,920 46.4 48.6 49.3 .723 33.54 175 182 1921 Jan.... 3,419 3,917 45.7 48.9 49.3 .723 33.03 175 179 Feb.... 3,383 3,882 45.1 48.5 49.2 .724 32.62 175 177 March . 3,385 3,890 45.2 48.9 49.2 .715 32.30 173 175 April.. . 3,205 3,787 45.1 48.2 49.2 .720 32.48 174 176 May. . . 3,102 3,677 44.5 48.2 48.9 .719 32.02 174 174 June.. . 3,166 3,733 43.9 47.1 48.8 .726 31.87 176 173 ♦1914-1921 establishments only. See pp. 3, 5. length of working hours during the war period, there was a decline to 49.3 hours in June, 1920. The latter standard was maintained through the following months until May, 1921, when there was a decline to 48.9 hours. This slight decrease is unquestionably caused by the introduction of the 44-hour week in some of the plants in the larger cities, but as many of the schedules in this group have come from small towns, the general effect on the present figures is unimportant. The average tOeek of plant operation increased from 45 hours in July, 1914 to 48.9 hours in June, 1920. The general average of the 48 J/^ to 49-hour week was maintained through March, 1921. In April and May, there was a drop to 48.2 hours, followed by a further decline to 47.1 hours in June. Plant operation in the latter two months was affected by strike con- ditions existing in some of the plants. The average week per wage earner increased from 44.7 hours in July, 1914 to 45.1 hours in June, 1920. There was a grad- 166 NUMBER DF WAGE EARNERS MEN-UNSKILLED JULY JU>LJUL MJHSOT OCT HtN OEL JAW FEB WIAB tfP MiYJUiT l 1914 I9ED 1921 ' 'S.- p<:»°»cc« AVERAGE HOURS GD NOMINAL WEEK JULY JUM JUL JUS 3E(T OCT NCW WL JAK TLB MADAPP MAT Jl 191* I9ED 1991 (National Industrial Conference Board) ual increase during the following months in 1920, reaching 46.3 and 46.4 hours, respectively, in November and December, 1920. The beginning of the year 1921 was characterized by a decline, which was followed in May and June by further reductions. The whole trend of hours in May and June, 1921 was affected by peculiar conditions existing in this industry. Conclusion 1. The increase in hourly earnings and the decline in weekly earnings were affected by reduction in the length of working hours. 2. The standard of hours was generally maintained through- out 1920 until April, 1921. The decrease in May and June, 1921, was due to labor conditions in some of the larger plants. 3. The effect of close organization in an industry in main- taining high wage levels during a time of widespread indus- trial depression is reflected by the investigation. 167 u S o .5 " Iz.S > S c e C5 o e ft. ■n* oe •0 O ►5 " Q < >3E ^^,i X E z a o c O CO i^ t^ r»- 00 ^ CO CS «-l cs cs -< O^00<-ICS»O es cs i-t e^i ^ •-< 00 00 00 On t^»0 vO Tt< i^ \0 rO M CM OsOvOOroO cs roes ^12 ^ ro \0 lO vO M C-J ^ lO ^ cst^ O c^ ■«-H Tt \0 CN COt^ ^ a0 ^ lO Tt* lO «^ 00 O O t^ t-^ *--. ^- 1^ 00 00 M ^-lOOCMOO CO OO 00 00 CO CO 00 r^ »-H O Mfl AW hWrjUK wuuaEDS 35D 325 3D0 INDEX NUMBERS .so .-• ff "' s \ *. / s -••■ 1$ -4 i-Si LLC Em J» / ALL le . / inn / rum JIKK roCT N» KCJMFEtU |A ! usr^ (National Industrial Conference Board) 171 Composite Payroll Data Period Number Average Hours Wa Earners] Employed (All Wage Actual Actual Index Nos. One 1914-21 Total Week Hours Nomi- Av. Av. Earnmgs Week Establ. All Per Plant nal Hrly. Wkly. In Establ. Wage Earner Opera- tion Week 1 Earngs. Earngs. Hrly. Wkly. 1914 July* . 11,064 11,064 52.5 53.2 55.6 $.246 %12.93 100 100 1920 June . . 9,315 12,006 48.9 52.8 52.4 .548 26.82 223 197 July... 10,105 12,900 49.3 53.1 52.4 .545 26.87 222 197 Aug. . . 10,020 12,765 49.1 53.1 52.3 .560 27.54 228 202 Sept . . . 9,641 12,348 49.4 52.4 52.3 .567 27.93 230 205 Oct.... 9,208 11,760 49.3 52.1 52.3 .570 28.06 232 206 Nov... 8,682 11,213 48.5 51.6 52.2 .566 27.44 230 201 Dec... 8,250 10,661 47.8 49.3 52.1 .558 26.65 227 196 1921 Jan.... 7,275 9,306 44.7 46.5 51.8 .545 24.38 222 179 Feb.... 7,650 9,717 46.0 48.8 51.8 .529 24.36 215 179 March . 7,625 9,766 46.5 48.9 51.8 .525 24.40 213 179 April. . . 8,024 10,130 46.5 48.6 51.9 .518 24.09 211 177 May. . . 7,783 10,014 47.9 49.0 51.9 .501 24.01 204 176 June. . . 7,402 9,753 48.1 49.6 51.9 .501 24.10 204 177 * 1914-1921 establishments only. See pp. 3, 5. a slump in the middle of the year. On the whole, the industry evidently was not affected by the depression until somewhat later than most basic industries. The early spring revival was unquestionably produced by the hope that there would be a stimulation in the building trades and in general con- struction and repair work, leading to large demand for the products of planing mills. This expectation, however, was not realized and a slump in the spring of 1921 occurred. Employment Total decline in employment from the high point in July, 1920 up to July, 1921 was 24.4%. There was a gradual decline in employment through 1920, followed by a marked drop in January, continued recovery through the spring months, and a slight slump in June, 1921. From the begin- ning of 1921 to the middle of the year the recovery from the 172 "°?y" NU MBEB OF WABE EA9NEPS i^'i Sif AVEPAGE HOUPS OF WOPK '■*! n~rn — I I I I I — I I I I I eai ^ rTT — |— n — 111 ^„ v^ juw M. aix xn OCT woy Dg jam f a Mjaaup matjw iai4 laeo leei (National Industrial Conference Board) depression period showed a 4.8% increase in total employ- ment. In June, 1921 there were 33.1% fewer people employed in identical establishments than in July, 1914. June, 1920 marked a slight decline in employment in comparison with July, 1914. The whole industry during this period experienced only a slight growth, as comparison of the 1914 and 1919 Censuses of Manufactures shows. The industry being prac- tically the same size in 1920 as in 1914, the comparison should rather be made between 1920 and 1921. If the industry had expanded even at the normal rate relative to the increase of population between 1914 and 1920, the decrease in employ- ment from the high point in 1920 up to July, 1921 would not have appeared so distinctive. The loss in total numbers employed between June, 1920 and June, 1921 is, however, approximately an average decrease for most of the basic industries. The fact that industry did not increase in size during the war period also has a direct effect on hours and wages. If there had been a particularly high demand for the products of this industry, there would have been unquestionably a faster increase in wages. The demand for planing mill products comes not only from building trades operations, or pri-mary construction, but also from replacement and repair work, or secondary construction. The tendency toward decline in 173 building trades operations has curtailed considerably the activity of planing mills, particularly in the months of 1921. Hours The average hours of the nominal week in July, 1914, were 55.6. In correlation with the general reduction of man- ufacturing hours during the war period, there was a reduction to 52.4 hours per week in June, 1920. This standard of hours was maintained practically throughout the rest of 1920, there being a slight decline in the months of 1921. The trend of actual average hours of plant operation shows a reduction from 53.2 in July, 1914 to 52.8 in June, 1920. Plant activity began to decrease gradually in December, 1920, while the trough was reached in January. A marked revival, probably stimulated by the hope that building trades and reconstruction would start in the spring, started a steady and permanent recovery up to the middle of 1921. The average actual week per wage earner showed a decline from 52.5 hours in July, 1914 to 48.9 hours in June, 1920. This decline in actual man hours is not so distinctive as in many other industries during this period. The general trend of actual hours per wage earner has followed the line of plant activity closely, the trough period occurring in the winter months of 1920-1921, at the same time as the depression in plant activity, followed by a marked recovery In the spring of 1921. In June, 1921 the average wage earner in planing mills was working nearly the full time that the plant operated . Indications are that there has been a recovery of productive efficiency on the part of the individual wage earner in 1921. Conclusion 1. Decrease m wages has been gradual since the peak m the fall of 1920, except for slight stimulus in the early spring of 1921, due to the hope of a revival in building and con- struction work. 2. Wage declines in both hourly and weekly earnings indicate that the general wage reductions throughout Amer- ican- manufacturing industries up to July, 1921 had not vitally influenced conditions in this industry. The slight decline in weekly earnings is ascribable to the maintenance 174 Q 1-3 < 2 r w u C5 2 Ci A, w w a D i-i P M >• M 23.E ^ a ? « S F 1^ " ! Q O ft) s O 1-1 f^ t^ 0\ ^H ^H 00 ,-( ,-( ,-1 ^H CS P^ ^-1 CN CS CM CN CN CS CS lO '-H T-i 00 O CO ■i-H i-H *H O O ^ N CS CS CN O ^ I evi vO O »o O CN »-H f*^ CO »0 lO vO O lO "O ^ ^ ^ \o ^ ^ CO Ot^t^ -^ CO O lO o vo rj t*5 oo »o Th 00 to O ■T-i o\ -^ Ov^ r^ c-j^ ■^ 00^ co^ c^ ^ CN O *-« Os «N •^ ro CO M Ov Ov \0 \0 vQ \0 lO lO 00 00 »0 0^ POO ■— 4 es] 00 ■<* o oo ON Tt^ lO '^ *H CO -^^loio^oooq^o^ lO lO lO u^ lO »0 lO O 00 CN tJ* On ^» O '-H 1-c pg CN <-i o CN CS CS CS CS CN C^ iTi in tn ■^ ^ rr^ \o CS Cvl CO CO CO CO (M (N CN CM CS CS CS W 00 O On ^ r^ t^ th^OOOnO\ cm cs cm cs ^-h ▼-* On 0\ O^OO 00 00 O ON »0 t^ '-I lO i-l t-. <-H 0\ ON VO ^* Tt* f^ t^ CO »0 O On )QNpNOOO00 1 -"^t* -^ to lO »o -^ lO VO tH t-» CM '(I* § ^ i-H -^ 0\0 t^ to \o vO ^ O CO '^ 'I '-^ O o to »-< Oi 00 ^ lO to to to ^ ^ ^ tOiOOCNO^iO ^t^O'-iOT-t CO^^CM^fO^CM^*-*^ CO ''t* "^ ^* ^^ ^* i "a « E " E §±•"0.2 > Jrr cj o ' fcrt re M 175 a a OS o> of practically full-time operation during 1920 and the first half of 1921. 3. The total employment declined 24% from the high point of 1920 through June, 1921 . The decline seemed severe in view of the fact that the industry as' a whole showed only a slight expansion in the years 1914-1921, inclusive. 4.. The nominal week and the hours of plant operation de- clined from 1914-1920, following general reductions in hours throughout industry. 5. The hours worked by the individual wage earner closely follow those of plant activity, indicating, in the spring of 1921, a marked recovery of productive efiiciency. I ( XX FURNITURE MANUFACTURING The wage investigation in this industry includes establish- ments manufacturing wooden and upholstered furniture, and also a few plants engaged in cabinet work. A total of 166 establishments is covered, employing over 20,000 wage- earners in June, 1920. Women were employed in 92 of these plants. Approximately 13% of the wage earners listed in the 1919 Census of Manufactures as then employed in this industry are covered in this investigation. The majority of the returns came from the largest centers of furniture manu- facturing. The geographical distribution within 27 states is as follows: California 4 Montana 1 Connecticut 4 New Jersey 2 Georgia 2 New York 25 Illinois 9 Ohio 19 Indiana 17 Oregon 2 Kansas 1 Pennsylvania 15 Kentucky 6 South Carolina 1 Maryland 3 Tennessee 1 Massachusetts 9 Texas 2 Missouri 4 Virginia 1 Michigan 21 Vermont 2 Maine 1 West Virginia 1 Minnesota 3 Wisconsin 7 North Carolina 3 Wages (a) Hourly earnings: Composite hourly earnings of all wage earners showed an increase of 150% in December, 1920 in comparison with July, 1914. The decline from the. peak up to July, 1921 was 12.7%, showing a gradual fall about equal to the general decline of hourly earnings during this period. In December, 1920 hourly earnings of common labor were 182% above 1914, and those oi skilled labor had increased 148%. The high point for women was reached in October, when hourly earnings had increased 141%. The percentages 177 of decline from these various peaks up to July, 1921 for the three groups were: common labor, 14.8%; skilled labor, 12.2%; women, 12.9%. In June, 1921 the three groups showed respective increases over 1914, of 140%, 118% and 109%. The general level of hourly earnings was somewhat higher than in other industries. (b) Weekly earnings: Composite weekly earnings of all wage earners showed an increase of 142% from July, 1914 to September, 1920, and declined 15.3% from the latter period up to July, 1921. Weekly earnings were at the low point in the middle of 1921, as the result of gradual reduction. The high point of weekly earnings for the male group was reached in September, 1920, when common labor showed an increase of 159% and skilled labor an increase of 143% over 1914. The peak for women was reached in October, when an increase of \2iA:% was shown. The declines from these vari- ous periods up to July, 1921 were: common labor, 14.2%; skilled labor, 15.4%; women, 19.5%. In June, 1921 the per- centage increases over 1914 were respectively 122%, 105%, 89%. In general, reduction of wages has been gradual, the decline in weekly earnings being directly affected by the decline in plant activity. Employment The decline in the total number of wage earners employed from June, 1920 up to July, 1921 was 23.7%. The trough was reached in January, 1921, when there was a decline of 29.3% from June, 1920, followed by an increase to June, 1921 of 7.8%. Indications pointed toward a slight revival of in- dustrial activity during 1921. The declines in employment for the three groups, between June, 1920 and June, 1921, were, for common labor, 22.2%, skilled labor, 22.7% and women, 33.8%. Comparison of employment in identical establishments be- tween July, 1914 and June, 1920 shows practically no change. In June, 1921, there were 19% fewer wage earners employed in plants than in July, 1914. Hours The average hours of the nominal week in July, 1914 were 55. A smaller decrease in working hours took place during 178 CENTS PU HOt» I DO AVCffABC HOURLY EARNINGS INDEX ACTUAL FIBURES 35™ !NDEJ< NUMBERS I9U isaa JUHJW- AlfigPTOei NW DEC JAM FZt MUi A\9 MSY Mi M^ JIWJUL AU6 lEFT OCT WW DEC MM FEft MAE AW MfMH isei s «L IOC ITAI csa \ Li. HO CAI »« » . ME •?: ;% IZ 10 B B 4 Z ■ 1 >• !•• )■■ ■■ .« ».