bls_1731_1972.pdf

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MAR 8 019ft U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR Bureau of Labor Statistics

WUMm COLLECTIONBulletin 1731 1972

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Dayton & Montgomery Co. Public Library

JUN2 1972

DOCUMENT COLLECTION

The last sentence, paragraph 1, page 1, "Introduction, should read "Th e change in the occupational distribution of black workers has had the effect of reducing their unemployment rate by 0.3 percentage point, and of increasing earnings more than $10 a week for full-tim e workers.

Chart 3b, page 7, should read:IN 1970, THE BLACK UNEMPLOYMENT RATE WAS 8.2% COMPARED WITH OVER 10% IN 1960.

Part of this reduction resulted from occupational advancement- especial ly of black men.

Chart 3b.UNEMPLOYMENT RATE OF BLACK WORKERS

PercentReduction due to

.occupational advanceReduction due to improved

-employment opportunities

1960 1970

Occupational change had little or no effect on white unemployment rates.

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.

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BUCKd M eracfcrcrtDGGOGOf10CCUMTO14.awriGU.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABORJ. D. Hodgson, SecretaryBureau of Labor Statistics Geoffrey H. Moore, CommissionerBulletin 1731 1972

For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office Washington, D.C. 20402 - Price 40 cents

Stock Number 2901-0867

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PREFACEThis chartbook was prepared by Sylvia Small in the Office of Economic and Social Research, Bureau of Labor Statistics, under the general direction of Robert L. Stein.

Maxine Stewart, Program Planning Officer of the Bureau, provided expert guidance.

Marian Hester was responsible for the statistical compilations underlying the charts and Susie Scandrett also contributed.

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TABLE OF CONTENTSPage

In troduction__________________________________________________ 1

Opportunities for occupational advancement ofblack workers have been im prov in g ______________________ 2

The higher paid occupations tend to bemore secure_______________________________________________ 4

Occupational change has led to higher earningsand lower unemployment for black w o rkers_______________ 6

Occupational advancement is related to a betterprepared black population_________________________________ 8

Black youths are staying in school longer, andmore are going to co llege_________________________________ 10

The effect of educational and occupational advanceis most apparent among young black w orkers_____________ 12

Educational and occupational achievements, of both young and old, have been higher in the West and North than in the South _________________________ 14

As a result of wider job choices and increased job security, incomes of black workers haveincreased__________________________________________________ 16

The im provement in black workers' jobs and security has reduced, but not elim inated, low earners in the labor fo rc e ____________________________________________ 18

The future holds great p rom ise_______________________________ 20

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INTRODUCTION

Black workers have been moving up the occupational scale in recent years, away from the laborer and service occupations and toward white-collar, craftsmen, and operative jobs. In 1960 , 2 in every 5 black workers were in white-collar, craftsmen, or operative occupations. By 1970 , more than half were in such jobs. These occupations are less subject to unemployment and they are better paid. The change in the occupational distribution of black workers has had the effect of reducing their unemployment rate by nearly two points (1 .8 percentage points) and of increasing earnings more than $ 1 0 a week for full-tim e workers.

The charts that follow separate the black labor force* into three occupational groups for analysis: The highest paid occupations, which include professional, technical, and managerial workers, whose usual earnings (m edian) for black men working full tim e were over $ 1 5 0 a week in 1970; the middle pay levels, including clerical and sales workers, craftsmen and foremen whose usual earnings (median of black men working full tim e) were $ 1 0 0 -$ 1 5 0 a week; and the lower paid occupations whose usual earnings (median of black men working full tim e) were $ 1 0 0 a week or less. The charts show that black workers in the lowest occupational pay groupings tend to have the lowest educational attainm ent, and that as one proceeds up the occupational hierarchy education also increases. Lack of education has often been a barrier to employment in the higher paid occupations, whether required for perform ance of a job or not. Since educational attainm ent is much greater for young black workers than for older age groups, and since the trend toward increasing education continues, prospects are encouraging for continued occupational advancement.

*Data for black workers shown in this report refer to the Negro population exclusively in chart 5a, 5b, 7a, and 8b. All other charts are based on data for Negro and other nonwhite races, 90 percent of whom are Negroes, according to the 1970 Census of Population.

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O P P O R T U N IT IE S F O RO C C U P A T IO N A L A D V A N C E M E N T O F B L A C K W O R K E R S H A V E B E E N IM P R O V IN G . . .

BETWEEN 1960 AND 1970, THE NUMBER OF BLACK WORKERS IN HIGHER- PAID AND MIDDLE LEVEL OCCUPATIONS* INCREASED SHARPLY . . .

Chart la . BLACK WORKERS

Millions of employed ------------------------------------- 9

1960 1970

. . . while the number of black workers in lower-paid occupations decreased.

* See Introduction, page 1, for occupational pay level definitions.

2

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GAINS OF WHITE WORKERS WERE SMALLER, PROPORTIONATELY . . .

Chart lb . WHITE WORKERS

Millions of employed -------------------------------------90

Higher paid*Professional Technical & Managerial

Middle pay level*ClericalSalesCraftsmen & Operatives

Lower paid*

Service workers

workers Farm workers