■ »SI LLL I *l OMI N '■' •-. ... ... ... '■ ■■ — — -- " ■- m wi i. A VERAGE HOURS OF WORK SQl JULY JUN JUL MJ6 StPT XI NOV PLC JflH f[fl MflB MP MAY JUH IBM IBZO 1921 IBRD (National Industrial Conference Board) As the recovery in plant activity increased, a similar revival affected the actual week per wage earner during the spring of 1921. The whole trend in hours presents a particularly good picture of an industry threatened by the industrial depression, though not so seriously as many other basic industries. Conclusion 1. Decline in hourly earnings has been less than in the majority of basic industries, while the decrease in weekly earnings has been affected more by a reduction in working hours than by wage cutting. The general trend of wage reduc- tions is in close sympathy with the movement in industry as a whole, outside of the metal and textile industries. 2. A decline in the total employment of 24% during the past year shows that the tendency has been to curtail working forces rather than to make severe wage reductions. 3. Industrial activity was maintained during the summer of 1920, slumped during the winter, and recovered in the spring months of 1921. 181 s CN es CN fO f*5 *-i es CN CS CN P<1 CN CS CN ■"Bt* t^ t^ lO tH 0\ On CN (M (M ro -^ c^ fO cs CN M CN M M rq es 1-H 1-H T-t ^-H 1-H y-i C^ ^ T-t OO Qy CO CS i-H *H OO cs c^ cs es cs es Iz: Id O >2 S < "33 1^ «5J o e On J* GO 60 e Q 1-3 ■^ffi I lO lO lO "O vO ILO lO ^ r*5 CO fO fO PO Ca VO "O 00 NO ^ CO ro CO c*^ ^ lO lO u^ CO PO CO CO CO CO CO » 'd^ CS O lO lO ^ CO -^ CN CM CN CN CN CN CN On cs oocscsoo CO CO CS CS CS *-l CN CM CM CS CS CS g; ^ »-H O fO O PO *^ ^5 00O\ OnO O O *H ir^ lO l'^ *o VO VO o Of^rooooo 00 0\t^ VO -^ •* fO lO lO »0 lO »0 lO >2 E Q U i-l- z D . « - > 2 2 Q o a. B o 00 00 00 OC »0 CO 00 vO i-it^i-tO ^ lO CN CO 00 ^^ r^ -^ 1-H 00 r*< to IS. CO ^ 00 00 00 O On^ tJ^ ^ CO CO CO CO cm" C^r ^ CM ^ .^-. vO On '^ ^ »-l i-H t^ ^-H ^^ ■rH^CM^CO Tj* NO NO o'oo"o'o'o' *-H CM \0 On CM u^ CN l/> »o W^ »0 lO lO lO CM CM . On CM CM ■^ CO f-t yOtr-'GOt^ tO nO CM^ T-j^ ^Oj^OO 10^ ^ Tj< ^f ^< fO CO CO CO CO 00 CM *H 00 On ■* t^ 00 '-H CO t*- CM CM CO CO coco" § 182 o 1-1 ON XXI BRICK AND TILE MANUFACTURING Wage data for this industry were received from establish- ments engaged in the manufacture of brick, tile and fire-clay products. The compilation includes 143 separate plants employing 7,715 wage earners in July, 1920. Statistics covering women have not been compiled, as the number of women employed in the industry is negligible. While the number of establishments and wage earners covered inthis report is small in comparison with the whole industry, the source and type of establishments covered is representative. According to the 1919 Census of Manufacturers, the average number employed in brick and tile plants is 36 wage earners. In these data, the ayerage number is 54 wage earners. The geographical distribution within 31 states is as follows: Arkansas 2 Nebraska 4 California 7 New Hampshire 1 Colorado 1 New Jersey 3 Connecticut 2 New Mexico 1 Delaware 1 New York 6 Illinois 12 Ohio 26 Indiana 7 Pennsylvania 16 Iowa 17 South Dakota. . . . ' 1 Kansas 2 Tennessee 1 Kentucky 6 Texas 3 Maryland 2 Virginia 1 Massachusetts 5 Washington 1 Michigan 4 West Virginia 2 Minnesota 3 Wisconsin 2 Missouri 2 Wyoming 1 Montana 1 The wage data show that the common or unskilled group was approximately twice as large as the skilled group. It will be noted, however, that the average hourly earnings of the unskilled class are not widely divergent from the skilled group. This is due to the fact that certain companies do not clearly distinguish between common and skilled labor. Many plants consider their entire force as common labor, outside of a few 183 skilled overseers; others designate the whole group as skilled; the work performed by both groups is, however, essentially the same. The vagueness of occupational classification, therefore, prevents compilation of exact wage data. The seasonal fluctuations, during the winter and early spring months, are clearly shown by this report. As there are no previous wage data available for comparative purposes, it is not known just how much the economic depression has sharpened the seasonal fluctuation during this period. Un- questionably, stagnation in the building trades and in the demand for products of the brick and tile industry has had direct effect upon plant operation. Wages (a) Hourly earnings: Composite hourly earnings iot all wage earners showed an increase of 139% from July, 1914 to October, 1920. The decline from the latter period up to July, 1921 was 23.2%. In June, 1921, the increase was 84% over July, 1914. The general peak was reached in the early fall of 1920. A gradual decline followed up to July, 1921. In October, 1920 hourly earnings of common labor had increased 147% and skilled labor 125% above July, 1914. The decline from the general peak in October, 1920 up to July, 1921 amounted to 24.6% for common labor and 18.8% for skilled labor. In June, 1921 the percentages of increase over July, 1914 for the groups were, respectively, 86% and 82%. (b) Weekly earnings: Composite weekly earnings for all wage earners increased 135% from July, 1914 to October, 1920 and declined 25.7% from the latter period up to July, 1921, showing a net increase through the middle of June, 1921 of 75% over July, 1914. The high point in weekly earnings for both groups was reached in October, 1920, when common labor was 135%-and skilled labor 138% above 1914. Gradual declines from the latter period through June, 1921 amounted to 26.2% for common labor and 23.7% for skilled labor. In June, 1921, the percentages of increase over July, 1914 for the two groups were, respectively, 73% and 82%. Both weekly and hourly wages in the brick and tile in- dustry have declined rapidly and show a closer return to pre- war levels than in the majority of basic mdustries. However, 184 AVERAGE HDUPLV EARNtNBS 100 go BO 7D ED SD 40 ' 30 ED ID Ar TUAL FIF UP FF *' tGE ... ■f) • ^ ^'S iKILL 2. '1' -^ |> ■». ••« - I' ; 1 11 LY JUK JUL AlB Sm OCT NW. DEC JAN FEB MAD t ' M Yjm ISI4 IBBD W JUL aUG JEn OCT NOV DK JflN FH KWC flW MAY JIW isao issi AVERAGE WEEKLV EARNINGS DL july jih jul au6 jepr xt fw dec jam feu hub fl« mwjuh july jtwjul au6 sept oct nok del jan fee mm aw wh ma IBM IBSD IBBI IBM IBBO IBBI (National Industrial Conference Board) 185 Composite Payroll Data Period Numbers Employed Average Weekly Hours Wages (All Wage Earners) One 1914-21 Estab- lish- ments Total All Estab- lish- ments Actual Week Per Actual Hours Plant Nomi- nal Av. Hrly. Av. Wkly. IndexNo. Earnings Week In Wage Earner Opera- tion Week Earngs. Earngs. Hrly. Wkly. 1914 July*.. 6,957 6,957 52.5 54.8 56.8 $.244 $12.82 100 100 1920 June. . . 6,301 7,653 51.8 53.5 55.1 .543 28.13 223 219 July... 6,442 7,715 51.5 52.9 55.1 .553 28.48 227 222 Aug — 6,193, 7,606 51.4 52.9 55.1 .554 28.50 227 222 Sept .. 6,013 7,408 51.4 52.6 55.1 .572 29.41 234 229 Oct.... 5,638 6,890 51.7 51.7 55.0 .583 30.12 239 235 Nov .. 5,070 6,190 50.1 50.3 55.0 .570 28.54 234 223 Dec... 4,325 5,227 49.2 48.4 54.9 .548 26.98 225 210 1921 Jan. . . . 3,358 4,033 49.0 47.2 54.9 .515 25.23 211 197 Feb.... 3,302 3,974 47.9 47.0 55.1 .489 23.45 200 183 March . 3,659 4,344 48.2 48.3 55.0 .474 22.83 194 178 April... 4,574 5,258 48.6 48.9 55.1 .459 22.34 188 174 May. . . 4,604 5,440 49.3 49.3 55.1 ,450 22.16 184 173 June. . . 4,432 5,252 50.0 49.8 55.1 .448 22.39 184 175 *1914-1921 establishments only. See pp. 3, 5. in this connection three factors must be considered. In the first place, June, 1921 is a period just at the threshold of summer operations, when the brick and tile industry operates at its height. Weekly wages unquestionably rose in the full productive season in the summer months of 1921 — a period not covered by these statistics. The second factor is the general stagnation of building trades, which resulted in sub- stantial wage reductions and a large amount of part-time operation in the brick and tile industry. The third factor is the seasonal fluctuation, accentuated by the general economic depression, which would naturally reenforce tendencies to- ward wage reductions. Employnaent Total decline in employment from the peak in July, 1920 up to July, 1921 was 31.9^. The trend of employment 186 NUMBER OF WAGE EARNERS AVERAGE HOURS OF WORK 1 '* «s s, \ '^N L WAOe 1 ' A1INCB3 1 30 CSTflB. \ L \ ^ ALL W 3 / X s MC t-UI 9H1L .:? \ * s / m* ». \ » v ta, / r / ■•■' ■■■■ Jj^E 4-3 ILLC > \ ... y \ ~ - - - '-- JULY JUHJULfljaSOtXCKK EKE JAK FEE hWHAPIlMAY JUH ^iS^ JIBt JUL iUt itPT OCT NW DEL JAH FEB MJHMI MOT JIft 1314 laaa laai i9i4. laeo laei (Naticnal Industrial Conference Board) shows a gradual decrease amounting, as a whole, to 48.5% from July, 1920 to February, 1921. The increase between Febru- ary and June, 1921 amounted to 32.2%. The decline from July, 1920 up to July, 1921 in common labor amounted to 30.7%, and skilled labor declined 36.5%, from June, 1920 up to July, 1921. The decline in total employment from July, 1914 to June, 1920 was 9.4%. This followed the decrease of 12% in the total number of wage earners employed in' the entire industry shown m the Census Reports of 1914-1919. In June, 1921 there were 36.3% less wage earners employed in identical establishments than in July, 1914. The decline in employ- ment is due to the fact that the brick and tile industry was one of the few not especially stimulated by war demands, and to the general economic depression that has occurred since the general peak of business in 1920. Hours The average hours of the nominal week in July, 1914 were 56.8. From July, 1914 to June, 1920, there was a drop to 55 hours. This standard remained stationary until July, 1921. The brick and tile industry was less affected by the 187 reduction of hours of the nominal or standard working week than almost any other industry covered in this investigation. The trend of average actual hours of plant operation shows a reduction from 54.8 in July, 1914 to 53.5 in June, 1920. In October, 1920, there came a slight reduction in hours, followed by the general period of stagnation. The tremendous de- pression in the winter, reaching the trough of 47 hours in February, 1921, was due to the fact that many plants were entirely closed during these months. Thus, the average hours of plant operation for the whole group of establishments was naturally reduced, though the hours of plant operation for those still continuing to manufacture probably did not fall to such a great extent. The average actual hours per wage earner showed a decline from 52.5 in July, 1914 to 51.8 in June, 1920. The level of h\}/i hours a week was maintained through October, 1920, followed by the depression period in the winter months. The average of worker hours was sustained in comparison with the average of plant hours, due to the fact that the wage earners retained in plants that operated, maintained a fairly regular working week. In other words, plants in the brick and tile industry either shut down entirely, during the depression period, or opeirated on part-time production. Conclusion 1. Decline in weekly and hourly earnings has been rapid, due particularly to the stagnation in building operations, municipal construction, and railroad maintenance. 2. The declines from the peak up to July, 1921 amounted to 23.2% in hourly earnings and 25.7% in weekly earnings. 3. The net increase in June, 1921, over July, 1914, amounted to 84% in average hourly earnings and 75% in average weekly earnings. While the amount of wage declines has been ex- tensive, these net wage increases in June, 1921, are below those found in many other basic industries. 4. Decline in total employment for the industry has been marked throughout the entire seven-year period, due to the absence of war stimulation and the general economic depres- sion during 1921. 5. The trends in the hours of the nominal week and in plant operation show only slight declines between July, 1914 188 O ir^ Th ^ 00 00 ■^ CN »-i M ro fO ^-H fH CS CS CN CS (N CS (N vO ^- tN 00 lO vO OS O O ■^ ^ CN w O CN CS CS - i-H "^ cs .^- T-4 r^ "-H O *o 00 Tt< lO lO lO »o lO to £ e ft, OB Q z < w >. u S o E O *^ Tt< O lO lO 00 eS CN CS P^ PO (N o CN CN CS CS CS (M (N po O 00 in r^ cs o ro -^ PO '^ ^ tH PO (N CS * CN lO -^ '-H O vO 0^ ^^ '^^^'^^^ lo'tO lO to ■^ ■^ fO so PO Q ^O fO vH lO O ^ Ov to ^-H ■^^ -^ 00^ VO^ OO^t^ CN CS CS PO PO PO 1 c D O e O 0\ I 3 s: '1-J fl 01 C^ £? o. +^ 33 = u - o -^ CN O CN r^ 1— I O CO C^CN CN CN CN CS CS CN 0\ PO »0 lO CS OO OOt^ CO Os O O o^ ■^ ^ ■»# ^ lO lO ^ 1-H CN i-H O CO O 00000\ OS CN CS CN CS '-H rH On CN 00 lO 0\ -^ ^-. 00 t-- X-. \0 O lO lO lO lO w^ >o IT) ifi -f^r ^ -^ -^ (M so vO O vO O vO oo rD ■«** On »0 CN^ »0 -C^CO NO Oj^ lO O QC lO "^ tJ< O O Ov On On On CN CS T-H *-i ,-1 »-H 00 On On 00 On On 0\ ON tJ< vO lO T^H 00 r^ ^^ NO NO O •^ fO t^ "O 00 On *0 ■• NO f*p O '-I O CO-^ NO lO O NO i-H On »0 lO On '-H^ th On -^ O PO t^ rsl ^ -^^lo f^ oq^t-^oq^ fO re CO fO fO PD fO i-H t»-. lO NO O On 00 ro t- -^ 4-- -^ lO O^ CS^ fO CS^ CN^ ro'rrj CO PO P^ ro *-* P OJ E .s 196 XXIII MANUFACTURE AND DISTRIBUTION OF GAS The wage investigation in this industry covers estabHsh- ments engaged in the manufacture and distribution of gas. Returns were received from 62 plants, employing 7,207 wage earners at the high point in August, 1920. Over 16% of the wage earners listed by the 1919 Census of Manufactures as then employed in this industry were covered in this investiga- tion. The geographical distribution within 24 states is as follows: California 2 New Jersey 2 Colorado 1 New York 9 Connecticut 3 North Carolina 1 Georgia 1 Ohio 2 Illinois 2 Pennsylvania 6 Indiana 1 Rhode Island 1 Kentucky 1 South Carolina 1 Maryland 2 South Dakota 1 Massachusetts 9 Vermont 3 Michigan 3 Virginia 1 Montana 1 Washington 1 Minnesota 3 Wisconsin 5 The chief importance of a wage inquiry among public utilities, which operate continuously, is to reflect the trend of weekly earnings. Hourly earnings are of little interest, due to the fact that there is continuous operation in gas plants and that most of the employees are either on a monthly or weekly basis. There is a good proportion, however, of common labor paid on an hourly basis and it is this group that is responsible for most of the variations in the trend of com- posite earnings. The chief worth of this study is to compare the general levels of wages in 1914 and 1920-1921. Wages (a) Hourly earnings: Composite hourly earnings of all wage earners increased 116% between July, 1914 and Septem- 197 ber, 1920. The decline from the latter period up to July, 1921 amounted to 6.7%, leaving a net increase of 102% in June, 1921. The peak of hourly earnings for common lahor was reached in November, 1920, when there was shown an increase of 160% over 1914, and in September, 1920 for skilled labor, when there was indicated an increase of 93% over 1914. The percentages of decrease from these peaks up to July, 1921 amounted to 11.8% for common labor and 4.1% for skilled labor. In June, 1921 hourly earnings of common labor were 129% over 1914, and those oi skilled labor, 85%. The downward trend has been gradual throughout 1920-1921. (b) Weekly earnings: Composite weekly earnings of all wage earners increased 114% between July, 1914 and October, 1920. The decline from the latter period up to July, 1921 amounted to 7.6%, showing a net increase of 98% in June, 1921. The data reflect a gradual decline during 1920- 1921. The peak of weekly earnings for both common and skilled labor was reached in October, 1920, the former group showing an increase of 148% and the latter group an increase of 94% over July, 1914. From October, 1920 up to July, 1921, the percentages of decrease were: for common labor, 10.7% and for skilled labor, 6.1%. In the middle of June, 1921, common labor was still 122% above 1914 and skilled labor, 82%. The decrease in wages has been slight and far below that in most manufacturing industries. Wages have less tendency to change in a public utility, due to constant hours and freedom from conditions which in other manufac- turing establishments tend to draw wages down. Employment The decline in the total number of wage earners from the high point in August, 1920 up to July, 1921 was 8.2%, a decrease substantially lower than that found in manufacturing industries. The peak for common labor was also reached in August, 1920; for skilled labor, the high point was in February, 1921. The percentages of decline from these peaks up to July, 1921 were 17.2% for common labor and 9.1% for skilled labor. Between July, 1914 and June, 1920 there was a slight drop 198 AVERAGE HOURLV EARNINGS IQD 90 BD 7D ED ACTUAL FIGURES - ^ ME .-.„J„ / // •«. ~" ^ 50 40 30 SO 10 n -"-'■i:.- 'fJ:^ NSH " .... ' 1 JUN JUL JUS JEPT XT NW Da: JAN FEB MAt bVi MAY JUN . l9aD I SSI 3SD 3S5 300 275 INDEX NUMBERS © 1 MEN- •■R 1 1 \.- -^ ^ '"'"■' 1 1 1 ^ .L V MCI EARNER 9 s EDD 175 1 SO 1 SS inn 1 ^, '■ ^ ^ — •t; •n- KiCTio •"^.^ . 'J' '1' 1 H JW. AUG SEPT OCT WW DEC JAM f EB MjM A» MjJY JUK i9Ea laai AVERAGE WEEKLY EARNINGS JULY IBM SSiMi AU6 JEPT OCT NW DEC JAM FER hUB AW hMT JtK 3& JUM JUL AUS lEPI OCT MW ItC JAM FEB lAUi APE WAY JLH laaa ibbi ibi4. \Bsa laai (National Industrial Conference Board) 199 Composite Payroll Data Period No. Wage Earners Employed Average Hours Wages (All Wage Earners) One Week In 1914-21 Establ. Total All Establ. Av. Week Per Wage Nom- inal Week Av. Hrly. Earngs. Av. Wkly. Earngs Index Nos. Earnings Hrly. Wkly July* 1014 1920 June July August. . . . September. October . . . November. December . 1921 January. . . February. . March .... April May 6,495 6,369 6,929 7,049 6,635 6,962 7,016 7,000 6,959 6,857 6,732 6,845 6,646 6,497 6,495 6,517 7,077 7,207 6,784 7,104 7,162 7,140 7,081 6,975 6,840 6,974 6,777 6,618 52.0 50.9 48.7 47.7 50.3 51.8 50.8 50.5 50.3 49.7 51.4 50.5 50.9 50.9 63.3 59.3 59.3 59.3 59.3 59.3 59.3 59.3 59.2 59.2 59.2 59.2 59.2 59.2 $.270 .570 .565 .573 .584 .580 .583 .574 .565 .561 .568 .551 .537 .545 $14.01 29.01 27.51 27.30 29.37 30.02 29.59 28.98 28.43 27.93 29.23 27.85 27.33 27.73 100 211 209 212 216 215 216 213 209 208 210 204 199 202 100 207 196 195 210 214 211 206 203 199 209 199 195 198 *1914-1921 establishments only. See pp. 3, 5. in the total number of wage earners employed in identical establishments. In the middle of June, 1921 employment was at exactly the same level as in the same month seven years previous. Hours The average hours of the nominal week dropped from 63.3 in July, 1914 to 59.3 in June, 1920. The latter standard has been generally maintained up to July, 1921. The average week -per wage earner fell from 52 in July, 1914 to 50.9 in June, 1920. During the course of the year, there have been fluctuations in the average week per wage earner, due to the changes in the time worked by the common labor group. In May and June, 1921, the average hours per wage earner were identical with those in June, 1920. Changes in hours have not affected wages generally except for minor fluctuations among common labor. 200 '""""""NUMBER DF WAGE EARNERS HDUDS PES «EE« AVERAGE HOURS OF WORK GS ^ ® 3S 50 45 40 35 s 1 . ■ ' '" ^ \ /isJ-^ / k \ s / WAGE EABNEO ] j >■ Jm JU. «* !£W OCT NDV Ott J«N m UUl m K«f JU» 1921 1914. laeo (National Industrial Conference Board) Conclusion 1. The chief purpose of the wage investigation among gas plants is to compare the general level of the wages of 1920-1921 with that of 1914. The questions of hours and hourly earnings are of little importance. 2. The decline in weekly earnings was slightly over six per cent, being considerably below the level in manufacturing industries. 3. The decrease in total employment was very slight in comparison to general unemployment in basic industries. 201 c < . >1 tlfi >3 E 2 Z p) > 2 2 a o 6^ \o cs o\ m i-^ 00 oo ■O ON o^ ^-< o o o so lO lO ^o *© ^ lO 00 CO t^ 00 CS 00 Oi ON ooor^ 00 lO lO NO *o lO "^ 0\ l^ CS t-- ■« ■^ CS T-H ^-H 00 lO t^ T^ PO fO '— I 00 r^ rrt t^ iTi CC ^n rrj (*:> 0\ 0\ O O CN f^r^ PC" f*f " ■^ tn cs o o lO NO Ov O OO CO 00 PO O ON TJ^ Tf ■^ rn CS CM 1-' CN CS CN CS CS lO Tt^ 00 1-1 cs PTJ CN ro T-< CN CN CS - T:t^ lO ID l^ "O ^ lO C>1 rJ CM CM NO OO O »0 ^H o^ Tt* r^ ■^ PD rn CM CM CM CM CM CM CM CM T-H OO ^ NO ,-( lO ^-H CM CM Cf; PO "rt< PC lO lO lO lO lO lO lO i-H NO O OO Ot^ ■>— I ON O 00 OO t-^ to T^ ir> rj< -^ tJh T^ IT) ^ y-i 0\ ^ O^ 0\ 0\ TH »-H »0 »-H O f^ "^ "-I PD -^ 1^ 00 OiO O lO CM O lO »-H T-, t-- 00 00 00 r*r po f*r CM c>a" CM cm" CM O- O CM CN fO CM NO CM O ON ■.-« 1^ IT) lO t^ \0 NO CM c^" CM cN* cm" rT Ov o s o c 202 TABLE G GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION OF PLANTS FURNISHING DATA, ALL INDUSTRIES (National Industrial Cnnference Board) I. II. III. IV. V. VI. VII. VIII. IX. xrv. XV. XVI. XVII. XVIII. XIX. XX. XXI. INDUSTRY Metal Trades Foundry and Machine Shop Products. . . Automobile Manufacturing Agricultural Implement Manufacturing. Electrical Apparatus Manufacturing Iron and Steel Manufacturing Textiles Cotton Manufacturing: (a) Cotton Manufacturing (North). . (b) Cotton Manufacturing (South)... Wool Manufacturing Silk Manufacturing Hosiery and Knit Goods Manufacturing. X. Rubber. Leather and Boots and Shoes XI. Leather Tanning and Finishing. , XII. Boot and Shoe Manufacturing XIII. Meatpacking. Chemicals and Paints Chemicals: (a) Chemical Manufacturing. . (b) Fertilizer Manufacturing.. . Paint and Varnish Manufacturing.. Paper and Printing Paper Manufacturing: (a) Paper and Wood Pulp Manufacturing (b) Paper Products Manufacturing. . . . . . Printing and Publishing — Book and Job Printing and Publishing — Newspaper Building Materials and Furniture Lumber Manufacturing and Millwork. Furniture Manufacturing Brick and Tile Manufacturing Public Utilities XXII. Generation and Distribution of Electricity . . XXIII. Manufacture and Distribution of Gas NEW ENGLAND DIVISION 10 1 2 1 Totals. 14 38 46 164 6 13 21 19 9 466 19 6 3 173 294 8 21 2 30 16 797 MIDDLE ATLANTIC DIVISION 184 14 17 9 1 13 13 23 9 503 2 2 171 207 6 6 13 27 25 6 499 449 23 24 30 30 38 5 18 66 42 25 50 17 1173 EAST NORTH CENTRAL DIVISION 218 14 15 15 19 11 11 2 514 9 1 155 128 6 26 14 4 22 2 322 6 3 203 2 5 193 540 63 71 44 27 1 4 13 25 17 24 23 31 21 126 26 50 13 1387 WEST NORTH CENTRAL DIVISION 18 7 1 17 82 2 116 22 29 16 4 332 SOUTH ATLANTIC DIVISION 10 11 18 6 251 EAST SOUTH CENTRAL DIVISION 47 37 19 WEST SOUTH CENTRAL DIVISION 107 10 19 10 10 35 MOUNTAIN DIVISION PACIFIC DIVISION 15 17 2 21 2 147 27 3 201 1552 101 138 107 70 75 111 54 122 56 3,55 111 302 166 143 236 62 4398 I, II. III. IV. V. VI. VII. VIII. IX. XI. XII. XIII. (a) (b) XIV. XV. (a) (b) XVI. XVII. XVIII. XIX. XX. XXI. XXII. XXIII. (a) (b) PUBLICATIOXS OF THE NATIONAL INDUSTRIAL CONFERENCE BOARD (Prices given are for paper-hound copies; cloth binding fifty cents additional} Research Reports Research Report No. i. Workmen's Compensation Acts in the United States — The Legal Phase. 60 pages. April, 1917. Revised, August, 1919. $1.00. Research Report No. i. Analysis of British Wartime Reports on Hours of Work as Related to Output and Fatigue. 58 pages. November, 1917. $1.00. Research Report No. 3. Strikes in American Industry in Wartime. 20 pages. March, 1918. 50 cents. Research Report No. 4. Hours of Work as Related to Output and Health of Workers — Cotton Manufacturing. 64 pages. March, 1918. $1.00. Research Report No. 5. The Canadian Industrial Disputes Investigation Act. 28 pages. April, 1918. 50 cents. Research Report No. 6. Sickness Insurance or Sickness Prevention? 24 pages. May, 1918. SO cents. Research Report No. 7. 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- ON O CN Tji t^ ^*lOMw o -^ co (M lo no ill *-H lO (M »D lO -^ 00 On 0\ nO l:^ 00 00 (M Oo 00 CO O ■^ -^ »0 O OOOOO'^coiO Oo co^^Tf On NO 00 O OO -^ NO CS (N co^ CO \o\oininTf'*:f'vf co-^-^iouoto Q u >-! •J 2 U ,-1 < 2.5 X E -a •* IS C) 0\ O On i-H 00 On O ^ lO O NO ■^ J^ ■^ lO lO lO lo -^ lO O O O '^ o o o '-^ CN CS CN CN (N (N es CM C^ (M CMNOOOIOOCN^ 00 O ON »-l NO ->* ■^ On On 00 O* ON On O no O lO -^ co '^ •^ CS CM CN CM CM CS CO CM CM fS (N CM CM *S5 OQ CO ON CO CM CM OO rt< Tji CM OO NO i-H ON ^ ONWpNCOOONO O-^t^-^OiO Oo ^ ^ ^ w^ ^ CM !>. t^ t^ t^ 1^ f^ CM (N CM (N r^ • 00 CO CM CM On OO On '^ ■«*<'<* -^ ■^ -^ -^ Tt* ■<*■«* -^^ CO CO CO fVj -^ CO O NO 00 -^ CM CO Tt^ CO I>- "^ lO ts^ ON NO lO ■^ r^ lO •«* .^ CM lO lO CM -^ NO lo NO t^ lo 00 CM 00 coior^oooo ^ t^*>^'0 NO CO ■^O *^°0°0'^'^^ Q M 04 1. B o ^« ^iiiUii ^Miiii B J3 100 X RUBBER MANUFACTURING The wage investigation in this industry covers establish- ments engaged in the manufacture of rubber tires, rubber foot- wear, mechanical rubber goods, rubberized fabrics and sundries. Returns were received from 87 plants employing 75,679 wage earners in June, 1920. Women were employed in 70 plants. Over 40% of the wage earners listed in the 1919 Census of Manufactures in this industry were covered in this investigation. The majority of the plants were in the largest centers of rubber manufacturing. The geographical distribution within 17 states is as follows: California 1 Missouri 1 Connecticut 9 New Jersey 9 Delaware 1 New York 10 Illinois 2 Ohio 18 Indiana 1 Oregon 2 Iowa 1 Pennsylvania 6 Maryland 1 Rhode Island S Massachusetts 16 Wisconsin 3 Michigan 1 Wages • (a) Hourly earnings: Composite hourly earnings of all wage earnershad increased 172% in June, 1920 in comparison with July, 1914. The decline from the latter period up to July, 1921 was 13.1%. The greatest amount of decrease oc- curred in February, when composite earnings were 14.9% less than in the preceding June. The increase between the latter period and July, 1921 was approximately 2%. In June, 1920 the hourly earnings of common labor were 170% above 1914, and in the same month those oi skilled labor showed an increase of 171%. The peak of hourly earnings for women was reached in September, when the increase reached 142%. The declines from these various peaks up to July, 1921 for the three groups were as follows: common labor, 14.7%; skilled labor, 14.8%; women, 14.1%. (b) Weekly earnings: Composite weekly earnings of all 101 wage earners showed an increase of 140% from July, 1914 to June, 1920 and declined 10.1% from the latter period up to July, 1921. The trough was reached in February, when they had dropped over 24% from the peak. The increase in weekly earnings from February up to July, 1921, amounted to 18.4%. As there was practically no rise in hourly earnings during this period, the increase in weekly earnings was due to longer working hours. The high point of weekly earnings of common labor was reached in July, 1920, when they had increased 142% over 1914. In June, 1920 those of skilled labor showed an increase of 139% and in July, women were receiving 118% more than in 1914. The declines of these various groups from their respective peaks up to July, 1921 were as follows: common labor, 16.1%; skilled labor, 10.3%; women, 17.5%. In June, 1921 these three groups respectively showed percentage in- creases over 1914 for weekly earnings as follows: 103%, 114% and 80%. The trend of earnings has been dominated by industrial conditions In the automobile Industry. The majority of wage schedules in this investigation are from rubber tire manu- facturers whose productive activity Is dependent upon con- ditions In the automobile Industry. Employment The decline in total number of wage earners employed from June, 1920 up to July, 1921 was 54%. The trough was reached in February, 1921 when there was a decline of 60% from June, 1920, followed by an Increase to May, of 34%. Between May and June employment again showed a marked decrease of 14%. The employment trend also is influenced by conditions In the automobile industry. The declines from June, 1920 up to July, 1921 for the three groups were as follows: common labor, 47.7%; skilled labor, 53%; women, 62.8%. The declines to the trough In February for the groups were: common labor, 58%; skilled labor, 64%. The recovery from the depression period to May for common labor was 33.6%, for skilled labor, 43.8%, and for women, 9.7%. The declines between May and June for the three groups were: common labor, 6%; skilled labor, 8%; women, 39%. The marked decline in the latter group was due to ex- 102 AVERAGE HDURLV EARNINBa irln ACTUAL FIBURES "4!=™ 'NDEX NUMBERS IDD. ■ aUG lEPT «T NW DK JAM FEB MJB AW WgT JUH JULY jm-MlL AUG SEPT OCT NW DEC JAM FEt MM AW MJYJIJK 1914 1920 igsi IBM I9SD IBei AVERAGE WEEKLY EARNINGS 3LL»IJ5 INDE:J< ACTUAL FIGURES T=™ INDEX NUMBEBS _ 300 ESQ 1 '^ N •* LLC / soo 175 ISO j <> DME 5« ^ fj P 1 ^ f s i ur CAI 1 1 / **, ■* 100 1 JULY I9M J«J« AUG SEPT XT TODEC JAK FEI MAt AW Mtl-JMl 4™ JUtl JJl AUG SEP T XT H» ML JAM FEl MAP AW MAYJW 1914 isao laei (National Industrial Conference Board) 103 Composite Payroll Data Period No. Wage Earners Employed Average Hours Wages (All Wage Earners) One Week In 1914-21 Establ. Total All Establ. Av. Week Per Wage Earner Av. Hr... Plant Opera- tion Nom- inal Week Av, Hrly. Earngs. Av. Wkly. Earngs. Index Nos. Earnings Hrly. Wkly. 1914 July*.... 1920 June July Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec 1921 Jan Feb Mar April. , . . May June 23,89i 57,882 54,122 45,351 40,887 35,937 30,723 28,040 26,288 23,522 25,019 26,944 28,996 23,63? 23,89(. 75,679 67,803 55,182 49,206 43,709 37,794 33,961 32,105 30,161 32,604 36,929 40,501 34,774 49.8 44;0 43.7 43.4 43.0 42.1 40.0 37.9 38.5 39.2 43.0 44.8 44.0 45.5 52.5 44.5 44.2 44.4 44.1 43.9 41.4 39.6 40.8 40.9 44.6 45.8 46.3 46.4 54.1 50.4 50.. 4 50.4 50.3 50.3 50,2 50.2 50.3 50.4 50.4 50,5 50.5 50.5 $.259 .704 .686 .677 .675 .667 .646 .624 .623 .599 .603 .606 .607 .612 $12.90 30.97 30.01 29.40 29.03 28.09 25.87 23.64 23.96 23.50 25.97 27.15 26.73 27.83 100 in 265 261 261 258 249 241 241 231 233 234 234 236 100 240 233 228 225 218 201 183 186 182 201 210 207 216 *1914-1921 establishments only. See pp. 3, 5. tensive lay-offs among female wage earners engaged in manu- facture of rubber footwear. Total employment increased 142% in identical establish- ments in the rubber industry between July, 1914 and June, 1920. Hours The average hours of the nominal week in July, 1914 were 54.1. Following the general reduction in length of working hours during the war period, the hours dropped to 50.4 in June, 1920, the latter standard being maintained practically throughout 1920-1921. The actual week of plant operation shows a reduction from 52.5 hours in July, 1914 to 44.5 hours in June, 1920. There was a marked decline between July and December of almost five hours in plant activity. The beginning of 1921 was marked 104 KOUDS -> W££M Bar 1321 IBIA I8e0 (National Industrial Conference Board) by a revival which continued throughout the first six months. The actual week 'per wage earner showed a decline from 49.8 hours in July, 1914 to 44 hours in June, 1920. The slump in productive activity, however, began to take effect at the end of September and the trough of 37.9 hours per week was reached in December. The beginning of the year, however, showed a marked revival and in June, 1921 the average week per wage earner exceeded that of the preceding year. Conclusion 1. Declines in hourly earnings were slightly less than reductions in the majority of basic industries. 2. Declines in weekly earnings were considerably less, due to the revival in the spring months of 1921. 3. A total decline in employment of 54% took place during the last year, this being practically the same loss found in the automobile industry. 4. The average hours of work show a decline during the close of 1920 and a marked revival during 1921. 5. The rubber industry evidently has passed through the worst period of readjustment, although a marked slump was noted in June, 1921. 105 'to £ ft 3 1 1 ■^ ^ *H ^ ^ 0\ 00 CN M CS C^l CS »-( tH lOOOCMl^OO t^ iCt^ NOt^ 00 tH fH i-( tH r-( i-H 5C 1 t^ t^ O (M th O ro ro ro ro ■* "(ji ro cs «N (N MCM (M CS (N 00 ■^ NOr^ "Ooo ^OOOnOO CM CM CM 1-H CM CM 4| 19 ■^ lO rf On O O O OMO CN -^ T-H c*:> ro i^ *0 CC CM Tt< PC 00 CN Ov OS O, 4^ vO »0 TfH lO lO lO NO 4| 0\ 00 1^ ^» O lO ro ^1 ^1 ^1 ^1 '^ ^1 ^^ -;h CM^^CMrP Qt^CO \OoOoO ^ PC PC PC PC PC 43.1 44.6 44.0 43.6 43.0 40.8 39.5 00 O lO tM OnOn OO 00 p'^ On ■rH PC PC ^ ^ PC ■^ » i5 ^^ CN ON O <>■ 1— 1 Q NO lO VO lO tH CN O M cs ■^oo oCoT ,M <-H 1-H » CM CM t^ VO NO NO NO \0 lO CM CM CM CM CM » OCM »0 PC 00 TjHOt^ QOOn t^t^ O ■^ O O CM CM PC PC PC PC Th PO CN CM CM On ^* PO rO fO ro ro CM CM 49. O »0 NO l^ o t>- -^ ON *^ *>■ t^ QO NO -^ !>. t-^ !>. t^ r* r^ t^ 00 CM CM CM »n PC PCOOONOOi^ t^ t^t^ NO SONO ■a . i>. OO lO CM tH t^ liO 00 i-HiO 00 1-H o re OJ CM (M ■^ 00 NO •<* Tt< -^ -^ 't*' PC Pf) t^ On PC »OiO O PC PC ■* "^ ■<* ■<* ill 1 Tj^^ ON^iO CM NO POI>^ CO ONO'cMt-^PC O lO ■<:t< PC PO eS CM CN lOOO On PC Ot^ .t^ -^ On PC On i-H 00 O ^lO PC ^ oToro-^ir^iO rH ^ CM CM CM C^ Q u s z B s < z " is" 1 1 On CM i^ NO NO PO CM PO tH PC CM -H --1 On (N CM (N CS (N (N ^ OOOOQOOnIOPC CO 00 On On On O »-l i-H i-H »-( i-H CM 1 OOnJT^ On -^ ^ O t^ NO NO lO lO u^ ■<* CM CM CN CM CM CM CN CM t^ CM Th ^H ^ ^ PC PC PC PC PC CM (N CS CM CM CM PO ■* lO CM ■^ 00 1^ »i^ On PC O On lO ^ t^ PC CM ON ■»-< lO NOI^ 00 o\»o -^ ■-H i-H (N CM P^ PC CM CM IN CM CM CM f^ t^ r-. NO -rt^ Th CM CM CM Ol CM CM CM CM 4^' i>- -^ O rc ■^ ■^ ■«* 00 00 00 NO lO -^ PC lo lo lo lo in »r> lo IT) toiTi \n in ui 4JJ On On CM CM CM CM O PC PC PC PC On 00 NO t^ t-* \0 lO JO i-f ^ CM UO lO -^ NO 4. f-t>t^.OCMPCON PC -^ 3 in U > U O OJ Mar. ..... April May June D. 106 XI LEATHER TANNING AND FINISHING The wage investigation is confined to establishments en- gaged in the tanning and finishing of leather hides, and does not include the manufactures of leather. Schedules were received from 75 plants, employing 11,514 wage earners in June, 1920. Twenty-four establishments employed women. Fifteen per cent of all wage earners listed in the leather tan- ning industry in the 1919 Census of Manufactures are in- cluded in these data. The geographical distribution, within 23 states, is as follows: California 7 New Jersey 4 Connecticut 2 New York 7 Delaware 1 North Carolina 2 Illinois 3 Ohio 5 Iowa 1 Oregon 1 Maine 3 Pennsylvania 6 Maryland 1 Tennessee 1 Massachusetts 16 Virginia 1 Michigan 2 Washington 1 Minnesota 1 West Virginia 1 Missouri 1 Wisconsin. 7 New Hampshire 1 There are peculiar difficulties connected with any compila- tion of wage data in the leather tanning industry. The great proportion of work in tanneries is chiefly of "muscle" labor requiring more or less skill. Therefore, the dividing line of occupational classification between common and skilled labor is difficult to define. In the second place, the proportion of women is small, and the data for this group, therefore, are relatively unimportant. Finally, in many plants, men are em- ployed, in the course of one day, on both day and piece work. This combination of piece rates and per diem earnings makes average hourly earnings data of minor significance. Wages (a) Hourly earnings: Composite hourly earnings of all wage earners increased 164% from July, 1914 to June, 1920. 107 The decline from the latter period up to July, 1921 was 17.8%. In June, 1921, the increase was still 117% over July, 1914. The peak of hourly earnings was reached in the spring and summer of 1920. Slight reductions took place in the closing months of 1920. A large decrease occurred in Janu- ary, followed again by a gradual decline to the lowest point of deflation in June, 1921. In June, 1920, the hourly earn- ings of common labor had increased 156% over July, 1914; those of skilled labor, 167%; and those oi women, 200%. The declines from June, 1920 up to July, 1921 amounted to 16.5% for common labor, 18.4% for skilled labor, and 27.5% for women. In June, 1921, the percentages of increase over July, 1914 for the three groups respectively were 114%, 118% and 118%. (b) Weekly earnings: Composite weekly earnings of all wage earners increased 145% from July, 1914 to July, 1920, and declined from the latter period up to July, 1921, 18.6%, showing a net increase in the middle of June, 1921 of 99% over July, 1914. February, 1921 was a period of depression, a decline of 20.6% being noted from the peak. The period from February up to July, 1921 marked an increase in weekly earnings. While hourly earnings declined during this period, the rise in weekly earnings is the result of an increase of over four hours in the average hours worked per wage earner. The high point in weekly earnings for common labor was reached in July, 1920, when they stood 139% over 1914; in June for skilled labor, when they had increased 152%; and also in June for women, when they were 178% higher than 1914. In June, 1921, the decline from the high point was 19.5% for common labor, 18.9% for skilled labor, 24.9% for women. The percentage increases up to July, 1921 over July, 1914 for these three groups were respectively 92%, 104%, 109%. Employment The total decline in employment from June, 1920 up to July, 1921 was 23.6%. The greatest period of unemployment was in February, 1921, when a decline of 36% from the high point was reached. This period of stagnation was followed by a gradual increase of 19% up to July, 1921. The declines from June, 1920 up to July, 1921 were as follows: common labor, 22%; skilled labor, 23%; women, 39%. 108 CENTS KB HOin 100 ACTUAL FIBUBE3 \3i* 1 Mi N-Si n t ij Lwam EAin s; ... - - "v i.. — i^ DM — ■ "^ - 1 "n k \ ,_ 1 1 ' AVERAGE HDURLV EARNINGS JNDEX LUWaCBS 35 D INDEX NUMBERS JUWJUL JUG SEPT OCT NW DEC MM FEB lAUt APP MAYJUK JULY ISM JUti JUL auG lEPT KT NOV DEC JAM FEB WE APP W^ Mi isaa isai AVERAGE WEEKLY EARNINGS (National Industrial Conference Board) JULY JW JUL AUG i£PE OCT NW DEC JAM FEIMAJ AF^ HAT JW IBM igSD IBBI 109 Composite Payroll Data Period No. Wage Earners Employed Average Hours (All Wage Earners) One Week Tn 1914-21 Establ. Total All Establ. Av. Week Wage JLarner Av. Hours Plant Opera- tion Nom- inal Week Av. Hrly. Earngs. Av. Wkly. Earngs. Index _Nos. Earnings Hrly. Wkly. 1914 July*.... 1920 . une ^ uly Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec 1921 Jan Feb Mar...... April.... May June 8,388 9,997 9,262 8,840 8,248 7,628 7,151 6,886 6,697 6,368 6,458 6,854 7,062 7,432 8,388 11,514 10,729 10,277 9,619 8,989 8,409 8,056 7,769 7,422 7,627 8,251 8,470 8,800 53.1 48.4 49.4 47.9 46.9 45.6 44.8 45.0 44.6 44.6 46.6 45.8 47.5 48.8 57.2 50.0 51.4 50.6 50.7 49.2 49.4 49.1 48.1 47.3 49.6 47.9 49.8 50,1 58.0 51.1 51.1 51.1 51.2 51.2 51.2 51.2 51,5 51.5 51.5 51,5 51.5 51.5 $.217 .572 .570 .570 .572 .564 .566 .553 .500 .501 .495 .487 .472 .470 $11.50 27.70 28.14 27.28 26.80 25.66 25.36 24.91 22,28 22,33 23.09 22.36 22.41 22,91 100 264 263 263 264 260 261 255 230 231 228 224 217 217 100 241 245 237 233 223 221 217 194 194 201 194 195 199 *1914-1921 establishments only. See pp. 3, 5. Employment increased 19% between July, 1914 and June, 1920. In June, 1921, 11% less wage earners were employed in identical establishments than In July, 1914. Hours In July, 1914, 58 hours constituted the average nominal week. Following the general reduction of working hours during the war period, there was a drop to 51.1 hours in June, 1920. This standard of hours remained practically stationary to the close of the year. In January, 1921 they increased to 51.5 hours per week, and continued so up to July, 1921. The average actual hours of plant operation were reduced from 57.2 in July, 1914 to 50 in June, 1920. The period of greatest inactivity in the leather industry was between October and March, when the hours of plant operation averaged approxi- 110 z I OL My 1914 \ \ s k / % \ \ 1 1 ! 1 / \ \ *s APNEBB J ** y 1 N 1 s 'V car Y ■I.. ,* \ ■s. V *'«> -3K '<.. ■». ^ - — ME .-u 1SKI t-tc ■•• - ... ... •''' "*" » - - - - - — - - ^ JUL flWi iUH Og Ngf Dec jm FEB wo MB tW JUM IBZO ISZI (National Industrial Conference Board) mately 49 per week. The spring months of 1921 showed a marked revival, rising in June to 50.1 hours per week. The average actual hours per wage earner showed a decline from 53.1 in July, 1914 to 48.4 in June, 1920. A somewhat irregular decline continued through February, when there was a drop to 44.6 hours per week. In June, 1921, wage earners were working longer hours than in June, 1920, point- ing to a marked revival in industrial activity. Conclusion 1. The trough period occurred in February, 1921, followed in the spring by a gradual approach to more normal conditions of employment, earnings and production. 2. The total decline in employment was 24% from the peak up to July, 1921. 3. The decline in the total number of wage earners from July, 1914 up to July, 1921 was 11%. 4. There was a decline iii the average hours of the nominal week from 58 in July, 1914 to approximately 51.5 hours in 1920-1921. '5. There was less part-time operation, during the depres- sion period than in many other basic industries. 111 2 3 o 1 ■a B IS 1^ t^ t^ \0 uT«:t< TjH ro 0\ 00 On On O O '^ CN e^ Ol CS (N CS (N ^ tH rH -^-^ (N CS Q> o CM f^ ■<# r^ O <3 vo (T) t^ NO r-* 00 C> O On CO OM^ 00 "O (N (M (M CS •-» '^ *^ ro (N M CN CM CN CN CN CM CM (N CN CN 'Ci r- -"T CN r-- r^ T-< Tji oo tP (M ro CN l-- ^ OIOOnCN^OCN ui^vOOv-^'O ^ OOr^ONO^vOiO (N ■ 2 i2 Oo -^ CM -^ 0^ ■^ f*^ Tj* CM -"^ tT) PD NO On »^ CN CM w 00 ^ O O On 00 ON O (^ ^ "1- -^rh -"^h ■* <-o -^ -"sit^ ■^ rri ro fio Tt^ -^ -^ ^a," ^°|i ^w cvi t^ON^NONOt-^iO On^^OO^^oO *-s POiDCMOOOroOv t+^OnOnOOiOO ■^ oo t^ !>. NO NO in T^ -^ fi^) f^ -ri^ '^ lo Q S w 1-1 < II 2" Ci CM O '^ On r^ PTi ON lO 00 no 0\ On ■<* <:>> >0 ID ^ ro CM CM ^ On On O O- ON O -^ rg CM CM CM CM CM CM .^ w CM ^ ■^ CM Q> ^-lOln^^^CNOO NO^OroOONOO C> »0 vO NO NO NO NO ^ re (T) m fo '-I -^ *^ CM CM CM CM CM CM CM CM CM CM CM CM C^ ^ OOCD-'a^COOtnCSN t^CMNO-^TfU"/ CVJ f^ NO OO CM r^ ro r-- oo cm ^ ^D ro On «\l OOONONi^r-NO po "* "T<* -^ -^ ^ PO (T) C-q Ol CM CM CM CM CM CM CM rq CM 4 N. CM r- OO ro -^ O *^ On On (N NO 00 NO ^ PO CM CM rO CM PTJ tH lO lO LO rt ■^ w c\i nonOnOnOnOnOnO iTi \ri XT) \ri \n ^T) 6e^ ^|i ^ r^ On lO CM •* -^ Tt NO T::t< NO NO O ■<* *-i OOOOr^O-^rrir^ CMPOiOT+^t^oc ij^ ^p vj ^p ^5^ ^5^ ^^ "vf ' vj' ^r "^3^ ^* ^^ ^3^ Do to CM ^^ 00 ^ CM no O'^P^POlOCM t^ t- •<:»< UO w 00 iOO"^OnOnu^ >-i IT) NO in m -^ ■<* PD w ^ ^ o O '-' --H (N (M CM CM CM CM CM CM CM CM CM CM CM 4t ■^ in T-H O !>■ -^ O »-^ t^ in T-H CM On o CS w CM CM ■^ ■^ ^ ON tH T+H T* po CM rn (\i lo in m in in in ^ -^ -^ -^ rt* -^ ■<* > 2 E o^ cMPoincMON'^O cMPc'ONint^o li-) On ■^ On On i>* ^* OO oO 1^ 00 oO 00 O Oo c*q CO 1^ in t^ O 00 O^ooooooo ^ in 00 oo tJ^ 00 p«o 00 -^ on cm on ■-- m P^ ^JH^'^-'d^fO PC PO PO PO CM fOPO PC P*^ D O M c O h— , 1— ,!—,<; tyjo Is Q 1— ,ijh 2 <: 2 ►-, (3v 112 XII BOOT AND SHOE MANUFACTURING The study of the boot and shoe industry includes estab lishments manufacturing only leather footwear. The returns covering the manufacture of rubber footwear are included in the tabulations for the rubber industry. Schedules were received from 111 establishments, 110 of which employed women. The total number of wage earners at the high point of employment in June, 1920 was 57,451. Approximately 23% of the wage earners listed in the 1919 Census of Manufactures as being employed in this industry are covered in this report. The average sized plant in this investigation employed 518 wage earners. The data covering this industry are very repre- sentative in the coverage of wage earners involved, and in the distribution and size of establishments studied. The geograph- ical distribution within 12 states is as follows: Illinois 9 New Jersey 3 Maine 3 New York 13 Massachusetts 35 Ohio 9 Michigan 1 Pennsylvania 8 Missouri 10 West Virginia 1 New Hampshire 14 Wisconsin 5 The plants centered chiefly in the following cities: Bingham- ton, N. Y.; Boston and environs; Chicago; Cincinnati; Man- chester, N. H.; Philadelphia; and St. Louis. The compilation of wage data in the boot and shoe industry, with reference to hours, is exceedingly difficult. The record of hours worked and hourly earnings is kept by very few establishments. The system of piece and day rates and task and bonus methods makes any compilation of accurate hourly data practically impossible. In this investigation, out of 111 plants, only 25 submitted sufficient data covering the actual hours of wage earners, In the statistical tables, therefore, the average hours per wage earner and the hourly earnings, both for the, composite and individual groups, have been con- }13 fined to the records of 25 establishments only, which furnished accurate information. The rest of the data covering numbers employed, weekly earnings, etc., is from the whole group of 111 establishments. Wages (a) Hourly earnings: Composite hourly earnings of all wage earners in 25 establishments show an increase of 112% from July, 1914 to October, 1920. The decline from the latter period up to July, 1921 was 7.6%, the increase in June, 1921 being 96% over July, 1914. The whole trend of hourly earnings is, of course, dominated by the relation of piecework to the amount of work produced by wage earners. In actual figures, the rate for the whole group dropped 2.3 cents from June, 1920 up to July, 1921. In July, 1920, hourly earn- ings of common labor were 143% above 1914; in June, 1920 those of skilled labor were 110% above 1914, while the high point for hourly earnings for women was reached in October, with a peak of 132%. In June, 1921, the three groups showed increases over 1914 of 95%, 97% and 104% respectively. (b) Weekly earnings: Composite weekly earnings of all wage earners in 111 establishments increased 109% from July, 1914 to June, 1920 and declined 5.2% from the latter period up to July, 1921. The trough of decline was reached in November, 1920, when there was a reduction of 12.4% from the peak in June, 1920. The peak for male labor was reached in June, 1920, when weekly earnings of common labor were 99%, and those of skilled labor 109% above 1914, and for women'm March, 1921 when weekly earnings were 115% above 1914. The declines from these peaks up to July, 1921 were 5.9% for common labor, 3.9% for skilled labor, and 8.3% for women. The male groups show a decline to November, 1920, a revival in December, and continuing fluctuations until the middle of 1921. Weekly earnings for women show a similar movement, with a peak in March, 1921. In June, 1921, the percentage increases over, 1914 for these three groups were respectively 87%, .101% and 97%,- The tfend of weekly earnings is evidently riot afl^ected by changes in hourly earrtingis, but by the actual hoiirs per wage earner. It is evident -that-wage decline in the boot and- shoe inda&try has been slight arid gradual. Hourly earnings have 114 CtKTS XH HDUI IQO- AVERAQE HDURLV CARNINGB* ACTUAL FISURE5 "^^Sj^ INDEX NUMBERS an 70- MCN-UNSK1LLED s:i^ [y /z--^: *i«CS ISI4 laeo JUKJULAIfiiEPTOCT NW [iCJAW FEft MJffi APt MgT JJK 350 3as 3D0 275 ESO ES5 EDD I7S ISO lES MEN-UNSHtLL£ V. ^^^ MEN-SHILLCD '^ jwt JUL aus. im oa nov dec JANFEaMM aw MAYJUTj @ 1814 laea iBBi ISM laeo (National Industrial Conference Board) 115 Composite Payroll Data Period No. Wage Earners Employed Average Hours Wages (All Wage Earners) One Week In 1914-21 Establ, Total All Establ. Av. Week Per Wage Earner Av, Hours Plant Opera- tion Nom- inal Week Av. Hrly. Earngs, Av. Wkly. Earngs. Index Nos, Earnings Hrly, Wkly. 1914 July*,... 1920 June July Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec 1921. . . Jan Feb Mar April. , , , May June 41,678 47,076 42,893 41,026 37,709 35,955 33,848 34,122 31,275 35,811 37,066 37,441 39,247 40,910 41,678 57,451 51,283 50,024 46,307 44,121 41,53e 41,022 37,777 44,021 45,922 46,805 49,260 51,066 49.2 44.8 42.1 40.4 38.7 39,6 37,0 39,9 41.8 41.9 45,3 44,3 45,9 46,0 54.6 48,3 49,4 46,3 46.6 45.6 43.4 41.8 42.4 45.9 45,8 47,0 48,2 48,3 54.4 48:6 48,6 48,6 48,6 48,6 48,6 48,6 48,6 48,6 48,6 48,6 48,6 48.6 $.260 ,533 ,528 ,528 ,517 .552 .538 .540 .519 .536 .519 .519 .504 .510 $11.68 24.36 23.77 23.33 22.83 21,95 21.33 21,54 21,63 24,06 24,32 23,53 23,23 23,18 100 205 203 203 199 212 207 208 200 206 200 200 194 196 100 209 204 200 196 188 183 184 185 206 208 201 199 198 t25 establishments only. *1914-1921 establishments only. See pp. 3, 5. been dominated by the number of hours worked. Hours, in turn, are influenced by the amount of production necessary, the basis of the industry being chiefly piecework for the pro- duction of finished stock. A decrease in the number of orders naturally makes the amount of production necessarily smaller. This, in turn, influences the number of hours to be worked and again the amount of wages earned. It is fair to say, how- ever, that reduction may have occurred previous to June, 1920, the first month of record after July, 1914 in the present investigation. If wages were higher previous to the middle of 1920, the amount of deflation would naturally be greater. The record as given in this investigation, however, shows a gradual slight decrease, much smaller than in other basic industries. A comparison should be made with the wages in the leather industry, which are, of course, affected by condi- tions in boot and shoe manufacturing. 116 ™^ NUMBER OF WAGE EARNERS SS SO V \ \ 4 i, s \, LL VAQ : C« tNC] > ^ / 40 35 30 ZS 20 15 10 5 □ /' \ s s ■*! h / r \ s s f .* •• »* \ M. „ ice- •J k f 's ■•^ s ^EN-SKIl Lca ^•"' ... '•' S, V •" ~' s .. ■^i" DM N ^ "' *<• ^., ... -.. ■^ -UM 1 — 1 LI. ._ .., ... .m- ... nouas PEP WEEJI 6Dr JULY IBM 1 j*K rcB mg go. ww juw. AVEPABE HOUBS OF WORK JULY 1314. @ ^ raw JAL V. wten "TTT" ACTIMI. WEEK V WJINT OBEBATTOH -^ ,„,, /- \ \ /actual » PCB S ^ \ / JUM JU. UK XtT «T NOV DEL laeo I FtaMjPjaM mfjuw (National Industrial Conference Board) Employment The decline in the total number of wage earners employed from June, 1920 up to July, 1921 was 11.1%. The trough was reached in January, 1921 when there was a decline of 34% from the peak. The increase from the beginning of the year up to July, 1921 was 35%. The trend evidently reflects the sharp decline at the beginning of the year with marked recovery to June, the loss in the entire year 1920-1921 being considerably smaller than in the great majority of basic industries. The greatest loss was among skilled wage earners, there having been a decline of approximately 12% from June. 1920. Comparison of employment in identical establishments be- tween July, 1914 and July, 1921 shows that employment at the latter period was approximately 2% less than in July, 1914. The industry, therefore, has practically held its own during the present industrial depression. The expansion between July, 1914 and June, 1920 was a natural and normal growth, practically equal to the general expansion of industry during this period. On the whole, it would seem that the unemploy- ment problem is not so severe in the boot and shoe industry as in the great majority of basic industries. 117 Hours The average hours of the nominal week in July, 1914 were 54.4. A general reduction of working hours took place during the war period, a drop being noted to 48.6 hours per week in June, 1920, the latter standard being maintained to the middle of 1921. The average week of plant operation closely followed the trend in the reduction of hours in the nominal week, drop- ping from 54.6 in July, 1914 to 48.3 in June, 1920. A gradual decline occurred in plant activity, with a marked decrease in the last months of 1920, a minimum of 41.8 hours being reached in December. Recovery was marked during the early months of 1921, a gain of over six hours from the de- pression period being noted in June, 1921. The average week per wage earner as compiled from 25 estab- lishments follows the general trend in plant activity. The depression period, however, was reached in November, 1920 when the average wage earner worked only 37 hours per week. A gain of nine hours was noted from the latter period up to July, 1921, showing the extent of recovery in the boot and shoe industry. Too much weight, however, should not be placed upon the comparison of the average week per wage earner and plant activity. As noted above, an analysis of hours is distinctly misleading. On the whole, however, the trend in the movement of hours points to a marked recovery in the industry in the spring months of 1921. Conclusion 1. Decrease in weekly earnings has been slight in compari- son with most basic industries. Hourly earnings have gen- erally been maintained and weekly earnings were affected only during the depression period in the winter of 1920-1921, due to part-time operation. 2. The wage situation has been influenced more by the rate of production than by wage cutting. 3. The decline of 11% in total employment from June, 1920 up to July, 1921, indicates a considerably smaller reduction than in the great majority of basic industries. 4. The number of people employed remained practically constant between July, 1914 and July, 1921. 118 o s 8 Q < Q p (I) 1-9 <: S Q O Z.5 6^ OsiO o\ t^ O 0\ Tj< O O Os Os 0\ OO 0\ CN CN »-t i-H ,-H ,-H ■fH J~^ vH CO t-^ CN t~* 0\ On On O 0\ ro CS O irH t-( c*^ ^-H tM r^ CS CO 00 t^ t^ ^ O J>- O es "0 \0 C4t^ ON^ ^ 000\ i-H CN CS CS CS »-H ■"^ Tf O lO On Tt< O^ OOOn O CN CN CN CN '-H CN vO 00 On 00 COf^ 3^c - "O C ro iri PO PO O ON C<1 (N i-H ON ON O 00 On 00 00 PO ^ fO CO to PO lO *0 O '^ CS ON CN >00l>- NO-^ ■< fO CO fO Tp O On NO CO Oir^ Lo lO lO i'-* r-~ NO NO On CO lO t^ r-- O^ r^ CN O CO lO CO ON^ '-^ r-T On" 00 NO NO ■- O lO CO T-( Tt< O CO Not^t^otror On -* tH lO OO O ■^ O OO On oO 00 00 CSI CN (N ■--< -^ 1-1 ^ -* tJH 00 T-H O *-H CO ooooo 1-C CS CN CN CS CM O t^ CN t-- Tt< t^ ON wOOOnOOnO CN CN CN i-H CN 1-1 CN Of^ -^ O 00 ^^ OOOOOnOn CN CN CN CN 1-1 1-1 ^ ^ i-irt fj T* CN i>. CO -"^ CN ON ■^ CO 1-- O CN O CO NO NO NO 'O NO NO \0 CN CO -"^^ CN NO CO i-H CO CM w O O O NO NO NO NO NO 0 On On O NO CN 1— I O ;^ £0 »0 NO ^^^ ^W 2.S OO O 00 C3N ■^ OO CN NO NO -^ O i-ll>- t^ OO CN lO t^ On NO On ■^ CO CN Oj ■^ CO O NO O CN 1-H CN O 00 t>- CN ". NO NO t^ t^ 00 t-^ t--. !>. f--. t-. 00 1-1 CO CN CO ■^ CN CO .5 " E e O i-( 1-1 '^ On CO CN CO ■^ 00 CN *OiO NO 00 00 W '^ O CN -^ 00 00 CN CN r- NO t^ CN On ^ O 00 00 00 NO t^ t-*. U-i O NO NO O OO NO O CO OOOOOi-f ^ *^ # ^1 ■ > 6 ^ t^ '^ ^ 119 1 S B tn -C V -o CN On w 4* lo a 1-1 5. The hours of the nominal week were reduced during the war period, but remained practically stationary during 1920- 1921. 6. The average week of plant operation showed a marked reduction to the trough period in the winter of 1920 and a distinctive advance during the spring months of 1921. 7. Indications point to a fairly healthy condition of the industry, with slight reductions in employment and in hourly and weekly earnings. 120 XIII MEAT PACKING The wage investigation in the meat packing industry in- cludes those establishments engaged in the slaughtering, dressing and packing of meats. Wage statistics were com- piled from 54 plants, employing 37,098 wage earners in June, 1920. Thirty-six of the establishments employed women. The data are representative of the industry, covering ten of the largest plants in the Chicago stock yards, and a good selection of independent plants scattered through the country. Over 22% of the wage earners listed in the 1919 Census of Manufactures as being employed in the meat pack- ing industry are included in this report. The geographical distribution of plants within 24 states is as follows: Alabama 1 Minnesota 3 California 1 Missouri 2 Colorado 1 New Jersey 2 Delaware 1 New York. 2 Illinois 12 Ohio 6 Indiana 2 Oklahoma 1 Iowa 2 Pennsylvania 5 Kansas 2 Rhode Island 1 Kentucky 1 Tennessee 1 Maine 1 Texas 1 Massachusetts 1 West Virginia 2 Michigan 1 : Wisconsin 2 Wages (a) Hourly earnings: Composite hourly earnings of all wage earners show an increase of 174% from July, 1914 to July, 1920. The decline frorn the latter period up to July, 1921 was 15.3%, when the net increase was 132% over July, 1914. The peak was reached in the summer of 1920, and was generally maintained until toward the close of the year. In March, 1921 a marked decline was shown in hourly earnings. This was the result of the 123^% to 15% wage reduction made in the Chicago meat packing industry. The minimum wage in this locality was cut from 53 to 45 cents an hour. As ten of the largest companies included in the present investigation 121 are Chicago meat packing houses, the entire wage curves may be said to be affected by this local situation. The drop in weekly earnings is also due to the wage cut made at this time. In June, 1920 hourly earnings of common labor had in- creased 199% over July, 1914; those of skilled labor, 156%; and of women, 239%. The decline from June, 1920 up to July, 1921 amounted to 17.1% for common labor, 15.2% for skilled labor, and 19.1% for women. In June, 1921, the per- centage increases over July, 1914 for the three groups were respectively 148%, 117% and 174%. (b) Weekly earnings: Composite weekly earnings of all wage earners increased 136% from July, 1914 to July, 1920, and declined from the latter period up to July, 1921, 16.4%, showing a net increase in the middle of June, 1921 of 97% over July, 1914. At their respective high points in September, 1920 and June, 1920, weekly earnings of common labor were 160%, and o{ skilled labor, 120% above 1914. In October weekly earnings of women had increased 202%. In June, 1921 the declines from the high point were 18.9% for common labor, 16.3% for skilled labor and 21.7% for women. In June, 1921, the per- centages of increase over July, 1914 for these three groups were respectively, 111%, 84% and 137%. Employment The total decline in employment from June, 1920 up to July, 1921 was 22.7%. The trend of employment shows a gradual decrease of 28% from June, 1920 to April, 1921, fol- lowed by a rise of 8% to June. The declines from June, 1920 up to July, 1921 by groups, were as follows: unskilled labor, 24%; skilled labor, 17%; women, 38%. The increase in employment in identical establishments from July, 1914 to June, 1920 was 41%. The comparison of June, 1921 and July, 1914 shows a composite increase of 8.4% in the total numbers employed. Hours The average hours of the nominal week in July, 1914 were 58.8. Corresponding with the general reduction of working 122 AVERAaC HOURLY KARNINGB INDEX INDEX NUMBERS (National Industrial Conference Board) 123 Composite Payroll Data Period No. Wage Earners Employed Average Hours Wages (All Wage Earners) One Week 1914-31 Establ. Total All Establ. 22,188 37,09S 37,064 37,007 36,348 36,264 35,177 34,240 31,673 31,402 29,242 26,544 28,073 28,685 Av. Week Wage Earners Av. Hrs. Plant Opera- tion Nom- inal Week Av. Hrly. Earngs. Av. Wkly. Earngs, Index Nos. Earnings Hrly. Wkly. 1914 July*.... 1920 June July Aug Sept.. . . Oct Nov:.... Dec 1921 Jan Feb Mar April May June 22,188 31,400 31,583 31,637 31,084 31,013 29,843 28,962 26,516 26,406 24,542 22,203 23,500 24,052 56.6 48.6 48.7 47.6 49.1 49.4 48.8 47.0 48.2 46.2 47.2 47.2 46.3 48.2 58.6 49.0 48.9 48.3 48.6 49,3 48.9 47.8 48.5 47.6 47.9 47.9 47.9 48,6 58.8 51.8 51.8 51.8 51.8 51.8 51.8 51.8 52.0 52.0 51.9 51.9 51.9 51.9 $.215 .587 .588 .582 .581 .578 .584 .579 .570 .572 .523 .510 .507 .498 $12.18 28.56 28.66 27.69 28.55 28.53 28.50 27.22 27.45 26.43 24,66 24.07 23,47 23, 9f 100 273 274 271 270 269 272 269 - 265 266 243 238 236 232 100 234 236 228 234 234 234 224 226 217 203 199 193 197 *1914-1921 establishments only. See pp. 3, 5. hours during the war period, there was a drop to 51.8 hours per week in June, 1920. This standard of hours remained practically stationary to the middle of June, 1921. The trend of actual average hours of plant operation shows a reduction from 58.6 in July, 1914 to 49 in June, 1920. The remainder of the trend shows fluctuations, but, on the whole, the actual hours of plant operation have been close to the average hours of the nominal week. The meat packing in- dustry has been little affected, therefore, by the economic depression existing in basic industries. Demand for meat and meat products continued, even though industry in general was passing through a period of retrenchment. The average actual hours per wage earner showed a decline from 56.6 in July, 1914 to 48.6 in June, 1920. This obviously followed the trend in reduction of hours in plant operation and hours of the nominal week. The months of 1920 and 1921 124 TMOU9AN05 4d"2— nu mbeb of wash >awta AVERAGE HOUPS OF WORK BDr FCaMMJPPhWYJtlW l JULY JIW KC JAN FEa MylflfllB MAT JUN 1314 1920 laZI IBIA IBBD (National Industrial Conference Board) show a general uniformity except in the month of February, 1921, when a low point of 46.2 hours was reached. The ir- regularity in the spring months was probably reflective of part-time operations and labor conditions existing in some of the larger companies. On the whole, hours in the meat packing industry show only a slight decline in comparison with the large reduction of hours in metal working trades and textiles during this period. Conclusion 1. General wage reduction is approximately on the same level with many other basic industries. 2. Employment declined 23% from the peak up to July, 1921. 3. The total number of wage earners increased 8% from July, 1914 up to July, 1921. 4. The average hours of the nominal week declined from 58.8 in July, 1914 to approximately 52 hours in 1920-1921. 5. Plant activity reflects a small amount of part-time operation during the depression period in comparison with other basic industries. 125 _>. O i4; M _>. <§ O D U i-I < >3 E > = E " E ^ " E Q z 3 < <> n ^^ Q C (^ 00 0\ t^ CM ■'^ ro 0\ 0\ CO Ov O ON OO (N CS CM CN tN CM PC CN O ^PC -^ PC PC On t^ t^r* PC PC CS CS CN CS 00 CS O PC O - ON 00 r^ NO NO NO Tt< CN 00 On c^J PC r^ PC PC (N CS PC PC CS NO uo '— < PC O '— I CS CS r- »o lO lo ^ Tf PC PC PC PC PC On On ON CS O CS CS NOt^ NOoOOOt-* NO t^ »-H C3n ^ O On vO PC lO NO NO nO "^ *^ ^ ^ ^ '*^ ■* ■^ ■«* O ON IT) PC ■«4* ■^ '^jJ -^ -^ PC PC r^ vO PC oo CS PC iC 00 lO On CS lO 0\ 00i>- ^t^oo cscs cs'oTcs'cs O On On lO NO O PC CS wO^»-i wO - i-H t^ ^ O O 00 OO I^ OO CS CS »-l "-I '-H '-t NO NO CS CS On PC O lO lO »0 lO -^ lO Tf CS c^ CS CS CS es es ■'^ NO t^ On CS t-* -* Tt* CS tH CS ■^ CS oi CS (N CS r«i 0\ ■^ T+i CS CS -^ lO t-* \0 NO lO lO ^ to PC NO NO NO NO NO NO nO CS i>. 00 00 lO PC SPC OO sO^-» NO lO lO IC lO lO ^ PC O PC ON On t-- OO ON lO NO O t^ f^ PC OO so <— I vo ON •^ CS rH NO 00 »-H tH o \o 00 ■'d^-^pc ON^ tC t-^i>rtd>ri>r%o tjN lO to r^ CM u^ lO lO -^ PC ■** -^ J>. vO 1— I O t^ 'O »0 IC IC lO NO lO lO Tf CS CS CS CS CS CS CS Tf -^ ON NO O ^ -^ fC-H rH ^ ^ CS CS CS CS CS CS 0\ On 00 00 O ■<:t< ■^ On On Ov On 0\ 0^ Ov CS CS CS CS CS CS CS OO "O CS O PC 00 00 00 NO NO lO T*< CS CS CS CS CS CS iTi IT) \r) irun \n ir^ Tt< i-H \0 CS f-H CS CS CS r^ i^^ NO to \ri IT) tH tH y^i* -^ ■^ PC -^ CS On On CN t-* i-H O 00 O 00 !>■ O lO CS ^ NO OG NO O O -^ CS i>. Tt< -^ -^t-^ O 00 trT Th" '^'^ tH" ■^ PC r* *-( Tft o\ o\ !>• CS CS "<* »0 lO ■»-( OO^t^OO NOCS^t^ ofcs^C?'-!''^ <=^ J r," ^ '^ >^ i! >^ C-t3 cfl S rt c -3 126 XIV CHEMICAL MANUFACTURING A. Chemicals The wage investigation in this industry covers establish- ments engaged in the manufacture of acids, salts, dye stuffs and other chemical products. A separate section has been devoted to an analysis of wage conditions in fertilizer manu- facturing. Returns were received from 83 plants, employing 22,450 wage earners in July, 1920. Women were employed in 21 of these plants. Over 34% of the wage earners listed in the 1919 Census of Manufactures as then employed in this industry are covered in this investigation. The data are representative as to wage earners, distribution and size of establishments involved. The geographical distribution within 22 states and the District of Columbia is as follows: Alabama 1 Massachusetts 5 California 3 Michigan 4 Colorado 1 Missouri 2 Connecticut 1 New Jersey 17 Delaware 1 New York 13 District of Columbia 1 North Carolina 2 Georgia 1 Ohio 5 Illinois 2 Pennsylvania 8 Indiana 2 Rhode Island 2 Kansas 2 West Virginia 4 Kentucky 2 Wisconsin 2 Maryland 2 Wages (a) Hourly earnings: Composite hourly earnings of all wage earners increased 153% from July, 1914 to July, 1920. The decline from the latter period up to July, 1921 was 15.8%. At that time the increase was 113% over 1914. The trend reflects a gradual decline throughout the entire period, the most severe reduction in hourly earnings occurring be- tween February and March, 1921. In July, 1920 the hourly earnings of the male labor group showed increases above 1914 of 164% for common labor and 127 139% for skilled labor. The high point of hourly earnings for women was reached in June, 1920, when the increase over 1914 was 156%. The percentages of decrease for the three groups from these various peaks up to July, 1921 were as follows: common labor, 17.8%; skilled labor, 13.7%; women, 12.9%. In June, 1921, the hourly earnings of common labor were 117%, those oi skilled labor 106%, and those oi women, 123% over 1914. (b) Weekly earnings: Composite weekly earnings of all wage earners showed an increase of 134% from July, 1914 to September, 1920, and declined 19.6% from the latter period up to July, 1921, leaving a net increase of 88% over July, 1914. The trend shows a gradual decline since the peak. The reduction of hourly earnings has influenced the general tendency more than fluctuations in working hours. The peak of weekly earnings of common labor was reached in August, 1920, when the increase over 1914 was 141%; in September, 1920 those of skilled labor showed an increase of 130%, and in June and in September, women were receiving 103% more weekly wages than in 1914. The declines in these groups from their respective peaks up to July, 1921 were as follows: common labor, 19.4%; skilled labor, 21.7%; women, 7.7%. At the latter period the percentages of increase for the three groups were respectively 94%, 80%, and 88%. There was a slight rise in weekly earnings for all groups be- tween May and June, 1921, due to longer working hours. Employment From July, 1920 up to July, 1921 the decline in the total number of wage earners employed was 46%. Employ- ment began to decrease in August, followed by slight declines through November. Beginning in December, more severe re- ductions took place, and the remainder of the period up to July, 1921 has seen a continual decrease. The percentages of decline from June, 1920 up to July, 1921 for these three groups were as follows: common labor, 48%; skilled labor, 43%; women, 41%. The severe decline in employment is due to the cessation of demand for the products of this industry during the period of industrial depression. Between July, 1914 and June, 1920 the increase in employ- ment in identical establishments was 79%. In June, 1921, 128 AVERAGE HOUPUY EARNINGS INDEX ACTUAL FJBUPEB "^S" INDEX NUMBERS 355 30D @ ESQ ■r m-mac 'Linaj- ■•v i mT 1-5 2^ ^- N^ EDO 175 ISO lES IDO 1 ^ - >; / f- 1 i Y riJL« ,!t tOI NO»DaiJ«NFElUA]|»»>«lfJl» ISU 19: .D laei AVERAGE WEEKLY EARNINBS INDEX ACTUAL FIGURES T™ INDEX NUMBERS (National Industrial Conference Board) 129 Composite Payroll Data Period No. Wage Earners Employed Average Hours Wages (All Wage Earners) One Week In 1914-21 Establ. Total All Establ. Av. Week Per Wage Earner Av. Hts. Plant Opera- tion Nom- inal Week Av. Hrly. Earngs. Av. Wkly. Earngs. Index Nos. Earnings Hrly. Wkly. 1914 July*.... 1920 une :uly Aug Sept Oct Nov.... Dec 1921 Jan Feb Mar April .... May June 9,971 17,830 18,055 17,917 17,987 18,535 17,273 14,062 11,973 11,694 11,250 10,645 10,749 10,514 9,971 22,242 22,450 22,052 21,648 21,823 20,194 16,505 14,024 13,692 13,182 12,414 12,272 12,122 55.6 50.9 51.1 51.4 51.6 51.9 49.1 46.8 46.0 46.3 48.5 48.5 48.0 49.0 113.4 113.0 112.3 116.1 115.7 116.5 114.9 111.9 112.3 108.1 107.4 108.9 107.2 110.7 56.8 53.4 53.4 53.4 53.4 53.4 53.4 53.4 53.4 53.3 53.3 53.0 53.0 53.0 $.238 .594 .603 .602 .600 .593 .594 .591 .568 .551 .517 .516 .512 .508 $13.26 30.24 30.77 30.91 30.97 30.82 29.13 27.68 26.16 25.55 25.08 25.03 24.61 24.90 100 250 253 253 252 249 250 248 239 232 217 217 215 213 100 228 232 233 234 232 220 209 197 193 189 189 186 188 •1914-1921 establishments only. See pp. 3, 5. employment in identical establishments had almost returned to the 1914 level. Hours Average hours of the nominal week in July, 1914 were 56.8. Following the general reduction of working hours during the war period, the hours dropped to 53.4 in June, 1920, the latter standard being maintained practically to March, 1921. At that time there was a further drop to 53 hours per week, which was maintained through June. The actual week of plant operation in this two-shift industry shows a reduction from 113.4 hours in July, 1914 to 113 hours in June, 1920. Plant activity was well sustained in 1920, but declined severely in the spring months of 1921. The actual week per wage earner declined from 55.6 hours in July, 1914 to 50.9 hours in June, 1920. There was a slight increase in working hours during the next month, but in No- 130 '~ y NUMBER OF WABE EABNEH3 I BO? jyiy 1914 I IS AVERABE MDUBS OF WQPK ^ \ ® Nk, / \ - V OPeOflTPONJ \ -« rir - N Vn -- ■"\ — ■- - - •- ~ \ ActiwL'wuifpd - /> "^ jimjiiLaijeapioaNin nit jma hab AnnMfjUM ■»!" juii jul, an. jpt eg ri» mc jat rm mm ahum ji 1920 1921 ISM ISZO 1921 (National Industrial Conference Board) vember declines again took place. In January, 1921 the low point of 46 hours per week was reached. Conditions improved slightly in February. From March up to July, working hours increased to an average of approximately 48^/^ hours per week, showing a return to more normal productive activity. Conclusion Investigation indicates gradual decline in weekly and hourly earnings and a tendency to severe reductions in em- ployment rather than curtailment of manufacturing hours. Specifically, the report shows: 1. Decrease in both weekly and hourly earnings has been on the general level with the average found in other basic industries. 2. A severe decline in total employment of 46% has been caused by cessation in demand during the depression period. 3. The depression period occurred at the beginning of 1921, with marked revival in working hours toward the middle of the year. 131 2 I" s 8 Id 1" O OOsOvOOOO 00 00 0\ 00 OO OO '^ Cq t-H ^ (N CNl CN ■^ -^ i-H i-H ^ ^.-H *-( '^ (N CN CN (N CS . r-J wH o CS vO CS lO -^ On »H ts. T^ PO fO ■<*' Tt< -^ ■^ C^ fO CO fO CN fO <^ Q r* ro CN vO rn PO (T) O »0 ro OO O f*^ ■^ CO • = 2 <^33 ts. 00 VO vO On tJ< esj 00 ■»-( t^ CN t^ -^ '<* (M ^ O M CS (TJ CN -"^t Ov CS ■'t '^ PO tH ^l| ■^ t^ *>. tH PO On 0\ 00 THO"^rOOoO f^ O ^ On PD NO T:t< ON t^ pO 00 nO tJ* lO ta- .rH .fH i-H »-H es i-H On i:^ 00 t^ *^ t^ ^ Q u i-i U < Si |<3 i -^ lO 00 1^ O OMO -rt< NO CN ON 1-H 3\ O Q> CN (M C^ PO CN 1-1 O OO 00 t^ GO t^ 00 ^ CM CS CM CS (M CS CN ^^^^^^ . NO O 00 00 O PO t^ PC NO (N -* \r^ tH ■^ •<* iO ■*** CN ^ 00 f-- t^ t^ t^ t^ '— < POPOPOPOPOPOPO CNCSCStNCNr-l VQ 00 On OO -^ '^ ^ 1^ t^ t^ »>. i>- ON On ts^ ir> in in in in in ^ cs^^t^t^NONO tVj NO NO NO NO "O NO O NO O lO lO lO lO 6ei >2 2 p^ i-it^ r^ ir^ NO -^ o po i-H -^ o oo po i/^ cs - NO ■^ 00 oo lo N{j -T Oo -^ PO CN ON O^CS NO CS liO -"^ NO Tf PO tV| .-H i-c On "O lO i-H ^ lO . ^ s CS th 00 'i-H On Q VO 00 O lO O 00 pd -^ ■^ p^POThPO^r^^ *-hOOOnOnOn '^ (M M CN CN CM CN CN CN CN CM i-h ^ ^ <:> NO T+l -^ -^ ■»-( .^ On t^O'^POCNt^ O lO NO NO NO NO NO >J^ ■<*■<* CM CM CN ■^ *^ CN CS (M CM CS CM (N (>1 CM CM Ol r>] CM tv. ior^r-COO\OOON ONOOOONOrfit-^ '-I ■rt O^ CC O ■^ -^ lO lO On PO O to NO (\i 0C3 00 O^ On On* 1^' NO lO -^ ^ji -^ po pO '^ CM CM CM . 00 O On oo O U-, lo ID lo IT) lo ■'^ ■<* Ti* ^ in vi* '^ m m 0\ <— tO'0-^i>-UU'-' ON^OONOO u-j On LO PO eM lO vH -"^ CM O lO 00 00 ro PM On ^-' On 00 On On^O r- no PO 00 t-*- t^ irC O^^OO^OOTOO vONONOio'iOio' ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ Q O Pi U c 1. o ^ : o :■::•■ > >-. b : : : : : c o 132 B. Fertilizer Manufacturing The wage investigation in this industry is confined to estab- lishments manufacturing agricultural chemicals and fertilizers. The conditions in these branches of the chemical industry are so different from those in other chemical manufacturing that separate classification was made. The fertilizer manufacturing industry is generally confined to plants in southern states em- ploying a large proportion of common labor. In addition, sea- sonal fluctuations are marked in this industry. A total of 66 establishments was covered, employing 8,522 wage earners at the high point in August, 1920. The number of female wage earners was not tabulated, as the total number of this group is relatively small. Over 37% of the wage earners listed in the 1914 Census of Manufactures in this industry are covered in this investigation. The geographical distribution within 20 states is as follows: Alabama 3 Michigan Arkansas 1 New Hampshire California 3 . New Jersey Connecticut 1 North Carolina Florida 4 Ohio Georgia 14 Pennsylvania Illinois 1 South Carolina Indiana 1 Tennessee Louisiana. 1 Texas Maryland 3 Virginia Wages (a) Hourly earnings: Composite hourly earnings of all wage earners showed an increase of 135% from July, 1914 to September, . 1920. The decline from the latter period up to July, 1921 was 28.7%, leaving in June, 1921 a net increase of 67% above 1914. The trend of hourly earnings shows a well-sustained level through November, 1920. Beginning in December, wage cutting began to take effect, with more severe reductions continuing in 1921. A slight increase occurred be- tween March and June, 1921. The peak of hourly earnings for common labor was reached in September, 1920, when there was an increase of 133% above 1914, while those oi skilled labor were 161% higher in August, 1920. The percentages of decline from these peaks up to July, 1921 were, for common labor, 35% and for skilled «133 lahor, 20.4%. In the middle of June, 1921, common labor was still 52% above 1914 and skilled labor 108%. (b) Weekly earnings: Composite weekly earnings of all wage earners increased 127% from July, 1914 to July, 1920 and declined 34.2% from the latter period up to July, 1921, leaving a net increase of 49%. Weekly earnings maintained a high level through October, 1920. Beginning in November, due to reductions in both hourly earnings and working hours, decreases began to occur. At the beginning of 1921 these became more severe and continued even more rapidly during the early months of the spring. There was a slight revival in May and June, due to an increase in both hourly earnings and working hours. The peak of weekly earnings for common labor was reached in July, 1920, when there was shown an increase of 121% above 1914. Wages declined 40.4% from this point up to July, 1921. At this time they were 32% above 1914. The peak for skilled labor was reached in August, 1920 when there was indicated an increase of 172% above 1914. Wages remained practically stationary until November, when the general decline began, which continued up to July, 1921, amounting to 25.6%. In June, 1921 wages for the skilled labor group were 103% above 1914. Employment The total decline in the number of wage earners employed from August, 1920 up to July, 1921 was approximately 65.9%. A steady decline occurred to February, 1921. In March there was a marked increase in employment, due to seasonal conditions, followed by a steady decline to June, 1921, amounting to 62.1%. The percentages of decline from the peak in employment were, for common labor, 69%, and for skilled labor, 50.6%. Comparison of employment in identical establishments between July, 1914 and August, 1920 shows a 55.3% increase. In June, 1921, approximately 38.2% fewer wage earners were employed than in July, 1914. Hours The average hours of the nominal week in July, 1914 amount- ed to 60. A small decrease took place in the following years, so 134 a JU IBI4 H M AIK Xn XT NW DEC JANfEBLWaflW MAT JW isao isei JurtJUl *U6 3EPrKT WW DEC JAM FE^ MU AW MAYJJH ISSD IBai iXVERAGE WEEKLY EARNINBS JULY 1914 JUH Jm AUG SECT OCT WW DEC JAN FEB MAC APP MAY JUW issa laei JULY IBI4 JW Jtft. AUG SEPT OCT NO^ DEC JAN FEft MAB APB MAYJW (National Industrial Conference Board) 135 Composite Payroll Data Period No. Wage Earners Employed Average Hours Wages (All Wage Earners) One Week In 1914-21 Establ. Total All Establ. Av. Week Per Wage Earner Av. Hours Plant Opera- tion Nom- inal Week Av. Hrly. Earngs Av. Wkly. Earngs, Index Nos. Earnings Hrly. Wkly. 1914 July*.... 1920 une .uly Aug. . , . Sept.. . . Oct Nov Dec... 1921 Jan Feb March. . April. . . . May June 3,267 3,976 4,146 5,074 4,716 4,349 3,996 3,961 3,498 3,673 4,625 3,637 2,339 2,018 3,267 6,252 6,865 8,522 7,999 7,329 6,809 6,286 5,421 5,520 7,667 6,005 3,372 2,908 55.8 53.4 54.5 52.1 52.7 53.2 51.2 53.4 51.4 51.2 49.4 48.1 51.0 49.8 59.0 56.7 58.4 57.0 56.5 55.5 56.4 55.7 57.2 56.5 55.5 55.0 57.2 52.5 60.0 58.4 58.4 58.4 58.4 58.3 58.2 58.2 58.2 58.2 58.1 58.1 58.0 58.0 $.202 .466 .469 .470 .474 .467 .457 .437 .388 .365 .325 .328 .336 .338 $11.29 24.87 25. 5f 24.5] 25.02 24.89 23.47 23. 3€ 19.90 18.70 16.06 15.77 17.13 16.84 100 231 232 233 235 231 226 216 192 181 161 162 166 167 100 220 227 217 222 221 208 207 176 166 142 140 152 149 *1914-1921 establishments only. See pp. 3, 5. that in June, 1920 the average hours were 58.4. In June, 1921 the nominal week was 58 hours. The average week of plant operation decreased from 59 hours in July, 1914 to 56.7 hours in June, 1921. The slight stimulus in employment in the summer of 1920 also shows in the rise in plant hours. Beginning with October, however, there was a slight tendency toward decrease in plant activity, but, generally speaking, the level of plant activity has been well sustained through the period of industrial depression. A large reduction occurred between May and June, 1921, amount- ing to over A]/2 hours. The average week per wage earner amounted to 55.8 hours in July, 1914. In June, 1920 there was a decrease to 53.4 hours. Declines were noted in August and September, 1920, but the average working week was well maintained through 1920 and the opening months of 1921. The depression, however, began 136 TKoi^mo. NUMBER OF WAGE EARNERS AVERAGE HOURS OF WORK 1814 laZQ (National Industrial Conference Board) to take effect in March and April, followed by a revival in May and a recession in June, 1921. Conclusion 1. The decline in hourly earnings has been far more ex- tensive than in chemical manufacturing, and considerably above the average in other basic industries. 2. The decline in weekly earnings has been due not so much to a decrease in working hours as to wage reductions. The fertilizer industry has been very directly affected by indus- trial depression. The early deflation of farm products cur- tailed the buying power and credit of farmers, who have not been purchasing as much as in former years. The consequence was an early cessation of demand for agricultural chemicals. The tendency has been for reduction in employment rather than a curtailment of plant activity. The workers who have been retained upon the payroll have also worked fairly constant hours. 3. While this industry has been permanently affected by industrial conditions, the indirect effect of seasonal fluctua- tions should also be considered. These are shown in the ir- regularities in employment and hours of plant activity, 137 lo o r»j o m ON o lO *^ t»-. t^ \o lO lO CS CN] CS CN fS CS CS ■O t-^ lO *-i i-< ro CN CN (N .-H O O CN EN evi CS - 1^ lO lo lo lo lo lo m lo \0 1^ ^-H t-* CM "f*! •H O ON 00 *o \0 1/5 1/^ Tt< -^ -^ Tt* 1^ ™ 6 1-1 On O ^-H tH <-H ro cs Tt< 00 ^* 0\ '-' ■^ O On ■.-H CD NO ON fO r^ 1— I PO P*^ 00 tJ< ro PO -^ tJ* tJ< po ro O PO ^ O On OO CS fO (Ml-- OO O CM *-i i-t On t^ !>. Z E O i-H PO 00 »0 On ON T-i es -^ -,-< ^ ON ON CN CN CN M (N »-l T-H SJ o o ^ f*^ 00 o o cr> rD rD f^ CN (M ^H CN CN CN (N CN CN CN a u u < . >i 611 ^S2 6^ *-- NO PO PO ^ PO iH CN PO 00 00 PD PO NO PO O '-H CN '-' ^ C^ Os On On On PO PC CS CM tj* CJ O 'ro. NQIXJKAI. WEEK ® 191* iseo (National Industrial Conference Board) ju. ax !Cffr KT NOV Co : jan Feb Mjnflcp wtjum laei Conclusion 1. The decrease of 8.8% shown in hourly earnings and the reduction of 12.6% in weekly earnings is less than in many other basic industries. The tendency has been to reduce hours rather than wages. 2. Reduction of wages for women has been less than for male employees. 3. Stagnation in demand has caused a curtailment of work- ing hours and a decrease of 31.3% in employment. 4. In general, wages in June, 1921, were still on a high level in comparison with general wage conditions. 14i o e at e < Q < D O o U) Z-E u n -r: c i:2 ZfeS S VO »0 to "O "O VO lO lO »-it-. OS O O OOOSONOO CS CN '-H 1-H c^J CS lO lO lO lO lO "J^ O PO P*^ CO PO lO t-^ lO lO lO lO lO lO >o CO ro re fO f'S fO (*3 r^ O PO vO cc OO vO vO lO lO lO lO CO ro ro ro ro fO vo O fO ■^ ^O M c»l t-* to tH lO lO t^ ^ 00 CS 0\ CS O O CN ro (O fO fO ^ ro fO (O PO <0 r^ (N VO CN t— 3 £ ■>■ 3 2 i4: « ^J5 f*5 O O O es c^j cs 00 T-l »-H t-. t-- t— t-^ ^O t-- r^ vo so "O ^ vo ON OOVO O^ ■^ «N 1-1 lO 00 rO CN \0 O 00 *H i-H^ lO O t-. O '-H to 0\ '-* "O O ■«-* ■^ O OO 00 t— ON c^ r. CN CN CSl CS CN »-< i-H t^ 0\ 00 OO 00 fO ^ •-H 1— I »— I 1— t ^-H »-H *— < ^ lO lO lO »o PO r ts" cnT CvT CM ■^ fOt^ Tt< cot^oo so ^ 1-4 ^ ^ O 5* i 3 ^ H (U iJ lJI I— ,»^< • ; : : ■ ^ '. '--^ ■ '. : 144 XVI PAPER MANUFACTURING A. Paper and Wood Pulp Manufacturing The wage investigation in this industry covers estabhsh- ments producing paper and wood pulp. It does not include secondary paper manufacturing, which has been classified under a separate industrial section entitled, "Paper Products Manufacturing." Returns were received from 122 plants, employing 30,792 wage earners at the high point in July, 1920. Women were employed in 78 plants. Over 26% of the wage earners listed by the 1919 Census of Manufactures in this industry were covered in this investigation. The geographical distribution within Canada and 19 states is as follows: Canada 3 New Hampshire 2 Connecticut 3 New Jersey 6 Illinois 1 New York 26 Indiana 1 Ohio 9 Iowa 1 Pennsylvania 5 Maine 10 Virginia 1 Maryland 1 Vermont 4 Massachusetts 25 Washington 1 Michigan 6 West Virginia 1 Minnesota 2 Wisconsin 14 Wages (a) Hourly earnings: Composite hourly earnings of all wage earners increased 169% from July, 1914 to November, 1920. The decline from the latter period up to July, 1921 amount- ed to 14.7%, showing a net increase in June, 1921 of 129% over 1914. The trend reflects a gradual decline throughout the entire year. The most severe reductions occurred in the spring months of 1921. In October, 1920, the hourly earnings oi common labor were 170% above 1914. In November, 1920, those o{ skilled labor showed an increase of 149% and in July, 1920, those of women were 193% higher than in 1914. The percentages of decline for the three groups from the respective peaks up to July, 1921, were as follows: common labor, 14S 17.2%; skilled labor, 12.5%; women, 14.1%. There was a slight rise for skilled men and for women between May and June, 1921; otherwise, there has been a gradual decline for all three groups from the high point. In June, 1921, the hourly earnings of common labor were 123% over 1914, those of skilled labor, 118%, and those oi women, 151%. (b) Weekly earnings: Composite weekly earnings of all wage earners showed an increase of 156% from July, 1914 to October, 1920 and from the latter period up to July, 1921 declined 24.1%, leaving a net increase of 94% over July, 1914. The peak of weekly earnings for the male labor group oc- curred in October, 1920, when those oi common labor showed an increase of 152% and those oi skilled labor an increase of 130% over 1914. The peak for women was reached in both July and September, 1920, when there was an increase of 196% over 1914. The percentages of decrease for these three groups from their respective peaks up to July, 1921 were: common labor, 25.1%; skilled labor, 21.5%; women, 30.8%. In June, 1921, the weekly earnings of common labor were 89% above 1914, those oi skilled labor , 81%, and those oi women, 105%. Both hourly and weekly earnings were sustained through the months of 1920. The result of wage cutting and part- time operation began to take marked effect in February, 1921 and there have been continued reductions, particularly in weekly earnings, since that time. The loss of working hours more than extensive wage cutting has affected earnings. Employment The decline in the total number of wage earners employed from the high point in July, 1920 up to July, 1921 was 48.6%. As extensive strikes were occurring in many of the plants between April and June, 1921, a true comparison of employment conditions should be made only between July, 1920 and April, 1921, when the decline amounted to 19.8%. While the strike conditions reflect unemployment, the situa- tion is not comparable with general unemployment conditions existing in other basic industries. The most extensive decline in employment in any group between the summer of 1920 and April, 1921 occurred among female wage earners. Total employment increased 47% in identical establish- 146 AVCffABC HOURLV EARNINCS INDEX INDEX NUMBEB3 iBBi I9U igao (National Industrial Conference Board) 147 Composite Payroll Data . 'Period No. Wage Earners Employed Average Hours Wages (All Wage Earners) Av. Av. Indej Nos. One 1914-21 Total Week Hours Norn- Av. Av. Earnings Week Establ. All Establ. Per Wage Plant Opera- inal Week Hrly. Earngs. Wkly. Earngs. In Earner tion Hrly. Wkly. t914 July*.. 14,174 14,174 54.7 138.3 57.6 $.223 $12.20 100 100 1920 une . . 20,842 30,585 51.4 142.5 50.8 .590 30.30 265 248 .uly... 20,906 30,792 51.7 141.8 50.8 .591 30.51 265 250 Aug. . . 20,798 30,711 51.9 141.7 50.8 .594 30.87 266 253 Sept , . . 20,945 30,750 51.8 141.7 50.8 .595 30.83 267 253 Oct.... 20,939 30,676 52.4 140.7 50.8 .596 31.22 267 256 Nov . . . 20,431 30,053 51.4 139.1 50.8 .599 30.78 269 252 Dec... 19,741 29,125 48.9 131.9 50.7 .597 29.16 268 239 1921 Jan.... 17,696 26,191 48.2 132.5 50.7 .594 28.65 266 235 Feb.... 17,872 25,735 46.2 130.3 50.6 .577 26.65 259 218 March . 16,621 23,779 44.7 122.8 50.6 .565 25.28 253 207 April.. . 16,561 24,692 45.5 126.3 50.6 .554 25.21 248 207 May, . . 14,971 17,085 47.6 124.0 50.6 .513 24.39 230 200 June. . . 14,254 15,812 46.4 125.7 50.7 .511 23.71 229 194 *1914-1921 establishments only. See pp. 3, 5. ments between July, 1914 and June, 1920. In June, 1921, employment had fallen to practically the 1914 level. Hours The average hours of the nominal week in July, 1914 were 57.6. Following the general reduction in working hours dur- ing the war period, the hours dropped to 50.8 in June, 1920, the latter standard having been practically maintained throughout 1920-1921. The actual week of plant operation showed an increase from 138.3 hours in July, 1914 to 142.5 hours in June, 1920. In December, 1920, a marked reduction to 131.9 hours oc- curred, and in the opening months of 1921, the decline con- tinued. The depression month in March was followed by a revival in April, but strike conditions brought about declines in May and June. The actual week per wage earner showed a decline from 54.7 hours in July, 1914, to 51.4 hours in June, 1920. There was a 148 EAHNEBS • L WASE AflNEDS \ \ '-I V ALL waoe c«N T« eSTAB S5 N ^ ■ / / / / M .N^ ..u. f- *• V ■■>< s MC N-U «9M LK '•k. ■••. -.• -. -t; )M£ * - -- '^ - - ... - — y UHJII.«JESE TO TK «I ■-J H, BhUOAPD 1/ TJUl ISI4. isao laei 1914 isso (National Industrial Ccnference Board) tendency toward an increase of working hours culminating in a slight peak in October, 1920. Beginning in December, there was a marked decline which continued to the trough period in March, 1921. April and May showed a marked increase in working hours, but labor conditions in June forced a reduction. Conclusion 1. The decrease in hourly earnings has been slightly below the general level of that occurring in many other basic in- dustries. Reduction in weekly earnings has been extensive, due to the decline of working hours. 2. The period of April, May and June, 1921 is difficult of interpretation on account of labor conditions existing in a large proportion of the plants studied. 3. Total employment declined approximately 20% be- tween July, 1920 and April, 1921, and 49% between July, 1920 and June, 1921. 4. The trend of hours of plant activity best reflects the condition of this industry, showing substantial production though November, 1920, marked declines in the first three months of 1921, and unsettled conditions in May and June. 149 o at Oh Q w 1-1 ij < Q < o o M M X £ >S 5 >^E 53 E > 3 E « [3 . « • < "35 Z^ ;s »£ S S - _ 0\ 00 On Os 00 ^* (N cs «s cs es CN cs m6 6 O c»»io T(l ^ CN CS ■-hO M CS CN CN CS CS 0\ fO th es 00 o r^ 00 Os 0\ On 00 0\ OO pq cs cs cs CN CN es r* 00 1^ "O lo »o «^ oot^ oooot^t^ > 00 OOfOOO in IT) CO **> ro r^ rO 00 vO t^ CS Tf ■<-« 0\ Oi 0^ 0\ On C7\ 0\ ro ro CO ro fO «*: fO 00 CS t^ •-< O 04 t^ cso^* "O •* tJ* CO CO fO CO CO fO csj \0 rj* 00 On CO On -^ LO t^ C>1 i-H in 5? lO NO \0 NO CO On to '-H tn 00 ON NO r^ 00 o ON^t^oq^ oo^NO^io^ co" cs" p^ e• NO fO NO On On O ^^ lO CS M CS M CO CN »-( (N CS CS CS N CS CS Tf O On oo»n^ i-H O 00 00 00 00 C^ (N 1-1 ^ 1-1 *-< 8 t^ r^ 00 00 00 ON 00 CS C^^ C^ CS N CS M t^ »Ht^ or* 00 "^ ^ CO CO ^H 1— < CS (N CN (N M CS 6^ lo o ■^ »o »o ra isei 1914. laeo isei (National Industrial Conference Board) Conclusion 1. The decline in hourly earnings has been slight in this industry as compared with the majority of basic industries. 2. Decrease in weekly earnings has been marked, due to reduction in hours vvorked during the depression period. The total decrease in employment has been extensive, the effects of the industrial depression not reaching the industry until well into 1921. 3. In general, the industry shows well sustained productive conditions in the summer of 1920, a depression period be- tween November, 1920 and April, 1921, followed by a revival during May and June, 1921. 155 1w s •H Ov 00 lO OS "O 't es »H ^ N c^ M ^H M tS tN W tS es CN ■^OvHtomgi O\00 Os^^oOOO »-t ^H *-l ^H 1^ ^H 2 o Ztel O Q Id .J u < 2 ► S 2 a Id z U S cs es CM cs c>« es to Q -^ CS O "-t ■^ lo lo m »o \o w^ lo O ^H O O '^ ^ \0 fO ^ N 0\ <*5 fO fO f*5 M CN PO ^-H r* l^ \0 Os 00 CS »o ^ ^ »o to *o lO r*3 fO CC f5 f) ^ f5 lO 1/5 fr* PC ^ PO lO i/s »o lO »o *o fO CO fO CO to <*5 (O ■«* CS iO Ov O^ 00 3 ^ 3 3 ^ ^ ^^ ^^ ^^ ^^^ ^r ^^ ^^ ^^ ^lOt^ o»ooo fOt^r* •* O ro O 00 to fO es o\ '-oo (DOOiOf "^ ^ 00 »-( CN Q*^ ^ CO cs)^ O^ O^ Oj^ 00^ CO co'co CO cs es ^Q O OO*" OO* - CO CO CO ■«- - . cs CN cs p^ cs es cs <-i vo '-< CO O On O 0^ O OOOtOO cs t-H r^ '-H »-i »-i CO CS O O O- '-I '-I ^ ^ ^ m -^ lO »o CS CS CS CS CS M CN CS C^ CS CN CS M po O CO r* ■^ lo '-I '-' r*] ro ^ r* O *^ cs CN 'H ^ M o 0\ Ov CO CO CO CO ro CS CS 00 lO <* ^ ^o t^ t^ CS 00 <-» 00 0( ^H CO CS M ^ tH r-l \Q \0 SO SO "O 'O CO '-H vO O^ CN 0\ »-< '-< O On O t^ u^ lO lO to Tt* to T^ Tt« ^ -(f to t^ ^ On •"< On 00 t^ to *-i lO to fO to to r^ NO ^ CO co^-^-^Tt^Tj* co^e^ cn' cn" (N* cs" cs" cn'c^T On *-H *^ CS C^ ^ CN CO ^ 00 coo ^ ♦-j^ O^ O^On^ On^ r>rp«rcs'cs'»-r^ M ^ CO On 00 to CO lo to to Tt" cs «N r^ cs cs C'l CN e»j cs »-i s es t^ lO ON On r*5 On 00 00 00 OO t^ <^ NO CN CS CS CS CS CN CN t^ ^^ ^H r^ \0 NO lO NO NO lOlO-^ CS CN es CS CN cs Q O C O NO to ^O »-' On ^ fO Tt< ^ lO CO ^-H i-H lO >o to to to to to OMO NO On NQOO 00 On 0\ 00 00 O On -^ NO O CO On CN ONCSt>- 00 ^ 00 ■^P CS ^ O w TttONO^-^OON lO to 00 ■«*' to CN to NO 00 00 00 t^ CO «s T-i o\ »-i to o\ to 1-H go ^ Tt< *^ NO w O O ♦H On OS 5. ,'■ ^ ■■■::: ■ >-, I— !>-.<; M o z Q M ■ JB . ■ ■ ^ e-a a S B c 156 On XVII PRINTING AND PUBLISHING (Book and Job) This wage investigation covers 355 establishments engaged in book and job printing, employing 22,752 wage earners at the high point in August, 1920. Women were employed in 307 of these establishments. The geographical distribution within 36 states and the District of Columbia is as follows: Alabama 2 Montana 2 California 16 Nebraska 3 Colorado 3 New Hampshire 2 Connecticut 2 New Jersey 7 District of Columbia 3 New Mexico 1 Georgia 3 New York 59 Illinois 37 North Dakota 1 Indiana 9 Ohio 55 Iowa 5 Pennsylvania 19 Kansas 3 Rhode Island 3 Kentucky 4 South Carolina 1 Louisiana 1 South Dakota 3 Maine 2 Tennessee 8 Maryland 8 Texas 2 Massachusetts 24 Utah 3 Michigan..., 11 Virginia 8 Minnesota 11 Washington 6 Mississippi 1 Wisconsin 14 Missouri 13 Wages (a) Hourly earnings: Composite" houtly earnings of all wage earners show an increase of 109% in the peak months of March, April and June, 1921. From June, 1920 up to July, 1921, there was an increase of 7.9% in hourly earnings. The general trend shows gradual increases during 1920 and a practically stationary condition during the first six months of 1921. Hourly earnings of common labor reached a peak in October, 1920, when they had increased 138% over 1914, and from the latter period up to July, 1921, they declined 5.2%, leaving a net increase of 126%. 157 The hourly earnings of skilled labor attained a peak in December, 1920 and in March and June, 1921, the total in- crease in these months being 103% over 1914. .The increase from June, 1920 up to July, 1921 amounted to 7.8%. The peak of hourly earnings for women was not reached until February, 1921, when there was an increase of 136% over 1914. Between June, 1920 and February, 1921, hourly earn- ings oi women increased 7.8% and between the latter period and June, 1921, decreased slightly more than one per cent. (b) Weekly earnings: Composite weekly earnings of all wage earners increased 109% from July, 1914 to October, 1920 and from the latter period up to July, 1921 declined 5.6%, leaving a net increase of 97%. The trend showed a gradual increase during 1920 to October, followed by a decided drop at the beginning of 1921, due to shorter hours worked. The weekly earnings of common labor increased 138% from July, 1914 to June, 1920, those of skilled labor were 109% higher in October, 1920 and those of women 133% higher in December, 1920. The percentages of decline for the three groups from their respective peaks up to July, 1921 were: common labor, 14%; skilled labor, 6.5%; women, 8.8%. In the middle of June, 1921, weekly earnings of common labor were 105% above 1914, those oi skilled labor, 95% and those of women, 113%. Employment The decline in the total number of wage earners from the high point in August, 1920 to June, 1921 was 23.5%. The drop in May, 1921 is accounted for by strike conditions exist- ing in many of the plants during this month. It will be noted that the recovery from May to June did not cover the ground lost between April and May. There was an increase of 21.2% in employment in identical establishments between July, 1914 and June, 1920. In June, 1921 employment in identical establishments was below that of the July, 1914 level. While the printing industry has not been so directly affected by economic conditions as have many manufacturing industries, the reaction from general business stagnation is shown by the reduction in employment particularly during 1921. 1S8 AVERABE ACTUAL FIGURES HOURLV KARNINBB tNXX INDEX NUMBEBB JULY IBU KM. aUS itPT OCT NOV Dec JUtiTlhWaM MJfJW fill? iaeo laai ibm JUH JUL *U& lEPT OCT NW DEC JAU FH MJt JW MAYJUN isei AVERAGE WEEKLV EAPNINBS INDEX ACTUAL FIGURES "~"" INDEX NUMBERS ISM isea .iBBi IBM iseo ibsi (National Industrial Conference Board) 159 Composite Payroll Data Period No. Wage Earners Employed Average Hours Wages (All Wage Earners) One Week In 1914-21 Establ. Total All Establ. Av. Week Per Wage Earner Av. Hours Plant Opera- tion Nom- inal Week Av. Hrly. Earngs. Av. Wkly. Earngs. Index Nos. Earnings Hrly. Wkly. 1914 July*.... 1920 une :uly.... Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec 1921 Jan Feb Mar April. . . . May June 13,151 15,944 15,887 15,979 15,738 15,770 15,728 15,616 14,681 14,233 13,901 13,360 12,148 12,368 13,151 22,346 22,596 22,752 22,233 22,198 22,002 21,621 20,509 19,806 19,259 18,538 16,982 17,413 46.5 46.4 47.2 46.2 46.2 47.0 46.9 46.7 44.6 44.1 44.4 43.9 44.1 43.8 49.0 49.2 50.2 49.0 49.3 48.9 48.7 47.9 45,8 45.8 46.2 45.8 45.7 46.4 49.0 48.3 48.3 48.3 48.3 48.3 48.3 48.3 48.3 48.3 48.3 48.3 47.7 47.7 $.301 .584 .597 .601 .619 .622 .623 .623 .625 .627 .629 .630 .623 .630 $14.01 27.07 28.18 27.79 28.57 29.24 29.17 29.12 27.90 27.66 27.95 27.65 27.45 27.60 100 194 198 200 206 207 207 207 208 208 209 209 208 209 100 193 201 198 204 209 208 208 199 197 200 197 196 197 *1914-1921 establishments only. See pp. 3, 5. Hours The average hours of the nominal week in July, 1914 were 49. In June, 1920, they were 48.3 hours. The latter standard was maintained up to May, 1921, when there was a fall to 47.7 hours. This decrease in the nominal week has been af- fected by the introduction of the 44-hour week in many'of the printing establishments in the larger cities. As many of the plants covered in the investigation are from smaller towns and cities not affected by the 44-hour week movement, the de- crease in hours here shown is not so marked as is probably the case in many establishments in the larger cities. The actual week of plant operation amounted to 49 hours in July, 1914. In June, 1920, the hours remained practically the same — 49.2 per week. There was little change during the remaining months of 1920, but at the beginning of 1921 there was a reduction to approximately 46 hours per week. 160 24 "" NUMBER OF WAGE EARNERS --k !? ^ 1 B 1 B ALL w«[K um 1 1 1 s <«« s s \ ' 1 1 1 \ ** / 1 •• \m •« s *• 1 s 1 1 EN-9BILL ;d ^% \ ^ "* >, •"^ B 4 S D WO MX* 1 MEN-UN 1 LCD ' •*• *> ^, • ■■ ■ a. ""■ ■.. ... ., ... '"•t" AVCKAGC HOURS OF WOPK BQ JULr JUlt JUL flllG SgTOCtNW DECJWI FEB MM AW MAY JUN 314 IBZO I9ZI ^vuNT wa» JUM jg jut a FT OCT NOV PEC JW f UMJOWP fcUYJUH ® (National Industrial Conference Board) This average has been maintained throughout the first six months of 1921. The actual week per wage earner remained practically un- changed between July, 1914 and June, 1920. During the remaining months of 1920, there was a slight net increase in the average hours worked. However, in January, 1921 there was a fall of over two hours per wage earner, and the general level of 44 hours per week has been maintained. This reduc- tion in hours has directly affected the trend of wages. Conclusion 1. Reduction of working hours has caused an increase in hourly earnings and a decrease in weekly earnings. The peculiar conditions affecting this industry make wage com- parisons difficult wrth those in many basic industries. The introduction of the 44-hour week in May, 1921, makes it difficult to show the real trend of conditions. 2. The total decline of almost 24% in employment shows that the industry has been affected by layoffs rather than by severe reductions in hours or wage cutting. 3. On the whole, the industry shows less decline in weekly earnings than practically any other basic industry covered by the investigation. 161 3 i •Q n Ci O 00 O O Tt< 0\ CO ON O O ^ 00 CO O ■^ O O CN CN J CN CN CN CS CS (N CS CN i^ O OO Tt* lO O J>> 0\ ONCNOO'OO'^ t\i ■*-! OS 00 00 T-i Tf i^ t^ooioio^oro CN. lo Tt< -^ lo vo vo so loioioioiom bs. •<* '^ lO --1 CN I--. 00 \0 w ro O ■<$ vo 6^